Let's Make Up

Winter

The morning seemed to go by slowly and John found himself constantly glancing over at Molly. She had just finished signing some documents and was watching a safety video that probably didn't pertain to her job, but was protocol to be shown anyway. He told her that he was busy and would be catching up on things while she bored herself with the videos, but he couldn't help letting himself observe her. Every now and then she'd change position in her seat or toy with some of her hair and it would spark his attention again. When he had met her in the diner, he just assumed she had over dressed, but, he soon realized that she was one of those women who took a lot of effort and pride in her appearance, perhaps even out of an insecurity. He didn't notice the last time just how shiny and healthy her hair looked. John tried to gather himself and thought maybe it was just different lighting, but he knew he was getting too distracted.

Again, she picked up a wavy piece of hair in her delicate fingers and started to smooth and twirl it around. Suddenly, very aware of how dry his mouth was, he swallowed, thinking with her dark hair, and fair skin, that she was like a hot fudge sundae and he was getting hungry.

John stretched and effortlessly shrugged his sleeve back to read the time on his wrist watch. The morning that he thought was dragging on, had actually flown by, and it was already long past noon. He felt foolish for letting his work go unattended just because he was sat beside an attractive woman. Still, being in her company was nice and he was sure the men in the office would be thinking him lucky as well. He thought perhaps if he got to know her a little more, then the distractions would stop as well since she'd cease to be a mystery to him. It was a small town and if she was desperate for cash, she could've applied at a café or diner and made good tips. He got the feeling she was running from something or trying to prove herself with a fresh start of some sort, but it still confused him.

He abruptly broke the silence, "Did you bring lunch?"

It startled Molly a bit and she hoped that she didn't jump too noticeably.

"I didn't. I wasn't really sure how today would go and I just rushed over."

John smiled, amused at her surprised reaction. "Did I scare you? You were that interested in those videos?"

She felt her cheeks flush in embarrassment.

"I guess I must've just zoned out."

John continued to taunt, "Those are important, don't be sleeping on the job, now." He was enjoying making her blush but suddenly she looked very sombre with her eyebrows knit.

"I'll take it more seriously, I'm sorry, Mr. Acker." She told him solemnly.

What is it with this girl, thought John as he brushed his fingers through his salt and pepper hair. He felt like he'd made her submit to him and it didn't help his growing fascination with her.

"Don't worry, it was sarcasm, I know those are boring as hell. You didn't bring anything, so we'll get something and I'll say it was a company lunch. A lot of new hires have gotten free lunches so it shouldn't be a problem." He sounded a little like he was trying to justify it to himself, but Molly still appreciated the offer. "And just call me John, this isn't school, I don't need to be addressed by my last name."

"Well, I could eat." She told him while getting up from her chair and smiling.

The long cardigan she was wearing clung to her body with static and John felt himself staring again. She stretched her arms and neck and adjusted her clothing. It gave her coworker a full view of her shape.

That had to be on purpose, right? John asked himself while he shook his head as if to also physically shake the feeling away.

"Alright, I'll drive." He told Molly, taking back his sanity. "Let's go."

The restaurant wasn't too far, but enough time in the car for her to view part of the town and explain to John that she was hoping it would be a quick day so she could still have time to try and find a place to stay. He explained that as a new hire, having only recently moved, she could request a per diem and that the company could pay for a hotel stay; he said he'd get Megan to set the arrangements for her as soon as they got back. For the first time in a while, Molly felt secure in her decisions and hoped things were working out for her.

As they got inside, a waiter welcomed them in and got them seated. He filled glasses, that were already set on the table, with water from a large pitcher that he'd brought along with him. He went to fetch them some menus and when he came back, he lost his show of prestige, leaning in toward John.

"So who is this beauty, Johnny?" The waiter asked with a bouncing brow, flicking his eyes over to Molly.

She smirked at the idea of the very serious John Acker being called 'Johhny'. She'd remember that and use it as well sometime, she thought.

"This is Molly Green, my new HR partner, she'll be working directly under me at the magazine's office." He replied, realizing too late that he should've chosen different words.

"Directly under you, huh?" The waiter grinned.

John rolled his eyes. "Give it a rest, Bill. It's just a work lunch-- her first day."

Bill winked at Molly. "Wouldn't want to scare you off then. I'll be back in a bit for your orders."

Both John and Molly reached for the same menu which broke the awkward feeling that the greasy waiter had left. John handed it to her and she smiled at him again, igniting the butterflies inside him that he'd gotten earlier while watching her.

"I'm sorry about Bill. He's just an old jock." He started.

"Don't be, when I was doing set makeup I'd get a LOT worse then that." Molly tried to reassure him. "You lose a lot of personal space in a job like that. Breathing in client's faces and getting pulled around. You get thick skin."

"I see." He said, finding his mind suddenly jumping to conclusions and imagining that meant her getting taken advantage of while working. It made him angry to think about, somehow surprisingly jealous or possessive even, but he also couldn't stop picturing it.

"So, did you work with celebrities?" He asked, "You used the word 'editorial' during our first meeting."

"Sort-of." Molly said without any added clarification as she put down the menu she was holding.

"That seems like it would be a lot better pay than an out of touch and practically failing local magazine company." John prodded.

"Well, it was when it was constant work, but in that scene, that lifestyle can make it hard to save money."

John saw her looking at her hands now. "Why did you leave?" He asked starkly, knowing he sounded brazen.

She took a couple seconds to respond and had a dreamy expression on her face. With a slow tilt of her head and a seductive lift of her lashes, she looked into his cold blue-grey eyes and said,

"Because of winter."

He opened his mouth to say something, but couldn't think of anything without understanding what she meant, so he just pressed his lips together again and motioned for Bill to come back and take their orders.