by Tamie Dearen
She started to protest again. But he shot her another look, and she took another sip of water instead.
“We still need to talk, but I can see this is not the time for it. And I suppose you turned off your cell phone. Alexander and Johanna came by. They wanted to take you and me to lunch, so we went without you.”
“But I thought you were going to lunch with Ellen?”
“She had to work through lunch.”
Anne’s heart did a happy dance, but she gave it a swift kick in the pants. “I’m sorry that didn’t work out.”
He scowled. “Drink some more water.”
“This is silly. I know you have more important things to do than to babysit me while I drink water. You go, and I promise to drink it.”
He sat down next to her and pulled her computer toward him. “You’re right. I do have work to do. I just don’t have anything more important to do. So I’ll work right here until you finish drinking.” He began sorting his email.
She told herself he was being aggressive and controlling. But if she were honest, she’d have to admit it reminded her of something her husband would’ve done. Tom had often commented that Anne was awesome at taking care of everyone except herself.
She sighed and forced another gulp into her protesting stomach. Staring glumly at the daunting bottle and a half of water in front of her, she knew she could never down it all. Not if she wanted to keep it down. She picked up the water bottles and said, “I think I’ll just take these to the lounge area. Maybe if I had some crackers, I could drink more.”
Without taking his eyes off the computer, Steven reached into his pocket and pulled out a package of her favorite cheese crackers from the vending machine. He waved them in the air, until she snatched them from his hand with considerable irritation.
She snacked on the crackers and drank her water until all of one bottle and most of the other was gone. But he continued working on her computer, ignoring her completely. She turned on her cell phone and found two missed calls from Johanna, two from Steven, and one from Sam. She decided to return Johanna’s call first.
“Hi Johanna.” At Steven's glare, she grabbed the water and took a swallow.
“Hello Anne. We are so sorry we missed you at lunch. But we have tickets to go to a jazz club show tonight. Do you like jazz?”
“I love it—that’d be fun.” She really needed the distraction. Anything to stop thinking about Steven.
“Dress warmly. To get good seats, you have to arrive early and be in the front of the line.”
Excited, she hung up and called Sam, swallowing more water to pacify Steven as she waited for her to answer.
“I need to apologize,” Sam said. “Sorry I didn’t believe you the other day when you said you weren’t with Mr. Gherring. After I saw his picture in the social column this morning, I knew you were telling the truth.”
Her mouth went dry. “What picture?” She peeked at Steven to ensure he wasn’t listening in.
“You should see it. He’s with this beautiful girl with amazing long, straight hair. She looks kind of exotic. He has his arm around her and he’s actually smiling. You know, he looks like he’s posing for the cameras. Usually, he looks really grumpy in the pictures or else they get a candid shot when no one is looking. And here, I’ll read you the caption.
Steven Gherring is always shopping for new talent. This one is actress, Ellen Dean, from the new play, ‘Rainbow Junction.’ Don’t they look cozy? Maybe New York’s most eligible bachelor will be off the bachelor list soon.”
She prattled on, full of excitement. “Do you think he’s really going to marry this girl? Everyone was kind of pulling for you before, but this girl’s really beautiful. They’d have amazing-looking kids together.”
“You’re right. They would.” Anne tried to keep her words neutral for Steven's benefit. “I’d better get back to work.”
Overwhelmed by a sudden intense nausea, she flung her phone down and dashed for the ladies’ room, barely making the toilet before her stomach emptied its contents. At the sink she washed her mouth and face, startled by the stark appearance of her sunken eyes in the mirror. She tried to improve her looks, smoothing her hair around her face. Finally, she gave up and exited the restroom, only to find Steven pacing outside the door.
“Are you okay?” he said, grabbing her by her arms. “Do we need to go to the hospital? Someone said you were throwing up.”
“Great… now the whole office will think I’m pregnant and the baby is yours.”
“It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks.” Steven’s eyes widened. “Could you be pregnant?”
“Yes, but only if you believe in Immaculate Conception,” she said.
“No—I mean—I thought you were too… Don’t you eventually get to the point where you can’t have children?”
Anne fanned her suddenly-hot face. “I haven’t gone through menopause yet. That’s usually around age fifty. And I can’t believe I’m discussing this with you.” She hurried back toward the CMA department before any employees might come out and spy her with Steven.
He arrived about ten minutes later with a huge to-go cup in his hand.
“Come on, I’m taking you home. And you need to get some more fluid into you and keep it down, or we won’t be able to go see the jazz show tonight.”
“We? You’re going?”
“Johanna didn’t tell you? They invited both of us to go.”
Her knees felt weak. Was it dehydration? Or was it the news she’d be spending the evening with Steven?
“Neither of us is going if you aren’t better.” Steven held the cup out. “But I got that nasty sweet-tea you like from next door. Hopefully you won’t mind drinking so much.”
“That’s so sweet of you!” Anne took a long drink from the straw, savoring the flavor that reminded her of Texas. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.” He beamed. “Glad you like it.”
A worrisome thought hit her. “The last time we went somewhere with Johanna and Alexander, someone took our picture and put it in the social column. That could mess things up for you and Ellen.”
