The morning light filtered through the tall windows, casting soft dust-mottled streaks across Claire’s desk as she typed with quiet intensity. The stillness of the office gradually gave way to the sound of footsteps echoing in the hallway. Doors creaked open, chairs squeaked, and the low murmur of morning greetings rippled through the air, gently nudging the building awake. Claire barely noticed; she was already deep in her spreadsheet, her focus as sharp as the click of her keyboard.
That was how Alex found her when he walked into the office. He heard the soft clattering of a keyboard and glanced through her open doorway as he placed his briefcase on his desk. He allowed himself a brief moment to take in the way her reddish brown hair captured the faint sunlight like dying embers.
He cleared his throat.
“Good morning,” he called to her, watching her eyes jerk up from her screen. “You’re here early.” He gave a casual smile.
She returned a quick smile of her own before returning her attention to the monitor. “Trying to get ahead on the revisions before my inbox decides otherwise.”
“Efficient as always,” Alex replied with a half-smile. Why was he so disappointed that her attention was more on work than him? He clapped his hands together gently. “I haven’t had my coffee yet, would you like me to make you some?” He strode over to the coffee station in the corner, just outside Claire’s door so he could leisurely walk within sight of her without looking like a desperate stalker.
Claire looked up again. “Sure, I would love another round of caffeine.” She tilted her neck from side to side to loosen the knots in her shoulders.
“Alright then,” Alex’s smile widened as he finally disappeared into the nook that housed his private kitchenette. “Two cups of coffee, coming right up!” He pulled out the bag of coffee beans he bought specifically for Claire. He allowed himself a brief smile before pouring them into the grinder.
Claire peeked around the corner as Alex pulled the carafe of freshly brewed coffee from the machine. He pushed a mug toward her and poured the coffee into her mug before filling his own.
Claire smiled appreciatively. “Thank you,” she said as she reached in the cupboard for the powdered French vanilla creamer.
Alex barely had “You're welcome” out of his mouth when the creamer slipped from Claire’s hands and fell onto the counter. In those barely two seconds, the creamer did a flip, landed at a tilt on its lid, and exploded open in a cloud of pale-yellow powder—all over Alex’s suit jacket.
Shock and horror chased each other across Claire’s face as realization splashed over her that she may have ruined a very expensive suit.
“Oh no! I am so sorry!” she gasped out an appalled apology as she reached past him to grab the roll of paper towels on the counter. She ripped off a sheet and proceeded to brush away the large clumps on his jacket, her other hand holding the lapel away from Alex’s chest.
Alex turned his body toward Claire to make it easier for her to direct the errant powder away. He was having difficulty keeping his face professional when his heart did backflips with every brush of Claire’s hand he felt on his chest.
“It’s fine, really,” amusement crossed his face along with something else. “Happens all the time.”
Claire paused her brushing and looked up at him, a confused smirk painted her lips. “You get attacked by coffee creamer often?”
Alex chuckled. “No, I just meant—”
A quick knock, followed by Jason’s head popping through the opening door snapped up their attention.
“Hey boss, I just got the…” Jason’s voice trailed off as his eyes drifted up from the paper in his hands to the scene at the coffee station before him: his boss, back slightly to him, shielding his colleague, whose hand was gently placed on his shoulder. Jason shook the vision of clouds and hearts from his head.
“Yeah, sorry, I’ll just, uh, come back after your, um, team bonding moment is over.” Jason’s grin got broader with every word while he started to back out.
“Now hold on—!” Claire sputtered.
Alex laughed and turned toward Jason. “If you’re going to barge in like that, you better commit.” He stepped toward Jason, motioning him to come in.
Jason looked at the creamer dusted all over Alex’s suit jacket. “What, did I walk into a coffee commercial gone wrong or something?” His quizzical eyes widened as his glance swerved between an amused Alex and a scarlet-red Claire.
“Just a little mishap, that’s all. This suit has seen it’s fair share of random spills.” Alex removed his jacket and carelessly tossed it over his chair.
Claire continued to clean up the counter area while Jason updated Alex on last-minute event issues. She purposefully didn’t make eye contact or any other moves that would betray her desire to stay invisible. She could still feel the embarrassment coloring her face. Even after Jason excused himself, she refused to look up, knowing there would be a pair of laughing eyes staring at her on their way out the door.
“I think I need to check in more often,” Jason drawled in Claire’s direction.
“Jason…” Alex’s stern tone answered.
“Got it.” Jason’s playful reply faded as the door closed behind him.
Claire ignored Jason by steadfastly continuing to fumble her way through the cleanup.
“You don’t have to do that you know, I can call the janitor to get it taken care of.” Alex’s soft, playful voice snuck up behind her.
She stopped wiping down the table to look at Alex, pink still tinting her face. “I just want to keep things neat,” she replied sheepishly.
“Then I’ll just have to help you finish so we can get back to work,” his eyes crinkled with a smile as he rolled up his sleeves.
Claire stiffened slightly at the sight of Alex’s casual appearance, his long fingers working the fabric up his arms, exposing the soft ripple of muscle with every curl of the sleeve. He reached for another paper towel and corralled the remaining creaming that clumped on the counter.
Claire turned back to the counter to interrupt the dangerous thoughts that crept into her head, determined to focus on the mess rather than the man beside her. But Alex’s presence was hard to ignore. He moved with an easy confidence, his laughter still lingering in the air with the scent of vanilla.
Together they finished cleaning up the last tiny flecks of powdered chaos that highlighted their otherwise ordinary morning. Alex poured two new cups of coffee and put two scoops of creamer in one before he secured the cap back on the creamer. He reached for the overhead cabinet handle from behind Claire, brushing up against her shoulder.
Claire instinctively pulled away from Alex’s nonchalant touch, her breath catching when she realized what she’d done. She glanced sideways at Alex, hoping he didn’t catch her moment of self-consciousness. Instead, she caught the amused tilt of his brow and the way his eyes lingered on her just a beat too long. She turned her attention back to cleaning the same spot on the counter, wondering why his proximity made her insides tumble and heat like a clothes dryer.
“So, next time I make the coffee…” he began, his eyes still watching her intently.
Claire raised an eyebrow, unsure of what would come out of his mouth next. “Yes?”
“…maybe I’ll keep the creamer out of reach.” He handed Claire a fresh cup of coffee.
She flushed once more. “Or maybe you should just wear an apron” Claire huffed as she threw her spent paper towels in the trash can to hide her embarrassment.
He grinned. “Only if it matches yours,” he retorted with ease.
Her lips parted in surprise before she rolled her eyes, though the corner of her mouth betrayed her amusement. “Stop playing around, Alex.”
He gave a mock salute with his own coffee cup to Claire as she retreated toward her office. “Yes, ma’am—but I’m holding you to that apron idea.” There was a hint of surprise in his own eyes that Claire didn’t notice.
‘She said my name,’ Alex thought, his heart rushing to his head with amazed delight. With a slight shake of his head and a boyish smile, he returned to his own desk to get his day started.
