Stella in Stilettos (5 page)

“Hell yeah.”

He wasn’t the only one who wanted the information. Mr. Right came out of hiding and added “Yes” to the conversation.

Those three little letters made her grin. “Attentiveness,” she said.

“Damn. I thought you were going to say love or sex,” MightyMike quipped in return.

Maybe it was the alcohol or the ice cream…or maybe she was getting comfortable with this type of format; whatever it was, pulled a strong comeback from her. “Of course I want those things.”
In fact, a little of both would be good right now
. “It all starts with attentiveness. A guy can tell you he loves you, but he has to back it up by paying attention.”

MightyMike wasn’t impressed. “My girlfriend says the same boring thing.”

Then listen, knucklehead
. “She’s telling you what she needs. All you have to do is pay attention.”

“You’re making me yawn.” MightyMike logged out of the chat room.

Stella took another mammoth bite of ice cream and washed it down with a steamy sip of coffee.

A private message from Mr. Right centered her screen. “I’m paying attention.”

It’s about time,
she thought.

She was set to apologize for the blunder of clicking him away, but he took the reins.

“I’m sorry if I was too pushy last night.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong.” Stella couldn’t type fast enough. “I freaked out when someone sent me an explicit message. I told him to get lost. I accidentally clicked you away instead of him

“What did the message say?”

Stella shook her head. No way would she mention handcuffs and a buggy whip. “That stays locked in the vault.”

“You can tell me.”

“LOL. Nope.”

“Must have been good. Sure you don’t want to share?”

She typed “Perv” but backspaced over it. Not everyone understood her humor and she didn’t want to crash their new beginning. She went with “Funny” instead.

“Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

“I’m glad you came back in.” Stella smiled but squirmed in her chair.

Five minutes ticked by without a response. She drummed her fingers on the desk, took a bathroom break and refilled her coffee cup. When she returned to the computer, there was a warm and fuzzy message on her screen. It read, “Sorry for the delay. Had a phone call. And for the record, I’m glad I came back to the chat room too.”

They were back on track. Their conversation started with the simple stuff – the extreme drop in temperature overnight, highlights of the Columbus Blue Jackets hockey game from the night before and favorite TV shows.

Both were fans of NCIS.

“Are you yanking my chain?”

Stella looked at the question like he’d written it in Chinese. “I don’t understand.”

“You’re not saying what I want to hear to get on my good side, are you?”

“What? No.” She frowned, but it dawned on her that she didn’t own the copyright on being skeptical. “Seriously, I like hockey. And sometimes I kill an entire Sunday with an NCIS marathon. Mark Harmon is my man. He just doesn’t know it.”

“Didn’t mean to doubt you. I’m glad we have some things in common. Although I can honestly say I don’t have the hots for Mark Harmon.”

“Good. We won’t have to fight over him.” They had more in common than a hockey team and TV shows, but she wasn’t going to jog his memory because it might open the where-do-you-work discussion she was trying to avoid. Columbus was a big city, with a few small details he could pinpoint her and she wasn’t ready to be found. Actually, all he had to do was pressure Ramsey into getting the information from Trish. Hopefully he wouldn’t.

“If you say you’re hungry for pizza and beer, then it’s settled – you’re my destiny and I have no choice but to fall in love with you. Ha. Ha,” he teased.

Smooth
. This guy knew exactly what to say to make her nervous. She wanted to be someone’s destiny but it was doubtful it involved anyone online. “Beer tastes like frothy furniture polish but pizza sounds great. LOL.”

“Let’s see. Yes to Chinese food and pizza. No to sweet potatoes and beer. What else do you like to eat and drink?”

“Lasagna. And I can’t function without coffee. An occasional glass of wine is good too. Of course, no meal is complete without cookie dough ice cream.”

“I know a lot of great coffee shops. We could meet for a cup.”

A coffee date?
Yeah. No. Way too soon to consider meeting face to face. “When we know each other better, coffee it is.”

“Thanks for not beating around the bush.” He added a smiley icon to the end of the text.

It was strange using symbols to show emotion. Stella followed suit with one that winked.

“We’ve talked about a lot of things, but we’ve managed to sidestep relationships. Care to discuss?”

Stella studied the comment. She was so not ready to talk about the farce of Jace Fairchild. “I hope you mean what you’re looking for in a relationship.”

A minute lapsed. Finally, he replied. “Yes. Exactly. I feel the need to tell you that I’m really not in the market for a girlfriend. I’m just looking for someone to talk to. Is that enough for you?”

Happiness whisked through Stella, followed by a measure of disappointment. She wasn’t ready for a relationship, especially with someone she met online one. Yet…

Stella took another hit of caffeine while watching Belinda undo two buttons on her shirt and slide her perfect size-six bottom onto Alex’s desk. The woman was on a mission. She was out to win his heart. It was obvious if she didn’t get it, she’d be happy to get something else.

Maggie Watkins had a strict no-department-dating policy in place. She mentioned it at the monthly meetings. Since it wasn’t a company mandate, Belinda chose to ignore it.

A gravelly snarl slithered from Stella. When she recognized it, she snarled at the snarl. Jealousy was a terrible emotion, and she hated when she fell prey. “Stop watching them and do something constructive.” She clicked into her design program, but sexy pajamas and lace underwear couldn’t hold her attention. Thank goodness her phone rang. “Stella Matson.”

Francis, from the printing department, inquired about the status of the weekly newspaper insert.

“It’s on Maggie’s desk as we speak.”

“Can you see that I get it by lunchtime?”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

A loud cackle rose from Alex’s cubicle.

“What was that?” Francis asked.

