Hard Choices (5 page)

“Really?” Robert asked. “Why?”

I fully expected that to trip Aaron up. I fully expected that question to reveal his skin-deep charm. I was wrong.

“Well, uh,” he stammered a bit. It was adorable. “It’s no secret I come from a family that has been… blessed,” (that was a very classy way of saying “I was raised filthy rich.” Humble, too. Dear Lord.) “but I’ve seen the flip side of that, too. Tax law is somewhere where, sure, you’re going to have a lot of really wealthy clients, but you’re also going to have a chance to help the little guy – that guy who inherited a family business he’s dying to hold onto… or that single mom who has been killing herself to build her business. I’m realistic – I know being a successful lawyer will mean having a lot of wealthy clients, but I’d really like a chance to be able to do some pro bono work that really matters to me.”

I handed him a napkin and studied his face. Was that affected? I didn’t think so. He seemed sincere.

“I had honestly never looked at it that way before,” said Robert. I smirked a little. Even Robo Robert was susceptible to this guy’s charms! “Well, let’s go back to my office and talk specifics.” Whoa! Robert was going to offer him the job right then and there! He
never
did that. He always deliberated at least a week. I wracked my brain to think of a way to slow Robert down, so he didn’t do something he’d regret.

“Um, Aaron,” I began slowly, walking behind them as they headed down the hall. Jesus, even under a suit coat, that man’s ass could make you cry. “I take it you brought a resume? And some references?”

“Yes,” he smiled that melt-your-lady-parts smile at me, “they’re in Mr. Miller’s office.”

“Perfect!” I said brightly. “Let me just grab those, and I’ll meet you back in Robert’s office in a few minutes.” It was pretty clear I intended to study his resume and check his references, but Aaron didn’t miss a beat. I stood in the hallway while Robert and Aaron headed into Robert’s office. When Aaron reached across Robert’s desk, his suit coat stretched tightly across his shoulders. I felt my inner cougar purr a little. OK, a lot.

“Here you go, Lyssa,” he handed me the paperwork. “Please let me know if there’s anything else I can get you,” again with that panty-dropping smile. Holy hell, how was I supposed to work with
that
every day for three months? I sent a silent prayer of thanks that I’d gotten rid of that flighty young girl who’d worked here ever so briefly – I could barely keep
my
feet on the floor around this guy.

“Thank you, Aaron. I’ll be back in a bit.”

“Don’t be long,” he said as I turned away, quietly enough that only I could hear.

I whipped around, surprised. I saw the same look in his eye that had been there right after I crashed into him in the hallway. Instead of flustering me this time, though, it just produced a slow, deep heat in my chest and deep in my abdomen. I smiled back – with nothing whatsoever professional in my look, I hoped.

I walked down the hallway to Jean’s desk. “Jean,” I said quietly, “I want you to call the university and check this guy’s credentials. I think Robert really wants to make him an offer, but I want to dot all our Is and cross all our Ts.”

“Sure, Lyssa,” Jean took the resume from me, looking surprised.

“Call me in Robert’s office as soon as you have any info.”

She nodded and picked up her phone.

I went back into Robert’s office and found the two men laughing together, Robert relaxed in his leather wingback armchair, Aaron comfortable on the couch. I slipped onto the other end of the couch, as far away from Aaron as I could possibly get.

“Lyssa, I was just telling Aaron what would be expected of him as a summer intern here, if he came on board with us.”

“I never thought of accounting as particularly funny,” I said sardonically. “But I guess we can’t all get accountant humor, right?”

“I’m sorry,” said Aaron, sounding perplexed, “aren’t you a CPA, too?”

“Me? No,” I said, taking a sip of my coffee.

“Lyssa is our business manager, and an invaluable part of our firm. Nine years ago, it was just the two of us. We’ve built this place up together.”

“Oh!” said Aaron, clearly getting the wrong idea. “I didn’t realize… I mean, I thought you were just… partners,” he looked a bit confused as he jumped to the conclusion that Robert and I were a couple. And, dare I say, a little disappointed. I liked it.

“We are business partners. Lyssa runs everything around here. I was smart enough to snatch her up right after she graduated,” Robert took a sip of his coffee, “If you take the position, you’ll probably meet
my
partner, Alan. He and I have been together for more than twenty-five years.” I wasn’t shocked that Robert told Aaron he was gay. We’d both learned, the hard way, that we had to vet applicants for homophobia. It was easier than springing Robert’s life partner on people and hoping for the best. We’d also decided we just didn’t want to work with bigoted assholes.

