Jim and Katherine by Traci Hunter Abramson

Author:Traci Hunter Abramson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2024-01-16T23:13:25+00:00

Chapter 21

JIM HELD THE PLATE OF cookies and fought the temptation to snitch one. If Ruth didn’t arrive soon, his willpower might very well fail him.

Think about something else. Like the fact that he had shared his deepest desires with Katherine and she had supported them. He still couldn’t believe the way she had reacted or the brightness of possibilities that had carried with him since their conversation. Whether it was her confidence that the impossible could happen or the fact that there were no longer secrets between them that had lifted his spirits, he couldn’t be sure. Whatever it was, he hoped he could cling to this sensation for a very long time.

The front door opened, and Ruth walked in.

Jim held out the plate. “Here you go. A little thank-you gift.”

“I was expecting one cookie, not a whole plate.”

Jim hit the Up button for the elevator. “If Katherine sent you too many, you’re welcome to share.”

Ruth’s eyed him suspiciously. “I’m surprised you haven’t already helped yourself to a few.”

“It’s a good thing you came when you did. I’m not sure I could have held out much longer.”

She chuckled. “You are an honest man.”

They both got onto the elevator and rode up to the fourth floor. When they walked into the lobby together, Sandy scowled at them.

“Jim, you’re late,” Sandy said.

Jim’s stomach clutched at simply being in the same room as Sandy, but he fought the sensation. “I’m right on time.” He continued past her before she could respond. As soon as he reached his desk, he asked, “Ruth, do you want me to make the coffee?”

Ruth scanned the office. “Since we’re the only ones here besides Sandy, how about we both make it?”

“Both of us?”

Ruth set the cookies on her desk. She stepped closer and lowered her voice. “If you’re out here alone, she’ll come back here. If you’re in the break room, she’ll bother you in there.”

“Taking the safety-in-numbers approach,” Jim said, frustrated that he had to take any preventative measures at all.

“Don’t let this whole situation get to you.” Ruth motioned toward the breakroom. “Come on. After we get the coffee started, I’ll let you have a cookie.”

“Only one?”

“Fine. You can have two but only because you resisted stealing them while you were waiting for me.”

Jim and Ruth brewed the coffee, and then Jim headed toward the file room with the key to the secure filing cabinet.

“Do you want your cookies now or later?” Ruth asked.

“Now, but I need to grab some files first,” Jim said. “Can you do me a favor and make sure I don’t end up with any unwanted company in the file room?”

“You got it.”

Jim hurried into the file room and quickly retrieved the next set of files. Even though he typically only analyzed three at a time, he pulled out twice that many.

Ruth’s voice carried to him. “Sandy, don’t you need to be watching the phones?”

“I just have a file I need to check.”

Jim quickly secured the filing cabinet and escaped the room before Sandy could enter.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.