Unexpected

Shakespeare Garden

“Wow! This is beautiful like something out of a fairytale book!” Rachel exclaimed waving her hands around the park. Yeah so are you.

“How did you find this place?” she looked at me as if I just found El Dorado.

I chuckled and said,“I was out jogging one weekend and I just happened to stumble onto this place.”

I reached out my elbow for her to hold while we climbed down the stairs strolling through the park. We walked along a path that had beautiful flowers blooming even though it was almost fall. It was around 11pm so the cool night air coming off the pond mixed with the flowers smelled refreshing. We passed a cute cottage house and they even had an amphitheater that had the perfect view of a castle. It was so amusing watching Rachel take in everything like an amazed child. She told me when she was younger she dreamed of a Prince Charming coming to sweep her off her feet and they stayed happily ever after in a castle but she barely had time to think about finding a prince. She also revealed how she was an orphan and even though she had money put up in a trust she still wanted to work and earn a decent living to support her adoptive guardians because they wouldn’t take a dime of her trust. They were getting older and she wanted to spend as much time with them as possible being they were her only family. I could only admire the strong willed woman in front of me. Not only was she beautiful but she had a kind heart. As much as she has been through most people would be bitter but she finds a way to excel at work and still have a wonderful attitude about life.

Damn it Rachel I’m not supposed to be falling for you.

“We talked about about me, tell me about you.” she said leaning on the rail overlooking the pond.

“There’s not too much to tell. I’m just your average guy. I went to college to take over my dad’s oil business and when I felt like I was just going though the motion of what my dad wanted me to be I took some extra courses in journalism, print and advertising. One of my trust requirements was to graduate and I did but instead of taking over I used the money to start my own magazine company. My dad was livid but eventually he got over it. My mom was just glad to have her boys not fighting.”

She looked back at me and smiled, “There’s only one thing I have to say to that Sam.”

“Yeah and what’s that” I said leaning on the rail beside her.

“You’re anything but average.” she patted my chest and threw a wink before she started back strolling down the path. I couldn’t help but stand there and watch her hips naturally sway as she walked away. I jogged to catch up to her. Her long legs taking her a good distance. We finally hit the end of the path on the other side of the park. I saw a food truck sitting on the corner.

“You hungry?” I asked her.

“Starving.” she replies.

“Well let me take you before you step on my shoes again.” I tease her as I grab her hand to cross the street.

I order us some street tacos and lemonade. We crossed back over the street to sit on a nearby bench. We sat in silence until I finally had to get something off my chest.

“I like you” I confessed. She stopped mid chew.

“I know I’m your boss and this can be a bit awkward but, I can’t help the way I feel. If I’m not being too forward, I think you might feel some sort of way about me too”

She continued to slowly chew her food as if she was in deep thought. I continued on,

“If you don’t feel the same about me I wanna know that your job would not be in jeopardy, hell I’d be a fool to let one of the best editors on my team go.”

That one earned me a smile as she chewed her last bit and took a swallow of the lemonade to wash it down.

I waited patiently for her to say something (anything!) and I almost started to sweat despite the cool temperature. Just as I was about to open my mouth to apologize she held up her hand and gave me a look to let her talk.

“I can’t think of you are gonna keep piling on” she said with a smile. “I like you too Sam”

I almost leaped for joy but I held it in.

“But your my boss an...” she started to say but I interrupted.

“Exactly! I’m the boss I make the rules of my company. If you prefer, we can keep it hush for a while. It wouldn’t be taken the wrong way in the workplace if no one knows until we are ready.”

I started to get excited with the possibility of this actually working. My heart beat started to pick up thinking about being able to touch and hold her because she’s mine and not just a coworker.

“Sam it all sounds great but I don’t think it would work” she said he eyes holding in a sadness.

“Why not Rachel? Give me a good reason not to”

She stared down at her fingers.

“What if it doesn’t work out” she whispers.

I reached out my fingers to lift up her chin her eyes holding another battle between want and reason. I knew only one way to tip the scales in our favor. I did what I’ve been wanting to do since she first walked through the elevator on my floor.

I claimed her lips as mine.