by Gail Sattler
“Wow. This really works. Look at the letters. They seem to pop right off the screen. These green glasses are really something.”
Since everyone around her started to become engrossed in the effects in front of them, Molly straightened, determined to enjoy the show, except her mind went blank.
As the movie unfolded, many people reached out as if they could actually touch the images they saw. Everyone in the theater flinched when one of the fishes in the presentation jumped out of the water and the 3-D effects made it appear it was going to land in the viewer’s lap. The entire audience laughed, right on cue, and the movie continued.
About halfway through the feature, Molly felt the light brush of fingertips on her left shoulder. She turned her head to see Ken’s arm drift behind her neck, then settle in around her other shoulder.
She turned her head to respond, although nothing she could put into words would come out.
He leaned his head to whisper in her ear. “We’re not in the back row, but it is a movie theater. You didn’t expect me not to put my arm around you, did you?”
No words came. A million jumbled thoughts rolled through her head. She couldn’t concentrate on the movie, despite the spectacular 3-D effects.
She considered her options. She could handle being friends with him, except it appeared he no longer had merely “friendship” in mind. Between all the handholding and the times he’d draped his arm around her, she’d never had any friend touch her so much. She’d certainly never had any of her friends kiss her.
His words of “courting her properly” echoed through her head. She tried to imagine what it would be like to date him.
While going shopping to the market and movies and volleyball night at church were her style, she doubted those activities would suit the future president of a large and growing corporation. The closest she’d been to attending a high-class affair, not counting the Chamber of Commerce dinner, was when she’d gone with friends to see Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat at an upscale live theater presentation at the Queen Elizabeth Theater. The price of the tickets had been horrendous, and while she’d enjoyed the live acting, she’d felt terribly out of place during intermission. A few ladies were wearing gowns that had likely cost more than her entire wardrobe. Aside from attending theater productions she couldn’t afford, she had no idea what the rich and famous did for fun, or if they had fun at all.
If she did start dating Ken, she didn’t know how she would be able to face the people she’d worked with for the past five years. Some of them had come to be her friends. Some of those same people would soon begin to hate her for anything they would perceive as favoritism from the boss, especially when plans for Ken’s position were announced. She couldn’t blame anyone who did, because if the situation were reversed, she would probably feel the same.
There had already been rumors concerning her time spent alone with Ken, so already her reputation was becoming questionable. She couldn’t allow her good reputation, or Ken’s, to become sullied.
They belonged in separate worlds. Everything about him shouted class and position, education, dignity, and grandeur. Molly liked her casual, laid-back lifestyle. She liked her one-room apartment because it was less area to keep clean.
She tried to think what would happen if she threw caution to the wind and dated him anyway. That would mean working with him while dating him, and she knew that wasn’t a good idea. After Robbie’s relationship with her boss’s son ended in disaster, Robbie had been promptly fired. She didn’t think Mr. Quinlan would fire her when she and Ken broke up, but she couldn’t be positive. Even if he didn’t, she couldn’t see working side by side with Ken every day if a relationship ended badly, especially if he was to be the future president. She’d have to quit before she was fired.
She’d almost worked herself into a sweat when Ken’s fingers moved on her shoulder, reminding her that she sat snuggled into his arm. She wondered if his periodic movements were involuntary, or if he was doing it on purpose to remind her that his arm was around her, apparently to stay.
In front of her in panoramic glory, fishes swam, birds flew, and underwater plants swayed. It all went by in a blur. Ken gave her shoulder another gentle squeeze, a tender and very personal touch reminding her once again that he considered this a date. When they left this morning, she had thought their day together would be a friendly outing showing a tourist around town, yet now they were snuggled together in the dark. To anyone watching, they were a couple, regardless of what was going through her head.
All she knew was that it wouldn’t work. They were too far apart in everything in life, both personally and professionally. That she’d already fallen in love with him didn’t matter. They were too wrong for each other.
“Molly?” Ken’s voice whispered in her ear. “Look at me for a second.”
He drew his arm away, but instead of sitting back in his chair and letting his arm drop into his lap, his fingers brushed her chin, tipping it up slightly. “The movie is almost over. May I kiss you while it’s still dark?”
It was nice of him to ask, except he didn’t give her an opportunity to answer. Without removing the cardboard glasses, he tilted his head and kissed her, slowly and gently, and with such a tender sweetness Molly resented the slow brightening of the house lights which caused them to separate.
He backed up slowly, released her chin, and removed his 3-D glasses. His open and unguarded expression made Molly want to kiss him again, but she didn’t dare.
His voice seemed deeper than usual, with a delightful low and husky quality she’d never heard from him before. “This movie was a wonderful idea. Thank you for suggesting it.”
Molly couldn’t move. She became aware that Ken had reached up and was slowly pulling the 3-D glasses off her face. He let them fall into his lap, then brushed her cheek with the backs of his fingers.
Here he was, her Mr. Right. But how could her Mr. Right be so Mr. Wrong?
