“The locket was my mother’s,” Drew said softly. “I thought you might like it.”
His words and the sentiment behind them brought a lump to her throat. She put her arms around him and met his gaze. “There’s nothing you could have given me that would have meant more,” she said sincerely. “I love it and...” She hesitated for just a moment. “And I love you.”
Drew’s body relaxed in her arms and he pressed her head into his shoulder. “You don’t know how much I’ve wanted to hear you say that.”
Tina sighed with pleasure. Suddenly everything felt very, very right. Maybe today was going to turn out to be okay after all.
* * *
The cocktail hour and the luncheon actually did go beautifully. The bartender poured the drinks with an unrestrained hand. The chef had created a gourmet meal, followed by a delicate dessert that looked tempting and highly caloric and tasted even better. By coffee everyone seemed mellow. Tina’s hopes for the meeting lifted fractionally.
It took only fifteen minutes, though, for her to see how wrong she’d been about the mood of the crowd. It shifted from jovial to antagonistic in less time than it takes an actor to slip into a familiar role. From the instant she turned over the floor to the first speaker, she heard herself maligned over and over again. The speakers’ opinions were based solely on irresponsible reports in the media. No one seemed the least bit interested in the facts. Although the disparaging comments about Sarah and the others were subtly phrased, they made Tina increasingly furious.
At last it was her turn. Her knees shaking, she got to her feet and faced a roomful of grim, hostile stares. A quick glance around told her that Mr. Kelly had apparently tuned out the entire unpleasant commotion. He was staring at the modern paintings on the walls with something akin to astonishment written all over his face. Sarah and Juliet appeared shell-shocked, probably more so since only a short time earlier they’d been conversing pleasantly with these same people.
Only Drew’s encouraging smile from the back of the room kept Tina from telling the stockholders they could take Harrington Industries and turn it into a playground for business school drop-outs for all she cared. It was not in her to give up without a fight, especially with not only her own, but her friends’ dignity at stake.
“If I understand your concerns correctly,” she said in a voice so soft those in the rear of the room had to strain to hear it, “most of you feel that my personal life has become a detriment to this company. I’d like to ask you a question now.”
Her gaze wandered slowly around the room, allowing the silence to build, pinning her audience in place as they waited in suspense for her question.
“What would you do if your mother or grandmother or an elderly uncle needed help?” she asked at last. “Would you turn them out because an outsider considered them socially beneath you?” Several people squirmed uncomfortably. “That’s what you’re asking me to do.”
Tina stepped out from behind the lectern and walked to the front row. Her eyes met Drew’s, drew strength from the support she saw there. She took a deep breath and went on.
“Sarah Morgan, Jacob Kelly and Juliet Burroughs and her nephew Billy are not members of my family, according to the law. I have no family to speak of, not since Gerald died. These people came into my life at a time when I needed love, when I needed more than Harrington Industries to feel complete. They may not have a listing on the society register, but how many of you have that? They are good, honest people, just as you are.”
She glanced back at Drew and Seth and they gave her a thumbs up signal. She gave them a wavering smile, then continued, her voice growing stronger as she recalled the indignation she had felt on Sarah and Juliet and Mr. Kelly’s behalf in recent weeks.
“I’ve read that they’re crazy. I’ve read that they’re poor. I’ve read that I treat them no better than household servants. Doesn’t that arouse a specific image in your mind? It does in mine.” She waited for the image to settle in, then said with mounting indignation, “Let me tell you something about Sarah, Juliet, Mr. Kelly and Billy, though. They have more dignity and warmth than anyone I’ve ever met. They’re exactly like you and me. In fact, I suspect if you were to look around this room right now, you would not be able to identify them, they fit in so well.”
There was a gasp of surprise as the implications of her words sank in and heads turned this way and that trying to identify the people who’d been made out as both victims and senile old fools in the press. Tina nodded in satisfaction.
“I see that you understand. They are here and you can’t pick them out in a crowd. Many of you have chatted with them during lunch and found them to be intelligent, lively and humorous individuals. Would you have made that same judgment about them if you’d realized they were the people I’ve been accused of harboring for who-knows-what evil ends? I doubt it. It would be too bad, too, because they are people worth knowing,” she said simply and with heartfelt conviction. She saw the tears shimmering in Juliet’s eyes and the crackling, spirited humor in Sarah’s. No matter how things turned out, the expression on those faces was all that mattered.
She waited for the murmuring to die down, then said briskly, “Now I’d like to change the subject for a moment and talk about why we’re really here today: to discuss Harrington Industries and its progress over the last year.”
With complete confidence, she used a multimedia presentation to show the company’s growth in size and profits since she’d assumed command. She could hear the rumblings of surprise when she presented the strong bottom-line figures. Only the board members remained stoically silent. They’d known all of this, yet a few of them had tried to capitalize on the negative publicity to try to maneuver her out.
“I know many of you have lost faith in my leadership due to the publicity in recent days, so if my stepping down is what it will take to keep Harrington Industries on track, I’m prepared to do that,” Tina said. “This was Gerald’s business. He set its management style and its direction more than fifteen years ago, when he opened the first office. I’ve tried to carry on those traditions as I thought he would want.”
