"He even told me you got engaged this past Valentine’s Day and were getting married next Valentine’s Day." On Derek’s face, Lori saw confusion, frustration, and some other emotion she couldn’t identify.
"I can’t believe he said all that." She rose. "Why would he make up a story like that?"
"He told me so many details I had to believe him."
"When did you have this conversation? I don’t even remember seeing you that day."
"You might not have seen me," Derek said. "But I certainly saw you. I talked to this Romeo while you went to wash your hands."
"Well, regardless of what he said, we are not engaged. We are not dating. We are not even friends anymore."
Derek frowned. "Did something happen?"
"He came on pretty strong over lunch. I thought we were just going for a casual, friendly meal. But he tried to pressure me into spending time with him, and he walked out on me when I told him I only wanted to be friends."
"That jerk! No wonder you looked unhappy when you got back to the office."
Unhappy was too mild a word to describe her emotions after resisting Rob’s crude advances and having to spend two weeks of bus fare on a lunch that gave her indigestion. However, she thought she’d hid her anger and frustration from her co-workers. Learning that her boss had noticed shocked her.
"Well, at least Rob never asked me out again. In fact, I haven’t even run into him in the hallway anymore."
"Okay, then, Rob’s out of the picture. Are you involved with anyone else?" he asked.
"How could I be involved with anyone? I just spent an hour telling you my life story. When have I had time for romance–hurrying from the hospital to the restaurant? Or maybe between waiting tables and GED classes?"
"Lori, you’re a beautiful woman — inside and out. You’ve worked for Consolidated Electronics for months, plenty of time for romance then," Derek said.
"Well, I haven’t been interested in anyone but . . ." Lori caught herself before she said ‘anyone but you.’ "I haven’t been interested in anyone."
"You mean I’ve wasted all this time?" Derek stepped closer and pulled her into a standing position. "All these months I’ve wanted to do this . . . "
Lori forgot elevators and neighbors and everything else as Derek wrapped her in his arms and drew her close. She reached up to meet his kiss. She didn’t have to wonder how his lips would feel any more. They felt warm, and moist, and soft, and loving. Did they really feel loving?
She didn’t have much experience with men, but she’d listened to other women and she’d read books. She knew a man could feel passion without feeling love. Derek had never noticed her before. He probably had a hot date planned tonight and getting stuck in the elevator with her ruined his plans. He’d said she was beautiful. Maybe he was attracted to her because he liked the way she looked and because they were stuck here in this tiny space. How would he feel when, if, they were finally released?
He deepened the kiss and pulled her closer. Her breasts were crushed against his chest and their bodies touched from head to toe. Heat seemed to be radiating from his body. Her insides melted. Could he be feeling anything like she was?
Slowly he ended the kiss, but his lips returned to her again and again for tiny nips and butterfly kisses. He put his hand on the back of her head and drew it down to his chest. He had held her in this position earlier to comfort her. This felt the same, but different — comforting but exciting, secure but dangerous.
Still holding her to him, he stepped back and leaned against the wall. He slid down to the floor and pulled her onto his lap. He kissed her neck and nibbled her earlobe.
"Wow," he said.
"Wow is right."
"Do you know I’ve been crazy about you since the day you first walked into the office?" he asked. "I was ready to throw that Rob guy out my window when he told me you were engaged."
Lori laughed at the image of Derek throwing Rob out the window. "I’ve never seen you resort to physical violence. Well, nothing more violent than slamming down the receiver on the phone."
"But you’ve never seen me stake my claim on the woman I love," he said.
"No, I haven’t. As a matter of fact, I don’t recall any broken windows or injured neighbors," she teased. "So I guess there’s been no claim staked."
"The claim is being staked right now." He shifted her position on his outstretched legs and hugged her even tighter. "I controlled myself and didn’t toss that idiot out the window only because I love you so much."