In Moments Like This

Chapter 1

Denise clenched her jaw and willed her cheeks not to overheat as two sets of eyes focused on her face. In all of her thirty-seven years, she’d never completely mastered the trick of not growing flustered under scrutiny, although she managed her nerves better now than she once did.

Today, it helped to remember that the two men sitting across the coffee shop table weren’t even thinking about her. Not really. They were here because they wanted her help…such as it was.

Sitting up taller, she mustered the courteous, competent business tone she’d polished in recent years and addressed the men.

“You realize, of course, I’m not working in HR presently, so I can’t offer you direct guidance, but I’ll remind you of the policy: Romantic relationships between a manager and direct report are prohibited. ”

Jeremy, who was around her age, ran a nervous hand through his neatly trimmed blond hair and glanced at the man beside him.

Derrick was a few years younger. Always the snappy dresser, he wore a blue tie with a yellow shirt that contrasted nicely with his dark skin.

They sat near one another, their shoulders brushing. “We understand that, Ms. Farrington.”

“Denise, please,” she corrected, trying to establish a friendlier atmosphere while distancing herself from the name she shared with both her father and his company.

Not that anyone was forgetting her name. In fact, the only reason they were probably talking to her now was because she was Burt Farrington’s daughter.

“Denise,” Jeremy echoed, a smile brightening his gray-blue eyes. “We don’t want to violate the policy. And that’s why we’re being open. It’s why we came to you, now that we realize we’re getting serious.”

Jeremy and Derrick looked into each other’s eyes, and the gravity in their expressions eased. It wasn’t hard to see that they truly cared for each other, and something inside Denise melted as she watched them.

“I appreciate the honesty,” she conceded.

Their attention snapped back to her.

“But we both also really enjoy working for Farrington Parks,” Derrick added.

Denise nodded. Farrington Parks was one of the few privately held amusement park and outdoor recreation companies left in the country, with multiple amusement and water parks, resorts, and campsites strewn across the state of Oklahoma.

They were one of the biggest, most stable employers in the region.

It would be tough for anyone to walk away from that.

Derrick swallowed visibly before pressing on. “That’s why we were wondering if there are any other solutions apart from one or both of us resigning.”

Both of them were watching her closely again, and Denise’s skin prickled beneath it. She picked up her iced coffee and took a sip as she collected her thoughts.

“When you first came to me, I asked to postpone the discussion until today so I could give it some thought. And I have.”

Leaning forward, she looked at Jeremy. “If you are willing to move to Ray Malone’s division, I think he could use your help. He will probably be agreeable, but I’ll talk to him about it to be sure.”

Jeremy remained quiet with his brows furrowed in concentration as he listened, so she continued. “This wouldn’t be a lateral move for you. It’s a bit of a step down, really. And there would be a pay cut, but not much of one.”

“Derrick,” she addressed the younger man, “you would remain in your current department.”

She folded her hands on the table. “If that doesn’t work for you both, I’m afraid one of you will have to resign.”

Denise fell silent, squeezing her hands tighter to grasp her resolve.

She’d laid out the terms. While she liked Jeremy and Derrick and was rooting for them to work as a couple, she couldn’t let that persuade her to yield any more ground on the matter.

Workplace romances were fraught with potential for drama, but her solution could at least mitigate some of the risk.

After a moment more of reflection, Jeremy’s face lit up in a grin. “I would absolutely be willing to try that! Thank you for hearing us out and putting so much thought into this, Ms.–I mean–Denise. I was hoping you’d help us come up with something.”

Denise tilted her head to the side. Jeremy’s response gave her pause. Up to this point, she’d assumed the two men had come to her with the thought of winning over the boss’s daughter so she’d talk her daddy into ignoring the policy for them. But now she started to wonder.

“Why did you come to me about this, anyway?” she asked.

Derrick scooted closer to the table. “It was my idea. I knew from when we worked in the same division that you were safe.”

He looked at his partner before continuing.

“At work, it’s hard to know who to trust and who will support you.

Many people will say they’re accepting of who you are, and then their actions say something else.

But back when you were in charge of the division, I knew that wasn’t the case with you.

I remember the time Mark Ripley made a homophobic joke at me.

You stepped in right away and dealt with him.

I don’t know what you did, but he left me alone after that. ”

Denise sank back in her chair. “Oh.”

She remembered that day. Not six whole months into her time at Farrington Parks, her father had insisted she take over the vacant head of marketing position, to “learn the role,” which was an appropriate description because she’d felt wholly unqualified for the job.

She often suspected that her entire team shared her misgivings.

Her only goal had been to keep her head down, let the team do their job, and avoid conflict.

But two weeks in, she’d been forced to exercise her managerial duties after hearing Mark’s joke.

There’d been no way she could let it stand.

So, despite her nerves, she’d taken Mark aside for a frank discussion about appropriate workplace behavior and respecting his colleagues.

She’d insisted he apologize to Derrick, and then take sensitivity training.

After that, she’d kept her eyes and ears open for the remainder of her time in the division.

As far as she could tell, Mark hadn’t caused any more trouble.

It was a relief to hear Derrick confirm that too.

Derrick kept speaking. “So, I had a feeling you would work to do what was best for everyone in our situation, even if you’re not directly involved. Because you’re a good leader.”

The tension in Denise’s shoulders eased, and warmth washed through her at Derrick’s words. But she pushed the feeling aside for the moment and sent him a smirk. “Okay, I’ve already helped you guys all I can, Derrick. There’s no need for flattery now.”

Jeremy barked out a laugh, and Derrick’s jaw dropped. “I’m being seriousss…” His voice pitched higher as he dragged out the last syllable. “We think you’re great!”

After their laughter died down, they finished talking, and Denise remained seated, watching out the window as the two men walked away.

They shared a quick kiss but didn’t embrace long, which made sense.

Much of Oklahoma City was progressive compared to the surrounding conservative state, but as in many places, queer couples still had to be cautious about displaying affection.

The exchange was sweet nonetheless and made the love between them that much clearer.

They kept talking as they walked down the street toward the office, seemingly oblivious to the rest of the world.

Denise expelled a breath as she watched, and a sensation of hollowness gaped inside her chest. No one had ever loved her that completely. But she had once let herself get lost in someone else.

Her skin threatened to form goosebumps in response to the memory of that mixture of ecstasy and apprehension she’d felt when she’d first fallen in love. It had been like standing at the very edge of a cliff.

Never again.