Jillian Chantal

This week’s word is random and there are quite a few of us Tuesday Tale-rs writing to this prompt. You can check the others out here.

This week’s post for me takes place in the bar owned by the hero’s brother and the two men have just had an argument. Lanett is taking Ian to task about his words to his brother.

“You weren’t very nice about it. Your tone of voice was as if you were talking to a four year old.” She took a sip of the hot coffee. It was delightfully hot and the whiskey made it burn in a good way all the way down her throat.

Ian’s face registered shock. “I guess I owe him an apology. I was spoken to in such a manner last night and can’t have him being as upset with me as I am with the person who talked to me that way.”

“Let me guess who yours was. That nasty nurse at your office?”

“How’d you know?”

“That was easy. She’s trouble looking to happen and, oh my—”

“What?”

Lanett pointed to the door.

Ian turned around by shifting his whole body. “Brilliant. That’s great, isn’t it?”

“Looks like you have a stalker.”

He faced Lanett. “I’m afraid you’re more correct than you think. What am I going to say to her? Why is she here?”

“You think Nasty Nurse has really followed you here?”

“I’m not sure about followed since I haven’t seen her since I left work yesterday but she did ask me out for a drink last night.”

“Oh.” Lanett put her hand over her mouth, more than a little stunned that the woman would be so bold as to ask her boss on a date. “Could this merely be a random thing? Her showing up here or does she know this is your brother’s place?”

“I imagine she knows. I’ve never tried to keep it a secret.” Ian took a sip of his coffee.

“What are the chances of us both having people we don’t want to be around show up here at the same time we did?”

“What? Who’s here you don’t want to see?”

“Amanda and the others.” Lanett tilted her head toward the table where her three friends—well, two friends and one former pal—sat.

After he looked over, he smiled a kind of half-smile. “You at least could’ve figured on yours being here since I understand from Simon that she’s kind of a regular.”

“You’re right there. I should’ve suggested another location.”

“What’s done is done. We’ll make the most of it while we have this drink and then get out of here.”

“You promised Simon to stay and help.”

“I can always come back later. After all, I have a key to the place.”

“What place is that?” the nasty nurse arrived at their table and interrupted the conversation.

The Tuesday Tales word of the week this week is stairs. I had a couple of uses of this word but chose to use one closest to last week’s post to keep myself from jumping too far ahead since that tends to get someone I love a little confused (LOL). Be sure to check out the other tales here. 

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Choosing her wardrobe proved problematic. She hadn’t seen a weather forecast but knew the night would be colder than the day. Turning on the television, she stood in front of the screen and watched the weatherman for a few moments.

Snow was predicted for north of the city but only freezing weather for Manhattan. “There goes showing off my sexy red toenails,” Lanett said to the meteorologist. She pulled a pair of thick black leggings from her top drawer as well as a pair of knee socks to hide under her over the knee boots. No sense in freezing to death on the way to the bar. She’d worry about being overheated inside when she got there. It wouldn’t be the first time she had to shed garments in a building.

Disgusted with the fact that she couldn’t wear one of the new spring dresses she bought at Macy’s the week before, Lanett pulled on one of her sweater dresses. She chose the black and grey striped one that she adored but was a wee bit tired of since the season seemed to be dragging on.

Once she was ready, Lanett made a face at herself in the mirror. “Let’s hope the doctor doesn’t mind a lady dressed in black.” She laughed. “If I was a man, I would be Johnny Cash.”

Realizing she was being lame, she stuck her tongue out at her reflection. “Please don’t say anything that stupid at the bar. Please.”

Grabbing her coat on the way out, Lanett dashed to the subway station and down the stairs, shocked at how much colder it had gotten since she was out earlier in the day.

Arriving at the bar, Lanett opened the door and the gush of warm air smacking her in the face was almost painful. Her face burned at the sudden change in temperature. Shaking her hair out after removing her hat, she said to Simon, who had arrived at her side, “It’s brutal out there. What happened to spring?”

“She called and said she wasn’t ready to come off her Caribbean vacation yet.”

“If she doesn’t get her soon, I’m going to have to join her down there. Too bad I have a massive project due at work next week or I’d set off on a search and rescue mission and drag her back by the hair.”

“You’d be doing us all a favor, love. I sell more beer in the warm months than I do now. I need the boost in revenues.”

“Is Ian here yet?” Lanett glanced around.

Tuesday Tales are a series of tales written by a select group of authors using a different word or picture prompt every week. For this week, the word is address. Be sure to check out the other stories here.

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“I thought maybe you and I could go and grab some dinner. We’ve both worked so hard this week and it might be fun to have a nice meal and a glass of wine.”

Taken aback at the nurse’s brazenness, Ian stood in stunned silence for a few seconds. When he finally found his voice, he said, “Sorry. I have a policy against seeing coworkers outside the office unless it’s an official outing.”

She turned a shade of red that Ian had never seen before. It was disconcerting to say the least but he turned away to reach for the doorknob.

A hand grabbed onto his bicep.

Ian whirled around and through gritted teeth, said, “I suggest you remove your hand right this minute.”

“What are you going to do if I don’t? You can’t fire me.” Nancy smirked as if she had him right where she wanted him.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

“I can’t imagine why you’d think you could do anything to me at all. I have the upper hand here, not you.”

“How dare you address me in this manner.” Stunned at her tone, Ian stood in shock for a second.

“I’ll speak to you any way I want. I have job security like you’ll never know. Try to have me fired. You’ll never do it. In fact, you should polish off your own resume or better, yet, get yourself back to England. I’m a dangerous enemy to make.”

Ian crossed his arms, trying to decide whether to continue in this ridiculous conversation or make a break for home and some peace and quiet. And a bit of wine.

Before he could come to any conclusion, Nancy shoved him in the chest.

Startled and stunned by the physical altercation yet being too much of a gentleman to retaliate, he turned and jerked on the door knob. Once the door was open, Ian stepped out to the parking lot and over to his car.

Nancy called out after him, “Go on and run away. You’re a lame excuse for a man.”