You're All I Need

by Karen White-Owens

  Surprised, he glanced around before realizing that she was talking to him. He entered the crowded room but hung back.

  “Well, it’s good to see all of you,” Grandma stated with a sloping smile. “Even you over there.” She pointed at Chris.

  Grandma Ruth let out a huge yawn and sank farther into the hospital bed. “I’m glad I saw all of you. I’m tired. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  18

  Chris strolled up to Tia’s workstation with his open laptop in one hand and his suit jacket in the other. “I just got a call from Reynolds’s executive assistant. He needs to see me right now.” He placed the computer on the corner of her desk and stuffed his arms into the jacket.

  Tia grinned. The tip of her pink tongue was visible between her teeth.

  For a moment, Chris stared, intrigued by the sight of her mouth. The urge to kiss her silly grin pulled at his heart. He ignored that impulse, instead concentrating on buttoning his jacket. They had agreed to keep things professional on the job. Later, he promised silently, wishing he could sneak a quick taste. Later, he planned to drink from her lips like a diabetic trying to quench his endless thirst.

  Frowning, Tia touched his hand. Her soft, fleeting caress spread through him like molten lava. “You okay?”

  I’m not going to let Tia know what I’m thinking. She’ll tease me unmercifully if she knew I was focused completely on her mouth and how sweet she tastes. “Absolutely, my love. Why were you grinning?” Chris asked.

  “Déjà vu.”

  “Oui. You’re finally learning French,” he teased, bowing from the waist.

  “Ha-ha.” She leaned forward and added, “You’re so funny.”

  “I aim to please.”

  “And you do. In more than one way.” Grinning back at Chris, Tia scribbled something on a small blue sticky note and stuck it to his monitor before he snapped it shut.

  Chris felt his flesh lengthen in his trousers. Great, just what I need to have happen before a meeting with the boss. There were times when he found Ms. Tia Edwards far too enticing. Today was definitely one of those times.

  “Adam ran off to Reynolds’s office the day you started here. Do you think Reynolds has someone new in mind for your job?” she teased, grinning broadly.

  “Oh! You’re just full of good cheer.” Chris tapped the edge of her nose with his finger. “Very cute.” He picked up his laptop and started down the hall. He turned to face her and asked, “Lunch?”

  “Sure. What time do you think you’ll be back?”

  He checked his watch. “I figure around one. This shouldn’t take too long.”

  Tia waved. “See you.”

  I love that woman, he thought as he strolled down the corridor. Tia filled his life with such joy that he had a difficult time leaving her. One question remained in his head. Did she love him? They were cruising toward some very important aspects of their relationship. Maybe it was time for him to plan a special date at a special place to reveal his heart and learn how she felt about him.

  Chris turned his attention to his boss and this impromptu meeting. What did Reynolds want? he wondered, doing a mental recap of his current projects as he strolled down the red-carpeted hallway to Reynolds Gautier’s row of suites. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t think of a single reason for this meeting. Normally, Reynolds, Adam, and Chris met on a weekly basis to discuss issues and problems that may have cropped up. This unscheduled meeting without Adam worried Chris.

  Shaking his head, he chuckled softly. He felt like a kid being summoned to explain some misdeed to his papa. His projects were up-to-date. The real estate deal in Mexico had gone through as smooth as a fine glass of French Beaujolais wine, and the next phase of the acquisition of the Flint properties was moving ahead without a hitch.

  Chris halted at a set of carved wooden doors. He straightened his tie before entering Reynolds’s suite of offices. Whatever the problem, he’d find out in a few minutes.

  He hoped Reynolds wasn’t upset with something he’d done and planned to reprimand him. Everything in his life seemed to be going pretty well. A broad smile flashed across his face as he considered how his life had changed since moving to the United States.

  Tia was at the heart of all of his good fortune. She was great, perfect. He’d never been this happy in any other relationship.

  Although Mrs. Edwards hadn’t warmed up to him yet, the rest of the family seemed to have accepted him. At the very least, Chris thought again, they tolerated his presence at their family functions. He could live with that, because he planned to be at Tia’s side, whatever the situation.

