Robin's Reward (Bonita Creek Trilogy Book 1) (5 page)

The model rolled her eyes dramatically. “Don’t those two ever go out with men?” Susan said snidely. “They’re a little old to be joined at the hip like they were in high school. Maybe they can’t get dates with men so they date each other.” She laughed hysterically at her own remark.

Jorie rolled her eyes. “At least they’re interested in trying to help others instead of only thinking only of themselves. The library really depends on the funds raised at the Storybook event. Robin does a fantastic job of putting the whole event together and coordinating her volunteers to pull it off successfully. Besides, the families in town really have fun at the fair.”

The waitress turned to Jeff and said, “Let me know if you need anything else.” Then she moved on to the next table.

“What-
ev
-er . . .” replied Susan as she dug into her combo plate of a taco, enchilada, burrito, beans, and rice. “I get so tired to dealing with small-minded people, don’t you? The girls I went to high school with have never grown up. Take Penny Ralston and Jorie Woodstone, for instance. They’ve never been engaged or married. Their friend, Robin Bennett, was—”

“How’s your meal?” Jeff interrupted before Susan could launch into her criticism of the town’s librarian.

“It’s delish,” Susan answered with her mouth full.

Jeff wondered how she managed to stay so slender with the amount of food she was inhaling. It was incomprehensible to him how someone her age could be so immature. Was she always this self-centered or was she just in a bad mood this evening? Maybe the tequila was affecting her brain function. He didn’t want to hang around to find out. He decided there would be no second date with Susan Stinson no matter what.

As the meal progressed, the conversation remained on the woman’s needs, wants and desires. She drank two margaritas before she became noticeably tipsy. When Jorie returned to clear the table and take their dessert orders, Susan blurted out, “Oh, I can’t have dessert, I’m watching my figure.”

With great effort he bit back a fit of laughter and requested the check. As they reached his car Susan turned to him and placed a hand on his chest. “Want to go back to my place for some adult R & R?”

“No, I have an early day tomorrow, so I think I’ll head back home. Thanks anyway.”

“Want me to make a reservation for Saturday night at the exclusive restaurant on the coast I told you about?” she pushed as she sidled up next to him while he was opening her car door. He helped her into the car and closed the door, eager to stall for some time before responding to her latest inquiry.

He positively did not want to go out with this woman again, but he couldn’t gather the courage to admit it to her. Instead, when he slid into his seat behind the wheel he said simply, “I don’t think so, but thanks all the same.”

She leaned across the front seat and stroked his face roughly with her hands. “How about a little good night kiss or two?” Her words were slurred and her eyes glazed.

He gave her a quick peck on the forehead which resulted in the young woman’s lower lip jutting out in a noticeable and unbecoming pout. Jeff hoped she sensed his reluctance. Thankfully, she didn’t pursue kissing him any further.

As he pulled to the curb in front of her house, Susan stumbled out of the car before he could even stop the engine. Her heels echoed on the walkway as she jogged up to her porch. Once there, she waved clumsily at him before letting herself into her front door. When she was out of sight, he breathed a deep sigh of relief.
That was bad—really, really awful
.

Chapter 5

The weather was sunny and mild late Friday afternoon
as Robin walked to the town square for the volunteer fire department and ambulance service’s annual Chili Cook-Off. The fire chief had asked her to be an official taster for the contest again this year. As she rounded the corner to enter the square, she caught sight of Jeff Clarke. He spotted her at the same time and wandered over to where she was standing.

“Hey, Robin. How’s it going?”

“Hi, Jeff. I’m good. How about you?”

“I’m great. Better now that you’re here.” He lowered his voice and looked around before saying, “I was wrangled into being an official taster for the cook-off today by the guy at the hardware store.”

“Me, too,” Robin said. “I get asked to do it every year since I’m a city employee and all.”

“At least it’s for a good cause.”

“In a small town they have lots of these fundraisers to help out with the expenses for running the basic infra-structure.”

“I guess that’s true. You said you’re a city employee. What type of work do you do?”

“I’m the librarian at the public library here in Bonita Creek. I handle all of the operations of the library, collection development, fundraising, reference, outreach, literacy activities for children and adults, coordinating volunteers and everything in between. I’m the ‘go to’ person for whatever needs to be done at and for the library.”

