Old Souls

by P. A. Lupton

I was shocked. The way he acted toward me indicated he would at least be aware of my identity. Weird. “Do you have any idea how embarrassing that was?”

  “Embarrassing?” he arched a brow. “For you or me?”

  “Me.” I said, exasperated. “Every person in this meeting today is now wondering what I did to piss you off. They’re probably thinking it’s one of two things. One,” I ticked on my fingers,” I’m incompetent at my job. Or two, there’s something personal going on between us. Neither scenario places me in a particularly flattering light.”

  With a serious expression he moved so close I had to stop myself from retreating. My heart leapt at his proximity. Not with nervousness, but excitement. When he spoke I felt his breath on my face, he was that close. “I personally approve every new hire at Young and Rubicam and I’ve seen your portfolio. There’s not a person in the business who would ever question your competence once they’ve seen your work. Trust me.”

  My chest filled with warmth. He’d seen my work—and he liked it. I couldn’t help but smile before I reminded myself I was irritated. “Still—”

  “And,” he continued, ignoring me, eyes blazing with a look I couldn’t quite decipher. “There is something personal between us. You just don’t know it yet.”

  His words had just rendered me speechless. Not to mention had my belly doing crazy somersaults. We stared at each other for a beat before I finally found my voice. “I have no idea what you mean.”

  “You know exactly what I mean. You feel it too,” he reached his hand slowly toward me, “right here.” Normally, if a strange man looked as if he was about to grab my chest I would either punch him, or step back. This time I did nothing but try to hide how powerfully he was affecting me. I was anxious to see what he was going to do, and if I were being honest somewhere deep inside, I kind of wanted him to cop a feel. But I was both relived and disappointed when he just rested his palm over my heart and held it there while he stared at me.

  I did feel a pull between us, but I wasn’t about to admit it to him. Instead, I stepped back and changed the subject. “So, can you explain what I did to make you so angry?”

  Blinking, he looked as if he’d just been released from a spell. He exhaled a rough breath and took a step back as well. Though I was disappointed, I acknowledged it was probably for the best. I couldn’t think with him so close. “Alyssa, I apologize for my erratic behavior today. I’m just…surprised.”

  “Surprised?” I motioned with my hand for him to continue. “About?”

  “I can’t say.” It was easy to spot his frustration. I think he wanted to explain, but for some reason felt he couldn’t. It left me feeling like I was missing an important piece of the puzzle.

  “You know, this is one of the strangest conversations I’ve ever had.”

  “Oh, it’s about to get stranger.” He took a card out of his suit jacket and wrote something on the back and handed it to me. “My cell. If anything…unusual happens I want you to call me.”

  “Okaaay.” I grabbed the card. “Unusual how?”

  “You’ll know it when you see it.” He stood there for a moment just staring, his gaze fixed on my mouth. I got the feeling he wanted to kiss me. Memories of my dreams came crashing back and I found myself leaning toward him, holding my breath—waiting.

  Suddenly, he shook his head and the heated expression disappeared. “It was great to meet you Alyssa Reynolds.”

  “Well, it was…different meeting you, Mr. Young.”

  He turned to leave, but I stopped him before he opened the door. “Wait.”

  With his hand on the knob, he glanced back at me. “What am I supposed to tell everyone when they ask why you wanted to see me? And trust me, they’ll ask.”

  He chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.” With that he opened the door, and I watched as the people gathered just outside suddenly scattered.

  “Miss Genery.” No sooner had he called for his assistant and she was standing with paper and pen awaiting his instruction.

  “Yes sir.”

  “Please draft a letter and distribute it to all personnel informing them of which parking spot belongs to me.” He looked back at me and winked conspiratorially. “I would like to ensure there are no further misunderstandings.”

  Chapter 2

  Freaky GPS

  Obsessing over the bizarre encounter with Mark Young helped my few remaining hours of work pass quickly. The man expected something unusual to happen, judging by his cryptic comments. But what?

