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Freddie's Find Pt. 01

By: JewelTran



It was definitely a typical Monday morning!

Winifred Sommers just barely managed to catch herself before she sprawled across the New York City pavement. Freddie, as she preferred to be called, had been certain that the door to the "dinner only" restaurant, adjacent to the classy motel, would be locked. She hoped to jiggle the door enough to catch the attention of some early hour employee. After all, it was only 10:00 in the morning. So she really put her weight into pulling on the door - and she had plenty of weight to use.

But the door wasn't locked and it opened immediately when she pulled on it. The resulting backlash of force nearly knocked Freddie down. The shock caused her to yell out loud and now several people were staring at her like she was crazy as they quickly walked past her on the street. With as much dignity as she could muster, Freddie reached for the door again. This time she managed to get inside without mishap - well, almost.

Freddie's eyes had barely adjusted to the light when she saw a huge stack of boxes flying through the air straight for her. Freddie only had time to reach up and cover herself with her hand before the stack came tumbling down around her.

When she heard the last box land, Freddie realized that she had shut her eyes in anticipation of being hit by the boxes. She heard a deep, masculine voice said, "Damn, damn, damn!" Freddie chanced opening her eyes and peered into the semi-darkness. Right in front of her, separated by a sea of boxes, stood one of the best looking delivery men she had ever seen. Freddie grimaced as she realized that her entry had probably been what had distracted him and caused him to trip. She smiled her best apologetic smile and bent to pick up the box closest to her.

"What do you think you are doing?" the man asked her irately.

Freddie rolled her eyes and then looked up at him. "Well, unless you think that you have these boxes so well trained that they will jump back into your arms, it looks like you could use some help carrying them. If you hadn't been trying to carry them all in one load, you wouldn't have spilled them all!"

The man's face contorted with annoyed shock as he stood looking down at the woman bent over picking up boxes. "If I hadn't . . . why, you . . . oh, forget it!" he bellowed.

Freddie just smiled sweetly up at him. "Maybe you would like to start picking up a few yourself? Then you can show me where you were trying to go. With my help, you might even make it there this time!"

Although he continued to snarl at her, he did begin picking up the boxes closest to him. They worked in silence until they had all of the boxes in their arms, then, without a word, the delivery guy started across the room toward a storage closet.

As she followed him, Freddie watched the man in front of her. He was tall, at least 6'3". And he filled out his height nicely. He certainly wasn't a lightweight. His dark hair and dark eyes seemed to glow in the soft light of the restaurant. His jeans hugged his backside with well worn loving care. Freddie noticed his cowboy boots and almost laughed out loud - yeah, he looked like he would be more at home on a horse than in a five star dining establishment. But with his looks, he could also easily be on the cover of a magazine.

Freddie sighed, knowing that this man wasn't very amused by her presence, let alone interested in her attraction. "And just for your information," he suddenly said, as though they had been having an ongoing conversation, "I wasn't trying to carry all of the boxes in one load. This happens to be my fifth and final trip!"

Freddie tried not to laugh at his exasperated tone. He was obviously sick and tired of carrying boxes and she hadn't made things any easier for him. She decided not to reply to his comment. She just strengthened her resolve to help him get the boxes put away.

When they entered the storeroom, the man went straight over to a set of shelves on the opposite wall. He dropped the boxes he was carrying in front of the wall unit and then began placing them in the appropriately marked spots. Freddie noticed that her boxes seemed to contain paper towels, so she moved over to put them on the correct shelves.

After they had worked together in silence for a few minutes, the man looked over at Freddie. "Look, I'm sorry about being so snappy. I'm just hot and tired. I don't mean to be a pain. What are you doing here, anyway? The restaurant doesn't open until 5:00." Freddie smiled over at the man. Even with the lines of exhaustion creasing his face, he was incredibly handsome.

"Well, to tell you the truth, I was hoping to get a job. I've just come into town and I thought I might stick around awhile if I could get some work. Of course, I didn't plan on making work for myself by causing you to drop all of these supplies. That was just an added bonus!" she answered teasingly. The man looked slightly taken aback, almost as though she had caused him to be wary of her.

"So what made you choose this place?" he asked.

Freddie gave a small laugh and grinned impishly, "Can you keep a secret?" The man looked at her like she was crazy. But she continued anyway, "Over at the motel where I'm staying, when I was checking in, there were two ladies over in the corner - you know the type - really dressed to the nines and full of themselves. They were discussing current and future male conquests. They mentioned several names that I've heard, like in the news and on TV, as having been their most recent dates. But then both of them started to really get hot and bothered when they began talking about this restaurant and motel. Apparently the owner of this place is just, well, to quote them, "to die for!" And neither one of them seemed to have been able to catch his eye. So, I figured that, being a good, red blooded American girl, I'd come check him out. Couldn't hurt, maybe I'd get a job and I'd get to see a real live hunk as well - at least according to my informants!"

The man rolled his eyes, "So do you plan on trying to 'catch' him, too?"

This time, Freddie laughed outright. "Yeah, right! That's the kind of man I would go for! Look at me. Do I look like the kind of woman who would turn that kind of man's head? No way."

The man just kept staring at Freddie. Although it wasn't in her nature to be so comfortable and open with a stranger, she decided to continue. "I'm just me, you know," she said. "I'm built like a Mack truck and only 'cute' on the best of days. Don't get me wrong - I will enjoy seeing Mr. Owner, but, honestly, that's not what I'm looking for in life. I would hate to date somebody like that. It would really get to me after awhile - all those women fawning all over him, them wondering what he sees in me and how I managed to snag him. I'm not up to that kind of critic."

The delivery man continued to stack up his boxes as he looked at her with a somewhat speculative look in his eyes. The silence became uncomfortable to Freddie, so she said, "So, do you know the owner?"

The man nodded his head, "Yeah, I've met him."

"Well???" Freddie said.

"Well, what?" the man asked.

"Well??? Is he really all that impressive? You know - is he drop dead gorgeous?"

This time, it was the man who laughed, "Lady, that's a loaded question, and I'm not about to answer it!"

Freddie joined in with his laughter, "You're right - dumb question to ask a guy."

The man stopped working with his boxes and put his hands on his hips. He pursed his lips together and looked as though he were contemplating something. Freddie noticed that he had quit moving and she looked over at him. "What's up?" she asked.

Although he looked uncomfortable, the man finally said, "Be honest with me here - isn't it really the guy's money that weirds you out? Or are you serious about worrying how you would look next to him?"

Freddie grimaced, "Sometimes I say what I'm thinking without considering how other people will hear it. I guess my logic does sound kinda weird to you, but I am serious about the looks - and I'm not fishing for compliments, either, if that's what you're thinking. I know what I look like. And I kinda like being me - short and stout - you know, like the little teapot in that kids nursery rhyme! It makes people more comfortable around me. They aren't always trying to impress me. Like the owner of this place. I doubt if anybody ever just acts normal around him. If those two ladies were any indication, I bet he hasn't been out on a date just for fun in a really long time. He has to constantly be wondering what the woman wants from him when he's out with her."

Freddie knew that was quiet some speech she had just given the delivery man. But he had asked. Freddie went back to stacking boxes as again the silence lengthened. Finally , she turned to face her companion, deciding to change the subject. "Do you know if the owner is here today?" she asked.

"Yeah, he's here," came the unenthusiastic reply, as the man turned away from her to face the shelves.

"Could you point me in the direction that you last saw him? Is he in his office?" Freddie asked, confused by the man's sudden sullenness.

"No, he's working on the inventory, and he's really busy," answered the man, in an offhanded fashion.

"Oh," Freddie said disappointedly. "Man, I was really hoping to talk to him about that job."

Freddie was just about ready to give up when the delivery guy said, "Look, I know it isn't what you had planned for your day, but I work here in the motel and restaurant. I have to go pick up some more supplies for this place and my assistant called in sick. I could use your help if you are interested. I can hire you for the day."

Freddie's face lit up like the Fourth of July! "I'd love to help you! I don't want to do anything until I talk to the owner of this place anyway, and I could sure use the cash. New York City isn't cheap!"

Of course, Freddie was also thinking about how much she would enjoy spending time with such a good looking guy. She had meant what she said about not being interested in dating guys who could do runway work as a model, but spending the afternoon with one sounded like fun. Especially when she had a job to do, so it wouldn't be like she was forcing herself on him. After all, he had asked her to help, not the other way around. Yeah, it sounded like a great idea!

The man stuck out his hand and said, "I'm King Griffin."

Freddie took his hand and said, "I'm Freddie." She noticed that he breathed a big sigh at her response and she wondered what that had been about. But before she had time to ask, King was turning off the lights in the closet and heading for the front door. Freddie had to practically run to keep up with him.

When they got outside, Freddie looked up and down the street. There wasn't a delivery truck anywhere to be seen. "So, do you ride your broom to make these deliveries?" she asked with a smile on her face.

When King threw back his head and laughed, Freddie almost choked on the air she was trying to breath. His face was so incredibly handsome when he smiled that it caused the air that was going into her lungs to clash with the air suddenly coming out of her lungs, resulting in the need to cough to cover up her reaction. Maybe this wasn't such a great idea.

But it was too late to change her mind, because King was already walking around the corner of the building and out of sight. Freddie hurried to follow him and the thought briefly crossed her mind that she hoped she wouldn't have to chace him all afternoon. She was brought up short when she entered the alley and saw King getting into an old pickup truck. Raising her voice, she yelled to him over the noise of the traffic, "A pickup? Where's your delivery truck?"

King just looked sheepish and smiled, motioning for her to get in. Well, it wasn't like it was the first pickup Freddie had ever been in, so shrugging her shoulders, she climbed into the passenger side.

King pulled into the New York traffic. Freddie sent up a quick prayer as a taxi cut them off with less than inches to spare, screeching to a halt at the curb in front of them. King didn't even look perplexed as he expertly wheeled the truck around the cab and continued down the road, as if that was how everyone drove. Freddie said, "You know, no matter how long I live here, I don't think I could ever get used to driving up here."

King glanced over at her before turning his attention back to the road. "Let me guess," he said, "North Carolina or Georgia?"

Freddie grinned in pride, "Is it that obvious? North Carolina."

"Well," King said, "the accent does give you away."

"So how about you?" Freddie asked.

It was King's turn to grin. "What do you think?" he asked.

"The drawl sure ain't New York!" Freddie responded. "Let's see," she continued, "maybe Texas?"

King looked at her and nodded, "Bingo! I'm impressed. I didn't think you Carolina girls had much ability to distinguish the different accents."

Freddie looked at him suspiciously. "Just how many of us 'Carolina' girls do you know?"

King laughed out loud then said, "Well, I might be from Texas, but I got my degree from N.C. State."

Freddie squealed in delight, "No kidding?!? So did I! I can't believe this. When were you there?"

King looked as though he were doing some quick mental math and said, "I was there from 1990 until 1995. I got my degree in engineering and hooked up with the guys from Red Hat. You ever heard of them?"

Freddie just shook her head in amusement, "Yeah, like everybody hasn't heard of Red Hat! Are you serious? How long did you work there? When did you move up here?"

The traffic seemed to suddenly get tricky and it took King several minutes before he answered. "Well, I stuck around until they went public then closed up shop and headed up here."

Freddie sensed that King wasn't telling her the whole story, but she wasn't sure she should pry into his personal life. She decided that she would let him know that she was interested and see if he wanted to talk anymore. "What was up here for you?" she asked.

Again, King looked over at her. This time, he seemed to be trying to ascertain her intentions. He apparently got the answer he was looking for. He said, "My mom died my last year at NC State. I had never known who my dad was. But on her deathbed, my mom decided to tell me. She gave me his name and told me that she had never told him about me. He had no idea he had a son. It took me several years to work up the courage to get in touch with him. Then I found out that not only did I have a dad, but I also had a brother and some other family, and they all really wanted to get to know me."

King continued, "It was hard at first for me to accept them, but I had to keep reminding myself that my dad hadn't known about me. He hadn't chosen to not be a part of my life. My mom had made that decision for him. Of course, as a married man, he shouldn't have been having an affair with my mom. He hadn't told her he was married and when she found out, she ran away. Only later did she realize she was pregnant. She decided that she would raise me on her own. She was a great mom. We lived on a ranch in Texas where she was the housekeeper. The rancher had three sons about my age. For all practical purposes, it was like living with an extended family. I didn't lack for anything. At least, not until Mom died. Then I realized how much I missed having a real family. It helped when my folks up here opened their lives up to me."

Freddie had remained silent throughout his story. He hadn't looked at her as he had shared his history and Freddie wondered if he was testing her to see what her response would be. Freddie decided that King wasn't the kind of man who would want sympathy or pity, not that she had really heard anything in his story that made her feel that way toward him. She decided to just go with what she was feeling rather than try to make up something she thought he would like to hear.

Freddie said, "You're really lucky to have the chance to get to know them. Do all of them still live here in New York?"

The look that King shot her told her that she had given the right response. He answered her, "My brother lives here. My dad has a home here, but he travels a lot. The rest of the group is around here, too." Freddie again felt like there was more that King wasn't saying, but she wasn't sure she wanted to take another chance on asking him just yet.

"So do you miss the South?" Freddie asked, changing the subject.

King seemed to understand and followed her train of thought. "Yeah, I loved it. But I love it here, too. Life's real different up here. So what's your story?"

For a moment, Freddie considered shrugging the question off, but King had just opened himself up to her and she felt that she owed him a response. "Well, I grew up in North Carolina - up in the mountains on a farm. My dad died while I was in high school and my mom died my first year in college. I had enough money to pay for two years of school, but then I had to work my way through. It took me a little longer - I ended up at State from 1994 until 2000, but I got my degree."

Freddie uttered a short laugh before she continued, "A lot of good that did me, though. I got a degree in Philosophy. Not a lot of jobs have the pre-requisite of a Philosophy degree! So, I decided to bring my degree and my five years of restaurant experience up here to the Big Apple and see what happens." Freddie knew she had just skimmed the surface of her past, but she was hoping it was enough.

Clearly, it wasn't. King shot Freddie a questioning look, "Tell me about your family."

Freddie really didn't want to talk about her family, but, again, King had shared with her about his. So, she took a deep breath and began, "My parents were - well, they were - aw, hell. I don't know. My dad was an abusive jerk and my mom did the best she could to keep the rest of us alive. It was a lousy way to grow up and I was glad to pack my bags and get out of there. I wanted to go somewhere where no body knew me, or my family. I wanted to get away from everything in my past. Of course, I found that the past goes with you, no matter where you go. But, at least I didn't have to live in it anymore. I was glad my dad was gone, but I missed my mom after she died. Her death severed my ties to my hometown, though. So I never have to feel a need to go back. Now, I can just keep going forward."

Freddie wasn't sure how she was expecting King to react, but she was relieved when he merely nodded and didn't say anything. A few minutes passed as they continued to drive through the city. Suddenly, King pointed out the window and said, "There's where we are going."

Freddie looked out the window and saw a sign designating the Bowling Green Farmer's Market. King said, "It's a greenmarket. That means that all the stuff here comes from local farmers. The project guarantees that I can buy fresh, local produce, and gives our small family farmers the opportunity to sell their stuff in a regulated environment. The greenmarket's goal is to support farmers and preserve farmland for the future. But I'm mostly interested because the produce and breads are the best around. Reach in the glove box there and pull out my list. Then, let's hit the stalls!"

Freddie climbed out of the truck and started toward the stalls. Each one was filled with things that made her mouth water. From tomatoes and corn fresh out of the field to breads and sweets fresh out of the kitchen, everything was tempting. Freddie handed King the list and began wandering through the market on her own. At one end, there were fresh wildflowers. After admiring them and complementing the lady running the booth, Freddie moved on. She stopped several times to talk to the vendors. She ended up getting free samples of several different fruits that were in season, and even bought a small bag of dried vegetable soup.


Freddie's Find Pt. 01



As Freddie stood discussing the weather with a man who was selling strawberries, King came up behind her. He listened to them for a few minutes, then said, "Freddie, I have found what I was looking for. Can I get you to help me load the things up?"

Freddie blushed in embarrassment. She said, "Oh, King! I'm sorry! I completely forgot why we came here! Of course I'll help you." She turned and said good-bye to the seller and followed King toward his truck.

When they got to the truck, King said, "If you'll get up in the truck bed, I'll hand the stuff up to you and you can stack it." He had bought lots of fresh vegetables and fruits as well as two boxes full of breads.

By the time that they had all of the boxes loaded, the back of the truck was full. "Wow," Freddie said, "You seemed to know exactly how much would fit back here. I bet you've done this before," she teased.

King just laughed as he reached up and put his hands on her waist. Freddie froze at the contact and her breath caught in her chest. King didn't seem to notice as he lifted her out of the truck bed and set her down on the ground. When he turned to walk around the truck, Freddie tried to get her composure back. She wasn't used to being touched by men, let alone men like King. And she sure wasn't used to anyone picking her up like she weighed no more than a feather.

When she stepped around the side of the truck, King was standing beside the passenger door, holding it open for Freddie. He looked at her somewhat puzzled and Freddie knew it was because she was still flushed from his touch. She really didn't want to tell him what was wrong, so she jumped into the truck and pulled the door shut behind her. King momentarily frowned at her, then he shrugged his shoulders and went around the truck to the driver's side.

By the time that King had cranked the truck, Freddie had managed to calm down enough to risk talking to him. She said, "Are there any more supplies we need to pick up?"

King shot her a quizzical look and said, "Not really. Why?"

Freddie answered, "Well, to tell you the truth, the free samples back there made me realize how hungry I am. I was hoping that if we had to go somewhere else, I could grab a bite of lunch."

King looked perplexed for a moment, then his face burst into that breathtaking smile. He said, "I know! We'll go back to the restaurant and unload this produce and I'll make us some lunch!"

Freddie looked at him skeptically, "You'll make us lunch?"

King winked at her and said, "So you don't think I can do it, huh?" Freddie just looked at him with uncertainty. King laughed and said, "You just wait! I'll knock your socks off, girl!"

Freddie decided it was best if King didn't know that he had already knocked her socks off. He was way more than she had expected - way more sweet, way more open and way more attractive. Freddie kept reminding herself that King was a new friend and that was all, but her heart kept sending up wishes that he could be more.

While Freddie was still pondering how to keep her emotions in check, King said, "So, what kind of food do you like?"

Freddie rolled her eyes and laughed, "Isn't it pretty obvious that I like most kinds of food?"

King looked at her in confusion, "Why do you say that?"

Freddie shook her head, "King, I've already told you, I'm ok with how I look. You don't need to act like you haven't noticed how big I am."

It was King's turn to shake his head. He shot her an irritated look and said, "You know, I don't think you are as ok with yourself as you say you are. I've only known you a few hours and you have mentioned your weight several times. I happen to see a lot more when I look at a person than what size they are."

