Falling For Her Boss by Karen Rose Smith

stop dilly-dallying and take action.  She spoke to Veronica, then went to find Noah.  He stood at the counter in the pro shop, looking over a list of inventory; Charlie wasn't in sight.  So much the better.
    "How'd it go?" Noah asked as she approached him.
    "He's a reasonable man.  He's going to think about it."
    When she simply stood there, not saying more, Noah asked, "Is there something else?"
    She kept her voice even, despite the turmoil inside her.  "Yes, your real estate agent thinks he has a prospective buyer.  He's bringing him through on Wednesday around two."
    "It shouldn't interfere with your class."
    "I'm going to cancel some of my classes this week.  Veronica can take the others."
    Noah came out from behind the counter.  "Why?"
    She clasped her hands and stood her ground.  "You're moving ahead with your options, I have to move ahead with mine.  I'm going to New York for a few days to watch Brent train."
    Noah's eyes bored into her, his voice deepened.  "When are you leaving?"
    "I've already talked to Veronica and I'm going to call Brent.  If it's all right with him, I'll drive up tomorrow."
    "It's a long drive."
    "About five hours."
    "When do you think you'll return?"
    "I'm not sure."
    Noah didn't seem troubled by her news but took it matter-of-factly.  "All right.  I'll need a number in case anything comes up here I need to talk to you about."
    "Like selling the rink."
    "Possibly."  He said the word simply, smoothly, with no emotion.
     She knew she had to get a grip on her own emotions.  "Nothing you've seen has changed your mind."
    "Not enough to warrant keeping it."
    She wasn't surprised.  She wished the tension between  her and Noah would go away.  She wished he'd kiss her so she could get it over with and stop thinking about it.  Lord, what was she thinking?  Maybe the tension was good.  It kept them from getting too friendly.
    "I have a class now.  After I call Brent, I'll leave the information on the desk."
    Noah nodded.  "Fine."
    "Fine," she repeated.  But as she left the pro shop, she knew everything wasn't fine and she'd never felt so confused in all of her twenty-five years.
    ****
    Noah stood at his small kitchen window, looking out into the black night.  His body was wired with a tension that not even his vigorous workout had dissipated.  The shower hadn't helped, either.  Simply staring over at the Piccard household wound him up more.  Francie was probably up in her room.  Packing.
    She'd left him her cell phone number and the address where she'd be staying.  The address wasn't a hotel.  Would she be staying with McIntosh?  Could the man convince her to be more than his skating partner again?
    Noah swore, disgusted with himself.  What Francie did or didn't do was none of his business.  Then why did he feel she'd taken a piece of him and run away with it? 
    He closed the blind and grabbed his jacket from the kitchen chair.  Maybe a long walk in the cold night air would help.
    Walking up and down tree-lined streets, he paid little attention to the residential area, not caring where one street ended and another began.  But even his brisk stride couldn't calm his body or his mind.  Francie's face as she waited for his kiss was vivid and clear.  The determination in her voice when she'd told him she was going to New York was like a repetitive soundtrack that wouldn't stop playing.  But most of all, the confusion in her eyes because he was playing havoc with her future tore at him.
    Returning to the garage apartment, he paused at the foot of the steps, no more tired or relaxed than when he'd started.  The back porch light at the Piccard house shone brightly.  It hadn't been on before he'd taken his walk.  He saw a shadow of movement deeper into the yard and he started toward it, not sure why.  Maybe he was just lonely and wanted someone to talk to so he could get his mind off Francie.
    But it was Francie sitting in the yard, rocking slowly on an old wooden swing