Breathless (8 page)

she moved about the kitchen retrieving cups,
saucers, spoons and the coffee.
He watched the
way the satin robe clung to her form.
The blue
robe belted at the waist and James could see a
matching nightgown hidden underneath when it
gapped.
He was sure she was naked underneath
and the urge to pull her to him and kiss her deeply
was at war with wanting to protect and comfort
her.
Alex was pouring the water into the cups, when she
caught James staring at her.
Her attention
wavered slightly and she missed one of the cups,
pouring the steaming water on her hand.
"Damn," she said jerking her hand out of the path of
the water and slamming down the kettle.”
"Here run it under cold water," reacted James
reaching for the offended hand and shoving it under
the spigot as cold water spilled out over her hand.
Alex tried to pull her hand away from James, but his
grip on her wrist was too tight.
His caress on the
back of the burnt hand was like fire and even the
cold water didn't help.
Her eyes drifted up to his
and she caught her breathe at the emotions that
were conveyed.
Shutting off the water with her
other hand, Alex reached for a towel, accidentally
brushing her breasts across his chest.
James
inhaled sharply at the intimacy.
"Alex. . .," he whispered.
"James, you should go. "
"I should, but I can't. "
"James, please, you don't know what you're doing.”
"Yes, I do.
Alex, please, I need you and I know you
need me.”
Alex stepped away from him and retreated into the
dining room, she needed the space to clear her
head.
Her mind filled with thoughts of him and
Francine and flashes of the attack.
She also
thought about Tad, which brought her to reality and
made her realize how much she cared for
James.
Her feelings for Tad had waned in the six
months that she had been at Hasani, but
mysteriously, they had grown for James.
She
attributed to the fact that he was always there for
her, never pushing her to do anything she didn't
want to.
She remembered when they shook hands
the first time they met, that was when it had
started.
James followed Alex into the dining room, ignoring
the cup of coffee and tea that were growing cold on
the counter, and watched as the emotions crossed
her face.
He knew that she was waging her own
inner war.
"Alex, tell me you don't feel what I'm feeling.
Tell
me that and I'll leave and will never ask you about it
again."
"I can't do that," she whispered, turning her eyes
away from him, "I felt it when our hands met six
months ago and I feel it now.
But it can't be."
"Why? Because of this fiancée?"
"His name is Tad and only partly.
We know so
little about each other, James.
And what we do
know wouldn't fill this room.
There are other
things too.”
"What? Are you having these feelings for Grayson
or Morgan?"
"No," she said shaking her head, "You know I have
the deepest respect for all of those guys and you
too.
But you're still feeling the effects of your
divorce and you.
.
.
James we can't, it's that
simple. "
Alex was going to tell him about her suspicions of
him and Francine, but thought better of it.
She
didn't really want him to know she knew, she was
embarrassed by it and didn't want to embarrass
him.
"Fine.
When you're ready, let me know.
I'll be
there," James stated.
"Don't wait for me, it may be a while. "
James turned and left the house abruptly.
He was
confused and he didn't understand what her
hesitation was, he wasn't sure he wanted to
know.
James thought partially that it had
something to do with Francine.
"Damn," he cursed, getting into his SUV and drove
like hell home.
Alex heard the door crash violently against the jam
and jumped.
She knew he was upset but it
couldn't be helped.
Francine had made it clear
that she and James were an item, she had gone so
far as to pull Alex aside and confide in her once or
twice.
Since they had cleared the air between
them, they had become acquaintances, but never
gone so far as to be friends.
Alex walked into the kitchen and finished cleaning
up the mess.
She dumped James’ forgotten coffee
down the drain wondering if she would ever be able
to make coffee for him in private again.
She had
wanted so much to ask him to stay, but
refrained.
Reaching for the familiar vodka bottle,
Alex made another screwdriver, shut off the lights
and went to bed.
She hoped the vodka would
erase the touch, smell and sight of him but it
hadn't.
It had made her night pure torture.
James stomped into the house and slammed the
door shut.
Sheba and Sasha immediately started
barking at the intrusion of their sleep.
