Office Play: Freaky Geek Series

by Williams, Stephanie

  “So how was your amateur detective work?” He sat down at his desk and began getting his things together too.

  “Okay, I guess.” She sighed. “I haven’t found anything out of the ordinary yet.”

  “Hmm. Same here.”

  “I was just thinking, you don’t suppose that the Paris thing is a glitch. That maybe it just looks like stuff is originating from here.”

  Adam rubbed that strong chin of his. “I was thinking along the same lines. I’m really going to have to go back to the drawing board on this software program.”

  “Well, let’s not give up hope yet, we still have to wait for updates from Renee and Noah.”

  “Yeah, that makes me feel a little better.” Adam grabbed his briefcase and his cell. He then motioned for her. “Ready for dinner?”

  As ready as I’ll every be, she thought.

  Once at the bistro, Jeanette was finally able to relax—just a bit. Adam was sitting very close to her and not just close. He was leaning against her and had his right arm around her on the side.

  She tried concentrating on the couple in front of her.

  Kevin and his wife Deena made a cute couple. They seemed like they were still on their honeymoon. They laughed a lot and kissed a lot.

  The French were really amorous people.

  “I bet my husband flirted and followed you all over he office,” Deena said, jokingly. It took her back a bit.

  “Uhh. Why would you say that?” Jeanette tried not to sound nervous. She reached for her glass of water and took two huge gulps.

  “A beautiful woman like you would attract the attention of a lot of men and women.” She winked.

  The French were too amorous, she mused to herself.

  The conversation continued. She and Adam mostly listened to Deena and Kevin talk about how they met and the issues they where having finding the right kind of house.

  “We both stayed in the States for a year, and I got so use to huge walk-in closets and gourmet kitchens,” Deena giggled. “As you now we don’t have that in abundance here especially with the old places.”

  “Oh, yes, those are very hard to find anywhere in Europe,” Jeanette said. “Would you believe that’s one of the main reasons why I never decided to move here?”

  She laughed with Deena.

  “Wait! You mean to tell me that a walk-in closet is the main reason you won’t move to a place like Paris? Adam asked, turning to her, looking almost appalled.

  “Have you seen my closet back home?”

  “You tell him Jeanette. Guys just don’t get it,” Deena piped in.

  After the main entrée arrived, they all dug in.

  “So, are you two an item as they say?” Kevin asked pointing to the two of them with his fork.

  Jeanette put another fork full of food in her mouth and chewed frantically.

  Adam scooted even closer to her, almost pushing her into the wall.

  “Well, let’s just say that we are close friends,” Adam said, stroking her cheek with his thumb.

  “Ha, I have close friends.” Kevin smirked. He turned and looked straight at her. “You agree, no?”

  “Umm….”

  “Men don’t need women to be friends with, they need them to be lovers. That’s why things are so complicated in relationships. We don’t know what our role is with each other.” He continued.

  Jeanette couldn’t believe she was hearing this. She looked over at Deena, who was nodding and eating her food not once looking up, just listening.

  “Our role?” Jeanette asked, with a hint of cynicism in her voice.

  “Oui.” Kevin said, then taking another bit of food.

  “And you agree with this?” Jeanette directed the question to Deena.

  Deena finished chewing her food, then wiped her mouth with a napkin and smiled. “You have to admit, it’s hard for two attractive people to remain platonic. One is bound to be curious. Aren’t you two curious?” She cocked her head.

  Jeanette’s face heated up. She didn’t have to be curious any more, she already had him—twice.

  Adam looked at her and winked. Jeanette buried her head in the salad.

  “Oooh, looks like someone is a bit embarrassed,” Deena said chuckling.

  “So you have thought about each other in a more intimate manner,” Kevin said.

  “Look you guys, I understand where you coming from, but you have to remember, we work

  together.” Jeanette protested.

  “Ahh, but she’s a hired contractor,” Adam piped in.

  Jeanette threw him a look. He was not helping. In fact, the more she thought about it, the more she realized that Kevin was helping his cause.

  “Oh, so you are not actually employed with us?” Deena smiled widely. “That means after your assignment is over, you two could take your relations to another level.”

  Jeanette groaned.

  ***

  Adam was pulling for the team here. Every time Jeanette threw up a wall, Kevin and Deena where right there to knock it down. Yay team!

  He had to agree with Kevin, two attractive people working together, one a man the other a women and straight can’t possibly remain platonic for too long. The irony was, they both had buck wild sex—twice, and did a little something in the hotel last night. But he told himself he wouldn’t say anything about that, he didn’t want to put her business out there on the street. And he knew she wouldn’t want anyone to know that, especially since she was already skittish about people knowing they had interests in each other.

  What he needed now was for Deena to put a bug in her ear and tell her to throw caution to the wind.

  She and Jeanette seemed to hit it off, so maybe a little girl talk between the two will push Jeanette a little closer.

  Just when he was about to comment on Deena’s last suggestion, his cell went off. It was Noah. He looked at his watch; it was eleven in the morning in Los Angeles. “Hello.”

  “Hey bro, got a minuet?”

