SHIFT EXCHANGE

Chapter 13

Jake pulled away from Kara and stood up just as Anita breezed into the kitchen and came to a surprised halt.

"Oh! Hello Sergeant Mahon!" A giant, sly grin covered her face. "Good morning to you too Kara."

"Good morning Anita." Kara hoped she wasn't blushing as hard as she felt she was. Knowing her skin, there was little chance of that.

"Hey Anita, good to see you," Jake buried his hands in his pockets and turned to face Kara. "So you should be good now. The doctor said to just take it easy. I'm going to run home, but if you need anything at all please promise you'll call me?"

Kara felt her face heating up all over again. Could he be any sweeter? "I will be fine, but I promise I'll call if I'm not."

"Ok. And I'll call you about that other thing." He shot her a wink that made her stomach flutter before turning to Anita. "I hope you ladies have a good morning." He made a slight bow to Anita and then walked past her into the living room.

Anita stayed rooted to her spot staring at Kara, her face a comic relief of barely tethered excitement. His footsteps receded down the hall, paused in the living room, and then continued out the front door.

"WHAT?!?" She mouthed and danced in place. As soon as she was certain he wouldn't be walking back in she waived her arms around incredulously as she burst out, "WHAT WAS THAT?!"

Kara couldn't help breaking into laughter at her friend's antics, but it wasn't just that, it was the whole morning. Weird had gotten weirder and then it had gotten really, really nice. She could still feel his lips on hers and the soft rasp of his stubble.

Had he really asked her out? Had she really said yes? Maybe this was all just some hallucination from her head injury. Nope, Anita was still standing there dancing like she had to go to the bathroom.

"Truthfully, I really don't know." Kara giggled. "It's possible I hit my head much harder than I thought."

"Girl, I saw that man's face and he was all in a tizzy." Anita sat in the chair Jake had recently vacated and started in on one of the last two pastries. "I'd say he fell hard."

"No. I fell on the ground. At work. Remember?" Kara stared confused as her friend licked raspberry jam and crumbs off her fingers.

"Not fell down. Fell for you!" Anita rolled her eyes and reached for the last pastry. "As in he wants a piece of Kara Brandt, specifically her heart." She winked at Kara and bit into the treat.

"Whoa there! Slow down. No one is talking about hearts here," Kara handed Anita a napkin for the blob of raspberry jam that fell onto her slacks. "He was incredibly kind to me last night. Yes, he stayed over, but nothing happened."

Anita raised her eyebrow in disbelief. "Nothing? Then why were you blushing the color of a fire hydrant when I walked in. I know you Kara Brandt. You can't lie to me."

"Ok. I agreed to have dinner with him, and maybe he kissed me, but it was not a big deal!" Kara threw her hands up as she felt her face color again.

"Tongue or no tongue?" Anita drummed her fingers on the table.

"A tiny, miniscule bit of tongue. Not enough to really count." Kara started to giggle. It was ridiculous and she knew it.

"Any amount counts!" Anita brushed crumbs off her lap and stood. "I'm so excited I'm not going to be able to sleep. Carl is never going to believe this. I definitely need to sleep to withstand another night of Greg."

"I'm sorry, I really am. I don't like leaving you guys" Kara mumbled.

"Oh no! I wasn't trying to guilt you. You need to rest, that's a fact. Don't you worry about it one more second," The towering woman patted her hand. "There just isn't anyone like our Kara."