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the office number on it.”
             “I’ll
write my cell number down on the back. Geez.”
             “Atta
girl!”
             Soon
after all of the guests were seated, Maureen headed back to the office. The
final head count was two hundred and seventeen people, without a doubt the
largest lunch party in the history of East Coast Prime Downtown. Ryan and his
servers executed the salad course about fifteen minutes into Jay’s presentation.
I stuck around for a few more minutes at the front entrance for any stragglers
who showed up late. Latecomers aside, I had to figure out exactly how to pass
off my unsolicited business card to Jay without looking too pushy.
    “So how do I sound up
there?” Jay asked, surprising me at the hostess desk. He was apparently on his
first intermission. He must have known he sounded good, and that he looked
good. But I wouldn’t tell him that, at least not explicitly.
             “Very
informative,” I said, smiling.
             “Thanks.
So, your job seems cool.”
             “It’s
not as exciting as it looks. I spend a lot of time in my office.”
             “I
hear that.”
             “So
where are you staying?”
             “The
Hyatt Regency right down the street.”
             “Nice
hotel.”
             “It’s
not bad. Is your office here?” he asked.
             “No,
we’ve got a sales office about ten minutes away. That’s my home base. I’m
actually headed back there any minute. But I want to make sure that everything
goes perfectly for you.”
             “Everything’s
been great so far.” His hands gripped the host stand so forecefully that his
knuckles turned white, and I couldn’t help but picture those hands gripping me
by the hips. His mannerisms had an air of authority and self-assurance.
             “Well,
if you need anything at all, here’s my card.” I cleared my throat and
simultaneously jotted down my cell number on the back, as I promised Maureen I
would. “You can reach me directly at this number”—I pointed to the back
of my card—“for the rest of the afternoon if any issues arise. Not that
they should—I mean, Ryan’s fantastic. But just in case. I mean, they’ll
take great care of you, but you know, as a backup—” I chastised myself
for my awkwardness.
             “Great,
thank you.” He examined the card front and back. Our eyes met briefly, and
again I trembled from the effect of his gaze. He grinned slightly, brushed his
golden hair off his forehead, and then adjusted his Windsor-knotted tie. “It
was really great meeting you, Elle.” He lingered for a moment and bit his lower
lip, our gaze still intact.
    “You too,” I said. He
nodded, shook my hand once more, and returned to his podium.
    Back in the manager’s office, I gathered my coat
and purse and thanked Ryan for his flawless implementation of my event. He
managed a half smile and a nod, and I made my way out the back door and into the
snow. I plopped into the front seat of my car and made the trip back to my
office in silence. There was too much to consider, and I didn’t want music to
drown out the lingering vision that I had of Jay. True, I knew nothing about
him. I didn’t know his age, his relationship status, or anything about his
background or personality. But I knew for certain that I liked what I saw, and
that I desperately wanted to see him again. And if I did, I wouldn’t let him
get away. But the ball was in his court.

 
 
 
 
 
 
    4

 
 
              A
week after the luncheon, I resigned myself to Jay Conrad's indifference.
Maureen was nearly as disappointed as I was when he didn’t call during the
remainder of his trip, but we both came to terms with it and carried on with
our work-consumed lives. I was having a difficult time escaping my professional
life at all. With no man and a bunch of married