  Reynolds’s executive assistant, Angela, greeted him from her desk when he arrived. Instantly, she rose and led Chris into Reynolds’s empty office. Lips pressed together, Chris turned to Angela with a question in his eyes. Instantly, she began to explain. “Right after I called you, he had to step out of the office for a minute.”

  She waved a hand toward the empty chair on the opposite side of the desk and said, “Relax. Have a seat. Reynolds will be with you in a moment.”

  Chris nodded and then watched Angela leave the room.

  Although he spent a great deal of time inside these walls, Reynolds’s office always impressed him. Reynolds’s office was larger than Chris’s and Adam’s offices combined. The massive desk, large leather executive chair, and accoutrements in the office declared Reynolds the leader.

  Taking Angela’s suggestion, Chris took a chair facing Reynolds’s desk, where he placed his laptop to turn it on. He scrolled through his current projects, preparing to offer Reynolds a quick update on his works in progress. His gaze fell on the note Tia had stuck on his monitor. Don’t forget, you owe me a kiss.

  Yes, I do. Chris’s thoughts returned to that pink tongue he wanted to taste only minutes ago.

  The door opened and the white-haired and portly Reynolds strolled into the office. “Bonjour. Sorry about the delay. I got caught by one of the design staff.”

  Chris stood, waiting until Reynolds stood behind his desk. The men shook hands.

  Reynolds waved a hand at him and said in his native language, “Sit, sit.” Once the older man sat, Chris did the same and they began an exchange in French. After speaking English so much, the attorney found it enjoyable and refreshing to speak in his native language.

  “You’ve been with us about four months.” Reynolds linked his hands and leaned forward. “You seem to have settled in and are getting on quite well.”

  “I like my job,” Chris answered truthfully while silently trying to figure out where this conversation was heading.

  “How about your home? Have you settled in?”

  Nodding, Chris responded, “Oui.”

  Silence followed Chris’s answer. He got the impression that Reynolds was debating his next move. Chris sat back in his chair to wait. No one rushed the head of Gautier International Motors. When Reynolds felt ready to explain, he would.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause you any additional stress. I should tell you that you’re doing an excellent job. I’m pleased with how you’ve integrated yourself into the department and completed the work. Adam is pleased with how you’ve handled your assignments and so am I.”

  That sounded like good news. Why hadn’t Reynolds put all of this in an e-mail or voice message? Why the face-to-face? “Thank you.”

  “There’s more.” Chuckling softly, Reynolds leaned deeper into his executive chair. He tented his fingertips. “I’m having some trouble in our home office.”

  “Oh?” Frowning, Chris leaned forward, anxious to hear what Reynolds had to say. After all, he trained in that office and knew most of the people in the legal department.

  Nodding, Reynolds explained further, “I had to place the director on administrative leave last week.”

  “You’re not talking about Pierce Joyce, are you?”

  “Oui.”

  Stunned, Chris sagged against the back of his chair and stroked his chin thoughtfully. He h
ad trained under Pierce and found the man to be a wonderful mentor. This was quite a surprise. “You fired Pierce?”

  “Not yet. It’s coming.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. I’ve always found Pierce to be extremely helpful.”

  “Pierce is very good at his work. I’ve always given him high marks in that area. Unfortunately, he also considers himself quite the ladies’ man.” Reynolds pulled a legal document from his desk drawer and slid it across the desk.

  Chris picked it up and studied it for a moment. It was a complaint filed in the French courts.

  “It’s come to my attention that Pierce has been far too free with his attitude, and hands, toward the females in the office. A case of sexual harassment has been filed against him and the company. Unfortunately, this is the first of several complaints. I had to take action fairly quickly.”

  Chris drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He knew the answer to his question, but he had to ask, “What does this have to do with me?”