  “Uh…yeah, sure. Hang on.” He leaned over to Jeanette and whispered. “It’s Noah.”

  She just nodded, not once taking her eyes off Kevin and Deena.

  “Excuse me folks, I gotta take this.”

  “That’s fine, we’ll just keep Jeanette company,” Deena said, with a cheesy grin on her face.

  Adam wanted to pump his fist in triumph. Two against one; hard to fight.

  Adam stood off the to side on the sidewalk and returned to Noah. “What’s going on?”

  “I heard talking in the background, you still at work? I can call back.”

  “No, no. Jeanette and I are having dinner with a couple of co-workers.”

  “Ahhhh. That brings me to this.”

  “What?”

  “Renee is one hot number.”

  Adam rolled his eyes. Yes she was. Yeah, Noah and him were definitely brothers. “Okay, okay, you got a plan, any info?”

  “There are two people here that I remember. One is in your IT department.”

  Adam winced. This was not sounding good. “And the other?”

  “Purchasing.”

  “Names.”

  “Jake and Hanna.”

  Jake! He’s like his other right-hand man. Hanna he had his doubts about too. “Man, Jake. Are you sure?”

  “Hmm. Too close?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You know what they say.”

  “I know.”

  “Don’t upset yourself about it now, Renee is going to check them out. She’s really exciting and her job is too. She was telling me last night about her private investigation company.”

  “What time did you get in last night?”

  “Oh, about three this morning.”

  Adam wanted to ask the obvious questions, but decided not too. That would open the door for Noah to ask questions about him and Jeanette, and he wasn’t ready to go there yet.

  “Look, Jeanette and I sent you two on an assignment, not a date.”

  “Hmm, sounds like someone
is bitter.”

  Adam mentally groaned. “I am not bitter.”

  “Not getting anywhere with Jeanette huh?”

  “Don’t focus on my love life. I need to find out what’s going on with these missing supplies. Now you tell me you think Jake is in on it.”

  “Okay, okay, like I told you, Renee is looking into it. We’re going to lunch in about an hour. I’m sure she’ll have something by then.”

  “Good, keep us posted.”

  “And good luck to you.”

  Before Adam could say something, Noah disconnected.

  Adam didn’t know what pissed him off the most. The fact that Jake could have something to do with this P.O. shit, or that Renee and Noah where hitting it off better that he and Jeanette.

  He returned to the table and noticed that Jeanette and Kevin and Deena were all laughing. This was a good sign.

  Adam sat down and scooted close to Jeanette again. He loved the feel of her body next to his. Pressing close to her like this gave him a chance to feel her softness against him. He leaned into her and whispered in her ear. “Got something to tell ya.”

  “We were just having a delightful conversation about Jeanette’s last visit here to Paris,” Deena said.

  “Oh? Adam turned to Jeanette. “When was this?”

  “A couple of years ago. I was telling them how I finally decided to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. I’ve been scared for years. Hate heights. When I finally reached the top, I got a nosebleed. It was so embarrassing.”

  Adam quirked his brow. Yeah, he needed to really get to know Jeanette better. Why didn’t she share this with him?

  After they ate and Kevin took the last bite of his dessert, the couples separate. Adam took Jeanette by the arm and they walked quietly back to the hotel. It was now ten o’clock.

  “So what’s going on?” Jeanette asked.

  “That was Noah that called. The two suspects are Hanna and Jake.”

  “Jake, Jake…. Oh Jake! Really? Wow.”

  “No!” Adam stopped walking. “I can’t believe that. We’re too close and I’m not just talking about work. We go to the bars, the games.”

  “Let Renee do her job, she’ll confirm everything.”

  “That’s what Noah told me to do.”

  “Now, Hanna, she’s in purchasing, but she just take the orders, she doesn’t have a huge title or anything. She’s not head of any department or assistant to anyone.”

  “Those are usually the ones to watch. The small fry people. They can do the most damage.”

  Jeanette nodded. “Well, the good thing is we could be closer to solving this, the bad thing is that someone you’re close too could be involved.”

  “Sucks.”

  Jeanette patted him on the arm. “Come on, let’s get back to the hotel. I’m tired.”

  Adam shook his head. This trip sucked too. He just found out that his buddy is a suspect and now he’s here in romantic Paris with the most beautiful woman in the world and there was no romance happening or looked like ever happening as long as hey worked together.

  Something’s got a change.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  They arrived back at the hotel around midnight. No wonder Jeanette was worn out, besides the fact that Deena and Kevin were working on her.

  She could see through their scheme and she wondered how much of Adam’s influence was involved. But she wasn’t going to say anything; she was too tired to argue.

  “They’re still at work. I tell you, this time difference is maddening,” Adam said, taking off his coat.

  Jeanette’s cell went off. “Hello.”

  “Hey girl!”

  “Hi Renee. Adam already told me what Noah said,” Jeanette stated, as she got ready for bed.

  “I’m running a check on both of them as we speak.”

  “You’re not at the actual office are you?”

  “Oh no. On the streets and in my office. In fact, I make sure that no one sees Noah and I together. Even when we go to lunch, we meet secretly. It feels kinda naughty too especially with someone as fine as Noah.”

