knew Sue was a troublemaker. He also remembered what Kerrigan said about not wanting to be the topic of office conversation in the break room. He wanted to keep her safe, even from silly office rumors. He continued pass Kerrigan’s office, went to the break room and pulled out his phone.
“Hello. A.C. Advertising. This is Kerrigan Mulls.”
“Hi Kerrigan.”
Her rapid words and pitched voice unveiled her excitement . “Axel? Hi.”
The sound of her voice warmed him like flames blazing from a July sun. “Hi. You ready for lunch?”
“Sure.”
“Can we meet someplace else? I’m trying to respect your concern for privacy and discretion. I don’t want to start any rumors about us.”
“ Too late for that. Rumors are already flying.”
“Rumors are flying about what?” His voice was tense.
“Sue saw us leaving together on Wednesday night. I don’t know what lies she’s spreading, but I’ve been getting strange looks all morning.”
Axel wasn’t annoyed or bothered by office gossip, but he knew Kerrigan was upset and instant rage elevated his pulse.
He paced the floor in the break room. “I’m sorry. I can only imagine how you must be feeling. You okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. I’ve been ignoring them.”
“I still want to see you. Can you meet me some place? What about Tedd’s?”
He didn’t attempt to mask the hungry desperation in his voice. It was soulful longing, something he knew she would recognize, because although she wouldn’t admit her feelings to him, he knew she felt the same as he did.
“Al l right, I’ll leave now.” She paused. “Axel, thank you for understanding.”
“Of course. I don’t want you upset.”
He was already seated when Kerrigan strolled in and found him at the rear of the restaurant. Lunch with her was fun. He always enjoyed the time they spent together, and she seemed to enjoy his company too, although she kept her guard up.
She picked up her fork and poked at her salad . “Exactly why do I need to cancel my plans next Saturday? What’s going on?” she asked.
He thought for a minute before responding. In that instant, he could have lain out his heart and told her how he had been feeling and how much he liked her. How for months, he watched and yearned to be close to her—how much more he liked her now that he was getting to know her better—how much he admired her intelligence and delighted in her beauty. Instead ...
“I’ll be out of town all next week for business. I leave this Sunday, and I get back late Friday evening. We’ll need to catch up immediately.”
“Oh ? And we can’t catch up the following week?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No. I’m not available that week until Friday.”
Clearing her throat, s he brought the glass of water to her lips and sipped. “So this is related to business?”
He leaned in close, glancing around at the restaurant’s patrons as his eyes steadied and met hers. “Yes. Well, no.” Everything around them faded away, including baldy, a businessman who was sitting alone at the next table eavesdropping and ogling at Kerrigan.
Her glass dropped to the clothed table with a loud thud, and she swallowed hard. Kerrigan’s eyes shifted around the room. A waiter, whose mullet was straight out of a 1980’s rock video, stood at the back of the restaurant gawking at them. Kerrigan jerked her hand away and sent the glass into a teeter. Axel’s quick aim landed his hand on hers, and their entwined fingers held the glass steady. Her fingers struggled to break away from the slick, wet cylinder, but his firm grasp held her hand in place. Slowly, she lifted wide nervous eyes to his, and he released her hand.
“Kerrigan, I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a personal angle. I enjoy spending time with you. You’re good company, and we have fun together. Isn’t that what friends do?” The desperation in his voice spoke loudly.
“You’re going to miss me.” She teased boldly.
The dim light from
“Hello. A.C. Advertising. This is Kerrigan Mulls.”
“Hi Kerrigan.”
Her rapid words and pitched voice unveiled her excitement . “Axel? Hi.”
The sound of her voice warmed him like flames blazing from a July sun. “Hi. You ready for lunch?”
“Sure.”
“Can we meet someplace else? I’m trying to respect your concern for privacy and discretion. I don’t want to start any rumors about us.”
“ Too late for that. Rumors are already flying.”
“Rumors are flying about what?” His voice was tense.
“Sue saw us leaving together on Wednesday night. I don’t know what lies she’s spreading, but I’ve been getting strange looks all morning.”
Axel wasn’t annoyed or bothered by office gossip, but he knew Kerrigan was upset and instant rage elevated his pulse.
He paced the floor in the break room. “I’m sorry. I can only imagine how you must be feeling. You okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. I’ve been ignoring them.”
“I still want to see you. Can you meet me some place? What about Tedd’s?”
He didn’t attempt to mask the hungry desperation in his voice. It was soulful longing, something he knew she would recognize, because although she wouldn’t admit her feelings to him, he knew she felt the same as he did.
“Al l right, I’ll leave now.” She paused. “Axel, thank you for understanding.”
“Of course. I don’t want you upset.”
He was already seated when Kerrigan strolled in and found him at the rear of the restaurant. Lunch with her was fun. He always enjoyed the time they spent together, and she seemed to enjoy his company too, although she kept her guard up.
She picked up her fork and poked at her salad . “Exactly why do I need to cancel my plans next Saturday? What’s going on?” she asked.
He thought for a minute before responding. In that instant, he could have lain out his heart and told her how he had been feeling and how much he liked her. How for months, he watched and yearned to be close to her—how much more he liked her now that he was getting to know her better—how much he admired her intelligence and delighted in her beauty. Instead ...
“I’ll be out of town all next week for business. I leave this Sunday, and I get back late Friday evening. We’ll need to catch up immediately.”
“Oh ? And we can’t catch up the following week?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No. I’m not available that week until Friday.”
Clearing her throat, s he brought the glass of water to her lips and sipped. “So this is related to business?”
He leaned in close, glancing around at the restaurant’s patrons as his eyes steadied and met hers. “Yes. Well, no.” Everything around them faded away, including baldy, a businessman who was sitting alone at the next table eavesdropping and ogling at Kerrigan.
Her glass dropped to the clothed table with a loud thud, and she swallowed hard. Kerrigan’s eyes shifted around the room. A waiter, whose mullet was straight out of a 1980’s rock video, stood at the back of the restaurant gawking at them. Kerrigan jerked her hand away and sent the glass into a teeter. Axel’s quick aim landed his hand on hers, and their entwined fingers held the glass steady. Her fingers struggled to break away from the slick, wet cylinder, but his firm grasp held her hand in place. Slowly, she lifted wide nervous eyes to his, and he released her hand.
“Kerrigan, I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a personal angle. I enjoy spending time with you. You’re good company, and we have fun together. Isn’t that what friends do?” The desperation in his voice spoke loudly.
“You’re going to miss me.” She teased boldly.
The dim light from
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