1993

Leah still took Lucky to an occasional obedience class, just to keep him on his toes. She had become good friends with Scott, a dog trainer who held the classes, so she and Lucky were always welcome to drop in for a refresher class.

"Leah? Got a minute?" Scott called to her after the class was dismissed.

"Sure Scott. What's up?"

"I was wondering if you would be interested in helping me out. These classes are getting bigger every session and I could use an assistant to help me teach. Would you and Lucky be interested in helping me out?"

"Oh wow. That sounds great. I would love that."

"I was hoping you would say that. So how about you start next month with the new session?"

"Okay, I can do that."

"Great, I'll call you tomorrow and we can get together to go over the details."

"Will! Guess what? I'm going to start helping Scott train dogs!" Leah came running into the house with Lucky following close behind.

"You are? How did that happen?" He was finishing up the last touches on his latest project.

"Because he asked me."

"What's he gonna pay you?" Of course he would ask that. For him it was always about the money.

"I don't know yet, we'll work out the details later. But it doesn't matter; I would do it for free. You don't care if I do this do you?"

Will smiled. "No, I am happy for you. I know you enjoy working with the dogs. You will be a great trainer."

James was now twenty-five, still in La La Land and working as a bartender. He liked the money and also liked having his days free to spend on his writing. He worked at a small neighborhood club that had a nice clientele. He had been there a couple of years now as one of two bartenders.

It was Friday night and he was at work behind the bar.

"James, this is Jane. Tonight is her first night working here as one of our new cocktail waitresses." Debbie, one of the other cocktail waitresses was taking her around to introduce her and show her the ropes before the crowd hit.

James smiled and shook her hand, "Hello Jane. Nice to meet you."

"Hi James." Jane took one look at him and decided this was going to be a great place to work if all the scenery looked like this, or even part of it.

"Okay Jane, come with me, we have lots to go over before we start getting busy." Debbie led her away.

After they were out of earshot of James, Jane had to ask. "What's his story?"

"Who? James?" As if Debbie didn't know.

"Yes."

"Other than he is impossibly good looking? He's single, no girlfriend that I know of. He claims to be a writer. I don't know, but he's nice enough."

"No girlfriend huh? A boyfriend maybe?"

"Not that I know of. I'm pretty sure he is straight. He hangs out with us after hours most nights. I see him picking up girls from here from time to time, but nothing serious that I know of. You interested?"

"How could I not be? Aren't you?"

"Naw, I mean he is good looking enough, but I don't consider him marriage material. I mean he is working in a bar."

Jane frowned, "So are we."

Later that night James looked up to see Jane standing at his waitress station. He smiled at her. "How's it going so far?"

She signed, "I don't know, I seem to piss Troy off. I keep forgetting to order my drinks in the right sequence." Troy was the other bartender.

"Don't let Troy get to you. His bark is way worse than his bite." Just then Debbie walked up. James turned to her to ask a favor. "Hey Debbie, would you trade stations with Jane tonight? Troy is being a dick."

Debbie smiled, she had a pretty good idea what was going on, but decided to let it slide. "Sure, I don't mind Troy. He's not nearly as bad as he likes to think."

"Thanks Debbie." Jane winked to her as she walked off to Troy's station.

"Okay then, I need a rum and Coke, a Crown and seven and a Bud Light," Jane smiled as she gave her drink order to James.

That night after the club had closed and all the customers were swept out the door, James was busy straightening his station. Jane had finished her work and decided to see what more she could find out about him.

"So James, are you from L.A.?" she asked as she watched him putting bottles away.

"Nope, I'm from Minnesota. You?"

"Ah, that's where the accent is from. I'm from here. So what brings you out here? Trying to break into the business?" That is why most people moved here.

James chuckled. If he had a dime for every time he was asked that question. "No, I just wanted to get out of Minnesota. I'm not an aspiring actor, or singer, or artist, or even a screenwriter. I am just a guy from Minneapolis."

"I thought Debbie said you were a writer."

Oh so she was checking with Debbie about him. "I write yes, but I'm not a screenwriter, and I didn't move out here to write. Writing is something I can do pretty much anywhere."

