Emma vs. The Tech Guy by Lia Fairchild Page A

got here, but the damn basket’s not here yet. Do you have it?”
    “Sorry, no. Was I supposed to?” Her smile faded a hint, but bounced right back up. The man next to her stroked a bushy salt-and-pepper mustache with one hand. My gaze trailed his other arm to find his hand clasped with Jayne’s. This would be interesting.
    “I don’t know. Nannette said someone was bringing it.”
    “Oh, I left early.” She glanced to her side. “I’m sorry. This is my close friend, Emma. We work together at the magazine.” Then she turned to me, “Emma, this is Mr. Humphries.”
    Amusement won over confusion, causing the right side of my mouth to fight against an upward stretch. “Nice to meet you.”
    As we shook hands he added a head nod and said, “It’s a pleasure.” He had a pleasant twinkle in his eye, and though he sported a tweed jacket, the heat didn’t seem to affect him. I figured it had to be a Hank-rebound thing, but with Jayne, you never really knew.
    “Do you want me to help you?” Jayne asked.
    Mr. Humphries got the hint. “I saw a Golf Country Club basket back there I wanted to bid on, so I’ll let you ladies do your business.” He kissed Jayne’s cheek before leaving, and Jayne blushed like a schoolgirl.
    “You know what? I’ll call Nannette. You go ahead.” My head motioned in the direction of Mr. Humphries, who could have been close to Pop’s age. I didn’t say a word.
    “Aren’t you going to say anything?” Jayne asked.
    “About what?”
    “Mr. Humphries. I mean I’m sure you must be wondering.”
    “Jayne … it’s none of my business.”
    “Don’t you care?” Jayne appeared confused, almost hurt.
    Was this some sort of a test? It was new territory for me. Of course I cared, but I didn’t want to butt in. “Jaynie, what would you like me to say?”
    “I don’t know! Something!”
    “Okay, what the hell are you thinking? That old geezer looks as old as my Pop.”
    Her eyes popped out and her neck rose up like a giraffe.
    “I know you’re upset about Hank, but really?”
    “Emma!”
    “What? You wanted me to say something.”
    “Yeah, but not that.”
    “Okay, he’s lovely. Go for it. I hear Viagra does wonders.” I put on a sickening smile and rubbed her arm. “Better?”
    Our eyes locked and Jayne seemed to be weighing her options before she burst out laughing. “I’m sorry, Emma. I don’t know what I expected. It was wrong for me to put you on the spot.”
    I giggled. “It’s okay, Jaynie girl.” Then I put my arm around her. “Don’t worry about it.”
    “I’m so confused about all this, and Mr. Humphries was so nice to me, and—I don’t know. I just wanted to have some fun. Be happy for a while. Is that so wrong?”
    “Of course not. You deserve happiness more than anyone I know.” I glanced around the room to find Mr. Humphries writing on one of the clipboards. “So what’s his first name, any way?”
    Jayne shrugged and said, “I don’t know.”
    We both fell out laughing again. Over her shoulder I noticed a giant basket floating our way. Relief fell over me, then quickly gave way to curiosity when I couldn’t see who was behind it. Jayne excused herself to catch up with Mr. Humphries. I waited for the basket to make its way over to me.
    “Here you go,” Guy said. He set the basket down and looked at me with a Gomer Pyle grin and a shiny forehead. Clearly he enjoyed saving the day.
    “Guy? What are you doing here?”
    “I was at the office when this was delivered. Then Nannette called and asked if I would drop it off.” He swept the back of his hand across his forehead, dragging dark curls that bounced right back into place. I was surprised to see him dressed so formally, wearing a white, short-sleeved shirt, possibly silk, and a pair of khaki dress slacks.
    I wondered if I’d once again ruined some plans for the evening. “Thanks. I can’t believe you drove all the way over here.”
    “It was no trouble, really. I didn’t have any