Kiki's Millionaire Read Online Free PDF Page A

recent years, but my
whole childhood was spent here in northern California. My parents still own the
house I grew up in, in Santa Clara.”
    He could hear the gentle smile in her voice when she
said, “That sounds wonderful.”
    “Why did you move so often?”
    “Oh, different reasons. Mostly, my mother got new jobs
in new cities. She was a library consultant.”
    “Was?”
    “She died about five years ago.”
    Jim knew he was lucky to still have his parents. It
saddened him that she wasn’t lucky, too. “I’m sorry.”
    “No need. We had time together.”
    He nodded. “Any other family?”
    “Nope. My father sort of ran away from home. Moved to
Tibet when I was five or so.”
    “Tibet! What for?”
    “He became a Buddhist monk.”
    He shot her a glance, wondering he she was pulling his
leg. “You’re kidding.”
    “No. Really.”
    He laughed. “Are you still in contact with him?”
    “We write letters sometimes. Not too often.”
    There was a long silence, but Jim wanted to learn more
about her so he peppered her with questions. It turned out that she had been a
scholarship student at Berkeley, where she studied English literature. She had
a wonderful command of the cannon of classics, and had written more than a few
published scholarly papers.
    “But you’re working in public relations now?”
    “English lit doesn’t lead to money, unfortunately. I
got this PR job after I tried journalism and writing children’s books.”
    “What happened with those?”
    “Well, I can’t interview worth a damn…er… darn.
Journalists are supposed to ask insightful and penetrating questions. I just
wanted to be nice. And the children’s books are sitting on my bookshelf, never
published. I tried to get a publisher to take them, but so far, nothing but
rejections. They must be fu-, I mean feeble garbage.”
    He reached out and patted her hands where they sat
idly in her lap. “Don’t give up.”
    They talked about less personal things until they
reached the club, then had dinner while watching a comedy show. Jim loved
seeing her laugh. She lit up like a Christmas tree, all glowing and twinkling.
There was a lot that was endearing about her. She had vulnerabilities, but she
was resourceful, intelligent and perseverant.
    He walked her to her door when they returned to the
valley. Her body fit perfectly to his as he pulled her gently against him for a
good-night kiss. The smell of her perfume was soothing, warm, like the rest of
her. Jim let his hands slide down her waist and hips, to wrap around and cup
her perfect behind.
    “Ow,” she said softly, pulling away a bit.
    “Hmm. Want me to kiss it and make it better, honey?”
    Her gray eyes roved over his face, lingering on his
lips, but she shook her head. “Yes, and no. I’m going with no this time.”
    “Fair enough. We had a deal.”
    She sighed. “Yeah.”
    “Tomorrow is the third date.”
    “I can’t go out tomorrow. I have other plans.”
    “Oh. I won’t be nosy, but, of course, I’m curious.”
    She grinned. “I’ve got to watch a football game.”
    That was intriguing. He was more a hockey guy himself,
but it was interesting to know she liked football. “Your favorite team is
playing?”
    “Not really. I have a bet with a guy, with someone at
work, I mean. And I want to watch to see if I win.”
    “Ah. I thought you didn’t have any money.”
    She pulled away. “I don’t.”
    Jim could sense her discomfort. “Kiki, what did you
bet?”
    “Nothing really.” She dug in her purse for her keys
then fumbled with the lock. “It’s been a lovely evening. How about if I call
you in a few days so we can do the last date?”
    “I don’t think so.” He held her hand still on the key.
“What did you bet?”
    She gently disengaged Jim’s hand, and, fingers shaking,
continued to fight with the lock. “Goddamn- I mean gosh darn key.”
    Jim took the key and slid it into place effortlessly.
“Let’s go inside. I have a feeling this is going