by Kylie Brant
“No cavities,” Trask muttered. His gaze landed on, then slid by Kate to fix with what seemed to be great interest on the far wall.
Chloe bounced excitedly. “And you get to come to our party, Daddy, even if you have holes in your mouth, you still get to come. So you gotta come home early or you’ll miss our party.”
Michael’s face softened as he looked at his daughter. “That’s super, munchkin. You must have had a really good visit with the dentist.”
She nodded her head with enthusiasm. “I got a ring, because I sat still. Kinda still,” she amended honestly. “And I looked for a ring for you, too, but they didn’t have any big ones. But you can share the popcorn party with me.”
He gave her a hug. “I wouldn’t miss it. I’ll be home in time, I promise. But right now I’m in the middle of a conference with your teacher.”
Chloe’s head jerked around, and for the first time she noticed Kate in the room. “Miss Rose!” she squealed. Wiggling down from her father’s arms, she gave Kate a hug. “I didn’t know you were gonna talk to my daddy today.”
Kate smiled. The child’s exuberance was infectious. “Hi there, Chloe.”
But Chloe had already whirled away. “Daddy,” she said solemnly, “be sure you have your listening ears on when Miss Rose is talking to you. If you don’t, you might have to go to the thinking chair.” She turned back to her teacher for corroboration. “Isn’t that right, Miss Rose?”
The flush that Kate felt scalding her cheekbones was the curse of fair skin. She concentrated on Chloe, not daring a glance at Michael. “I don’t think your father needs to worry about that.”
“’Cuz he’s listening good?”
“Listening well,” Kate corrected. And not exactly, she answered silently. “Adults don’t need a thinking chair.” Stemming the question she sensed poised on Chloe’s lips, she added, “Adults can do their thinking wherever they are. They don’t need a special place.”
That seemed to satisfy the little girl. “Oh.”
“I’m glad you came to tell me about your dentist appointment.” Michael’s words drew Chloe’s attention. “You go on home with Trask and have your dinner, and I promise to be home by six-thirty. How’s that?”
“That’s good, Daddy. That’s re-e-al good. I’ll know if you’re late, because I can tell time. Can’t I, Miss Rose?”
Kate smiled down into Chloe’s wide hazel eyes. “You certainly can. And very well, too.”
Satisfied, Chloe beamed, then dashed across the room to Trask. “C’mon, Trask, let’s go home so we can time Daddy.”
Trask took the little hand placed entrustingly in his huge paw and muttered, “See you at home, Michael.” His gaze flitted past Kate. “Miss Rose.” Then he and his small charge left the office.
“Whew.” Kate shot Michael a laughing look. “I’m guessing she keeps you on your toes.”
A corner of his mouth kicked up. “You know it. You’d never believe what she did last weekend when we…” He stopped, and the humor abruptly vanished from his face. He reverted back to the stern, cold stranger he’d become before Chloe’s visit with the ease of a chameleon changing colors. “I’m afraid that’s all the time I have today, Miss Rose.”
Kate had never been a quitter, and there was nothing she wouldn’t do for one of her students. Although the dark expression on his face had nerves skittering up her spine, she said, “Mr. Friday, if you would just consider—”
“I’m out of time,” he repeated flatly. “I’ll be talking to your principal soon.” He walked to the door and opened it, a silent invitation for her to exit.
Kate studied him for a moment, at a loss. Nothing more was going to be accomplished today, that was apparent. She picked up her bag, the portfolio she’d been sharing with him, and walked to the door. “You may keep this file of Chloe’s things,” she said, offering it to him.
Slowly his hand came up to take it from hers.
She tilted her head, newly aware that, even standing, she had to look up a good six inches to meet his eyes. His narrowed regard was unflinching. Except for the muscle twitching in his cheek, his face could have been etched from granite. Shaking her head, she murmured, “Thank you for seeing me today, Mr. Friday.”