Freddie bowed her head. She knew that King was right. She had long ago realized that she used her body size to test people when she first met them. If the person shrugged off her comments, she would let her guard down quicker around them. If they immediately launched into a diatribe of the latest diets on the market, she usually wrote them off as serious friends. But even Freddie admitted to herself that she wasn't in the habit, though, of continuing to bring it up as she had done with King. She wondered what it was about King's opinion that mattered so much to her. She hated to think that she was so vane that, just because King was handsome, she wanted him to tell her that he liked her the way she was. But she wasn't sure that wasn't true.

Without raising her head, Freddie said, "I'm sorry." She continued, "You're right and I'm out of line. Please forgive me for putting you into an awkward situation."

When King laughed, Freddie looked up at him in confusion. He just smiled and said, "That comment wasn't made to make you feel like you were on trial! I just noticed, that's all. It's ok, I'm not going to hold it against you."

Freddie breathed a sigh of relief. She was glad that King wasn't upset at her. She really liked his company and she didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable around her. "So," she said, "What's for lunch?"

"You still haven't told me what kinds of food that you like. Chinese? Italian? Greek?"

Freddie's whole face conveyed her amazement. "You can cook all of those?" she asked.

King threw back his head and laughed loudly. Then he said, "Well, actually, no. You're going to get a pasta salad with stir fried chicken and veggies added into it. It's the only thing I can cook - but we could add some Chinese spices, or Italian bread or Greek grape leaves, if it would make you feel more catered to!"

Freddie laughed at him. "You are a nut!" she said fondly.

CHAPTER TWO

When they got back to the restaurant, King parked in the alley again. Freddie helped him unload all of the boxes inside the restaurant door. Then they started carrying them into the kitchen. Once inside the kitchen, Freddie was very impressed with the various gourmet equipment and large appliances. King moved around the kitchen, seemingly very comfortable with his surroundings. After all the boxes had been carried in, he showed Freddie where to put the produce as he set about whipping up their lunch.

"King, does the owner not care that the delivery guy cooks in his kitchen?" Freddie called from inside the vegetable pantry. When King didn't immediately reply, Freddie stuck her head around the door to look at him. He looked rather perplexed. Before he could answer though, another delivery man, this one in a uniform, entered the kitchen.

"Hi there!" the newcomer said, "I've got some boxes of meat and seafood. Where do you want me to put them?" King turned away from Freddie to show the delivery man where to put his shipment. Freddie watched King for a moment more before she returned to her own pantry. She was surprised that King was the one responsible for this delivery, too, but, after their earlier excursion, she figured he must be the employee in charge of all of the deliveries and supplies for the restaurant.

After the man had stored the meat and seafood, King signed his invoice and sent him off with a thank you. Freddie had finished stocking the vegetables and fruits. So now she was perched on a stool near the counter where King was chopping up the various pieces that would make up their lunch. She grabbed a carrot that he hadn't sliced yet and began munching on it.

"So," she asked, "Can you put in a good word for me with the Big Guy?"

In rapid fire motion, King's head jerked up and he said, "What???"

Freddie frowned at his reaction, then said, "Are you ok? I'm sorry, I was just kidding. You don't really have to say anything to the owner about me. I was just making conversation."

King's face relaxed and he laughed, "Oh. Ok. Well, if it would help, I can put in my two cents worth when the time comes." Then he grabbed a pan from a collection hanging from a ceiling rack. After adding olive oil, he threw in the other ingredients. Freddie watched in amazement as he handled the stir fry with expert ease. When he noticed her gaze, he chuckled. "I told you this was the only thing I could cook. I've gotten pretty good at it over the years!" Freddie just smiled and shook her head at his humor.

With King's directions, Freddie managed to find the plates and some silverware for them to use. King dished them both up a plate of food that had Freddie's mouth watering. When she snuck a quick bite, she closed her eyes and moaned as she savored the flavors. "You out did yourself, cowboy," she said. King looked pleased and went to grab a couple of cokes out of the cooler in the employees' lounge.

Earlier, when she had been loading in the vegetables, Freddie had spied some slices of cheesecake in the fridge. She went over and pulled out two pieces and put them near their plates. King nodded his head in approval when he returned with their drinks. Freddie had found another stool as well, and King joined her at the counter. He popped open his drink can and held it up to toast Freddie's. She gave him a quizzical look as she raised her can to his. King said, "Here's to NC State graduates who risk it all in the Big Apple!"

Freddie added, "Here, here!" as they started to eat.

During their meal, Freddie asked King about his brother. King's face broke into a huge grin. He said, "Ryan, that's my brother, was this babe magnet. He must have dated every socialite in New York state and a few from out of state. He actually had women who would plan their entire vacations to come here and try to get a date with him. He was something else on the dating scene. Then, about a year ago, my dad's arch rival had this secretary. She wouldn't give Ryan the time of day. Seems she didn't date much and wasn't interested in just being another of his 'conquests'. She got under Ryan's skin so bad! Finally, her boss tried to cut a really shady deal on a contract he had. It was the break Ryan was looking for. When Jessica called up my dad to ask him to help her do the right thing about her boss, Ryan offered to help. Between the two of them, they managed to not only stop her boss, but to have several corporations, whose work ethics were questionable, get a public reprimand from the District Attorney's office."

For a moment, King seemed lost in thought, as he came to the end of his story. But Freddie's mind was swirling. She remembered the case last summer where the New York City DA's office had gotten involved with the biggest corporations in the fishing industry. If King was talking about the same story, that put his daddy as one of the richest men in the state. Freddie remembered what the news had reported about the two people who had brought down Hewitt Corp. Along with a willing and brave young woman, there was a man who backed her in her accusations. That man was the son of Alexander Solomon. Everyone knew that Solomon Enterprises not only dealt with the seafood business, but also with a multi-million dollar import and export conglomerate. Freddie looked at King suspiciously. Just who was this delivery man?

King resumed his story, apparently oblivious to the implications of what he had just revealed to Freddie. He continued, "By the time the dust settled, Ryan had convinced Jessica to date him. Suddenly, this man who had gone out with a different woman every night, was throwing away his little black book and renting DVDs to watch at home after eating dinner in each night. And, you know, I've never seen him so happy. They got married about three months ago and I'd swear they are still on their honeymoon."

Freddie hadn't said anything. King looked over at her with a worried expression, "What's the matter? Did I say something wrong?"

"No," Freddie said quickly. "No, of course not. I just was caught up in your story. So why don't you work for your dad?"

"I wanted to make my own way, you know? I wanted to prove myself without his influence. I've done pretty well," King answered, shrugging his shoulders.

Now Freddie was way beyond suspicious. King was not a simple delivery man. Something was up and Freddie aimed to figure out what it was. Watching carefully for his reaction, she said, "So how long have you worked here?"

King looked around at the kitchen with a fondness in his eyes. He said, "I've been working at this place about two years now. I like how it's coming along."

When Freddie cleared her throat, she noticed that King suddenly shot her a wide eyed glance that Freddie thought looked somewhat akin to a guilty look. Summing up her information in her head, Freddie realized that King wasn't a delivery man at all - King owned this place. She decided to play along a little longer. "So tell me about the owner. You said that you know him. Do you think he can find a job for me here? Do you think he will like me?" she asked, batting her eyes playfully at King.

King began to look uncomfortable. He mumbled, "I don't know. I'm not sure what he will think of you. Maybe you should come back tomorrow and try to see him then."

When King picked up his plate and headed to the sink, Freddie narrowed her eyes and sharpened her attack. Quietly, she maneuvered herself into position right behind King. After he rinsed off his plate, he turned around right into her. With their bodies touching, Freddie looked up at him with her most sultry look. "I'll just do anything for a job, King. Do you think maybe you could help me out - put in that good word for me? Please?"

King tried to step back, but he was against the sink. He couldn't move forward, because Freddie was there. He was trapped and he was beginning to look panicked. Freddie just continued to smile sweetly up at him as she ran her hands up his chest toward his neck. "Honestly," she said, "please King. I really need the job. And you have been so honest and straightforward with me. I just know that everybody realizes how truthful of a person you are and what a wonderful judge of character you are. I'm sure that the owner would listen to you - you being such an upright employee who would never deceive anyone or stretch the truth. Please King?"

Freddie's hands had wound themselves around King's neck by this point. That was no small feat since he was at least a foot taller than her. But she had managed to pull him down toward her enough to get ahold of him. King seemed to be frozen in place, completely unsure of what to do next. Freddie moved her mouth to the side of his head and whispered in his ear, "So, pretty please? Or were you planning on telling me anytime soon that you were the owner?"

As soon as she said it, she yanked her arms from around his neck, pushed at his chest and stepped back two paces so she could glare into his face. She crossed her arms across her chest and gave him her coldest stare.

King started to sputter out a response, but before he could get a full sentence out, Freddie had spun on her heel and headed out of the kitchen. Before she could reach the door, though, King moved to intercept her. His long legs gave him the advantage and he got there before her. He blocked the doorway and stopped her exit, "Oh, no you don't! You can't come in here, spend the day with me, eat my food and tell me that I'm the best looking man in town and then tuck tail and run when the going gets a little tough!"

Freddie's mouth fell open in surprise. "When the going gets tough? You don't know what you are talking about!" she said indignantly.

King continued to block the door with his body, so Freddie couldn't leave. He leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms. "Look", he said, "I'm sorry about not telling you. But if I had told you, you would have asked for a job and left. I really did need help today getting the deliveries and you have to admit that you had a good time. You got to see some of New York and I got the help I needed. Not to mention that I served you an incredible gourmet lunch!"

Freddie tried to look angry, but she didn't really have it in her to stay mad long. Since she couldn't come up with anything to say to him that wouldn't betray the fact that she was no longer mad, she struck her own pose with her hands on her hips and refused to answer him. King grinned and stuck out his hand. He said, "Ok. Let's start over. I'm Kingsley Griffin. My friends call me King."

Freddie ignored his hand and shot him a look which she hoped said she still wasn't completely over being fooled and said coolly, "Well, perhaps I should stick with calling you Mr. Griffin!"

King dropped his hand and threw back his head and laughed. Freddie tried not to think about how much she liked seeing him laugh. "You certainly have a way about you, Ms. - Hey, you didn't tell me what your last name was."

Freddie looked at him coolly and didn't answer. King said, "Come on, Freddie. Don't hold out on me now. I want to know your name, and you have to admit that, although you just met me today, even you realize that I usually get what I want."

Freddie sighed loudly and shook her head, "Not very original, Mr. Griffin. I don't have to tell you anything!"

King narrowed his eyes and looked at her suspiciously, "Do you have something to hide? Is there some reason you don't want me to know who you are? Because if there isn't, I think you better tell me. It's going to be kind of difficult to work here with me not knowing what your last name is."

With a smug smile, Freddie said, "Maybe you should just try yelling, 'hey, you'. I'm sure I'll recognize your voice and come running."

King just shook his head, "Ok, I deserved that. Now, what's your name?"

Freddie knew that she had pushed King about as far as she should if she wanted to work in the restaurant. Deciding it was time to give in, she stuck out her hand and said, "Mr. Kingsley Griffin, I'm Freddie Sommers. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

King took her hand and gave it a firm shake. But he didn't release it immediately, nor did he break eye contact with Freddie. The lightness of the moment seemed to evaporate. For a few moments, it seemed that time stood still for Freddie as her hand tingled in his grasp. It reminded her of when he had touched her waist at the greenmarket. Finally, Freddie dropped her eyes and King dropped her hand. "Well," King said, clearing his throat, "Freddie Sommers, when would you like to start working?"

Freddie grimaced, "I have about enough money to make it another two days in the motel where I'm staying. I only got in there out of the mercy of a friend of the family and even their cut rate is killing me! So I really need to start as soon as possible. Is that ok?"

King thought for a minute before seeming to make a decision. He nodded his head as he said, "If you are going to be working here, it only makes sense that you move into the motel here. A couple of my employees share a suite of rooms that open into a common area with a kitchen. It's nothing too classy, but it's comfortable and you don't have to worry too much about getting to work on time! There is an empty room in the suite right now, so you could move in today, if you want. I'll call Jess and see if she can come over in a little while and show you the ropes, ok?"

Freddie looked confused for a moment. She said, "Who's Jess?"

King said, "That's my sister that I was telling you about. The one who married Ryan."

Freddie frowned up at King and said, "King, why would Jessica come and show me how to work here?"

King laughed, "Oh, yeah. I guess I left out that little detail. When Jessica lost her job with Hewitt Corporation, she needed to work. She insisted that I give her a job here. It just about killed Ryan that she was in here with all the male clientele, but she was incredible. When they got married, she turned in her notice. She works with Ryan now, down at my dad's headquarters. I thought maybe she could show you around here, though, and answer any questions that you might have. How does that sound?"





Freddie's Find Pt. 01



Freddie was staring at him in amazement, "You just solved all of my immediate problems with one smooth move and you want to know how that sounds? It sounds great! I'll be back in about an hour with my stuff."

"How are you going to get your suitcases over here?", King asked, wondering why it was going to take her a whole hour. When Freddie lowered her eyes and he saw the color flood her cheeks, he realized that she was planning on carrying them to his motel. The motel she was staying at was several miles away. He just shook his head, "No - that won't do. Here, take the pick up." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys.

Freddie frowned up at him, "Look, you just met me, we are in New York City and you have to be crazy! I told you that I would never learn to drive up here. I'm not about to take your truck, and you shouldn't be offering it to me, King. Have you lost your mind? What if I wreck the truck? Or what if everything I've told you is a lie and I steal your truck?"

King just laughed and said, "You are right. I'll just have to take you myself." Then he turned and began making his way across the restaurant.

"Wait!" Freddie called after him, trying to keep up with his long legged pace. "Will you slow down? You don't need to take me - I'll manage on my own!"

When King reached the door into the motel, he suddenly stopped. Freddie was so busy arguing that she didn't notice that he wasn't moving. Before she knew what was happening, she barreled into his back. Even at full speed, she barely made him even budge. She frowned up at the back of his head and went to move around him to continue their discussion. That's when she heard the voice.

"Darling! What on earth are you doing in those clothes?" came the high pitched, indignant question. Since Freddie was fairly well hidden in the shadows, she boldly looked King up and down and shook her head. If this lady didn't like the way he looked in these clothes, she was out of her mind! King was a walking dream come true in those jeans, tight, black tee shirt and cowboy boots. When she looked up at King's face, she was surprised to see him looking at her, not at the newcomer. And the amused look in his eyes told her that he had more than understood the lusty look she had just shot him.

Before King had a chance to make a comment to either of the women, though, the lady who was demanding his attention spoke again, "King, darling. We are going to be late. Can't you hurry up and . . . change???"

King looked confused, "Late for what, Leona?"

With a dramatic roll of her eyes, the lady answered him, "Our late luncheon date? Lunch with Daddy? King, don't tell me you have forgotten. Daddy is so looking forward to finally meeting you. He's just dying to get to know his future son!"

Freddie, who had stayed in the shadows, raised her eyebrows in question. Leona seemed to notice that King kept looking into the dark restaurant. Exasperated, she finally said, "King, what is in there that is so interesting? Why do you keep looking in there? What's going on?"

Freddie shot King and apologetic look and shrugged her shoulders before she stepped into the light of the doorway. "Sorry ma'am to have kept Mr. Griffin. I was asking about a job and I'm afraid I might have distracted him from getting ready for your date. I apologize."

One of Leona's eyebrows raised as the other lowered. Freddie would have sworn that Leona's lips were going to freeze in the snarl that contorted her face. It was obvious that she found Freddie less than desirable company for her fiancee. Leona turned on King, "You have held me up over her? King, you must be kidding!"

King's eyes narrowed as he looked at Leona. Freddie was glad she wasn't receiving that look from him. It made her cringe just to be in the same room. Finally, King said, "I'm sorry Leona. Something has come up that I can't avoid. I'm going to have to cancel on you. Please tell your father how sorry I am."

Without even waiting for Leona to respond, King took Freddie by the arm and began hustling her across the lobby. Freddie could hear Leona making all kinds of indignant sounds behind them before the door closed. Then all Freddie could hear was the New York traffic.

"Look, King," Freddie said as King pulled her into the alley, "I can take care of getting my own luggage. You don't need to do this. Anyway, you obviously had other plans. Let me handle this on my own." King unlocked the passenger side door and opened it. He still hadn't released Freddie's arm, so he used that advantage to push her into the truck. He slammed the door shut and headed around the truck. Freddie was looking at him with all the exasperation she was feeling. "Why are you doing this?" she asked. King just shook his head and silently pulled into the traffic.

After several minutes, King looked over at Freddie. She was still looking at him. Their eyes met briefly and then King turned back to the road. He said, "I already ate lunch, I don't want to eat again. Anyway, if you are going to get trained tonight, you need to get your stuff as quickly as possible. This is the best way." Freddie just shook her head in amazement, but she didn't say anything else.

After they picked up her suitcases and checked her out of the motel, King helped her put her stuff into the truck. The ride back to King's restaurant and motel was completed in silence. Freddie was saddened that their easy camaraderie of the morning seemed to have been lost. She wasn't sure if it was because she knew who King was now, or if it had been Leona's visit, but whatever it was, it had stolen King's good mood.

When they got back to the motel, King went over to the desk to grab a key to the employee suite. Freddie heard him curse then yell, "Joanna, where's the key to the #4 employee room?"

Joanna, a very attractive 20 something year old, turned the corner to answer King. Her eyes were wide with hesitation or fear - Freddie couldn't be sure which. "Mr. Griffin?" Joanna asked, "Didn't you hire Esmerelda Fernandez and give her that room?"

King frowned and said, "Esmerelda Fernandez? Who is that?"

Joanna rolled her eyes and sighed. Then she muttered, "I knew I shouldn't trust that woman."

King shook his head impatiently. He said, "What woman, Joanna?"

Joanna looked him in the eye. "Ms. Leona White informed me that it was your wish that her maid's sister be employed here and have room #4 as her living quarters." Again, Freddie heard King curse. Joanna asked, "What should I do Mr. Griffin? Do you want me to call up to the suite and have Esmerelda leave?"

King sighed in frustration, "No. We can use her in the motel. I can't throw her out just because Leona has put us in a bad situation. Don't worry, Joanna. You didn't know. Just don't Leona run over you any more. Anything she tells you, assure her that you need the information to come directly from me before it is carried out, ok?"

King turned to look at Freddie, who had simply stood in the background during his conversation with Joanna. Freddie said, "It's ok, King. I can find another place to stay."

King frowned at her and said, "Do you think I only have one room that I can offer you? I have a single room with a kitchenette that you can use. I just wanted you to be in the suite so you could get to know the other employees quicker. This way, you'll just have to take it upon yourself to get to know the other guys. But you do have a place to stay - don't worry about that."

