Awakening (8 page)

Whoa. What is it with these lawyers? I am taken aback by her tone and turn my gaze to Ryan, giving him my WTF face.

“Problems?” I ask, still glaring at Ryan.

“Well,” Ryan starts, looking slightly uncomfortable.” Emily is referring to the issues that have come up over the last week.”

Yeah, okay. But we’ve dealt with all of those, so why are we talking about them now? And who is this woman?

“Ah. Well, let’s sit down, shall we?” I move toward a chair.

“We don’t have time to sit,” Emily clips.

I push myself back up from the chair and turn to face her. Okay, so that’s how it’s going be. I’ve had a fair amount of coffee, and I’m in no mood to take shit from Miss Perfect Blonde.

“I see. Emily, is it? At the moment, the only issue we are still dealing with is the last minute request for a corporate gift. We are waiting for confirmation that the order will be filled in time to ship. As far as the other issues you are referring to, yes, things come up. That’s why you hire us. Things come up; we take care of them. That’s our job.” I level my eyes at hers, realizing with glee that I am towering over her in my heels and, because of her request to remain standing, she needs to look up at me to maintain eye contact.

“There are no current issues that I need to be aware of?” She glances at Ryan and then back to me.

“Please forgive me if I have miscommunicated in any way. Was I supposed to be sending you updates as well as Mrs. Foster, Mr. Cole the elder, and Mr. Ryan Cole? Is there something specific you needed to know?”

Good God, the ego on this one is twice the size of Ryan’s. She stares at me, sizing me up, I guess. And then, just like that, she turns to Ryan and gives him a sweet smile. My stomach turns.

“Well, Ryan, looks like you were right. These girls do seem to have everything under control. Good job.” She brushes her hand across his chest. The gesture seems familiar; he doesn’t react or step back, but he does look at me. My insides coil as images of last night come unbidden into my mind.

As if he can read my thoughts, his eyes widen in surprise and a wicked smile spreads across his gorgeous face. Damn!

He turns back to Emily. “Okay, Em? You can relax now. I have this.”

So, she was checking up on him? Did she just call us ‘girls’? Should I be offended? I turn around to find Julie. She is seething behind me. Yep, I should be offended.

“If there is nothing else, I really do need to get back to work,” I interrupt their conversation.

“Oh. Right.” Emily laughs as if I just told a joke. “I can’t wait for the party!” She picks up her coat and bag and heads to the door. “Ryan, you coming?”

Ryan is still rooted to the spot, his eyes fixed on mine. “You go ahead, Em. I’ll stay here and check on those gifts.”

“Okay. We came in one car.” For the first time since we started this bizarre meeting, she looks uncertain.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll get myself back.” He pulls his eyes away from mine and glances her way. “I’ll see you after lunch.”

“Whatever!” Emily says as she leaves. Julie rushes after her, thanking her for coming in personally. Damn, she’s good at this. I just want this Emily out of my sight, and Julie has the wit and the grace to thank her for her concern and interest.

I turn back to Ryan. “Should I even ask what that was all about?”

Ryan laughs. His shoulders relax and he finally looks comfortable again. “No. You don’t want to go there. It’s beyond comprehension.”

“Should I expect more lawyers to come in this week demanding updates on problems we’ve already solved?” My voice has an edge to it that even takes me back. My dislike for Emily is stronger than simple annoyance. I suspect, with disgust, that jealousy is involved.

Ryan throws his hands up in the air, “Yeah I know. I totally deserve that. I tried to stop her, but sometimes it’s just better to let her run her course. Anyway, don’t worry. I think if all goes well we should be good.”

I let out a long breath. I am really shaken, much more than I needed to be; the ‘girl’ comment still stings, and I wonder if that is what he thinks about Julie and me.

“Well, then. If there is nothing else?” I linger on the last word, wondering why he stayed behind.