James
quieted them down, opened the sliding glass door
to let them out and grabbed a beer from the
fridge.
He checked the messages and found that
Grayson had called to let him know that they found
Dan and took care of him.
James appreciated the
effort they put forth for Alex.
He knew that
Grayson had ulterior motives, specifically the
passion that Grayson was cultivating for
Alex.
Morgan also felt something more than
friendship for Alex, but with Melissa in his life would
never pursue her.
He would carry the torch and
flirt, but he wouldn't cheat.
Sitting down heavily on the couch, James waited for
the dogs to lumber back into the house.
He
thought briefly of calling Alex, but thought better of
it.
She would only rebuff him again and he didn't
need any more rejection tonight.
The dogs came
back into the house and James got up to close the
door.
After divesting himself of his clothes, he
removed the last three beers from the fridge and
took up a post on the couch.
Naked and staring
out at the darkness, James envisioned Alex walking
to him in her blue negligee, removing it casually and
then making love to him all night.
Sasha looked up
briefly at the sound of the beer bottle hitting the
floor and rolling towards her.
She licked up the
spilt beer and joined her master on the couch to
sleep.
James muddled through the weekend working on
the house and finished hanging the dry wall in the
living room.
Occasionally, his thoughts drifted to
Alex making him take his anger and frustration on
the drywall itself. He couldn’t believe how stupid
he had been to bare his feelings for her on Friday
night. The fact that she hadn’t laughed in his face
was a relief.
On the flip side, however, she also
felt their consuming attraction and that was torture
to his soul. She couldn’t or wouldn’t acknowledge
anything.
Alex took the weekend to escape from Ashmore
Valley, headed up to Boston to listen to her favorite
musician play.
Dan Lavoie was an up and coming
solo guitarist with a smooth as glass voice.
He
played pop, rock and soul that would make an angel
cry.
It was nice to escape and just visit her old
haunts.
A brief stop at the cemetery left her less
than convinced of anything in her life.
She missed
the warm voice of her family who would listen and
offer advice.
Now, she had nothing close to a
confidant that could help her out.
.
Chapter 10
Spring officially erupted on Monday with another
thunderstorm, delaying the loading of one of
Hasani’s machines for transport. Normally,
inclement weather would never deter them,
however, the lightning played a catch twenty-two
with the metal of the machine and the chains to
hold it down.
Nobody wanted the loading crew
electrocuted.
Dan Reynolds didn’t show up for work on Monday,
calling off sick.
After several days, it was apparent
to all that he would not be coming back to Hasani.
James had given Jeff the blow by blow from Friday
night and Jeff was mildly pleased that Alex’s stalker
was out of their lives.
Another Friday rolled around and Alex avoided
contact with all of her co-workers even the ones
who hadn’t been at the Standing Ovation.
She
especially avoided James not wishing to inflict more
pain on either of them.
She denied an invitation
from Grayson for a party at his place instead
electing to work late.
Since Dan was no longer a
threat, she could again do as she pleased at the
office.
Monday, however, brought another surprise for
Alex as she arrived at the plant.
Francine
immediately informed her that she was needed in
Jeff’s office. Dropping her gear on her desk, she
moved into Jeff’s office with some trepidation.
Her year was almost over and discussion for
another, longer term commitment hadn’t begun.
“Adam,” Alex exclaimed upon seeing one of the
occupants of Jeff’s office.
Forgetting herself for a
moment, she gave the newcomer a brief hug and
peck on the cheek.
“Alex, morning girl, you look good.
What are you
doing here,” Adam answered returning the hug and
kiss.
“I work here. I gave up Washington almost eight
months ago. When did you get transferred?”
“Two months ago, this is my first field call.”
“Here? Is this a scheduled or reported
inspection?”
“Reported,” Adam answered.
“Jeff, would you like me to take Adam around the
plant? I have my boots under my desk.”
Jeff smiled.
Somehow, he was sure that Alex
would have the connection with the OSHA inspector
that they needed to pass a reported inspection.”
“If you don’t mind, I’m expecting a few calls.”
Alex nodded her head in assent, knowing full well
what Jeff needed her to do.