"What do you write? Anything I would know?" He had finished up with his restocking and now stood on one side of the bar with Jane on the other while they talked.

"I write science fiction short stories, I hope to have some published soon, I also have been playing with an idea for a book." He was sizing her up while they talked. She was tall; he liked that. She had long strawberry blonde hair and green eyes. She was definitely someone he wouldn't mind spending an evening with.

"What is your idea?" She had already decided she wanted to get to know him better, but she was pleased to find him to be more than a pretty face.

"It's about a guy out here in L.A. trying to land an acting job and all the stuff that happens to him, all the things he's willing to do just to get a chance and how it is all in vain and a complete waste of time."

"Hmm, sounds interesting. Would you let me read something you wrote some time?" She asked him softly flirting shamelessly.

He smiled at her. "Sure," he whispered back.

This is where he would have leaned in for a kiss and sealed the deal, but instead this is where Tony came walking up. "Hey, Jane. How did it go tonight? Hope I wasn't too hard on you earlier."

Saturday night came and this time Jane was scheduled for James' station. "Hello James. How are you tonight?"

He looked up at her and smiled, "I'm good." Oh yes, he would definitely enjoy spending some time with her. He was hoping for better luck tonight.

That Saturday was particularly busy, Jane found she barely had a chance to speak to James other than to shout drink orders to him. When the club finally closed, she put her plan into action.

When James finished his restocking and closing work he looked around for Jane. Not seeing her, he decided she must have already gone home and headed to the door himself. Stepping out into the cool night air, he saw Jane sitting on the hood of her car.

"Hey," he said as he walked up to her. "Something wrong with your car?"

She sighed, "Yeah, it won't start."

"Want me to look at it?" He seemed genuinely concerned.

"Oh James, it's so late. I can't ask you to do that. Could you maybe just give me a ride home instead?"

"Sure, my car's over here." Who knows, maybe he would get invited in.

As they walked over to where James had parked, Jane slowed down her pace. "Wait James, I live too far away to ask you to do this. I should just call a cab."

Was she changing her mind? Trying to back out? "No, you aren't going to call a cab, that would cost a fortune. I'll drive you."

Oh, he was almost too easy. "I just feel like I am asking too much of you."

"If you want you could stay at my place tonight, then I can bring you back here tomorrow and see if I can get your car running for you."

Oh definitely too easy. "Are you sure? I feel like I'm imposing."

"No, really I don't mind." Hot damn!

The next morning he woke up with Jane curled next to him. He smiled as he remember the night before, then he slipped out of bed and padded into the kitchen to make some coffee.

The coffee was just about ready when he heard her moving about in the bedroom. He poured her a cup and took it into her.

"I wasn't sure how you like it. I have sugar in the kitchen, but I'm afraid I don't have any cream."

"No, black is fine."

"Come in to the kitchen and I'll fix us something to eat before we go look at your car."

They pulled up to the almost empty parking lot of the club. James pulled up to her car and started to get out to see if he could figure out what was wrong with it. "What was it doing last night? Would it turn over at all? Maybe you just need a jump."

"James, wait."

"Huh?"

"My car is fine. There was nothing wrong with it."

"What?"

"My car is fine. I just wanted an excuse to see you."

He simply stared at her. He could not believe what he was hearing, not that he couldn't believe she would do that so much as he couldn't believe she would admit to it.

She leaned over and kissed him. "It was worth it too. You were wonderful," she said as she turned and got out of his car. She gave him one last look, got in her car, started it up, and drove off. James was still sitting there trying to decide if he should be mad or flattered. Finally, he shrugged his shoulders deciding it didn't matter; it had been fun.

Three months had gone by and Scott had asked Leah to take on a class of her own. She was teaching people how to work with their dogs now two nights a week and enjoying every minute of it.

"Will. I was thinking." They were sitting out on the porch after dinner.

Will chuckled, "That's not a good sign."

"Scott trains dogs in private. He has dog kennels at his house where he can keep people's pets for a few weeks while he trains them. He gets paid pretty good money for it too. I have been talking to him about it. I think I want to do that."

