by Linda Wisdom
"Smile and light up that pretty face." A familiar voice sounded in front of her.
"Oh, Mark. Aren't you supposed to be in court this morning? The Carstairs case?"
"That excellent memory is at work again, I see,"
Mark lightly teased, then his face sobered as he gazed down at her upturned face. "But the other side won a postponement. Have lunch with me?"
"I can't today," she sighed. "I have a new boss to break in, remember? And tons of filing to get out of the way."
"Just don't break him in too well." His face darkened.
"Jealous already, Mark?" Lisa asked lightly.
"Did you want to see me, Connors?" Dan Nolan's deep voice sounded from over Lisa's shoulder. Flushing, Lisa looked up at his enigmatic face.
"No, and I see nothing wrong in conversing with my former secretary," Mark said stiffly.
"These letters have to be ready for this afternoon's mail." Dan handed several handwritten sheets to Lisa, ignoring Mark.
"Yes, Mr. Nolan." Lisa kept her eyes downcast to hide the angry sparkle in them.
"I'll see you later, Lisa," Mark murmured, leaving her desk.
Nodding, she glanced through the sheets of bold handwriting, quickly scanning the contents. "At least he can spell," she thought to herself.
When Lisa left the office at the end of the day, her mood hadn't improved. And when she entered her apartment she closed the door behind her with more force than was strictly necessary.
"It looks like you need this more than I do." Debra handed Lisa a filled wine glass. "How was day one with Dan Nolan?"
"He had barely installed himself in the office before he was telling me how to do my job, how he takes his coffee and even how to open the mail!" Lisa said with annoyance. "Dan Nolan is more machine than human. A computer has more emotions than he does."
"Computers have no emotions," Debra pointed out.
"I feel as if we're running a race to see who will crack first. I would barely finish one task and he would have another to be done. Right away, of course. How I would love to see him in Siberia." Her eyes glinted dangerously over the rim of her glass. "I bet if you cut him open you'd find wires and terminals inside instead of veins and muscles."
"This man sounds like he's going to be a real challenge for you. You're not going to be able to anticipate his every thought the way you did with Mark, either. He's playing a game with you, Lee. A game you may not win."
"Oh, yes, I will," Lisa said confidently. "Even machines have to slow down sometime, and I intend to be there when he does."
Lisa soon found out differently. Dan Nolan was tireless, throwing himself into his work and expecting the same from his secretary. Many evenings Lisa worked late, dragging herself home so exhausted that she wanted only a hot bath and bed.
"You're worn out," Debra scolded her one Saturday as they relaxed, drinking tall glasses of iced tea after finishing their housework. "You can't keep up this pace much longer without ending up sick."
"He'd only have the work delivered here." Lisa sighed. "Deb, he's in the office before I get there in the morning, and he's still working away when I leave. Even if he spends the day in court, he still comes back to the office afterward to check up on things. He does all but sleep there. And for all I know he may do that, too."
"That could really ruin a man's social life." Debra grinned.
"Not so long as he can see his women at lunchtime." She made a face. "So far, there have been Cheryl, Heather, Stacey and Rhonda. Plus someone named Morgan Grant who calls him just about every day. If she matches her sexy voice, when she comes into the office, there are going to be some heart attacks among the senior staff."
"Morgan, huh? As in Morgan Le Fay?"
"Probably." Lisa sighed, inspecting her nails, noting she was badly in need of a manicure. "I'm sure she'll show up some day. He seems to have scheduled them all, so he won't forget anyone."
"Are you and Mark going out tonight?" Debra asking, changing the subject.
"Yes, to dinner and a movie. I've had to turn him down so much these past few weeks that I hated to turn him down again, but I told him we would have to make it an early night."
That evening, Mark viewed the dark smudges under Lisa's eyes with concern. Then he said, "Some people are saying that the two of you have some kind of a private feud going on. It doesn't look good when that happens, Lee."
She closed her eyes in frustration. "Lately it seems I can't do anything right for anyone in that firm," she said angrily. "I'm too nice to one boss and not nice enough to another. If I have such trouble pleasing people, why do they bother keeping me on? I don't like the man, Mark. And not only because he's so chauvinistic. He's so egotistical you'd think the firm would fall apart without him. His sense of self-importance is galling. Heaven only knows how he thinks we got on before he showed up."
Mark sighed, then he chose his words carefully. "What I'm about to tell you, Lee, is in strict confidence. I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that our office activity has slowed down a great deal in the past few years. I myself haven't had a new case in two months, and my caseload isn't all that heavy."
"Are you trying to say we're going broke, Mark?" she asked in a low voice..
"No, but we are losing a great deal of money right now. And Dan Nolan has the contacts we need to pull ourselves up," he told her. "No matter what you think about his personality, he is an excellent lawyer."
"He also had his own practice before, didn't he? Why did he decide to join a firm all of a sudden?"
"I don't know. But we're certainly not going to look a gift horse in the mouth."
