Kiss Lonely Goodbye by Lynn Emery

Nicole snorted as she let go of the weight bar she’d been lifting. The twenty-pound metal disc clanged into place. Marcus glanced at her sharply, one eyebrow raised.
    â€œYou okay?” he asked.
    â€œMan, those things are heavier than I thought.”
    â€œBe careful you don’t strain yourself.”
    Nicole glanced at Heather, now busy doing warm-up stretches. “You, too.”
    Marcus merely smiled and continued his workout. Nicolegot on a treadmill against a wall across from him. The trim blond strolled over the moment Marcus sat up. Nicole watched Heather go through her best flirting paces. Marcus nodded and smiled. From time to time he glanced across at Nicole, who waved and grinned. Finally he managed to make a graceful exit. Heather watched him walk over to Nicole, a hungry gleam in her green eyes.
    â€œI think you’ve left behind a shattered dream,” Nicole said. Then she flicked her fingertips at Heather with a grin. The woman flashed a silent challenging smile back at her.
    â€œYou’ve got a devilish streak, Ms. Benoit.” Marcus wiped his face with the end of the towel over his left shoulder.
    â€œThat girl would happily push me down a deep hole to get at you.”
    â€œI doubt getting rid of you is easy,” he tossed back with a laugh.
    â€œRemember that, Mr. Reed,” Nicole blurted out. She blushed when he looked at her with interest.
    â€œI assume we’re talking strictly business?”
    Nicole would have happily climbed into a hole at that moment. What in the world had made her say such a thing? A tiny voice answered with “His fine body, what else?” She punched the treadmill off and hopped down. To buy time, Nicole covered her face with a towel and pretended to wipe away perspiration.
    â€œLook at the time. We’d better go.” Nicole headed for the ladies’ dressing room before he could probe further.
    Showered and back in business attire, they ate in the club restaurant. After a quick lunch of tuna salad sandwiches and fruit juice they headed to the office. Thankfully Marcus’s cell phone rang twice on the ride back.
    â€œTameka did what?” Marcus scowled as he looked throughthe windshield. “Yeah, we’ll deal with it. We’re only ten minutes away. Okay.” He tapped the button to end the call.
    â€œWhat’s happened now?” Nicole pulled up to a red light and stopped.
    â€œTameka’s lawyer has already called the office.” Marcus drummed his fingers on the armrest between them.
    â€œWell, well. She didn’t waste any time. We haven’t accused her of anything yet.” Nicole joined him in scowling at the world.
    â€œI’ve got more good news. Mr. Phoung’s lawyer called, too. He says we should pay for the missing stock.”
    Nicole let out a long whistle. “Oh-oh.”
    â€œEach contract says we can’t guarantee there will be no loss by theft or other criminal acts or acts of God. Phoung is testing us,” Marcus replied.
    â€œSo far there is no proof our employee is responsible. Therefore there is no basis for a lawsuit,” Nicole said.
    â€œThe lawyer’s mind is already working.” Marcus glanced at her.
    â€œAre you sure Tameka wouldn’t help herself to the merchandise?” Nicole wheeled the small SUV expertly around a corner.
    â€œI’m going to test every possible theory,” Marcus said in a firm tone. “But I sure hope my first thought about Tameka is the right one. She’s a single mother with no one to help.”
    â€œThen let’s clear her of any suspicion fast. I don’t want her kids to suffer,” Nicole said.
    They arrived back at the office only to be met by more drama. Cat and Russell were waiting when they stepped off the elevator. Both started talking at once. Russell glared at Cat, and she pressed her lips together.
    â€œI could have handled these issues if I’d known you twowere