  “I need to move you,” Reynolds stated firmly, folding his arms across his broad chest. “I want you to head up the home office for a while, at least until I decide what I want to do next. You’ve worked under Pierce, so you know his style, and his strengths and weaknesses. Chris, you’re an obvious choice to replace him, even temporarily.”

  Pride, satisfaction, and exhilaration surged through Chris’s veins. This was the opportunity of his career. Reynolds had just handed Chris a chance to direct the activities of the legal department in the home office. The French office was the biggest and oldest outside of the States. This was an honor.

  His gaze fell to the sticky note Tia had placed on his laptop, and the excitement of a moment earlier evaporated. Conflicting emotions warred within him. He stroked the note, rereading Tia’s sweet words. He couldn’t do this. His relationship with Tia meant far too much to him to fly off and leave her.

  Chris closed the laptop and sat quietly, searching for a path that would give him everything he desired. His heart lunged dangerously in his chest. His thoughts quickly shot into overdrive. Maybe there was a way to make this work. How long would he be needed? If it was a few weeks, he could handle it. Maybe Tia could visit. Or, he might suggest that she accompany him as his executive assistant.

  Any decision Tia made regarding them had to include her family. His major concern involved Tia’s mother. Mrs. Edwards would probably have a fit. The way she received this turn of events had the potential to destroy their future.

  Adam would not be pleased with him taking his admin. The pair worked together like a well-oiled machine. That might cause a huge rift between the three of them. But Adam was a logical man; he’d understand. He may not like the idea at first, but he would come to accept it without malice.

  Tia’s mother would never relent. What about Tia? How would she handle this? What will she say? This was incredibly bad timing. Not now! Not when things were coming together so well.

  The boss cleared his throat. “Did you hear me?”

  Chris nodded.

  “No comments?”

  “How long?” Chris asked, swallowing a lump the size of a glacier. He was fervently hoping the request was for a month or two.

  “The move to France would be up to a year, maybe longer.” He shrugged. “Perhaps a few months more.”

  Damn! Reynolds just trashed Chris’s one hope. He had to ask the question, even if the answer wasn’t what he wanted to hear. “Is there anyone else you can send?”

  “There’s no one with your expertise. I can’t send Adam. He needs to be here to work on the United States issues.” Reynolds pointed a finger at Chris. “You’re it.”

  “Do I have a choice?” Chris ran his fingers through his hair.

  “No. You’re the best man for the job. You know the territory and the partners involved. I want you there.”

  Chris was afraid of that. The company was growing faster than anyone anticipated. “Can I have a little time to think things through and put my life in order?”

  “Of course. Chris, I’m sorry. I know you’ve settled in and established a life here. I understand this request comes at a difficult time. But you knew the position was for a limited time.”

  “True. But I did expect to be here until next year.”

  “I expected to have you here that long. We both know that things change. This situation requires someone with your background and knowledge.”

  Lips pursed, Chris asked, “What is the absolute latest I can leave?”

  “I want you there yesterday, but I’ll give you up to a month.” Reynolds raised a finger and added, “No longer.”

  Nodding, Chris rose, shook hands with Reynolds, and left the office. His mind was cluttered with thoughts.

  The first thing he needed to do was talk with Tia and figure out a way for them to be together. If she was willing to come to France, that would make life easier. After that, he’d have to deal with her family. That was not going to be easy. Maybe he could find an ally in Tia’s father. He seemed like a reasonable man. Yes, until you start talking about taking his daughter to another country, a little voice whispered.

  Whatever the situation, Chris didn’t plan to leave Tia behind. He would find a way to keep them together. Even if it meant pissing off Mrs. Edwards.

  19

  Tia sipped her morning cappuccino and nibbled on her strawberry croissant while scrolling through her computer calendar. After Chris delivered her breakfast treat with a reserved “good morning,” he had retreated to his office and stayed there until later that morning when he and Adam headed out to an appointment.

  They stopped at Tia’s desk. “We’re off to a deposition in Judge Archer’s chambers,” said Adam. “We should be back before lunchtime.”