After retrieving a different key, King grabbed Freddie's bags and headed toward the elevator. "King, I really can carry my own bags!" Freddie said. She noticed that Joanna's eyebrows raised slightly when she saw the familiarity between Freddie and King. Freddie didn't have time to ponder that, though, because King was getting onto the elevator with her suitcases. "Wait for me, King!" she said as she ran across the lobby. The doors shut behind her immediately. King turned the room key in a special lock on the elevator wall and punched the button for the tenth floor. The elevator quietly and smoothly began its ascent. King looked even more distant than he had in the truck, so Freddie dismissed the idea of idle conversation.

When they got to the tenth floor, Freddie only saw three doors on the hall. "King, why are there so few rooms on this floor?" Freddie asked.

King shot her a look that seemed to border on annoyance. When he turned away, Freddie stuck out her tongue at the back of his head. "Stick it out again, and I might pull it off," King said smoothly.

"How did you know?" Freddie asked indignantly.

King just pointed up to a convex mirror mounted on the wall, "It pays to have eyes in the back of my head sometimes."

Deciding that she couldn't win that argument, Freddie changed the subject back. "King, tell me why there are only three doors," Freddie asked again.

King opened her door and paused. Then he said, "This is the living quarters - to be specific, this floor is my living quarters. The other two rooms on this floor are available to be my personal guest rooms."

Freddie gave King an incredulous look, "Then why on earth are you putting me on this floor? King - "

King rolled his eyes and cut her off, "I know, I know - you can take care of yourself. Will you just let this go? I don't have any private guests coming anytime soon. And I've used these rooms for employees before. I'm not going to come down the hall and take advantage of you - it's just a room!" King said, practically shouting by the end of his speech.

Still standing in the hall, Freddie pursed her lips and crossed her arms. Then she said, "I still don't like this, King."

King gave an exasperated sigh, "You haven't even seen it yet. How do you know you don't like it?"

Freddie matched his exasperated look, "I'm not talking about the room, King, and you know it. I'm talking about the fact that you already are suspicious of women who are after you for your money."

As King made to interrupt her, Freddie held up her hand and continued, "No, let me finish. You have already given me a job, spent the day with me and moved me into your motel. I have let you do all those things for me. I don't want you to think that I'm trying to get close to you so you will do more things for me. Don't you understand? I don't have anything - I don't have any way to pay you back. And the nicer the gifts are from you, the more I owe you. I already can't pay for a regular room here, now you are giving me the special guest room. How am I ever going to make it up to you?"

King leaned against the door frame as his brow knit in thought. Finally, he said, "You're right. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. It's just that I feel like you were supposed to come here and get a job - I've been here two years and I've never met anyone else from NCState. I just think you are meant to stay here and I am determined to overcome any obstacles that are standing in your way. I guess I'm used to having things my way and this is no different for me. You have a problem - I solve it. Kinda basic caveman tactics, I guess!"

Freddie laughed outloud at his explanation. She said, "Ok, as long as you realize that this wasn't my idea. I don't want you thinking that I'm after -"

"I know, I know," said King. "You aren't after my money! Woman, I have never had to force someone to accept my help before. Don't worry, I won't mistake the skid marks that your tennis shoes have left on my floor as I have had to drag you up here, as anything less than your protest signs!" With that, King turned and carried Freddie's bags into the room.

Freddie followed him. She was expecting a typical motel room. She stopped short when she saw that she was standing in the middle of one of the nicest rooms she had ever seen in her life. There was a bright and modern kitchen off to her left with a small table and chairs. In front of her was a beautifully decorated sitting room with a fully equipped entertainment center. On her right, the door to the bedroom was opened and she could see a king sized bed in a room that looked like the cover of a design magazine. Freddie's eyes were as wide as possible when she turned back around to face King.

"Don't even start it," King warned her. Freddie tried to keep her mouth shut, because she didn't want to offend King, but it was really difficult. Even at home she hadn't had anything like this. And since she had gone to college, she had lived in pretty substandard housing. She felt out of place and wasn't sure she should touch anything around her.

King moved closer to where Freddie was standing, still in the middle of the room. She lifted her confused and apprehensive eyes up to him. King put his hands on her shoulders and said, "It's ok, Freddie. I want you here. It's all yours for as long as you stay. Don't worry about anything. I'll take care of it all." Freddie was lost in the depths of his eyes as she stared at him. King held her gaze for several minutes, until she felt her shoulders relax under his palms. Then he squeezed her shoulders once and turned to leave.

"I'm going to call Jessica," King said as he turned the knob on the door. He continued, "If you could be downstairs at about 4:00, then we'll get you a uniform. That gives you about 45 minutes. Think you can do it?"

Freddie gave him a weak smile, "Yeah, I'll be there."

After King left, Freddie took her suitcases into the bedroom. She pulled out some clean clothes and headed into the bathroom for a shower. When she opened the door to the bathroom, she was once again brought up short. The room was sparkling white, with a separate tub and shower. There were two sinks and lots of mirrors. The towels were thick and luxurious. It was unlike any bathroom Freddie had ever been in. She just shook her head and turned on the water. Today had been full of surprises and it wasn't over yet.

CHAPTER THREE

Freddie was downstairs at 4:00, just as King had asked her to be. He breezed through the door and ushered her into his office, in the back corner of the restaurant. Opening a closet in the back of his office, he said, "Jessica will be her in a few minutes. Let's get you a uniform."

"King," Freddie said, "this is kinda personal. Would you mind waiting outside?"

King looked confused, then recognition spread across his face. Bowing deeply at the waist, he said, "My lady, the closet awaits you!" With that, he left the office.

Freddie just shook her head and climbed into the closet. She found a skirt and shirt that would do. However, none of the official vests fit. She shrugged her shoulders and changed into the new clothes. She was pondering what to do about the vest when someone knocked on the door. "Who is it?" Freddie called.

"Freddie, it's Jessica. I was wondering if you are finding everything you need."

When Freddie opened the door, she wasn't sure what she was expecting - but whatever it was, Jessica Solomon wasn't it! Freddie stared at the woman for several moments before Jessica said, "What? Do I have something on my face? Or, let me guess, spinach in my teeth?"

Freddie recovered from her shock and rushed to assure Jessica, "No, no, I just was surprised. I . . . King didn't tell me what you looked like". As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Freddie could have willingly kicked herself for that remark. "I'm sorry," she stammered, "I mean - ".

Jessica just laughed and said, "It's ok. King told me about your day, and I'm shocked that you can still make complete sentences! May I come in?" Freddie moved out of the door and let Jessica into the room. Jessica stood about 5'10" tall and was a gorgeous blond plus sized woman. Freddie was in awe of how attractive Jessica was. King had said that Ryan had been jealous of Jessica working in the restaurant, and now Freddie could understand why.

Freddie said, "I'm sorry about what I said, I just didn't expect you to be so pretty and, well, and . . ."

"A BBW?" asked Jessica.

"Well, yeah," said Freddie.

Clearly amused, Jessica said, "So my dear brother didn't think to tell you that part did he? I'm not surprised. I'm not sure he's even noticed yet, to tell you the truth." Freddie could easily believe that. Jessica was so beautiful, Freddie was certain that her weight was the last thing that most men noticed about her. It was just a part of her total package and that package was a knock-out!

Jessica said, "So have you gotten your uniform?"

Freddie sighed and said, "Well, part of it. I can make do tonight with this shirt and skirt. I'll get my own pants. But none of the vests work. I'm not quiet sure what to do about that."

Freddie was amazed when Jessica reached into the tote bag she was carrying and pulled out a vest that matched the ones in the closet. Jessica said, "You are more than welcome to use mine. I don't think that I will ever come back to work here now that Ryan has me working with him."

Freddie slipped on the vest and it fit wonderfully. She thanked Jessica profusely before Jessica whisked her out to the podium in the foyer. There, Jessica gave Freddie a quick rundown on the table set up and went over the menu for both the restaurant and the bar. Freddie was pretty sure she could handle everything, since she would only have five tables at any given time. King hired enough staff so that no one was overly stressed. That ensured better customer service, Jessica explained.

After about an hour, customers started arriving. Jessica introduced Freddie to the other wait staff, then promised to hang around for a little while in case Freddie needed anything. After the hostess sat Freddie's first table, Freddie pretty much forgot about Jessica, though. She was caught up in her job and loving every minute of it.

By the time Freddie took a few minutes break, two hours had passed. From the tiny break area, Freddie looked over at the bar and noticed that Jessica was still there. But she wasn't alone. A dashingly handsome blond man sat beside her, with his arm around her waist. King was on the other side of Jessica and the two men were talking. When Jessica caught Freddie's eye, she motioned for her to come over to the bar. Freddie really didn't want to, but she couldn't exactly refuse.

Freddie noticed that both of the men turned to watch her walk toward them. Although King was black haired and the man, who was obviously King's brother Ryan, was blond, their faces were almost mirror images of each other. Freddie shook her head, shocked to realize that the two men could practically be twins, they looked so much alike.

When she got close to the trio, King suddenly reached out his arm and pulled her to his side. Freddie was facing Jessica and her husband and they both saw the look of total surprise and confusion that crossed her face. Freddie was certain that it was obvious that she hadn't been expecting the close contact with King and that she had no clue what to do about it now.

Fortunately, Jessica took the initiative and lightened the situation by reaching out and pulling Freddie to her in a warm hug. The movement caused King to drop his arm and Freddie couldn't help the sigh of relief that escaped her. The only person who heard that sigh was Jessica and she just chuckled quietly. Outloud, Jessica said, "Oh Freddie, you are doing such a great job!" Then she whispered in Freddie's ear, "Don't let him intimidate you!" Freddie blushed, and was thankful that King didn't touch her again after Jessica let her go.

Jessica turned to her husband and said, "Ryan, I want you to met King's newest employee, Freddie Sommers."

Ryan took the hand that Freddie offered him and shook it enthusiastically. He said, "I'm so glad that King has finally found someone to take Jessie's place. I just couldn't stand having her work here."

Jessica lightly poked her elbow in her husband's ribs and said, "Don't say that! Freddie will think that there is something wrong with this place if you keep that up!"




Freddie's Find Pt. 02



CHAPTER THREE

On Monday, Freddie decided that she really wanted to face King on her own terms and get it over with. She dressed in jeans and went in search of the man. She started by knocking on his door. When she didn't get an answer there, she looked in the kitchen, where she had found him the week before. When she didn't find him there, she searched for him in the motel. But no one had seen him and no one had any idea where he was. Disappointed, Freddie returned to her rooms.

As she stepped into her hallway, she was startled to see Leona coming out of King's suite, adjusting her shirt and patting her hair. Freddie couldn't help staring at the woman because she was so surprised to see her. Leona noticed Freddie and shot her a sugary smile. She said, "Why, Frankie, isn't it?"

Freddie just clinched her jaw and said between her teeth, "No, ma'am. It's Freddie."

Leona just waved her hand in the air, "Frankie, Freddie, they're all the same! It was just wonderful having you serve my friends the other night. Maybe we can arrange for you to work at the reception for King and I when the time comes! Well, ta-ta!"

Freddie unlocked her door and slammed it behind her. She really didn't like that woman.

With nothing else to do until her shift started, Freddie decided to go for a swim. The motel pool was indoors and heated. There was also a jacuzzi in the same area and lots of places to sit and chat with friends. Freddie wasn't really interested in talking to anyone, though. She just wanted to work off some frustration.

Freddie had been swimming laps for about ten minutes when she literally bumped into a body. She coughed and sputtered as she surfaced to see who she had hit. Standing in front of her was a guy she recognized from the bar. "Hi," he said quietly.

"Hi yourself. Did I hurt you?" Freddie asked.

The man just blushed and laughed a little, "No, you couldn't hurt me. You aren't big enough. My name is Hugh. I've seen you downstairs. I keep wanting to talk to you, but I hadn't worked up the nerve. Then when I saw you in here, I thought that I just had to take a chance. I couldn't come up with a good opening line, so I just decided to let you run into me. Sorry for breaking your stride."

Freddie smiled at the man. He was probably in his mid 30's. He wasn't too tall, and he had a stocky body. His smile was genuine and his eyes were kind. For a brief moment, Freddie was actually sorry that Hugh didn't set off the same fireworks that King did. Hugh was an attractive guy and seemed much more her type.

Realizing that she needed to say something to make the conversation move forward, Freddie said, "Honestly, I can't swim many more laps than I had already. You just gave me a good excuse to quit! Would you care to join me for a bottle of water in the jacuzzi?"

Hugh gave her a huge smile and said, "I'd love to." They got out of the pool and grabbed their water bottles. They settled into the jacuzzi, with Freddie being careful to sit across from Hugh, so he didn't get the wrong idea. She didn't mind making a new friend, but she really wasn't interested in anything more with anyone but King.

Freddie and Hugh stayed in the hot tub for about fifteen minutes, discussing where they were from and what they were doing in New York. Hugh was a network consultant for a big company out of Georgia. He was sent to New York for two weeks at a time, once every quarter. He had just started his second week at the job site. He enjoyed the work, but he got lonely in the evenings. Hence his visits to the bar. He liked to hang out and get to know the patrons and staff. It gave him a sense of belonging.

When the bubbles stopped, Freddie and Hugh got out of the jacuzzi. Freddie grabbed her towel and turned to face Hugh. "Thanks for taking the chance to talk to me," Freddie said, "I really enjoyed getting to know you better. I need to go get ready for work. Will I see you downstairs in a little while?" Hugh grinned and assured her that he would be there. She waved at him as she headed for the elevator. Hugh had done great things for her ego and she was feeling much better.

Freddie's good mood lasted until she got off the elevator on the tenth floor. King was just coming out of his rooms when she stepped into the hall. He saw her and grinned a happy grin. Freddie knew that Leona had left his rooms less than an hour ago. She figured his grin was a satisfied one as well as happy. She didn't speak as she turned toward her door.

King stopped her from closing her door by putting his foot in the opening. When she pulled the door back open and looked up at him, he said, "I'm not sure what is going on with you, but I am not too pleased with your sudden aversion to talking to me."

Freddie grimaced and said, "Look, King, I wanted to apologize to you all week-end, but I couldn't find you. I wasn't comfortable talking to you in front of my co-workers Friday night, and I'm not that comfortable talking to you in my bathing suit right now. And I'm really not comfortable knowing that you have seen me in even less. You didn't have to put me to bed, you know. I could have survived in the chair."

King's face broke into an unrepentant grin as he lifted one eyebrow at her, suggestively. In spite of herself, Freddie found that she was grinning back at him. Shaking her head in remorse at her inability to stay emotionally distant from King, she said, "I love my job, if that's what you want to know. I appreciate everything you have done for me. I just don't think that we should socialize too much. I don't run in the same circles that you do."

King shook his head, "I'm not even going to try to figure out what you are talking about. But I'm glad you like your job. You have gotten rave reviews from your co-workers. No one seems to have any complaints about you."

It was Freddie's turn to raise her eyebrows. "Not even Ms. White?" she asked.

King looked taken aback and said, "What are you talking about?"

Freddie just shook her head and said, "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for. Your lady friend just gets on my nerves, that's all."

Suddenly King's look became guarded. He shrugged his shoulders, then stepped out of her door. He said, "Well, you need to get ready for work and I need to get downstairs as well. I'm glad everything is going well for you. Let me know if you need anything."

Freddie closed her door and sighed. Sometimes she didn't know what to make of King. Why had it been so important to talk to her and then just abruptly end the conversation. Sometimes the man made no sense.

Freddie's second week at work went as well as her first. She was getting very comfortable with the routine and had managed to make friends with several of the other employees. Jake had given her a hard time on Monday night about cuddling up to the boss, but he had shut up when King had given him the evil eye from across the room. Freddie had seen Hugh every night and had even taken a couple of her breaks to talk to him. Things were going well.

Even Freddie's interactions with King were going smoothly. Not that there was much chance of many of those interactions. Leona had taken to coming into the restaurant every night. She would sit at the bar and sip her drink while watching King's every move. Freddie noticed that Jake seemed to be very interested in helping out in the bar area whenever Leona was present. Several of the other regulars took notice of her as well. Freddie wondered if King didn't mind his fiancee sitting at a bar. Maybe he liked that kind of woman.

At the end of her nearly perfect week, Hugh asked Freddie if she would go out with him to the movies on Saturday. His plane ticket required him to stay overnight on Saturday to get a better rate, so he wouldn't be leaving until Sunday. Since Freddie wouldn't be working on Saturday, she suggested that they get together for supper before and then catch the late movie. Hugh seemed thrilled with the idea and agreed to meet her in the lobby.

On Saturday morning, Freddie decided to go see some of New York. She was leaving her room when King came out of his rooms. He smiled at her and said, "We have to stop meeting like this." Freddie was thankful for his humor because it made her feel more comfortable around him. It was bad enough that her heart still did flip flops every time she saw him.

"Where are you headed?" King asked.

Freddie just shrugged her shoulders, "I guess I'll go for a walk or something. I really don't need anything from the stores, so maybe I'll just wander around and see the sights. You know, act like a tourist!"

King laughed along with her. Then he got serious. "Hey," he said, "Why don't you come with me? I have to meet some business partners in Manhattan for about 30 minutes, then we could go do the Statue of Liberty tour and maybe even the Empire State Building."

Freddie meant to say no. She really did mean to say no. But the thought of spending the day with King and getting to see some of the things she had always dreamed about visiting, was just too tempting. When she opened her mouth, she found herself saying, "Sounds great!" King just smiled widely and punched the elevator button.

King was true to his word. He kept his business meeting short and then became an expert tour guide for Freddie. They rode the ferry out to the Statue and wandered around the island. When they came back, they grabbed hotdogs and cokes from a street vendor and ate in the park. Afterwards, King waited in line with her for the elevator to the top of the Empire State Building. Freddie was awe struck by the view from the top, but she was more blown away by the intensity of her feelings for the man beside her. King was way more than a friend - he was everything she had ever dreamed of finding.

About 4:00, Freddie told King that she needed to get back to the motel. He asked her why and she explained that she had a date. King didn't look too happy, but he took her back anyway. Freddie suspected that he just didn't like somebody else making plans that affected him and she had cut his guided tour short.

After a quick shower and change of clothes, Freddie met Hugh in the lobby of the motel. She had worn one of her nicer dresses and she felt good about the way she looked. Hugh gave her a quick hug and put his hand on her back to guide her out of the building to begin their evening. Freddie smiled as she realized that she was out on a date with an attractive man - she only wished it were the right attractive man!

Freddie and Hugh enjoyed supper at an Italian diner close by and then headed to the theater. Hugh had mentioned seeing a movie, but he surprised Freddie by producing tickets to The Lion King on Broadway. She had never been to a Broadway show and was thrilled. But she also knew that such tickets didn't come cheap. She offered to pay for her own ticket, but Hugh assured her that he had gotten the tickets as a perk from his job. Freddie felt better about accepting the ticket then, so they headed to the show.