“I don’t care,” Steven’s jaw tightened. “Let them speculate. More gossip will be better publicity for Ellen, anyway.”
Anne had no desire to be fodder for any more gossip, but Steven’s expression was so fierce, she decided not to argue. Especially since Steven was only attending for business purposes.
Back in her apartment, Anne set an alarm to take a quick nap. Her body was physically and emotionally spent. She fell asleep immediately and woke confused at the sound of her clock beeping.
In the bathroom, she regarded her drawn face with alarm. Perhaps a quick shower would help. She hopped in and washed her hair, quickly donning some clothes before Steven was scheduled to arrive. He knocked on her door at the prescribed time, and she dashed to answer it.
“I’m sorry.” She peeked through her mass of unruly wet waves. “I decided to take a nap and a shower, so I’m not ready yet.”
He eyed her critically. “How do you feel?”
“I’m fine.” She hurried to the bathroom to continue her preparations. “Really, I feel a lot better. I’m not trying to hide anything. And I drank that whole ten gallons of tea you bought me.”
“That was only an eight-gallon cup.” He followed her and leaned against the bathroom doorway, watching the proceedings. He leaned closer as she applied mascara. “Why do you hold your mouth open wide when you put that on?”
“I don’t know, it’s just something you have to do somehow when you put mascara on. Everyone does it, I think.”
“You don’t really need makeup. You don’t wear much anyway, do you? I mean, I guess you had on more that night you went to the gala. And you looked good. But I think you look beautiful without it.”
Anne watched her face turn red in the mirror. She started coughing to distract attention from her flush. “Thanks. That’s a sweet thing to say.”
“Maybe, bu
t I didn’t say it because I’m sweet. I could prove that to you again if you’d like.” He flashed a very un-sweet smile that made her toes curl.
She’d thought she couldn’t get any redder, but she was wrong. “Maybe you should wait in the other room while I finish getting ready.”
“But this is so interesting,” he protested with a grin.
“If you keep distracting me, I won’t be ready on time.”
Grumbling, he tromped off to the living area. When she emerged, he was standing by the bookshelves holding a photograph. “I guess this is Tom with you and the girls?”
“Yes, it’s one of the last ones we took together as a family before… before we lost him.”
“I can see him in the girls, especially Charlie. I thought they looked just like you, but now I can see where they get some of their features from him.” He placed the photo back on the shelf and offered his elbow. “But both your girls are beautiful… like their mother.”
“Thanks,” she muttered. She knew he was only being polite, but his flattery only made it that much harder to remember they were nothing but friends.
She slid her hand into the crook of his arm, reveling in his clean, manly scent as they made their way down to the elevator.
“You have a lot of family photos,” said Steven. “I guess family means a lot to you. I just wondered… why did you decide to apply for a job in New York and leave your family behind?”
She studied her shoes. “I guess maybe boredom. Or dissatisfaction. Feeling like I’d lost my purpose with the girls gone. Wondering if there wasn’t something else out there… But to be honest, I never dreamed I’d actually get the job. It was just a lark. A chance to go to New York.”
She challenged him, “So now, you tell me. Why did you hire me?”
“Same reasons. Boredom. Dissatisfaction.” His dimples grew deep. “Or maybe because I enjoy a challenge, and I hadn’t had one in quite a while.”
“So I was a challenge?”
“Absolutely. I had to treat you like a skittish wild animal, draw you in, earn your trust. And just when I think I’ve got you all figured out—tamed the wild animal—you do something I don’t expect. You’re hard to control, that’s for sure.”
“Maybe that’s because I don’t care to be controlled,” she said.
“No doubt… thus, the challenge.” He softened his teasing words with a grin. “Surely you know I’m not serious. No one who’s spent any time around you would think you could be controlled.”
They traveled through the lobby and out to Steven's waiting car.
“I thought the Kleins were picking me up.”
“I called and told them we’d meet them there.”
“Mr. Gherring? About tonight… Have you told Ellen? I mean I don’t want her to think it means anything—us going to the jazz show with the Kleins. Because we know it doesn’t mean anything, but she might not know.”
“Ms. Best, I’ll deal with Ellen Dean as I see fit. If she’s the kind of woman who gets jealous over something like this, we won’t last long.”
“Okay… sorry.” They sat in uncomfortable silence for a while. She wondered if Steven had compared her to Ellen? She was young and beautiful. Exotic even. She wouldn’t have been stiff and afraid when Steven kissed her. She would have responded with passion, like any other normal red-blooded woman.
“Perhaps,” said Steven, “now would be a good time to discuss some of the things that have happened between us…. like last night. Or that kiss on Sunday night.”
“Nope! Not a good time,” Anne said, keeping her voice light. When is a good time to feel mortified? “Maybe tomorrow, maybe never…” she said, between breaths.
Steven watched her with wide eyes, but made no further comment before they arrived.
