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Coincidentally, my car was parked right behind hers.
    “I don’t think that would be a good idea. At least not right now.” I don’t know why I had to go and throw that in. I wasn’t trying to get with her, and really didn’t need her thinking that there was any possibility that I would. There was still a part of me that wanted to get with her. And for what? I’m supposed to be laying off, not hiring. She couldn’t take April’s spot, couldn’t even come close. So why? I have to keep telling myself that I have nothing to prove. Especially to myself. Yvette unlocked the car and I opened the door for her.
    “Thank you,” she said, and I started toward my car. “Nice car. I’ll see you around, Rick. I’ll call you sometime, just in case you change your mind.”
    “Anything’s possible, but I doubt it,” I threw out, got in my car and drove away. I was proud of myself. Kinda. She set it out and I didn’t jump all over it. But I wanted to. And that was the problem.

Vanessa
    On the way home from work later that evening, I got off the interstate and drove home slowly , trying to clear my head. I stopped at Kroger to pick up a couple of frozen pizza’s and some beer. I walked through the store, picked up what I came for, and headed for the register. I got in the so-called express line and waited, thinking what a joke it was calling it express. Then it happened, the customer at the register pulled out her checkbook and started writing. The lady in line ahead of me had only a box of precooked fried chicken. She let out a deep breath. I had been so preoccupied with my own issues that I failed to notice her, which was completely out of character for me, being the accomplished girl watcher that I am. She was wearing a black dress that she wore well. Hair cut in a sharp fade. She was a nice piece of business, with an ass that could stop traffic.
    She looked over her shoulder and rolled her dark eyes at me. She shifted her weight to one leg and let out another deep breath. “This seems to happen to me every time I come here,” she said quietly. Her lips were full and extremely sensual.
    “I know what you mean. The least she could do is have the check made out.”
    “Then all she would have to do is fill in the amount,” she came back quickly.
    “My name is Rick. And you are?”
    “Vanessa Howard,” she replied with a smile as the cashier scanned her boxed chicken.
    “You have a very pretty smile, Vanessa.”
    “Thank you,” Vanessa said, grabbing her bag. “Nice meeting you.” And she walked out of the store.
    Damn, Rick, is that the best you can do? You have a very pretty smile, Vanessa, I thought, as the cashier scanned my items. I paid for my stuff quickly and rushed out of the store in an attempt to catch her.
    When I got outside, I headed for my car and looked around for her as I walked. But there was no sign of her. After one last look around, I started for my car. While I was walking Vanessa pulled up alongside me and rolled down her window.
    “Hello again.”  
    “Hey,” she replied.
    “Check this out. I just bought some frozen pizza and you got some frozen fried chicken; it looks like we’re both planning a quiet evening at home in front of the TV. Why don’t we go somewhere and have something to eat. Have a drink or whatever.”
    “Whatever, huh? No, I don’t think so. Thanks for the offer, but I really think the quiet evening in front of the TV is what I need tonight.”
    “Maybe we can get together some other time.”
    “Well, give me your number.”
    “You got a pen?”
    “You don’t carry a pen. I thought men always carried a pen. Just in case.”
    “Just in case, huh?”
    “You know, in case they met someone.”
    “Yeah, well, I usually have a pen, but not necessarily for that reason,” I said with a very confident smile. She handed me a pen. I broke out one of my business cards and wrote my cell number on the back. I handed the card back to her.  
    She looked at it. “This