“Lauren!”
She looked up, saw me, and blushed.
“Mr. Waterstone.”
“Really? Mr. Waterstone?” I had to laugh, and she did too.
“I can’t call you Matthew?” she said, looking uncomfortable. “Maybe I’ll call you, boss?”
I considered that.
“So, you’re not leaving the job then?”
She looked around, as if to check who was overhearing our conversation. The desk next to her was empty and the closest person was sitting with her back to us, too far to hear what we were saying.
“I don’t want to,” she said, looking down. “I like this job.”
“Sounds to me like we need you too,” I said, sounding rather flirty.
She looked uncomfortable and I liked putting her on the spot.
I decided to get out of there.
“Walk with me,” I said, and walked to the foyer where at least we would be out of sight. She was wearing a tight skirt and high heels and looked good enough to eat. As soon as she came out of the office into the elevator lobby, I pulled her close enough to kiss her, my face inches away from hers.
“It’s so good to see you again, Lauren. It really is.”
It was good to see her. From the moment I had laid eyes on her again I could think of nothing else. I knew I wanted to kiss her, to put my mouth on those luscious pink lips, part them with my tongue. For a moment, I felt incredibly attracted to her. “Let’s grab some lunch,” I said, punching the button on the elevator.
“I… I … must finish something,” she said, looking over her shoulder.
“I’m the boss, Lauren,” I reminded her with a wink as the door of the elevator opened. I got in and she followed.
We walked out to a food truck around the corner.
“Remember the pizzas we used to get in college? These are almost as good.”
I bought us some pizza slices and we walked slowly, eating the hot food.
“Are you kidding? Those pizzas were terrible?! They always got our order wrong!”
I laughed. I had forgotten that. These days, that was the sort of thing that could really make me angry, but back then I could laugh it off. Thinking back to my former self, it occurred to me that I was more laidback back then, happier.
“So, how’ve you been?” I asked.
She glanced up at me, her blue eyes sparkling. “Since you dumped me, you mean?”
I shrugged.
“Let’s just say, since college?”
“It’s been… fine. My mom is still in the city, and I’ve been living with her.”
I nodded. I also lived with my mother, and it was the last thing I wanted to discuss with anyone.
“And you like the job?”
“I love it!” she said quickly.