Aaron’s reaction couldn’t have surprised either of us more. We were used to seeing people be a bit taken aback, but Aaron’s face spread in a wide grin. “Twenty-five years? Wow, good for you!” Then he turned and looked at me, sitting several feet away from him on the couch. His smile was like the cat who’d just eaten the canary – and I was the dessert on his menu.

I liked it.

Just then Robert’s phone rang. “I’ll grab it,” I offered as I sprang off the couch. “This is Lyssa,” I said into the receiver.

“It’s Jean. Listen, Lyssa, this guy’s references couldn’t be better. He’s got a 3.5 in law school, his former bosses love him, he had an internship with a senator from Utah last summer, and the rumor is he’s had offers out of D.C.,” said Jean breathlessly. “I say snatch him up!”

I smiled to myself and said, “Thank you so much, Jean,” in a relieved tone of voice. “That’s very helpful.”

I sat and watched Aaron as he and Robert discussed particulars and chatted about mutual acquaintances. We sat there for at least half an hour, with me mostly listening. Well, mostly watching. Aaron gave the phrase “easy on the eyes” a whole new meaning.

Anytime Robert turned away, Aaron looked at me. When Robert got up to take a quick call, Aaron stared at me and held my gaze the entire minute or two Robert was on the phone. He just leaned back on the couch, one arm casually thrown over the back. I felt my breath quickening, and knew he watched the rise and fall of my breasts. His eyes dilated, and he shifted a little in his seat.

Robert hung up the phone and rejoined us, apparently oblivious to the charged atmosphere. After a little more conversation, Robert finally said, “Well, Aaron, when can you start?”

Aaron’s smile was brilliant when he realized he’d been offered the job. “Well, finals are the last week of May, so how about the first of June?”

Robert and I looked at each other and laughed. “Wow, kid,” I said. “Take some time. Relax. You’ll have just finished your second year of law school. You’ll need a vacay.” Robert rolled his eyes at my slang.

“Well, I’d really like to get to work,” Aaron looked into my eyes, and I thought he was talking about more than just contracts. “How about thearly June?”

“Sounds good,” said Robert. “We’ll see you back here…” Robert pulled out his phone and glanced at the calendar. “Monday, June.” We had never hired anyone so quickly before. Then a thought occurred to me: was Robert trying to set me up? I mean,
my
interest was obvious. Hell, any woman breathing on her own would be interested. I’d lost the thread of the conversation in my private musings, but I picked it up again when Robert stood up and said, “It was good to meet you, Aaron.” Robert held out his hand. “I look forward to working with you.” He pulled two business cards out of his pocket and handed them to Aaron. “This is my business card and Lyssa’s. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.”

Aaron beamed. “Thank you, sir!” suddenly he was that earnest kid again. “I will see you at seven am, Monday, June 7th.”

I laughed. “Make it eight-thirty, Aaron. Robert doesn’t even roll in here until nine.” Robert shrugged, admitting nothing. “Come on, I’ll walk you out,” I offered.

Aaron stepped back and held his hand out in front of him, “Ladies first,” he said, flashing those vivid blue eyes at me again.

I walked ahead of him, and out into the reception area. I turned to say goodbye, but he kept going, walking out the front door, turning at the last minute to make sure I was following him. A little confused, I walked through the door behind him, into the main foyer of the building. He kept walking, not stopping and turning toward me until he was around the corner from the front door, so no one inside the office could see us.

“Thanks, Lyssa,” he said sincerely. “I really appreciate the opportunity.”

I smiled. “Not at all, you earned it.”

“I do have one question, though – if you’re the business manager, does that mean I would
not
be working… under you?”

His tone was unmistakable. His double-meaning was clear. I still wasn’t sure what the hell his endgame was, but I didn’t care. I hadn’t flirted for real in more than twenty years, but I suddenly realized that it was like riding a bike. And I climbed right back on.

“No,” I said softly, “You will not be working
under
me. You will answer directly to Robert.”

“Actually,” he moved in closer to me. I realized suddenly that he had somehow maneuvered so that I had my back to the wall. He put his hand up against the building, planting his hand near my head. I felt like a teenager: I could have been in a cheerleader’s uniform, with the quarterback asking me to the prom.

Aaron was wearing a
very
nice suit with an expensive dress shirt. It molded to his perfectly flat stomach. Dear god, did this man have any flaws? “I guess I have two questions. Number 2 is, are you single?”

I laughed nervously. “Do you always resort to flirting in job interviews? Why are you trying so hard? You already got the job,” I pushed my hair up over my ear.

