Late in the afternoon, Tim is leaning over the back of my chair, pointing out directions to correct a programming error on my computer. Out of nowhere my skin tingles, the hair at the very nape of my neck bristles and I'm compelled look up. Directly across the large open meeting space is Colin. He’s wearing his usual white shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows and the collar open, casually tucked into black dress pants that fit his frame perfectly. His eyes focus on me, unwavering as he stands just outside of the office door. My heart stops, yet blood rushes into my head, causing a loud pulse to pound behind my ears. Tim’s lecture becomes a monotone of useless information. Colin doesn’t move, and he doesn’t make any inflection to acknowledge me; his brilliant blue eyes dark, his face unreadable. His gaze flicks to Tim, who’s hovering over my shoulder, continuing to address my computer concerns, oblivious to the change in the atmosphere.

I wave a greeting, but Colin moves into Evan’s office without acknowledging me, slamming the door behind him. The sound reverberates through the room and my heart falls, disappointed by his reaction or lack thereof.

Tim leaves to finish his work for the day and I find myself distracted, constantly looking up as people walk by my office and out the door. I try my hardest to forget Colin’s in the building; it shouldn’t change anything. I shouldn’t expect a special reception. Finally, just before six Evan’s door opens and the deep timbre of Colin’s voice resonates throughout the office. He's stern and all business as he finalizes directions to Evan. My head rises automatically, only to watch him stride out the door with a purposeful gait, leaving without a glance in my direction. My heart drops involuntarily. Dipping my head behind the computer monitor, I hide my hurt, berating myself for the absurdity of it. What did I think he would do? I’m clueless about men and in my naiveté I thought we had some sort of connection.

“Charlie?”

“Ahh,” I scream and my hand flies up to cover my chest. “Evan, you scared the shit out of me.”

He chuckles. “Sorry, I thought you saw me coming.”

I shake my head no, letting my heart begin to beat again.

“Why are you working so late? You should go.”

“There’s nothing to go home to; living out of a hotel this week, remember?” After it’s said, I hear how pathetic the statement rings. “I want to finish something up and then I’ll go. Will you be back tomorrow?” I ask, hating that I sound hopeful, similar to Tim’s lunch invitation.

“In the morning, we’re leaving tomorrow afternoon and then we’ll be back at the end of the week.”

“Oh, okay. Well, I’ll see you in the morning then.”

He begins to turn toward the door, stopping when he's only halfway, hand resting on the knob. “I have plans, otherwise I’d . . .”

I cut him off before he can finish. “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. I brought a good book to read. Go have fun.” I try to sound confident; after all, I’m very used to being alone.

Staring at his hand, he glances at me and then toward the exit. Not waiting for him to say anything more, I motion him out the door with my hands. “Go. Have fun. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

~

Stifling a yawn, I hope a third cup of coffee will effectively help keep my eyes open. I slept poorly last night, the unfamiliar hotel room and lumpy bed a perfect recipe for an entirely sleepless night. That and thoughts of Colin McKenna’s blank stare. I shake my head, hoping the motion will shake thoughts of him away with it. I obviously misread him those first couple of times we met, the shivers of electricity I felt a product of my imagination. Frowning, I stir the sweetener and cream in my coffee, disheartened by the monumental miscalculation on my part.

Lost in thought, I walk out of the kitchenette, lifting the cup to my mouth. Stepping outside of the door, I’m bulldozed by Ella Montgomery as she rounds the corner. She’s shorter than I am by at least a few inches, but her hands are positioned perfectly to push her arms out in response to my surprise appearance, launching the mug out of my grip. Hot coffee splatters over the wall, the mug shattering spectacularly into a hundred pieces as it hits the floor.

“What the . . .?” The shrill pitch of her words falls off as she focuses on me. Glancing over my frame and back to my face and hair, her eyes narrow during her perusal. Ella’s body stiffens, face flushing an angry red. “I suggest you watch where you’re going,” she says with pure venom.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, “I didn’t see you.”

“Let me put this in simple terms; terms you will understand. Stay away from me, and stay away from Colin. Do you understand?”

I can’t move, nor can I respond. The venom has reached her eyes and they bulge like the reptile she is.

“Are you dull?” she snaps her fingers in front of my face. “I’ll repeat it, so your simple mind can make sense of simple speech. Stay away from Colin.” Her small frame rises until she's inches away from my face. I stumble back a step as the hair at the nape of my neck bristles. “You have no business being here and you certainly don’t have any with him. I don’t know you and I have no desire to. If it were up to me you wouldn’t be here, so don’t apologize. Clean up your damn mess and get back to work.” She spins on her short heels and walks to a door on the opposite side of the building.

I look around, noticing there are a few people staring in my direction. One of them is Molly, who rushes over. “I told you she’s a crazy bitch.”

Laughing, I’m grateful for her help as we clean up the mess together.

“I had no idea you were being so literal. Does Ms. Bitchy treat everyone like that?”

“For the most part, yes; you got an extra dose because you’re going to travel with Colin so much over the next few months. She’s probably boiling with jealousy.”

I try to giggle, but it sounds off. “She doesn’t have anything to worry about there.” I’m beginning to pick up the pieces of the fractured mug, loosely placing the shards in my left hand.

“Be careful, Charlie, those pieces are really sharp. Let me get the broom to sweep them up.” I watch Molly distractedly, listening to the nearing voices of Evan and Colin as they round the corner to the break room. Forgetting about the broken glass I drop it against my thigh, clasping my fingers around the contents and turning so Colin doesn’t see me. “Ahh,” I gasp and wince as the shards slice through the pad of my palm. Oh, shit.

I walk over to the sink to rinse away the dripping blood. Turning on the water, I grimace from the sting when the stream hits the open wound. The room blurs in and out of focus as if it’s reflected in a fun-house mirror at the sight of the diluted blood flowing down the drain. Closing my eyes, I let the water wash over my hand, trying to forget the burn, and that Colin is just outside of the room. I lean heavily onto the counter to hold my weight; I don’t do blood well. Sweat dews on my forehead and I fear the faint that’s slowly coming on.

“Charlie?” Colin’s tone is anxious, growing louder as he nears me. “What happened?” I feel the draw, the electricity vibrating between us. His breath is hot against my ear as he hovers over my shoulder, looking at the sink and my injury. Flipping my hand over, the only sound in the room is his sharp intake of breath. I squeeze my eyes shut so I don’t see the blood, but it’s too late; the room sways behind my closed eyes as if I’m on a raft riding large swells in the middle of the ocean.

He grabs a clean towel from a drawer, knotting it around my hand. “Can you walk?” I snap my eyes open, immediately regretting it when Colin’s beautiful face zooms into focus and then out.

“Yes, I think so. I don’t like blood.”

“I can see that. You look like you don’t have any left in your body, you’re so pale.” Wrapping his arm around my waist, he holds most of my bodyweight as the lightheadedness worsens. For a moment I take refuge in his heat, leaning into his chest and imagining for just a second he feels the same magnetic pull I feel to him. His arm and hand burn at the site where they connect with my body; it’s as if he wields a concupiscent sword piercing not just my flesh, but my heart as well. Colin leads me into his spacious office, filled with angular modern furniture.