Page 84 of Code Block
The note affixed to her computer screen had one word scrawled in a bold, masculine print. A sticky note with "Lunch?" written on it was not a romantic invitation, but was effective. She opened a chat window with Noah and typed.
Claire B: When and where?
Noah R: 11:30 Meet at the garage?
Claire B: Done. See you then.
Noah R: Yep.
She checked her watch. Just enough time to finish up her last batch of updates on the financial reports she'd created for Grace. Awesome.
An hour later, Claire stretched in her chair, then stood and shook her wrists before wiggling her fingers. Lunch with Noah sounded like the perfect break from a long morning at her keyboard. She grabbed her purse and headed out.
He waited by the garage door, smiling at her as she walked toward him. That smile. Rare, but when it came, it lit up his whole face and made her feel like the only person in the world. Her matching smile grew as she approached.
She loved that smile. She loved the way he made her laugh, how he listened, how he challenged her without ever making her feel less than.
Her steps faltered. Holy mackerel, I love him.
She plastered her smile in place, determined not to show how undone she'd suddenly become. When had that happened? She tucked away the question for later examination.
"Hi," she gushed, then cringed inside at the over-the-top cheer in her voice.
"Hi yourself, Red. Shall we?" The shadows in his eyes from last night had receded, as if he had a better handle on whatever problem tormented him. "It's a lovely day outside and I know the perfect café patio to take advantage of it."
Turned out, the outdoor patio belonged to more of a burger joint than a café, but Noah was right about the weather. It was gorgeous. Houston winters, she was learning, were far different from the harsh, icy colds of West Texas, and much milder than those in Northern California as well. She'd bet this balmy sixty-five-degree day was also different for Noah, too.
Once they'd received their meals and picked a table, Noah got straight to the point.
"Sorry I've been so distant. Jackie made me a job offer, and it took me by surprise."
"A job offer?" Claire's brow furrowed. "In IT?" She bit into her burger and waited for him to explain.
"Yes. I've told you how boring my current job had turned before the project, right?"
At her nod, he continued, "What I haven't shared is how hard I think it will be to go back to just being a production manager. After seeing how all the pieces fit together from a high-level overview—What'd you call it? Fifty-thousand-foot view?—it'd be like going back into a smaller box. Like moving your horses from the pasture to a ten-by-ten pen, to use your Texas vernacular."
Claire grinned at his attempt to put things in her terms, never mind that she'd never ridden a horse in her life or even been around them, for that matter. "This is not news to me. We've talked about your discontent. And everybody at work talks about your big picture knowledge all the time. I already knew you'd grown beyond your old job."
Noah stared at her for a moment before speaking again. "Well, you could have said something, so I didn't have to figure it all out for myself. Cheeky monkey."
Claire giggled. "Anyway, the new job?" she prompted, popping a french fry into her mouth.
His smile left his face. "It's almost perfect. I would move into a global position where I could see everything. But I wouldn't be in operations anymore—which is where I'm comfortable and secure. I'm up for the adventure, but it'd be like taking on a new job with no experience, which is daunting."
Claire wiped her hands on her napkin. "I don't see that as something you'd shy away from. I mean, you're already doing something similar. What's really got you jammed up?" She popped another fry into her mouth. "These are delicious, by the way."
Noah smiled. She could see him collecting his thoughts as he watched a bird hop along the sidewalk, searching for scraps. He dismissed the bold little bird and faced her. "You're right, I'd love the challenge. The thing that has me hesitating…" Noah squirmed in his seat and played with his burger. "The potential deal breaker is…" He blew out a harsh breath. "I'd be your boss."
Claire choked on the fry. She grabbed her soda and gulped a drink, trying to stem the uncontrollable coughing. Noah stood to rub her back, but she waved him off while she pulled herself together.
"Well, fiddly sticks," she said, once she could speak again.
"That's exactly what I thought," he said, grinning at her phrasing. "Actually, the word I used was less… chaste."
"I bet." Claire glanced at her burger, which she no longer had a desire to eat. Setting it down, she slumped in her seat. "So, what does that mean for us?" Her stomach churned. She pulled her coat tighter. Funny how a balmy sunny day could turn chilly in a heartbeat.
"It means…" He looked away, his gaze aimed at the distance. She watched his chest expand as he inhaled deeply and prepared herself for the worst. She was going to lose him. He'd spent his whole life working toward that next step up the corporate ladder and he'd known her for what? Five months? She braced herself for his next words, her heart hammering in her chest.