It was kind of a motto
at Hasani; “cover thy own ass.” Leading their
guests to her desk, she changed her shoes into her
steel toed work boots, offered them coffee and
talked about old times while they made their way to
the back of the shop.
Adam Griffin was an old friend from Alex’s college
days having attended Boston University with her
and her roommate, Pam.
Adam had eventually
dated and married Pam straight out of college, with
Alex being the maid of honor.
“So who called,” she asked as they entered the
paint area.
“I can’t tell you,” Adam smiled, “you know that.
“Okay,” she smiled back and watched as he took
notes.
She knew they were in trouble but didn’t
know how bad.
James watched the pair from the machine shop and
took immediate notice at the closeness they shared.
The way she laughed and touched him made James
wince inwardly.
Silently, he wondered if he would
ever share that with her.
Dismissing his brain as
having gone off the rails, he walked back into the
office to find Francine waiting for him.
“Who is that man with Alex,” he asked casually.
“Adam Griffin, OSHA. Jeff had her tour with him
because they’re old friends.”
“Really? Does that mean we’re going to get a
discount?”
“I don’t know and I don’t care,” she remarked
flippantly. “Hell, if she screws him, maybe we’ll
get off with a light penalty.”
“Francine, Alex isn’t you,” he remarked bitterly
returning to his own office.
Alex and Adam were making their way back to the
offices when James approached.
“Afternoon, James O’Reilly, assistant plant
manager,” he said introducing himself with an
extended hand.
“Adam Griffin, OSHA inspector,” he replied taking
the proffered hand.
“So how’d we do?”
“Not well; twenty violations in excess of
$15,000.00,” Alex responded.
James whistled; he didn’t think they were that bad
off.
“Let’s go into Jeff’s office and talk about these, shall
we?”
James led the way and Alex was about to detach
herself when Adam requested she stay with them.
Alex continued into the offices and closed the door
behind them as James explained the situation.
“Adam, what can we do about these? Obviously,
your inspection was a surprise and I know we’re
supposed to be within code at all times, but still any
suggestions?”
“Alex, I know. But the fact of the matter is that
Hasani Industries is a government contractor and
twenty violations is bad news on that front.”
“Okay, so what would it take to get up to code?”
“About two weeks of work,” replied Jeff.
“Is it a question of manpower?”
“Yes. Basically, we can’t really spare anyone right
now with production the way it is.
The contracts
have to be fulfilled.”
Alex sighed and looked at James and Jeff, “What if
we hired somebody strictly for maintenance
purposes?
Could we justify the cost of an
employee to keep us on OSHA regulations and
maintenance versus getting hit with the fines?”
“I’m pretty sure Hasani will agree,” Jeff answered.
Alex commented to Adam, “Can you give us two
weeks before filing your report?”
“Alex, how often have I said no to you since we
met,” Adam said smiling, “Hasani has never had a
bad report so we could say this is a warning.
You
have two weeks from today to get up to code. I’ll
do another tour then and whatever I find then
you’re stuck with.”
“Deal,” Alex said shaking Adam’s hand. She
escorted him to the door, hugged him for old-time
sake and said good bye.
“Say hello to Pam for me.
She should come with
you in two weeks and we’ll have lunch.”
Adam nodded his agreement and promised to see if
he could get her to come then before leaving the
plant.
Alex stood in the doorway of the factory,
watching him leave then strolled back to Jeff’s
office.
“Alex, you saved our collective asses,” Jeff
announced as she entered the room, “Thanks.”
“No problem. But Adam’s serious when he said
we have two weeks.
We need to get somebody in
here ASAP.”
Jeff and James interviewed past applicants and
settled on Eric Marshall to fill the maintenance
position.
He was hired on the spot and began the
next day.
The hard stuff was tackled first including
rewiring the two ton jack, installing circuits in the
weld shop and replacing the frayed extension
cords.
They had just finished when Adam
returned.
This time he had brought Alex's college
roommate Pam and the two had reminisced over
lunch and then dinner after Adam declared the
place up to date and gave Hasani a clean bill of