Almost: a love story Part 36

"Oh, I remember," I smile, shooting Jess a wink and running to help her haul a second t.i.tanium ladybug and frog filled basket to the back side of the booth.

"And that reminds me," Mr. Foley continues, "Porter, those puck protectors, and your other product suggestions from your interview are still something I would like to consider. Let's schedule some time to revisit those before the summer ends."

"If you say so, Sir. I'd be honored to see some of my ideas turned into products."

"That's what you had in that backpack?" Jess fires one of her darkest glowers. I grin back as Mr. Foley moves to the far side of the booth. The girl is so cute when she's making that face. "That's what you never showed me?" She's ranting on. "Mr. Foley was going to hire you over me, and you knew it."

"He was not. Your stuff-the b.u.mper stickers-were way better," I argue, leaning forward to breathe a small kiss into her ear. "The job was all yours and you knew it," I add. Though she's working hard to keep her face straight I can't miss the goose b.u.mps I've caused on her arms and the sides of her neck.

She shivers and I could swear she's staring at my lips as some twisted version of revenge against me. And it's working.

Undaunted, I shake my head and smile, whispering in her ear again, "If you keep staring at me like that, we're both going to get fired because I'm honestly about to plant one on you in front of the boss. Later, can we trade badges so I can sigh at your photo for the rest of the day?"

"Shut up." Her cheeks turn that adorable pink shade I love. She turns to pull her basket forward a few feet and tosses her hair to the side so it's out of the way. The ends of it brush against my arm and I'm hit with a whiff of lethal peach cinnamon heaven, and I have to concede. She's won. Killed me, actually.

It's all I can do to keep my face calm while I fight against my own rush of goose b.u.mps and rush of other things. I meet her too knowing smirk and retreat a few steps. I vow not to stare at her lips or get near her again until I can thoroughly kiss every inch of that cute smile away for revenge.

"This is going to be one long tradeshow, isn't it," I mutter. Bitter and already breaking my vow as I my gaze consumes the small upturned corners of her mouth. "d.a.m.n."

She giggles. "I love when you talk to yourself. So cute."

"You're so cute."

Percy clears his throat and sighs behind us. "I'm glad you worked out your problems, but man, are you two disgustingly annoying."

Jess giggles again and I step away before she accidentally double-destroys me. I'm two seconds from needing ice thrown on my head-or down my pants.

Mr. Foley, who'd missed all of our blatant flirting, turns and calls over his shoulder, "Jessica, Gray's product ideas reminded me of yours. Once this tradeshow is finished, we'll try to bring some of those b.u.mper stickers to market as well. Those we can have in the works and heading for the website before you finish the internship. How's that sound? You guys have really upped the scale for what we'll expect out of next year's interns."

Jess beams at Mr. Foley. "You mean it? That sounds awesome. Thanks!"

She shoots me an odd look, marching over to where Mr. Foley is setting up the Macintosh computers that are for the online order kiosks. "Mr. Foley, do you think you can tell me...which one of us you would have hired for the internship? You know? If you could have only chosen one of us? Would it have been me or Gray? Do you remember?"

"Relentless, stubborn one," I mutter.

Jess hears me and notches her chin one inch higher as she shoots me her best smirk. Mr. Foley stops and taps his finger on the table in front of him. "Yes. I remember."

"And?" She blinks.

I hold my breath, wondering why this hurts a little...why she cares?

"Does it matter?" Mr. Foley's brow creases as though he didn't want to say. "It all turned out so well."

Jess, like she'd been holding her breath too, takes in a deep breath, smiles a genuine smile at Mr. Foley, giving her head a little shake. "No. No. You're right. I never want to know. It's been perfect. Every second. I don't know why I asked."

My heart starts beating again and I let out a long breath.

Jess hears me, and sends me a teasing smirk. Then, she clears her expression to one I know is really her. She looks at me-into me-and smiles all the way to my heart.

I'm happy too, because I know that some of the light-blue sparkle in her eyes is connected to her love for me. She told me so, last night, over and over again. She also likes my dimple, my eyes and the shape of my chin! I'm the luckiest guy in the world.

She won't stop staring, but I can't look away either.

Because I can't kiss that smile until we're off the clock, I return it and add in a wink that causes her to blush.

She also admitted that she loves my winks.

THE END.

Resources.

1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime (14.8% completed rape; 2.8% attempted rape).

17.7 million American women have been victims of attempted or completed rape.

(From the National Inst.i.tute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women Survey. 1998.).

31% of victims develop some form of Rape-Related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. (National Center for Victims of Crime & Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, 1992).

The numbers listed here are only based on USA "reported" cases only. The unreported, the unmentioned and "never told" numbers are devastatingly higher than what's listed here. If you've experienced your own ALMOST or worse, you're not alone. It was not your fault. Please don't let what happened win or allow it to defeat your spirit.

For more information contact: Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)

National s.e.xual a.s.sault Hotline

2000 L Street, NW, Suite 405

Washington, DC 20036

Phone: (202) 544-1034

Toll-free: (800) 656-HOPE (4613)

[email protected]

www.rainn.org

National s.e.xual Violence Resource Center

123 North Enola Drive

Enola, Pennsylvania 17025

Toll-free: (877) 739-3895

Phone: (717) 909-0710

Fax: (717) 909-0714

TTY: (717) 909-0715.

www.nsvrc.org

National Center for Victims of Crime

2000 M Street NW, Suite 480

Washington, DC 20036

Phone: (202) 467-8700