growing, his body blocked the messages.
He grabbed his phone and dialed Steve’s number. Of course, it went directly to voice mail. “Pack your bags. We’re going to Florida.”
Chapter Eleven
While Stella waited for Trish, she thought about the guy sitting twenty feet from her. Lately, when he spoke he moved in close and the violet of his eyes deepened in color. The tone of his voice teased but his body language communicated something different. A slow, thoughtful smile made its way to her face. Alex seemed to lose his edge around her, and she liked it. Hmm . Maybe she’d been under-thinking things, instead of over-thinking them. Maybe what she thought was a coffee settlement was much more. He surprised her by asking about her lunch plans. If she had a do-over, she would’ve cancelled with Trish.
An auburn head of hair popped around the cubicle. “I come bearing gifts.” Trish handed Stella a white bag with Chen’s written across the front.
The heavenly smell of shrimp fried rice and egg rolls, made Stella’s stomach rumble. She smacked her lips. “Not a moment too soon. I’m starving. Let’s go to the break room.” She took a step away from her desk. Trish stopped her with a finger wave.
“Oh no you don’t. First things first.”
Stella pretended bewilderment.
Trish laughed openly. “You’re such an actress, Matson. You know I’m here to feast my eyes on Mr. Wrong.”
“Cute.”
“Handsome men make you crazy. So he’s totally wrong for you, totally right for me.”
Stella laughed. “Dream on.”
Trish gave her a playful shove. “Stop wasting time. I need to verify his dreaminess.”
“Shh. He’ll hear you.”
“Might as well warn him we’re coming. By the way, after we eat I want to make a point of scowling at the Wicked Witch of the West.”
Stella guffawed. “Belinda or Maggie?”
“I’m guessing pointy black hats and striped socks would look good on them both.”
The vision tickled Stella’s funny bone. “You have a gift, Trish.”
“I know. Now take me to the hunk.”
Stella latched onto Trish’s arm. “Let’s satisfy your curiosity.” They shuffled the short distance to where Alex kept his size thirteen’s.
Violet eyes captured them with warm welcome.
Trish’s mouth dropped open. “You’rrrre Alex?”
Stella wanted to pummel Trish. Instead, she cleared her throat and made the introductions. “Alex Clay, Trish O’Brien.”
Alex’s lips twitched with something indefinable. He extended his hand to Trish. “Nice to meet you.”
“N-nice to meet you too,” Trish stammered. It was hard to tell if it was real or fake. With Trish, it was anybody’s guess.
If it was real, then Stella knew the feeling. Alex had the natural ability to bring extreme awe out in some people and the hidden-ninny in others. She’d experienced both.
Trish appeared to recover and held up their lunch. “You can join us. We have plenty.”
Stella widened her eyes to deter Trish, but Trish was on a roll.
“Stella would love for you to join us.”
Alex’s eyes swung to Stella, while he answered Trish. “Tempting, but you two need time to talk about girl stuff.”
Trish tried to wrench a yes from him. “How can you say no to two smoking-hot women with Chinese food?”
Stella put her hands to her face and shook her head in disbelief. Beneath her hands she grinned. Trish was Trish. There was no stopping her even if she tried.
Alex also enjoyed a laugh. “I’ll take a rain check.”
Trish gave Alex an exaggerated smile. “We have to go now.”
“Take care.” He matched Trish’s cheesy grin with one of his own.
Trish grabbed Stella’s arm and hoisted her away. Before they were out of ear shot, she said, “He is soooo hot. No wonder you can’t shut up about him.”
Stella gave her a pointed look. “You’re a real piece of work.”
“Don’t pretend to be mad.” Trish rubbed her hands together. “Now where are the witches?
Look for the brooms .
* * *
He grabbed his phone and dialed Steve’s number. Of course, it went directly to voice mail. “Pack your bags. We’re going to Florida.”
Chapter Eleven
While Stella waited for Trish, she thought about the guy sitting twenty feet from her. Lately, when he spoke he moved in close and the violet of his eyes deepened in color. The tone of his voice teased but his body language communicated something different. A slow, thoughtful smile made its way to her face. Alex seemed to lose his edge around her, and she liked it. Hmm . Maybe she’d been under-thinking things, instead of over-thinking them. Maybe what she thought was a coffee settlement was much more. He surprised her by asking about her lunch plans. If she had a do-over, she would’ve cancelled with Trish.
An auburn head of hair popped around the cubicle. “I come bearing gifts.” Trish handed Stella a white bag with Chen’s written across the front.
The heavenly smell of shrimp fried rice and egg rolls, made Stella’s stomach rumble. She smacked her lips. “Not a moment too soon. I’m starving. Let’s go to the break room.” She took a step away from her desk. Trish stopped her with a finger wave.
“Oh no you don’t. First things first.”
Stella pretended bewilderment.
Trish laughed openly. “You’re such an actress, Matson. You know I’m here to feast my eyes on Mr. Wrong.”
“Cute.”
“Handsome men make you crazy. So he’s totally wrong for you, totally right for me.”
Stella laughed. “Dream on.”
Trish gave her a playful shove. “Stop wasting time. I need to verify his dreaminess.”
“Shh. He’ll hear you.”
“Might as well warn him we’re coming. By the way, after we eat I want to make a point of scowling at the Wicked Witch of the West.”
Stella guffawed. “Belinda or Maggie?”
“I’m guessing pointy black hats and striped socks would look good on them both.”
The vision tickled Stella’s funny bone. “You have a gift, Trish.”
“I know. Now take me to the hunk.”
Stella latched onto Trish’s arm. “Let’s satisfy your curiosity.” They shuffled the short distance to where Alex kept his size thirteen’s.
Violet eyes captured them with warm welcome.
Trish’s mouth dropped open. “You’rrrre Alex?”
Stella wanted to pummel Trish. Instead, she cleared her throat and made the introductions. “Alex Clay, Trish O’Brien.”
Alex’s lips twitched with something indefinable. He extended his hand to Trish. “Nice to meet you.”
“N-nice to meet you too,” Trish stammered. It was hard to tell if it was real or fake. With Trish, it was anybody’s guess.
If it was real, then Stella knew the feeling. Alex had the natural ability to bring extreme awe out in some people and the hidden-ninny in others. She’d experienced both.
Trish appeared to recover and held up their lunch. “You can join us. We have plenty.”
Stella widened her eyes to deter Trish, but Trish was on a roll.
“Stella would love for you to join us.”
Alex’s eyes swung to Stella, while he answered Trish. “Tempting, but you two need time to talk about girl stuff.”
Trish tried to wrench a yes from him. “How can you say no to two smoking-hot women with Chinese food?”
Stella put her hands to her face and shook her head in disbelief. Beneath her hands she grinned. Trish was Trish. There was no stopping her even if she tried.
Alex also enjoyed a laugh. “I’ll take a rain check.”
Trish gave Alex an exaggerated smile. “We have to go now.”
“Take care.” He matched Trish’s cheesy grin with one of his own.
Trish grabbed Stella’s arm and hoisted her away. Before they were out of ear shot, she said, “He is soooo hot. No wonder you can’t shut up about him.”
Stella gave her a pointed look. “You’re a real piece of work.”
“Don’t pretend to be mad.” Trish rubbed her hands together. “Now where are the witches?
Look for the brooms .
* * *
Similar Books
