Tag: flirtation

Eleanor ~Part 2~

Read Part 1 here

Mr Lanford’s eyes bore into her as he flashed a half smile her way. “And how did you come to be mine…err here Miss…?”

“Luchia. My name is Eleanor Luchia, sir.” Eleanor quickly filled in. “Ms Penn hired me to organize your paperwork. I’m sorry, I thought you were aware.”

“And how long have you been employed here Ms Luchia?” He glanced over at Eddie as he asked the question. Eddie’s only response was to chuckle quietly next to her.

She hesitated, not wanting to get in trouble if she had overstepped her bounds, but since he was still smiling congenially enough at her she confessed. “A little over two months.” 

“And where have you been hiding for those two months?” He quickly covered his shock with interested curiosity.

Eleanor pointed to the room she had left to open the door. “Right there.”

Both Eddie and Liam followed her pointed finger with amused gazes. She looked up at Mr Liam Lanford. “I apologize if you were unaware. I’ve been doing my best to make good progress. But when Diane didn’t answer the door I figured I would. Upon hearing it was Mr Dubois I became distracted and failed to inform you that he was here.”

“Distracted?” Liam crossed his arms.

“Discussing your plans for my expansion.” Mr Dubois interjected. 

At Liam’s slow appraising nod, Eleanor blushed. “I’ll get back to my work sir. Sorry for the interruption.”

As she scurried back to her room she heard Eddie remark, “Quite the intelligent and engaging woman you have hiding in there, surrounded by your mountains of paper.”

Not trying to eavesdrop but curious as to what he would say in response Eleanor turned slightly toward them in her retreat. She couldn’t understand what he said but he didn’t sound angry so she hoped it was positive .

An hour later Eddie popped his head in where she was working. “I am on my way out Miss Luchia and I wanted to tell you how delighted I am to have met you. Being able to spend a little time discussing those plans with a fresh set of eyes is just what I needed.”

Eleanor blushed in surprise but nodded. “It was wonderful to meet you Mr Dubois.” She watched him disappear out of sight and once again focused on the papers in front of her.

A few minutes later she looked up to find Mr Lanford standing once again in the doorway. Immediately she rose. “Sorry I didn’t hear you come in.” The apology tumbled out as she straightened the papers in front of her.

“No need to apologize Miss Luchia. If anything, I should be apologizing to you. Ms Penn failed to inform me that had filled the position already or I would have come to introduce myself earlier. I don’t believe in being a faceless boss. Don’t be concerned if I come to check on you every once in a while. I do so with the employees I can in order to stay connected.”

She nodded, only slightly frenetic beneath her calm appearance. Maybe it was his piercing green eyes. Or the fact that he was drop dead handsome. Or maybe it was because she had made a complete dolt of herself in front of him when she’d ‘forgotten’ to bring his client in to him.

She only remembered to breathe after he nodded and strode smoothly out of the room.

The next morning, as she was sitting there, trying to focus on the sorting and not looking for interesting papers to glance over, Eleanor didn’t hear the soft footsteps of someone approaching and stopping just inside her doorway.

With a softly cleared throat he gained her attention. “Good morning, Miss Luchia. I figured I needed to make up for lost time and check in today, find out what progress you’ve made.”

In her best competent voice she began to explain her sorting and organizing tactics. Mid-sentence she recalled her manners and motioned to her chair. “Oh please sit. I didn’t mean to leave you standing.”

His low chuckle shook her professional veneer. “I am fine standing for the moment.” He moved in closer. “However, the progress you have made in two short months is impressive. I know that I’ve completely given up trying to keep order in here and would throw papers into a box and shove the box in here.”

“Does that mean you have another box in your office accumulating, unsorted, right now?” 

He shrugged. “Guilty.”

Eleanor shook her head. “Don’t worry. By the time you have filled up that box and throw it into me I will have everything organized so well that it wouldn’t take me long to sort it out. Of course I hear I have several other rooms that require my attention as well.”

With a slow deep nod he laughed. “I have let it overcome me I fear. I do have one question, now that I think of it. How do you know Eddie?”

“Mr Dubois?” Eleanor blinked in surprise. “I don’t. I met him yesterday.”

“Yet you know of our expansion plans for him through our design and construction company.” He stated levelly.

Flustered, she wrung her hands. “Oh… I… just from sorting sir. I have to know what each paper is in order to sort it.” 

“Furthermore, You know enough to have an in-depth conversation with him based on glances while sorting?” He surveyed her with renewed interest.

“Well. I do have an MBA sir, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Construction.”

Surprise lit his eyes.

“You never saw my resume did you? Ms Penn really did hire me because she figured I could sort papers.” Eleanor’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “I apologize if I overstepped my bounds. It won’t happen again.”

“Overstepped?” He roared as he laughed. “And here I find myself questioning why you are not working for me as a team lead or manager or architect. Why are you here in a dusty room filled with paperwork?”

“To become a part of the company and work my way up. I applied for your other positions first but they always filled without a word my direction. So I saw this as my only option left.”

Liam glanced at his watch. “I have a meeting in 5 minutes so I have to leave. But do not doubt that we will be talking later.” He paused at the door and looked back. He almost took a step back toward her.

