Joy by Victoria Christopher Murray Page A

Anya.” James, one of the junior associates, came into her office. “I came to pick up a few things. I'm going to be at that seminar next week.
    “How did you get in?” Anya tried to keep her voice casual.
    “Melissa gave me her key. I picked it up because she couldn't leave her house today. I'm going to take it right back. I hope it's okay.” James looked down at his feet.
    “It's fine.”
    As James walked away, Anya whispered, “Talk to Melissa.” She grabbed her purse. “I don't want everyone having access to the office outside of business hours.”
    David nodded. “Come on, we'd better get out of here before the entire office comes in.”
    As Anya walked around her desk, she once again noticed the way his shirt hugged his chest. “Where should we go?” she asked, working hard to keep her eyes on his face.
    “Not Crossroads. You're too much of a celebrity there and no one will even notice me,” he kidded.
    “I doubt that.” The words were out before she realized it, and her face became hot.
    He smiled. “If that was a compliment, I'll take it. I have an idea. And I'll drive if you don't mind trading down to a Jeep.”
    She was acutely aware of his hand, lightly holding her elbow, as he guided her from the office. “Don't mind at all.”
    In the elevator, they chatted, and Anya smiled when he said, “My day is looking up.”
    “So is mine,” she said, feeling relaxed for the first time that afternoon.
    When the Jeep turned into Speedy's, Anya smiled. It had been a year since she'd last been here.
    Since the February afternoon was warming, they sat outside. Anya placed her purse atop the red-and-white checkered tablecloth, then scooted her iron chair closer.
    Even though the sun was beating down on them, David removed his sunglasses.
    “I thought only us natives knew about this place.” Anya smiled.
    “I discovered it a few days after I started working for you.”
    “This is one of my favorite places, although I haven't been here in a while. It's too casual for Braxton.”
    They scanned the menus and gave their hot-dog orders to the waitress.
    “I thought I was taking you someplace you'd never been.” David laughed, squinting as the sun beamed into his eyes. “Tell me, if I ever want to surprise you, is there anywhere that you haven't eaten?”
    She laughed with him. “I can't think of any.”
    “You're a social butterfly, huh?”
    “No, I just love to eat.”
    He paused, as his eyes moved from her face, roving down as far as he could see. Then he stared straight at her. “The way you look, I would've thought you counted every calorie.”
    “You're kind.” She lowered her eyes a bit. “I
do
try to stay in shape.”
    “I can tell.”
    She took a sip of water and narrowed her eyes. “I can tell you work out too,” she said, continuing the flirtation.
    He leaned toward her, then lifted and flexed his arm, showing his bicep.
    Anya laughed.
    “I want to make sure you
really
notice. I put in too many hours not to show off every once in a while.”
    “So what do you do when you're not working out?” she asked.
    “Work for you.” When she frowned slightly, he said, “And I love every minute of it. It's great being part of a smaller business where I know I'm needed.”
    The waitress brought their hot dogs and fries, but before Anya could say anything, David popped a french fry into his mouth. She bowed her head and said a silent grace.
    “Sorry.” He raised his voice a bit, over the blaring motor of a passing bus. “I usually do that …but I forget sometimes.”
    Anya answered him with a smile.
    He shook his head. “It just doesn't fit you.” She raised her eyebrows, and he continued. “You don't look like a God person.”
    She snickered. “How does a God person look?”
    He dunked a fry into the ketchup he had poured on the side of his plate, chewed for a moment. “Not like you.”
    Anya couldn't hold her laugh. “That's because being a Christian is more inside than