Layers(50)

“So, what have you been up to?”

She beams at me. I know that smile way too well. Something’s surely up.

“Would up to no good be an acceptable answer?”

I lift my sunglasses, resting them on my head, to allow myself a better look at her.

“Well, what did you do this time?”

She bites her lower lip and murmurs, “A forbidden deed.”

“Who? Anybody I know?” My eyes run over her face, trying to guess who it could be.

“Rob,” she huffs.

“Rob?” Repeating, I try to search my mind for any Rob we both may know, and fail to think of any.

“Rob as in my cute geeky boss, Rob,” she explains.

I nod, immediately conjuring up a mental image of the man in subject. The guy I had the pleasure of meeting at the fundraising event. Really?

“As in my cute boss Rob, one late evening at the office.”

I gaze at her trying to figure out just how wrong that is.

Responding to my scrutinizing glare she adds, “Rob, my boss, who lives with someone.”

Oh, not good in any aspect of moral rectitude.

“One hummus wrap and iced water,” bright orange energetic being places my order in front of me, and then silently serves Tasha her dish.

“Anything else?” she asks us, smiling at me, then without actually waiting for a reply walks over to check if the people at the next table need anything.

“How come, Tash?” I observe her with furrowed brows. “Knowing you as well as I do, correct me if I am wrong, he’s not exactly your type.” Deepening my stare at her I add, “Let alone the fact that you’re not the sort of person who’d jeopardize her career for a fling, or anything else for that matter.”

I pause for a brief moment to recompose my thoughts, still watching her intently. “That’s what this is, a fling, right?”

She slowly moves her mouth from side to side under my observant glare as though assessing my point.

“He’s so sweet and sexy in a bossy, forbidden kind of way. We stayed late one evening …” She stops to take a sip from her sweating glass. “He didn’t stop flattering me all night. He flirted like an enthralled teenager.” She plays with the drops on her glass, wiping them with the tip of her finger. “An accidental bump led to a kiss which led to another and the rest is history.” She jabs at her food with her fork, moving the dressing-soaked lettuce from one side of her plate to the other. Finally, she raises her eyes to meet mine. They take on a shy tone. This is so not the Tasha I know.

“Does your semi-idiotic smile and this weird not-like-you behavior mean that you’re gonna keep doing the bad deed with boss man?” I inquire; smiling at her like one would indulgently smile at a misbehaved little toddler.

All of a sudden Tasha’s whole demeanor changes: she friendly grins at something. I raise a questioning eyebrow her way and before I can turn around to look, two warm, firm hands rest on my shoulders.

“Natasha, how have you been?” Daniel’s cheerful voice inquires. Daniel’s cheerful voice? Daniel cheerful in the middle of a work day?

“Hello again.” He smiles at me as I stretch my head back to look at him towering above me. He bends down and kisses me, an intrusive, lustful kiss. Wow, and hello again to you, too.

Tasha waits for Daniel’s erotic display of affection to cease and answers that she’s fine. “And how are you doing, Daniel?”

Shouldn’t she call him Mr. Stark? No way. I kill the thought as it rises.

“I’m doing very well.” He sends me his crooked side smile.

What happened to him? This is Dr. Jekyll after developing a cure for cancer. He stands next to me and takes a bite of my wrap and a sip from my drink. I observe him in elation. He seems so casual and laid back. It is the first time I’ve see him like this around other people besides me. Perhaps I do have to project his brains off more often, for everyone’s sake … The thought makes me smile inwardly.

“What are you doing here?” I look at him happily, highly enjoying the relaxed cheerfulness beaming from his hazel eyes.

“I came for a soda.”

“Did Anne go home? Is she okay?” Did you happen to fire your PA, perhaps in one of your psycho episodes? He chuckles, amused.

“No, she’s actually at her desk as we speak. I just wanted to have a short walk outside, enjoy the nice weather.”

I can’t stop smirking at him; he is utterly adorable like this.

“You’re in a good mood.” I widen my grin.

“I had a very productive meeting earlier.” He winks at me. That would be, what? The fourth wink today?

“I’m glad to hear it. That must give you a feeling of satisfaction.”

His grin broadens. “Yes, though I wouldn’t mind digging my brains further in that direction, perhaps work some more on the subject. It concerns one of my most intriguing projects.”

The innuendos in this conversation could not be more noticeable. I wonder what Tasha will have to say about this as soon as Mr. Sunshine here leaves.

His wide grin delights me.

“Okay, ladies, I will let you continue from where you left off before my intrusion.” “Natasha,” Daniel adds, nodding at her. “You,” he says to me, “Are. Coming. Tonight.”