He watched through hooded eyes as she walked swiftly into the outer office, collected her coat and went out the door, all without a backward glance. It wasn’t until he noticed Bernie taking in the whole scene with avid interest that he backed into his office, slamming the door. His nostrils flared at the elusive scent Kate had left in her wake. It was something light and inherently feminine. It stirred a dormant, visceral response, which merely deepened his anger. He didn’t want to respond to her, not on any level.
He strode back to his desk and propped his hips against one corner. Far from his first, hormone-driven assumption, Katherine Rose’s visit fit perfectly into the trouble he’d been having the last two days. But his struggles with a pesky programming bug paled in comparison with what she’d had to say. Though he hadn’t been listening very well when it had become obvious she was suggesting that his little girl had…
A problem. The thought caused acidic snakes to churn in his gut. He didn’t know how his first impression of the woman could have been so wrong, but his opinion of his daughter’s teacher had changed drastically since she’d walked into his office. Of course, he hadn’t been thinking with his head when he’d first seen her.
He glowered in the direction of the door. Her suggestion that Chloe wasn’t normal had all his paternal protective instincts rushing to the forefront. He’d never been around kids much, not when he was growing up, nor later, when he was busy scrabbling for his first million. But he’d been ecstatic when Deanna had gotten pregnant. A house, three cars, a wife and now a child. The picture, one he’d formed in his mind when he’d been only a child himself, had been complete. This, then, would be a real family, one suitable for those goofy, picture-perfect Christmas cards.
He’d been totally unprepared for the tidal wave of emotion he’d experienced the first time the nurse had put Chloe into his arms. He’d gazed down into his daughter’s scrunched-up red face and recognized the scowl she’d regarded him with as a miniature of his own. He’d since realized that the accompanying turbulence of feelings had stemmed from the emotional equivalent of having his six-foot, four-inch, two-hundred-ten-pound body wrapped around a baby’s pinky. His baby.
Chloe had been the sole reason he’d battled so hard to save his marriage. Once Deanna had walked out, however, it hadn’t been his wife’s cool blond beauty he’d found himself missing; it had been the sight of his daughter’s heartbreaking grin. He’d battled valiantly in court but had learned firsthand that many judges still favored the mother with primary custody. He’d been faced with the prospect of visits two nights a week and every other weekend.
When Deanna had broached the subject of reversing the arrangement last summer, he’d been stunned but had quickly agreed. He hadn’t inquired very deeply into her reasons. He’d been overjoyed at the prospect of having a real home and a life with Chloe.
Though their life together lacked the June and Ward Cleaver stamp of approval, he thought they were doing well enough. Despite the appearance given by the missed appointments with Miss Rose, making time for his daughter was his top priority. Trask would be nobody’s idea of a nanny, but he doted on Chloe almost as much as her father did. In fact, Michael was ashamed to admit that Trask was actually a better disciplinarian. Whatever Chloe’s transgression, the sight of her tears had the ability to turn Michael into a quaking mass.
As he remembered the teacher’s words, anger flared like a gasoline-soaked match. He’d be the first to admit that Chloe had enough energy to fuel a rocket. Their home echoed with her laughter and her running footsteps. She had the bright, inquisitive nature of a normal, healthy almost-seven-year-old, and he fiercely resented the suggestion that she was anything but.
His brooding was interrupted by a knock on his office door. At Michae
l’s growled invitation, his vice president, Derek Latham, entered, stopping short when he caught sight of Michael’s expression. Raising both hands in the air, he said placatingly, “Ms. Bernwood said I should come in.”
“She would,” Michael muttered, surveying his vice president. Bernie didn’t look on anybody in the company with favor, but Derek elicited a little less than her usual level of hostility. It was probably his looks. The silvery blond hair was always professionally styled, and it would be safe to say that, unlike Michael, Derek would never think of giving himself a trim with the kitchen scissors. The man had lavish tastes in clothes, cars and women. There had been a time, in the year after Michael’s divorce, when the competition between the two men had spread to women. Or, more specifically, to see who could romance the largest number of them in the shortest amount of time. After long months of meaningless encounters, Michael had come to his senses. Derek, however, showed no signs of slowing down.
