Lost & Found

Chapter 11

Will and Christina name their new son Malik Jeffry Turner, and Tris reports that he's as beautiful and healthy as his siblings. She stays with the kids on Tuesday and until their parents get home around noon on Wednesday. She offers to come into the office Wednesday afternoon, but as much as I'd like to see her, I figure she wants to spend some time with the baby, then relax after all the babysitting.

We texted nearly the entire time she was away, and talked on the phone a few times, too. Still, I feel like I haven't seen her in a month by Thursday morning, and I can't wait to get to work.

When I open the door from the stairwell, Tris is already at her desk. Her head pops up like a lemur in a nature show, and I grin when I see she looks as eager as I feel.

"Miss Prior," I greet her as she stands. She's wearing a grey pencil skirt and a sage green cashmere sweater. Both are fitted and sexy, but completely office appropriate.

"Mr. Easton," she says with a light blush.

"Welcome back," I say warmly. "May I see you in my office for a moment?"

Tris nods, and we duck into my office where I close the door and immediately scoop Tris into my arms.

"I missed you," I say.

"I missed you too," she replies before kissing me.

We exchange a few kisses, and I love the feel of her warm body pressed against mine.

"Your sweater is so soft," I tell her when we finally pull apart. "I'm going to have trouble keeping my hands to myself."

"I have a feeling we'll both have that problem," she confesses with another expressive flush on her cheeks. "But we really have to keep things professional in the office. I don't want to start rumors or anything."

"I know," I agree, then press a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"Now get back to work," Tris says,  playfully attempting to lighten the mood. "We have an empire to run."

.

Friday brings snow, and the promise - or threat, depending on your perspective - of an entire snowed-in weekend. I'm crushed. Tris and I had plans for our first real date on Saturday night, but by noon on Friday things are getting canceled and shut down all over the city. When they announce that local schools will be letting out early, I send my staff home, too.

"Tobias?" I startle at the unexpected but sweet voice of my assistant.

"Tris," I say, "why are you still here? Everyone else is gone."

"I had a few things to finish," Tris explains. "I'm heading out now. But I was… I was just wondering if you might like to… come home with me for the weekend? I have a second bedroom where you can sleep, and plenty of food and everything. I just thought you might like that better than being snowed in at a hotel."

Her blush is absolutely adorable, and I can't help but smile at the prospect of an entire weekend snowed in with Tris.

"I'd love to," I agree.

After talking over a few details, Tris heads home, and I run back to my hotel for a few things. The roads are already bad, and the drive that should have taken me ten minutes takes nearly thirty minutes of white knuckles and thanking God for all-wheel drive.

I manage just one knock on the door to Tris' apartment before it flies open.

"You're here!" Tris exclaims, then hugs me fiercely. "You took so long, and the roads are so bad. I was worried."

I hug her for a long moment while reassuring her that I'm fine. She shows me around her cozy two-bedroom apartment. We talk about dinner. Everything is warm, comfortable, and a strange mix of safe and exciting with Tris.