Quality Assurance Read online

  Quality Assurance

  A Lucky Springs Story

  By Cheryl Dragon

  Resplendence Publishing, LLC

  http://www.resplendencepublishing.com

  Quality Assurance

  Copyright © 2012 Cheryl Dragon

  Edited by Michele Paulin and CJ Slate

  Cover art by Les Byerley, www.les3photo8.com

  Published by Resplendence Publishing, LLC

  2665 N Atlantic Avenue, #349

  Daytona Beach, FL 32118

  Electronic format ISBN: 978-1-60735-541-0

  Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Electronic Release: August 2012

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places or occurrences, is purely coincidental.

  Chapter One

  There were a lot of country songs about leaving home and returning home. When Ashley Tassin had left, she’d never expected to move back to Lucky Springs, Louisiana, but here she was. Bittersweet and anxiety inducing, both feelings fluttered inside of her as she sat in her grandmother’s kitchen after almost ten years away from home. She’d never intended to move back, but being an adult meant tough choices. Life hadn’t been as smooth as she’d hoped.

  At the moment, she felt like the seven-year-old who’d sat in this very kitchen for Sunday dinners and dreamed of life in the city. Lucky Springs wasn’t New Orleans or even Shreveport, but she wasn’t alone, her three friends had gotten jobs in her hometown as well. Having support when facing the past made it a little easier.

  They’d share the house for now. Lizzie was sweet and friendly from the deep south of Louisiana. Crystal was frank and very smart from the suburbs of Shreveport. Zoe was a couple years older and bold with no shame. She’d moved around all of her life so Zoe was rarely flustered by anything. They’d all bonded over wanting to make it on their own and not rush to the altar.

  Good southern girls could now work, get married, have kids and be perfect homemakers. Ash could just hear her mother going on about women needing to raise their kids not stick them in daycare and other mantras that made Ash want to chew glass.

  “I don’t know why you’re so down, Ash. It’s such a cute little town. Makes me feel like Anne of Green Gables. Everyone is so friendly and it’s surrounded by nothing for miles.” Lizzie’s Cajun drawl hadn’t diminished at all from college or work up in Shreveport.

  “Do you want to go back to the bayou?” Ash asked.

  Lizzie bit her lip and shook her head. “Going home is rough.”

  Ash nodded. “Lucky Springs isn’t so little anymore. The factory retooling and expansion has doubled the population.”

  “Mostly men—another point in our favor.” Zoe poured another cup of coffee. “Don’t get me wrong. I prefer the city too, but we need jobs. The market hasn’t bounced back yet. Once it does, I’ll be headed to New Orleans or Atlanta. But the men here will make it better.”

  Smiling, Ash pulled up the website for their new employer, Lucky Springs Industrial, on her computer. Ash was more interested in her new work situation than men, but Zoe could juggle many interests without a bit of stress. It was Zoe who had fueled the Sex and the City fantasy of living in a big town and enjoying the single life with tons of hot men and no commitments.

  Shreveport wasn’t New York, but they’d all gotten jobs there, at a same company, after college. Then they’d all been downsized. They’d stuck together. The arrangement suited her personality since Ash hated being alone but needed to get away from her family if she wanted to be happy. Her parents had created a pressure cooker for her throughout school. All parents wanted their kids to achieve, but her parents had demanded excellence. Now, she was back here and it scared her a little.

  Crystal, the plus-sized beauty with a brain for numbers, set a mixed drink in front of Ash. “That’s enough pouting. I know your family bugs you, but we’re lucky to have a place to live. All the apartments and houses are full up. We’ll pay fair rent and what can your parents say then?”

  “They don’t want money. Nana moved in with my parents because she falls. She’s thrilled to have me here and to have nice southern girls like you in her house instead of rowdy single men.” Ash loved her Nana. She was the one person Ash missed regularly.

  Zoe rolled her eyes. “You’re an adult, Ash. They can’t put you in beauty contests or expect you to win prom queen anymore. That part of life is over. You’ve got a great job now and didn’t disgrace their small-town sensibilities by bringing home a baby fathered by some random guy. They should be thrilled.”

