Exotic Spices

It was late. Pushing 2 a.m. and Douglas sat back in his chair, sighing as he put his brief down into the folder. Why on earth was he still here? He should be getting rest. But no Elizabeth ... no Faith ... where else should he be?

He heard a noise in the hallway, and went out to see who the intruder was, only to find Reena, still at her cubicle.

"What are you still doing here?" he asked. "You're an intern. I'm surprised you even put in four hours today, and you're going on twelve."

"Yeah," she said, tucking her hair behind her ear. She really was quite pretty, Douglas thought absently. "I was just engrossed in this Tucker case, and I lost track of time. Do you want some tea?"

"Well, it is a financial fraud, so I get it. I get wrapped up in this stuff too. Sure." She went to the kitchen, returning with another mug of steaming tea. Douglas looked at it blankly for a moment.

"Not your cup of tea?" Reena said seriously, before giggling as she realized it had a second meaning. Fuck, it was too late for work.

"I'm used to iced tea."

"Ah, yeah, that Carolina tea is so sweet!"

"It is," Douglas agreed. He sipped at the tea. "Interesting. What has been added to it?"

"Cardamom," Reena said, sipping at her tea. "So why aren't you home with your wife?"

"Don't have one," Douglas said, flashing his ringless finger. "Twice divorced, single father. Why aren't you home with your boyfriend?"

"Umm, don't have one," Reena said. "It's been difficult adapting to the culture. But it's better. Back home in India I'd probably be in an arranged marriage with God knows who. Here, I can have choice. Course, the guys at university seem to be braindead or douchebags or worse. Good guys are hard to find."

Douglas nodded, as his phone went off. "That it is. The babysitter said she isn't staying overnight without a king's ransom. It was good talking. I'd like to do it more soon." Reena looked at Douglas. It felt like if she didn't say it now, she wouldn't get the chance. It was bold and unlike her, but what the hell.

"How about Friday night around 6, make it a short workday?" she said. Douglas blinked, then smiled.

"Sure."