Teacher's Pet

I looked at my lovelorn classmate and caught a glimpse of a young woman staring at us. She wore the same tirelessly hopeful expression that Thomas used to turn on me. "Who's that?" I asked.

"Mindy," Thomas said. His whole face brightened. "I've been thinking about asking her out."

"Then don't hesitate," I said. "There's no room for doubt when it's love."

Thomas grinned and spun back through the maze of desks to join Mindy by the copier. Within seconds, they were both laughing about something, and the look on their faces buoyed my courage.

I turned back and caught Ford watching me through the glass walls of his office. His words, his hands, the whole passionate morning crashed over me, and for a moment, I couldn't move. Then he gestured for me to join him, and my feet moved so fast I felt like I was flying.

"Wow, you're in a rush," Ford said as I burst in his office door and skidded to a stop. "What's the good news?"

I couldn't get t

he words to form or my mouth to work. Instead, I asked, "Is everything alright? That looked like a pretty heated phone exchange."

Ford chuckled and handed me a slip of paper. On it was nothing but an astronomical sum. "Barton is trying to buy The Mirror again."

"That's awful. Why are you smiling?" I asked.

Ford shrugged and plucked the coffee cups from my hands. "I take it as a compliment. It's weird, but ever since I confronted him on the golf course, I feel like he respects me. These offers are a sign of respect, like he's proud of me."

"Or he's trying to con you like Tailor did my father," I said.

"Don't worry, I'm a cautious guy," Ford said.

"Are you? Because I've been feeling lately like I'm too cautious, and you're the one that's willing to go out on a limb." My throat dried up and so did my words.

Ford arched a dark eyebrow at me. I had his full attention now. "What are you talking about?" he asked.

An intern saved me by standing at the glass door and waving a stack of proofs. "Sorry to interrupt, Ford, but these need approval before we can let everything go live."

"Oh, god, that's right. You're under deadline. I'm not the only one that's under deadline. Sorry!" I stepped out of the way.

Ford caught me under the chin as he passed out the door. "I'll be right back. Then you have to tell me what's on your mind."

I watched him march up and down the rows of desks. Ford knew everyone by name, and he insisted they call him by his first name. The mix of familiarity and authority he gave off set his whole staff at ease. They worked hard for him. They respected him. They loved him.

Suddenly the words welled up, and I could barely contain myself. I felt like shouting it out his office door. The thought of interrupting the newspaper with a headline of my own was tempting but terrifying.

Ford saw me shifting from foot to foot in his office door. He initialed the stack of proofs without taking his eyes off me and then dropped the papers on the intern's desk. He marched clear across the floor and swept back into his office.

This time I was ready for the tsunami. "I love you," I said.

He stopped in the doorway and held on to the frame for support. Then Ford looked around as if he'd been dazed with something heavy. When his eyes focused back on me, I said it again.

"I love you, Ford."

This time, he was at a loss for words, but there was no doubt how he took the news. Ford strode across the office and swept me up in his arms. We spun three times before he pulled me to him, and in front of the entire Mirror staff, we kissed as if the world had faded away.

The raucous cheer that met our ears was enough of a reminder.

"The walls are glass, aren't they?" Ford asked. His face was still a mix of wonder and relief. "Everyone saw everything."

"Isn't it great?" I asked. "We don't have to worry about who sees us or not."

Ford brushed his lips against mine again. "Because we're just two people in love."

"Yes," I laughed. Then I unhooked my arms from around his neck. "But you are also the person under deadline and, trust me, I know how that feels."