There I was walking in the door to my office, right on time. Double checking the watch on my wrist, yep, 5:30 AM. I am thinking, "Who goes to work this early? Oh, yeah, that's right, I do. Damn military contract." Don't get me wrong, I was very proud to serve, loved my job actually, but morning person I am not and the military does everything at "O" to early. Anyway, after I get to work I realize I do like this shift because I can get a lot of work done before the rest of the crew rolls in. Then, I am off work by 3:30 PM to enjoy the rest of my day. So goes the cycle of my life at work.
One day, I get a visitor to my office as soon as I arrived. I am a little annoyed by the fact he is hovering before I even get my morning coffee. I mean, come on. Can a girl have some coffee and settle in at her desk? Check some e-mail? I whipped around after setting my keys down on the desk, hand on my right hip. I turned so fast, I could tell his eyes hadn't been focused on the back of my head. I was wearing my usual, "dress blues" uniform - skirt hemmed just below the knee, short sleeve shirt adorned with my name tag and ribbons, sheer hose, and black patent leather two and a half inch heels. Working among lots of men, I preferred being easily identified within my gender group and dressed accordingly.
My dark brown hair, trimmed to just above the collar freely swayed when I tilted my head toward my right shoulder, "Can I help you?" I nearly sneered.
Taken a back by my attitude, he stammered a bit flashing a pair of lovely clear blue eyes my way, "I...uhh...I am starting in the training office this morning and they told me to see you."
Realizing I would be working closely with this man, I decided it would be in my best interest to ease up and be nice. I was just in a mood anyway and it wasn't his fault now, was it?
A quick once over told me his name was last name was Lawman (no one used first names on active duty; even friends called each other by their last name), he was in the security field, and we were the same rank (E-5). That is one thing I liked about my job, you could tell all you really needed to know professionally just my checking out the uniform the troop was wearing.
"Oh, I see, "I said flashing a smile and trying to apologize with my glassy green eyes, "Let me get you started with the transfer packet."
I turned around and pulled a blank set of forms from my desk file drawer. I was certain I could feel him checking out my rear as he had a full view of it from across the counter. When I turned around he quickly shifted his eyes back to mine. I felt the heat hit my face from the excitement.
"Here, you need to complete the highlighted areas on each page and sign," I instructed.
As he got lost in the paperwork, I pretended to be checking e-mail, but was taking a closer look at my new co-worker. High and tight soft brown hair, over six foot tall, and slender. Damn, I hated the fact that fatigues hid so much of the body and it was near impossible to know his actual build. Oh yeah, then there was the wedding ring on the left hand. I had no idea who his wife was, but suddenly I realized I was very jealous of her. I also quickly returned to my work, he was off limits. Damn!
The days and weeks, turned to months. Lawman and I worked closely together, but we left it at that. Yeah, sure there was the casual flirting. Me walking down the tiled hall, my heels clicking away; him peaking his head out just to watch me go by asking why I didn't stop in to chat. Him tapping away on the keyboard; me half leaning against and half sitting on his desk watching.
Things began to get more intense when we were both working a late night. As I was on my way out the back door, I saw he was still in...and alone.
For the first time, I saw him in just his black t-shirt he wore under his fatigue shirt, which was hanging on the back of the chair at this hour, "What are you doing?" I asked.
Stunned at the sudden break in silence, he turned to me, "No, what are you doing?"
After some idle chit chat, things turned personal. He revealed he was having problems at home. He was working late so he had some time away to think. He just wasn't focused on his marriage like he should be.