by Jan Freed
Shuddering, he snatched up the pencil and threw it across the room. The last thing he needed was more secrets in his life. Just what other little surprises did Laura have in store for him?
* * *
“I THINK WE SHOULD HIRE Sharon Barnes for the job.” Laura scanned the small core staff of Hayes and McDonald Advertising, and waited.
Surprise, Alec thought, closing his eyes. When he opened them, four pair of eyes, not including Brenda Lee’s, stared back from a scattered semicircle. Until a reasonably priced conference table could be located, staff meetings were held in the agency’s reception area.
“Sharon is a wonderful personal secretary, Laura, but she wouldn’t have the faintest idea what to do as traffic manager,” Alec said, holding on to his patience.
Harold pushed up his round wire-rimmed glasses and cleared his throat. “This Barnes woman is a secretary, Alec?”
“That’s right. A damn good one, I’ll admit. She worked for me at Harris, Bates and Whitman.”
“All the more reason you should think twice before hiring her,” the media director said. “Old loyalties die hard, you know.”
A loud “harrumph!” sounded from the reception desk across the room. When Harold shot Brenda Lee a lethal look, she gave him a saccharine smile and wiggled her fingers.
“That’s exactly my point,” Laura stated. “Sharon was completely devoted to you, Alec. To her, you were the agency, no matter what the name on the door said. She kept track of nine jillion details at once without blinking an eye. Making sure our departments produce on schedule would be child’s play for her.”
Alec ground his teeth. Laura was doing it again, damn it. Questioning his judgment in front of the staff. “Even if we did make an offer, she’d never leave her present job so close to her retirement and risk jeopardizing her pension. That would be extremely foolish.”
Three male heads nodded in agreement.
Laura met Brenda Lee’s sympathetic gaze before turning back to Alec. “Ask her before you assume. Women are loyal creatures at heart. Give her the chance to prove it.”
Loyal creatures, bull. He knew better. “We’ll discuss it later, Laura.”
“But Al—”
“Later.” He deliberately turned from her flushed face to the man seated next to her. “How’s that new scanner program working out, Steve?”
The young art director’s shy brown eyes lit up. “I haven’t quite mastered the calibration procedure yet, but I can already see it’s light-years ahead of what we used at Unicorn Designs. Man, you should see the photo I converted using diffusion dithering. It more than holds its own against a mezzotint. I can run and get it if you’d like.”
Alec smiled but shook his head, aware of Laura’s stony expression all the while he pretended interest in the scanner’s virtues. When his gaze slid past her to the controller, she turned her head—as if she couldn’t bear to look at him.
Well, hell. “Jim, I’d like to show Sam a sample run of our billing breakdown tomorrow,” Alec rapped out. “Is that possible?”
The chronically stoop-shouldered man snapped to military attention. “Shouldn’t be any problem. I’ll print out a few test runs today just to make sure. And I need to talk to you about a glitch in the payroll system when you have time.”
Steve spoke up. “I have some questions about that Host and Travel Index ad layout you wanted. Could I stop by your office later?”
“Alec, if we don’t approve this first-quarter radio buy soon, the rates will go up,” Harold added.
Feeling his tension ease, Alec allowed himself to look at Laura. She sat remote and still, staring somewhere over his left shoulder. “We haven’t heard from you yet, Laura. Weren’t you researching snack suppliers for the coffee bar? Can you give us the status?”
Laura lifted her nose and regarded him as if he were raw sewage. With queenly dignity, she stood and raked each man with a scathing glance. “Gentlemen—” her tone mocked the term “—this meeting is adjourned.”
“Hallelujah,” muttered a feminine voice in the distance.
“Alec, may I see you in the conference room for a moment?” Laura’s eyes were dull.
Well, damn it to hell! He rose, conscious of the curious gazes of his staff. “You heard the lady. Meeting adjourned.”
Laura was halfway to the conference room, head held high, when he entered the hallway. His long strides ate up the distance until he dogged her heels. He found himself wishing she’d undo her hair. She always wore it up in that braid thing. Hanging free, it would be long and wavy.