“ I thought I would check on those gift orders myself. I mean, not that I don’t think you and Julie can handle it. It’s just, well, sometimes the client himself is more persuasive than the coordinator.” He seems flustered. Making up for Emily’s brisk treatment, no doubt.

“By all means, Mr. Cole. We would love the extra motivation. I have no doubt you are quite a powerful force.” I am shocked at myself. I am full on flirting with him.

He looks surprised and his eyes flash a darker shade. Those eyes are simply amazing. Today they look like a swirl of chocolate and chestnut. The effect is hypnotizing, and I feel myself stretch up, reaching my full height as I step toward him. We are eye-to-eye, close enough to touch if one of us dared. Smelling his soap and cologne, I am immediately intoxicated by the scent.

“You have the most amazing eyes I have ever seen.” The words fall from my mouth without a thought and, embarrassed by my own brazenness, I flush. “Um. Right. I’ll get you those phone numbers and accounts.”

I turn to leave before he can say anything; there is no way I am turning around to look at him. I head straight to Julie’s office, hoping she’ll be in there.

“Julie.” She looks up from her desk. “Mr. Cole wants to call the pen company himself and confirm the order. Can you please give him the file?”

She looks at me and grins. “Here, you can take it to him.” I shake my head. “Come on, Nora. You have it bad for this guy. Go for it.”

I am not surprised by her encouragement, since she was never one to like Darren, but I am shocked by my own desire to follow her advice.

“Are you crazy?” I hiss at her. “Please Julie. Just go give him the file.” I turn to leave, listening to her giggle behind me.

“All right all ready. I’ll take him the file, but he’s going be disappointed it’s me and not you,” she sing songs as she gets up.

I march to my office and shut the door. Get a grip, Nora! Darren Darren Darren. But I can’t get Ryan’s face out of my head. Sitting at my desk, I force myself to think of Darren. Darren has nothing on Ryan. Darren is an ass. Ryan makes me want to—I hold my breath as the realization hits me. Ryan makes me want to fight, as if he incited a fire deep inside of me, and now the smoldering embers are flaming up. Is this the passion I so desperately want?

After taking several long, deep breaths, I manage to get control of myself and dig into a file. A while later there is a knock on my door.

“Come in,” I call out without looking up.

“Hi there.” Ryan is standing in my office. I snap my head up and take him in. Grey pants hanging off him just so, crisp white shirt open at the top, his red tie loosened at the knot, black sports coat, slightly tussled hair, and that face. Those lips and jaw line scream to be kissed, and his amazingly alluring eyes seem to have a direct communication to someplace deep within me—straight to that fire. There’s no denying it; this man is stunning. I can’t help myself and smile up at him.

“I spoke with Mickey the floor manager. He promised me that the gifts would be shipped out in time.” He looks pleased with himself.

“Great. Well done. Mickey, huh? Okay.” The longer he stands there, the less my brain functions. At the moment I don’t even care. I fully admit to myself that I really enjoy looking at him.

“So. I was thinking. Since I don’t have a car and I need to eat lunch, I thought you would need to eat, too.” He pauses and runs a hand over his hair nervously. Is he asking me to lunch? My heart leaps into my mouth. “I thought I could buy you lunch if you give me a ride to my office.”

He suddenly looks shy, a look that’s becoming on him. A date? Am I allowed to go on a date? Of course I am. Besides, it’s just lunch with a colleague.

“Oh! Yes, I do need to eat,” I say, slowly. This internal fight is taking its toll on me and I feel myself hesitating. He looks unsure of himself and glances at me expectantly. “Okay. That sounds fair.” I slide my chair back to stand.

He lets out a breath and I smile at his nerves. Just then the phone rings.

“Hi Julie, I’m going to lunch then taking Mr. Cole back to his office,” I clip into the phone, hoping it sounds professional.

I hear Julie start singing something into the phone and hang up before I can make out what she is saying.

“Please,” he says. “Please, call me Ryan.”

Although we can see traffic on El Camino Real, this bistro is set back far enough that the noise doesn’t reach us. Eating lunch outside is a rarity for me. Come to think of it, leaving the office for lunch is a rarity.