“I’m tempted to fire you.”

Shock laced through her. “What?”

He shook his head and shot her a wry grin. “But I won’t.” 

Eleanor let out the breath she had been holding.

“Eleanor, I think it is only fair to let you know, I really want to kiss you right now. And as your boss, I can’t. And as a gentleman, I won’t. Just tempted.”

Without another word he left the room, leaving her mind swirling with temptations of her own.

Carrie

Glancing down the street Carrie crossed the road. Out of habit she stopped to look back and make sure her front door was closed. Her door was so old it had a problem clicking shut but it wouldn’t pop back open right away. There were enough mornings when she turned back to find her door open to warrant the daily double check.

Self-consciously she smiled at herself when she saw that her door was still closed before she shrugged and continued her walk to  campus. As always she stopped in at Trish’s corner bakery to grab her daily dose of sugar in the form of her favorite lemon streusel muffin and an extra creamy hot chocolate.

“Good morning Carrie!” called Trish, who was coming in from the kitchen.

“Hey Trish! Busy morning?” Carrie tried to push her way through the crowd waiting for their orders. After a few bumps and nudges accompanied by an apologetic smile and ‘sorry’ she made it to the front. Faintly behind her she heard someone cry out ‘Wait!’ followed by lots of grumblings and ‘excuses me’s’ but didn’t think anything of it. 

Carrie quickly ordered her usual muffin and leaned against the counter to wait. As she stood there she pulled her purse up on the counter. Panic settled across her shoulders as she dug through her purse. Her phone wasn’t there. Before she could look through it again to be sure, she was plowed into the counter from behind. She gasped hard as she struggled to recover from the sudden painful lack of oxygen. It definitely wasn’t helping her panicked thoughts stop skittering off into space.

“Oh sorry. Sorry.” The man blushed as he held her trapped against the counter. He took a step back that allowed her to turn but not far enough for her to be able to ignore the tingle she felt where his hand softly rested on her arm, as if he were attempting to steady her. He didn’t seem to realize how close he was.  Her skin heated at his nearness and she didn’t know whether to lean into him or push him away. After a few seconds of staring up into his eyes he looked down at his hands. “You dropped this.” 

“My phone!” Carrie exclaimed, grabbing it quickly, doing her best to not notice the sizzle that leapt between her fingers and his when they brushed.

His shy smile combined with the persistent blush was incredibly endearing. Yet they seemed to both realize at the same time how close they were still standing to each other. Her blush bloomed to match his as he quickly stumbled back a pace into another customer which brought him rushing back toward her in a hurry. “Sorry…again.”

Carrie laughed. “With the morning rush, I am not going to be blaming you for how crowded it is in here. I blame Trish for that.”

She heard a ‘hey’ call out from behind the counter. 

“I’m surprised you saw my phone drop at all with all these people.” She continued.

He quickly shook his head. “I saw it fall out of your bag down the street back there. But I couldn’t catch your attention so I figured I’d have to catch you instead.” His smile lit his face like a halo, blush and all.

Carrie debated for a quick few seconds on if she wanted to figure out a way to keep him talking or if she should say thank you and be done. After all she was in the midst of classes with midterms just a week away. She was going to be busy. However, she discovered that a part of her really didn’t want this to be the last time she saw him and found herself saying, “Well I don’t know if a simple thank you is enough. I am determined to figure out a better way to show you just how grateful I am. My name is Carrie.”

“Oh. There’s no need to thank me. I’m just glad I was able to reach you. And I’m Ben.” He gave her a small nod before he stared down at his feet. “I guess I should have said that first.”

Carrie couldn’t help but smile. This sweet guy had gone to such lengths to help her. She could use more sweetness in her life and he seemed to be a wonderful and welcome, albeit surprising, addition to her morning routine. “Ben please, let me thank you in some way. After all that effort you made.”

He stammered. For a minute she almost thought he was going to flee the bakery without replying at all. She eased back against the counter a bit to give him space to pull himself together and think. As she waited she looked closer at the image this man in front of her presented. Definitely well put together. Casual suit, tie, non-scuffed black shoes, wind tossed golden brown hair, yum. His boyish sincerity made him stand out far more than amped up arms or over confident swaggering would have.

“Would you be able to do lunch?” He blurted, quickly alternating between looking down at his feet and glancing around the small crowded bakery.

She waited a few seconds until his gaze landed on her to see why she wasn’t answering before nodding. “Yes. I’d love to.” She tried to not sound overly eager.

Immediately his face dissolved from anxiously hopeful to happily pleased. “Do you know the sandwich place down the street towards Chaune Street?”

With another short nod Carrie glanced over to see if her order was ready.

Ben gave a smile, “Tomorrow at 2?”

Carrie’s heart fluttered. “Can’t wait.” Trish came up with her large muffin and a beaming grin. “See you tomorrow.”

She watched him leave, trying to keep sight of him for as long as possible. When she turned to grab her muffin, Trish was standing there with the same grin on, despite the line of waiting customers.

“Carrie! Did I just see you meet someone? He’s cute!”