She stopped suddenly. Alec rammed against her back, momentum plunging his face into the crown of her head. Soft as spun silk, her hair smelled of lavender, and Laura. He jerked back.
“Must you follow me so closely?” she said through her teeth.
“Sorry.” He followed at a respectable distance when she started forward again. Her back was ramrod straight as she stepped into the empty conference room.
As usual, the circular space made him uncomfortable. “Let’s go into my office, where we can sit and talk like civilized people.”
She whirled around and crossed her arms. “Civilized? You want to be civilized? You’ll have to crawl out of the cave first.”
Tension coiled his muscles. He rubbed his neck. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m talking—” she stabbed an accusing finger toward the hall “—about that fiasco you staged a minute ago. Don’t you ever treat me like a fluffhead again, in public or private, is that understood?”
Anger lifted its ugly head and hissed a warning. He broke out in a cold sweat. “I’m sorry if I offended y—”
“Don’t patronize me, damn it! You had every intention of offending me. That way everyone knows just where I stand in the pecking order around here, right, partner?”
A fine mist of red edged his vision now. His breathing grew labored. “For God’s sake, lower your voice. This room echoes.”
She paced the floor. “So what are you afraid of, Alec? That they’ll hear the truth? That you’re so insecure the thought of losing authority scares you to death? That sharing power with a woman threatens your masculinity?” She stopped a foot away and dropped her voice to a whisper. “That being in control is so important you think nothing of humiliating me to gain it?”
Something in her anguished tone reached through the mist and tugged. Alec concentrated hard on Laura’s eyes, wincing at the hurt she couldn’t conceal. Searching for appropriate words, he watched her trembling lips tighten, her wounded expression harden.
She lifted her chin. “We’re equal partners, Alec. That was the agreement. I don’t know why that terrifies you, but if you can’t deal with me, say so now. I’ll make sure Sam doesn’t penalize you when I leave.”
In his entire adult life, no one had ever suspected his fear. Yet this woman had penetrated his guard in a matter of weeks. He felt both violated and relieved. And more vulnerable than any time since enduring, as a frightened sixteen-year-old, his father’s parting, hate-filled glance.
He drew an unsteady breath. “I’ve tried to deal with you, Laura. I just don’t seem to know how.”
She searched his eyes for a long moment, her own softening by degrees. Her wide mouth relaxed, then twitched. “Somebody once told me you were a smart pompous bigot. You can learn.”
Even as he cursed himself for a fool, his spirits lifted. He reached out and stroked her cheek, marveling at its velvety softness. Her saucy smirk faded into wide-eyed expectancy.
“Ah, Laura. What am I going to do with you?” God help him, he knew what he wanted to do with her. He dropped his hand with a sigh. “I’ve depended on myself too many years to change overnight. But I’ll try. That’s all I can promise. Can you live with those terms?” he asked, knowing he’d never agree if the situation was reversed.
When she nodded, the last of Alec’s tension slipped away.
He sensed they’d crossed a barrier, which would make workin
g together much easier for Laura in the future. As for him, there was only one thing certain after the crazy promise he’d made.
He was in for sheer hell.
CHAPTER SIX
LAURA STOOD in front of the bathroom medicine cabinet and looked from her mirrored image to the magazine photo she’d taped in one corner. Hopeless. Worse than hopeless.
Her unruly hair looked no closer to matching the model’s than when she’d started fussing with it an hour ago. No big surprise. She’d always been better with a currycomb than a brush.
While other young girls had experimented with their hair and makeup, Laura had helped with ranch chores or tagged behind Scott and his buddies. Finally Maria, the ranch housekeeper, had taught Laura how to weave the tangled mess into a simple braid. Later, she’d graduated to a more complex French braid. The style was neat, professional...and boring as oatmeal.
“Aarrgh!” Ripping the glamorous photo from the mirror, she quickly braided and pinned her hair as usual. Sam was coming by the agency this morning to meet his new account team for the first time. She hated to aggravate Alec by being late. They’d been getting along so well lately.