"What would you need to do?"

"Well, I would need to have the kennels built and apply for a kennel license. Also. I would need to finish getting my trainer's license to work with the dogs in absence of their owner. Then advertise and get the word out."

"You really want to do this?" He wasn't so sure that this wasn't a passing fad for her.

"Yes, I do. I really enjoy working with the dogs and now that Ryan is almost thirteen he doesn't need me for much more than a taxi service. I think I would enjoy it. So would Lucky."

Will had to laugh at that. "Next you will tell me this was Lucky's idea." Leah treated that dog as if he was another child.

She rolled her eyes. "So can I spend the money? I'd be able to make it back in a couple of years."

"If you stay with it that long, Leah. You change your mind as quick as the weather. And how can you be sure the clientele will be there?"

"I guess I can't be, but I know Scott stays pretty busy. He's almost always training a dog or two. I really want to do this." She turned, looking him straight in the eyes.

"Really?" he turned and stared back at her.

"Really."

"What's it worth to you?" he whispered as he leaned in closer to her.

"Whatever you want from me. I'm yours," she whispered back before their lips met in a passionate kiss.

James was taking a shower when his phone rang. Jane was sitting at the kitchen table sipping coffee and reading the paper.

"James. Your phone is ringing," she shouted to him.

He stuck his head out of the bathroom door. "It's probably Chris. Answer it for me and tell him I'll call him back."

She sat down her coffee and newspaper and reached over to grab the receiver. "Hello."

"…"

Jane listened for a moment then tried again, "Hello?"

"Um, I think I must have miss-dialed."

Oh shit. A woman's voice. Who could this be? Was he two timing her? "Are you looking for James?"

"Yes, who's this?" Leah asked.

"This is Jane."

"Oh." Leah's voice was quiet. James had never mentioned a Jane. They spoke on the phone a couple of times a week, and he had never mentioned he was seeing anyone.

Jane spoke up. "Who is this?" She and James had never promised monogamy, but she didn't like the idea of him seeing someone else.

"This is his sister, Leah."

"Oh. Hi Leah, I've heard so much about you." She was obviously relieved.

'Too bad I can't say the same' Leah thought to herself. "Um, hi. So is James there?"

Jane had to wonder, had James not informed his family about her? Leah seemed totally surprised by her. "Yeah, he's in the shower, can I have him call you?"

"Okay, that would be fine. Um, thanks. Bye." Leah hung up wondering who this Jane was, but then again, knowing her brother, she was just a friend or someone he worked with.

"Hello." It was the next afternoon before James got around to returning Leah's call.

"Hi Leah. Jane said you phoned." He knew she would give him the third degree.

"Yeah, so who is Jane?" She got right to the punch

James sighed, "What did you call about?" Trying to change the subject was useless but he had to try.

"Just to talk. Who is Jane?" Leah tried again.

"She's a girl I work with."

"Yeah?" She sensed there was more.

"Yeah. And sort of seeing."

"Just sort of?"

She could hear James chuckle softly. "I'm not sure what Jane and I are actually. We work together, we have great sex, and other than that I really don't know."

"Oh. Okay." He was a big boy, she would let him figure out women for himself. And her brother was talking about great sex? God, she felt old.

"So, what's up with you?" James tried once again to change the subject.

"I got my kennel license last week and I start with my first dog next Tuesday." Leah was beaming as she told him. She was so proud of herself.

"Wow, Leah. That is great. I'm happy for you." He genuinely was too.

"Thanks James. So how are you? How is your writing? Did you hear from that magazine?" He had been submitting stories to different magazines for a few months now. Leah had a hard time keeping track of which ones.

"Yes, as a matter of fact I did." She could hear the pride in his voice.

"And?" She had her fingers crossed as she asked.

"They accepted it and sent me a check. My story will be in the August issue."

"Oh my God, James!" She squealed, "That is so wonderful. You are a published writer!"

He laughed. "Well it is pretty small time, but yes, I am now published."

"It's a start, everyone has to start somewhere."

© Melina Catts 2004

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