Hugh and Freddie had a great time at the show. Afterwards, they stopped by a local deli to grab a cup of coffee. It was after midnight when they got back to the motel and they both were exhausted.

Hugh joined Freddie in the elevator as they headed for their rooms. Hugh's room was on the fifteenth floor, so the elevator stopped on Freddie's floor first. As the doors to the elevator opened on her floor, Freddie turned to say good night to Hugh. She was surprised when he grabbed her in a tight hug and planted a wet kiss right on her lips. Before she could even react, Hugh had released her and she had automatically stepped backwards out of the elevator.

"Good night," Hugh said, with a huge smile on his face, "And thanks for one of the best nights of my life. I'll never forget this, Freddie. Maybe I'll see you next time I'm in town." Then the elevator doors shut and Freddie was left standing in her hall.

Freddie was still standing in front of the elevator doors, staring at them in confusion, trying to figure out what had just happened, when she heard movement behind her. She turned and saw King sitting in a chair at the end of the hall. He was scowling at her like something was wrong. "King? What are you doing out here?" Freddie asked. She was mentally running through the list of all the possibilities, hoping she hadn't done anything wrong.

King pushed himself up out of the chair and walked toward her. When he was within touching distance, he said, "Do you know what time it is?" Freddie was so tired and King was so indignant looking with his hands on his hips and his face all scrunched up in a frown. Freddie tried to hold back, but she just couldn't. She burst into laughter. She laughed so hard that she was almost doubled over. King continued to stare at her, waiting for her to stop.

"Oh, King," Freddie gasp in between giggles, "Please, please stop looking at me that way. It's just making it harder for me to quit laughing." King didn't seem at all amused that Freddie found him so humorous. After several moments, Freddie managed to straighten her face long enough to look King in the eye. With her most serious expression, she said, "Have I missed curfew?" Then she howled with laughter again. She vaguely wondered if this was what it felt like to be hysterical. She couldn't seem to quit laughing.

Suddenly King grabbed Freddie and her lungs filled with air in a quick gasp. Before she knew what he intended, King was kissing her. Her mind, which moments before had been incoherent with laughter, suddenly cleared of everything except the feel of King's lips on hers.

Unlike Hugh's earlier kiss, King's kiss wasn't over in a flash. Also unlike Hugh's kiss, King's kiss was setting Freddie on fire. King traced the outline of her lips with his tongue as she gasped in his arms. He stroked the fullness of her lips only seconds before he plundered her mouth. Freddie met his attack and returned her own. They both seemed to be trying to taste as much of each other as possible in whatever amount of time they would have together.

Finally, King pulled away slightly and looked down into Freddie's face, his eyes resting on her swollen and bruised lips. He said, "I'm sorry. I didn't know how else to get you to stop laughing. I didn't mean to do that. I could really use a cup of coffee right about now. Do you have any?"

Freddie gave a quiet chuckle and pulled away to open her door. As she unlocked it, she turned to look over her shoulder at King. The moment was thick with tension and Freddie needed to lighten the situation. So, using her most teasing voice, she asked King, "Do you really want coffee or do you just want to sweet talk me into letting you into my room?"

King actually blushed before he answered. He said, "I really do want coffee."

"Good," Freddie laughed, "Because that's all I'm offering."

King went into the sitting room and threw himself on the couch, waiting for Freddie. She put the coffee on to brew and went to join him. For a moment, Freddie thought King had fallen asleep on her. He was sitting completely still with his eyes shut. But when she moved to sit down in the chair across from him, his hand shot out and pulled her onto the couch beside him. Startled, Freddie didn't even have time to protest before she was sitting beside King, their legs touching from hip to knee.

King said, "Don't even try to get away from me. We need to talk and we're going to do it now!" Freddie giggled at his attitude and King shot her a wary glance before he said, "Don't tell me you are going to start that again. I can't talk to a hyena." Before she even thought about it, Freddie stuck her tongue out at King.

Suddenly, the room tilted around her and Freddie found herself lying down on her couch with King on top of her. He said, "I told you the next time you stuck it out, I was going to catch it!" Then he was kissing her again, making good on his promise to get her tongue. This kiss was even more exciting to Freddie than the one in the hall had been. And she hadn't thought anything would ever be better than that.

King was holding her face with his hands and teasing her bottom lip with his teeth. Freddie moaned when she felt one of his hands begin to stroke down her neck. When King actually cupped her breast with his hand, she arched into him. She had never felt anything like this and she didn't want it to end.

When King lifted his head, Freddie wanted to pull him back to her. But when his lips began following the trail that his hands had made, she decided to let him do whatever he wanted to do. He obviously knew what he was doing and she really had no clue. It wasn't like she had never been kissed before, but the way King did it made it seem like a whole different art form from what she had experienced before. The only thing she was clear about was that King was driving her crazy and making her feel things she had never felt.

All too soon, King was sitting up and pulling her with him. He reached over and buttoned her shirt where it had come loose. Then he stood up and headed toward the kitchen. Over his shoulder, he said, "I think I could really use that coffee, now." Freddie was sitting on the couch, still somewhat dazed by King's kiss. She watched him go into her kitchen and heard him rummaging around. She assumed that he was looking for coffee cups. Freddie didn't offer to help, because she wasn't sure she was ready to be in the same room with King, yet. And his quick exit told her that he must be feeling the same way.

Several minutes had passed before King returned to the sitting room. He was carrying two cups of coffee. He handed one to Freddie, then took his own over and sat down in the chair. He took a sip of his coffee before sitting it down on the end table beside him. Freddie watched as he buried his face into his hands. After a moment, he ran his hands through his hair, then dropped them into his lap. Freddie didn't say anything - she simply waited.

It didn't take too long until King began talking. Without looking her in the face, again he said, "I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to do that."

Freddie rolled her eyes and she teased, "Seems I've heard that before!" King looked up at her and she saw the confused look in his eyes. She continued, "King, it's ok. It's just a kiss. Well, actually now, it's two kisses. But it's not like I've never kissed anybody before." Freddie had meant to put King at ease, but her last comment seemed to have the opposite effect.

King suddenly jumped to his feet and started pacing around the room. Freddie watched him for a few moments before she said, "King? What's wrong?"

She was dumbfounded when King abruptly turned to face her and angrily said, "What's wrong? What's wrong? You just bring me in here and make out with me, right after you have been out with Hugh. And don't think I didn't see you snuggling up to him down in the lobby tonight when he came and got you. You don't even know who he is. Have you forgotten that you are in New York City? What if he had hurt you, or taken advantage of you? Any man with eyes in his head would have wanted you tonight, the way you look. But nobody knew where you were going. You didn't tell anyone what your plans were. If he had hurt you, we might have never found you again!"

Freddie was certain that her mouth was hanging open. She was in a state of confusion. She couldn't believe King was so upset because she had gone out on a date. And while her brain was trying to process that King thought she looked desirable, it was also registering that he thought she was incompetent. It only took a minute for her surprise to become indignant anger.

Freddie fumed back at King, saying, "Just who do you think you are? I didn't ask for you to sit up and wait for me. I can take care of myself. What if I sat up and waited for you every time you go out with Ms. White. Oh, don't tell me - that's different, because we all know who Ms. White is. How could we not know everything about her? She's here all the time. When she's not down at the bar scoping out your every move, she's up here in your room. Well, King, dump the double standard. I can go out with anyone I want to! And I can bring them up to my room, too!"




Freddie's Find Pt. 02



Freddie could feel her blood pressure rising to dangerous levels when a slow, wicked grin spread across King's face. "You're jealous! That's what's wrong with you. You just went out with Hugh to try to get back at me because you saw Leona coming out of my room the other day. She told me she had spoken to you over the week-end and that was when it was, wasn't it? Well for your information, I wasn't in the room with her. She needed to get some paperwork and I gave her the key. So there - I haven't had anyone in my room with me!"

"Well," Freddie said, still indignant, "Don't think that means that I can't. And I didn't go out with Hugh to spite you. He's a wonderful friend and I hope to see him again. And if you won't let me have friends up here, then I'll find another place to live!"

"Oh, no you won't!" King bellowed, "And I don't mind if they are friends, it's the other kind that I mind. I'm not running a bordello and I won't start now!"

"A bordello? A bordello? Have you lost your ever loving mind? Hugh didn't even get off the elevator - he didn't even ask if he could come in to give me a good night kiss. He just gave it to me on the elevator and then left, like a gentleman!" Freddie fumed.

"He kissed you?" King yelled.

Freddie just shook her head, and matched his tone, "Like that's not how a date is supposed to end? But, no, maybe you don't know that because Leona doesn't even wait until the end of your dates to drape herself all over you and start kissing you."

Again, that infuriating grin crossed King's face. Lowering his voice to a normal level, he said, "I'm glad you don't like it when she does that. Cause I sure don't like it when I think someone else might be doing it to you."

King turned away from Freddie and sat back down in the chair. He ran his fingers through his hair again and said, "Look, I'm really tired. I know I'm not on my best behavior. Tomorrow is Sunday. Come with me over to Ryan and Jessie's, ok?"

Freddie's adrenaline was still pumping from their argument and she wasn't sure she was following King's train of thought. She asked, "What? Why would I go over to their house?"

King face broke into a full smile as he said, "Cause Jessie can cook more things than I can. I've already fed you my one and only meal. If you come over to their house with me, I can feed you and you don't have to eat the same thing twice!"

Freddie listened to King's explanation as she sank down onto the couch. Every time King gave Freddie his full fledged smile, it melted her bones. She knew it was useless to try to resist his invitation. There wasn't any part of her that wanted to resist. She wished that she didn't want to go, but the truth was that she didn't want to be anywhere else in the world. Freddie just nodded her head in capitulation. Then she got up and walked to her door.

Freddie opened her door and gave King a pointed look. He caught the silent message and started to leave. When he reached the door, he looked down at her with a soft gleam in his eyes. Freddie knew she would never let him leave if he kissed her again, so she turned away from his gaze. King chuckled lightly, as though he knew what she was doing. He whispered, "I'll pick you up down in the lobby at 10:30, ok?" Freddie realized that meant that she would have to go to the early church service, but she didn't have any other plans, so she agreed. Then King unexpectedly reached down and kissed her on the cheek. "Good night, Freddie," he said quietly, right before he disappeared down the hall.

CHAPTER FOUR

The next morning, Freddie got up early and got ready for church. The chapel that she had found was within walking distance, so Freddie added her flats to her outfit of a dark skirt and a blouse that had varying shades of red throughout it. She felt pretty in the clothes and she hoped that other people would agree. Of course, the one whose opinion mattered the most at that moment was asleep in the next set of rooms.

Freddie sighed and brushed out her brown hair. She had been letting it grow over the last few years and it had gotten to be a nice length around her shoulders. She liked the way it made her face look more balance with her wide blue eyes. Freddie didn't like much make-up, but she had long ago decided that she loved eye liner. So, with a few quick strokes of her eye pencil, she was ready to go.

When Freddie opened her door, she was startled to see King standing there with his hand in the air, as though he were getting ready to knock on her door. He looked surprised as well, and said, "Do you have ESP? Did you know I was about to knock?"

Freddie just laughed and asked, "What are you doing here? I thought we weren't supposed to meet until 10:30."

King looked Freddie up and down and replied, "So you just get up and bang around before a civilized hour and get all dressed up to go sit in the lobby and wait for three hours?"

Freddie's eyes widened, "I woke you up? I didn't know you could hear me in your room. I'm sorry."

King shook his head, and said, "Don't worry about it. Where are you going?"

Freddie looked down at her outfit and said, "I'm headed to church. And if you don't let me go soon, I'm going to be late."

King tilted his head to one side as he looked at her. Then he surprised her by saying, "Do you think I'm dressed well enough to go with you?"

Freddie's smile couldn't have gotten any bigger. If King had been dressed in a clown outfit, she would have told him that he liked great. But, as it was, he was dressed in khakis and a button down blue shirt. He looked perfect for church.

Freddie's eyes were dancing as she said, "You want to go with me? Really?"

King just turned and extended his arm to her in a gentlemanly fashion and said, "Lead on, oh great wise woman."

The walk to the chapel only took about ten minutes, but Freddie truly enjoyed each second. King was constantly pointing out sights or sounds that made New York special. Freddie was finding that she loved the place. But that feeling couldn't compare to the feeling that was growing inside her heart for King. She knew that what she felt for King was a forever kind of love. And that thought made her somewhat sad.

As soon as they entered the chapel, King led her down the aisle to a pew near the front. Freddie noticed that several people nodded to King and two of the children waved. King smiled at everyone. After they were seated, Freddie wanted to ask him why everyone was being so friendly. But before she had the chance, though, King blew a kiss to the little girl who was watching him from the other end of the pew where they were sitting. Freddie was shocked when the little girl, who was about four, jumped up and ran down the pew and threw herself into King's arms.

Freddie watched in amazement as King sat the girl onto his lap and kissed her forehead. The child's mother just smiled indulgently at King. King looked at Freddie over the child's head, but the preacher chose that moment to enter the pulpit, ending the opportunity for Freddie to ask what was going on.

Thankfully, the 8:00 service was an abbreviated one, with a few familiar hymns, the scripture readings and a sermon. Freddie wasn't sure she could take a much longer service right now as her mind was spinning with questions about King and this child. The little girl, who was sitting quietly in King's lap, had bright red hair and big, dark eyes. It was not too difficult looking in her face to see the resemblance that she bore to King. Freddie couldn't wait to hear King's explanation of this one!

When the service was over, the woman who had been sitting on the other end of the pew began making her way toward King. As soon as she was with touching range, the little girl jumped into her arms and said, "Mama, King let me sit with him. And I sat with him the whole service. And I was a good little girl. Did you see me mama? I did good didn't I mama? King didn't even have to tell me to be quiet once, did you King?"

The woman laughed and said, "Honey, don't you think you ought to let King get a word in edgewise? He has a friend with him, and I would like to meet her."

Freddie and King had moved out into the center aisle, so the four of them were facing each other. Freddie noticed that the other two children who had been sitting with the woman, both of whom seemed to be in their early teens, had joined some youth at the far end of the pew. But right now, Freddie's primary attention was focused on this woman - she was most interested in hearing about her and her relationship to King.

King said, "Maria, I would like for you to meet Freddie. She's a friend of mine from over at the motel. She is from North Carolina."

As Freddie looked somewhat bewildered at King, Maria gave Freddie a warm smile and asked, "So has the man thought to tell you who we are?"

Freddie shook her head no while she took the hand that Maria was holding out to her. "King, why don't you do the honors?" asked Maria.

King cleared his voice and took on a formal air. "Freddie Sommers, I would like to introduce you to Maria Solomon, my elderly, wise, stepmother."

When Maria pulled her hand from Freddie's grasp to playfully hit King on the arm, Freddie decided that she liked this woman. Maria turned back to Freddie, "I may be his step mom, but I still think I should have turned him over my knee a few more times!"

King laughed, "Like you could have tried! I was already this size when you finally brought me into the brood. I can't help it that you're too old and feeble to catch up with a fast young man like myself. You can flail your walking cane at me all you want as I help you settle into the retirement center!"

Freddie laughed at the affectionate banter between King and his step mother. Maria looked to be in her early forties and was a very attractive woman. King turned to Freddie and said, "Dad and Maria thought that they had enough kids between the two of them when they had Ryan, from dad's first marriage and then the twins." King nodded his head over to the boy and girl that Freddie had seen sitting with Maria. King continued, "But, lo and behold, along came our little surprise Cassie." King chucked his little sister under the chin as the girl suddenly tried to act shy. Then King said, "And, if that wasn't enough, two years later, I showed up. So now they have a huge family! And I'm lucky enough to be a part of it."

Maria rolled her eyes and said, "Such sweet words from such a wayward son! Why don't you ever come see us? We miss you. And I can't tell you how glad we all were to see you in church. Your dad would have been thrilled - I can't wait to tell him. He'll be home tonight. Come see us. And, Freddie, you come too. We have a big enough house for an army and we would love to have you."

Freddie made appropriate appreciative sounds and followed King's lead as he finished visiting with his family. They made their way past the preacher who grabbed King in a bear hug and clapped him on the back, saying, "The prodigal has returned! Don't take so long before I see your face back in here again. I know where you live, boy and I'll come track you down." To Freddie, the minister said, "Thank you for bringing him home!" Freddie didn't know quiet what to say to that so she just smiled. The preacher then reiterated his promise to track King down if he didn't return. King just laughed at the good natured threat and guided Freddie down the steps back onto the sidewalk.

Freddie said, "King, how many times are you going to pull these tricks on me? Couldn't you have told me that we were going to the church where your entire family goes? I wouldn't have been so surprised that everyone knew you then."

King grinned down at her, and said, "I didn't want to spoil the surprise. Anyway, I wasn't sure Maria was going to be there. It takes a lot of effort to get that crew up and ready by 8:00. Without dad in town to help her, I was surprised to see her there."

Freddie rolled her eyes and asked , "And what's up with the preacher? Is he some other long lost relative?"

King said, "Yeah, he's Maria's brother and he has taken me in as his nephew. The whole family has adopted me."

Freddie shook her head and shrugged her shoulders as if admitting defeat. King noticed her actions and reached for her hand. "Look, since we have already been to church, why don't we go on over to Ryan and Jesse's?"

Freddie looked down at her clothes and said, "I'd like to change first."

King followed her gaze and replied, "You can change the skirt, but I don't want you to take off the shirt." Freddie cocked her head to the side, giving him a questioning look.

King looked a little sheepish as he answered her unspoken question, "I like it. It makes you look like a wild rose - all full of sunshine and summer breezes."

Freddie raised her eyebrows and said, "Well, I guess that's alright." Then she smiled and continued, "I know it's alright. I love wildflowers of all kinds, but I especially love wild roses."

When King said, "So do I," Freddie thought her heart might stop.

After a quick change into jeans and tennis shoes, King and Freddie took the pick up truck over to Ryan and Jesse's. Freddie loved their house as soon as she saw it. She had been afraid that their house would be very expensive and formal. And although Freddie had enjoyed getting to know Jessica and Ryan at the restaurant, she was afraid that she wouldn't fit in with them in their home. But the house was simple and comfortable and Ryan and Jessica put her at ease. Within minutes, Ryan had drug King off to see some new piece of stereo equipment and Jessica and Freddie were in the kitchen cutting up salad ingredients.

Jessica smiled over at Freddie and said, "So how are you and King handling things at the motel?"

Freddie was confused by the question, but decided to do her best at answering it. She said, "We - we're fine. . ."

Jessica laughed and said, "Whew. I was worried that the other employees might be jealous and give you a hard time."

Now Freddie was totally confused. She had no idea what Jessica was talking about and said, "I'm sorry Jessica. Have I missed something? Why would the other employees be jealous?"

Jessica shot her a quizzical look and said, "Well, wouldn't you find it hard to work with someone who was dating the boss?"