Uncapping a shiny gold tube, she leaned forward and dabbed her mouth with the exact wine red shade as her new suit. Great. Now her pale skin looked ghastly. This was definitely not her color, despite what the saleslady had said. She’d be lucky to get through the day without a wooden stake being plunged through her heart. With a final despairing glance in the mirror, she tossed the lipstick in her purse and slammed out the door.
During the crawling drive up Westheimer, Laura’s mind wandered to Alec. A fascinating puzzle. The complete opposite of Michael Slade, the last man who’d possessed her thoughts so thoroughly. Whereas Michael had constantly sought new thrills, Alec worshiped control, was terrified, in fact, of stepping outside conventional boundaries of behavior. His vulnerability attracted her as much as his potent masculinity.
Their relationship had undergone a subtle change since their showdown last week in the conference room. She felt less defensive about her inexperience. He treated her with the completely impersonal, strictly professional respect of an equal.
Be careful what you wish for, kiddo. You just might get it. Her father’s familiar advice tugged at her heart. As a teenager, she’d hated his trite warnings to curb her natural impulsiveness. Funny how often his advice popped into her head as an adult. If only she’d acknowledged his wisdom while growing up.
Fighting her sudden melancholy, she flipped on the radio. Although she’d quit Michael’s band four years ago with a severely damaged ego, her love of music had survived intact. Soon she was humming, then singing along with a popular ballad. When the upbeat melody ended, her office building glittered ahead like a reflection of her happier mood.
Walking through the lobby five minutes later, she stiffened at the sound of a low wolf whistle. A curl of pungent cigar smoke tickled her nose. She splayed a hand on one hip and turned. “Sam Parker, don’t you know that’s not acceptable these days? You could get yourself slapped with a harassment lawsuit.”
The reprobate grinned around his cigar stub and rocked back on his heels. “Laura Hayes, don’t you know you look prettier’n a fresh-picked rose this morning? You wouldn’t spoil an old fart’s fun now, would you?”
“I’ll let it pass this time.” She patted his stocky pin-striped shoulder and nudged him toward the elevators. “Come on up. You’re early, but at least you aren’t a day early.”
Alec had told her about the surprise visit that had led to their present partnership. Heaven help them both if Sam didn’t like what he saw today. By the time she pushed open the agency’s door, her smile felt cast in plaster.
“Welcome to Hayes and McDonald Advertising,” she said, waving Sam inside.
From behind the reception desk, Brenda Lee’s eyes widened. Rising, she arched a questioning brow at Laura.
“Sam, this is our office manager, Brenda Lee Wilson.” Laura noted the older man’s sweeping head-to-toe survey. Thank goodness her friend was wearing the conservative black skirt and cream silk shell Laura had made a point of admiring last week.
Sam reached out and shook Brenda Lee’s hand a tad longer than necessary. “If I’d known you were here, hon, I would have come around sooner.”
Brenda Lee extracted her hand with a cool smile. “Two hours early is quite sufficient, Mr. Parker. If you’ll have a seat, I’ll tell Mr. McDonald you’re here.”
The subtle reprimand and professional greeting would have been beyond Brenda Lee’s capability three weeks ago. As the petite blonde disappeared down the hall, Laura knew she’d just witnessed an imitation of herself. And by God, it was the sincerest form of flattery.
“What are you grinning at, Laura?” asked Sam. “Can’t a man say anything nice to a woman these days without getting his head snapped off?”
“I warned you, didn’t I? Besides, what are you doing flirting with her? I thought I was your fresh-picked rose.” She heaved a maidenly sigh. “How quickly they forget.”
Sam chuckled. “You, my dear, are impossible to forget.”
At the sound of approaching footsteps, they both turned. Alec emerged from the hallway wearing a tailored black suit. “Isn’t that right, Alec?” Sam asked.
“Isn’t what right?” His teeth flashed white against bronzed skin. A lock of ebony hair grazed his forehead.
