Lovin' Blue (17 page)
Authors: Zuri Day
33
“Eden Anderson, so nice to meet you.”
“Likewise, Eden. Welcome aboard.”
Day one at the Zen Den had arrived. Ariel, over the moon that her friend had been hired, had volunteered to take Eden around and introduce her to the staff, referred to as “the community.” Many of the part-timers worked in the afternoon. Still, in addition to Om and Alex, Eden had met the nutritionist, an herbalist, a couple exercise instructors, an acupuncturist, several energy healers, and two masseuses. By the time she and Ariel returned to the airy, modern kitchen/break room, she'd met almost half of the community's twenty-eight members.
Eden carried a steaming mug of green tea into her small yet adequate office located on the building's back side. Her favorite office feature was the large window that looked out upon the meticulously landscaped garden that was the two-story office's backyard. She gazed out upon the picture-perfect September morning and then turned and surveyed her new domain. The furniture was minimal, the walls not adorned. Dr. K had explained that this was so she could personalize the office to her liking. With that in mind, Eden sat behind the desk and began compiling a shopping list.
Her stomach growled, signaling lunchtime. Eden checked her watch and was surprised to see how quickly four hours had passed. In addition to completing the shopping list, she'd further familiarized herself with the community members by reviewing their résumés and Web sites and studied the various healing modalities offered at the center. Eden had discovered a lot about the holistic lifestyle and alternative methods of healing in the four years she'd ventured down this path. After three hours on her new job, however, she knew there was still much to learn.
A light tap on her open office door signaled company. “There are no brownie points for not taking a lunch break,” Alex said as he entered her office. “In fact, while eating is not mandatory, it is highly recommended.”
Eden sat back, smiling. “I totally agree with you, doctor, and so does my growling stomach.”
“I thought perhaps we could grab a bite together, have a casual strategy session regarding the center's direction in these first six months. You've seen the mission statement and basic-goals outline, but I'm interested in having your input, given what you've learned so far.”
“Sounds great.” Eden powered down her laptop and retrieved her purse from a side drawer. “Do you have a restaurant in mind?”
“Seed, over on Pacific Avenue. Have you eaten there?” Alex motioned for Eden to precede him out of the office, placing a light hand at the curve of her back as she did so.
“No, never heard of it.”
“You'll love it.”
They continued chatting as they walked to Alex's shiny black Prius. He hit the unlock button, opened Eden's door, and closed it once she was safely inside. Alex deftly navigated the dense lunch-hour traffic and the ever-present bicyclists, skateboarders, and dog-walking pedestrians. Soon they entered a small and bustling establishment, with a simple decor. They walked up to the counter, reached for menus, and perused the tasty-sounding choices. After a brief conversation with the man behind the counter, they placed their orders.
“You're vegetarian?” Eden asked, once they'd sat down.
“Mostly,” Alex answered. “I still eat seafood and, once a year, on my birthday, I'll have one of my favorite Greek dishesâa lamb fricassee, for instance, or a pork-filled moussaka.
Eden looked up in surprise. “How's that work out for you?”
Alex shrugged. “Fine.”
“You don't get sick from ingesting meat after three hundred and sixty-four days without it?”
“No, but that's probably because of the seafood in my system. If Ariel or someone like her ate meat, they'd probably end up in the emergency room.”
“You're probably right. I think Ariel has been pretty much vegan for ten years.”
“What about you?”
“Four years without meat or fish, but I still eat dairy and soy-based products.”
Alex paused as the waiter delivered their orders: an Italian “soysage” panini for Eden and a Thai coconut bowl for Alex. After taking a couple bites of his food, he continued, “What started you on this holistic journey?”
“Finding out that my ex-husband wasn't the only thing giving me indigestion.”
“Ha!”
Eden laughed, too, but was a bit embarrassed. She couldn't believe that answer had come from her mouth, had wanted to keep her private life just thatâprivate. “I reached a point in my life where I didn't feel as good as I thought I should. I went to a health fair that just happened to have an entire row dedicated to alternative-health modalities and became intrigued. A counselor at the event told me that while part of my lethargy was due to emotional fatigue, stress, and lack of exercise, she also thought part of it was due to diet. She made some recommendations, I followed them, and here I am.”