Freddie slowly said, "Dating . . . the . . . boss . . . Oh, NO! Jessica, King and I aren't dating!"

Jessica gave Freddie an incredulous look and said, "Well what do you call it? Going out exclusively with one another while making yourselves look like love sick fools in front of every body else?"

Freddie practically yelled, "No! That's not what we are doing. How can you even think that?" Lowering her voice, Freddie continued, "Anyway, King is dating Leona White. Every one knows that."

Jessica made a sound that resembled a snort and said, "That woman was nothing but trouble. I certainly wasn't upset when King gave her the walking papers last week. I thought he was never going to get rid of her!"

It was Freddie's turn to look incredulous. She said, "What are you talking about? I thought she and King . . . "

Jessica shook her head and said, "Leave it to King to not tell you what was going on - trust me, King wouldn't bring you out on a date if he was still seeing another woman. King's a one woman man, and I think he's finally found his woman."

The men chose that moment to enter the kitchen, giving Freddie the perfect excuse to end her conversation with Jessica. Throughout their meal and the afternoon socializing, Freddie kept going over what Jessica had said. Could she possibly be right? Was Leona really out of the picture? Freddie didn't know what to think.

About 4:00 in the afternoon, King announced that he and Freddie needed to be going. Freddie had no idea why they needed to leave, but she didn't want to make an issue out of it, at least not in front of King's family. When King and Freddie started out the door, Freddie was surprised that Ryan and Jessica both hugged her good bye. It was almost as if she were part of the family. Freddie realized that she really liked that feeling.

When they were back in the pick up, Freddie asked King where they were going. King grinned and said, "Trust me." Freddie rolled her eyes at him, but he just kept grinning. Then he turned on the radio and 80's music filled the truck. Freddie found herself joining King singing the lyrics to songs from her teen years. It was fun and King didn't even seem to mind that she was tone deaf. Sometimes he was just too good to be true.

Finally, King parked the truck in the Platinum Parking deck on 48th St. "King, where are we going?" Freddie asked again.

King just smiled and said, "I hope you're hungry!" Actually, Freddie was getting hungry. They had had an early lunch with Ryan and Jessie and it had consisted of salad and soup. It had tasted delicious, but it had been several hours ago. Freddie was definitely ready for supper.

King took Freddie's hand and they began walking. As usual, King told Freddie all about the district that they were walking through. Freddie joked that he could work part time as a tour guide and King just laughed at her.

When King pulled her to a stop, they were outside a restaurant. "Where's this?" Freddie asked.

King said, "This - this is City Lobster! You can't do New York without at least eating here once. It's the best."

Once again, King had been right. The food was incredible and the service was impeccable. They started by sharing a shrimp cocktail, then Freddie had Maryland crabcakes, while King had their Sunday special 2 pound lobster. The sides of onion ribbons and wild mushrooms were perfect accompaniments. She and King both tasted each others food and shared King's drink from the bar. With all of their interactions, Freddie noticed that they were joking and flirting rather comfortably with one another However, it wasn't until dessert that she felt the tension truly escalate.

For dessert, King ordered a slice of Key Lime pie. He very specifically told the waitress to only bring one fork. Freddie was a little hurt, unsure if King was trying to tell her it was time for her to stop eating. But when the pie arrived, she realized what King had in mind. He definitely planned on her having some pie, but he was going to feed it to her! With each bite the sparks grew hotter. King carefully cut and placed each bite on the fork, then gently teased her into opening her mouth, only to sit and stare at her lips as she swallowed each piece. When she licked her lips to catch an escaped crumb, King actually moaned out loud. Then he motioned for the check.

When they stepped back outside, the evening air was pleasant and cool. It offered a nice contrast to the heat rushing through Freddie's body. When King suggested that they leave the truck in the parking garage and walk back to the motel, Freddie breathed a sigh of relief. King explained that he would pick it up on Monday when he came down to a meeting nearby. Freddie didn't really care what his plans were for the truck, she was just thankful for the chance to calm down and try to not make a fool out of herself.

Freddie and King strolled down the sidewalks, watching the late day sun fade and the street lights take over the sky. New York was never quiet and the sites and sounds fascinated Freddie. But her attention was torn tonight between her growing love of New York and the sizzling tension of the attraction between her and King. The evening had been beautiful, and Freddie could only wonder what the rest of the night would bring.

When they got back to the motel, Freddie and King both headed for the elevators. Although Freddie would normally have stopped by the bar and said hello to her co-workers, at that moment, she was much more interested in being alone with King.

As soon as the doors shut behind them, King grabbed her into his arms. He looked down at her and said, "God, I've wanted to do this all day." Then he was kissing her. Her mouth opened willingly to King, and Freddie had a brief insight that this was the man she would always want. When the elevator stopped on their floor, they were still wrapped in each other's arms, kissing passionately. King guided Freddie over to her door and used his master key to unlock it. Then, still kissing her, he drew her inside of her rooms.




Freddie's Find Pt. 02



Freddie had thought that maybe King would stop at her couch, but he led her straight to her bedroom. He swept her up into his arms and placed her on the bed. At that moment, she realized that he must have carried her to bed the night she had fallen to sleep on him. She started to make a comment about being too heavy for him to pick up and carry. But the look in King's eyes stopped her. It was obvious from that look that he wasn't thinking about how much she weighed right then.

No man had ever looked at Freddie like King was looking at her. She had never dated too much and she had no experience in the field of intimacy beyond a few stolen kisses at the front door. But no one had ever made her feel so much desire, so much need, or so much love.

King laid down on the bed beside her and rose up over her before he started kissing her again. His hand found her breast and his thumb brushed across her nipple. She still had on her bra and it was made out of a silky material. The combination of the sensations caused by his thumb and the material were electrifying for Freddie. Her whole body arched up into him. King just chuckled softly and kissed his way down her neck.

Freddie was on fire as King worked her shirt up over her head, baring her upper body to his gaze. Freddie heard him murmur, "My beautiful wild rose," as he continued to kiss and caress her. Suddenly, Freddie needed to touch King's skin. She frantically tore at the buttons on the shirt he was wearing. King moved his hands to help her and they quickly disposed of it. Then King snapped the front closure on her bra and her breasts tumbled out of the cloth. King hissed in breath as he reached out to touch first one breast, then the other. He ran his fingers across the heated flesh and licked his lips as Freddie's nipples responded to his touch.

Pulling her on top of him, King gently kneaded her breasts and watched her moan in passion. Then King reached lower and began caressing her stomach. Freddie watched his face for any hint of repulsion or disgust, but all she saw was heat and lust. Then, he unsnapped her jeans.

There was only a brief moment of hesitation on Freddie's part before she rolled off of King and slipped off her shoes and then her jeans. She lay beside King in only her red satin panties. "I knew you were fire and passion beneath that sweet exterior," King whispered. Freddie was too caught up in her emotions to be able to speak, so she just nodded. Then she reached out to touch King's jeans button.

Pulling her up with him, King knelt facing Freddie on the bed. Freddie was not exactly sure how to unbutton someone else's pants, so she fumbled for a moment with the snap. When her hand accidentally slipped down and brushed King's erection through his jeans, she heard him growl. She looked at him with confusion in her eyes. "Did I hurt you?" she asked.

King just nodded his head and said, "You are killing me!" Only then did Freddie realize that the pain he was referring to was pleasure.

Freddie suddenly felt empowered as a woman as she comprehended the extent of her abilities to pleasure her man. King wasn't turned off by her body. In fact, if his physical response was any indicator, he found her body very appealing. As her fingers grew more certain, she began teasing King through his jeans as she continued to loosen his snap and zipper. As soon as they were loose enough to push over his hips, King threw them onto the floor. Now, the only article of clothing that he had left was his briefs. And they were straining to hold him.

With King's warm hands on her shoulders, as gently as possible, Freddie leaned down and placed a butterfly kiss on the bulge in King's briefs. She felt the tension growing in King's body as he ran his hands through her hair and encouraged her with the sounds of his delight. Freddie grew bolder. She placed her hands on his hips and pulled down his briefs in one swift move. King jumped off the bed and slipped them all of the way off, then he reached over and pulled Freddie to the edge of the bed. She was still kneeling and the arrangement did away with their height difference. Freddie was looking King directly in the eye. And the look she saw there was pure desire.

With a guttural moan, King pulled Freddie into a deep kiss. Freddie felt his erection pressing into her soft panties and she realized that she didn't want any more barriers between them. She quickly laid down and slipped the silky things off. Before she could sit back up, though, King jumped on the bed beside her. He started at her neck and began kissing every inch of her flesh. He stroked her skin and licked her ticklish spots while planting hot kisses on the folds of her skin that had never been touched by any one else.

When King placed his hand between her legs and nudged them apart, Freddie felt a moment of apprehension. King sensed her reluctance and pulled his head up to look at her. His brow was knit into a frown as he asked, "Freddie? Are you a virgin?" Freddie could feel the blush steal up her neck and face, but she refused to look away. She had nothing to be ashamed of. She had always wanted to save herself for the man she loved and she had done just that.

Mustering as much pride as she could, she nodded her head and said, "Yes, King."

King looked amazed, then said, "And you're sure you want to do this? You don't want me to stop?"

Freddie shook her head violently, saying, "No! You are the one I want to share this with, King. Please don't stop."

King just shook his head as though he were still shocked, then he looked her in the eye. He said, "Freddie, I can't tell you how much this means to me. I'll do everything I can to make this good for you. Tell me if there is anything you want me to stop doing and I'll quit. I don't want to hurt you."

Tears welled up in Freddie's eyes and she whispered, "King, I know you would never hurt me on purpose, but please, I need you to love me. Make love to me, King." And with that, all conversation ended.

King took a moment to grab a condom. After he was sheathed, the only sounds in the room were the sounds of love making as King kissed and stroked Freddie to a state of uncontrollable passion. Then, with the sweetest of kisses, King sent her over the edge. In the moments following her climax, King entered Freddie as swiftly as possible. Freddie had expected pain, but was surprised that it passed quickly and was replaced by her remounting passion. "King, don't stop!" King laughed quietly and matched her movements. It only took moments until Freddie was crying out her second orgasm. King joined her this time as they came together. Afterwards, they snuggled together down into the comforter and fell asleep.

When Freddie woke up the next morning, she was surprised to find that King was gone. She was even more shocked to realize it was after 10:00. There was a note on King's pillow that told her he had to get to his meeting downtown. It also said that, unfortunately, he would be busy most of the day. But, the note ended, he really wanted to see her tonight. As a 'P.S.' he had added that he needed to tell her something important.

Freddie smiled and stretched, basking in the morning after glow of their lovemaking. She and King had made love twice more during the night. Each time had been different with Freddie experiencing both raw, hot lust, as well as slow, deliberate passion. King was a talented lover and he showed her things about her body she had never known. Freddie felt so lucky to have fallen in love with such a wonderful man.

After her shower, Freddie was just finishing a bowl of cereal when her phone rang. When she answered, the caller said, "Freddie? This is Joanna, down at the front desk. We have a delivery for you down here. I have a master key so I could bring it up, but I'm really kinda busy - could you come pick it up?" Freddie assured her that she would be down in a few minutes. She slipped on her jeans and a red tee shirt along with her tennis shoes. Then she headed downstairs, all the while, wondering what it could be.

When she got to the front desk, Joanna shot Freddie a very smug grin. Leona White was standing at the desk, as well. Joanna was ignoring Leona. Making a motion for Freddie to give her a minute, Joanna stepped behind a door. When Joanna returned, she was carrying a huge bouquet of wild red roses. Freddie's eyes popped open at the sight. Joanna was grinning like a cheshire cat. She sat the bouquet on the counter and said, "You must have made an impression on somebody!"

Freddie's hand was shaking as she reached for the card. She opened it and silently read it to herself. It said, "To my wild rose - what a night!" Freddie could feel the heat burn her cheeks as she blushed. She couldn't even bring herself to meet Joanna's eyes. With an abrupt nod, Freddie grabbed the bouquet and mumbled a brief thanks to Joanna before hurrying to the elevator.

Back in her room, Freddie put the flowers into water. She felt like she was floating on air. Maybe the flowers meant that last night had been as special to King as it had been to her. Maybe the something important that he needed to tell her tonight was that he loved her. Her mind was racing with all the possibilities that life suddenly seemed to have.

Freddie was singing to herself and cleaning up her kitchen when she heard someone knock on her door. Hoping that it was King, she rushed to open the door. But standing on the other side was none other than Leona. Freddie's smile froze in place as she said, "Oh, hello Leona."

Freddie had no intention of inviting Leona in, but Leona stepped forward and managed to push her way past Freddie. She breezed into the sitting room before speaking to Freddie. "Well, well, my dear Frankie, you do seem to have made yourself right at home."

Freddie closed the door and stepped into the room. She said, "Leona, my name is Freddie."

Leona just shot Freddie a wide eyed innocent look before sitting herself delicately onto the edge of the couch. Leona was a tall woman and willowy thin. Her short, platinum blond hair was cut into a very fashionable "shock" style, that gave her a 'just got out of bed' look, even in the middle of the day. Her make-up was perfect and her teeth were so white, they almost didn't look real. With her strapless dress on, Freddie noticed that Leona didn't have any bathing suit marks on her smoothly tanned shoulders. She doubted that she had any marks elsewhere either. Leona looked like a model, and sitting on Freddie's couch, she looked like a model on a mission.

Leona looked directly at Freddie and said, "We need to talk. You have become an embarrassment here. King was willing to extend his hospitality to you and allow you to stay here and work here. He does have a big heart. But you have truly overstayed your welcome. The staff have begun to talk and I just won't have it. King and I are to be married."

At the sound of Freddie's quiet gasp, Leona raised her eyebrow questioningly. She continued, "Don't tell me you didn't know that? Did you think he would get rid of me for a country dumpling like you? Look at the two of us - I will be the one who helps King establish himself in the business world. You are nothing but a detriment. You are already causing problems. Do you think that you can hide how you feel about King? Everyone can see it and realize how pathetic it is. You have made a complete fool out of yourself. And King doesn't know how to tell you. So, woman to woman, I wanted to come and break the news to you. You are way out of line and King wants you to leave. He doesn't want to embarrass me by announcing our engagement while you are practically living in his rooms. So you need to go - get away from my man."

Freddie was struggling to comprehend all that Leona was telling her. King loved Leona? Then what was the important thing he needed to tell her? Freddie's heart sank as she realized that he was probably going to tell her about marrying Leona. How could she have been so stupid? To think that she had anything that could compete with what Leona had to offer was simply being blind to reality.

Freddie realized that Leona was carefully watching her. She also knew, from years of experience, that every one of her emotions was showing on her face. Freddie forced herself to put on a calm expression and to keep her voice steady. She said, "Leona, you have made your point. Please leave." Then she walked to the door and held it open.

Leona gave Freddie a scathing look as she slipped past her. As a parting shot, Leona added, "Don't forget what I said, Freddie. King might have had sex with you, but he never told you he loved you. And he never will. Sex with you is just a novel experience - what's it like to poke the fat chick?"

As soon as the words were out of Leona's mouth, Freddie slammed the door in Leona's face. As she slumped against her side of the door, Freddie heard Leona get on the elevator. Then the tears seemed to burst from her body. She could not believe that she had been so stupid. She had believed that she meant something to King. But Leona was right. Freddie had only known King for two weeks. How much could he care about her in that short of a time?

With humiliation coursing through her veins, Freddie quickly packed her suitcase. There weren't too many things that belonged to her here. Through her tears, she gave a derisive laugh. It was ironic that she wasn't taking much with her, but she was leaving behind everything that mattered to her. King would always have her heart. She just needed to get the rest of her out of the picture so he could get on with his life.

Freddie phoned the bus station and got the information for buses headed out of town. She wasn't sure where she was going. But she needed time to sort out her thoughts. And she couldn't sort them out here. Freddie knew that she couldn't leave without any explanation to King, though. She just wasn't that kind of person. So she wrote him a note.

When she got off of the elevator, she saw Joanna's eyes widen in shock as she saw the suitcases that Freddie was carrying. Sounding concerned, Joanna said, "Freddie? Where are you going?"

Freddie had washed her face, but she knew that her eyes were still puffy and red. She was certain that Joanna noticed. But she just couldn't explain. Instead, she handed Joanna the key to her rooms and the note she had written to King. Trying to control her voice, Freddie said, "I have to go now, Joanna. Thanks for everything." Then, not trusting herself to not burst into tears, Freddie grabbed her suitcases and her bouquet of roses and headed out the door of the motel.

Yeah, it was definitely a typical Monday. 



Freddie's Find Pt. 03



CHAPTER FIVE

King was practically bouncing when he rushed into the motel that afternoon. He had wrapped up his meetings early, gone and gotten his dad, and rushed back to the motel. He wanted to get there before Freddie had to go to work. He laughed at his own foolishness - he was the boss! If he wanted her to have the night off, he could give her the night off. And that didn't sound like such a bad idea. He was giddy with the thought of seeing Freddie again.

King's father, Alexander Solomon, followed King into the motel. King rushed him over to the elevator and actually reached out and pulled him into it when the doors opened. Alexander gave King a warm smile that suggested that he knew how important this woman was to King. King had been talking nonstop since he had arrived down at the office. He knew that he had told his dad way too much to ever pretend that Freddie was just a casual acquaintance. But King was too excited about showing Freddie off to worry about ruining his reputation as a lady's man.

When they arrived on the tenth floor, King hurried over to Freddie's door. He knocked loudly. After a few moments, he knocked again and this time called out her name. When there was still no answer, King shot his dad a worried look. Without even taking the time to think about it, King pulled out his master key. Images were flashing through his mind of Freddie lying hurt inside the apartment, unable to get help. Fear clutched at his heart. He shoved open the door and barreled inside.

King called out Freddie's name and rushed first into the sitting room. When she wasn't there, he ran into the bedroom, still calling her name. After he realized that she wasn't there either, he stepped back into the other room and shot his father a confused look. His father cleared his throat and said, "King, I don't mean to pry, but this place doesn't look like anyone lives here."

For the first time since he had run into the door, King took a moment to look around. His dad was right. The room didn't look like anyone lived there. He stepped back into the bedroom and jerked open a closet door. His heart fell when he saw that it was empty. "No! She can't be gone! Where is she?" King yelled. His father didn't answer.

Running out the door, King jabbed the elevator button. His father managed to catch up with him just as the elevator doors opened. Together they rode back down to the lobby. King crossed the room in three strides. Fortunately, there were no customers at the counter, because King wasn't in the mood to wait. Joanna's eyes grew wider and wider as King loomed closer. "Tell me where she is!" he growled. Joanna didn't even try to act like she didn't know who he was talking about. She just reached behind her and pulled out the note that Freddie had left.

King tore open the envelope and read:

Dear King,

I've had a change of heart. New York doesn't seem to be working out for me. I want you to know how much I appreciate all that you have done for me.

