Sure, let's see how they're reacting...

When you pop your head in the door and say "Hi", Linda immediately seems flustered and keeps looking at her work. "Oh, can I help you? I mean... do you need something? I..."

"I just dropped by to see if you ladies are okay, having been out sick yesterday."

"Oh. Yeah, I guess so." She turns her striking blue eyes to you, still looking a bit apprehensive. "It was some kind of 24 hour flu, I guess. You really knocked us out. I mean... It..." she stumbles.

You smile, but before you can say anything, she continues, lowering her voice. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over us. We've never done anything like that before. With anybody. Or each other. And now Loni says everyone's talking about us, and I really probably shouldn't even be talking to you."

Flustered as she is, there's a definite sparkle of desire in her gaze -- rather like the way Tami looked this morning. "Well, what do YOU think?" you ask her.

She's silent for a moment, and then softly "That I'd like to see a lot more of you."

"Well then there's no reason not to, though I'll try to keep my distance during working hours. I know how office gossip can be."

She smiles warmly, with perhaps a subtly naughty twist at the corners of her eyes and mouth. As you turn to leave, she interrupts "Ooh! Do you think you can make to the Beef n' Beer with us tonight? Tami mentioned on Monday that she'd invited you, but then we couldn't make it."

"You're going out again tonight?"

"Well, Tami's kind of the organizer of these things, and she says..."

"Wednesday's the new Friday?"

"Something like that. I might need a ride, can you give me your number?"

You do, and go back to work. You happen to pass the main conference room as a meeting is letting out. You recognize some of the people leaving as major department heads of the company, and none of them look pleased. Probably spent the day discussing how they were going to deal with Fanshaw's ****, and didn't come to a lot of good conclusions.

As you pass the door, you almost run into the last to depart, Dr. McKenzie. You have a moment to realize that she's even more gorgeous at this range, where her frumpy hair and lab coat do an even poorer job of concealing it. The moment passes as you both veer off and she struggles to keep hold of the papers in her arms. You pick up a few that scatter on the floor, and she snatches them back with a sneer, muttering "Give me those, you dolt! I'll not have you throwing THOSE away!" before she marches off to her office.

Just before quitting time, you contrive to swing by the reception desk. Tami raises an eyebrow when she sees you, and asks under her breath "Well, well... Up to any more mischief today?"

"Huh?"

"I've been catching up on gossip, and you've been the headline item," she smirks. "I heard you left the breakroom Monday with Loni and Linda on each arm and disappeared for almost an hour. Nobody seems to have seen them again until this morning."

"Listen, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt anyone, and especially not you..." your voice raises a bit as you defend yourself, and Tami cuts you off with a clipped --

"Shh! I know you didn't. And I meant everything I said this morning." She holds your hand discreetly against the desktop, and smiles wistfully as she continues. "Fact is, I'm impressed. Not only by your stamina, but by the fact you scored with the two of them within about five minutes of meeting them, when I haven't gotten to first base with either of them in the year I've been working here."

Her elfin smile grows a bit more erotically wicked when she sees your dumbfounded expression. "I didn't mean to shock you. No, that's a lie. I did. I kind of get off on it," she chuckles. "But it's sometimes awkward with women I'm friendly with, but who are maybe a little uptight about it."

"Well, maybe I can put in a good word for you tonight at the Beef n' Beer," you offer, as you shift from surprise to joy.

"Tonight?"

"Yeah, Linda just told me we were meeting there tonight like you'd planned to Monday."

"Well, I did propose it to Loni this morning, but she kind of brushed me off. It was only after I started hearing the stories that I realized why. I guess maybe you have one less-than-satisfied customer."

"Maybe." As employees start to filter through the lobby for the door, you and Tami withdraw your hands from the desk. "Keep your dance card open tonight," you continue. "I'll call you once I know what's going on."