Flirtations

Michael found himself enjoying coming to work for the first time in months. Not only did he spend the day with Erica job shadowing him, asking questions, but they had coffee breaks and lunches together too. She asked him questions about his life, his kids, his marriages and his work before joining the company.

In turn he learned that she lived in a basement suite in her parents house, was taking a year off from college to earn some money, and that she wanted a career in communications. He found himself flattered by her attention, and idly wished he was a young man again.

On the Wednesday a co-worker came by his cubicle, selling tickets to a pub-night fundraiser for one of the company softball teams. He was about to decline but Erica spoke first.

"That sounds like fun. Let's go," she grinned at him. The ticket seller raised his eyebrows and dropped two tickets on the desk.

"These are good for a beer and a burger. Should be a good time." Michael nodded thanks and paid him.

"You're not annoyed, are you?" Erica asked after the ticket seller left.

"Not at all, just surprised."

"Surprised?"

"At why you'd want to go to the pub with me."

"Why wouldn't I? You're the only person I really know here and I thought it might be a fun way to meet some people," she smiled with an impish curl to her lip, briefly touching his hand. "Besides, why wouldn't I want to go out with you? You're not as boring as you pretend to be."

"Thank you. I suppose. Sounds like damning with faint praise."

"I've noticed the sarcastic sense of humor, Mr. Rourke. And I've noticed the flicker in your eyes. You don't miss much, even when you don't say much."

"Mr. Rourke now, is it? Should I be calling you Miss Renato?

"If you wish," she grinned, touching a finger to the end of his nose. "But Ms. Renato would be more politically correct."

"I'm not real good with politically correct."

"I like that in a man."

"Then I'm your guy," he laughed.

"We'll see," she smiled