Thanks,

Freddie

King read and re-read the note, over and over. He knew that the words were in English and that he ought to be able to comprehend what they meant, but he would swear that he had never learned the language in which they were written.

Joanna watched King's reaction then said, "King, I think you ought to know something else, too. Leona was here. She was at the desk when Freddie got those flowers." 

King didn't even register that Joanna knew the flowers were from him. He was certain that the whole staff already knew how he felt about Freddie. 

Joanna continued, "After Freddie went upstairs, Leona disappeared. When I looked for the master key to let a maid into one of the upstairs rooms, the key was gone. A few minutes later, Leona brought the master key to the desk and said that she had found it. King, I think she said something to Freddie."

The blood rushed to King's face, as his anger boiled. He wished that he had talked to Freddie this morning and told her how he felt. Now, Leona seemed to have done it for him and he was fairly certain that she had twisted some relevant facts!

Unfortunately for Leona, she chose that moment to walk into the motel lobby. When she saw King, her face lit up in a smile of greeting. She was carrying a newspaper, and waved it at him. But her smile froze in place as King stormed toward her.

"What in the hell have you done, Leona?" King bellowed.

Leona's face paled significantly as she said, "King, what are you talking about? People are beginning to stare at us. Let's go in private and discuss whatever is bothering you. Anyway, I just had the announcement of our engagement put into tomorrow's edition, dear. Doesn't that sound wonderful?"

King had thought, until that moment, that he couldn't possibly get any angrier at Leona. But he had been wrong! King had been manipulated by Leona long enough. 

He grabbed her by the arm and pushed her back toward the door. Still yelling, he said, "Leona, I don't know what part of 'get out of my life' you didn't understand last week, but I will repeat it - get out of my life! So help me God, if I ever find Freddie, I'm going to make her my wife. And as for you - you are NEVER welcomed back here. And God help you, Leona, if I ever run into you elsewhere." 

With that, he opened the door and none too gently shoved her out of it. For the second time that day, Leona had a door slammed in her face.

Shocked, Leona stood on the sidewalk for a few moments before she recovered enough to respond. She ran back up to the door to yank it open, but King was holding it closed from the inside. 

Furious, she screamed, "Just what am I supposed to do about our wedding announcement? King, I'll make you sorry that you picked that fat bitch over me! You have ruined me - I hope you are happy."

Shaking his head in disgust, King turned the lock on the door and walked away, ignoring Leona's continuing threats. Behind him, every one of the regular patrons and the staff who had gathered in the lobby burst into applause. King gave them all a questioning look. Joanna spoke for the group, "Good riddance to bad rubbish! Now, go find Freddie!"

King didn't need to be told twice. With his heart in his throat, he ran out the back door toward his pick-up. His dad followed him. Without knowing where to go, King drove around for over two hours looking for Freddie anywhere he could think she might be. Alexander used his cell phone to call everyone who had met Freddie during her stay in New York, but no one had heard from her. With his heart heavy and sad, King turned the truck back toward the motel. He didn't know what else to do.

When King parked the truck in the alley, he turned to thank his father for his help. But suddenly, all the pain and confusion of the last few hours overwhelmed him. Instead of the words he had expected to come out of his mouth, all that escaped was a sob. Without any warning, he threw himself into his dad's arms and began crying.

King was certain that his dad probably thought he was crazy. Hell, he thought he was crazy. But it hurts so badly. Why would Freddie let Leona tear them apart? The answer was obvious and it pounded through his head like a drum beat. Freddie was gone because he hadn't matter enough to her to stay. Maybe it would have been different if he had told her how he felt. But he hadn't told her how he felt. He hadn't told her that he loved her. And she had left him, discarding their relationship with nothing more than a three-sentence note. God, he had never hurt so badly.

CHAPTER SIX

Freddie knew that she wanted to go south. Her heart was breaking - she could feel the actual pain in her chest. She felt like a wounded animal who wanted to crawl back home to lick her wounds. But she really didn't have a home to go back to. In fact, there was really nowhere for her to go. Not knowing what else to do, she caught the first bus out of New York City that was headed south.

Late that evening, Freddie found herself in Richmond, Virginia. She checked into a motel close to the bus depot, so she could spend the night somewhere other than in the seat of a Greyhound. She needed to make a plan, but she didn't really have a clue as to where to go next. As she sat in the local Friendly's, eating a breakfast platter and finishing up a chocolate shake, she overheard the couple behind her.

The woman said, "Lewis, I don't care what you say, she just has to have help. We can move her in with us, or we are going to have to put her in a home. She just can't continue living alone."

The man answered, "Darling, we have been over this a million times. As sweet as she is, she is too independent for either one of those options. The doctor has said that she will be less mobile as the cancer spreads, but until then, we are just going to have to keep commuting back and forth to South Carolina. I'll ask Marshall to help, but it's going to be a long six months. She's just too healthy to be so sick and old!"

Freddie could hear the woman sniffing as though she were crying. Then she said, "Lewis, she's the dearest 90-year-old I've ever known. It's not fair that she has to life her last few months so differently from the way she has lived the rest of her life. It almost would seem a blessing if she could die sooner, so she could stay at home until the time comes." Lewis, the man, murmured some comforting words that Freddie didn't catch. But Freddie was too caught up in her thoughts to worry much about missing a few words.

Before she could talk herself out of it, Freddie jumped up, grabbed her shake and scooted around to sit in the booth with the couple. They looked at her like she had lost her mind, but Freddie rushed to explain why she was interrupting them. She said, "I know you two don't know me from Adam. But I was sitting behind you, trying to figure out where I needed to go next, and suddenly, I heard your conversation. I have just finished up a job up north, and I'm headed back down south. But I don't have another job lined up and I was wondering if maybe we could help each other. Is there any way that I could help this lady that you are talking about continue to live in her home?"

Freddie could see the hope flicker in the woman's eyes. The man looked more suspicious, but Freddie really couldn't blame him. She would be suspicious too, if someone popped out of thin air and offered to go live with an old, dying relative. But she had to convince them. "Look, I know you have to be cautious, and I really wouldn't be impressed if you did just hire me on the spot." Taking a pen and notepad out of her pocketbook, she continued, But here is my name and my last address in North Carolina. Here's the name of my minister in Raleigh, where I went to church for five years. Go home, run an internet search on me and check me out. I've checked into a motel nearby and I can stick around for a few days. Just tell me that you would consider this solution. Please?"

The woman and man looked over the information that she hand them. Then they exchanged a look that Freddie was sure held a great deal of significance. The man stuck out his hand and said, "I'm Lewis Lambeth. I work over at the seminary. I happen to know your former pastor. I'll make a call to him tonight and we'll get back with you tomorrow . . ." he glanced down at the card to read her name, "Ms. Sommers."

"Please, call me Freddie," Freddie said, as she shook both of their hands. She added, "I really appreciate you giving me this chance." With that, Freddie took her leave of the couple. And feeling hope that things might just work out, she grabbed her bill and went to the counter to pay for her supper.

The next morning, at 9:00, Lewis Lambeth phoned Freddie at her motel and told her that she had received the "stamp of approval" from her former minister. They arranged for Freddie to check out of the motel and spend a couple of days at the Lambeth home in order for them to get to know each other better. Freddie assured Mr. Lambeth that he could count on her then laughed to herself about how clichéd that sounded.

The following week was busy for Freddie. After spending a few days with Lewis and Carol, as they insisted that she call them, they gave Freddie their blessings. Lewis told her that his father had died a few years back and left his stepmother, Dottie, all alone. Never once had Dottie complained. It was only in the past few months that she had even allowed them to stay with her for longer periods of time. But the lady was 90, she had inoperable cancer and she needed some help. Freddie knew that Dottie was the answer to her prayers and she only hoped Dottie would feel the same way about her.

Freddie tried to keep busy every day in order to not think about King. But every minute that she didn't spend focused on something at hand, her mind wandered to King - what was he doing? What was he thinking? Did he miss her at all?

On Thursday, the gossip section of the local newspaper announced, the upcoming marriage of King Griffin and Leona White. The article had speculated that there was trouble in paradise since the New York City newspaper that had carried the original announcement on Tuesday, had been forced to print a retraction on Wednesday. However, the article continued, repeated calls to the offices of both King Griffin and his father, Alexander Solomon, had been unanswered.

Freddie wondered what was really going on, but she decided that her heart couldn't deal with thinking about it too much. So she threw herself into helping Carol around the house, cleaning, buying the groceries and generally doing anything to keep from having a chance to sit and think about how much her heart was hurting.

Finally, at the end of the week, Carol and Lewis took Freddie to meet Dottie. It was love at first sight between Dottie and Freddie. Within minutes, Dottie had taken Freddie off to show her some of her memorabilia from World War I. 

When it came time for supper, Dottie joined Freddie in the kitchen and helped her find everything as they put together a tasty meal of chicken and dumplings. Lewis and Carol left after supper. Freddie noticed that Carol didn't look as worried any more and Lewis was actually smiling for the first time in a week. This was going to be a good fit.

Freddie grew closer and closer to Dottie over the next few months. But even with the joy that relationship brought, each day was hard for Freddie, knowing that she had chosen to walk out of King's life. However, she knew that she had to get on with her own life. And Dottie needed her. Dottie's cancer continued to spread and she had to spend more and more time resting.

Freddie read to Dottie every day and they worked crossword puzzles together. Dottie was a jigsaw puzzle wizard and they spent many hours working on 5000 piece puzzles. Dottie was happy to have someone who wanted to hear about her life and she relished telling Freddie all about her years as a young girl in the south. Dottie had traveled the world, but she had never lived anywhere but South Carolina. She was a true southern belle. The stories Dottie told reflected her love of life.

And Freddie shared stories about what she had found to love in life - all except King. She found that she just couldn't bring herself to talk about him. So, she shared with Dottie about all of the other things she loved. Freddie told Dottie about the farm she had grown up on and the animals that she cared for. She told her about how much she had loved chemistry in high school, and then flunked it in college! She told Dottie about her faith and all about her work in various churches over the years. She even showed Dottie a few of the clothes she had learned to sew in home economics.

But most of all, Freddie talked about food. Dottie shared her passion for trying new dishes and together they searched cookbooks and the internet to find exciting new tastes. Freddie told Dottie many times how much she had enjoyed being a cook in Raleigh during her college years. They even spent some time searching the internet to find the best schools to train chefs. Food was a passion they both enjoyed and relished.

In the middle of their third month together, Dottie was confined to her bed. One day, she called Freddie to her. She said, "Freddie, how are you doing?"

Freddie automatically answered, "I'm fine, Dottie."

But Dottie looked at her seriously and said, "No, you aren't. Your heart was broken when you came here. I never insisted that you tell me what happened in New York, but something did happen. I can see it in your eyes whenever we talk about New York."

Freddie blushed, but she didn't look away. She finally said, "I made a mistake in New York and almost hurt someone."

Dottie raised her eyebrow and said, "Freddie, love is never a mistake. And if I'm not wrong, what happened in New York was love wasn't it?"

Freddie could only nod her head.

Dottie sighed heavily then said, "Well, my child, I don't think you are planning on going back and trying to fix things are you?"

Freddie quietly said, "No. I can't go back."

"Well, then," Dottie said, with a forced brightness, "We need to figure out what you are going to do."

Freddie looked at Dottie questioningly and said, "Dottie, I'm going to stay here and take care of you. What else would I do?"

"That's just it, dear," Dottie said, "What else are you going to do? I'm not going to be around much longer and I want to know that you are well taken care of when I'm gone. Now, as I get further along with this cancer, I'm going to be less and less dependent upon you and more and more dependent upon my nurse. You are going to have a little more time on your hands. I want you to consider one of those internet courses."

Freddie narrowed her eyes and said, "Dottie, have you done something I need to know about?"

Dottie's eyes sparkled and she said, "Ah, you have seen right through me! Look over there in the top drawer. It is an application to that chef's school we have talked about. You can start your courses on line. Then, when I'm no longer here, you can go to the campus in Atlanta and finish up. It is only 15 months from beginning to end!"

Dottie's enthusiasm was contagious. The thought of having the opportunity to study to be a chef was very appealing to Freddie. And it obviously pleased Dottie. Squeezing Dottie's hand in gratitude, she grabbed the information and turned on the computer.

A few days later, Dottie and Freddie celebrated when the letter telling Freddie that she had been accepted into the program arrived.

Freddie took as many classes as possible in the remaining months of Dottie's life. Dottie made sure that Freddie told her all about what she was learning. Although Dottie's body was shutting down, her mind stayed active. She always had suggestions and helpful advice for Freddie. Freddie had grown to love Dottie deeply and Dottie assured her that the feeling was mutual.

When Dottie breathed her last, Freddie was there with her. Carol and Lewis were also there along with Marshall, Dottie's son by her first marriage. After the funeral, Freddie was surprised when Marshall and Lewis insisted that Freddie come to the reading of the will. She was even more surprised when the executor read out the name of the only heir - Winifred Sommers. Freddie looked from Lewis to Marshall to the executor. With a shaky voice, she said, "No - there's been some mistake. I'm not the heir - I'm just her friend." Lewis and Marshall both broke into affectionate laughter. Freddie could only stare at them in confusion.

Finally Lewis said, "Freddie, you are so much more than just a friend! Dottie loved you like a daughter. Long ago, she gave Marshall and me all the money we needed to make it on our own. She approached us a couple of months ago and proposed this arrangement. Neither one of us have any problems with this. We appreciate how much you did for Dottie. If it hadn't been for you, she would have had to leave her home. And that would have been the end right then. But you helped her stay where she wanted to be. You have become a part of this family, Freddie. We just wanted to say thank you."




Freddie's Find Pt. 03



When all the paperwork, account settlings and property disbursements were finalized, Freddie was a wealthy woman. Of course, no one knew as well as Carol and Lewis that Freddie would have given it all back if she could have had more time with Dottie. But life was moving on, and Freddie needed to get to the Atlanta campus to continue her schooling. Maybe there her heart would heal from the loss of both King and Dottie. With lots of hugs and promises to stay in touch, Lewis and Carol sent Freddie on her way and she headed to Atlanta on her own.

CHAPTER SEVEN

The next year passed quickly for Freddie. She stayed absorbed in her class work whenever possible. Outside the classroom though, it didn't surprise Freddie that she migrated to hanging out with the married people within the student population. She was much more comfortable without the pressures associated with hanging out with single people. It didn't bother Freddie that she didn't have too many single friends. She didn't feel like she was single herself. She had already fallen in love. And that wasn't going to change, no matter what happened.

When it came time to work in a local restaurant, Freddie was chosen to intern in a local upscale steak house. She worked well with her mentor, Samantha. 

Samantha was a woman of great talent and charisma who taught Freddie about much more than just food. Rather than stay in the kitchen, as many chefs were prone to do, Samantha made a habit of cruising through the tables of the restaurant every few hours, making sure that the clientele were happy with their food. She always took Freddie with her and introduced her to the people who frequented the establishment, making sure that Freddie was recognized and networked.

After awhile, Samantha and Freddie took turns touring the dining room. On one such tour of the tables, Freddie smiled into the faces of a man and woman sitting together, and then squealed in delight! "Hugh! How are you?" she said.

Hugh's face wrinkled in thought before he made the connection. "Freddie!" He jumped up and they hugged as if they had always been friends.

Suddenly, Hugh pulled back and looked excitedly into Freddie's face. He said, "Freddie, I want you to meet Marla."

Freddie turned to face the young woman at the table and said hello.

Hugh spoke to Marla, saying, "Freddie is the one I told you about."

Freddie's brow wrinkled in concern as she listened to Hugh. She wasn't sure what he had told Marla about her, but she didn't want an angry woman on her hands. As Hugh went on, though, Freddie realized that she needn't have worried. Hugh was explaining that he had told Marla about how his time with Freddie in New York had given him the courage to come home and ask Marla out on a date. They had been working in the same building for a year, but he had been too shy to talk to her. But Freddie had changed all of that. Now he and Marla were engaged to be married next month. Truly happy for them, Freddie congratulated them both and started to walk away.

Hugh's voice stopped her, "Freddie, I was in New York last month. Seems the owner of that place you used to work may be having some problems. Heard he was thinking of selling. I asked the bartender and he thought that maybe it was personal, not financial. Have you heard anything?" Freddie bit her bottom lip and shook her head. She managed to mumble some words that she hoped were appropriate and hastily left the dining room.

Freddie rushed to the bathroom and barely made it before the sobs started. Some days she felt like she was going to get over the pain of leaving King, but some days it tore her apart. Hearing that he was having problems was like rubbing salt in a wound. She wanted more than anything to help him, but she knew that she had given up that right when she left New York.

All too soon, Freddie's internship was over. Lewis and Carol both came down for her graduation and they celebrated her success. They watched her walk across the stage and assured her that she was doing exactly what Dottie would have wanted her to do. Freddie was thankful for their support. They really had accepted her as part of their family.

Now, Freddie had been awarded her degree and the time came to seek a real job. The school that she had attended had branches all over the country. Once a year, they took their top students and did a "cook-off" for restaurateurs. The students would prepare their specialties and various people from the industry who needed chefs, would come and sample their offerings. Then the school would coordinate interviews for the students and, hopefully, everyone would walk away happy.

Freddie had been invited to attend the cook-off in Washington, D.C. Freddie chose to prepare a steak dinner. Samantha helped her pick her selection and hone her skills. She knew that by choosing to prepare beef, she was cutting off a goodly number of potential employers who were looking for vegetarian or low fat dishes. But Freddie wanted to stay true to her own talents and she had excelled in the classes that had focused on meat of any kind. So, she decided to take that chance.

On the morning of the job fair, Freddie took her time preparing her favorite meal. She placed a perfect filet mignon on the plate along side-scalloped potatoes and steamed asparagus. On the side, she placed a thick piece of Texas toast. Then she sent up a quick prayer and placed her entree on the sampling table. Now, it was time to wait!

After lunch, the interviews were announced. Freddie went to her first one, full of butterflies. The lady who interviewed her wanted her to come to Florida to become the junior chef in an upscale chain restaurant. Freddie had eaten at one of their restaurants, and although she didn't let on, she really felt she would be out of place there. The only way she could think to describe the place was that it was the kind of place where Leona White would have been very comfortable! Fortunately, the lady seemed to sense that Freddie wasn't her type. They parted on good terms, though, and they each went on to their next interview.

For her second interview, Freddie was a little less nervous. When she entered the room, her potential boss was there along with his head chef. They were from New Orleans. Freddie liked the looks of their menu and had some suggestions that seemed to impress the head chef. At the end of their interview, they both agreed to consider each other for the second round of interviews the following day. After shaking hands, they all three left to find their next assignment.

By now, Freddie was feeling pretty confident. She walked into her third interview and was surprised to see that the two men in the room had their backs to her. She closed the door behind her and cleared her throat. When both of the men turned to face her, Freddie had to grasp the chair in front of her to keep from falling down. One of the men was an older man, with light hair and a handsome face. In fact, it was almost the same face as the younger man. And the younger man was King Griffin!

