Is This The Real Thing

Chapter Nine

His look was true and and intense. She looked down, with her face a bit pink with embarrassment, but her ego slightly inflated. He clapped his hands together and exclaimed,         " Ok, let's get started, What do you say."  He smiled this irresistible smile and she melted. They jumped right in, moving desks, cleaning the filing cabinets out. The piles of unwanted folders had grown to a heap. He pulled a stack of papers from one cabinet and tossed them in the floor, they plopped themselves down in the middle of them all to sort through. The conversation between the two had been light, he asked her general questions about her family, just to get the feel for her. He gave her information about his work and some of the places he had been. She was enthralled with what he told her. As they sat on the floor, sorting the folders, she revealed her dreams to him. " I'm going to write a novel," she stated with a smile, "  That's my dream, to move off to a beautiful exotic place and write."  Her face took on a magical glow as she voiced all of her inner most desires to him. He couldn't take his eyes off of her, " Where has she been all of my life,"  he thought, this unusual and sensual woman."  He knew what ever she wrote would be fantastic and he couldn't wait to read it. 

Sanem had never revealed so much of herself to anyone so quickly before, but he was so easy to talk to. She had misjudged him, he was not at all the spoiled, self centered rich guy she thought him to be. He made her want to tell him everything, she told him stories of her life growing up in the neighborhood, the good and the bad. They laughed, they enjoyed each other, so much that it was quite a surprise to her. For hours they work and talked, getting to know one another. He was in awe of her, her mind worked in such a special way, it amazed him.  It had passed the time for lunch, the time had flown by, he asked if she was hungry, " Sanem , are you hungry,  I'm staving. " Let's order pizza and eat as we work, is that ok with you? "  She nodded in agreement, she too was starving. He ordered and she went upstairs to get their tea. Her mood was jubilant, she entire office was staring at her as she made their tea. Ms. Deren walked up to her, leaned in close to her and whispered, " Sanem, my dear, watch what you do." I would hate for you to lose your job over some useless mistake and also have your heart crushed. "  She smiled, patted Sanem on the shoulder and walked back to her office. She grabbed their tea and hurried back to the archive room. He had cleared a spot on the floor, spread out an old blanket that had been stored down there, and sitting there waiting for her. He smiled as she entered the room, it made her weak in the knees. He reached for his tea, then for hers, and helped her to sit down on the blanket. His mind was boggled with all he had found out about her, but not once had she mentioned a fiancé or marriage. Maybe it wasn't foremost in her mind.....he was hoping.

The pizza arrived, he spread it out and they dived into it like they hadn't eaten in days. It was the best pizza he had ever eaten, the company was the best and the tea, well.....he just couldn't get enough. He felt the easiness between the two of them, the way it seems so natural , them eating, laughing and enjoying each other.  She was telling him some story about her and her friend Ayhan, the details had avoided him, but her animation in telling about it filled his heart with joy. All he could do was smile, how did she make him so happy. He wondered. This kind of happiness had been so foreign to him. The thought of the day ending was already bringing him pain. But if he was lucky he could stretch this task out a couple more days. Allowing him more time alone with her and letting them find that special bond. They were both engrossed in the story as they reached for the last piece of pizza, their hands collided and then stuck together as if they were magnets, bringing a halt to their conversation. His fingers gently slide over the top of her hand, it brought a chill to her that made her shutter. His eyes couldn't leave hers, this woman brought him alive. She stirred all of his senses, and he could tell he did the same to her. A look of,  " the need to know more ," circled each of them. Her heart was pounding, " Why can't I move my hand, " she thought frantically. The sound of her beating heart echoed in her head, her chest felt tight and restricted. He held the firm hold on her hand, the look from his eyes captivated her, and without hesitation she returned the gesture by gently squeezing his hand. 

It was no more than seconds, but the feeling was that of an eternity. It was powerful and meaningful, for both of them. Just a touch of a finger had erupted the possibility of so much. She loved it......that feeling, it was just like the last time they touched. " What does this mean, " she thought, her mind was foggy but the feeling was clear.....did he feel it too. In her deepest self she hoped he did. The silence grew as their touch intensified. The sound of a voice broke their touch, " Sanem, what are you doing here, are you ok"  Adin spewed, " What's going on."  They both jumped, Sanem tried to compose herself,  with the contact quickly broken, she jumped to her feet. " Adin, she stuttered,  what are you doing here? "  The look from his eyes crushed her, the doubt she saw from him shamed her.  With unexpected calmness he said, " Have you forgotten, our date with the realtor to view our possible new home."  He defiantly gazed at Can, as if to stake his territory with only a glance.  Can's eyes refused to look away, he was strong with his look of opposition. Sanem was uneasy and started to explain herself, but Adin raised his hand to silence her. " There's no need to explain Sanem, " he said, " Let's just go, we're running late."  He took her hand and pulled her in front of him, she shifted her eyes to Can, with a look of longing, she turned to walk out. Adin hesitated, that one last look bore into Can, with determination, but more than that, Can saw fear......And they were gone...

Can stared at the door forever....so that was him, the fiancé she didn't talk about. 

He smiled, recalling that last look from her.......