Behind The Bright Lights

Chapter 13

She blushed even more then turned away from him and towards the lineup of cars leaving him smiling after her. Reaching the first car, she turned to look back at him but he had already started towards the offices. Swiveling back towards the cars, she spotted a car sales man coming towards her with a smile on his face.

'Good afternoon, ma'am. I'm Patrick and I will be assisting you select your dream car.' He recited in a stiff British accent.

It sounded heavily rehearsed, Kimmy could hardly refrain from laughing. 'Thank you, sir but I'll just wait for my friend who went inside.' She said with an amused smile.

'While you wait, may I tempt you to look at this delightful Porsche Boxster Convertible?' He said walking towards a nearby bright yellow Porsche.

'It is beautiful but I think I'll wait for my friend.' she smiled politely at him.

'Oh but it is indeed beautiful.' He continued despite her protest. 'It has sublime handling and steering; powerful engines; impressive fuel economy; excellent...'

Kimmy was smiling and nodding but she was hardly listening to him; she was looking at a car which she thought she'd seen before on the road. It had just stopped by the car sale. Her heart was racing - was she being followed? When the car door opened, Kimmy held her breath and released it when she didn't recognize the well-dressed man but she tensed again almost immediately when the man looked directly at her. She started walking towards the car salesman, Patrick without taking her eyes off the man. He then suddenly turned away and started walking towards the offices and she still continued to look at him until he disappeared in the building then she finally expelled breath in at relieved puff. Was Chase sending people to spy on her? Or maybe to just scare her? Well, whatever the case was, it sure as hell was working because right now she was doing all she could to hide how badly she was shaking. She jumped when she heard approaching footsteps then whirled around to see who it was. It was Nate...and the weird man from the car! She offered them both a nervous smile.

'Hey, Kim,' Nate said with a smile of his own. 'I'd like you to meet Gabe, Gabe, Kimmy.' He introduced them.

Oh! 'Hie, nice to meet you.' Kimmy said with a blush feeling very foolish for thinking that Gabe had been following her but she was very relieved that she was wrong.

'Pleasure is mine.' He shook her extended hand. 'I've heard so much about you.' he gave her a once over that made her blush right to the tips of her hair.

'Well, I can only hope that at least half of it was good.' She replied looking anywhere but his face.

'Oh, he didn't do you justice.' He smiled charmingly. She blushed and glanced at Nate whose mouth was already curved up in a smile. 'So have you seen anything you like?'

'I was just showing her the Porsche, sir.' Patrick supplied almost bowing.

'Thank you, Patrick. I can take it from here.' Gabe dismissed him then he turned to Kimmy again. 'So...do you like the Porsche?'

'It's very pretty but no.' Kimmy replied with an almost apologetic smile glancing up at Nate.

Gabe laughed hoarsely. 'I gotta tell you, this is the first time I've ever heard anyone calling a car pretty.' He said to Nate who also laughed.

'Yeah, but she's right, it is pretty.' He said with a laugh.

'Okay, let's keep the ball rolling.' Gabe said turning away to walk towards the next cars.

Nate leaned down and put his hand on the small of her back. 'You alright?' he asked with a look of concern. 'You looked a little pale.'

'I'm fine, thanks.' She smiled so as to reassure him and allowed him to gently nudge her forward so they could catch up with Gabe.