The silence in the room lengthened as King and Freddie stared at each other across the room. Freddie noticed that King seemed older. His face was more lined and there was actually gray at his temples. Freddie thought that it made him even more attractive. But she doubted that he wanted to hear that.

The man beside King placed his hand on King's shoulder and King broke his stare with Freddie. He turned to face the man and suddenly seemed to remember why he was there.

King turned back to Freddie and said, somewhat coldly, "Freddie Sommers, this is my father, Alexander Solomon. Dad, this is Freddie Sommers." Surprised, Alexander reached across the table to extend his hand. Freddie took it, partly so she could avoid looking back into King's eyes.

"Please to meet you, young lady. I didn't realize we would be interviewing someone we already knew," Alexander said.

"Trust me, Mr. Solomon," Freddie said, "I'm as surprised as you are. And the pleasure is all mine."

When King snorted, Freddie and Alexander both turned to look at him. But King just shook his head and said, "Shall we get started?"

It wasn't exactly the reunion Freddie had hoped for with King. In fact, she had never imagined that it would hurt so badly. He was acting so distantly toward her. It was almost as though he didn't want to remember that he knew her, let alone had made such sweet love to her the last time he had seen her. Freddie winced as she remembered Leona's words. Maybe King had just been curious.

When they sat down to the interview, Freddie tried to forget that King was the love of her life. She wanted to impress him, but she wanted to do it in such a way that she could be proud of herself. She waited for King to begin the interview, but he was just sitting across from her, staring at her angrily.

Freddie was puzzled about how to proceed. Not only did she feel like King ought to be the one to start the interview, but she really had no idea why King would be at a cook-off in the first place. He had incredible chefs at his restaurant, and plenty of applicants to fill any vacancies that came around. She wondered if Hugh had been right about King having troubles at the restaurant and motel.

As the silence lengthened, Freddie had to force her body to stay still to keep from fidgeting. Finally, Alexander cleared his throat again. The sound seemed to burst King into speech. He suddenly stormed, "Just why did you have to leave?"

Freddie's eyes widened at his outburst and she looked from King to Alexander, then back to King. She was struggling to come up with an appropriate answer when Alexander spoke forcefully, saying, "King, this isn't the time or the place. Ms. Sommers is here about a job."

King turned toward his father and they seemed to have a silent conversation before they both turned, once again, to face Freddie. "Dad's right. I'm sorry," King said in a voice that was pure business-mode. He continued, "Please, let me show you what we are interested in."

As King laid out the sketches of a steak house that he was about to open, Freddie forgot about the tension in the room. She got caught up in the proposed menu and the whole concept of the authentic Texas style dining experience in downtown Manhattan. Soon, she was tossing ideas around with King and Alexander. Freddie nixed a few of the suggested entrees and offered replacement suggestions out of her own expertise. King asked her about the decor he was considering. That launched them into a whole other area of debate, ending up with something that sounded like a dream come true to Freddie.

When the timer buzzed, King, Alexander and Freddie all looked up at each other in surprise. They had gotten so caught up in the plans that they had forgotten where they were. Freddie was surprised when it was King who was the first one to lighten the mood with a laugh. He said, "Well, Freddie, after having talked with two other candidates today and having interviewed countless others over the last few weeks, I think we can honestly say, no one has seen this as clearly as you. I think Dad will agree with me, if you are interested in this job, it's yours."

Freddie couldn't believe her ears. King was offering her the chance to come back into his life - to create something new and exciting with him. And he was offering it to her because she had impressed him - she had something to offer him this time.

Alexander heartily agreed with King's offer. With a blush of pleasure on her cheeks, Freddie stuck out her hand to King and said, "You've got yourself a deal, Mr. Griffin." King and his dad both shook hands with Freddie, then they made their way to the interview center to let them know that they had reached an agreement. After they finalized the paperwork required by the cook-off, Freddie suggested that they meet together for dinner in her hotel. They agreed on six o'clock and parted ways.

Freddie's feet hardly touched the ground as she walked back to her hotel. Not only had she found a job that sounded perfect, she had also found King again. Although their initial moments together hadn't been too smooth, things had warmed up after that. She couldn't wait to see the restaurant and plan the opening day extravaganza.

Dinner was an exciting meal for Freddie. Even though King seemed somewhat moody and quiet, Alexander Solomon was entertaining and delightful. He told Freddie all about his family and how excited they had been finding out about King. Alexander was open about the problems he had feared with King - that King was only after his money, that King was going to be jealous of his other children, or that King might try to make him feel guilty about not having been a part of his life. But, as he finished, Alexander beamed. King had done none of those things.

At one point, Alexander leaned forward to Freddie and said, "You know, I wasn't expecting my own son to come to me already a self-made millionaire." Freddie's eyes flew to King's eyes. King suddenly looked very uncomfortable. Alexander noticed the interplay between the two. He said, "King, don't tell me that you didn't tell the girl about the killing that you made at RedHat. When the company went public, King was sitting on a pile of stock options - the boy went from engineer to millionaire over night!"

Freddie felt like doing the proverbial "duh" slap upside her own head! That's the part of King's story that he had left out when they had talked about living in Raleigh! She had known he wasn't telling her the whole story, but she had just let it go. Why hadn't she realized that anyone who left RedHat immediately after it went public did so because they could retire on easy street for the rest of their lives. And she had just gone on believing he was the deliveryman. At least it hadn't taken her too long to figure that part out - but she had completely missed the rest. Well, at least she didn't have to worry about him thinking she was after his money now - she had her own.

When it came time to order dessert, Freddie almost choked on her drink when King ordered Key Lime pie. She shot him an incredulous look, wondering if he had forgotten the last dinner they had shared together. When he looked directly into her eyes and said to the waiter, "With only one fork," Freddie knew he hadn't forgotten. He was tormenting her and he was doing it on purpose. She gave him a quick glare, hoping that Alexander didn't notice. King just smiled an angelic smile and asked his dad if he wanted any dessert. Alexander chose a chocolate sundae. When the waiter asked Freddie if she wanted anything, King cut her off and answered for her, saying, "She can share ours." Alexander frowned at his son, but refrained from commenting.

After the desserts were served, Freddie pointedly declined sharing either one of them. She wanted to kick King under the table, but he was too far away. Even Alexander seemed annoyed with his son, and the conversation slowed to a halt. Finally, Freddie announced that she needed to get up to her room to pack for the flight back home the next day.

King looked surprised. He said, "You don't live in D.C.?"

Freddie shook her head and said, "No, I'm based at the Atlanta school. I went there after Dottie died."

King looked taken aback. He asked, "Who is Dottie?"

Freddie sighed before she answered. She hadn't meant to tell King all about the past two years, but she knew she couldn't work closely with him and not tell him. She was too open a person. So she took a deep breath and said, "After I left New York, I moved in with an elderly lady in South Carolina. Her name was Dottie. She was dying of cancer and wanted to stay in her home. I helped her fulfill that wish. After she died, she made a way for me to go to chef's school. The closest one was in Atlanta, so that's where I went. I graduated in their top 10%, so I got to come to the cook-off. That's why I'm here."

Alexander was the first one to speak. He said, "By any chance, is the lady you are talking about Dorothy Klover?"

Freddie looked at him in surprise, "Yes, she was. Did you know Dottie?"

Alexander shook his head, "No, but Maria is very close friends with her daughter."

Freddie's face burst into a smile, "You mean Maria knows Carol?"

Alexander just smiled and nodded, then added, "I thought that story sounded familiar. If you are the 'wonderful, sweet angel' that came from out of nowhere and saved them all from having to put Dorothy into a nursing home, then you are quite well off yourself."

Of all the things that Freddie had been expecting Alexander to say, that hadn't been one of them. She was careful not to let people know about her inherited wealth. But obviously, Alexander did know. Freddie could feel the heat rising in her face.

King came to her rescue. He said, "Dad, Freddie is really uncomfortable talking about money - her own or anyone else's. Maybe you should drop the subject." Alexander looked questioningly at Freddie, but seemed content to not bring the matter back up again. Freddie decided that she needed to change the topic of conversation.

"So, when do you want me to report to duty, King?" Freddie asked.

King's brow furrowed in thought. After a few moments, he said, "How soon can you start?"

Freddie looked at him, trying to see if he was kidding. But she didn't see any signs of teasing in his face. With a bit of teasing in her smile, she said, "Well, I only have enough money for about two more days in the motel I'm staying in - I'm only there out of the goodness of a friend of the family, and even their cut rate is killing me."

Although Alexander looked confused at their verbal exchange, Freddie was thrilled to see that King recognized the same answer she had given him the first time he had hired her. He even gave her a half smile as he shook his head. Even if there were still a lot of unresolved issues between them, at least she and King were going to be able to work together.

Alexander and King suggested that Freddie come to New York as soon as possible. Freddie calculated how long she needed to close things up in Atlanta. When everything was taken into consideration, the three of them arranged to meet at King's motel in one week. Alexander and King both stood as Freddie moved to leave. Freddie suddenly felt very awkward, saying good night to them. Without warning, Alexander leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek, murmuring how glad he was to have finally met her. When he pulled back, Freddie was left facing King.

King looked as uncomfortable as Freddie felt. She stuck out her hand and King stared at it for a moment. She was momentarily afraid that he was going to ignore it. But then, King took her hand and shook it. Freddie had forgotten what it felt like for King to touch her. Just as it had the first time they had shaken hands, time seemed to stand still for Freddie. If she closed her eyes, Freddie was certain that she could feel King's lips on her mouth. She wasn't sure how long they stood there, holding hands and staring into each other's eyes, but when Alexander gave a slight cough, they both pulled back simultaneously. King abruptly turned away and sat back down at the table, leaving Alexander to make the parting remarks to Freddie.

As Freddie made her exit, she realized how much she had wanted King to kiss her. How was she ever going to manage to work side by side with a man who she would never stop loving?



Freddie's Find Pt. 04



CHAPTER EIGHT

When Freddie got off the plane in New York, she was carrying all her worldly possessions in her two suitcases. She felt like she was coming home, and she hoped that she was coming home to stay. King and Alexander had told her that they would meet her at King's motel, so she wasn't expecting anyone to be at the airport waiting for her. When she heard someone calling her name, she was quiet surprised. She turned around to find the person and was thrilled to see a very pregnant Jessica headed toward her, waving.

Freddie rushed over to Jessica and hugged her. Ryan was with her and he leaned down and kissed Freddie on the cheek. Jessica said, "I'm so glad you're back! I can't tell you how much we have all been praying that you would come home!" Freddie was surprised by Jessica's words, but they made her feel wonderful. It was nice to think she had been missed, especially by someone that she cared for too.

Ryan grabbed Freddie's bags and led the two women out to his sport utility vehicle. Once Jessica was comfortable in the front, he checked on Freddie in the back, then headed around to the driver's door. Freddie asked, "What are the two of you doing here? I could have found my way to the motel. It's wonderful to see you, but you didn't have to go to so much trouble."

Ryan and Jessica shared a look, then Jessica said, "Freddie, we have all been so anxious about you coming back to the motel, we weren't taking any chances on you not getting there."

Freddie shook her head, and said, "Why wouldn't I have gotten there? I told King and Alexander that I would come."

Jessica turned in the seat so she could look Freddie in the eye. She said, "Freddie, you left once before. I don't think King could stand to lose you again."

Freddie's brow wrinkled in confusion. Finally, she asked, "King missed me?"

Jessica gave Freddie a look that suggested that she didn't think Freddie was all that smart. Ryan was the one who answered Freddie this time. He said, "Let's just say that none of us want to deal with King if you leave him again."

Freddie's heart was beating double time. Could they possibly be telling her that King had cared for her? Could he still care for her, even after two years?

It didn't take long for them to arrive at King's motel. King himself came out the door as soon as Ryan's vehicle stopped. Through the tinted windows, Freddie caught the look of expectation on KIng's face. It made her breath catch in her throat. However, as soon as Ryan stepped out and announced that he had Freddie, King's face became expressionless. But Freddie knew what she had seen. And what she had seen gave her hope for the future.

King took Freddie's bags and led her into the motel. "You'll be living here," King announced. Freddie started to protest, but he stopped her by saying, "We have been over this before. You WILL live here." Freddie just rolled her eyes and followed King onto the elevator. When he handed her a set of keys, she wasn't surprised to see that they were the ones for the tenth floor set of rooms.

Freddie and King were alone in the elevator, so Freddie took the chance to make sure King still wanted her there. "King?" Freddie asked in a quiet voice, "Are you sure?"

King just looked at her with an unreadable expression and finally said, "Yeah, I'm sure." She had hoped he would say more, but it was obvious that he wasn't going to fulfill that wish.

When they got to the tenth floor, King carried her suitcases over to her door. Freddie laughed and said, "Seems like we've done this before." She saw the shadow flicker in King's eyes and she realized that the last time they had stood before this door, they had been headed to her bed. She felt the blush on her cheeks and dropped her eyes. King opened her door and took in her cases.

Freddie followed. She was shocked to see that the room hadn't changed any. In fact, several of the small knick knacks that she had left were still in their places. She looked over at King and said, "King? Has no one used this room since I left?"

In a voice that Freddie thought sounded rather dejected, King answered her with a simple, "No."

King walked back toward Freddie's door and said, "Please be downstairs in thirty minutes and we will go to the restaurant. You might want to wear some comfortable clothes." Freddie sighed as he walked out and shut the door behind him.

Freddie managed to get ready early and went back downstairs to see if she recognized anyone. She was pleased to see Joanna still working the front desk. After hugging her, Freddie dropped into the restaurant. It was mid afternoon, but several of the wait staff were already preparing for the evening meal. Jake was the first to recognize her as she stood in the door way. He gave her a huge hug and pulled her over to see the others. Freddie was thrilled to see so many people from her past - especially from a piece of her past that had meant so much to her. It made her feel good to think that she was going to be in the company of so many friends.

Freddie was surprised to see Ryan, Alexander and King all three waiting for her in the lobby when she made her way back out of the restaurant.

Ryan said, "Jessica went home, but I wanted to go with you and help King show you around."

Alexander added, "I'm afraid that I won't be able to join you this afternoon, my dear. But, rest assured, these two scoundrels can show you the place better than I can anyway. After all, it is all their own." Before he turned to leave, Alexander bent and kissed Freddie on the cheek. She wondered if she was ever going to get used to this family being so comfortable with her. And would King ever be that comfortable with her again?

When the three of them went outside, Ryan headed toward his sport utility vehicle, but King stopped him. King said, "I think we should take the truck." Ryan gave him a strange look and Freddie grimaced. She knew what King was up to and that, once again, he was taking pleasure in torturing her.

King drove his pick up which meant that Freddie was in the middle, sandwiched between the two men. Although she was touching both of them from hip to knee, only the side where King was sitting was giving her any problems. That side seemed to be on fire, tingling from the contact with King. His arm kept brushing over her breast as he shifted gears and his hand kept resting on the gear shift just inside her thighs. Even though she was certain that King was enjoying her discomfort, she didn't know what she could do to stop it. She was a nervous wreck by the time they arrived at what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse.

"King, why are we stopping here?" she asked. King and Ryan exchanged an amused look over the top of Freddie's head. Neither one of them answered, though, as they headed for a padlocked door. After he unlocked it, King motioned for her to follow him inside. Ryan brought up the rear and threw a switch that lit up the room. Freddie gasped when she saw the empty, dusty space in front of her. With wide eyes, she spun around to face King and said, "Are you serious?"

King and Ryan both burst into laughter. Finally King said, "Yeah, we're serious. This is the restaurant. It needs a little more work-"

"A little more work!" Freddie shouted, echoing in the emptiness, "Have you lost your mind? This place barely has sheetrock on the walls."

Ryan rubbed the back of his neck and said, "Yeah, well, I've been working on that. I only have a few more sheets to put up, then it'll all be covered."

Freddie's mouth was hanging open as she stared at the brothers. She said, "Where's the kitchen? Where is the whole blooming steak house, for pete's sake?"

King answered this time, "Freddie, we wanted to bring in a chef who would help us put the whole thing together. Someone who wouldn't just be a cook, but would also have a stake in the place - you know, from the ground up."

Freddie was still fuming, "King, why didn't you tell me this in D.C.? You led me to believe that this place was ready to have its grand opening!"

Again, Ryan and King laughed. "Well," Ryan said, "If we have a grand opening anytime soon, maybe we could get the customers to help us put up the wallpaper!" King joined his brother in laughter.

But Freddie still wasn't amused. She said, "King, what am I supposed to do in the meantime? Where am I going to work?"

Suddenly, King's face got serious. "According to my dad," he said, "you don't need to work. But, for your information, what I want is for you to work here. I hired you for the job. What's the matter? Don't think you can handle getting your hands dirty?"

Freddie's face flushed in anger. "How dare you?" she asked. "How dare you assume that you can manipulate me like this. You tricked me into coming here. You said that I would be a chef - not some flunky helping you scrub floors. You must really hate me to do something this underhanded. Was it so bad that I left without working a notice? What did I do that deserved this? I hope you have had your little laugh, King. I'll just get my bags from the motel and head back to Atlanta. Maybe one of the other restaurants will still interview me for the job of chef."

King's face was a mask of anger as he turned his back toward her. Ryan looked from one of them to the other, waiting for one of them to speak. When it became apparent that neither one was going to, Ryan burst out, "No! Freddie is not going to leave again! Look, Freddie, King didn't tell you the whole story because he was afraid you wouldn't take on a project this big as your first job out of school. But he knew that you could do it, that's why he offered you the job. We want you to work alongside us as we put this place together, Freddie We want you to help us design the place. We want it to be the perfect Texas steak house when we are finished. But we need you. We need your help. We're serious about this place. King and I bought it together, but we both know that you are an integral ingredient in its success. You belong here, Freddie. You can't go. We really need you."

Freddie looked from Ryan's earnest face to King's rigid back. She said, "King, is that true?" King didn't answer her. She continued, "King, if it is true, if this wasn't some cruel trick, you need to tell me yourself."

With his back still toward her, King said, "I've already told you. You just didn't seem to believe me."

Freddie sighed in frustration. She said, "King, you were way less than honest with me about this. Your logic escapes me right now. But if you really want my help with this, I am listening."

King finally turned to look at her. His face was a fierce mask. He said, "You have already left once because you didn't take the time to listen to me. If you are going to leave or even threaten to leave every time it strikes your fancy, we are better off if you go ahead and leave right now."

Ryan's eyes widened as he stared at his brother. Before he could say anything, though, Freddie stomped her foot and angrily said, "King, we might as well get this out in the open now. You seem to have a pretty clear idea about why I left New York. But you haven't asked me. Do you want to know why I left? I left because your fiancee told me that you found me to be an embarrassment. She said that you were too nice of a guy to tell me yourself. She even knew that we had slept together. Why did you tell her that? Didn't it matter to you? Didn't I matter to you? Not at all?"

