Roses for Kimmy

Chapter 2: Just Business

 Robertson Family Home, Downstairs Kitchen

It was on days like this that made Katherine pretend that the kitchen backsplash was the most interesting thing in the world. It wasn’t that she liked the combination of orange and white that was displayed within the tile. In fact, her sudden fascination probably had something to do with the fact her father had been talking nonstop for about a half hour about something having to do with… oil changes? It all started when she had made an off handed comment about the light in her car coming on while she was on her way home from work. After that, it was all downhill.

Katherine’s blue eyes focused on the tile in front of her as her father continued to drone on and on-even though she had told him several times that she knew how to change her own oil.

Jackson was standing with his back towards her as he gestured out a window with thick hands. Every few minutes Kat would nod her head despite the fact that her father was turned away from her.

“Katherine? Are you even listening to me?”

She jumped a little bit and looked up.

“Of course.” She lied.

Jackson frowned disapprovingly. They looked at each other for a moment, Katherines’ eyes roaming over his features. Today was a lazy day for the two of them, though Jackson seemed take it a little more serious than his twenty year old daughter. His hair was a dark scrambled mess on the top of his instead of the clean style that people had become accustomed to. A five o’clock shadow was crawling from his chin almost up to his crisp blue eyes-leading Kat to believe that he had failed to shave that morning.

“Okay… so maybe I wasn’t…” Jackson rolled his eyes. “I told you, I know how to change my own oil.”

Kat walked around the kitchen counter towards her dad, her sneakers squeaking a little bit on the tile. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.

“Yes, but I-,”

“I love you, too!” She cut him off, letting him go.

“Katy!” He called as she made a dash for the door.

“I’ll just use your car today!” She grabbed his keys off the stand next to the front door.

She pulled the door open and disappeared.

Annapolis Motel, Room #8, Bottom Floor

“This room is the best one that we have available.”

Despotis rolled his dark eyes. The dark green color was thanks to a new set of contacts that he had popped in before he had reached the outskirts of the town.

The perky brunette glanced over her shoulder at him as she pulled out a key to unlock the door. Her cheeks were a slightly brighter shade of pink as she looked away which made him smirk. He had become accustomed to this type of attention over the years. It seemed that everywhere he went, he was catching a persons’ eye.  This little trip appeared to be no different. He smoothed down his dress shirt and stepped a little bit closer to her.

“Here we go…” the lock finally clicked and she swung the door open. “I hope you find it to your-,” She turned back towards him, jumping when she saw how close he had moved.

“Oh.” She blushed again, her back hitting the door frame. She smiled a little. “Hello.”

He smiled down at her, not moving away. The brunette was probably around five foot six but he still towered over her by at least seven inches. She carried a little more weight than most women who approached him, but she was attractive none the less. Her face was soft and round, with full red lips. A pair of baggy jeans and an oversized tee-shirt hid her soft curves and left much for the imagination. Judging from the way she fumbled and flirted with her eyes and not her words, most men chose to let their imagination wonder in a rather… unsavory direction. From her clothes and the way she carried herself it was easy for people to imagine much more weight. But not him. No, he had learned a long time ago that the only way to enjoy life was to find the beauty in everything.

Including a flirtatious motel employee.

Despotis stepped past her into the little motel room. He matched at the large bed to the left of the room and tossed his large suitcase onto the ugly yellow comforter.

“Thank you very much…” he turned back to the woman who was standing in the doorway.

“Chelsea.” She smiled again, stepping further into the room.

“Chelsea…” He said her name slowly, letting it roll of his tongue. “Thank you very much, Chelsea.”

She held out her hand to give him the key. Despotis gently took them from her, letting his fingers brush against her skin. Chelsea blushed again.

“You’re welcome.” Her voice was just a faint squeak anymore.

Chelsea turned walking back towards the door. She stopped and turned to him just before she stepped outside.

“Are you…” Her voice was still squeaky, so she cleared her throat. “Are you here on business?”

He nodded. “Yeah… yeah, you could say that.”

She smiled again, nodding as she left.

Despotis waited for the door to close before he turned back towards his suit case. He sighed as he took off his suit jacket, revealing the gun that was holstered underneath. He pulled the gun from the holster and checked the bullets inside.

“Just business…”