  Finally, after delaying my projects for far too long, I forced him out of my mind (as much as I could, anyway) and lost myself in work. I hadn’t noticed how late it was and barely noticed when Colin came into my office and took the chair across from my desk.

  “What was that about earlier?”

  “What was what about?” I asked, distracted by work.

  “Mr. Young… The meeting earlier… Him barging in and kicking everyone out… Everyone except you.”

  “You already know what it was about.” I answered absently. “The jack ass made sure the entire office knew about it.”

  “Uh huh. So he was pissed you parked in his spot. That was all?” His voice was odd…questioning.

  “Yep.”

  “You’re forgetting something, Lyss.” I finally met his gaze and noticed his smug grin. “We carpool, remember? We came in my car this week.”

  “Shit.”

  His smile disappeared, replaced with genuine concern. “What really happened in there?”

  “You know, I shouldn’t even tell you. How could you leave me alone like that? You promised to have my back.”

  “What was I supposed to do? He’s my boss. Besides, he looked fearsome.” He shrugged. “He told me to get, so I got. You’d have done the same thing.”

  “I suppose.” I took in a deep breath. Colin was a good friend and I wanted to talk to someone about the incident and the strangely prophetic dreams I’d had. Finally, I decided to tell him everything.

  He listened avidly as I laid out the whole bizarre encounter and our subsequent conversation.

  “Okay, that’s whacked.”

  I chuckled. “Since when do you use the word whacked?”

  “Since today.” He grinned. “Seriously though, you dreamt about him before you started working here?”

  “It started right after my interviews.”

  “Well, you must have seen a photo of him somewhere in the building.”

  Always logical, he had a point. How else would I have dreamt of Mark Young? And yet, I’d been racking my brain, positive I hadn’t seen any photos. Plus, he looked different in my dreams. Why would he have long hair in my dreams? Why was he dressed so strangely? And how did I know he was French? I kept my questions to myself, no need to make Colin think I’d lost my marbles.

  “And the man is hot.” He waggled his brows playfully. “Hell, I’ve had some pretty X-rated fantasies myself.”

  I threw my head back and laughed, Colin always had this effect on me. “I can’t deny that. He is nice to look at.”

  “Too bad he doesn’t swing my way.” He arched his brow. “But he did look interested in you.”

  I felt the blush staining my cheeks and gave a halfhearted denial. “It’s not like that.”

  “Really? I think it’s exactly like that.” He winked. “I mean, he did say things are personal between you—that was hot, by the way.”

  I rolled my eyes. “It doesn’t matter anyway, nothing can happen between us.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because he’s my boss.” I left off the duh, but it was implied by my tone.

  “Oh, relax—I say if you like the man go for it. You’re both adults.” His mouth hitched up on one side. “Personally, I’d pay the man to sexually harass me.”

  Shaking my head at the suggestion, I shut down my computer and grabbed my purse. “Come on, let’s wait out rush hour and grab a drink before we head home.”

  ***

  Two w
eeks I waited anxiously for the ‘unusual’ something Mark Young had predicted. He seemed so sure about it that he almost had me convinced. But nothing happened. Well, unless you counted the freaky GPS signal I seemed to have developed around the man. It was a hum under my skin that started buzzing whenever he was near. The moment he entered the building in the morning, I felt it. And not just then, the feeling was always there—ever since that day in the boardroom—but when he was close it was more concentrated. Only I was getting used to it. Not only was I accustomed to it now, I craved it.

  I’d become infatuated with that buzz in my veins, it had me acting completely out of character. Yep, I was turning into a stalker—constantly ‘running into’ him in the lobby restaurant, colleague’s offices, and the stairwells and elevators. He was all over the place. And since I was a dedicated stalker, so was I. I went from not seeing him for the first two weeks of my employment, to bumping into him constantly.