King's voice was also filled with anger as he said, "Do you think I am so low that I would send you flowers at the same time that I was telling Leona that we slept together? Of course I didn't tell her. She made a lucky guess. I imagine that she could see how happy I was and then she saw the flowers and put two and two together. Couldn't you have asked me how I felt about you? Couldn't you have waited until I got home that afternoon?"

Freddie bit her bottom lip to keep from snapping back at him. She took a moment to consider his words. Maybe he was telling the truth. Why wouldn't he? Finally, she quietly said, "King, you've got to believe that I didn't think I had that option. I should have asked you. But when she told me that she was marrying you, and she knew we had slept together, I'm afraid that I gave her more credit than you seem to think she deserved. I thought you were going to tell me that the two of you were engaged. I thought that was the important thing that you wanted to tell me that afternoon. I'm sorry that I didn't give you the chance to explain. But I was afraid that I would die of embarrassment if what she said was true. And I had no reason to doubt her."

Ryan had stood by, watching the exchange between Freddie and King. He hadn't said a word. Now, King looked over at his brother and sighed loudly. Then King said, "Well, Ryan, I guess you know more than you ever wanted to know about Freddie and me."

Ryan gave a brief laugh and said, "Yeah, that thought was going through my mind. So are you two going to be able to work together?"

King turned back to look at Freddie. This time his face was softer and his eyes were kinder. He said, "Freddie? Can you work with me? I didn't know what Leona had told you. But I do know that we can make this restaurant work. Ryan and I went out on a limb when we bought this place and we really do need you. Will you help us? I know I haven't been on my best behavior since I saw you again in D.C., but if you'll stay, I promise to do better. "

Freddie couldn't have said no to King if her life had depended on it. He was the love of her life and he had just asked for her help. She would do whatever it took to make this restaurant work for him. If he needed her, she would be his for as long as he wanted her.

Freddie nodded her head and said, "Yeah, I'll help." Then, shaking her head and looking around at the barren room, she said, "What do you have in mind?"

CHAPTER NINE

The next few weeks were filled with picking out tables and chairs with a western flair, learning painting techniques to make the walls look like worn leather, and choosing wagon wheel fixtures for the overhead lights. Ryan and King had wanted the floor to look rustic, so they had suggested leaving it concrete. But Freddie insisted on hardwoods, saying, "You want it to look rustic, not cheap!" Ryan, King and Freddie worked along side each other, doing everything from hanging wallpaper in the bathrooms to sanding down the antique bar stools that Freddie had found at one of the local auctions. As the weeks passed, what was once an empty warehouse began to take on the look of a classic Texas steak house.

Even with all of the required interactions between King and Freddie, King was true to his word about being on his best behavior. He asked her opinion and discussed their options, but he didn't flirt with her. He was also careful about not touching her. When the three of them had to go places for supplies, King never took the pick up. He always insisted on the Sport Ute, which meant that Freddie didn't have to be squeezed in between him and Ryan. Freddie wished he wasn't so strict about it all, but she appreciated that he was trying to make their working relationship comfortable for her.

Ryan and Jessica invited Freddie and King over to their house for dinner every night. Since Jessica was in her last trimester, Ryan refused to let her do anything except help Freddie shop for various things that they needed for the restaurant. But Jessica didn't let that stop her from doing all that she could. She declared that her contribution would be to have supper ready for them each evening at 6:00. Jessica told the three of them that they were welcomed to work all day long, but the evenings were her time for family, and she expected them all to be there for her!

After supper each night, Ryan and King did the dishes together, letting Freddie and Jessica spend time comparing thoughts about various aspects of the restaurant. The arrangement was just one more way that King took pains to separate himself from Freddie. It hurt Freddie's feelings to know the lengths that King would go to in order to remind her that he only wanted a professional relationship with her. Freddie tried to take comfort in the fact that she was still able to spend time with him, even if it wasn't exactly how she pictured it in her fantasies.

It was late each evening when Freddie and King made their way up to their rooms. King never attempted to come into Freddie's apartment. Freddie wished that she had the energy to invite him in, but she was putting all that she had into getting the restaurant ready. And she realized that King was doing the same. Freddie knew that there was a strong possibility that maybe they were both working to the point of exhaustion just to keep from having to deal with their feelings toward one another. But there was nothing she was going to do to change that.

Freddie wondered if it would have been different if she hadn't left. Jessica told Freddie that King had shut everybody out of his life after she had left. He had even been talking about selling his motel and moving away. Ryan had managed to get him interested in the Texas steak house idea, but both Ryan and Jessica had been afraid King would leave after they got the restaurant opened. That was why Ryan had chosen the warehouse. It needed so much work that it would require King to stay while they tried to think of another reason for him not to leave. Jessica assured Freddie that her return had been the answer to many family prayers. Freddie just didn't think that any of those prayers had come from King, himself.

Freddie found that King didn't take days off from work. Freddie decided that she wasn't going to do that, though. King spent most of his time at the warehouse, but at least one day each week, he had to deal with business from the motel. On those days, Freddie didn't go to the warehouse, either. She took the opportunity to go swimming, shopping and generally to rest. It was on one of those evenings, when she went down to the restaurant bar to eat dinner, that she ran into Leona.

Leona was sitting at the bar, laughing and joking with the bartender. When Freddie saw her, she almost turned and left. In fact, if Leona hadn't called out to her, she probably would have left. But Leona's voice carried across the room as she cried, "Freddie! Freddie Sommers! I can't believe you came back!" Freddie wasn't interested in making a scene, but Leona jumped up and ran toward her. Freddie was bracing herself for Leona's attack, verbal or physical, when Leona threw her arms around Freddie's neck and started hugging her.

Leona gushed, "I'm so glad you didn't let my stupid remarks keep you from coming back. I'm so sorry that I was such a pain. I just got so caught up in the idea of becoming King's wife that I let go of my common sense. I'm truly glad you're here!" With that, Leona drug Freddie over to the bar and sat down beside her.

Leona announced that she had so much to tell Freddie. Of course, the most important thing, according to Leona, was that she had managed to find the right man for herself, after all. As she went on and on about her new husband, Freddie subtly looked around the room. She wondered where Leona's husband was, and why he was so comfortable with his wife sitting at a bar.

Finally, when Leona stopped talking long enough for Freddie to get a word in, Freddie congratulated her on her happiness. Just as she was about to ask who the lucky guy was, Jake walked over and dropped his arm around Leona's shoulders. Leona beamed as she looked up into Jake's face and he dropped a quick kiss on her mouth. Freddie was certain that her mouth was hanging open - Leona was married to Jake? Who would have believed it?!?

Leona turned back to Freddie and said, "Jake helped me get back on King's good side. After Jake told me just what he thought of me and the way I had been acting, I came to my senses and apologized to King. I just wish it hadn't been too late to stop you from leaving."




Freddie's Find Pt. 04



Freddie told Leona that she appreciated the thought and that, in the end, the past two years had been good to her. Leona seemed pleased with that answer, and Freddie made a quick excuse to get away. She decided that, after that little scene with Leona, room service in her apartment sounded like a much better idea than eating at the bar!

CHAPTER TEN

After months of hard work, at last everything was in place in the warehouse - down to the checkered napkins that Ryan, Jessica, King and Freddie had agreed upon. The only thing that was left was choosing an opening date, getting the food ready for the opening night and making sure that everybody in Manhattan knew that the time had come to experience Texas. Freddie was as thrilled with the finished product as King and Ryan were. Jessica had even conducted interviews and lined up an entire staff during the final weeks of her pregnancy. Everyone was just waiting for the date to be chosen.

In the end, it was the baby that helped determine the opening day of the restaurant. King and Freddie decided to surprise Ryan and Jessica by choosing the restaurant opening to be six weeks after the birth. King and Freddie agreed that it wouldn't be fair for Jessica and Ryan to not be at the opening, but it also wasn't fair to ask them to bring a brand new baby out for such an event. King and Freddie reasoned that six weeks into parenthood would probably be perfect timing for Ryan and Jessica to need a night away from their bundle of joy! Ryan and Jessica had been thrilled with the plan. Now the only thing holding them up was that the baby was past its due date!

After church one Sunday, Freddie was in the restaurant with King, putting together the basic food pantry for the kitchen when the long awaited call came in from Ryan. Jessica had broken her water and they were headed to the hospital. With a happy shout, King grabbed Freddie up in a hug and swung her around the room.

For three months, Freddie and King had been careful not to touch one another, and now Freddie remembered why. King's touch made her forget everything but the feel of his hands on her waist. Even the air around her seemed to suddenly realize that King was touching her, as it grew thick with tension. By the time King sat her down, all the amusement had flown from both of their faces. King was looking at her as though he wanted to read her soul. And Freddie was past the point of caring if he saw how much she loved him. She returned his gaze and silently willed him to see into her heart.

Whatever King saw there must have assured him, because in the next moment, he was crushing her lips with his own. Freddie had thought that two years would have cooled the heat of passion that flared between the two of them, but she was wrong. King tasted even better than she remembered, and she felt like a starved woman. Her own tongue snuck into his mouth as she heard him groan out loud. Or was that her? She wasn't sure and she wasn't about to spend too much energy to figure it out. She had missed King so badly and now she had him. It felt like her whole soul was coming back to life.

When King broke the kiss and grabbed her hand, Freddie was still lost in the wonder of their passion. But as King started dragging her out of the restaurant, throwing off lights throughout the dining room and locking the doors behind them, she began focusing on what he was doing. Confused, she asked, "King what are you doing?" King just gave her a smoky look that had her blood pounding through her veins. Then he was putting her into the truck and heading back to the motel.

Like deja vu, Freddie and King didn't stop to speak to any of their friends as they hurried through the hotel lobby. Once inside the elevator, King grabbed Freddie in a tight squeeze and began raining kisses all over her face, teasing her by never touching her mouth with his lips. When the elevator opened on their floor, Freddie automatically turned toward her own door, but King stopped her. In a husky voice, he asked, "Don't you think it's about time that you saw my room?" Freddie's breath caught in her chest.

Freddie stood behind King as he opened his door and took her hand. She had a moment to register that his apartment was laid out basically the same as her's, only with lots more floor space. King was pulling her toward his bedroom, though, with a speed that prohibited her from more than a brief glance at the other rooms. Once inside King's bedroom, he sat down on the bed. With Freddie standing in between his legs, they were able to look each other in the eye. King ran his fingers through her hair as he held her head still in front of him. He said, "I've missed you so much." Then he was kissing her again.

Freddie couldn't focus on anything but King. When her mind whispered that King hadn't made any promises about tomorrow, she ignored it. She went with her heart and it was telling her that she was exactly where she belonged. She kissed King back with all the love that was inside of her.

King made short work of Freddie's shirt and jeans, just as she tugged and pulled at his clothes. Almost at the same moment, the last articles of clothing came off both of them. King pulled her down on the bed over him and held her tightly against his body. The feel of his arousal against her stomach was the most exciting thing Freddie had experienced since the last time King had held her. Freddie began shifting and moving, to position King where she wanted him. She straddled his hips and sat back to look down into his face.

King was watching Freddie with fire in his eyes. That look reminded her of the power she had with King during their lovemaking. And it was all she needed to encourage her. She ran her fingers lightly over his skin, then followed them with her lips. King was moaning beneath her and begging her to not stop. She loved the feel of his muscles tensing as she caressed his body. He was everything she would ever want, and she wanted to give him the best of who she was.

After allowing Freddie free reign for several minutes, King suddenly flipped her over and lay above her. He grabbed protection off the nightstand and quickly slipped it over himself. When he entered her, Freddie was tight and hot. In fact, she was close to exploding. She had longed for this moment for over two years. And King was thrusting into her like it was a moment he had longed for as well. With a cry ripped from her soul, Freddie climaxed as she felt King soar over the edge of his own orgasm. It was a moment of heaven touching earth, and Freddie knew she would never be the same again.

In the aftermath, King rolled onto his side and faced her. He chuckled quietly as he caressed her face. He whispered, "Wow. That was incredible." Freddie just smiled at him, hoping he could see in her eyes all that she couldn't say yet with her voice. Then she closed her eyes and let sleep overtake her.

The next morning, Freddie was startled when she woke up. For a moment, she couldn't remember where she was. Then the events of the afternoon and night before came rushing back to her. After their first bout of lovemaking the day before, King had ordered up room service. He had fed Freddie lasagna with lots of dripping cheese. Then Freddie had returned the favor. Supper was barely finished before they were back in bed, tasting and sampling one another for dessert.

About seven o'clock, Ryan had called to announce that Jessica had delivered their daughter, Summer Alexandria Solomon. They were all doing well, but they were exhausted. King promised that they would visit the next day. Then he returned to bed with Freddie. Although they had managed to get a little sleep during the night, the majority of their time together was spent rediscovering one another. Freddie might never understand King's attraction to her body, but, over and over, she was assured that she was his fantasy come to life. And King's body was everything Freddie had ever longed for and more. If she had a lifetime to touch King, Freddie wasn't sure she would ever get enough of enjoying him.

And now it was morning. Freddie heard the shower running and decided to join King. She slipped into the bathroom and pulled back the curtain. She was planning on surprising King, and she could have done it too, since his eyes were closed. But the sight of him standing naked under the spray of water was too much for Freddie. She moaned out loud and King's eyes snapped open. He reached out and pulled her into the shower with him. Then he proceeded to clean her from head to toe. She took her own sweet time soaping up King's body as well. After they rinsed off, King raced her back to the bed and kissed every place he had just cleaned. He managed to show her even more new things about her body's responses as he brought her to another shattering climax. When it was over, he held her quietly as she drifted off to sleep.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

When Freddie woke up again, King was gone. There was a note on his pillow saying that he had some unavoidable business that he had to attend to, and that he would see her later. Then, as a 'P.S.', he had added that he had something important to tell her. Freddie wondered if he had kept the note from two years ago, or if he had just managed to copy it so closely from memory. She shook her head and hoped that today went better than the last "day after" had been.

Freddie returned to her own rooms and took another shower. She got dressed and was munching on a bowl of cereal when her phone rang. "Freddie? This is Joanna from the front desk. I've got a delivery down here for you. Could you come get it?"

Freddie thought she might get physically sick, but she managed to say yes before she hung up the phone. "So help me," Freddie thought to herself, "If Leona is down at that desk, I'm going to run out the door screaming!"

When she got there, much to Freddie's joy, no one except Joanna was at the front desk. Joanna smiled and, instead of handing Freddie the flowers Freddie was both expecting and dreading, she merely handed her an envelope. With a sigh of relief, Freddie opened it and saw King's handwriting. The note said, "I can't wait until tonight to tell you. Take a cab and get to the restaurant as soon as possible."

Freddie frowned at Joanna, but Joanna just shrugged her shoulders. Freddie went back upstairs and got her handbag and went to hail a taxi.

Fifteen minutes later, Freddie pulled up in front of the old warehouse. It didn't look anything like it had three months earlier. The building looked new and loved now. It was a place where anyone could feel comfortable. Freddie smiled in satisfaction as she climbed out of the cab.

Freddie looked around for King, but she didn't see him. So she went inside the door. There was only one light in the dining room and it was a candle in the middle of one of the tables. On the table was a beautiful steak dinner, complete with salad and bread. There was even wine for the meal. From the shadows to her right, King stepped into the light. He said, "Hello Freddie. I hope you're ready for lunch."

Freddie smiled at him and joined him at the table. "King, it looks great! When did you learn to cook something other than stir fry?" she asked. King laughed and held out her chair. Freddie was still confused about what was going on, but she decided to play along with King. After they sat down, King picked up his fork and started eating, still without any explanation. So Freddie followed suit.

During lunch, Freddie noticed that there seemed to be a lot of activity going on outside. King agreed and got up to check it out. He returned to the table and assured her that it was only some workmen, doing some last minute details to the outside. After they finished, King cleared the table, then came back and sat down across from her.

Looking earnestly at her, King said, "I need to tell you something important - the same 'something important' that I needed to tell you two years ago. Two years ago, I lost you because I didn't tell you how I felt. After you left, I didn't feel like I had the right to track you down and make you come back up here. But my heart never forgot about you. I know that Ryan and Jessica and the rest of my family have all told you how hard I was to get along with during those two years. But they don't really know the half of it, Freddie. I was the only one who knew just how badly I hurt inside. I've never felt anything like that kind of pain. And I don't want to ever again."

King continued, "I didn't mean for last night to happen. I had it all planned out, and I jumped the gun. I meant for this to be perfect, but I just couldn't help myself. You looked so beautiful when I told you about Jessica that I just couldn't stop myself. But I want to make it right. I want you to understand what I needed to tell you."

Freddie was totally confused. King wasn't making any sense to her. What was it he had wanted to do right? And why had last night 'jumped the gun'? She started to voice her questions, but King put his finger over her lips. He said, "Before you say anything, I want you to know something else, too. It's about this restaurant. I picked the name of this restaurant before I ever even heard about your school's cook-off. Before I came to D.C. and before you walked into that interview, I knew what the name of this place would be. You have to know that. Ryan will back me up on it. I started this restaurant for you."

Now Freddie was beyond confused. For three months, she had just assumed that the name of the restaurant would be "The Texas Steak House". But, apparently, King was trying to tell her something different.

King took Freddie's hand and led her out the front door. Several workmen stood outside on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. One of the them shook King's hand and asked, "So, are we ready?" King just smiled down at Freddie and nodded his head. Then one of the other men pulled a rope and the cloth fell away that had been covering the new sign over the door.

Freddie gasped as she read the name. She turned back to look at King as the realization of what he had just told her hit her. He had chosen the name before she had come back. He had chosen the name because of what she had meant to him. He had chosen the name because of her! The sign read:

The Wild Rose Steak House and Saloon

Freddie's heart was in her mouth. She jumped into King's arms and hugged him with all of her strength. The workmen watched as she and King kissed on the New York sidewalk. When she pulled back, she looked into King's eyes and said, "King Griffin, I love you!" King just laughed and pulled her back for another kiss.

After King and Freddie thanked the workmen, they wondered back inside the restaurant. King had his arm around Freddie's shoulders as he guided her back over to their table. He sat her in her chair, then dropped to one knee in front of her. Freddie looked at him questioningly.

King smiled and said, "Freddie, I wanted you to see that sign so you would know that I never stopped loving you. You are the most beautiful woman in the world to me and I would never do anything to hurt you. Freddie, will you marry me?"

Freddie wasn't sure she could speak, let alone give King a coherent answer, so she nodded her head 'yes' and threw her arms around his neck. King kissed her over and over as she basked in the knowledge that he loved her. As King slipped a beautiful solitaire on her finger, Freddie whole face glowed with her love for him.

Maybe Mondays weren't so bad after all!