Chapter fifteen

Laura limped in a few minuted before I opened the shop.She went straight for the coffee and poured herself a cup while I wiped the counter down.''I'm going to crawl into a corner and go into a coma.''

She slammed her coffee and poured herself another cup.

I put my rag away and grabbed a bottle of window cleaner and handful of papre towels .''Not a chance in hell, sweetheart.I need you here.''

''I'm going to need a cane.''She grabbed a donut from the dispay case.

''We're almpst over the hump.''

the weekends were always slowere because the office crowds weren't around .

''Easy for you to say,Im going to be here alone tomorrow while you sleep your night of sweet lovin.''

I turned my head to hide my smile, but it was too late.She was already glaring at me.

''What?''I asked .''You were the one who told me to go out and have some fun.''

''You are going too fast .I can see it.You're already planning out your wedding vows looking up cake recipes.''

''Thats not true.''I finished.wiping the display case and moved onto the next.

''Look at the way you blush everytime I mention him.You're like a teenage girl.it worries me.He's not just one guy , money ar not.''

''Its not the money.''

''What is it then?''She chugged her coffee and poured herself another cup.

''I dont know .I'm not even sure there is an 'it' yet.''

''Iam .I dont think I've ever seen you like this before.Remember yesterday?''

''I dont know what you're talking about .''

''Yes, you do.''She stood her ground.

''I dont want to talk about it''

We need to.I'm not making up for your mistakes in the kitchen.''

''Why not?I make up for yours all the time ''I turned my focus back to cleaning the display case.

''You burnt two batches of cookies because you were staring into space, dreaming about your lover boy .He's distracting you from work.''

My phone started ringing in my pocket .It was Archer .Laura glanced my way androlled her eyes when I answered it.

''Hello?''

''Hi,''Archer said.

''You made my week, I just have to say that.I've had people coming in by the dozens , all of them saying that they loved the cookies you brought to the office .You must've given everybody one just to make sure they all tried them .The enetire company is hooked .I swear. We can't keep up wth orders.''I walked into the lobby for some privacy.

''I'm glad to hear that.''

''It's been amazing .I made almost a month's wort of profit in a week.''

''That's good.''

''I dont know how you did it , but I really have to thank you.''

''You're welcome.''

''Whats the plan tonight? Are you thinking dinner?I loved the scampi last time.Maybe we could go to a lobster place.They have one a acouple of blocks from the bakery where they make their own biscuits , and the fly in the seafood fresh from the sea everyday.''

''About that...'

''Or maybe something exotic like thai food ? I havent had -''

''Maya staop.''

I braced myself against the counter,''What's wrong?''

''I hope its not too much trouble.I just dont think I'll be able to get his evening .I have to stay after work and deal with some paperwork.''

''Oh,''I said , trying not to sound too disappointed.''That's alright We can go Saturday.I'm off''

''No,I dont think thats a good idea.''

''Okay,''I said feeling like an idiot

''I'm sorry.''

