Trouble In Bloom Read Online Free PDF Page B

do for spring—maintenance on the tools, the equipment, things of that nature.
    "When do people start coming in?" Roxie asked.
    "On Mondays? Around nine or so."
    "Is it true all your employees are ex-cons?"
    "Not all." I opened the bottom drawer of my desk in need of a chocolate fix, despite my diet. Or maybe because of it.
    I stared into the empty drawer.
    No Almond Joys.
    Ever since I'd met Bobby last spring, he'd been send ing me my favorite candy bar. Right up until he left for Florida.
    Breaking up sucked.
    "Harvey and Shay have clean records, and as far as I know Ursula Krauss hasn't been arrested for anything. Yet." Shay Oshwalter and Harvey Goosey were the new hires. They'd fast become Kit groupies. It was hard not to—Kit had a way about him.
    "Ursula Krauss?"
    "To know her is to love her," I said. "You'll meet her on Wednesday. She works for me part-time, two days a week."
    "But everyone else?" Roxie said.
    I shrugged.
    "That's seven people out of ten."
    "I believe in second chances."
    "Oh, that's good. That last part will be a good sound bite." She jotted something in a small spiral bound notebook. "You got that, right?" she asked Nels.
    "Right." Nels dropped the camera from his eye. "Is it always this boring around here?"
    I smiled. "No. Enjoy it while it lasts."
    He looked like he didn't believe me. Poor guy.
    I double-checked my schedule for the day. Office meeting at nine-thirty, then a finalization meeting with Pippi Lowther at eleven-thirty. The rest of the afternoon was fairly free, though I hoped to have a much needed conversation with Deanna.
    The chimes on the front door rang out. "Hello! Anyone here? Well, of course there's someone here, the door's unlocked, and the lights are on! Nina?"
    Speak of the devil. I looked at the camera. "Deanna Parks."
    Deanna appeared in the doorway, looking young and fresh, with her blonde hair loosely pulled back, full makeup, and a cute little knee-length pencil skirt and beautiful cashmere wrap sweater.
    "Oh!" she said. "I forgot about the filming."
    My foot.
    "I brought doughnuts!"
    I noticed Nels sat a little straighter. I hoped because Deanna was adorable, and not for the doughnuts.
    Though I'd perked right up at the smell. My stomach growled. Maybe I could self-discover without being on a diet.
    Then I looked down and saw the tummy roll hanging over my jeans. I tried to suck it in, but it didn't budge.
    I really needed to go shopping for some looser shirts.
    Or actually start exercising.
    "Ready for the meeting?" Deanna asked.
    "Not yet. Still waiting for the others."
    "Where's Tam?" Deanna asked, mugging for the camera.
    "Don't know." I came around my desk. Out in the reception area, I checked the calendar on Tam's workspace. She was supposed to be in at seven-thirty. I hoped everything was okay. Tam was usually the first one in, the last one out.
    "Want me to call her?" Deanna asked.
    "Not yet. We'll give her some time."
    "I'm going to put these delicious Krispy Kreme dough nuts in the conference room," she said into the camera as if doing a commercial spot.
    I tried not to laugh—or to whimper. I bet there was a glazed doughnut in that box . . . "Oh," I said to her. "Can I have some time with you this afternoon?"
    Panic widened Deanna's eyes. "With me?"
    "Yes."
    "Why?"
    "I just have some ideas I want to run by you."
    The fear fled from her eyes, replaced with curiosity. "I have a meeting with Derrick Brandt at the nursery, but should be back by three. I can stick around till four at the latest, but then I have to pick up Lucah at day care."
    "Three's fine. Shouldn't take too long."
    Kit sauntered in, the chimes jangling his arrival.
    Roxie backed up, whether in fear or because Kit's six-foot- five, 250-pound frame took up a lot of room, I wasn't sure.
    Despite his somewhat unconventional looks and linebacker height and weight, Kit had a boy-next-door kind of face. Except for now. Now it looked like a serial-killernext-door kind of face.
    He glared into the