“Looking fit as a fiddle!”
“I don't know about all that, but I feel good. What's your story?”
“I've always been somewhat of a health nut, always exercised and took supplements. But, like you, the more I delved into the world of holistic medicines and alternative healing, and learned the correlation between diet and good health, the more my food choices changed.”
“Did you always want to be a doctor?”
“From the time I was ten years old. I went in for a tonsillectomy, fell in love with the doctor's stethoscope, and got spoiled by the pretty nurses.” Alex's green eyes sparkled as he fixed her with a crooked smile. “And here I am.”
He's a very attractive man. I wonder why he's not married.
Eden thought this and then realized she didn't know his marital status. She wanted to, out of simple curiosity, but felt it an inappropriate question to ask during her first day on the job and first lunch meeting with her boss. Instead she steered the conversation back toward business, asking about Alex's studies in eastern and Chinese medicine, and how the center's community would be expanded to allow members well versed in these teachings. Conversation flowed easily, and the food was delicious. Two hours went by in a flash, and by the time the two returned to the office, they were both excited about the future of the Zen Den.
Eden thought this and then realized she didn't know his marital status. She wanted to, out of simple curiosity, but felt it an inappropriate question to ask during her first day on the job and first lunch meeting with her boss. Instead she steered the conversation back toward business, asking about Alex's studies in eastern and Chinese medicine, and how the center's community would be expanded to allow members well versed in these teachings. Conversation flowed easily, and the food was delicious. Two hours went by in a flash, and by the time the two returned to the office, they were both excited about the future of the Zen Den.
Eden returned to her office, fired up her laptop, and, based on the conversation she'd just had with Alex, began outlining both her personal goals and goals for the center for the next six months. Her body fairly hummed with satisfaction and joy. She felt
alive.
This was why she'd switched careers and relocatedâto change the dynamics of her life. Eden laughed out loud, thinking about just how quickly those changes had come about. Her dream job landed; a fabulous man in her life. What more could a woman want?
alive.
This was why she'd switched careers and relocatedâto change the dynamics of her life. Eden laughed out loud, thinking about just how quickly those changes had come about. Her dream job landed; a fabulous man in her life. What more could a woman want?
Alex finished a call with a colleague, discussing the latest trends in his former profession, hematology-oncology. He still saw patients a couple times a week, and attended the conferences to stay up to date on the ever-changing technology in traditional western medicine. He wanted to stay current in his chosen field even as he embraced and incorporated his training in eastern healing modalities. He clicked on his computer and saw that Eden had sent him an e-mail. In it was an attachment, a skeletal outline reiterating what they'd discussed at lunch, and a timeline for incorporation of these ideas.
Alex leaned back, pondering his latest hire. He had no doubt that, by far, she was the best of the applicants interviewedâa perfect fit for the center. Job aside, he deduced, she was a very attractive woman. She intrigued him. Alex had dated only a handful of women since his divorce ten years ago, and only one of them had lasted longer than a year. His current liaison was casual, a mutual agreement for stimulating conversation and physical pleasure, without expectation. Alex led a busy life, traveled often, and hadn't met anyone who piqued his interest enough to consider a serious relationship. He also had a rule of not dating anyone in the workplace. But Eden Anderson had changed the game. As he clicked on the Internet to once again Google her name, he came to one undeniable conclusion: rules were made to be broken.
34
Eden exited the shower to the sound of her ringing cell phone. She quickly grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her as she dashed for the bedroom.
“Well, girl, how was it?” Phyllis asked after her daughter had answered the phone.
“I think I've found my dream job,” Eden answered. She put her mom on speakerphone and dressed in stretch pants and an oversize T-shirt. “Everyone was friendly and helpful, and I think Dr. K and I will get along well.”
“Hmmm, tell me about this doctor.”
Eden had purposely avoided telling her mother of her and Jansen's burgeoning relationship. The last thing she needed was her mom, and her busybody friend Kathryn, Jansen's mom, putting their heads together and trying to orchestrate their children's future.
