Something in the Wine by Jae

decision?”
    “I know this is short notice, but I have a good offer. The thing is just that I need to make a decision today. Can you pencil me in to go over the numbers with me?”
    Typical. First he waited until the last moment and then he expected her to work miracles. Annie clicked on her appointment book. If she pushed the appointment with Mrs. Baker back a little and shortened her lunch break, it could work. “Can you meet me at half past twelve?”
    “Yes, that works out great for me. Thank you so much.”
    When Annie put down the phone and looked over her shoulder, Jonathan smiled at her. “You’re really good with the clients too.”
    “It’s necessary if you want a career in accounting. You’ll work with people just as much as you’ll work with numbers.” It hadn’t come naturally for Annie, but by now, she was used to dealing with even the most difficult clients.
    “No problem for me. I like people.” Jonathan grinned at her.
    Annie nodded and turned back to the screen. “Where were we? Ah, yes. You click on this icon,” she used her pen to point out what she meant on the screen, “choose the colors and categories, click here—and voila: the software creates the chart you want.” She enlarged the multi-colored pie chart. “See?”
    Jonathan leaned close to take a look at her computer screen. “That’s all I need to do?”
    “Yes. It’s easy once you get to know the program.”
    “It seemed much more complicated when Virgil explained it. You’re a great teacher.” Jonathan lightly touched her shoulder. “Thank you so much for taking the time to help me.”
    Annie interrupted the contact by leaning forward and putting her pen back in the penholder. “You’re welcome.” She still remembered how at sea she had felt when she had first started working as an accountant, so she didn’t mind sharing her knowledge. “If you have any other questions, just come over and ask me.”
    “Thanks. I will.” Jonathan straightened from his bent-over position behind Annie’s desk chair and headed to the door.
    “Oh, and Jonathan?”
    He turned and looked at her with the expectant gaze of a child on Christmas morning. “Jon, please.”
    Annie didn’t nod. She had known Jonathan for just three days, so calling him by a nickname felt too familiar. “Remember to back up all your data before you close the software.”
    Jonathan’s smile dimmed. “Oh. Yes. Of course. Thanks again.” He squeezed past Sarah, who was just entering Annie’s office, and hurried down the hall.
    “What’s going on with Jonathan?” Sarah asked as she plopped down in the visitor’s chair. “He didn’t even say hello to me.”
    Annie shrugged and picked up a pen to twirl it through her fingers. “He seemed a bit hyper, but maybe that’s just the stress of starting a new job.”
    “Stress? I don’t think so.” A knowing smile spread over Sarah’s face. She twisted a reddish lock of hair around her finger. “Has he asked you out yet?”
    Annie blinked. “Who?”
    “The pope.” Sarah rolled her eyes. “Jonathan, of course! Don’t tell me you didn’t notice that he’s totally smitten with you?”
    “What?” Annie threw her pen down. “Where did you get that crazy idea?”
    “I’m not the only one who thinks so,” Sarah said, still twisting her hair around her finger. “Linda said he almost fell over himself to help you make copies of Mr. Dettman’s files yesterday.”
    Great. That’s how office rumors get started. Annie rubbed her forehead. “He was just being friendly, and it gave him a chance to learn the copy machine. That’s all.”
    “Maybe. But he’s also grinning like an idiot every time he sees you, and I don’t think he’s wearing that extra-splash of aftershave to impress Mr. Cargill.”
    “You’re imagining things. He’s just grateful for my help. And maybe he just puts on so much aftershave because he has a body odor problem.”
    Sarah freed her finger from her hair and pointed at