The people beside her stood, ready to leave, forcing Molly to pay attention to what was going on around her. They stood and prepared to exit the theater. Ken carried both pairs of glasses and dropped them into the bin as they left. The second they walked outside into the cool night air, his hand grasped hers, and they followed the crowd to the SkyTrain station.
They barely said a word the entire journey home, and Molly didn’t force it. She didn’t want to spoil the moment. In one short day, everything had changed. Yesterday they were simply friends. She still hadn’t figured out what they were today. She only knew everytyhing was different, and it was wrong. As much as she enjoyed his romantic attentions, she needed his friendship back.
As before, he escorted her up the elevator, through her apartment building, and waited quietly beside her while she unlocked her door. He stepped inside, confirmed there had been no intruders in their absence, and Molly accompanied him back to the door.
Before she met Ken she’d never been at a loss for words, but now words evaded her. She didn’t know how to tell the man she loved that it wasn’t going to work, that they could only be friends and nothing more.
She didn’t know if it was good or bad that they would still be together all day at work, but at work, it was business. No tender touches and, especially, no kissing. The thought nearly broke her heart, but not nearly as much as not being able to see him again. Perhaps functioning at the office side by side she would see enough of him to enjoy his company, yet abide by the rules of office etiquette to keep a safe distance.
Ken stepped closer, and Molly gulped. She was already backed against the wall in the small entranceway and had nowhere to go, short of sliding against the wall and retreating in fear.
Mere inches separated them. She didn’t know what she expected him to say, but he surprised her when he didn’t say anything. Without a word or preamble, he kissed her exactly the same way he had kissed her in the theater, only this time they didn’t have to worry about the house lights coming on, or crowds of people around them.
>
She didn’t want the beauty of his kiss to stop. Molly knew this would be the last time she kissed him and the last time she could see him away from the office. It was too dangerous to her heart. Throwing caution aside, she slid her arms under his jacket and kissed him back with all the love in her heart.
When he finally backed up, Molly needed to catch her breath, and it appeared Ken had the same problem.
He still didn’t say anything.
Molly hoped by the time they saw each other next at work, they wouldn’t be so tongue-tied.
He brushed a light kiss to her cheek. “Good night, Molly. I’ll be here at the usual time tomorrow.” He turned and left, shutting the door behind him.
Molly blinked at the closed door. Tomorrow was Sunday.
She hunched her shoulders and buried her face in her hands.
Tomorrow was Sunday, and he was coming to church with her, and there was nothing she could do about it.
Chapter 16
Molly didn’t know how she did it, but she made it through Sunday relatively unscathed. She groaned and sank against the door after Ken left, trying to will her heart to stop pounding.
He’d picked her up right on time, dressed in his casual best for church, proudly announcing the lack of a tie. After church she’d almost forgotten about the youth group’s fundraising luncheon, but Ken hadn’t. Most of the congregation retreated into the foyer to talk while the teens set up the banquet tables and laid out the food. Everyone else had been requested to bring a contribution for the potluck lunch except her.
Gwen suggested that word of her cooking skills had leaked out, and that was why she hadn’t been asked. Ken joined all her friends in teasing her about it, although in the end Ken was the only one who defended her culinary talents. He especially enjoyed talking with Garrett. The whole time they were together in front of her church friends, Ken faithfully held onto her hand. She couldn’t pull away in front of everyone without worrying about hurting his feelings, so she managed to convince herself to enjoy his company for one more short day.
Except the day wasn’t very short.
Somehow, after the banquet, they’d ended up back at Robbie and Garrett’s house. Again, Ken got distracted talking to Gwen; the difference this time was that Molly had participated in the conversation, having no choice because Ken wouldn’t let go of her hand.
They ordered pizza for supper and attended the evening service, followed by dessert and coffee at a nearby coffee house. They were together from practically sunrise to well after sunset.
He was finally gone, but not before he’d kissed her with such intensity it rocked her to her soul.
She had a wonderful day with him.
She couldn’t let it continue.
Molly went to bed but spent most of the night staring up at the ceiling.
Ken smiled as he waited for his computer to boot up. The love of his life was due to walk in the door in seven minutes, and he could hardly wait.
Things were going perfectly. He’d spent another day at her side, most of it with her soft, tender hand enclosed in his. They’d enjoyed their time together, and when the day ended with a heart-stopping kiss, he knew future happiness was within his grasp. In only a few weeks the cast would be off, and he would be able to hold her properly. Life was good.
He knew he was beaming from ear to ear when she sat down at her desk, right beside his, but he couldn’t help it. It wouldn’t be much longer and he would ask for Molly’s hand in marriage, and then the world would know they were together.
“Good morning, Molly.”
She sat with her head bowed, shuffling a stack of paper. “Good morning,” she mumbled, not lifting her head.
Ken turned away and returned to his work. If Molly was still going to be sensitive about the rest of the staff’s reaction to them as a couple, he would respect her wishes, although her less than enthusiastic greeting stung.
She didn’t speak much to him all morning.