Aaron reached up and pushed the hair behind my other ear, his fingers lingering on my cheek. “Yeah,” he whispered, “Thanks for that.” He stayed right there, staring into my eyes. I felt heat coming off of him in waves.

“I’m old enough to be your… best friend’s mother, you know,” I said quietly, not letting my eyes drift away from his.

He laughed. “Bullshit. Only if you started at twelve.”

I knew I looked confused. Couldn’t he tell how old I was? He couldn’t have been more than twenty-four or twenty-five. Couldn’t he see the decade and a half difference in our ages?

“Even if you are, I don’t
care
,” he said, still softly. “As for flirting in job interviews, no. Never. I didn’t bust my ass through college and two years of law school to blow an interview for a great internship. But when you came through that doorway, and into my arms,” he breathed deep and shook his head, “you took my breath away.”

I stood, dumbfounded. Me? Take someone’s breath away? Take this gorgeous man’s breath away? Was he still playing me? He had to be playing me…

“Let me take you out to dinner. Help me celebrate my new job.” Ahhh. So that was it. He wanted to “celebrate.” Wow, he really was a playah. But I’d played enough for one day. I was flattered and flustered and aroused, truth be told, but I was also a professional. And I had to get back to work.

“Tell you what,” I said, shifting back to my professional voice, “after your first day on the job, we’ll all go out for drinks, OK?”

“That’s months away!” he sounded disappointed.

“Well, we’ll see if you’re still interested in ‘celebrating’ with me then, OK?”

“All right, Lyssa,” he smiled.

I eased out from under his arm, and held out my hand. “See you in June.”

“Maybe. Maybe sooner,” he took my hand, and I felt heat like an electric current shoot through me. Suddenly, he gripped my hand tightly and quickly stepped in close. So close his chest just brushed my breasts. He looked down at me. I tried to figure out if he was going to kiss me or not. But I think we both realized that would cross a line we weren’t ready to cross. Flirting, joking, teasing – all in good fun. But kissing? Little more than an hour after we met? Outside my current, and his future, place of work? Not a good idea. “I guess this isn’t the time or the place,” he said, and I was relieved he had some restraint… and disappointed. “But I can wait,” he said, no hint of a smile this time. “Goodbye, Lyssa, for now.” He released my hand backed away.

That’s when I noticed something I had been trying to avoid noticing. I’d deliberately kept my eyes averted, but as he backed away, keeping eye contact with me as long as he could, it was clear I wasn’t the only one aroused. I smiled.

I stood out in the cold foyer for a few minutes, breathing deeply to get my composure. Then I turned to head back inside. Nothing went unnoticed by Jean, but I knew I could play the boss card and breeze past her. She was too classy to ask, thankfully. I gave her a bright smile and strode past her to my office, ignoring her confused look. I had worked hard to cultivate a friendly but professional relationship with everyone in the firm. Aside from Robert, I did not socialize with any of my co-workers. I liked to keep my personal life separate.

Robert had another meeting, and I had a ton of work to do, so we didn’t do our normal post-interview huddle. Of course, we didn’t normally hire someone on the spot, either. I sat down at my desk and glanced up to see Jean looking in my direction, in a huddle of her own with several other women in our office. I smiled to myself. Aaron had not gone unnoticed.

I buried myself in my work. Or rather, tried to. Instead of plowing through paperwork, I was reliving that moment outside, with Aaron pressed up against me. Over and over. What if, instead of watching him saunter off alone, I’d followed him to his car and…
Oh my god, Lyssa! Get a grip!
He was playing you. Angling for a job… wait, that didn’t track. He’d already gotten the job… had I really taken his breath away?

I was suddenly startled by a knock at my door. I jumped, and realized I’d been staring at the same sheet of paper for god knows how long, pretending to work.

“Yes! Come in!”

Jean walked in, looking very uncomfortable. “Uh, Lyssa, I don’t mean to bother you, but I was just in the restroom, and… isn’t this yours?” she held out my engagement ring. I wondered what had happened to the gold band.

“Oh, yes, thank you, Jean.” I held out my hand, and she dropped the ring into it. For a second, I didn’t know what to do with it. Then I opened my bottom desk drawer and dropped it into my purse.

I looked up to see Jean still staring at me. “Thank you, Jean,” I said again.

She shifted from one foot to the other. “I found it on the floor. In the restroom. Back behind the toilet,” she sounded confused and embarrassed. “I mean – it caught the light, and it was hard to miss.”

I steeled myself. I could see I wasn’t going to get out of this easily. Jean wasn’t a snoop, but this was very weird behavior for me – dropping a ring and acting like I didn’t care.