Trish was always harping on her for not putting herself out there and getting too caught up in her schedule and routine. And maybe there was something to it. If he had been a few seconds later they would have missed meeting. Usually she was out the door with muffin in hand mere minutes after going in. Of course he had had her phone too. So maybe they really were just meant to meet. She giggled inside.

“His name is Ben.” Carrie leaned over the counter so that Trish would be able to hear her. “And I have a date tomorrow!”

Trish’s whoop caught everyone’s attention and Carrie blushed as she ducked away from the limelight and out the door.

Kiera

Kiera laid her hand up against the cool glass, wishing for the warmth of the sun.  She missed the sparkling shafts of light through the clouds outside her window. Living so high above the clouds, dusk was the only time she could sit in her window seat and daydream into the clouds below, wishing to feel the breeze again. It wasn’t as difficult for her as it had been for her outgoing brother. He was going a little crazy being cooped up. He was an outdoors kind of guy. However, neither Kiera or Mason had been consulted about moving up to the new module in the sky. Supposedly it was a place where you wouldn’t get sick because there wouldn’t be any pollutants in the air.

The module she was in was odd compared to her old house. There was no yard, no visible neighbors, no open windows, no breeze or flowers. It was sterile and clean. Her parents loved it, lost in the academia they could access through their computers. All the walls were essentially glass. You could look out any direction but down and stare out into the open air. 

She would have been curled in a window seat similar to the one she was in no matter where she was. Not much had changed in her sheltered, private world; just a different view out the window.  She snuggled deeper into the pillows of her secluded window seat. 

Through the darkening sky a light flicked and drew her attention away from the book in her lap.  The other houses attached to their central module were supposed to be screened to give a guise of privacy.  Truthfully they weren’t more than a dozen feet or so away. No further than a normal neighbor but completely hidden. 

As she was about to return to reading the light flickered again.

Looking out, she was stunned to see a guy waving his hand at her, as if it was completely normal to be seeing the person in the next module. Still a little shocked, Kiera only stared. He continued to wave. Eventually she raised her hand in his direction. She hadn’t seen anyone other than her family for months. They were still ‘acclimating’. They weren’t allowed to go out and see the central module or the other people connected to them. She had a few months left of quarantine to be sure that none of her family were sick.

As soon as she lifted her hand he stopped and grabbed what looked to be a large pad of paper. Slamming it up against the window she read, PAX.

He began pointing at himself. When she nodded and waved again he dropped the paper down and wrote again.

YOU?

Glancing around to see what was near for her to write on, she had to stand up and move away from the window. In seconds she was back. 

Kiera. How can I see you?

With what looked like a chuckle he went back to his pad. Smarts and curiosity.

She stared. That wasn’t the answer she was expecting or looking for. So she waited.

His warm happy smile was addicting and he wasn’t sparing in his use of it. He flashed her another cheeky grin as he bent back over his paper to write. Putting it up against the window he watched her read.

I programmed the screen to have a glitch for 5 minutes, now I’m wishing I’d programmed it for longer. Even as she finished reading it, he put up another. Are you a hugger? 

Kiera had to stop and think. She didn’t know. She never had been much of a hugger but that was more because no one had ever really offered. I’m not against hugging…

With a look of empathy he gave, Kiera felt as though he knew exactly what she meant. She thought she had been subtle, but obviously not. Her family was more cerebral than physical in their affection.

Pax put his hand up against the glass and held it there. Kiera felt a tug to do the same, almost wishing she could truly reach out and touch his hand. She forced her hand to remain in her lap.

How long till you’re out? I have another month.

3 months. For the first time since walking into her new home she was resentful of being locked in.

That’s a long time to wait for a hug or a date. He pulled the paper down and she watched with rapt attention, aching to know what he would write next. She wasn’t disappointed. Or several of both.

Kiera had to reread that last one several times. Was he implying that he wanted to date her? Or that he was missing them in general. No one had ever paid her even the slightest attention before and now she had this gorgeous guy outside her window talking about dating…well, writing about it.

With me? 

He smirked.

Desperate? She goaded, wanting to see how serious he was or if he was flirting with her while there was nothing better to do and she was his only visible neighbor.

I’d say smart. He smirked again and held up another paper. You are gorgeous and from what I’ve seen so far, smart and funny. Intriguing. If I ask you now, I’ll be the first to take you on a date when you get out, thus upping my chances with you.

If? She questioned.

Pax nodded. You won’t reject me right? Instantly Pax’s smile changed to a pleading look and it was Kiera’s turn to laugh.

You haven’t asked yet.

Kiera watched as he glanced back to the clock on the wall behind him. Will you be here tomorrow?

Confused at the unexpected question she nodded before jotting down. I always come to this window to read, every night.

As he lifted his next message the screen began to flicker and she was unable to read what he had put up. Staring out her window she looked out at where, only seconds ago, she had been talking to the cutest guy to ever pay her such interested attention and now she would have to wait until tomorrow night to see or talk to him again.

Where she had been indifferent about the medical quarantine before, she was definitely not liking it now. Kiera was stuck being patient.