“The sound of a busy office.” It wasn’t a lie per se, more like a half-truth. Most of the department was hard at it.

“Sounded like a cat in heat.”

“Some days are like that,” Stella snickered and hung up the phone.

Another exaggerated cackle made Stella shake her head. If she had to listen to a cat in heat all day, she would go crazy. “Stop,” slid between her clenched teeth.

Maggie peered around Stella’s cubicle wearing her coat, purse slung over her shoulder and briefcase in hand. “Stop what?”

There was no way to explain the remark. “Another meeting, huh?”

Maggie nodded. “Second one this week. Hard to get things done when they meeting you to death.”

Another jarring laugh made them both frown.

Maggie’s exhale was dramatic. “What’s that about?”

“Cat nip.”

“Huh?”

Stella swiftly rerouted the subject. “How’s the interview-process coming?” Assistant Vice President of Advertising was a job that made Stella drool. She was actually doing the work, but lacked the title. And she hoped Maggie would reward her with the position.

Maggie made a face. “When twenty people want the same job, I’m bound to piss off nineteen.”

She was tempted to tell Maggie to pick her and get it over with. Unfortunately, Maggie was bound by rules that dictated everyone who applied get an interview. “I don’t envy you.”

“I’d delegate the task if I could.” Maggie checked her watch. “My meeting in Gahanna starts in fifteen minutes, which means I’m already late. When I get back, it’s your turn to be interrogated.”

Stella nodded casually, but inside she was jumping. Finally. The opportunity of a lifetime was so close she could smell it. “Francis called about the weekly insert.”

Maggie looked over her shoulder and grinned. “Handle it, like you always do.”

“Happy to.”

When Maggie walked by Belinda, Stella heard her ask, “Are you caught up on your work?”

Belinda hopped off of Alex’s desk and straightened her skirt. “Yes, I am.”

“Then apparently you don’t have enough to do.” Maggie made a distinct growling sound. The rapid click of her heels meant she wouldn’t wait around to see if Belinda went back to her desk.

Alex leaned out of his cubicle and looked directly at Stella. His mouth wasn’t moving, but his eyes said plenty. Unfortunately, she couldn’t decipher a word. Maybe he was apologizing for being a jerk yesterday. Or maybe it was an S.O.S.

You’re on your own, buddy.

Belinda resumed sitting on his desk. “Do you mind?” Alex pulled a manila folder out from under her.

“You’re cranky today.”

“I’m cranky every day.” His cell phone rang. “Clay,” he said tightly.

“Hey, old buddy, how’s it going?” asked an amused voice.

Alex covered the phone with his hand and lowered his lashes in a severe squint. “This is personal. Do you mind?”

Belinda slid off the desk, sending a stack of papers to the floor. She smiled provocatively when she bent to pick them up. She took her good old time walking away.

Alex groaned into the phone, making Steve Benson laugh.

“I’ve been watching you struggle for the last five minutes. Thought I should save you.”

Alex stood up and looked over his cubicle. Steve was propped against the copier grinning like he didn’t have his right mind. Alex motioned him over.

Steve pulled a chair from a vacant cubicle, and put his feet up on Alex’s desk. “So what did Miss Belinda Pearson want?”

“What do you think she wants?” Alex said in a bored tone.

“Might be some good stuff there.” Steve raised his brows up and down.

“I’d sooner get my teeth cleaned with a jackhammer.”

Steve lowered his voice. “Are you still anti-women?”

Alex drew his eyebrows together in a hard frown. “That’s ridiculous. I’m not anti-women.”

Steve fished a toothpick from his shirt pocket and stuck it in the corner of his mouth. “Seems like it to me. Ever since you broke up with Sharrie you avoid them like they harbor the plague.”

“Most of them do.” Alex pushed Steve’s feet off his desk. What was it with people and his desk?

“With an attitude like that, you’ll never get …” Steve didn’t finish because Stella walked by. He grinned from ear to ear. “I’m guessing you’d pick her over a jackhammer.”

“I have things to do.” It wasn’t a lie. He finally admitted he didn’t know squat about advertising, and it would be in his best interest to dig in. Besides, Steve was starting to annoy him.

Steve wouldn’t let it go. “Don’t you think so?”

“Think about what?” Alex picked up a newspaper insert that he intended to study, hoping Steve would take a hint.

“Don’t play dumb. I asked if you’d pick Stella over a jackhammer.”

“For crying out loud, Benson.”

“Answer the question.”

Alex tossed the newspaper insert aside. “She’s okay. Satisfied?”

“She’s a hell of a lot better than just okay, my friend. Have you seen her eyes?”

Too bad Steve didn’t have an off-button. He’d be pushing the damned thing until it broke. “Don’t you have something to do?”

“Nope.”

“Well, I do. So leave.”

Steve slapped Alex on the back. “You need to loosen up and let one of those tasty morsels in.” He stood to leave. “Don’t forget about therapy at my place next Tuesday. Eight o’clock.”

“Poker therapy.” Alex snickered. “I’ll be there.”

“Green,” Steve said, before he walked away.

Alex scooted his chair into the aisle. “What?”

“Her eyes are green.” Steve hooted with laughter. When he passed Belinda, he flirted so Alex could hear it. “Woo-wee, Belinda. You’re looking mighty fine this morning.”

Asshole
. Alex gritted his teeth. Belinda wouldn’t let up, neither would Steve. Maybe he should hook them up. He slanted a look in Stella’s direction and noticed she had a fabulous leg tucked behind the rung of her chair.
Tripping accident waiting to happen
. Going over to check out her eyes would be a setup. For some reason she got flustered when he was around. Falling into him again would not help their acquaintance; especially since he’d made her feel irrelevant the first time.