She didn’t want to go out for lunch.
She was away from her desk a good part of the afternoon.
She was taking things a little too far.
By the end of the day, Ken was ready to scream. She was ready to leave. Without him.
“Molly? Would you like to go out for dinner?”
“Dinner? Tonight?”
“Do you have other plans?”
She stiffened and glanced from side to side, and her posture relaxed when she saw they were alone in their corner of the office. “No, I don’t have other plans. That would probably be a good idea. I think we should talk.”
Ken narrowed one eye. Talking was exactly what he had in mind. However, judging from Molly’s reaction, he didn’t think they were going to be talking about the same thing.
“Leave your car here. We’ll pick it up later.”
“Later? But …” She shrugged her shoulders. “Okay, I guess so.”
During the drive to the restaurant, a sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. All through the meal, every time the conversation gave indications of drifting to serious topics, he quickly steered the discussion to more pleasant subject matter. As well, every time conversation lagged, he made sure to introduce a new topic, keeping things as animated as he could. He’d never talked so much in his life.
Molly appeared to be enjoying their evening together, but he didn’t want to give her a chance not to. He ended the evening much sooner than he would have preferred in order to quit while he was ahead.
He mentally kicked himself for pushing her to leave her car at the office, because this would give no opportunity for privacy in which to kiss her good night properly. He respected Molly too much to kiss her in the middle of the company parking lot.
To his relief, after much protest, he convinced her to allow him to follow her home so he could ensure her safety. When they arrived at her building, after escorting her up the elevator, he quickly checked her apartment for intruders, then left with only a quick peck to her cheek before she had a chance to say anything.
Ken started his car, then smacked the steering wheel with his fist. This was the first and last time he intended to play silly games. Tomorrow things would be different.
Molly pulled into her parking space and fought back a yawn as she turned off the engine. After yet another sleepless night, she still couldn’t figure out what had happened. For all her intentions, she never got a chance to tell Ken that she couldn’t see him again outside of work. He’d been funny, witty, charming, and everything she’d ever dreamed of in the perfect male. Except he was her boss and out of her league. He’d been the perfect gentleman, and she’d fallen even more in love with him, if that were possible.
She craned her neck to check her makeup for signs of smears in the rearview mirror, then entered the office building. Around her, conversations hushed as she headed for her desk. She heard a few badly muffled shushes and a short giggle. It gave her a bad feeling, solidifying even more the reasons she shouldn’t be in any type of relationship with Ken. She’d worked too hard and too long to let everything come crashing down around her.
The first place she checked on her way to her desk was Ken’s area, but fortunately he wasn’t there, he was in his uncle’s office. She tried not to appear too relieved, because she could feel people watching her as she approached, even though some were pretending to concentrate too intently on their work for first thing in the morning.
Then she saw it. A crystal bud vase containing a single rose sat on her desk. It didn’t take a lot of guessing to know who it was from, even though there was no card. Molly plunked herself into her chair and stared at the flower.
Ken’s voice drifted from his uncle’s office. “Good. You’re here. I need you to type up a quick confidential memo for me.”
The second she walked into Mr. Quinlan’s office, Mr. Quinlan left, shutting the door behind him, leaving her alone with Ken. She didn’t have to turn around to know that half the office was straining to see through the open
miniblinds to check out what was going on.
She cleared her throat and stiffened her posture. “Before we get started, I want to talk to you about the flower.”
“Ah, yes.” He smiled, making Molly’s foolish heart flutter. “It was a difficult decision between that rose and another blossom I couldn’t identify but smelled quite pleasant. I thought the rose suited you better. I hope you like roses.”
“Oh, of course I like roses, they’re my favorite flower, especially that two-tone kind you picked. I think that variety is called … Hold on. Quit distracting me.” Molly stepped closer, then, remembering the curious stares of the rest of the staff, backed up again. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
“Why not? Men send flowers to women at work all the time. There’s no rule that says because we work together I can’t send you flowers. While on company property we have certain decorum to adhere to, and I have no intention of crossing that line during working hours. As much as I hate to say it, if you received flowers at the office from another man, you’d accept them and enjoy them all day, wouldn’t you?”
“Well, of course I would.” Not that any man had ever sent her flowers at work, but she assumed she would enjoy them.
“Then don’t you think that it’s logical to do the same when it’s from me?”
She considered it very different when the man who had sent the flower was seated at the desk next to her and was one day going to take over the company. “No. We can’t be doing this while we’re working here, together. You could send me flowers and we could date and stuff if I was working somewhere else, but I haven’t quit yet, so you can’t do this.”
He grinned. “I’m the boss, or at least one day I’m going to be. I can do anything I want. If that includes sending flowers to the beautiful woman who sits next to me, then I will. So enjoy the rose.” His grin widened. “As long as you think of me when you look at it.”
Molly opened her mouth to protest but realized it was no use. His self-satisfied smile told Molly she had already lost this battle. Except she had a beautiful rose on her desk to enjoy, from the man she’d fallen in love with.
