Page 18 of Live Like There's No Tomorrow
Smoke nodded. “Yeah. From what you say, she has changed.”
“Yeah, but for the better, just grown up a bit and become more considerate. That’s no bad thing.”
“Hell, no. I’m not saying it is. Ignore me, okay? Laura says I can be like an old woman worrying sometimes.”
Ben smiled. “Yeah, but it’s only because you care.”
Smoke laughed. “It is. Just don’t tell anyone, okay?”
Ben smiled. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
They both turned at the sound of a knock on the door.
“Come in,” called Ben.
The door opened and Angel stood there. Ben’s heart sank. He’d been hoping he wouldn’t run into her today.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I was interrupting.”
“You’re not,” said Ben.
Smoke gave him a puzzled look. “I was just leaving.”
Damn. Ben was counting on him to stick around. “Hang on, we still have to figure out what we’re doing about ….” Damn. He couldn’t think of anything.
Smoke smiled at him through pursed lips. “Oh, yeah. It’s a good thing you reminded me.”
He smiled at Angel. “You can have him for two minutes, but then I need him back.”
Angel nodded at him uncertainly.
Ben waited, wondering what was coming.
Angel smiled at Smoke. “Would you mind giving me two minutes in private?”
Smoke looked at Ben who nodded.
“Sorry,” she said, once Smoke had closed the door behind him. “I shouldn’t interrupt you like this, but I’ve spent an hour working up the courage to come and see you. If I don’t say my piece now, I never will.”
“Okay.”
“I want to apologize again for last night.”
“I thought we were going to forget about it?”
“I can’t. And I don’t think you can either.”
Ben shook his head sadly. “I ….”
“I need to tell you,” she interrupted him. “This morning I thought about handing in my resignation.”
“There’s no need for that!”
She nodded. “I’m glad you think so; that’s what I decided, too. You see, I think, given time, you might admit that you feel something for me, too. I’m not going to be weird or anything. I’m just trying to be honest with you, Ben. I think you feel something for me, but you’re not ready to let go of your past yet. I think we’d make a great team. I accept that you don’t see me that way—not at the moment—but maybe you will.” She smiled hopefully.
Coming from any other woman, that would freak him out, but Angel was nothing if not honest.
“So, what do you think? Can we get back to business with the understanding—which after today will remain unspoken—that I’m hoping someday you’ll see me as something more than a colleague?”