He had no more desire to speak to his vice president than he had for another visit from Miss Rose. His brows lowered farther. She was probably on her way to a conference with some other poor sap of a parent. Maybe she had a quota of days to ruin.
“I wanted you to know that I’ve just about wrapped up work on that new software protection package.”
“Good,” Michael said, still scowling at the door. “That’s good.” He searched his memory, but he couldn’t remember Chloe speaking of Miss Rose in anything but glowing terms. Somehow he’d imagined the teacher as a grandmotherly figure, somewhere around Bernie’s age, only with a better sense of fashion. He sure as hell hadn’t expected a woman who looked to be barely out of her teens, one who hadn’t been teaching long enough to know the difference between normal first-grade energy and some imaginary problem.
Derek arched a brow at his boss’s lack of enthusiasm. “Actually, it’s damn near brilliant.” He slipped his hands into his pockets, being careful not to disturb the crease in his trousers, and strolled past Michael. With an eye on his boss, he continued, “So brilliant, in fact, that I deserve a ten percent bonus for my work.”
“Whatever.” Maybe that was the whole problem, he mused. Miss Rose didn’t belong in front of a classroom, she belonged back in one as a student. She had a lot to learn about children. Maybe after a few more years of classes she’d know better than to falsely alarm parents with a bunch of psychobabble garbage.
“Perhaps now would be a good time to ask for a better parking space, as well. Your spot would do nicely.” Cool amusement laced Derek’s voice.
“What?” Michael jerked his head around to glare at his vice president. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Derek tsked. “Your priorities, Michael, are deplorable. Talk of money goes right by you, but your attention is snared by parking spaces.” He shook his head sadly. “Doesn’t speak well for the future of this company.”
Michael walked around his desk and dropped into his chair. “The future of this company never looked brighter. And I was paying attention the whole time. You’ve got the software security package completed.”
“Just about,” Derek repeated patiently. “As a matter of fact, a few more hours will do it. I was going to stay and finish it up. I can go over it with you later this evening, if you like. Are you staying?”
“No, I promised Chloe I’d come home early. Damn.” He suddenly remembered something else. “I think she has to have treats of some sort for Daisy Scouts tomorrow. I’m going to have to stop and pick something up.”
Derek shook his head pityingly. “My friend, you need a wife.”
The desk chair gave an ominous squeak as Michael leaned back in it. “That’s not exactly a subject you’ve ever had much interest in.” He eyed his vice president with sudden suspicion. “Have you been talking to Bernie?”
“As rarely as possible,” Derek assured him with unfeigned sincerity. “And I wasn’t talking about me. I’m not in the market for marriage.” He made the word sound like a disease. But you…” He gestured toward Michael. “You’ve got Chloe to consider. You have to make a home for her, and let’s face it, you’re as domesticated as a lapdog.” His face was bland when he noted, “With that haircut, you resemble one, as well.”
Michael raked his hand through his shaggy brown hair. “I cut it myself last week,” he said, just to watch Derek cringe.
“That’s another thing a wife could do for you. Take over your grooming. And—” he gave Michael’s attire a considering look “—maybe lay your clothes out in the morning.”
“I’ve been dressing myself for years.”
“I’ve never doubted it.”
Michael’s eyes narrowed. “Besides, that’s not a wife you’re describing, it’s my mother. And I like her exactly where she is. A hundred miles from here.” Derek and Bernie would be no one’s idea of experts on the topic of marriage. At least he’d had some experience with it, if only the experience of failing. He didn’t have the time or the inclination for dating these days, much less marriage. But there were times when he’d struggle with an aspect of parenting and wish he had another person to talk things over with. It would be a relief to have someone with whom he could discuss the unsettling visit he’d just had with Chloe’s teacher. Although his relationship with Deanna was carefully cordial, he hated to bring up anything that might have her changing her mind once again about custody.
Derek shrugged. Unaware of Michael’s flagging attention, he inquired, “Have you had any news from the lawyer on the acquisition of the microchip company yet?”