  “Do you think Lucky Springs is Mayberry?” Ash laughed for the first time since she’d returned three days ago.

  Lizzie blushed. “I heard people talking in the salon when we were there. Sounded wild to me.”

  “What?” Crystal and Zoe asked in unison. Ash and Lizzie had gone to get their hair trimmed while Crystal and Zoe had their appointments on a different day.

  “I was talking to some friends and the owner of the salon, Jessica. It seems like there’s an underground sex party thing going on in Lucky Springs.” Ash shook her head in disbelief. Sweet little Lucky Springs was a place to raise kids and let them roam the streets. No one locked their doors. In some ways, it was Mayberry, but they didn’t have strictly old-fashioned values.

  “Parties? It’s all the men.” Zoe nodded dismissively.

  “No, this was before the male infusion. I’m sure that doesn’t hurt since there’s a shortage of women now. Some of the factory jobs were taken by women, but let’s face it, most factory work attracts men. Who moves for a job? Single men without kids in school or wives with jobs. So I found out that some of these men are sort of pairing off or grouping up.”

  “Like prison? They’re turning gay?” Crystal sighed. “I thought I had a shot with those odds.”

  Zoe poked Crystal’s shoulder. “Don’t get down on yourself. We’re in a position to be picky and play the field.”

  “Obviously, they’re living together for cost and space limitation, like us. But Jessica has four men to herself. They’re bisexual.” Ash’s mind whirled at the options there. “I guess that’s catching on with some of the men. I’m sure plenty just want one woman and wouldn’t touch another guy, but it’s not my Nana’s Lucky Springs.”

  “Your nana’s a widow?” Zoe asked with an arched brow.

  “Yes, why?” Ash braced for her friend’s filthy mind.

  “She might get lucky. Some of these factory men are hot. One of them might want a MILF or have a granny complex.” Zoe winked.

  “Yuck. I’m just warning you guys. If you get a weird sexual proposition, it might not be a joke or dare. So don’t tease the men.” Ash pointed at Zoe.

  “And don’t let them take advantage.” Ash pointed at Lizzie.

  “Like I’m just going to go home with five guys.” Lizzie rolled her eyes.

  “Like I wouldn’t. I’m not a tease.” Zoe grinned.

  “What about me?” Crystal asked.

  Ash looked up from her computer. “You and I are too practical to fall for that crap, Crystal. I know you’ll do the smart and safe thing.”

  Sitting down next to Ash, Crystal snagged the laptop. “Checking out the guys in Quality Control, are you? No pictures. That sucks. Will your daddy hate you working with all the men?”

  Ash shook her head. She knew she’d touched a nerve by not warning Crystal about all the men. It wasn’
t because her friend was big, but simply that she didn’t fall for stuff. She had her guard up. “I’m the liaison between the sales department and quality control. My job is to keep the customers happy. It’s not all men.”

  “QC is. The company makes electric and battery powered carts and parts for cars. So the customers are mostly other companies or industrial places. Men,” Lizzie said. Her job was in customer service.

  “And the salesmen are mostly men. Like ninety percent.” Zoe smiled. “They’re hiring new teams, and I get to train them in marketing our products to the customer. Hands on sales.”

  “Right up your alley.” Crystal rolled her eyes. “You two are welcome to visit me in accounting or Lizzie in customer service. Plenty of girl talk there.”

  “Darn right.” Lizzie nodded.

  Ash shook her head at the computer. “I’ll be coming by. Eli Hollier…”

  “Who’s he?” Zoe shrugged.

  “Maybe he forgot all about it?” Ash hoped. “He had a crush on me in high school. Well, okay, junior high and even elementary school. I ignored it, but in high school, he got brave and it was awful.”

  “Is he ugly? Gross?” Zoe scrunched her nose.