  Oh brother, here we go. “Renee, be careful.” Jeanette immediately got up and walked to her bathroom when she saw Adam look over at her.

  “I am. Noah is the perfect gentlemen. Trust me, it’s just business. Dinner last night was only about getting to know each other before this ‘sting’.”

  “Okay fine. So when should you be getting info back about these two.”

  “About a day, doesn’t take long, and that’s even going through Interpol. Just wanted to make sure these folks didn’t have alias overseas.”

  “Wow, you do an extensive background check.” Jeanette was surprised just how deep this was getting.

  “Hey, you hire the best, you get the best.” Renee laughed.

  “Did you do this same background check on Noah?”

  “Yes…and Adam.”

  That slapped Jeanette awake a bit.

  Oooh, this was sooo tempting. What kind of info did she find on Adam. Man, the rap sheet he must have on the women he dated alone!

  “Jeanette?”

  “Huh?”

  “I am not telling you what I found on Adam, let’s just say he’s not a psycho and doesn’t have the propensity to become one. Was just being thorough.”

  “I wasn’t going to ask.” Jeanette huffed.

  “The hell you weren’t. Or at least you were thinking about it.” Renee huffed back into the phone.

  Yeah, she was good, Jeanette thought. “I’m sure he’s okay too. I haven’t see anything psycho about him in the month I’ve been working with him.”

  “Uh-huh. Well while we wait, what have you found on your end?”

  “Nada. I sat behind and walked around several people taking orders from various offices, everyone is doing everything by the book.”

  “At least on the surface. You need to find out where those purchase orders emails go. Your IT hunk can find that out. Maybe go into the personal computers of these employees.”

  Jeanette thought a moment. Why the hell didn’t she think about that? “You think he’ll be able to get into their systems without anyone knowing?”

  “He’s the head guy….right?”

  “Oooh yeah. I’ll tell him right away. Our supervisor lengthened our stay here so I won’t be back until the weekend.”

  “Please don’t waste it working.”

  “Wai…!”

  Before Jeanette could get a word out, Renee had disconnected.

  Why was everyone trying to get her and Adam together? She looked at the date on her cell. It Valentine’s Day pasted. Perhaps making up for lost time. She walked out of the bathroom and was heading straight to her bed but came to a complete halt.

  Adam was laying in her bed….naked!

  “What are you doing?” Jeanette all but screamed, but at the same time, she moved closer and closer to the bed.

  Adam was the perfect specimen of male. He was lying on his stomach, so his backside was facing her.

  And what a backside. She ogled him starting from his strong shoulders.

  The muscles this man possessed, it was unreal and unfair. Some man was walking around looking really sad and weak.

  Adam sat up on his elbows and looked up at her. His muscles bunched under his skin causing the sexiest ripple effect. Jeannette had to literally scream in her head to calm herself. She so wanted to touch him.

  “What was that?” Adam yawned out.

  “I asked what were you doing in my bed….and naked.”

  “Just marking my territory so to speak.”

  ***

  Adam wanted to bust out laughing when he saw Jeanette’s face. But he kept his composure; he was going to seduce Jeanette tonight.

  He didn’t have a plan, so he was flying by the seat of his pants—or no pants as the case may be.

  “Your territory?” Jeanette put her hands on her hips.

  Adam sat up. He grabbed the blanket and put it just over his wais
t. He wanted Jeanette to look him in the eyes while he talked; he needed her full attention. Right now her eyes where focusing on other parts of his anatomy.

  “Come here, sit down.” Adam scooted over and he patted the bed.

  “I will not.” Jeanette folded her arms across her chest.

  She was the most stubborn woman he ever met. A few weeks ago she was open to anything he offered. They had passionate sex and he knew all he had to do was tap her on the shoulder and she was his.

  Fast-forward three and a half weeks and she’s wearing a medieval chastity belt. After he told her the background of him and the ‘almost’ office romance he didn’t have, she really dug in her heels.

  Time to pull those heels out.

  He reached over and grabbed her and brought her down on the bed next to him.

  “Hey!”

  “Shhh.” He put his finger over her lips. “We are here alone in our hotel, no one sees us, no one knows our hours back home. No one has any idea actually that we’re even sharing a room. So why not get to know each other more intimately.”

  “We already do, remember,” Jeanette said, trying to free herself from his grip.

  “That was wild, passionate spontaneous sex. And I enjoyed every minute of it. But I want to explore each other both mentally and physically. We can take our time now.”

  “Can’t you wait until after the assignment is over and I’m not working for the agency anymore?” Jeanette asked shifting from foot to foot. He could tell she was nervous.

  “Word has it that after this is over, you’ll be hired permanently.“

  “All the more reason to cool it.”

  Adam needed to think fast. He could already see the wheels turning in her head. She was probably thinking that if they hire her, they definitely couldn’t have a romance. And after what he told her, he couldn’t blame her. But that didn’t mean he was going to stop trying to make her his.

  “All the more reason we need to take advantage of the situation here. We’re in Paris for Pete’s sake! Who doesn’t have a romantic romp in Paris?”

  “Is that all you want?” Her eyes narrowed.