White Chocolate Moments (37 page)

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"I guess I don't think too much about them. They're part of dance, and I've been in that world for so long--" Arcineh shrugged, letting the sentence hang, but she had a sudden horrible thought. "Are they gross to you?"

"No:' Gage said, his face showing his surprise. "I just didn't realize dancing would do that:'

Arcineh brushed at her arm a moment, suddenly wishing her skin were perfect. Just as suddenly, she found her jaw in Gage's hand. With a gentle movement, he brought her eyes to his.

"They're not gross:'

Arcineh nodded and relaxed, knowing that pleasing Gage was more important to her all the time. Her grandfather said she was falling in love, and Arcineh knew he had to be right.

"Tell me something:' Arcineh said, knowing she had better think about something else before she grabbed this man and kissed him. "What's the biggest change for you, Gage?"

"My thought life. I was pretty distracted by women's bodies, and I wondered if that was always going to be the case, but now I catch myself and know that my thoughts can't go there. It actually feels better not to look, to fight through the temptation:'

Arcineh had not expected this.

"In fact:' he went on quietly, "that's why you're riding behind me or beside me and not leading:'

"That's thoughtful of you:' Arcineh said, very impressed that he had planned ahead.

"What about you? What's the biggest change for you?"

"It's probably the lack of fear and resentment. I didn't think I was the type to feel sorry for myself, but I blamed a lot of things on my grandfather and feared being left alone all the time. I still think about those things, and I'm tempted to fear, but there's no panic. I know I'm not alone now:'

"The peace is amazing, isn't it? I talked to an old friend on the

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phone this morning. I tried to tell him about my peaceful heart, but I don't know if he caught it"

"What about Luke and Erika? Any talks there?"

"No, but I've been putting in a lot of hours at work lately, and I haven't had time to see them:'

Arcineh didn't comment. He had been working a lot lately, and she didn't know how she felt about that. Pushing it out of her mind, she determined not to let such thoughts ruin their wonderful day.

"Oh, Sam:' Arcineh said when she came from the downstairs shower, "I've done it now."

"Come in here and relax:' Sam encouraged, leading the way to the four-season room. "I'll see what Violet has:'

Arcineh made her way slowly to the comfortable wicker furniture in there. Sitting took an amazing effort, and Arcineh shuddered as her muscles reminded her of the long bike ride.

Violet came with ice and muscle rub. Arcineh sat on the ice for a while, but when she told the older woman where she hurt, they didn't use the muscle rub. Sitting very carefully, and not at all comfortably, Arcineh only hoped she would be on her feet for church in the morning.

"I think Gage is here Sam told Arcineh about an hour later.

"Oh, no!" Arcineh whispered in a panic. She had taken over the four-season room; climbing the stairs had been too painful. "Don't tell him:'

"Why not?"

"Just don't. Just tell him I'm resting, and I'll see him tomorrow:'

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Arcineh could tell that her grandfather was not happy, but it never

once occurred to her that he would tell Gage where she was. When

that man showed up, she didn't even want to look at him.

"Too tired for company?" he asked, sitting down across from her. "No," Arcineh said, her voice not convincing at all, her eyes not

meeting his for more than a moment at a time.

"Sore?"

"Yes:' Arcineh admitted.

"How sore?"

When Arcineh didn't answer, Gage had another question. "Why didn't you say something on the ride?"

This was the toughest question of all. Arcineh wanted to be honest, but that was going to be hard.

"What are you doing this evening?" Arcineh suddenly asked. "Big plans?"

Gage laughed. He couldn't help himself.

"You know, you're amazingly smart, with every sign of maturity, but when you don't want to answer a question, you very swiftly turn into a four-year-old, thinking that distraction will work:"

Arcineh frowned at him. She didn't care that he was right. It still made her mad.

"Why didn't you say we had gone too far on the ride?" Gage pressed.

"To what end, Gage?" she snapped. "I don't see that much of you as it is, and then you find out that I can't even take a day of bike riding:' Well and truly angry now, Arcineh gazed out the window. If she could have walked, she would have stormed out, but the effect would have been lost in all the moaning and groaning that would have had to accompany such an action.

Gage looked at her, debating his next move. He wanted to talk about this, but clearly she was not in the mood. Gage opted for honesty

"Can we talk, or do you want me to leave? And before you answer:' he cut back in, "I'm not going anywhere:'

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Arcineh frowned at him, her voice tight as she said, "I hurt in places I didn't know existed:'

"Then I'll ask again, why didn't you say something?"

"By the time I realized it, the damage was done!"

"And you were afraid I wouldn't ask you again, so you thought you'd keep this quiet:' Gage put in, Arcineh's face telling him how closely he'd come to the truth.

Both people let the room get very quiet. Arcineh was on the wicker sofa, her legs stretched out. She had to go to the bathroom but wasn't willing to have Gage see her move. At the moment, it was not a graceful process.

Without warning, Gage began to move furniture. Arcineh watched as the wicker-and-glass coffee table was shifted out of the way and Gage pulled his chair close to the sofa, facing her.

"How sore are you?" he asked gently.

"I can't get upstairs:' she admitted.

"Have you taken anything?"

"No. I wasn't hungry, and Violet won't give me ibuprofen without something to eat:'

Gage stood. He bent long enough to kiss her forehead and said he'd be right back. When he arrived, he had a glass of milk and ibuprofen tablets in hand. Arcineh took the pills and drank all the milk. She even found the courage to tell Gage she had to be excused. He helped her to her feet and all the way to the powder room door.