Dread and anxiety raced through his gut.
Un-be-lieve-able. This is unbelievable.
Jeff’s thoughts ran rampant. This woman was the professional whose career he’d been sent to dissect and possibly destroy. While his mission was not directed at Robin Bennett personally, the end result could likely be her dismissal as the town’s librarian.

Jeff swallowed hard through the knot in his throat. “Do you like your work?”

“I do. I’ve wanted to be a librarian since I won the Library Assistant of the Year Award from Mrs. O’Connell in the fifth grade. Books have been some of my greatest friends since I was young. Now I have the opportunity to share my love of books and my passion about literacy with other Bonita Creek residents, from toddlers up to octogenarians.”

She paused to take a sip from the bottle of water she carried. “Right now the exterior of our library building is being renovated, so the city closed the library for two weeks and gave me an unpaid spring break. Wasn’t that generous?” she laughed lightly.

Fearful he might divulge some detail about himself or his occupation, Jeff quickly inserted a lame comment about the weather in Bonita Creek in an effort to change the path of their conversation. Grateful she didn’t appear to notice his brusque change of subject, Jeff had to work to remain focused on Robin’s bubbly dialogue. His thoughts kept shifting away from her entertaining chatter to settle on the true reason he was temporarily living here in Bonita Creek.

The rest of the evening continued in a blur for Jeff. He had a taste of seven or eight different batches of chili. Most of them were flavorful, but the glob of beans, spices, and meat was now resting in his stomach like a lead weight. He marked each cook-off ballot with care, but he was relieved when the evening’s winner was announced and he was free to leave.

“That was fun,” Robin said with a grin.

“Yeah, or something,” Jeff replied. “I need to stop by the store for some antacid. I’ve got a major stomach ache. Are we still on for tomorrow at eight?”

“If you feel better. I understand if you aren’t up to working in the yard.”

Jeff dismissed her thoughts with a wave of his hand. “I’ll be fine. See you at eight then.”

“Sometimes ginger ale helps, too.”

“What?”

“Ginger ale. I drink it when my stomach is upset.”

“Yeah, okay, thanks.” Jeff nodded before turning toward the drug store.

Oh, man. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that my stomach is in knots because of her job as the town’s librarian and my job as the forensic accountant sent here to investigate the library’s operations and finances. I need more than ginger ale and antacid to get rid of this
stomach ache.

Chapter 6

As he walked home Jeff shook his head in disgust.
He was attracted to Robin Bennett—Bonita Creek’s Librarian—plain and simple. She was obviously hiding behind a wall of hurt feelings and deep pain, most likely caused by a failed relationship. He stopped abruptly.

Am I willing to invest the time and energy it’ll take to get to know her better?
That could cause a conflict of interest involving my position with Mr. Brownstein.

A conflict of interest was a major concern. He definitely didn’t want to lose his job. Would his actions cause irreparable damage to his status with his employer? He compromised by deciding he’d have breakfast with Robin, help her with the yard work, and then literally say ‘goodbye’ before they got more deeply involved.

He decided it would be best to notify his ever-vigilant employer of this new development in Bonita Creek. It would be awkward if his boss found out somehow his employee had seen Robin Bennett socially. If Mr. Brownstein didn’t approve of Jeff’s seeing her socially tomorrow, he’d cancel even if he might seem rude in Robin’s eyes.

He slammed the door on his way into the house. Wanting to get this whole thing over with so he might possibly enjoy the rest of his day, he pulled his phone from his pocket and scrolled down to Mr. Brownstein’s direct line. He pushed the call button and waited for his boss to answer.

After three rings his boss answered with a terse, “Stan Brownstein here.”

“Sir, this is Jeff Clarke calling from Bonita Creek, California.”

“Hello, Jeff. How’s it going with your assignment?”

“I’ve run into a bit of a possible snag I want to discuss with you. I’ve met the librarian here. We ran into each other last weekend, and spent some time together before I realized who she is. We have plans to spend Saturday morning together.”

“Sounds promising,” Brownstein said, sounding happier about it than Jeff expected. “I like it. Get her to trust you. It’ll give you an opportunity to get all the information we need for our professional purposes.”

“Mr. Brownstein, I like this woman. I mean I seriously like her. She’s a nice lady who’s committed to her job and the library. I strongly believe I should withdraw from this assignment. I don’t feel comfortable using my acquaintance with Miss Bennett to gather information which may destroy her position with the library and her standing in this community.”