She paused and looked out at the crowd, at people who’d once been her supporters and now seemed to be her enemies. She caught an occasional flush of embarrassment. Several people blinked guiltily under her penetrating assessment.
At last, she said quietly, “The floor is now open to any motions you’d care to make.”
When Mr. Parsons got to his feet, Tina paled. If he started talking about germicidal warfare, the vote on her ouster would be quicker than an approving vote on a motion for adjournment after a slow-moving ten-hour meeting.
“Mr. Parsons,” she acknowledged reluctantly.
“I’d like to move that we give the current chairman—uh, chairperson...”
Chuckles greeted his remark.
“I move we give her a unanimous vote of confidence,” he concluded as Tina’s eyes blinked wide in astonishment. “I admit I’m from the old school, one of those fellas who think women belong in the home so I can’t help confessing I’m surprised at the job she’s done, but figures don’t lie. Those of us on the board have watched her closely and she’s done her job and more. In fact, ain’t nobody done more for Harrington Industries since Gerald himself headed up the operation and I say he’d be mighty proud of her. We should be, too.
“Before all this nonsense in the press, there wasn’t much doubt about her remaining in charge. Ain’t no reason to go changing that now,” he said and sat down heavily.
“I’d like to second that,” Kathryn Sawyer said. “This company has benefited from Mrs. Harrington’s fresh ideas, her business acumen and her woman’s instincts. All of this other nonsense is immaterial.”
Tina might have fainted dead away if she hadn’t recalled that Kathryn Sawyer sat on the board of several feminist groups and wasn’t like
ly to turn Harrington Industries over to a man, unless her money was about to go down the tubes, no matter how little she thought the woman knew about setting a proper table. She knew her money was safe.
Mr. Davis promptly asked for a secret ballot.
“What’s the matter, you old geezer?” Mr. Parsons demanded. “Afraid to vote your conscience out in public so’s we can all see where you stand?”
“A secret ballot’s the American way.”
Tina stepped in. “Of course, we’ll be using a secret ballot. I believe they’ve been prepared in accordance with the announced election today of our officers and directors. The proxy votes have also been received prior to this meeting.”
When the ballots had been distributed, marked and counted, Tina remained as chairman of Harrington Industries and two of the board members who’d been most vocal in the fight against her had been ousted. A feeling of sheer exhilaration flowed through her. She’d done it. She had won them over and she had done it all on her own. It was the vindication she’d needed before she could let her love for Drew flourish the way she’d hoped it would.
* * *
That night, Tina, Drew and the others celebrated with champagne and dinner at an elegant restaurant with an appropriately commanding view of New York. Tina actually felt as if the entire world were hers for the taking.
In the morning, she and Drew took Sarah, Juliet, and Seth and Mr. Kelly to the airport and put them on the company plane back to Palm Beach. Before the engines even turned over, Sarah gave the pilot a stern warning to keep Juliet out of the cockpit.
“Sarah Morgan, you’re just jealous,” Aunt Juliet accused, tugging her seat belt into place around her ample figure. “You should try it. It really is a most exhilarating experience.”
“If it’s all that wonderful, you can take lessons when you get back home. Just don’t expect me to be one of your first passengers,” Sarah grumbled.
“When did you turn stodgy?” Tina teased. “I thought Seth had talked you into going ballooning when you got back?”
Juliet’s eyes glittered with excitement and she clapped her hands delightedly. “Ballooning? Now that really would be marvelous. Floating around up there with the angels.”
“Which is what we might wind up doing if you fly this plane again,” Sarah retorted. “As for ballooning, I only said I’d consider it. If it were up to me, we’d stick to croquet.”
Seth’s blue eyes were sparkling wickedly. “Oh, Sarah, love, we’ll have a dandy time whatever we do.”
Drew stared at the two of them in astonishment, then turned to Tina helplessly. “What on earth is happening here? You catch them dancing in the parlor. Then it was ice-skating at Rockefeller Center and cavorting down Wall Street in the middle of the night. Now they want to go up in a balloon.”
Tina grinned back at him. “Isn’t love grand?”
“Love? I think they’ve both gone crazy.”
“Now who’s sounding stodgy? Come on, old man. Let’s get out of here and let them take off. I was thinking of checking out that tattoo parlor we saw yesterday.” Her amber eyes flashed at him provocatively. “I thought I might get a tiny little rose put...”
“Tina!” Drew’s voice was a husky growl.
“I knew you’d like the idea,” she said merrily, tugging him off the plane. For the first time in years she felt as though she could afford to be impetuous, to do exactly what she wanted.
As soon as they were on the ground and the plane had taxied down the runway, Drew whirled Tina around and stared directly into her laughing eyes. “No tattoo. I hate the idea,” he said emphatically.
“Oh, really? Why is that?”
“I will not have you spoiling that beautiful, silky skin of yours with some weird little pen and ink drawing.”
“But a rose is lovely, fragile.”
“You’re lovely and fragile enough as it is.”
