The last serious relationship I had was with you, Desmond, and I don’t know how that makes me feel about the next few months I have left, working for you.
19
AVA
The coffee machine hissed for the fifteenth time that day, and the line of customers grew long enough to wrap around the lounge chairs in reception by four p.m.
I’d had a busy few days working at the café after meeting with Desmond in his office. Contrary to what I’d initially thought, the work kept me busier than I’d expected. And I hadn’t seen much of Desmond at all. I caught brief glimpses of him as he walked to and from the elevator in the lobby. While he would occasionally turn my way and we’d share a look, he never came over.
As for Hank, well, I’d gone on that date. It was nice. Just barely. We didn’t have the chance to talk much because the venue was loud, and he promised to let me decide on a quieter place where we could go next. I hadn’t gotten back to him yet.
Carolyn stood by the landline phone, trying to speak to customer service about our malfunctioning coffee machine.
“It’s whistling,” she repeated to the customer service representative. “That can’t be right, can it? I want to makesure someone comes in to take a look at it before the machine truly gives up on us.” She kept one eye on the clock and turned to me. “Ava, it’s five p.m.”
My shift ended at five, and I needed to clock out of the system, but I hung around the counter, waiting for Carolyn to wrap up her call. Only one other customer remained in the café, finishing up his drink.
“I’ll wait,” I told her, “until you’re done with that phone call.”
“Shoo,” she said. “I can manage. If I could only get off this line—oh God, they’ve transferred me to another department.” Her gaze went to something in the distance behind me.
I turned around just in time to see Desmond, Juniper, and Thomas got out of the elevator.
Carolyn stiffened. “Upper management is walking over,” she whispered, glancing between them and me as the trio ambled in. “Oh gosh. Should I hang up?”
“Don’t,” I told her as she attempted to place the phone back in its slot. “Stay on the line and get us an appointment with that technician. I’ll handle this.”
“Thank you,” she said, looking relieved as I turned back to the cash register. “You know, that’s the second time I’ve seen the boss in here today,” she muttered just before the voices of the two directors and the CEO reached us.
“Did you see the clients our Records department recently signed on?” Thomas asked the others as they slowed down next to the counter.
Juniper scanned the glass pastry shelf while Desmond hung back, looking at me while I tried to seem unruffled by his presence.
Don’t look at me.
“They got a fantastic contract. I’d not miff them if I were you,” Juniper responded.
“No one is miffing anyone,” Desmond said, his voice deep and low. He turned his head slightly, and his eyes found mine.
Every muscle in my body stiffened as I remembered how he’d touched my lips just a few days ago.
They walked up to the cash register, and I flushed deeply when he gave me a knowing smile while Juniper and Thomas took to scanning the menu on the LCD screens behind me.
“Coffee?” I asked demurely while Carolyn waved to them from her spot by the phone before turning around.
“Yes.” He gave me a brief smile while Thomas looked on.
I immediately turned around to grab a cup, trying to keep my hands from trembling.
Why did I feel like I was putting on a show? I was just doing my job, for Christ’s sake.
“There you go,” I said, handing the cup over.
Up close, Desmond looked just as stunning at the end of his workday as he did at lunch. The navy-blue suit was shiny as ever, his tie was missing, and the top button of his white linen shirt was undone, revealing a little of his smooth, hard chest.
I gulped.
“An espresso for Mr. Stein?” I asked.