The show was great and Anne was enchanted with every moment. They sat near the stage, so there was little conversation. But Anne was too enthralled watching the musicians to notice anything else. The saxophone player sauntered over to the table and played while looking directly at Anne during one of his sexy solos, much to her embarrassment. After the song, Anne clapped and cheered and let out one of her wolf whistles for his benefit. Steven ordered drinks and appetizers, with water for Anne. But she barely sipped on anything and the fried calamari looked too greasy for her tender stomach.
When the show was over, Johanna wanted to grab a late dinner so they could talk. Anne started to respond she was too tired and had to be at work early, but Steven usurped her authority.
“I think that’s an excellent idea. But we need something very light. What sounds good to you, Anne?”
“Nothing really. I’m not very hungry.”
“Which is interesting since you haven’t eaten all day. And this from the girl who won’t let me skip lunch anymore.”
She started to protest and mention she’d eaten cheese crackers, but she remembered they hadn’t stayed down. She gave in without argument. “Anything would be fine.”
Steven remembered a place that had great soups and breads. When their orders arrived and Anne swallowed a few bites of creamy potato soup, he gave her an approving nod.
Johanna touched her hand. “Anne, you had not been working at Gherring Inc. for very long when I first met you. How do you like your job? Are you planning to stay? Or will you go back to Texas?” Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she queried her. Anne took it as an opportunity to give Steven a hard time.
“Most days I like my job just fine. But the boss can be a bit controlling. One time he even tried to tell me what I should eat and drink. Can you believe that?”
The corner of Steven’s mouth curled up. “Personally, I feel sorry for your boss, never being able to predict what you might do next. He must have to work very hard to stay ahead of you.”
“That does sound like hard work,” said Johanna, with a grin.
Straining, Anne managed to keep a straight face. “Oh I don’t mean to complain about my boss. He’s very misunderstood. People think he’s really scary, but he’s actually very sweet.”
“I think he’s scarier than you realize.” His eyes twinkled with humor, but he kept his smile at bay. “I’ve seen him lose his temper when someone is too stubborn for their own good.”
“If that were true, he’d be angry with himself. I’ve never seen anyone more stubborn in my life.”
Steven’s grin flashed for a half-second before vanishing.
“Really?” he asked. “You’ve never seen a more stubborn person? Don’t you have a mirror in your apartment?”
Anne slapped a hand over her mouth, but not in time to keep a snort of laughter from escaping. Johanna and Alexander joined in as Steven flagged two fingers in the air.
“And Gherring scores!”
Thursday was uneventful at work. Anne finalized the plans for the Christmas party for Saturday night. Emily called to tell her Grandpa was out of the hospital, at her apartment and doing well. Anne tried Charlie’s cell phone several times, but she never got an answer.
Henri called when she was in Steven's office. Anne answered but tried to keep her conversation generic. “Hi, how are you?”
“Hello ma jolie fille. I will be in town tomorrow as I thought. We can have dinner together? Seven o’clock?”
“Seven. That sounds great.”
“I will pick you up at your apartment lobby at seven. Oui? I think I have much to tell you. Anna-Laure is through her first chemotherapy session. She has two weeks before she begins another session. You are still praying?”
“Yes. Every single day.”
Steven tilted his head as she disconnected the call. “Hot date tonight?”
“Yes. I plan to get very hot with my treadmill tonight. Or to be more precise, I’m getting hot with your treadmill.”
A grin appeared on his face. “That conjures some very interesting images.”
“Stop looking at them, please.”
“I can’t help it. When I close my eyes, the images are still there.” He clenc
hed his eyes shut to demonstrate. “Wait, I can see even better with my eyes closed. Wow! I didn’t even know that was possible. You’re more flexible than I realized.” He flinched when Anne’s ink pen flew across the desk and hit him in the head.
“You can’t blame a guy for watching when he gets a chance like that,” he chuckled.
“Stop it!” she ordered, but the corners of her mouth twitched as she suppressed a smile. “So… you’ve really hit it off with Ellen, huh?”
He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “She’s a great girl. Very talented. Beautiful. Sophisticated. Fairly perfect, I suppose.”
Her heart turned over at his words. But she was glad, wasn’t she? Yes, of course. She was glad she’d brought them together. She’d done a great job of matchmaking.
“But… I might wish she was a bit older,” he added.
“Older? Why would you want her to be older?”
He shrugged. “She hasn’t had a lot of life experience. There’s not as much to talk about with younger women. But then again, if they’re beautiful, I guess you don’t need to talk. Still, age has some advantages… But other than that, she’s really perfect.”
Anne worried a little. She’d thought Ellen was just the right age. Had she been off on her calculations? But he still seemed to like her.
“And it’s too bad she hasn’t had children.”
“What? I thought you’d want someone who hasn’t been married before.”
“I guess that’d be nice—divorce can be so messy. But women who haven’t had children usually want to start a family after they get married. I just don’t know if I want to do that at my age. I could change my mind I guess, or maybe Ellen might change her mind. Maybe she’d be happy without children. But really, other than that, she’s perfect.”
Anne racked her brain. Had Ellen said whether she wanted children? Probably not right away, but she was bound to want children someday. How old would Steven be by that time? Or would he insist she never have children?
“And I’m sure she won’t mind giving up her career.”