  I hadn’t really planned on acting on this disturbing need to follow him, it had started innocently enough. At first, I didn’t understand what I was feeling. The only thing I knew was there was something pulling me, too compelling to ignore. I’d head toward the source only to discover him at the end. So I kept following it, just to be sure. And every time I bumped into him he acted charming, sexy and witty. Unlike that first day, he seemed genuinely happy to see me. I was starting to think his brusqueness that first meeting was an aberration. He must have been having an off day.

  The Wednesday two weeks after our first meeting, I felt his presence in the café and decided to pass by to grab some lunch as well. As I walked by his table, he called to me.

  “Alyssa,” he waved me over and ordered, “Sit.” He gestured to the chair across from him but there was food set out in front of it. An irrational and unexpected stab of jealousy flared as I imagined him having lunch with another woman. That was ridiculous. He could have lunch with whoever he wanted.

  “That’s okay. It looks like you have company already.” I nodded toward the food impressed that my friendly tone belied the disappointment I felt.

  He chuckled. “That’s for you. Turkey club, no tomato on whole wheat.”

  Holy freaking crap, he knew how I liked my sandwich. The realization sent warmth zinging through me. “Mr. Young, I—”

  “Call me Mark,” he insisted. “And sit.”

  I took a seat. “You’re a little bossy, aren’t you?”

  “On occasion.”

  “Some might call that an obnoxious trait.” I teased.

  He slanted me a shrewd smirk, as if he knew I wasn’t one of those people. “Luckily for me, not everyone does.”

  “How did you know I’d be here?”

  “It seemed a safe bet considering we keep…bumping into each other. Chances were good I’d find you here.” His smile was deliberate, and coupled with the amused gleam in his eye told me he knew our meetings weren’t completely accidental. “I figured we should get better acquainted.”

  We ate lunch and chatted. It surprised me that he seemed genuinely interested in my life. He asked me about my family, work, goals, and hobbies. Our lunch far surpassed what I’d consider a professional meeting. Strangely, it felt like a date, especially when he blurted, “You have the most striking green eyes I’ve ever seen.”

  His stare was mesmerizing, and I couldn’t miss the heat that sparked between us. “Um… Thanks.”

  “It complements your hair.” He surprised me further when he reached out and ran his fingers lightly through the strands. I wanted to rub my face against his hand like a cat and purr, but I held perfectly still with bated breath, waiting to see what he’d do next. “I love the Chestnut color.”

  The intensity of his stare became too much and I looked away, glancing at my watch to distract myself from the feelings he elicited in me. My stomach plummeted. “Oh no.”

  “What’s wrong?” He asked, pulling his hand back.

  “I didn’t realize what time it is. We’ve been here for three hours.”

  Winking, he didn’t seem bothered in the least as he leaned closer and whispered conspiratorially. “It’s okay, you were with the boss. We’ll call it a business lunch.”

  I chuckled. “Thanks, but I really need to get back to work.”

  “Before you go,” he said quickly, reaching to grab my hand when I stood. The contact had a rush of goose bumps prickling along my skin. “I was just wondering if you’ve noticed anything… new?”

  “Nope, nothing unusual if that’s what you’re asking. That is what you’re asking, right?”

  He grinned. “Maybe.”

  “Maybe if you told me what I’m supposed to be looking for.” I raised a brow, and felt compelled to add, “Whatever this thing is you’re waiting for, it could have already happened and I wouldn’t have realized because I don’t know what to look for.”

  He snorted. “Believe me, you would have realized.”

  “Unghh,” I groaned. “Would you just tell me already?”

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I did.” His eyes sparkled, playfully. “Just keep my number handy.”

  Chapter 3

  Strange Happenings

  The next two weeks flew by, not surprising since Mark and I had been together constantly. Not only had we eaten lunch together every day since that first time in the café (subsequent lunches were kept under 3 hours), but he’d also requested me for an important project he was preparing for a would-be client. The project had the potential to earn millions for the firm. I was thrilled at being offered such an amazing opportunity. Not only was it an amazing opportunity for my career, but it had the added benefit of forcing us to spend a lot of time together—and I mean a lot of time. He intrigued me, and the more time we spent in close quarters only seemed to increase that strange connection we shared, which I still hadn’t figured out. Why did I feel it? How long it would last?

