Christophe slowly strolled around, examining the workspace, touching the desktop, opening empty file drawers, and peeking into the closets. After a moment, he stopped at the floor-to-ceiling windows, taking a look at downtown Windsor’s shoreline. Nodding approvingly, he gazed directly at her. “This is nice.”
“Good. I’m glad you like it.” She moved closer to the man, drawn by the combined scent of his tangy aftershave and unique scent. “There’s an attached restroom,” she explained, crossing the floor and turning on the light to the washroom. “Let me know if you’d like anything changed. We can have maintenance move the furniture or add anything that you believe you’ll need.”
“A log-in and password so that I can access Gautier’s databases would help.”
Nodding, Tia said, “I’ll take care of that immediately. Anything else?”
Christophe tapped a long, tapered finger against his lips. “Supplies—pens, notepads? Telephone? I have my laptop, but I do need Internet access.”
“Internet, phone. They’ll get taken care of when I get back to my desk. Until you’re up and running, you can use my computer for the Internet.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
Tia jotted a few notes on her pad. “For supplies, there are a couple of ways we can go. We have an office-supply closet down the hall on this floor. You can raid it and find most of what you need.”
“Or?” He raised an eyebrow.
“I have a catalog at my desk.” She jabbed her thumb at the door. “Anything that you don’t find in the supply closet can be ordered from that book.”
“Merveilleux!”
“Let me show you a few other things, like the executive dining room. Then I’ll introduce you to the rest of the legal department.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Where are you staying?” Tia asked.
“The hotel.”
Eyebrows raised, she pointed a finger toward the floor. “Here?”
“Yes. I believe it’s called the Marriott.”
“That’s the one. What about a car? Will you need a parking card?”
“I don’t have a car yet, but I do want to get out and away. I want to see more than downtown Detroit and the Detroit River. Can you arrange for me to have a car spot?”
“Certainly. Parking space and card for you.” Tia added this to his growing list of requests.
An hour later, Tia returned to her desk and sank into the chair. Together, after she and Christophe raided the office-supply closet, they returned to his office and set up his desk. She took him on a tour of the Gautier executive branch and introduced him to his colleagues. Christophe’s pleasant personality was a huge hit with the legal department. The attorneys welcomed him enthusiastically. That wasn’t all. Tia suspected it was his good looks that also won over the female staff.
Tickled, Tia turned aside, hiding her smile when several of the executive assistants began to giggle like tweens when Christophe flirted lightly with them. She couldn’t blame them. From the moment that charming and handsome hunk of male perfection had entered Adam’s office and turned his pale blue eyes on her, Tia’s heart had thumped wildly in her chest while her body quivered in response.
Her immediate reaction and attraction to Christophe was a major surprise. She had never before reacted to a white man or a colleague in this fashion. There was definitely a spark of something she hadn’t felt since high school. The sensation was stronger than any she had felt after meeting Darnell.
Calm down, she warned herself silently. That white boy is not for you. Remember, you’re in a relationship.
Smiling, she swiveled her chair from side to side. I think I’ve made a good deal with Adam. I’ll get my promotion and a chance to work as a law clerk. This Christophe assignment doesn’t seem like it will be difficult at all.
Tia grabbed her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk and rose. The next few months would be interesting. She hoped that she would not regret agreeing to this deal.
2
A week later, Tia tapped on Christophe’s office door.
“Yes?” came the accented reply.
She poked her head inside the room. The surreal lyrics of Enya filled his office. “Hi, Mr. Jensen.”
“Come on in.” Chris rose from the desk and met her in the center of the room. He moved close to Tia, entering her personal space. “Let’s not be so formal. After all, we work together. Please, call me Chris.”
She smiled. “Okay. Chris.”
He looked handsome in a crisp white silk shirt, a floral multicolored tie, and navy trousers. His hair had that rumpled, just-out-of-bed look that movie stars sported. One wayward lock fell across his forehead. Tia shoved her hand inside the pocket of her suit jacket, ignoring the urge to smooth the blond tresses into place.
Instead, she handed Chris the stack of pages. “Take a look at the motion and brief. Let me know if you need any changes.”
“Thanks, Tia. Will do.” He flipped through the pages and then gently patted her shoulder.
Chris’s soft touch made Tia’s skin tingle and her heart race. “You’re welcome.” She struggled to keep her voice light and professional.
Was it just Chris’s way? A cultural habit? Tia didn’t remember Reynolds ever acting so familiar. She doubted Chris was flirting with her. He seemed far too professional to jeopardize his career over a light dallying. Yet, she found herself remembering that spark that had surged between them the day they met. Tia also noticed that Chris always maintained physical contact with other staff when he spoke with them, too.
Tia put a step or two between them and waited.
He flipped through the pages. “You’re very efficient.”
“Thank you. That’s what I aim for.” Tia started for the door and called over her shoulder, “I’ll be leaving for lunch around one. Let me know if you have any changes.”
“Will do.”
Tia returned to her desk. She typed in her password, unlocked her computer, and opened a new file. Her fingers rested on the keyboard as she considered the past week. Doing double duty for Adam and Chris hadn’t been as difficult and merciless as she had expected. Adam kept his word, finding help from other staff when needed.
To make life easier, Chris typed his initial documents and then e-mailed them to Tia for the proper formatting and proofing. He displayed a high level of self-sufficiency and didn’t require a lot of hand-holding.
If she had any concerns about their working relationship, it would be that the heightened physical awareness contributed to her nervousness. No matter which way Tia turned, Chris stood near her, watching with his intense stare that made her wonder if she had forgotten to comb her hair or brush her teeth that morning.
The object of her thoughts came out of his office and stopped at her desk. “You’re going to lunch at one?”
“Yes. Do you need something?”
His suntanned skin turned a light shade of red.
What the heck is going on? Tia wondered, fascinated by the transformation.