Falling for the Boss by Elizabeth Lennox Page B

loyalty to him.  But then Victoria took a good look at Thomas in his tuxedo and changed her mind.  There was no question about who Victoria would choose among the three men, she thought.  Thomas in a tuxedo was stunning.  He looked suave and more debonaire than James Bond could possibly hope to appear.  He literally took her breath away. 
     
    Thomas hesitated for only a moment before taking the offered handshake.  “Good to meet you,” he said.  “Thomas Attracelli.  Thanks for giving up your fiancé for so many weeks at a time.  She’s a great asset to the team,” he said, looking down at Barry. 
     
    Barry stiffened slightly at the mention of fiancé so Victoria quickly stepped in.  “I’ve told him nothing has been formalized,” to Barry.  Her words seemed to make him relax but there was still a wariness about him. 
     
    “She has,” Thomas reiterated.  “Several times.  I just don’t seem to be able to grasp how a man could leave her to travel the world without that kind of commitment.   She’s a beautiful woman.  I’d be afraid someone would steal her away while you were waiting to pop the question. ” 
     
    “Victoria and I have an understanding,” Barry said.  “We’ll get married.  It’s just a matter of time and opportunity.”
     
    Bob laughed.  “Man, you might want to make the time and create the opportunity,” and walked towards the bar.
     
    Mike looked between the three other members of the group and knew that something was going on.  “ Victoria , you really look lovely.  Can you believe we’ve gotten two weekends off in one month?  Thomas must be getting old,” he joked, punching Thomas’s arm.
     
    Thomas ignored Mike and he didn’t take his eyes off Barry, sizing up the man and adding to the tension in the group.  Victoria didn’t know how to handle that and didn’t understand the dynamics that were happening. 
     
    “I think I’d like to dance,” Victoria said, turning to Barry. 
     
    Barry looked down at her and shook his head.  “I think we should eat something first.”
     
    Victoria tried to hide her disappointment but Mike immediately caught on to it.  He turned to Barry and suggested, “Why don’t you get dinner for the two of you and I’ll dance with Victoria .”  Mike’s diplomacy was amazing, Victoria thought. 
     
    Without waiting for an answer, he handed his drink to Barry , then took Victoria ’s out of her hand and handed it to Barry as well, who took it without realizing what was happening. 
     
    “Come on, let’s trip the lights fantastic,” Mike said to Victoria , grabbing her hand and pulling her out onto the dance floor where a loud swing song was in progress.
     
    Victoria loved to dance and she was grateful to Mike for taking her out of the odd situation back there.  She glanced at Barry once and noticed that he was moving off towards an empty table near the wall.  She was glad that he was ret r eating from the group but thought it was unfortunate that he hadn’t liked her co-workers. 
     
    Well, in reality, he hadn’t even noticed Mike or Bob, understanding somehow that Thomas was the real threat.  Victoria shook her head, admonishing herself for even thinking like that. Thomas was no threat to Barry.  Thomas was only her boss and nothing would come of her silly infatuation with him, she reminded herself. 
     
    “He feels it too,” Mike said. 
     
    Victoria turned back to face him, guilty of ignoring him while she watched Thomas and Bob laugh about something.  Now that Barry was out of their immediate area, the two seemed to have visibly relaxed.  “I’m sorry?” she said, turning to Mike who was staring down at her. 
     
    Mike shook his head, a smile on his face.  “You can hide it from Bob and Thomas, but don’t try to hide it from me,” Mike said, twirling her under his arm.
     
    Victoria stumbled slightly, then caught herself just in time.  “What do you mean?  What am I trying to