The clock said five thirty, so technically she had done a days work, although she wouldn't get bonus points for effort today.
The wood underneath her hands vibrated when someone knocked on it. Shirley, no doubt checking everything was OK before she left. Max pulled the door open, to be faced with a grinning Shirley.
"Dan's here, he’s been waiting for quite a while. He has flowers. Now I understand why you've been so out of sorts today. Lovers tiff? Get's me in a bad mood all the time." She couldn't help being over familiar, her face shone with excitement. More gossip for the office.
All these things flew through her mind, before coming to rest on the simple phrase, Dan's here. Why was he here? What did he want? Was this where he made a play for something he wanted from her? A loan, information, what exactly had she fallen into?
Max was about to find out, because here he was, walking towards her, dressed casually in jeans and a shirt. But there was nothing casual about him, his sculptured body, barely contained in his blue shirt, his face ruggedly handsome, so contrasting to every other man in the office. She was so used to seeing clean shaven, suited men, that he looked so out of place.
"Max," he said quietly, questioningly.
"Dan. What a surprise," she said keeping her tone light, her eyes sliding past him to where Shirley stood watching, close enough to hear what they said. "Why don't you go home, Shirley. It's late, and I'm sure..."
"Carl," he whispered.
"Carl," she gave him the briefest of looks, "Will be waiting for you."
"If you're sure. I can get you a vase for the flowers. They are very beautiful."
"I can manage, thank you. See you tomorrow." With that she stepped back into her office, holding the door open for Dan to follow.
Treat this like a business meeting, she told herself. Keep it simple, and don't let him railroad you. What's the worst that can happen?
The worst? Dan being so close she could smell his cologne, mixed with the heat of his body. When he walked into her office he passed by so close his body brushed hers, so lightly, so subtly it might well have been by accident. Her body over reacted, heat creeping up from her core until it filled every part of her. He overwhelmed her, what ever he asked, for she would beg him to take, as long as he took her to the heights of pleasure he had shown her last night.
Shutting the door behind him she walked over to her desk, going around it and sitting in her chair, keeping a solid barrier between them in the hope it would stop her doing or saying something stupid.
"These are for you, Max." He offered the flowers to her, she didn't move. Hesitating he settled for placing them on her desk. "Max, I... "
"What, Dan? What exactly is it you want?" She decided to go the route of intimidation, an act she knew she was capable of pulling off under normal circumstances.
"I came to apologise?"
"Really? And exactly which part of this whole fiasco is the apology for?"
"I'm not sure."
"OK. Well we could make a list." She put such venom into her voice he recoiled from her. His reaction throwing her off guard. Again she reminded herself he was a liar and a cheat. A married man with kids, who had slept with another woman. A man who had slept with her. It made her feel cheap and dirty.
"I'm not sure why you left. If you calm down I'd like to try to explain a few things so we can start again."
"I have intention of starting again, Dan. I don't know how desperate you think I am, but sleeping with a married man, no matter how good he is in bed, is not something I ever intend to repeat."
"OK, back up a little. A married man?" He grinned. "So that's it. You think I'm married?"
The wind went out of her. All the pent up anger she felt dissipated to leave her feeling stupid. "Yes. I think you're married." Although now she wasn't so sure. He seemed to find it amusing, and that started to rankle. "I saw the picture of you and your family."
"Family, yes. I guess you would
The wood underneath her hands vibrated when someone knocked on it. Shirley, no doubt checking everything was OK before she left. Max pulled the door open, to be faced with a grinning Shirley.
"Dan's here, he’s been waiting for quite a while. He has flowers. Now I understand why you've been so out of sorts today. Lovers tiff? Get's me in a bad mood all the time." She couldn't help being over familiar, her face shone with excitement. More gossip for the office.
All these things flew through her mind, before coming to rest on the simple phrase, Dan's here. Why was he here? What did he want? Was this where he made a play for something he wanted from her? A loan, information, what exactly had she fallen into?
Max was about to find out, because here he was, walking towards her, dressed casually in jeans and a shirt. But there was nothing casual about him, his sculptured body, barely contained in his blue shirt, his face ruggedly handsome, so contrasting to every other man in the office. She was so used to seeing clean shaven, suited men, that he looked so out of place.
"Max," he said quietly, questioningly.
"Dan. What a surprise," she said keeping her tone light, her eyes sliding past him to where Shirley stood watching, close enough to hear what they said. "Why don't you go home, Shirley. It's late, and I'm sure..."
"Carl," he whispered.
"Carl," she gave him the briefest of looks, "Will be waiting for you."
"If you're sure. I can get you a vase for the flowers. They are very beautiful."
"I can manage, thank you. See you tomorrow." With that she stepped back into her office, holding the door open for Dan to follow.
Treat this like a business meeting, she told herself. Keep it simple, and don't let him railroad you. What's the worst that can happen?
The worst? Dan being so close she could smell his cologne, mixed with the heat of his body. When he walked into her office he passed by so close his body brushed hers, so lightly, so subtly it might well have been by accident. Her body over reacted, heat creeping up from her core until it filled every part of her. He overwhelmed her, what ever he asked, for she would beg him to take, as long as he took her to the heights of pleasure he had shown her last night.
Shutting the door behind him she walked over to her desk, going around it and sitting in her chair, keeping a solid barrier between them in the hope it would stop her doing or saying something stupid.
"These are for you, Max." He offered the flowers to her, she didn't move. Hesitating he settled for placing them on her desk. "Max, I... "
"What, Dan? What exactly is it you want?" She decided to go the route of intimidation, an act she knew she was capable of pulling off under normal circumstances.
"I came to apologise?"
"Really? And exactly which part of this whole fiasco is the apology for?"
"I'm not sure."
"OK. Well we could make a list." She put such venom into her voice he recoiled from her. His reaction throwing her off guard. Again she reminded herself he was a liar and a cheat. A married man with kids, who had slept with another woman. A man who had slept with her. It made her feel cheap and dirty.
"I'm not sure why you left. If you calm down I'd like to try to explain a few things so we can start again."
"I have intention of starting again, Dan. I don't know how desperate you think I am, but sleeping with a married man, no matter how good he is in bed, is not something I ever intend to repeat."
"OK, back up a little. A married man?" He grinned. "So that's it. You think I'm married?"
The wind went out of her. All the pent up anger she felt dissipated to leave her feeling stupid. "Yes. I think you're married." Although now she wasn't so sure. He seemed to find it amusing, and that started to rankle. "I saw the picture of you and your family."
"Family, yes. I guess you would
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