Michael shook his head. Right now, everything dimmed in importance compared to his concern for Chloe. The NASA contract, the computer bug and the takeover bid had just become secondary.
Michael Friday didn’t tolerate complications in his life, he eliminated them. Chloe’s teacher had just become a major complication.
Before he could get back to business, he had to eliminate Katherine Rose.
Chapter 2
Kate stood in the doorway of her classroom, monitoring her students’ return from recess. Smiling, she stooped down and helped one youngster unknot a shoelace. She motioned for the last straggler to finish putting his shoes on in the room and closed the door behind him. The phone on her desk was ringing, so she flicked the lights once as a warning to the noisy first-graders before crossing the room to answer it.
“Kate.” The voice of her principal, Carol Bleakney, sounded in her ears. “Are you free after school today?”
Kate looked at her daily planner. “No, I have a level meeting at three-fifteen.”
“You’ll have to postpone it,” Carol said. “Mr. Friday has called and requested a meeting at three o’clock. I told him I thought it would be a good idea for the two of us to speak and then for the counselor, the nurse and you to join us to continue the discussion on Chloe.”
Kate sighed. The slight throbbing in her temples signaled a return of the full-blown headache she’d had when she’d left Mr. Friday’s office yesterday. After the way things had ended in that conference, the upcoming meeting wasn’t entirely unexpected. “Well, I did warn you,” she said half-jokingly.
“I’m sure now that Mr. Friday’s had a chance to think about it, he’ll be in a much calmer frame of mind,” Carol said optimistically. “See you at three-fifteen.”
Kate replaced the receiver, her gaze sweeping her first-grade class. Most of the youngsters had returned to their seats when she’d blinked the lights and were talking quietly. Two boys glanced at her, noted her gaze on them and slipped quickly into their chairs. That left one blond-haired pixie still on her feet, skipping across the back of the classroom.
“I appreciate the way most of you went to your seats while I was on the phone,” she said in a quiet voice. “When you do that, you are a big help to me, and it shows that you know how to follow the classroom rules we set at the beginning of the year.”
Twenty-four first-grade faces beamed up at her words. “I know how to follow classroom rules, Miss Rose.”
Chloe quickly took her seat, smiling winningly.
An unwilling smile tugged at Kate’s lips. It was absolutely impossible not to respond to Chloe. She was amazingly engaging; amazing, because in light of the meeting Kate had had with Michael Friday yesterday, she definitely didn’t take after her father.
The uncharitable thought was satisfying, even if not strictly true. Although there was nothing about Chloe’s father to suggest where she got her tiny build and long blond hair, she did have his hazel eyes and that grin that could charm a snake out of its skin. It was just that show of charm yesterday that had had Kate’s mouth drying out and prickles of awareness scampering down her spine. He radiated high-voltage magnetism, a simmering vault of energy waiting to erupt.
The force of his personality had been almost as daunting as his show of temper. Regardless of his mood, the man had presence. It reached out and commanded respect, forcing people to respond to him. He’d seemed to take up more than his share of space. His legs, propped up on the desk the way they had been at her arrival, had resembled sturdy oaks. His shoulders were massive, shown to perfection in the casual shirt he’d worn. He could never be described as handsome; his features had too many angles, his hazel regard beneath the sun-streaked brown hair was too piercing. But there was definitely something compelling about him. He’d been near irresistible when he’d been teasing. But the abundant charm had disappeared abruptly once he’d started listening to what Kate had to say. When his mood had altered, he’d become downright formidable.
The Beltway Raider. She’d heard the title his secretary had tossed at him, and it had struck a chord of recognition. Although she didn’t follow the financial news, it was all too easy to understand how Michael Friday had acquired the nickname. He exuded power and control. It was equally obvious that he was a man used to wielding that power to bend others to his will.
The knowledge had her spine stiffening. Unfortunately for him, she had a lifetime of experience dealing with his personality type. She was used to holding her own, and no man would ever again be allowed to intimidate her. But there had been no denying that quick burst of wariness that had tempered her earlier, equally involuntary reaction. It was immensely gratifying to blame him for both responses.