Secret Desires by Crystal Cierlak Page A

conversation were to truly transpire the way Natalie believed it would, she already knew her answer and wasn't yet prepared for the fallout it would create.
    "Yes, I can reschedule," she said finally.
    "Great." Joe stood and turned for the door. "I'll email your assistant the details."
    "Sounds good," she smiled before turning back to her computer.
    "Oh, and Natalie?"
    "Yes?" She looked up at Joe as he stood an arm's distance from the office threshold.
    "If I were asking you out, you would know it."
    He was gone before she could so much as open her mouth to respond with a sound, let alone actual words. Was Joe Gallo flirting with her? No, no it couldn't be. Besides, it wasn't like she was available. Not that he knew that...
    "Natalie Harlow?" came a voice from the door. She looked up half expecting him to have returned, but instead she was greeted by the same courier who had delivered James' Tiffany gift the previous day. "Package for you, ma'am."
    As she signed, the courier placed a box that was at least twice as big as the first delivery on her desk. She thanked him and he left swiftly and without many words. Luckily Shane seemed too engrossed in work at his desk to offer any commentary on the fact that she was receiving another delivery that only she could sign for. And she decided that was for the best when she unboxed the parcel and discovered inside yet another Tiffany blue box. Just as she reached out to open it her phone rang.
    "Natalie Harlow," she answered autonomously, her eyes still locked and curious on the box.
    "I wanted to experience your reaction when you opened it," James' voice came through the headset. "And since I have no legitimate reason for coming by Brighton today I figured hearing your reaction would be better than nothing."
    "You keep sending me gifts at work and people are going to start to wonder," she warned him playfully.
    "Are they?"
    "No," she admitted with a quick laugh. "Nobody cares about my personal life that much. But speaking of gifts this is too much! I didn't even properly thank you for the beautiful cuff from yesterday."
    "Hmmm, I'm pretty sure you did though. Or have you forgotten already?"
    Natalie crossed her legs and switched the phone to her other ear. "Hardly. I meant a proper thank-you though."
    "Improper Natalie was thank-you enough."
    She buried her face in her hand and tried to stifle the curl of laughter that came to surface.
    "Go ahead. Open it."
    "Okay," she sighed as she found her composure again. Balancing the phone between her head and shoulder, she used both hands to open the Tiffany box and peel back the many layers of delicately folded paper that shrouded a small, sterling silver picture frame. "It's us," she whispered.
    "It is."
    The photo contained inside the beautiful frame was of her, eyes closed and her mouth parted into a satisfied smile, James' lips at her ear. His face was mostly obscured; just the sharp angle of his jaw and slight profile was visible. It was from that morning. How had she missed him taking a photo of them together?
    "Now you have something to put on your desk."
    "James this is so-" She wanted to say it was romantic of him. "This is so wonderful. And beautiful."
    "It's not too presumptuous of me, is it?"
    "No," she smiled. "I mean it is a little. But it's actually quite perfect. Thank you."
    "You are very welcome, Natalie."
    She placed the frame on the right side of her computer screen where it would be out of view from anyone who happened into her office.
    "So about tonight," he started. Natalie escaped her thoughts of their morning together and cast a glance to the chair Joe Gallo had been sitting in only moments prior. "Unfortunately I need to cancel."
    Natalie had to instantly replay his words in her mind to make sure she actually heard him correctly. "Why?"
    There was a brief pause. Natalie could hear James taking a deep breath. "Celine called shortly after I got in this morning."
    Oh, Natalie thought as she resisted the urge to roll her