The elevator to the sixth floor lasted an eternity.Eric said nothing; he just smiled at her, soft and caring.He kept her hand in his, his thumb stroking the back in a whisper-soft, very enticing caress.
“I’ll be in a meeting, Betty,” he told his receptionist.“Please hold all calls and visitors.”
“Good luck with whatever it is you’re trying to do,” the woman called.“Honey, don’t let him sweet-talk you into anything.”She winked broadly and waggled her fingers in a wave.
They went down the hallway, around the corner, and finally into an enormous office.He closed the door quietly behind him.She heard a soft click, as if he’d locked the door.She whirled around.
“You can get out; it’s just to keep others from coming in.”He paced back and forth, his eyes on anything but her.“Can we talk?”
“Do I have a choice?”His uncertainty was out of place.Like he didn’t know how to deal with it.She couldn’t recall him having a single indecisive moment during their trip.
“Yes, absolutely you do.”He waited.
“Go ahead, I guess, I’m already here.”She was uncharacteristically curious as to what he wanted.
“Okay…” Another moment of long silence.“I like you, Wanda Irwin.A lot.I thought I’d hear from you after we got home.I gave you my number.I tried calling you.I texted.You ghosted me.”
She nodded, guilt holding her quiet.
“I just want to know why, because I thought we had a connection.”He paced a bit more.
“Can you take that…that tree off?I feel ridiculous trying to hold a conversation with a tree.”She walked further into the large room, stopping by the enormous window to look out over the street and the park across from it.She liked that the company was in a building outside of downtown, which was much too busy to suit her.
“I thought all gardeners talked to plants.”He grinned.“Give me a minute.”She watched his reflection as he walked through a doorway, closing the door behind him.He was back in two minutes.
She pivoted to face him, leaning against the heater under the window.“Thank you.”She thought long and hard about what to say.
“Is this about you falling asleep when I was going to kiss you?I can assure you that after everything we went through, you especially, I’m surprised that I didn’t fall asleep on you.Probably the only reason I didn’t was that you rocked me to the core with that kiss.”He looked her straight in the eye as he talked.No fidgeting, no darting eyes, and as near as she could tell, no deception.
“I…I…I was, no am, I am embarrassed by that.But that isn’t everything.”How could she explain what she felt?
“You are forgiven.I was nearly asleep myself before that happened.I enjoyed sitting with you.I loved sleeping beside you, especially when I woke with you in my arms.I’m surprised that I moved to embrace you as I slept.”
“That might have been me.”She shrugged.“I don’t know, I was asleep and can’t be held accountable for what my brain makes me do while I’m napping.”She giggled inside, knowing he blamed himself for the sleepy embracing.
“I’m going to say it again.I enjoy your company.You’re smart, funny, kind, generous, talented, attractive, and a dozen other things.You challenge me.You make me want more than work.Hell, I’ve missed dozens of hours since we got back.Do you know how long it takes to source and buy these costumes?And the treats?Myassistantrefused to do any of the legwork.I might fire her.”
“Or give her a raise.”
“That’s probably the better option,” he agreed.“Having to do it alone proved to me that I’m serious about you.I want more time to get to know you.”
“Eric,” she began, “we’re too different.You’re all work.You just spend money like it’s nothing.I have a solid work-life balance.I watch every penny.I have a future and retirement to plan for.We aren’t the same.”
“No, we aren’t.I can give up working so much.I already have.I’ve started interviewing staff.I’m moving someone up as another assistant.They’ll do the bulk of the work.”
“That’s great.”She meant it.But if he’d slowed down work, why did he look so tired?“Sorry, Eric.”
“I can stop spending money,” he blurted.“We can do cost-free dates.We can each pay for our own expenses.I’ll even take the money you sent to repay me for your trip expenses.I swear.”
It had really burned her bacon when he sent the check back, by courier, uncashed.Dammit, he was starting to sway her.She really did like him.A lot.If it wasn’t for the money thing, he was just her type.She banked a groan and told her stupid heart to shut up; this was a decision for the mind.
Except her heart wouldn’t shut it.It screamed louder when she thought about walking away and never seeing him again.Just the thought was keeping her awake at night.She couldn’t look at a chocolate bar without nearly bursting into tears.How pathetic was that?
“If you want, I’ll walk away from Varner Industries and take an entry-level job somewhere else.Though I won’t give back the money I’ve saved while working here.That would be crazy.I have a future to think about.Hopefully, one with you in it.”He stepped slowly forward and took her hands in his.She rolled her mind back through her relationships.All seven of them.The first in grade six.All except the last had ended amicably.Once the blush of first love, or in two cases, puppy love, had worn off, things just sort of faded.Her last ex, the accountant, was different.He’d been a numbers guy and a gamer.She’d finally lost it when he refused to do anything but play video games.She needed more.
Eric is more, her mind whispered.
The question was, was he worth taking a chance on?Is he Wanda?Could he be worth it?Maybe.I don’t know.She argued with herself.