“Am I soft as a rose petal, though?”
Drew groaned. “I do not believe we are having this conversation. Exactly where were you planning to put this little beauty mark?”
“Oh, I was thinking about here.” She lifted her skirt a discreet, though provocative two inches and touched the back of her leg just above the knee. “Or maybe here.” A finger rested just below her breast.
A choked sound emerged from deep in Drew’s throat. “Do you honestly want to do this to me?”
“Do what to you?” she asked innocently.
“I’d never be able to see a dozen roses again without getting excited.”
Tina chuckled at his nervous expression. Suddenly it gave way to horror. “What’s wrong?” she asked, as her own laughter bubbled forth.
“Do you realize that I have a huge rose garden? Imagine what the sight of that would do to me.”
She lowered her lashes and looked up at him provocatively. “What?”
He hardened his expression as if he’d decided to do his duty no matter what. “I guess I’d just have to haul you inside and make love to you every single time I ever saw a rose. Pruning would become sheer torture.”
“Sounds good to me. This tattoo bit is sounding better and better.”
He twirled her into his arms and gave her a hard, bruising kiss. “Get your tattoo, if you like, Tina Harrington, but be warned in advance. I will probably go mad at the sight of any rose.” He kissed her again, his tongue teasing at the corners of her mouth. “Any time.” Another kiss stole her breath away. “Any place.” Yet another left her gasping and clinging to his shoulders.
It was the applause of several mechanics standing outside the commuter plane terminal that broke them apart. Drew looked very pleased with himself. Tina was thoroughly embarrassed. Aroused, but definitely embarrassed.
She coughed and met Drew’s eyes. “I see your point.”
“No tattoo?”
“I guess not,” she said glumly, then her expression brightened. “How would you feel about pink stripes?”
“Pink stripes?” he asked cautiously. “Where?”
“In my hair, silly.”
“I think there’s probably an ordinance against it in Palm Beach. You’d be banned from the polo matches at the very least. Possibly from the country club and the Breakers as well.”
“Spoilsport.”
“Couldn’t we just do something a little ordinary today?”
“Like what?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe take a walk in Central Park. Go to the Museum of Modern Art. Ride the subway.”
Tina’s brows arched doubtfully.
“Okay, scratch the subway. We could go to the theater. Or find some little Japanese restaurant and eat sushi.” He glanced away, then added casually, “Of course, we could also make love.”
“Are you saying that making love with me is ordinary?” Tina asked indignantly.
“Never. I just meant that as alternatives go, it was one of ours.”
“Not if you’re going to lump it in there with sushi and subway rides.”
“Wouldn’t you agree that our lovemaking has something a little raw and primitive about it?”
Tina scowled at him. “Is this a trick question?”
Drew grinned back at her. “And maybe a little dangerous?”
“Okay. Okay. It’s right up there with sushi and the subway. You win.”
“I do? What?”
She tucked her arm through his and beamed up at him. “We’ll go back to the hotel,” she began slowly, running her fingers up his arm. “Get rid of those adjoining rooms.” Her fingers trailed along his cheek. “Take the most spectacular suite in the place.” Her nail outlined his mouth, eliciting a husky moan.
“And make love, of course,” she added as if it were only an afterthought. Drew’s eyes seemed a little glazed, but he dragged her back t
o the limousine so hurriedly, her feet barely touched the ground.
For three fabulous days they did exactly as she’d suggested—making love with a joyous abandon and unbridled passion, interspersed with walks through SoHo to explore the art galleries, dinner in elegant restaurants, drinks in intimate clubs where Drew’s fingers were never far from Tina’s arm, her leg, her lips. That always led them back to their suite in a rush. Ignoring the complimentary champagne and a basket of fruit that could have supplied the entire produce section of a small market, they feasted on each other.
Tina was so wonderfully sated, so filled with her ability to finally express her love for Drew freely and without complications that she was hardly aware of the series of hushed business calls he always went into the other room of the suite to take.
It was on the third day of the visit that Tina received an early morning call of her own.
“There’s something strange going on, Tina,” David announced without preamble, obviously unattuned to the sleepily sensual sound of her voice.
Tina tried to bring her drugged senses under control, smacking Drew’s playful hands away from their continuing pursuit of all of the spots he’d found that drove her to madness.
“What do you mean?” she said, instantly alert. She gasped suddenly and shot Drew a quelling glance. He stilled his hands, but he didn’t withdraw them. Her flesh burned beneath his touch.
“You were right. Somebody seems to be buying up our stock. The price has been shooting up every day since the beginning of last week, and I don’t think it has anything to do with the bull market this time.”
“Why on earth didn’t you tell me before?”
“On Monday I wasn’t sure it meant anything. I thought it might be all tied in to the stockholders’ meeting. Now I’m sure it’s more than that.”
Tina sat up in bed, every bit of her attention focused on what David was saying. “A takeover attempt?”
“That’s what it’s beginning to look like.”
“Any idea who’s behind it?” She couldn’t even look at Drew, she was so afraid of what she’d see in his eyes.
Safe Harbor: A Cold Creek Homecoming Page 17