“Lyssa, is everything all right?” she asked earnestly. “I mean, throwing your ring on the bathroom floor? That’s… that’s a little… odd, don’t you think?”

I laughed, and relaxed back into my chair, which was exactly the wrong thing to do if I wanted to squelch this. “I didn’t
throw
it on the floor, Jean. I just… took it off, and it kind of flew off my hand.”

“Flew?”

“Yes.”

“Off… your hand?”

“Yes.”

“Um, where is your wedding ring?” she asked tentatively.

I shrugged. “Probably on the restroom floor, too. Or maybe in the toilet. Don’t know. Don’t really care.” There. I’d done it.

She stared at me like I’d grown an extra head. Jean had been married for more than thirty years before her husband’s death. She still wore her wedding set every day.

Finally, she couldn’t stand it anymore. She plopped down in my guest chair, shoulders sagging, and said, “Lyssa, I don’t want to pry, but,” have you ever noticed that once someone says “but” it pretty much negates anything they said before it? I knew Jean was about to prove that true.

“Are you and Scott having problems? And who is Aaron Sellers? Your new boyfriend?” I felt my jaw drop open. “Again, I don’t want to pry, but it was impossible not to notice him watching you. He couldn’t take his eyes off you!” Wow. Even when I wasn’t looking? This was promising… “It’s just, you’re
married
. You have three grown children! What will they say?” She was getting shrill in her panic, and I felt a sudden rush of affection for her. She’d worked for me for more than five years now, and I could tell she was genuinely concerned for me.

“Jean,” I stood up and came around my desk. I sat in the chair opposite her, and leaned forward. “I have something to tell you. Scott and I are divorced.” Honestly, it was amazing I’d kept it under wraps this long. But I had seen no reason to announce it, and Robert, of course, would never have let it slip.

Her hand flew to her mouth. Her eyes filled with tears. You would have thought I’d just announced I had only months to live. I waited for her to gain her composure.

“Oh, Lyssa!” she finally squeaked out, “I am so sorry! That’s awful!” Except it wasn’t awful at all. But hey, that was her reality. “When did you decide all this?”

“I don’t know when Scott decided, but he decided to tell
me
in January, the day after he’d signed a lease on a house,” I said dryly, “for him and his girlfriend.”

“Oh my goodness, Lyssa. I… I don’t know what to say,” she shook her head sadly. “Was it… I mean, did he leave you because of Mr. Sellers?”

I was flabbergasted. “What? No! Today was the first time I’ve ever laid eyes on Aaron,” I said. “No, Scott leaving me was all about Scott. It shocked me, but it wasn’t exactly a surprise. Ever since Danny left, I think he and I both knew it was coming. It was time,” I said with finality. I knew Jean would
not
understand that: in her world, you married for life. I didn’t know much about her husband, but it didn’t sound like marriage to him had been terribly exciting. But to be fair, that was probably exactly what Jean had wanted, anyway.

“You’ve never met Mr. Sellers before?” I was shocked she’d latched onto that.

“No. He came in to interview, and today was the first time I’ve met him.” Jean looked disbelieving, which irked me. I did not need to explain myself to her. “Well, Jean, now that the cat is out of the bag, I guess I should send out an email, let everyone know that I am divorced. Stop the rumor mill before it starts, you know,” I said pointedly. I’d never known Jean to gossip, but this might prove too juicy even for her level of restraint. I stood up and said, “If there’s nothing else, Jean?”

“No, nothing else. I’ll… I’ll put up a sign in the bathroom. In case anyone finds your wedding band.”

“Thank you. That’s very thoughtful.” Just then, my phone rang. Thank god! What perfect timing.

I smiled at Jean as she closed the door, and grabbed the phone off its cradle.

“Lyssa Masters, how may I help you?” I said automatically.

“Lyssa! What the hell?” Molly practically shouted at me. “What happened? You haven’t answered my texts! Did you flirt your ass off? Tell me you flirted your ass off!”

“Oh my god, Molly. You have no idea.”

“Well, TELL ME!”

“Come over tonight. We can open a bottle of wine and I’ll give you all the details.”

“Let’s go shopping. You need another sexy work outfit for his second interview.”

“No second interview.”

“Oh man! Really? Robert already rejected him?

“Nope. Hired him on the spot.”

“WHAT?!?”

“Jesus, Molly! My eardrum!”

“Hired him on the spot? Did he consult you at all? Robert has never done that. He deliberates for days, sometimes weeks, before he hires someone.”

“I know, but the kid’s got great references.”