  Waving good-bye, the two attorneys strolled away from the legal suite with their laptops tucked under their arms. Tia sighed. What’s going on with Chris? Since his meeting with Reynolds three days ago, he had been more distant toward her. Something important was up that he decided not to share with her. This was not a good thing. They hadn’t established a rule to reveal every detail of their lives to each other, but Tia could tell that something major was bothering him. Whenever she was near him, he made an excuse to leave. A new tension fueled his movements. When work brought Chris into her orbit, he made an excuse to hurry away at record speed. Being in the same room with Tia made him so tense that he’d cut short his conversations with others and left the room quickly.

  Tia also noticed a subtle change in Chris’s attitude and mood toward her since his meeting with Reynolds. There wasn’t anything she could specifically identify as the cause of this new disposition. He never discussed what happened with the CEO. Not only was he more reserved and quiet, but they also hadn’t spent any time alone together.

  Tia’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the giggles and thunder of feet racing toward her. Two young boys rushed up to her desk.

  “Hi, Tia.” Jimmy Harrison waved at her.

  “Hey, Ms. Edwards.” Kevin Harrison dropped his elbows onto her desktop and cradled his head in his hands, gazing adoringly at her.

  “Hello to you, Jimmy.” Tia turned to the younger boy. “Hi, Kevin. Where’s your mother?”

  Wynn Evans-Carlyle moved slowly and deliberately up to the desk. “Hi, Tia. How are you doing?”

  Surprised, Tia’s eyes widened. Wynn looked beautiful, radiant and happy. In addition, she sported a baby bump. Tia guessed the older woman must be five or six months pregnant. Oh, man! This was news. Wait until Adam returned; she’d have a few words for him for keeping this gem a secret. “Wynn, look at you!”

  “Yes, I’m pregnant,” Wynn confirmed with a long-suffering smile.

  Tia shook her head. “Wow! You guys just got married and now you’re adding to your family.”

  “Well, you probably figured it out that this wasn’t a planned pregnancy. That doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to have another baby.”

  Smiling approvin
gly at Adam’s wife, Tia said, “Congratulations. Do you know what you’re having?”

  Wynn shook her head. “Hopefully one baby. Adam doesn’t want to know ahead of time, so it’ll be a surprise when he or she arrives.”

  Tia rose and moved around the desk to hug Wynn. “I wish you and Adam all the best. Although, I’m going to have to have a talk with my boss; he kept this little detail completely to himself.”

  “Don’t get mad at him.” She lightly tapped her chest. “I asked him not to tell. Honestly, I’m a bit embarrassed about this slipup.”

  “Why?”

  Embarrassment flashed across Wynn’s face and she looked away. “I’m too old for this kind of mistake. I should have handled my business much better than this. Slipups like this happen to teenagers, not grown women like me.”

  Tia reached for Wynn’s hand and patted it reassuringly. “Don’t get yourself all upset. These days, nobody cares about that. You’re going to have a beautiful baby. By the way, when is the baby due?”

  “Toward the end of the summer. August twentieth is my due date.”

  “Thanks. I have to keep that in mind.” Tia returned to her chair, swiveled it to the computer, and clicked on the calendar. She keyed the date into her tickler file and then turned to the boys. “So what brings you guys here today?”

  “Baseball!” Jimmy cheered, waving his hands above his head.

  Kevin nodded, adding, “We’re going to see the Tigers play.”

  “Cool.” Laughing softly, Tia rubbed the top of Kevin’s head. “Who’s playing?”

  “Blue Jays,” Wynn answered, moving slowly to the visitor’s chair. Sighing heavily, she dropped into the chair, stretched her legs in front of her, and flexed her sandal-clad toes. “It’s good to be off my feet.”

  “Hmm.” Troubled, Tia studied Wynn’s sandals. “My dear, that’s going to be a lot of moving about for you.”

  Smiling, Wynn leaned closer to Tia, cupped her hand to her mouth, and whispered, “A whole lot of bathroom going, too. I’m hoping we’re in one of the company suites. That will make the visit a whole lot easier.”