“That Laura is impossible to forget.”
Turning his head, Alec examined her with amused tolerance.
I love your eyes, Laura thought with stunning force.
His cobalt gaze flickered, steadied and simmered with something that made her knees tremble. “Impossible,” he agreed.
“This place is damned impressive,” Sam said, capturing Alec’s attention. “When do I see the rest?”
“How about now? You’re so early there might even be some coffee left. Come on, we’ll give you the ten-cent tour.”
Laura released her breath slowly. “Be there in a minute, Alec. You two go on.” He nodded and led Sam down the hallway.
She slumped against the reception desk. Dumb move, ogling her partner like an infatuated groupie. After all, the man was human. Or close enough to respond like one, anyway. She’d be a fool to read anything into his look of intense male speculation. In less than a year she was outa here. And “temporary” partnerships, as Michael had taught her years ago, were best left platonic.
She shook off her painful thoughts and caught up with the men as they were leaving the art room. Alec continued down the hall, introducing Sam to various employees. Content for once to let her partner take the lead, she swelled with pride at their staff’s concise reports and genuine enthusiasm.
Harold Becker’s office represented the biggest hurdle of the morning. He and Alec had spent days compiling competitive media expenditures as backup for presenting a suggested increase over last year’s media budget. Sam’s approval would guarantee the advertising reach and frequency necessary to launch a new strategy. Anything less would jeopardize the campaign’s effectiveness.
Alec halted before Harold’s doorway. “Go on in, Sam. I need to grab something from my office.” He nodded once at Laura and strode down the hall.
When Sam entered, Harold rose from behind his desk, looking very Madison Avenue with his precision haircut, wire-rimmed glasses and double-breasted gray suit. Laura lingered in the doorway, curious to watch him in action.
“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Parker,” Harold said, shaking Sam’s hand. “You may not remember, but we met five months ago when the Spencer Group gave you a spec presentation.”
Sam cocked his head. “No offense, son, but you pitchmen all look alike after a while. What was your angle on the account?”
“We recommended an extensive direct-marketing program.”
“Now I remember. Your ‘recommended’ budget gave me nightmares for weeks.”
Harold laughed good-naturedly. As the two men sat down and rem
inisced, Laura wondered what could be keeping Alec. She slipped away and walked down the hall, slowing at the sound of soft swearing. Poking her head inside Alec’s door, she gasped.
Papers littered his desk as if tossed before an oscillating fan to land at will. Drawers, file cabinets and his briefcase gaped open, their contents scattered willy-nilly. Slamming a drawer, Alec looked up.
“It’s not here.”
“What’s not here?”
“Our budget recommendation. It’s not here. I took it home last night and made some revisions on my personal computer. Even reprinted the damn thing, so I wouldn’t have to do it this morning. Only...I forgot to lock my briefcase.”
She hesitated. “Is that significant?”
“To Jason, my briefcase is Pandora’s box.” He slumped in his chair and stared bleakly into space.
Laura rallied. “Well, look, it’s not a disaster. Where’s your backup disk?”
“Same place as the hard copy, probably. Wherever Jason hid them.”
Uh-oh. “How long would it take you to recreate your corrections here at the office?”
Alec’s mouth tightened. “It took me four hours last night, but I could probably get it down to three in a pinch.”
“How about if you and Harold talk Sam through the preliminary rationale, while I run to your house and pick up the report. Is Mrs. Pennington there?”
“I doubt it. She was leaving to do some personal errands right after Jason left for school.” He glanced at his watch. “About thirty minutes ago.” He waited, sullen, yet expectant.
“Okay, okay. No problem. Just give me your house key, and I’ll tear the place apart until I find the hard copy. Any idea where Jason might have put it?”
A spark of hope lit Alec’s eyes. “Try his room first. Under the fire engine in his closet. That’s where I found my wallet last week,” he said dryly, extracting a key ring from his pocket. Selecting one key, he extended it toward her. The others fell in a dancing jingle. “Go ahead and take my truck. The square key next to this one opens the back kitchen door.”