In the Eye of the Storm by Samantha Chase

at him as if he had grown a second head.  “For real?”  He nodded.  “Before I start, are all of these movies like, guy movies or am I going to find some comedies and chick flicks in here, too?”
    “I have covered all bases.  There are at least a hundred different chick flicks to choose from and being that you are my guest, it’s your choice.”
    “Wow, a man who stocks chick flicks.  This place must be a real babe magnet.”
    “Well, being that you are the first and only ‘babe’ to see it, you’ll have to let me know.”
    “Seriously?”  Again, he nodded.  “How can that be?  Don’t you date?”
    “Of course I date; I just don’t bring them home.”  Man, did that sound shallow.  “Come on; pick a movie while I get everything else set up.  You want a beer?  Soda? Milk shake?”
    The last option piqued her interest but considering how much food she had prepared, she settled on a Coke.  She muttered a thanks as she continued to scan the movies.  After much deliberation she found a favorite, “Speed,” with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves.  Stephen nodded his approval when she told him.  “I figured you as a “Pride and Prejudice” kind of gal.”
    “Only when I’m alone,” she quipped.  “Besides, I’d hate for you to fall asleep from boredom and let all this food go to waste.”
    They laughed; they ate, and shared a running commentary throughout the movie.  Stephen was discovering that his assistant was quite intriguing.  She was passionate in her conversation and he couldn’t remember ever having such a pointless conversation and enjoying it quite so much.
    Holly, on the other hand, wasn’t quite so focused on Stephen; she was too busy enjoying the luxury that surrounded here.  Snuggling deeper in to the buttery softness of the recliner, she was sure than she had never been in a more comfortable chair and found herself thoroughly content.  Between them, they did manage to go through quite a bit of the food and her stomach protested that fact by the end of the movie. 
    “It’s a rare combination of love story and action adventure,” she said as the credits rolled.  “I’m a sucker for a happy ending.”  She looked around and the thought of moving and cleaning up the mess was not appealing at all.  Beside her, Stephen’s expression told her the same thing.
    “How about a double-feature?”
    With a sigh of relief and giving in to the urge to recline, Holly looked over at him and smiled.  “It’s like you read my mind.  This one’s your choice.”  Within minutes they were watching the intro to Jackie Chan’s “ Shanghai Noon. ”  With mindless abandon, Holly reached for several squares of cheese and crackers as Stephen took the mini hot dogs and potato skins and warmed them in the microwave he kept behind the bar.
    “I know there’s not really a love story here, but it’s still a great movie,” Stephen said conversationally while he waited for the ding of the microwave.
    “That’s fine.  I really enjoy a good comedy, too.  But I have to tell you, if I don’t stop eating, the only thing I’m going to do after this movie is walk across the hall to your mini YMCA and walk on the treadmill until Monday.”
    Well, at least she wasn’t trying to leave anymore, Stephen thought to himself.  He removed the food from the microwave and placed the plates between them again, refreshed both of their drinks and sat back down as Jackie Chan watched the Princess escape in the night.  For a minute, he glanced at Holly and watched her nibbling on a cracker, so relaxed, so at ease.  She truly looked different from the woman he worked with everyday.  Was he really that bad to work with that having a day off actually changed her appearance? 
    Focusing on the movie again he couldn’t seem to break that train of thought.  He looked at Holly again.  Yes, she looked absolutely transformed.  It was more than the hair or the glasses, her whole face was relaxed.