From there, they went to the family room and joined Sam. Gage stayed and talked to them for the next two hours. They ended up having a good time, but no one was surprised when Arcineh--who was forced to sleep downstairs--wasn't up to going out the next morning.

"How's the soreness?" Gage asked on Wednesday after work.

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"Much better, thank you:'

"I have a favor to ask of you."

"Okay."

"Any chance you could work for me at the office for maybe a week or so?"

"Sure, what's going on?"

"Patrice's mother had a heart attack, and she'll be gone for a little while."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Do they think she'll be all right?" "It's a little iffy right now."

Arcineh nodded, and then remembered something from the past.

"I thought you said one time that it would be too distracting to have me at the office."

To her surprise, Gage didn't laugh when he said, "I probably won't get a thing done."

"Oh, Gage she said, clearly not believing him. "I was only kidding:'

Gage looked at her, his eyes wandering a bit. "I'm not."

Arcineh still didn't believe him, but she was good at her word and

presented herself to the fourth floor the next morning. The women had

been warned of her arrival and were genuinely pleased to see her. "How have you been?" Arcineh asked Mallory.

"Doing well, thanks to you:'

Arcineh blew that off. She didn't think it was her at all and decided not to waste time getting to work. In little time at all, she was finding out what needed to be done. Things came back to her swiftly, and before she knew it, she was walking down to the second floor to have lunch with Mallory.

The women visited about everything under the sun, including Mallory's boyfriend, who she suspected was getting ready to pop the question. Arcineh loved seeing everyone from the past and had good visits all around. Not until she arrived back on the fourth floor did

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she doubt her actions. Gage asked to see her, and when she got to his office, he wanted the door shut.

"Where did you eat lunch?" he asked.

"In the cafeteria."

"Why didn't you come and eat with me?"

"I didn't know your company policy on relationships. And I didn't want to assume'

He had come to the front of the desk, sat on it, and stretched his legs out. His arms crossed over his chest, he began in a long-suffering tone, "I behave myself all morning, concentrating on my work, even when you're in the room, telling myself I'll see you at lunch, and then lunchtime comes, and no Arcie:'

Arcineh had her hand over her mouth, working not to laugh.

"Oh, yes, its so funny: His tone had gone sarcastic. "Let's torture the boss with his beautiful girlfriend in the building but not let him get near her:'

Arcineh kept her hand over her mouth but still managed to say, "I told you, I didn't want to assume:'

"Let me sum it up for you in two words, Miss Bryant: tomorrow-- assume:'

Arcineh's laugh could be heard in the outer office. Mallory, sitting at Patrice's desk, couldn't wait to tell Victoria that things were progressing quite nicely.

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Chapter Twenty-Five

"Okay, sign this:' Arcineh directed, placing papers in front of Gage about a week later. "And this letter from a pleased customer just came in. Mallory thought you might want to see it:'

"Okay, thank you:' Gage said, his eyes already on the letter. "Oh, and by the way, I signed you up to dance."

"Okay"

Arcineh made her way to the door, but Gage's mind clicked into gear just in time and he beat her there, his hand keeping the portal closed. Arcineh turned to look at him.

"You did what?" Gage asked.

"I signed you up to be my dance partner."

"What kind of dance?" Gage asked, looking as horrified as he felt.

"Mostly waltz and a little bit of swing. You'll do great. It's for a retirement village'

"How will I know what to do?"

"We have four weeks of practice on Thursday nights:' Arcineh smiled at him, and Gage's eyes narrowed.

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"This is about the bike ride. You're getting me back:'

"Gage Arcineh replied, managing to sound hurt. "I can't believe you would say that:'

Gage's hand dropped off the door, and Arcineh turned the handle to let herself out. Just before she exited, however, she gave Gage an amazingly satisfied smile. Seeing it, that man knew he'd been had.

"You're doing this in high heels?" Gage asked as he watched Arcineh put a black pair on her feet.

"Yes, it's best to practice in what I'll have to wear:'

"Speaking of which, what will I be wearing?"

"Black slacks and shoes, a white long-sleeved shirt, and a red tie:' "All from my closet?"

"Not the tie--they have those:'

"And you'll be in..."

"A black skirt and white blouse with a small red bow on the pocket:'

"Who puts all this together?"

"Mostly Tina. She's very good:'

Gage had more questions, but there was no time. The music began, and so did the hard work. He was in good shape, but naturally Arcineh had the edge. To his untrained eye, she never missed a beat. He, on the other hand, thought he messed up constantly. Nevertheless they had a blast, and whether she intended it or not, he was a little bit sore the next day.

"I'm in love with your granddaughter:' Gage told Sam on Sunday evening. The older man had deliberately gone next door to talk about the relationship between Gage and Arcineh.

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"Does she know that?"

"I haven't said it, but I hope she's catching on."

"To what end, Gage?" Sam asked.

"Marriage, I hope'

Sam didn't comment, and Gage grew concerned.

"What are you thinking about?" he finally asked.

"My past," Sam admitted. "I worked the hours you work, and it cost me much. I don't want that for Arcie."

"What do I do when I'm the owner of the company?"

"I've been thinking about that very thing. And I'll tell you what I would do if I had to do it again. I'd plan to control the workday. I'd hire people who think like I do and understand how productive they must be. If you set the standard, it will work.