Free Kiki's Millionaire by Patricia Green Page A

to his little friend’s retreating
back. He stood up to his full height and the woman’s eyes got bigger as she
closed the door down somewhat. “Hello, ma’am. I’m looking for Kiki Mackenzie.”
    “Kiki? Who are you?” Her lips were tight, and her
fingers were white-knuckled on the door. She seemed inclined to slam it closed.
Jim supposed he couldn’t blame her. He was a big guy and this was a women’s
shelter in a bad neighborhood.
    He offered his hand and smiled his most reassuring
smile. “I’m Jim Chesterfield. She’s expecting me.”
    “Oh.” She looked at his hand, but kept her grip on the
door. “Okay. I’ll get her.” The door shut firmly in his face, and he heard the
lock snick in place.
    Jim waited a minute, then turned away from the door to
watch the activity on the street. He watched a panhandler accepting a few coins
from a jogger, and a drug dealer slink out from an alley and make a deal with a
fellow in a hooded sweatshirt. Jim considered calling the police, but by the
time they got there, the guy would be long gone. He had to get Kiki out of
here.
    He heard the door creak open and Kiki’s soft voice.
“Hi, Jim.”
    He turned back with a smile and was once again struck
by the curve of her hips and the bright gleam in her gray eyes. Her smile made
his heart beat faster. “Hey, Kiki.”
    She took a step out and closed the door behind her.
“I’d invite you in, but men aren’t really welcome here.”
    It was a sad testament. “I understand.” He let his eyes
travel over her. She wore a green floral dress and her strappy sandals. Her
luxurious brown hair was pulled back with a green plastic headband. She looked
younger than her twenty-six years would attest. How he wished that he could
just blurt out his feelings for her, but he knew she wouldn’t welcome his
admission. She didn’t want to feel obligated toward him; she’d made that
abundantly clear.
    “Let’s go. I want to show you something.” He offered
his hand and she took it. Her fingers felt small and graceful in his big fist.
     
    * * *
     
    They drove out of East San Jose and down toward
Almaden Lake. Jim offered to put the convertible top down, but Kiki declined.
It was, perhaps, a little foolish to be concerned with her hair getting
mussed—it wasn’t like a bad impression was going to prevent any further
dates, more dates were already off the menu—but she was just vain enough
to want to look her best. She didn’t know where they might be going.
    The houses got more and more fancy and farther apart
as they traveled off the freeway. Eventually, they turned up a narrow street
sheltered by trees and hedges. It turned out to be a driveway—a long
driveway—leading to a big mansion. The shrubs in the front yard were lit
up with gentle spotlights, and the house itself had many windows, most of which
were bright with light. Damn, but this really separates the sheep from the
goats.
    “This is your house, isn’t it?”
    “Yep. I’ve lived here about ten years. It’s not as
ostentatious inside as outside. I don’t like all those Waterford crystal
frou-frous. If my guests can’t deal with comfortable rather than chic, they
don’t have to come visit.”
    “It’s impressive. I feel kind of under-dressed and out
of place. Maybe you should just take me back to the shelter.” Her hands felt
clammy in her lap.
    “No way. I want you to see my place.” He patted her
thigh. “Let me share it with you a little, Kiki.”
    She thought about it for a moment. His open expression
suggested that he wasn’t trying to be smug or insensitive. He truly wanted to
share his good fortune with her. How could she turn that down? “Alright.”
    They parked in the wide driveway, and Jim came around
and opened the car door for her. He took her hand and hurried them toward the
door. His enthusiasm was infectious and Kiki couldn’t hold back a giggle.
    The door opened before they got to it and Ernie stood
holding it wide as they walked in.