His boss coughed and cleared his throat impatiently on the other end.

“Perhaps you can send in another consultant to perform this job and assign me to something else. I’ll even reimburse you for the airline tickets to get me here and back home,” he added impulsively.

“Mr. Clarke, this is your
superior
speaking. You remember me? I’m the guy who signs your paychecks and pays for your medical insurance coverage, among other things.”

“Uh, yes, sir, Mr. Brownstein,” Jeff offered weakly.

“There is no way you’re going to be relieved of this assignment for such a simple reason. You’re the most skilled forensic accountant I have on staff. You’re perfect for this particular investigation. Besides, I don’t see a thing wrong with romancing the little lady to get some information if it might help
our
client in the long run. You do remember who our client is, don’t you?”

“Yes, sir, I certainly remember our contract with the City of Bonita Creek. I’ve worked for you for several years, and you know I don’t operate like this, sir. I don’t want to mislead this woman. It feels dishonest to me. I don’t want to abuse her trust. I don’t want anyone questioning my integrity here. I’ve always performed my work with the highest ethics and transparency. Please reconsider and choose someone else to come to Bonita Creek to deal with this matter.”

“No. My mind is set on your handling this contract for us. If you can’t do your job in the detached, professional fashion I require of my employees, then you may as well hand in your resignation and look for work with a more compassionate,
genteel
firm. I run this firm and you’ll follow my edicts or your employment will be terminated. Brownstein & Associates has a fine reputation for doing top-notch work, and we will not become namby-pamby just to satisfy
your
personal quest for integrity.”

Jeff knew full well Stan Brownstein would indeed fire him without a second thought if he refused to follow his orders to the letter. He needed his job to survive and to continue to make payments on his massive student loans from college and graduate school. He murmured a barely audible and unenthusiastic, “I understand, sir,” before hanging up in despair. It was imperative he figure out some sensible way to deal with this.

Cradling his head in his hands, he sat down at his desk and rubbed his aching temples, hoping the simple action would alleviate his stress. He decided to examine and analyze this challenge as he would any other he encountered in his job. His mind was cluttered with a multitude of opposing and diverse thoughts as he dwelled on the situation here in Bonita Creek. He wanted to seek out Robin for comfort, but that was a definite impossibility.
Boy, have you got it bad, Clarke. What’s up with that?

He got up and began pacing around the desk. He was convinced he had absolutely no power in this situation. It was imperative he keep his boss happy in order to retain his job. Jeff felt a weighty burden settling on his shoulders. He threw his arms up in disgust and slammed his body into the recliner.

During the next half hour he designed a flimsy plan which would require him to behave in an obnoxious manner toward Robin on Saturday. Maybe she’d dislike him so much she’d avoid him while he lived in Bonita Creek. Hopefully he would be forgiven when he was free to pursue a relationship with her. He decided he
would
pursue a relationship just as soon as possible.

Jeff knew his actions would make him appear immature, but he’d be free to complete this job assignment without any personal encumbrances. He was confident he could work without allowing his personal feelings to interfere with his boss’s directive as long as he didn’t become further involved with Robin.

Even after he decided on his plan of action, he was tormented by his situation. His dinner tasted like stale cardboard, and he got no relief from his anxiety no matter what he did. After he lay down, the strain of the day caused sleep to elude him. Whenever he closed his eyes a vision of Robin’s face danced before him. He felt like a certified ogre going over to her home for breakfast when he knew what may be in store for her after he completed his mission.

When he finally slept, his restless sleep was filled with dreams of Mr. Brownstein chasing him across a barren desert. When his employer eventually caught up with him, he literally dragged Jeff before a student loan review board. Without allowing him to give any testimony or to present evidence in his own defense the board ruled Jeff was in default of his loans. Mr. Brownstein dramatically hauled the humiliated accountant off to a dreary dungeon where he was doomed to be served stale bread and tepid water for the rest of his life.

Finally, he roused from his nightmares a few minutes before six o’clock on Saturday morning. As he sat up, he felt completely disoriented. He’d knocked his glasses off of the nightstand during the night and now stepped on them with bare feet. The frame was bent and didn’t sit right on his nose. He stumbled into the bathroom to discover his eyes were bloodshot and rimmed in red. He even looked a little pale. Perhaps Robin would attribute his impending rude behavior to the fact he had contracted some new, as-yet unnamed virus.

