Blue Days

By Mary Calmes

Mangrove Stories

Falling for a coworker is rarely a good idea, especially for a man getting a last chance at salvaging his career. But from the moment Dwyer Knolls sees the beautiful but socially awkward Takeo Hiroyuki, he seems destined to make bad decisions.

Takeo’s life is a string of failed attempts to please his traditional Japanese father. Unfortunately, succeeding in business turns out to be just as difficult for Takeo as changing from gay to straight. In fact, the only thing Takeo seems to truly excel at is taking notice of Dwyer Knolls.

When Dwyer and Takeo head to Mangrove, Florida on a real estate buying trip, their tentative friendship combusts and becomes much more. Is their sudden connection real enough to bank their futures on, or should they chalk the whole thing up to the daze inspired by the blue ocean breeze?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
• Release date: Nov 5, 2014
• ISBN: 9781632163578

Mary Calmes

Mary Calmes believes in romance, happily ever afters, and the faith it takes for her characters to get there. She bleeds coffee, thinks chocolate should be its own food group, and currently lives in Kentucky with a five-pound furry ninja that protects her from baby birds, spiders, and the neighbor’s dogs. To stay up to date on her ponderings and pandemonium (as well as the adventures of the ninja), follow her on Twitter @MaryCalmes, connect with her on Facebook, and subscribe to her Mary’s Mob newsletter.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

I HAD failed.

Epically.

But the upshot was, I was now free to go. I was never meant to sit behind a desk in an office and look at spreadsheets anyway. My dreams included sun and wind and hopefully still high-stakes sales or even number crunching––because that was the part I loved––but without the glass-walled office. It was time to take a chance on my real dreams instead of dealing with the fallout of my last career decision. I hated facing the judgmental looks every day, hearing the snickering, and knowing that every person there, even colleagues who had become friends, thought I was a screwup.

As I sat in the large conference room along with the entire firm, waiting to have an emergency meeting on a cold, dreary Monday morning in January, I contemplated my future.

We had all been sent an urgent e-mail the night before that informed us to report to work at seven sharp to hear about the new direction the company would be taking—and we all knew some kind of shakeup was coming—so we convened and waited to learn the future of Sakura Limited, the real estate development company we all worked for. I had stopped on the way to get coffee for the two people from my old team who were still talking to me, Shawn Ferris and Liza Cho. I was still being thanked for the caffeine when Mr. Conner Troy, CEO, came through a side door and walked directly to the podium.

Good morning, everyone, thank you all for coming on such short notice. He glanced around the room. The reason I called you here is to announce the immediate resignation of Managing Director Everett Connelly from the staff of Sakura Limited.

The gasp from all corners was audible, but I was not surprised. The company hadn’t lost any money in the last two quarters, but neither had it made any. We were absolutely at a standstill, had been for the past year. But that couldn’t have been the problem; the important thing was keeping the clients we had, not looking for new prospects. That was what had been drilled into me when my deal fell through, that I was overreaching.

I wonder who they got, Shawn asked, turning to look at me.

You know I don’t know. I sighed. I’m just lucky to have a job, right?

Don’t be bitter, Dwyer, he told me. You tried, you failed huge, but at least you gave it your best shot.

Mr. Connelly felt, Mr. Troy continued, that the direction he wanted for his career and the direction that Sakura would be taking would not be complementary paths.

Which means what, exactly? Liza asked under her breath from my right as she nudged me in the ribs.

Just because I was inner circle once doesn’t mean I am anymore, I whispered back.

Mr. Troy cleared his throat. With that being said, we must also say good-bye to Ava Palmer and wish her the very best as she takes on her new challenges with Myer Coffman.

Oh ouch. Liza groaned softly. "I mean, I hated her, but I would jump into Lake Michigan before I went there and died of shame."

Everyone knew if you couldn’t make it in Chicago with one of the big three—Sakura, Sutter, or Ryerson & Wolf—you went to work at Myer Coffman.

It was painful to even hear she went there. I had told myself when I was almost fired that if I was let go, I would fall back on my minor from college and go teach art in junior college or something. No way I went from Sakura to Myer Coffman. I had too much pride.

Maybe that was bad, though. It hadn’t served me all that well.

I wonder if— Shawn began.

Furthermore, several members of Ava’s team have also been released from their contracts.

Oh shit. Shawn’s voice edged high and Liza grabbed my hand, clutching tight.

Lots of layoffs this morning was why the conference room looked a little light. But again, it made sense—Everett had been the managing director, Ava was his right hand, and she had led a less-than-ambitious pack of development reps. They had been more interested in keeping what they had than in going after something new, because it was safe. Safe was good. Safe kept you in business. But safe didn’t get you any infusion of creativity, or funds, or excitement. Safe did not show investors you were the company to watch. We showed no growth without new projects, at least in my opinion.

But after my flop of faith, I had been educated about how important it was to not rock the boat.

 Holy shit, Liza whispered.

We could contemplate our losses, but instead we look to our future. As a result of these changes, Mr. Kurofuji Ryouta from our corporate office in Tokyo will be taking over the position of managing director, effective immediately. He has brought with him several key members of his team, and we could not be happier. Let’s give them all a round of applause to welcome them aboard.

We all clapped and Mr. Kurofuji took the podium, the six other people he had brought lining up next to him. There were three women and three men all in suits, all looking polished and professional and perfect.

Good morning, he greeted us. This, of course, is only a portion of my team; the others are already at work and have been for hours.

Of course they were. His people were at the top of their game.

I’m so fired, I groaned.

I got hit in the ribs with elbows from both sides.

I WAS sitting in the office I shared with Peter Goodman a couple of hours later when Mr. Kurofuji and two other men walked in. I had never seen the other two Japanese gentlemen, but the man in front was my new big boss. I got up, Peter got up, and remembering what I’d learned in cultural training the year before, I bowed low—since I was low man on the totem pole—and waited for Mr. Kurofuji to return the gesture.

Both he and the others bowed back, and once they did, I straightened. Ohayo gozaimasu, I greeted, using the formal good-morning I’d been taught.

Every one of them spoke the words back to me. I couldn’t help but smile.

Peter walked forward, hand out. When he was stopped by one of the minions putting an envelope in his hand, he looked confused.

The layoffs will proceed throughout the day, Mr. Kurofuji informed him. We appreciate your tenure here at Sakura, but your time with us has drawn to a close, Mr. Goodman. Please gather any noncompany possessions and be prepared to be escorted out in half an hour.

The other assistant handed Peter a banker’s box to put his stuff in, and as he stood there—stunned, mouth open, his last check in hand—all eyes turned to me.

I smiled then and waited for my own envelope.

Mr. Knolls, would you step out into the hall, please.

I followed, and once we were out, I realized a lot of people were leaving, trudging toward the elevators, boxes in their arms.

Mr. Knolls, Mr. Kurofuji said crisply. You will report upstairs to the small conference room, where Ms. Shiga Ayumi, who is the new Director of Client Services for Sakura here in Chicago, awaits you. Your new partner, Mr. Hiroyuki Takeo, is there as well.

I was confused, but I also knew that asking questions was a really bad