First Date- a Novella Read Free Page A

her watch and saw it was almost lunch. “How about in an hour?” she asked hopefully as she prayed silently that she hadn’t made Daniel mad.
    “How about I get us something, and we eat in the break room in an hour?”
    Sighing with relief, Ginger spun around in her chair. “Well then I’ll buy,” she said, reaching for her backpack.
    “Ah, Ginger,” Daniel said in a snappy tone that made her look up in alarm. “Darlin’, I’m from Louisiana. That’s the south in case you’re wondering. If I was to allow you to buy me food, everyone I know—friends and family—would come to kill me, and it wouldn’t be pretty. I don’t know how it is up here, but a beautiful woman that you’re going to take out, you have to be a gentleman at all times. Hell, my own momma would tar and feather me for disrespecting you like that.”
    With her mouth hanging open, Ginger flopped back in her chair, flabbergasted. “I don’t want you to get in trouble with your family,” she muttered in shock.
    “You like the Chinese place?” Daniel asked with a warm smile, and Ginger just nodded, still in shock. “I’ll get us something.”
    When Daniel left, Ginger grabbed her chair and kicked off into a rapid spin. “He said I was beautiful!” she cheered. Stopping the chair, she felt her head become light. Ginger calmed down and concentrated on the screen again. “Shit, if it doesn’t work out with Daniel, I’m asking for a transfer to our Texas plant if southern boys act like that.”
    As Daniel walked by the reception desk, he saw Teresa hanging up the phone. “Glenda go get a flu shot?” he asked, stopping.
    “Yes and to buy my kids something, I’m sure,” Teresa huffed.
    Laughing, Daniel walked over and leaned on the desk. “Hey, I’m going to get Ginger and me some food from the Chinese place. Want me to bring you something?”
    Teresa smiled and reached for her purse. “Oh, would you please? I’m starving. I’m not getting my flu shot, so I don’t get this three-and-a-half-hour break.”
    Offended, Daniel pushed off the desk. “I have it,” he snapped. “What the hell is wrong with you women? I said I was going to get some food. When a man says that, it means he’s buying.”
    With her hand halfway in her purse, Teresa froze, staring at Daniel. “Ah, no it doesn’t,” she said then quickly added, “just the ones I’ve met.”
    Daniel nodded, turning around. “Well, you’ve met assholes,” he said, walking out.
    Dropping her purse in shock, Teresa nodded. “You can say that again,” she said, kicking her purse under the desk. “I wonder if he has a brother; right now, younger or older doesn’t matter to me.”
    As Daniel walked down the hall across the building, he passed a doctor’s office. Looking through the glass wall, he noticed it was rather full, and several people were holding buckets in their laps. “Damn, they look sick as shit,” he mumbled, glad Ginger wanted to eat in the break room.
    Passing an expensive clothing store, he saw two of the employees sitting down with their heads between their legs. Stopping in the open door, Daniel called out, “Hey, you guys okay?”
    One of the women looked up, and Daniel took a step back. She was pale, and her eyes were red. “Yeah,” she croaked. “All of a sudden, I just don’t feel good.”
    “Why don’t you go home? Not meaning to sound rude, but you don’t look so hot.”
    “I called the other managers and can’t find anyone to cover for me or her,” the woman said, nodding at her co-worker, who still had her head between her legs.
    “Hope you get to feeling better,” Daniel said as he waved, not wanting to get close to them. The woman gave a half wave and dropped her head between her legs before he turned away. “Shit, if that’s the flu this year, I might need to think about getting the shot,” he mumbled.
    Walking into the food court, Daniel looked around and noticed several people with their heads on the tables. Then he