Page 58 of Help Wanted

Chapter 11

Kenley loved the feel of Zane’s rough hand in hers as they walked into the hospital. She needed a shower, but the excitement kept her from being self-conscious. For a little while at least.

As they took their seats in the waiting room, she realized she would be meeting Zane’s parents and she hadn’t even fixed her hair. They’d simply dressed and run out the door. She thought about changing on the way, but at the speed Zane had moved through the water, the ride was too bumpy. She’d thought it best to just stay seated and hold on.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” she said as she took a silent inventory of the items in her purse. Unfortunately the lipstick, mascara and powder were unable to perform the magic required to make her look glamourous. She ran her fingers through her hair and sighed at the borderline-presentable result.

She studied her reflection, looking for any change. She was no longer a virgin. She’d had sex. Multiple times. Yet she still looked the same, though a bit rumpled. She hadn’t known how she would feel afterward. She’d been so focused on getting to this point she didn’t know what she wanted now. She wouldn’t be opposed to a relationship with Zane.

They liked each other and worked well together. In more ways than one.

Still, she didn’t want to read more into it than a good time. She knew sex didn’t mean wedding bells. All these years her friends had teased her with the details of the physical sexual act, she found that had been the easier part.

Now she would be expected to know all the rules for their after-sex journey and she found she had no idea what to do. While she may have had sex, she was still a relationship virgin.

“God help me.” She sighed, taking one last look in the mirror.

She’d have to win over Zane’s parents with charm since looks were not in the works. Zane gave her a grin when she sat next to him. He didn’t seem to mind that she looked disheveled. Maybe because he was the one who had made her look that way.

“You look beautiful,” he said, making her face go hot. He’d gone to get food while she was attempting a miracle, so they shared a limp breakfast sandwich and a smashed Danish.

Two hours later he stopped in the middle of his lap in the waiting room. “Thanks for staying, but you can go home if you want. You can take my truck. I’ll catch a ride.”

“No way. I want to see the baby.” She waved in a motion to tell him he should continue his circuit. “I’ll be ready to call the florist the second they tell us she’s here.” Sidney had become a good friend during her training so of course she wanted to be there when the baby arrived.

She also wanted to be there for Zane, and she may have also been hoping they could go back to her place and have more sex after the baby was born. Maybe he was right about creating a monster. She couldn’t stop thinking about him on top of her.

“I was thinking, it might be best if we don’t tell my sister or the other guys,” he whispered.

“Because Brady will be jealous you never paid him the same attention?” she joked.

“I just think it would be better to keep work separate from personal.”

“Of course.” That made sense. As long as she got plenty of personal time, she could be a regular employee during work hours. That thought brought her up short. She’d lost her last job for sleeping with the boss’s husband. She hadn’t done it then. But now she was. What kind of repercussions would there be if things didn’t work out? She didn’t think he’d fire her, but wouldn’t it be awkward?

Another hour went by and other than a few updates from Zane’s brother-in-law, Tim, everything was quiet. It just gave Kenley more time to think and panic.

Finally Tim came out with a smile on his face.

“She’s here!” he said.

“Congratulations, man.” Zane shook Tim’s hand and patted him on the back.

“She’s perfect. They’re weighing her and cleaning her up then we’ll get you in to see her.”

“I’ll be waiting,” Zane said.

Tim’s face went white and he backed away quickly, heading for the restricted area behind the nurse’s station.

Kenley turned to see what the problem was at the same time she heard Zane mutter, “Oh shit. They’re here.”

A couple in their fifties walked steadily toward them. It looked like they were arguing as the bleached-blond woman’s face pinched up in a scowl.

“Well, did we miss it? Your father thought it would be nice to upgrade the rental, which took twenty minutes. If I missed the birth of my first grandchild by twenty minutes, you are dead to me, Randy.”

“Oh, it was more like forty-five minutes ago,” Zane said, saving his father. “Kenley, these are my parents, Randy and Diane. This is Kenley Carmichael. She works for me.” Kenley couldn’t help but notice he’d moved away from her.

“It’s nice to meet you both,” Kenley said, extending her hand as she nervously tucked her bed-mussed hair behind her ear. She had no experience with the Walk of Shame, especially not in front of parents. Her face felt like it was on fire.