Ryan seems completely relaxed, a state I’ve never seen him in before. He is almost jovial, and his mood is infectious. It helps that the sun is out, creating one of those beautiful May days. We order sandwiches and salads with Italian sodas. Our number six is perched on our table.

I sip my soda and sit back in the chair. Every small muscle in my back and shoulders seems to let go as the sun warms my face.

“Wow. You look so much better out here in the sun!” Ryan says, as he sits back in his chair.

I cough a little. “Better? Wow Ryan, you are quite the charmer.”

Even his little comment isn’t going to ruin my relaxed state. It feels too good to be out of the office and away from everything.

“Uh.” He looks alarmed. “I just meant. Um—not better, well yes, better, not that you looked bad before.”

I laugh. “Chill buddy, I’m not fishing for a compliment. I’m just enjoying being outside. I miss the sun.”

I close my eyes again and lean my head back against the chair. He lets out a quiet breath and neither of us speak for a while. It’s so comfortable to just sit with each other. I have to admit, I was expecting this experience to be nerve racking, especially after last night’s dream.

Damn, the dream! My eyes fly open. Why did I think of that right now?

“What’s wrong?” Ryan looks concerned.

“Nothing. I just thought of something I was supposed to do.”

“I hate that feeling.” He settles back down.

Our food arrives and we both sit up to begin eating. Relieved to have a distraction, I push the memories away.

“So, Ryan. Tell me about being a lawyer?”

“Are we going back to banalities?” He looks disappointed.

“No. I really want to know. I told you I was prelaw in college.”

“Yeah, you mentioned that. You mean you didn’t always want to be a party planner?”

He’s teasing me and I immediately want to be offended. Oh please, Nora, you never wanted to be a party planner.

Laughing instead, I relax. “No. This is my summer job until I figure out which law school to apply to.”

Ryan’s eyes bulge in surprise and he coughs. “You just graduated?”

“Oh, no. I graduated three years ago.” I smirk at him while taking a big bite of my sandwich.

He gapes at me for a beat before he laughs.

“So, tell me about being a lawyer. What kind of law do you practice?” I say, my mouth still full.

“Okay, Young.” Ryan takes a huge bite of his sandwich.

We stare at each other chewing our food. The air between us electrifies. Gone is the sun induced relaxed state. My stomach flips and I choke down my bite.

His eyes burn into mine. I can’t tell what he’s thinking, but it feels like he’s trying to figure me out.

“You like being outdoors.” He finally says, after swallowing.

This takes me completely by surprise. “Yeah, I do. I’m an Arizona girl. What about you, you look pretty relaxed out here. Not so uptight, like in the office.”

His eyes flash with something, surprise, anger, I can’t tell and it’s annoying. I’m usually good at reading people.

“Uptight in the office, huh? Yeah, the office can get to me. I much prefer the outdoors.”

“And what about Emily? Talk about wound up! I mean, don’t get me wrong, you’re super nervy and all, but she takes the cake. Please, tell me that not all lawyers are that restive.”

When I look up from my salad he is staring at me with an amused expression on his face.

“What?” I stop eating. I can’t tell if he really is amused or if he’s mad.

He laughs out loud. Okay, amused.

“You’re not like them other gals are ya, Miss Young?” he says, in a western accent. I shake my head, laughing. “Okay, fine. Law school was great. I came out of it a little too brash and passionate. Working as a lawyer is, in fact, fractious. But it’s what I do now.”

“So in summary, law school rocked, the real world sucks. That about sum it up?”

He laughs; a real belly laugh, which is a great sound and highly infectious. I laugh too.

“Yeah, Young. That about sums it up.” He pauses to eat some more. “Are you seeing anyone?”

I almost choke on my last bite of sandwich. That was quite a non sequitur.

“Well, yes. But—” But what, I wonder. But Darren showed his true colors the last couple of days, but I am really attracted to you, but, but, but—