  Ash shook her head. “He was a super brain with glasses who got straight As and didn’t play any sports. When we were little, it was cute. Then you grow up and he went to the geeky side of things and I was lucky. I was popular and kids are crazy. You even talk to the wrong person and you’re a loser. He had a crush, but he had to ask me out in high school. In front of people. I’m sorry but it was an impossible situation. I felt horrible.”

  “You didn’t know he was there when you interviewed?” Crystal asked.

  “No, my pay is through the sales division. They hired me to coordinate with QC to keep things moving and free up their sales force. I wish they’d needed someone in human resources, but it’s the same thing. Dealing with people. I just have to learn the product.” Ash ran her fingers through her hair. “Damn.”

  “I’m sure he’s over it. Maybe he’s married? It’ll be a funny joke about high school stereotypes and clique crap.” Lizzie grabbed the computer and searched his name.

  “That’s not the kind of thing people forget,” Crystal argued.

  Zoe leaned over Lizzie’s shoulder. “No, they don’t forget. But this guy isn’t married, and he’s got a lot of degrees. Moved back to Lucky Springs from a job in Houston. God, I love Facebook!”

  “No one stalks men like you, Zoe. Is there a picture?” Crystal asked.

  “No, sorry. Just an avatar.” Lizzie closed the laptop. “He’s not the only guy in QC, Ash. Charm the others. You’re great with people.”

  Ash took a deep breath and leaned back in the chair. “He’s not the only guy, but he’s the manager of QC. No way around him.”

  “So charm him. Wait for the right moment, and tell him you’re sorry for being a bitchy beauty queen in high school. Family pressure, blah blah blah. Just because you were popular doesn’t mean you didn’t have lots of pressure and expectations from your family. It takes work to stay on top.”

  “Except this isn’t high school anymore. Now, he might be the one on top. I’m moving home just lucky to have a job.” Ash hated feeling like a failure.

  Zoe couldn’t be more right about Ash’s past, but in the light of maturity, Ash had no excuse. Crystal’s silence spoke tons about the scars and resentment high school could create, but until Ash met with Eli, there was no way to know how he’d react.

  Lizzie turned on her ray of sunshine smile and glowed positivity. “Don’t underestimate the impact of a genuine apology. Then just be nice and do your job. HR could have an opening soon if the place keeps expanding.”

  Ash tried to soak in the shiny happy attitude and hoped for the best. She had feelers out for jobs in big cities. Maybe, she’d get a ticket out of Lucky Springs soon. No one wanted to face their past, but people had good memories in her home town.

  * * * *

  “She was hot!” Fred turned a page in Eli’s old yearbook with Xavier and Jackson looking over either shoulder as they sat on the huge sectional.

  “No doubt there.” Eli sat in the matching recliner. There were plenty of pictures of Ashley Tassin. The blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty had been petite and perky. He still remembered how she’d made his heart beat faster every time she’d smiled.

  She still made Eli’s pulse pick up. Eli couldn’t deny the attraction but luckily others turned him on as well. Some even returned the affection. Looking at Fred, Eli was so glad he’d tried men in college. Fred’s short black hair and sharp blue eyes stood out on his pale but nicely built form. Along with Xavier, Fred had moved here from the gulf for a job. Somehow, things just worked out for Eli and Fred. Small towns didn’t seem the norm for bisexual men, but Eli couldn’t imagine a real life anywhere but home, and home would always be Lucky Springs.

  “She’s probably a stuck up princess. She’s our liaison to the sales team? Please.” Xavier shook his head.

  “No, she was nice. Head cheerleader and prom queen, but not an uber-bitch. She got decent grades too.” Jackson shrugged.

  Jackson was another Lucky Springs alum who’d had a crush on the popular Ms. Tassin. He’d been smart enough not to make any move, though Jackson could have. As a jock, he was popular by accomplishment if not in the top rung of cool. He’d shocked Eli six months ago when Fred and Xavier had joined them at the factory. Jackson had flipped from straight to bisexual when Xavier had bewitched the first baseman from the Lucky Springs varsity baseball team.