I couldnt tell whather he was being sincere about that or not .He was too neutral .Maybe he didn't care.Maybe he was trying to hide the fact that he didn't really want to cancel.I wanted to ask him why, but I didnt want to sound desperate.I wasn't but i was disappointed ,And I still had no idea what was going on with him.It seemed like something was holding him back from being with me.
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There was a knock at my office door when I hung up the phone.''Come in''Moses walked in and sat down .''How are you?'' he asked.''All right,'' I said, leaning back in my chair .''How about yourself?"''These techs are driving me crazy. They're running around acting like they just invented the nuclear bomb''I forced myself to laugh.''Atleast they're excited about the project.''Moses nodded.''I suppose so. They're talking about rigging up the heat sensors to alarm the pilot when certain temperatures are identified .I think its a good idea.''''Sounds good to me.''''It would take us sometime to write the software, but we can probably get it working by the end of the quarter.''''That works.''I took a sip of my coffee.''You look like you just came back from the dead.''''Nah, Im just tired .''''Least you've got something to look foward to tonight, eh? You'll be up all night , but atleast it'll be worth it.''''No.''I shook my head .''I had to cut her loose.''''What? Dude , last time I talked to you, you were practically whipped. what happened?''''Nohing. I just came to my senses is all.It's not like she's going to stick around when she sees what my life is like. I cant even go two days with some decent sleep.''
''I know it. That's why you have to have a little fun.Get your dick wet.''''I'm too damn busy to be chasing like some sex-crazed teenager. I have a multi-billion dollar firm to run. There's no room for anything.''''You dont like it , though.''''No, I dont like it.''I said.''But it's the truth , and I'm going to have to accept it.''''I still say we should go out tonight and have a little fun. You cant base everything on work .You have to find a way to blow off some steam or else you'll go nuts.''I've got a lot to do . Go ahead and start on the sensor system .See if you cant work on something similar for the other sensors.''''No worries. You wanna go have a adrink , just let me know.''''I will .Thanks .''Moses left and I went back to work.The day went by slowly. I founs myself thinking of Maya when peple were trying to talk to meand staring into space wondering whether or not i should call and reschedule with her.I stayed late sighning paperwork and going over the orders with some of the men from the navy. They wre trying to retrofit one of our newer planes with Moses sensor and wanted to know every single detail.I gave them as much as I could and referred them to Moses for the rest.I didnt get home until six o'clock , right about the time I wouldve been getting ready for my date.I waled up to the bedroom where Mona was cleaning up.She looked up and aske.''Whats wrong ?''''Why does everyone keep asking me that?I'm just tired.''She marked her place in her book and followed me out into the hall where she leaned against the banister casually.She stared me down with sharp and squinty eyes.''You're always tired .People expect it .If you wre just tired, then people wouldnt be saying anything.''''Fine, I had to cancel my date, and I feel like a complex pick.''''Why did you cancel it ? I thought you liked her.''''I do like her .That's why am cutting her loose.''''You're hurting her because you like her?what kind of nonsense is that?''''No, I'm saving her from having to put up with me.''''Youre not saving that woman from anything apart from a good night out.It's your second date , and you're worried about intergrating your life with hers?''''I have to be realistic.She's struggling to survive. She doesnt need the stress, I dont think she'll stay around for it, either.Her life is just chaotic as mine and work is her main priorty.''''You are in dire need of a good woman.''Someone who can come in and give you full attention and love.So unless you are going to marry me, you need to get out there and find a woman like that,''''I'm not going to ask her to be my woman.''''Look at me .Im overweight, I smoked for thirty years, and I've had enough liqour in my liver to last three generations.I'm not going to be around forever to help out atleast. Archer.''''Its too big a risk .I know she likes me,Mona, and I dont want her to get hurt when thngs dont work out.''''You're assuming that they wont.''''I'm being pragmatic.''''pragmatism isnt going to get you anywher. Love is a risk ,Archer its one of the most dangerous risks a person will ever take , but it's the most rewarding thing you'll everdo.''''I dont even know if rthat's what this is''''Thats the point .You dont know what's going to happen , and I know that scares you, but what if you're working yorself up over nothing? What if she decides that she loves you and wants to saty?''I dont know. Would you believe we would be having this conversation a month ago.?''I laughed.''No.''''Nothing is for certain,Archer, and ther's nothing wrong with that.Work with life: dont fight it.If you fight it, You'll be struggling until you die.''''Why do you think she'so important?You've never met her.''''I'm not sure she is ,I'm just as pragmatic as you are, but I know that eventually you're going to have to take this this step,Whether it's with her or with somebody else.And you've done enough to this poor girl already. Three times now you've screwed this up.If she's put up with this much, and she still wants to se you, she deserves more credit than you give her,''''Still , I dont want to get into anything that will probably end up in disaster.''''Why?''she asked.''It's too dangerous .She could get hurt.''''You're not worried about her Archer.its you you are worried for, you are scared you'll loose someone you love again.''''That's not true,''''I get it.'' she said holding her heads up in mock resignation.''You are macho, you are invisisble. I'll go back to mocking you in a moment.Dont worry.But right now ,you need to listen me.The risk is minimal.you are not attached , and neither is she.If she walks away right now.It wont matter youll go back to where you left off.''''True, but...''She rose one eyebrow .''Go up to your room and call her.''''I'm going to go get changed.I think Ill call her, but I'll keep whet you said in mind.''''You do that.''She patted me on the shouldre and walked back into the room.A woman would change thing.