Life On a Dime

Chapter Four: One Kiss

Jeff's lips pulled back in a smart smile, his eyes flat. Seriously, what had she ever seen in him?

"Go to hell," Alex said. "And close my door on your way out."

Mickey hooted as they left. "What did you do to her, Casanova?"

Stop shaking. Stop, she coached herself. Calm down. Get a grip. "What is he doing here?" Alex said out loud.

"He comes weekly and has lunch with Mickey," Stuart said.

"Let me guess. Every Monday, a pricey lunch at a local steakhouse, complete with liquor," Alex said. "That explains the expense reports and mileage. I didn't think he had a client this far out. I don't know why Tom Daly tolerates it."

"You knew Jeffrey was Mickey's genetic offspring, didn't you?" Stuart said. Alex cocked her head, hearing, but not comprehending.

"Mickey is Jeffrey's male parent. You do see the similarities." Again he paused. The pieces clicked in place, but slowly, as Alex resisted the meaning.

"You didn't know. Oh, my god, Alex, tell me that's not the moronic low life you left town over."

Alex couldn't speak.

"Alex, how could you do that to yourself? I gave you credit for better judgment than that. Seriously?" Stuart spoke in such an outraged, overly dramatic manner, Alex couldn't help it. She smiled.

"It's true. Please don't tell anybody. I'm kind of ashamed," Alex said.

"You should be. A woman like you with a pinheaded bugger like that? It doesn't make sense to me," Stuart said.

"I was more of a girl, less of a woman," Alex said.

"Of course you were. He can't take advantage of a woman. Would you like to review this contract list over lunch?"

An hour with Stuart, though it was all work chatter, and Alex's world was once again aligned, until Stuart did something Alex hadn't expected. He leaned over in the car and kissed her. Briefly, he touched his lips to hers. Then he drove back to the office as if nothing unusual happened. He never mentioned it, didn't pause and gaze in her eyes, didn't gush that he really, really like her. He simply kissed her, then continued talking like it was ordinary to kiss a co-worker he'd taken to lunch.

Alex sat in her office, pausing often to look up and re-think the moment. Was she going crazy? He had kissed her, hadn't he? Yes, she thought as she touched her lip. He had kissed her, and his lips were warm and soft. He had kissed her, like it was an everyday thing to do. He had kissed her as if he liked her and assumed it was okay.

By Friday, Alex was running the financial side of the office and was ready for a break. Stuart hadn't lied. Mickey contributed zilch to the office. Mickey typically left at lunch and didn't return. Stuart ran the warehouse and operations; Alex ran everything financial. Mickey signed his name, then waved her out of his huge office. Every day, same routine.

Friday morning, Mickey motioned for her to sit after he signed. Mickey's office was the opposite of her former boss's at corporate. Tom Daly's corporate office was stark with hard floors and minimal furniture. Mickey's was carpeted in soft burgundy pile. His desk was mahogany with a gold clock next to a gold frame. To the side was a leather settee. A sideboard held a gold and crystal whiskey decanter and matching glasses. The scent of rose petals would have matched the décor. Yet, Alex was sure she smelled potato chips.

"So, how you doing your first couple weeks here? Everything peachy?" Mickey said.

"Yes," Alex said, about to elaborate, but Mickey cut her off.