Mistletoe Baby by Donna Hill

Author:Donna Hill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-09-27T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

The 10:00 a.m. staff meeting was lively and informative. Alexis presented her notes on the meetings with the Secretary of Education and the subcommittee and listened attentively to the feedback, which was wholly positive. Of the team members that were present Tracy was unusually quiet. She didn’t even offer a left-handed comment or try to poke holes in Alexis’s presentation. Alexis made a mental note of it. She was pretty sure that Tracy’s reticence would manifest itself in some other way. How, was the question.

“Thank you, everyone,” Graham said, effectively ending the meeting. “We’re on track for all current projects and everyone is up to speed on what we have on the table. Have a good week, everyone, and my door, as always, is open. Thanks.”

One by one the team began to file out, talking among themselves in twos and threes. Alexis watched as Tracy and another associate, Shawn Stevenson, walked out with their heads close together.

She didn’t know Shawn. She’d only been briefly introduced and in the short period of time that she’d been with R.E.A.L. she hadn’t had the opportunity to interact with her. Apparently Shawn and Tracy were close at least at work. She hoped that over time she would also develop some close friendships at R.E.A.L. She missed having a close girlfriend nearby like the relationship she shared with Naomi. She never realized or appreciated just how much their friendship meant to her until Naomi had gotten married and moved away.

Although she had male companionship and had embarked on the relationship with Ian, it wasn’t the same. There was a bond between women that was just as integral to their well-being and sense of balance as a good diet. She was missing her sisterhood meal.

“Nice job,” Graham said, coming up to her side as she gathered her belongings.

She briefly glanced up. “Thanks.”

“I find that I enjoy watching you at whatever you do,” he said soft enough for only her ears.

Her pulse jumped. When she stole a glance at him he was checking his cell phone, before walking out as if he hadn’t just tossed a lit match on her very combustible insides. She smiled to herself, walked out of the conference room and turned down the corridor toward the staff lounge.

The instant she walked in she sensed the immediate shift in the vibe of the room. Tracy and Shawn were sitting at a round table and Alexis had the distinct impression that she’d been the topic of conversation.

“Hello, ladies,” Alexis greeted and then walked to the coffee machine.

“Getting settled in?” Shawn asked.

“Pretty much. It’s a lot to take in. R.E.A.L. has a great deal of moving parts.”

“Yes, it would be more difficult for an outsider to grasp all of the nuts and bolts,” Tracy said, before bringing the cup of coffee to her lips. She kept her gaze lowered.

Alexis gritted her teeth to keep from saying something out of line. She poured her coffee into a paper cup and grabbed some sweetener. “Yes, I have a lot of work to do but I believe that I was hired because I’m up to the challenge.

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