He decided to stretch and go for a long run. The rhythm and exertion of running usually left him feeling peaceful and serene.
Don’t kid yourself. There’ll be no peace or serenity for you today, buddy.
He gulped down a glass of orange juice and choked down a couple of pieces of toast before stretching for his run.

His thoughts never far from Robin and the unwelcomed task he faced, he realized he was feeling a bit fatigued.
Man, am I ever dragging. Maybe it’s because I didn’t sleep well or maybe it’s the higher elevation here in Bonita Creek.
When he finally glanced at his watch, he discovered he’d already run for fifty-five minutes.

A quick glimpse at his trail map showed he wasn’t even close to the trailhead. Even if he sprinted, he wouldn’t make it back home in time to shower and get over to Robin’s by eight o’clock. He didn’t have the option of calling to tell her he would be late because the two hadn’t exchanged numbers.

Suddenly his thinking shifted . . .
This might be the perfect way to escape my current predicament.
He would be late for breakfast, appearing at Robin’s without showering or shaving. Seeing him in less than pristine condition ought to convince her he wasn’t the sort of man who was interested in actively pursuing a relationship with her. Although being well-groomed was a personal dictate, he’d do his
best
to be at his
worst
with the librarian this morning. Maybe he could one day convince himself a relationship with her wasn’t meant to be.

He immediately picked up his pace and was soon at the trailhead. He slowed down to a walk and headed home to change clothes and get a well-earned drink. He’d worked up quite an appetite with his long run. If yesterday was any indication, Robin was an excellent cook. He found himself smiling as he looked forward to eating a delicious home-cooked meal.

Recalling his conversation with his boss yesterday afternoon swiftly wiped the smile off of his face as he struggled to convince himself any time spent with Miss Robin Bennett from now on would be strictly for purposes of official business.

~*~

Robin frantically rushed around trying to complete the food preparations for her guest’s eight o’clock arrival. She’d thrown a bright patchwork quilt over the picnic table and placed some colorful seat cushions on the benches for comfort. Pale pink dogwood blooms and bright yellow daffodils arranged in one of her grandmother’s old Mason canning jars served as a centerpiece. She’d decided to use her everyday dishes, unadorned cloth napkins and flatware to keep the mood casual. Now she needed to focus on her cooking.

She frequently thought of her Grandma Estelle and Grandpa John when she was cooking for guests in her little pre-World War II kitchen.

Looking out the kitchen window to her garden Robin mindlessly stirred the chunky applesauce simmering on the stove. Her thoughts sifted through volumes of memories interwoven with this place. She sighed and added a dash more cinnamon to the pot. The batter for the French toast was chilling in the refrigerator. The strawberries had been washed and chopped for the toast’s topping. She washed and dried the mixing bowls and utensils in the sink and decided it was time to get ready for her guest’s arrival.

~*~

Jeff arrived at his own front door at 8:15. He gulped down two bottles of water and changed clothes. It felt strange to skip his customary shower and shave, but he had to do something to end his budding attraction toward Robin so he could perform his job successfully. His feeling was if she found him unappealing and didn’t want anything more to do with him, he would lose interest in her too. “Yeah, right. Nice try, fool,” he muttered into the silence.

He tried to convince himself the sole purpose for his actions was to retain his job with Brownstein & Associates. He ran through his list of rationalizations and justifications. He was still paying off his student loans from college and graduate school. He didn’t want to have the blemish of a job termination for insubordination on his employment history. He was saving to buy a home. The list of excuses went on and on. While he attempted to persuade himself this makeshift plan was being launched for all the right reasons, he knew the outcome wasn’t likely to be what he hoped for. He was losing the battle with his conscience about his deceit. He wasn’t in the habit of lying to others—or himself.

He was anxious for this situation to vanish. He’d always dreaded confrontations. Speaking honestly and openly with Robin about his job commitment versus his desire to spend time with her on a personal level was more conflict than he wanted to deal with. He decided he was willing to risk a chance at a future relationship by following his original plan, however lame it was. He’d behave atrociously in the hope Robin would be repulsed by his lack of tact and good manners. His decision was final. He’d have to live with the consequences of his actions, or not.