Layers(48)

~~~

As I’m waiting for my PC to load, my phone beeps with a new message from Daniel.

Daniel: Don’t make any plans for the weekend. D.

God forbid you ask. You’ve certainly got the “demanding” part down. I shake my head in fondness. What can I say? Just the thought of him puts a content, goofy smile on my face.

Depends, is that an order or a request? H.

“Hayley, staff meeting in five.” Josh’s Colgate grin illuminates my cubicle.

“Do you need me before? And good morning to you too, Josh.” I raise my brows and smile at him.

“Just be there in five, and a wonderful morning to you too.”

Someone else is in a good mood; perhaps he got the same breakfast special I got earlier. Reminiscing over it, a certain part of my body awakens, wishing Daniel was nearby. My vibrating phone ceases this short reverie.

“You may make of it whatever you want, but it is an order, baby.”

“Hello commandant. FYI, I don’t take orders.”

“Cut this ‘I’m an independent woman I don’t take shit from anyone’ crap. You are coming with me to Baja this weekend, so no plans.”

Baja, with you? In that case I do with utter obedience take orders, demands, commands and whatever your twisted Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde bipolar personality would request of me.

“Put it this way: I promise to consider allowing exceptions,” he chuckles.

“Oh, Hayley, what’s your height?”

What’s up with this guy? “And this is of interest to you, because?”

“You’re too short to use any of my boards,” he replies flatly.

He has such a charming way of conveying information. All of a sudden I feel insecure about my height. “Five foot six. Any other measurements you may need or are we okay now?”

“Perfect. All the rest I have preciously stored in my memory. You know, I did give you several thorough examinations.” Another short, hoarse chuckle and I can hear in the background that he’s already started another conversation.

Well, goodbye to you too, from thorough examinations to forgotten in less than a microsecond. I ring him back.

“Hayley?” Daniel answers in a less-than-patient yet quizzical tone.

“In modern societies, we humankind wish each other farewell at the end of encounters or conversations with an adequate piece of dialogue.”

“Goodbye, Hayley,” he snorts.

I can clearly imagine the eye roll. Goodbye psycho.

As soon as I put my phone down another short beep tells me I’ve gotten a text, this time from Tasha.

Tasha: Lunch today? I miss u.

Lunch today, noon.

A minute until the staff meeting. I grab my tablet and run to the conference room.

~~~

Walking the hallway of Tasha’s floor, heading to her office to pick her up, I look aimlessly to my left. My glance freezes at a packed meeting room with a group of people looking at a stern and incredibly attractive Daniel Stark. He appears to be presenting something to the attentive group. My heart swells at the sight of him. Only Daniel can teeter my heart by his presence alone.

Realizing I’m gawking like some creepy stalker I urge myself to proceed. At that same moment Daniel pivots his gaze up and his eyes rest on me. Instantly our stares lock. His eyes narrow in concern as he watches me. He lifts his hand as to signal a break, says something to the group in front of him, then walks to the exit, every single eye in the room following him. I’m not really sure why, I should be used to him by now, but my heart quickens as I watch him minimize the distance between us.

“Hayley, what’s wrong?” He looks worried.

“Nothing’s wrong. I just came to pick Tasha up for lunch. I was just on my way to her room.”

He sighs. In relief?

“I thought something was wrong and you were looking for me.” He hugs me tight, perhaps too tight, making me gasp. Wow, seriously? A bit overreacting aren’t we?

“It’s just a coincidence. I saw you on my way to her office and stopped. Sorry if I’ve distracted you,” I say to his ear, still a bit too squeezed against him.

“You worried me there for a moment.” Hey, no need for drama.

“Daniel Stark worried, that’s a first for me.” I smile at him.

“When it comes to you …” He smiles back and turns to kiss me.

Mmmm, Daniel for lunch. His kiss turns firmer as his hands travel from my waist down.

“Daniel, you do know we have a room full of people staring at us,” I say, almost out of breath. He turns his head back and turns it again my way. Immediately everyone in the room pretends to be doing anything other than looking at us, from staring intensely at the board, to glancing at each other.

“Now they don’t.” He beams his impish, thin smile. Of course they don’t, they’re all scared shitless.

Though it’s the last thing I want to do at that moment, I pull back a little from his hug. “You should go back to your meeting and I should go to mine.”

“Damn. You’re right, though.” He twists his lips, somewhat annoyed. I inhale him deeply and regret I’ve just said what I said. He bends yet again to kiss me, all searing, intense and stimulating.

“Keep this up and I won’t let you go due to a health hazard.”