“Crap! My next class is starting. OK, Primativo tonight. Your house. Six.
I. want. details!”
Molly hung up as I sat there chuckling. She and Robert could not be more different – which was probably why they’d always been so close.

I was already looking forward to sharing all the details of my day with her. I shook my head and saw, out of the corner of my eye, a new email in my inbox.

The subject line said: “I can’t wait after all.” Return address was sellers.aaron. He’d already pulled my email off the business card Robert had given him. He must have been emailing me from his phone. Intrigued, I clicked on it.

Lyssa,

I have to get back down to school tonight. But I can’t stop thinking about those long legs of yours, and that million-dollar smile. If I come up this weekend, will you let me take you out?
--Aa

I stared at the computer. If he was playing me, he was doing a damn good job. I was hooked. But I… I just wasn’t ready. I typed and re-typed an email back, deleting and starting over about six times. I couldn’t think how to explain things to him. Finally, I relied on the easiest thing: the truth.

Aaron,

You asked me if I was single, but I never really answered. I just got divorced from my husband of 22 years. He moved out 2 months ago. Very suddenly. Found his true love, apparently.

If I said I wasn’t interested in “celebrating” with you, I’d be lying [I hoped he remembered that part of our conversation], but this weekend is just too soon for me. I hope you understand. I look forward to seeing you again.

--Lyssa

Less than five minutes after I hit
Send
, I had a reply in my inbox.

He left
you
for another woman?!? Sounds like a complete idiot. He clearly does not deserve you. I do understand. I look forward to seeing you again. Can I email you again?

--Aa

My reply was immediate.

Yes.

I smiled to myself and tried to get some work done.

***

Robert had been busy all day, so we’d never talked again after our morning meeting with Aaron – who, I had decided, was the Universe’s karmic gift for me being such an adult in the way I’d ended my marriage. Even if nothing ever happened after today, I had thoroughly enjoyed his attentions.

I finished up for the day, and went to log off… but I doubIe-checked my inbox first. There was one more email from Mr. Sellers:

I’ll be coming up for the weekend at some point before school gets out and I start my new job. I say we celebrate early.

Heat suffused my body as I typed out my answer.

We’ll see. If you’re good.

I hit
send
before I could talk myself out of it. Shaking my head at my own brazenness, I logged off and headed home.

I walked into my house and headed straight into my bedroom to change into something more comfortable. Tossing my blazer on my new bed, I looked at myself in the floor-to-ceiling mirrors that were my closet doors. I turned this way and that, examining myself in the mirror. I did look good. Damn good. I’d always been more curvy than lean, even at my trimmest. But I’d decided long ago to stop obsessing over “that last ten pounds.” J.J. had once told me, emphatically, that a woman comfortable in her skin was the sexiest thing to a man. I’d taken the compliment for what it was – a male friend complimenting a female friend. Having men who were truly just friends had been a revelation for me. It was one of the nicest things about getting a little older, a little more mature. I wondered if I was mature enough to take this thing with Aaron all the way.

I slipped into some comfy clothes and headed into the kitchen to grab some wine glasses when I heard a knock on the door.

“Come in!” I called.

“Can’t! It’s locked!” Molly called back.

I ran down the half-staircase to let Molly in. “Sorry! I started locking the door.”

She shrugged. “I don’t blame you. It’s a big house, and you’re all alone here. Look! Our favorite!” she held up the wine bottle and headed up the stairs.

“Actually, the real reason I started locking it was that I was sick of Kyle bursting in!” I said as I followed her. “Scott hasn’t been by since that last time, but Kyle doesn’t even knock. What if I’m taking a bath? What if Big Ed and I have a date?” Molly guffawed. “I mean, a girl needs her privacy, you know?”

“I
do
know, honey! Why do you think J.J. and I have never moved in together?”

“Because he’d be jealous of your Big Ed?” I said deadpan.

“Ha! No! Because I like to pee with the door open sometimes!” We both laughed as she headed into the kitchen for a wine opener. “All right. Enough stalling. Sit. DISH!” She commanded. I laughed, and started to fill her in on the day. Her commentary had me laughing even as I felt flushed and excited recounting my morning with Aaron:

“Wait – so you walked into him? Smooth, Lyssa. Very smooth.”

“He said, ‘Don’t be long’ right in front of Robert? Ballsy. I like it.”

“He just…
looked
at you? That’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Holy shit! How did you
not
go weak in the knees when he leaned into you like that?”

And finally, “Oh holy hell. He wants to email you? Please, I’m begging you – forward them on to me!”

“Molly! No! Of course I’m not showing them to you! What is this, high school?”