Working Romance - Susan Kohler

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pinched Jack on his behind. “So get in, Buns.”

      Just as Jack climbed into the minivan Suzy asked, “Mommy, why did Aunt Laura call Uncle Jack Buns?”

      Just as Kate was trying to figure out a good answer for that one, Sarah answered, “Dummy! It’s because Uncle Jack ate so many hamburgers!”

      The sound of adult laughter filled the minivan.

      The next morning was Kate’s first day of work in over five years, since shortly before Sam had been born. She was at various times: anxious, excited, and filled with nervous energy and secret anticipation at the prospect of seeing Bob again.

      With all that going on, of course it turned out to be one of those mornings. The kind of morning working moms are all too familiar with. She had quite a struggle getting the kids out of bed, not to mention dressed and fed, before dropping them off at her parents’ house, and getting herself to the office.

      First, the twins had a food fight with the cereal and she had to change their clothes. There was spilled milk, sugar, and corn flakes all over the kitchen table, and dirty dishes in the sink. Then she started to put the kids into the van but she couldn’t find Sam. When last seen, he had gone outside to play with the dogs so Kate went into the backyard to look for him.

      When she found Sam, he was crawling under a hedge trying to retrieve a missing dog toy. He was muddy, dirty, and his T-shirt, his new T-shirt, was torn. She was running too late to bother trying to change him into clean clothes. Just to be on the safe side, she grabbed clean shorts and T-shirts for all three kids, gathered her brood and got them into her slightly battered van.

      The kids were firmly strapped into their car seats but still cranky from being dragged out of the house at such an early hour, so the ride to her parents’ house was anything but peaceful and quiet. She was glad when she finally got there and deposited the little angels with her mother. She handed the spare clothes over to her mom with a sigh of gratitude.

      “Thanks Mom, I’ll pick them up after work. Be sure to tell Dad I said that I love him.” She grinned ruefully. “I realized one thing this morning.”

      “What’s that, dear?” Her mother’s eyes sparkled with humor as she took in the bedraggled kids; Sam still dressed in his dirty shorts and the torn t-shirt, and noticed Kate’s air of nervous frustration.

      “I should have listened more closely to your lectures on birth control.” She said it absolutely deadpanned, and it took a moment for it to sink in.

      “What a terrible thing to say about these little darlings!” Her mother laughed knowingly as she let the kids into the house. “But it does give me a small sense of justice to see them running you ragged. You were quite a handful.”

      “Oh please, give me strength. I was nothing compared to Sam.” Kate rolled her eyes. “And that’s not even mentioning the twins. You had it easy. I’d better run or I’ll be late for my first day.”

      Somehow, Kate made it to the office on time. She arrived at the large, glass-covered office building at five minutes to eight looking cool, poised, and professional in a navy pinstripe suit with an ivory silk blouse. Although she had been told that the office had a business casual dress code, for her first day she had decided to wear her most professional and businesslike suit. She wanted to try to erase all traces of her appearance from the day before out of Bob’s memory.

      The truth was, however, that deep down she hoped it took a lot more than a dignified business suit to make Bob forget his first sight of her. The only hint of the fire in her nature was a hot pink bow that somehow managed not to clash with her deep red hair.

      She walked up to a slender, young black woman who was drinking coffee at the receptionist’s desk.

      “Hello, I’m Kate Winslow, I’m a temporary who’s starting work here today, and I’m supposed to ask for Mr. Simmons,” she said, smiling at the woman. “Could you please direct me to him?”

      “Hi! Welcome to the madhouse. I’m Cheryl, the receptionist at this zoo. I’ll take you in to Mr. Simmons’ office. Please, follow me.” She led Kate to a corner office and knocked on the door. “Bob, the new temp from the agency is here.”

      “Come in, I’m Bob Simmons. Welcome to Lassen-McRoe.” Bob looked wonderful in charcoal gray pants and a crisp, pale blue shirt. His tasteful, conservative clothes, however, were topped off by a wildly colorful tie. He shook her hand and then gestured at a chair and said, “Please, have a seat. Would you like some coffee?”

      Cheryl, who was still standing at the door, volunteered to go get her some coffee and a donut. As soon as she had gone, Bob looked at Kate and gave her a wink that sent a chill clear down her spine.

      “I hope you really appreciate how cool and professional I’m being today,” he said with a grin.

      “I do, at least I guess I do,” Kate admitted, looking around. “But I have to confess, I hope it isn’t too easy. Nice, very nice, but is this a business office or one of those snooty British men’s clubs?”

      Bob had a very large, formal office, with dark wood paneled walls. There were several framed oil paintings depicting fox hunting scenes hanging on the walls and a deep red plaid carpet on the floor. He had a dark red genuine leather armchair and a matching sofa. A triangular table in the corner had a brass lamp on it. Bob’s desk was mahogany, and huge. He also had a brass floor lamp. There was a large potted fern in the corner, and to top it all off there was a wood and brass ceiling fan.

      “It is kind of anachronistic, isn’t it? It used to be the office of the Chairman of the Board until corporate was moved back to Texas. His wife thought she was a decorator. I inherited it. I’ll admit that I do like it, but I’m glad it’s not a men’s club where no women are ever allowed. If I had my way, I’d chase you around this big desk, and when I caught you,” he grinned, “I’d throw you down on the sofa.”

      “You couldn’t chase me around the desk.” Kate flashed him a smile with a bit of the devil in it. “I wouldn’t run.”

      “Vixen!” Bob laughed. “I can tell I’m going to have one heck of a hard time concentrating on my work today.”

      “Good, that makes two of us.” Kate stopped talking abruptly as Cheryl brought in the coffee and some fresh buttermilk donuts, glazed of course.

      “Let me finish explaining your job, then I’ll introduce you to Laura, my assistant controller. She will show you around the office,” Bob was saying calmly, just as Cheryl entered.

      They sat there and enjoyed their morning coffee and each other’s company for a short time. For all their banter, when they finally got down to business, the sexual electricity sizzling between them turned out not to be a problem. Because they were both mature adults, their personal feelings didn’t interfere with their work. It was as if they had both tucked their awareness of each other away somewhere for future reference.

      Bob went over the department structure with her, then showed her basics of the computer system, and assigned her a password. Lastly, he went over the last completed ledgers for accounts payable with her. He had been reviewing them at his desk.

      Bob then took Kate to Laura’s office. It was a decided step down from his both in size and in lavish decoration, however it was more comfortable and tasteful. Laura had the same slate blue carpet as the rest of the office, but her walls were a pale rose instead of the eggshell paint that covered the rest of the offices. She had several framed pastel prints on her walls, and sleek pecan office furniture. The cool professional effect was only slightly spoiled by the stack of papers strewn all over her desk. Laura took Kate around to the workstations, most of them being small cubicles with a computer, a desk, file cabinets and several shelves.

      All of them had various decorations and personal touches to provide clues to the personality of their

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