Silent No More(36)

“Sorry, Jeffery. I’ll remember next time,” I say, taking a step back from him. I turn my attention to Jenny. “So is everything good? Do you need anything from me while I’m here?” I ask.

“No. I have it covered. You go and enjoy you day off,” she says while handing Jeffery a receipt.

I grab my bags from the counter and Jeffery takes them from me. “Let me help you with those,” he says, but doesn’t wait for my okay before he is walking out the door.

I follow him, waving bye to Jenny behind me. “Jeff, really I can tote them. My car is only parked over there,” I say, pointing straight down the parking aisle in front of my gallery. He gives me a questionable look. I don’t think he likes me calling him Jeff. Oh, well, what’s a girl to do! It’s what I do. I shorten everyone’s name, everyone except Katelyn. She is not a fan of “Katie”, or any version thereof. He opens the door for me.

“Nonsense, it wouldn’t be gentlemanly of me if I didn’t carry them to your car,” he says, while stepping off the sidewalk and walking in the direction of my car.

“I’m in the black Porsche,” I say as I unlock the passenger side door, and let him put everything in the seat. There is no room in my trunk or back seat. “Thank you for your help,” I say, shutting the door.

“What are all your things doing in your car? Are you moving?” he asks as he follows me around to the driver’s side. Hmm…personal much!

“I moved out of my apartment this morning,” I reply, without going into detail.

“Oh? I noticed you aren’t wearing an engagement ring any longer. Did you and what’s his name…it starts with an “L”, I think...” he says, but I finish his sentence because I want to get out of here quickly.

He’s being too friendly and getting too personal for my liking.

He is an attractive man, but not my type. Although, no one else is my type since Nick came into the picture. Jeffery is tall and lean with blond hair and deep grey eyes. I don’t like his eyes. Their chilling color sends a shiver down my spine when I look into them. They make me remember things I’ve pretended didn’t happen for a very long time. “It’s Luke,” I finally tell him. “And yes, we broke up a few days ago,” I finish while opening my door.

“Shannon,” he coos my name as he places his hand on my shoulder. I turn around to face him. And here’s that uncomfortable feeling I get when I’m in his presence alone. “When you’re over him, I’d like to take you out to dinner,” he states, rather than asks. What he doesn’t know is that I’m already over Luke.

“I’m kinda seeing someone already,” I say, because it’s somewhat true and I’m currently staying with him. I really have to get an apartment quickly. Nick is going to get tired of seeing so much of me.

“Already?” he draws out. “Is it serious?” he asks, still touching my shoulder, and still making me uncomfortable. I start to squirm. I hate these types of situations. Especially when the guy isn’t taking no for an answer, but I can’t lie. Nick and I aren’t serious. At least, I don’t think so. We just met.

“No, it’s not, but I want to see where it’s going,” I say, sounding like I’m making excuses for myself. In a way, I am, but I wouldn’t want to go to dinner with him even if there was no Nick.

“Well, the offer is on the table,” he says and pulls out a card and hands it to me. “My cell number is on the back should you reconsider. Have a lovely day, Shannon,” he says, turns on his heel and walks away. I take his card and stick it in the back pocket of my jeans.

I rush inside my car and take a deep breath. Those eyes give me the creeps. There’s no chance in hell I’d go on a date with him. I push him out of my mind and start the ignition.

Pulling out of the parking lot, I head in the direction of Knocked Out. The drive is only about twenty minutes from my gallery. I’m hungry. I hope Nick hasn’t had lunch yet.

I arrive, get out of my car and walk into the building. The gym is large and the main area is open. There is a boxing ring, a steel cage, lots of weights, and punching bags scattered around.

“You must be Shannon.” I hear a soft feminine voice say from behind me. When I turn around, I find an attractive woman with long, wet, dark-brown hair standing in front of me. She has intense, fiery blue eyes; the same eyes Nick has. In fact, she looks just like him, only the female version. I assume this is his sister, Nikki.

“What gave that away?” I ask as she approaches me. Her smile matches Nick’s. She’s about my height and size. She’s wearing a tight-fitted white sleeveless shirt and long black gym pants. On her wrists, I notice some ink, but I don’t want to come off as staring so I don’t see what the tattoo says. I do, however, catch the ink on her right upper arm. It’s a beautiful scene of small and medium size black birds. They look like they are flying away. I get the sense of freedom and peace etched on her arm.