Dublin.
He rested one hand against the small of her back as he kissed her cheek and resisted pulling her closer. Anya turned her face to his, kissing him directly on the mouth in greeting. Relieved, he squeezed her closer to him.
Good to see you. Her eyes glowed.
Anya told me all about your date, Lorie said. She had stopped working and had now folded her arms in an expression of mock chastisement. Lorie held the unofficial title of agony aunt for the office, and Warren wondered whether there was any real disapproval underlying her comment. Lorie directed her attention back to Anya. You were saying, before the man arrived?
Anya chuckled, and Warren felt for sure he was being wound up here. Dont let me interrupt. He put his hands up in surrender. He was happy just to look at Anya. Breathing deeply the scent of her perfume, he leaned up against a nearby desk, watching as the women chatted.
Anya rolled her eyes, and picked up some papers from her desk. Im just about to go in and give a presentation. Will you be around for lunch?
Yes. Well catch up then.
She looked back at Lorie. If any calls come in for me while Im in the meeting just let my voice mail pick them up. Anything urgent, I can deal with it after two.
Lorie nodded, but she kept staring at him. She did it in the most unsettling way. Warren liked Lorie. She was a caring woman and she held the office together, but he could tell she had something on her mind.
The door to the adjoining conference room opened and one of the senior executives stuck his head out. Were ready for you now.
Anya nodded, blew Warren a kiss, and headed off.
Lorie sat back in her chair, stretching. Well, now, I gather you had quite an impact on our friend.
A good impact, I hope. The scrutiny she addressed him with unsettled him. He wasnt sure he wanted to know what had been said about the date. Had he rushed her? Had he been too forthright? Women talked about these things. Lorie probably knew more about it than he did.
Lorie gave him a reassuring smile, and then glanced at the conference room door as if to make sure it was shut. Im glad we have a minute alone because I wanted to let you know that Andrews been on the phone every day while youve been in Dublin. He wants to patch things up with her.
That one small comment made him feel as if hed been punched in the gut. Warren turned away, glancing at the boardroom door where she had gone. He had spoken to her every night while hed been away, and she hadnt mentioned Andrew or the phone calls. This wasnt good.
Opening up his documents case he sought out the signed contracts he had to deliver to the head of accounts. Retrieving the file, he slotted it into the appropriate pigeonhole. Glancing back at Lorie, he realized she was still waiting for his response. Right then, he didnt think he could muster one.
I thought it was only fair that you knew, so that you can be prepared. I consider you both good friends, and I dont want either of you to get hurt.
Warren wasnt sure he wanted to thank her for the news, but he knew she meant well. He forced a smile. I appreciate it. The most important thing is that Anya is happy, whatever the outcome.
Even as he said the wordsand he meant ithe knew that he couldnt go back to being friends if she made up with her ex. The very thought of it made him feel irrational and angry. Things would never be the same. Hed have to ask for a transfer. It would be easy enough to do, but he also balked at the idea because it meant he would never see her again.
Right from the moment hed decided to go ahead and ask her out, he knew it wouldnt be easy because the odds were that she was on the rebound. It was his way to go after things he wanted, full-throttle, but he had never wanted anything as much as hed wanted Anya. Hed waited and watched until he couldnt do so any longer, even though he still wasnt sure. Thinking about it made him