“His name is Alexander Kostopoulos. He's professionally trained as a medical doctor but is now combining his knowledge of alternative medicine, namely eastern traditions, into his healing solutions. He's the resident doctor at the center, even though he maintains patients at one of the local hospitals.”
“Is he good-looking?”
“He looks all right.”
“How does âall right' look?” It was obvious that Eden's nonchalance hadn't convinced her mother.
“He's an attractive man, Mom. Around six feet tall, black hair, green eyes. But my interest in him begins and ends at the office. I'm not about to jeopardize what I feel to be an amazing career opportunity with an office fling.”
“Oh, so he's available?”
“Mom! This was my first day on the job. I didn't ask the man for his personal résumé.”
“Hmph. And I thought I raised you right.” The women shared a laugh. “What about Jansen. Have you seen him lately?”
“On Labor Day. Michael didn't tell you he was at the barbecue?” Eden knew Phyllis's propensity for playing ignorant with one child to get info from the other, which was why early on Eden had asked her brother to remain mum on her and Jansen's dating status.
“Oh, yes,” Phyllis said, nonplussed. “Now that you mention it, Michael did mention Jansen being there. He didn't say with whom, though. . . .”
“Speaking of dates, how goes it with you and Larry?” Eden felt it was time to get her mother out of her business and back into her own.
“So far, so good. I didn't know how much I'd missed having a man around until I had one around again.”
The two women conversed for another few moments. Eden looked at the clock, surprised that it was already eight o'clock. She was definitely going to have to get back into the groove of an eight-hour-plus workday. “Mom, let's finish catching up this weekend. I haven't eaten dinner and want to make it an early night.”
“Dress to impress tomorrow, and learn your boss's marital status. Sometimes what you're looking for is right beneath your nose.”
Instead of responding, Eden ended the call. “Love you, Mom. Bye.” She immediately dialed Jansen. “Hey, you.”
“'Bout time you called.”
Eden ignored Jansen's possessive nature and continued to flirt. “You miss me, baby?”
“I'd ask you the same question, except if that were true, you'd have your sexy self over here instead of making me hard over the phone.”
“Sounds tasty.”
“You know it is. So are you coming here, or am I coming to you?”
Eden noted that Jansen's question assumed that getting together was a foregone conclusion. She couldn't blame him. Aside from the three days he'd spent in Chicago, attending his comrade's funeral and visiting with friends, they'd been together every night.
“Today was my first day at work,” she began after a pause. “Considering the fact that I've been a lady of leisure for a month, it was pretty exhausting.”
“I know it was your first day, baby. That's why I've got a massage with your name on it, among other things.” Jansen's voice was low, sexy, causing squiggles in Eden's stomach and beyond.
“Your offer is extremely tempting, Jansen. But I won't get the eight hours of sleep I need with you beside me. Can I make it up to you some other time?”
“Some other time . . . like tomorrow, right? You know my appetite, baby. It's ferocious.”
Memories of said appetite caused Eden to shudder. “Tomorrow, baby. My place, okay?”
Eden hung up the phone, ate a light dinner, and checked her e-mails. At a little after nine she changed into pajamas and climbed into bed, planning to watch a half hour or so of television and call it a night. She'd just settled into an episode of HGTV's
House Hunters
when her cell phone rang. She took a look at the number. It wasn't one she recognized. After a seconds-long debate about whether to answer, she accepted the call.
House Hunters
when her cell phone rang. She took a look at the number. It wasn't one she recognized. After a seconds-long debate about whether to answer, she accepted the call.
“Eden, it's Alex.”
“Dr. K?”
“Forgive my calling after hours, but I have some quick thoughts on the outline you sent. Do you have a minute?”
“Sure.” Eden listened to the easy lilt of his European accent, remembered the crooked smile and deep green eyes, and heard her mother's words echo in her head.
. . . Learn your boss's marital status. Sometimes what you're looking for is right beneath your nose.
. . . Learn your boss's marital status. Sometimes what you're looking for is right beneath your nose.
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