  The group thing worked for them, as it did for a lot of people in their little town, but they all wanted to add a woman. Eli had tried not to think about it since women were scarce around here. Fred supported the idea but didn’t seem at all frustrated by the lack of a naked lady. Yet they all felt the missing piece on some level.

  “At least, we’ll have something pretty to look at. Don’t get many women down on the floor or in the QC lab.” Xavier winked at Jackson.

  “No, no. Look, I know she’s hot, but when I asked her out, she wasn’t exactly nice.” Eli hated reliving the moment.

  Jackson leaned his head back on the sofa. “You asked her in front of her family and friends at a football game. Yeah, you’d gotten a big scholarship and science award, but in her world, it meant nothing.”

  “I know. I had the confidence for once and blew it.” Eli remembered the blank stares from the family and smirks from the friends.

  “What happened?” Xavier asked.

  Eli groaned. “She said no thank you and turned her back on me. I walked away, not three feet, and they all started laughing. It was all over school, and I had football players telling me to get back to the nerd herd and shoving me into lockers.”

  “Sounds like my high school experience. Of course, most of my secret boyfriends were on the hockey team. I loved the fighters.” Fred smiled.

  Jackson gave Eli a sympathetic look. “You’d stayed under the radar before that. Smart, but un-bullied. Hate to say it, but you put yourself out there when you had no shot.”

  “I know. At least, I never had to wonder if she might’ve taken a chance on me.” Eli wasn’t looking forward to seeing her tomorrow, but maybe, he’d get a little revenge. “I don’t have to make her life easy.”

  Fred glared at him. “Don’t be a dick.”

  “I didn’t have a girlfriend or boyfriends in high school. The one brave thing I did, and she made me a joke. I took crap until graduation for that. She wouldn’t even look at me, but all her friends taunted me. I’m not talking about getting her fired or anything. Just don’t be nice to her.” Eli needed some support.

  Xavier nodded. “We can do that. She might not notice. As a hot new woman in town, she’ll get plenty of attention from other men.”

  “I heard she brought three friends with her,” Jackson told them. “All single women working in the office. The prospects aren’t bad. Maybe, we can use her to meet a friend of hers and romance her
—sort of revenge by showing Ashley what she missed. Four hot and successful men.”

  “I love it. We do need a girl around here.” Fred nodded. “Maybe her looks went downhill?”

  Eli folded his arms. “Not Ash’s. But it’s a start. I don’t want us to miss out on the right woman, but Ash needs to learn her lesson. You can’t treat people like that and have all forgiven because you’re hot.”

  “Maybe she’s matured?” Jackson tossed out.

  “Maybe you just want her that bad?” Eli returned.

  Jackson shook his head. “I’m not trying to cause trouble. I’m happy with what we have here. But admit it, Eli, if she’s still under your skin, maybe you want her as much as you want to get back at her. We could try her out for our group. That doesn’t necessarily mean she’s a good fit. Maybe she is and maybe not?”

  Frowning, Eli understood the inference. He loved having smart guys around him. They all saw things a little differently, but it made for a good group at work and in life. His guys, however, were also nice. “I’ll wait and let you guys judge her for yourself tomorrow. We don’t need to rush into anything. A woman would be fun but I don’t want anyone getting hurt. I had so little luck with women as a teenager, it’s a shame I didn’t get to have fun with the quarterback. If only I’d known how much fun men were in high school.”

  Fred moved in and kissed Eli until he relaxed. In college, Eli had discovered men who appreciated his body and helped him come out of his shell. With new glasses and a tighter hair cut, he looked less like a nutty professor. He dragged Fred back to the couch with the other men and tossed the yearbook of bad memories aside. College had helped him expand his world, but he’d had to come home to find love and trust. It was unconventional but better to be loved by three than rejected by one.

  As the men undressed and kissed playfully, Eli knelt by the couch and sucked each of them to full erection. Finally, Fred gripped Eli’s hair and pulled him up for a real kiss. Eli stripped then grabbed protection and lube from the drawer of the end table before settling on the oversized sectional.