  Nevertheless, if I was being honest with myself I’d admit it wasn’t my only draw to him. Even if I’d never experienced the inexplicable pull, I’d still be attracted to Mark. It wasn’t just about that compelling tug between us, and it also wasn’t about his looks (although he was unbelievably gorgeous). He was fun to be around. I’d discovered he possessed a wicked sense of humor and he was sweet, although he often hid that trait behind a dominating shell that often came across as bossy. Part and parcel of being the boss, I guess. And maybe I was a little crazy, but that Alpha male side of him sent my stomach into a frenzy every time. He was like a candy, all hard shell on the outside but soft sweetness inside. It was beyond sexy.

  “What movie did you get?” I asked.

  We’d been working, but Mark had convinced me to take a break and relax for a bit before we got back to it. He was right, we did need to rest. We’d both been exerting ourselves nonstop, fourteen hours a day for the past two weeks. And tonight, my one night off, something had popped up and he dropped by my house to work. I’d become so comfortable with him it hadn’t even occurred to me to panic that he was in my home. Besides, we’d been spending so much time together, had become so close, he made it feel like a natural progression to hang out and watch a movie together, too.

  While I made us something to eat, he scrolled through the pay per view channels and found us a movie. “It’s a chick flick,” he announced, waggling his brows.

  “Seriously?” I looked at him like he’d grown a second head, surprised by his choice.

  “What, you don’t like romance?”

  “Well, I do, but I thought you’d prefer something with a few more explosions and a lot more testosterone.”

  “Are you kidding, I love Love.” Handing me my wine, he plopped rather ungracefully on the sofa next to me.

  Unnerved by his proximity, I felt the heat from his body as his leg pressed right against mine. We’d developed a familiar rapport, lately. In fact, most of the time I could almost forget he was my boss, but I still hadn’t quite gotten used to him being this close. Despite how comfortable I was around him, th
at spark had never dissipated, and neither had my attraction to him. It unsettled me.

  He’d slung an arm over the back of the sofa, which was equally exciting and maddening because of the way his skin grazed my shoulders, making me constantly aware of his presence. There was a love seat along the other wall, so why did he sit practically on top of me? I think he knew it left me feeling unbalanced and took pleasure in throwing me out of my comfort zone. In fact, he constantly straddled the line of appropriate behavior when we were alone together, barreling thorough any obstacles I tried to erect in an effort to keep our relationship professional. He wanted things personal between us, and he let me know it all the time.

  “Are you comfortable?” There was no mistaking the sarcasm in my tone.

  His lips twitched, amused. “Yes. Thank you.”

  He lifted the remote and turned on the movie, then leaned over to click off the lamp. And just like that I was sitting in the dark with a glass of wine about to watch a romantic flick with a man I was fiercely attracted to. How had an evening of work turn into this? Mark was smooth, I’d give him that.

  “You never told me what movie,” my voice was a little shaky from nerves.

  “It’s called Serendipity.”

  Feeling his gaze on me, I avoided looking at him. After what seemed like an eternity, he turned his head and watched the film.

  Even after a half hour of watching, I could honestly say I had no idea what was happening on the screen. Who could concentrate with this vibrating under my skin? I’d gotten used to it over the past month, but it was still powerful. Couple that with a crazy, erratic heartbeat, sweaty palms, fitful nerves, and I felt like a teenager on a first date. Concentrate on the movie Alyssa. I scolded myself. Don’t think about the man next to you or about his hand resting on your thigh.

  I put all of my effort into paying attention to the movie and ignoring Mark. It was good, definitely romantic, even if it was a little farfetched. I hadn’t realized I’d voiced that opinion aloud until he asked, “What’s farfetched?”

  “Oh,” I shrugged, “the movie. Fate and destiny? You don’t believe in that stuff, do you?”