Page 7 of One Hot Moment

"Yep. When I was a kid, I hated it because boys used to tease me about it." Her lips curl into the barest of smiles. "Those twerps would shout 'here, kitty, kitty' in the halls just to annoy me. It didn't work. Even when one little toad put a can of cat food in my locker, I didn't give the bullies what they wanted."

"I can't picture you giving in to that sort of provocation." We've just reached the food now, so I grab two trays for us, handing one to Tabitha. "What did you do with the cat food?"

Her smile turns a touch wicked. "The can had a pop-top, so I opened it up and ate a little bit of it."

I can't stop my lip from curling. "You ate cat food? That stuff looks and smells like rotting rubbish."

She shrugs. "It was disgusting. But I shut that toad up, and nobody ever harassed me about my name again."

"You are an amazing woman, Tabitha."

When she smiles at me again, I feel a strange sensation of warmth in my chest. It isn't unpleasant. In fact, it's invigorating.

"Hey, slow poke!" a male voice shouts. "Move your ass. We've got hungry people here, and you're clogging up the line."

I wince. "Sorry. We'll get moving."

Tabitha slaps her tray down on the metal rails, and the sound echoes through the room. Then she spins around and sets her hands on her hips. "Listen up, loudmouth. You just insulted the new chief of risk analysis. And you don't look like you're malnourished, so keep your trap shut."

She faces me, gesturing toward the rails. "Go on, Spencer. Get your food."

"Ladies first. Especially if that woman is you." While she starts gathering her meal items, I glance back at the tosser who had been in such a bloody hurry. He actually seems chagrined. I shuffle closer to Tabitha. "Not that I'm ungrateful, but everyone heard what you said. They might think I'm a weakling who needs his assistant to fight his battles."

"Don't worry about that. The guy who yelled at you is a coder. Every single one of those jerks thinks they'll be the next Steve Jobs. If you watch, you'll see that he and his cronies hide in the corner to eat their lunch. They aren't popular."

"Still, I would prefer to fight my own battles. If that's all right with you."

"Of course. I'm sorry if I butted my nose in where it didn't belong."

"Nothing of the sort. I appreciate your support."

We finally select our meal items and return to our secluded little table.

I've learned one vital fact today. Tabitha Remington is quite a woman.

Chapter Four

Tabitha

Oh, God, have I screwed up my chances of keeping this job? I don't have the best employment record. Getting a job at Bramson Feigenbaum has been the highlight of my career, and I've spent six years of my life working for this company. Treating the new chief of risk analysis like he's a child and I'm his babysitter didn't create a stellar first impression.

Why did I chastise that heckler? He's a new hire. I know that much, but I should have kept my mouth shut.

"Are you not feeling well?" Spencer asks. "You've gone slightly pale."

"What? Oh, no, I'm fine. I swear."

He scrutinizes me as if he doesn't quite believe my statement. "Aren't we friends, Tabitha?"

"Sure, yeah."

"Then please tell me what I've done to upset you."

Oh, great. Now my new boss thinks he's to blame for my melancholy mood. "It isn't you, Spencer. I stepped out of line, and I'm sorry."

He glances around, craning his neck as if he's looking for something. "What line have you stepped out of, pet? I don't see any signs painted on the floor."

Try as I might, I just can't manage a smile. "I embarrassed you. When that jerk harassed you, I should've let you handle the situation. Now, that guy and his buddies will assume you're a wuss who they can run roughshod over."

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