"Shouldn't we go so we won't miss the movie?" Lisa murmured, feeling suddenly uneasy at Mark's serious tone.
"Um, you're right." Mark glanced down at his watch, distracted now from the topic of Dan Nolan and the firm's future.
Lisa was glad that the movie they had chosen to see was a comedy that didn't require much concentration because the gravity of Mark's statements kept running through her mind. She had to admit to herself that Dan Nolan was an excellent lawyer. After typing his briefs during the past few weeks she could see what a fighter he was for his clients. And he definitely preferred a case that required a struggle, rather than one that was all smiles and bows.
Lisa was still quiet during the drive back to her apartment. When Mark stopped his car in front of the building, he half turned in his seat to face her. "You've been a pretty quiet girl this evening," he remarked, his finger idly playing with a stray curl lying on her shoulder.
"I guess it's because I feel so relaxed." She turned to smile at him.
Mark's eyes darkened as they gazed into Lisa's eyes, the color of jade green now. His hand on her shoulder tightened as his head bent toward her for a gentle kiss. "Lee," he breathed, resting his lips against hers.
Lisa closed her eyes, allowing herself to relax and enjoy Mark's kiss. But just as Debra had predicted, there were no fireworks. She could have wept with frustration when Mark lifted his head. She was half-puzzled and half-angry that the expression on Mark's face told her that he hadn't even noticed her lack of response.
"Do you know how beautiful you are?" he asked huskily. "There were times in the office when I had trouble concentrating on my dictation because I preferred to look at you. I never realized how important you were to me until I lost you as my secretary. How much more important you were to me than just a secretary. You mean more than that, Lee."
"Oh, Mark." Lisa laid her palm against his cheek. Now she felt even more confused. "There are much prettier girls than me in the office."
"I've never noticed," he muttered, claiming her lips again.
Lisa's arms crept up around Mark's neck, and she willed herself to respond to his kiss. She reminded herself that his wife had been dead for less than a year. After a love-filled, happy marriage that had lasted over fifteen years, this was still all new to him. But still his kisses didn't affect her at all. Maybe she was expecting too much. Perhaps thos
e fireworks only happened in books. A fire in the blood, a singing in the veins, a call from one body to another.
"I guess I should let you go in," Mark said, reluctantly releasing her from his embrace. "I'll walk you to the door."
At her door he pressed one last hard kiss against her lips. "I'll see you on Monday," he said. "And, Lisa, please remember, no matter what you think of Nolan as a person, he is a fine lawyer."
"Then he should stay in the courtroom more and in my hair less," Lisa retorted.
"Ah, but it's such lovely hair," Mark said, laughing softly. "But I guess I shouldn't say too much in his favor. He's a very good-looking man and more the age for you. Half the women in the office would give their eyeteeth to have him even look at them."
"Don't worry, I'm definitely not in that half. Dan Nolan is far from being my type. Good night, Mark." She smiled up at him.
Debra was already in bed, reading, when Lisa entered the bedroom. "I see he got you in early, true to your word," Debra commented dryly. "Or is it past Mark's, bedtime?"
"He's only forty-four, not in dotage," Lisa argued, quickly shedding her clothes and slipping on a nightgown. "You're making him sound as if he's ready for a wheelchair and a warm fire!"
"Oh, Lee!" Debra said, exasperated. "Don't settle for lukewarm kisses and half-hearted embraces. Go out and find yourself a man with some warm blood in his veins. Someone like Dan Nolan. I bet he could set off a lot of fireworks in a woman's body."
"Dan Nolan! Dan Nolan!" Lisa shouted. "I am so tired of hearing that name. Why can't the man be mentioned less so I can enjoy my weekend in peace? I happen to be very happy with Mark, so I would appreciate it if you would just leave the matter alone." She crawled into bed, pulling the covers over her head.
"I'm sorry, Lee," Debra said softly. "I don't want to make you angry. I just don't want to see you unhappy with the wrong man. Please believe that I'm only looking out for you."
"Then please let me do things my way," Lisa replied in a weary voice. "Good night, Deb."
Not long after Debra turned the light out, but Lisa didn't find sleep easy to achieve. And when it did come, ironically, she dreamed about the very man she had so resolutely determined not to have anything to do with.
Chapter Two
Lisa refilled her coffee cup for the third time that morning, feeling as if she were drowning in coffee.
"You know where all that caffeine will get you, don't you?" Barbara, Mark's new secretary, pointed out as she poured coffee for herself.
"Mr. Nolan has been on the ceiling since he came in this morning," Lisa said tautly, liberally adding cream to her cup. "There's no way I could manage to join him there."
"Since you don't care to join me on the ceiling, Miss Winters, perhaps you wouldn't mind joining me in my office for some dictation." Dan Nolan's mocking voice sounded from over her shoulder.
Barbara melted away with a murmured excuse.
"I'll be there directly, Mr. Nolan," Lisa said coolly, her outer composure totally unruffled, a complete contradiction to her inner turmoil. How could this man throw her whole being out of kilter, keeping her from being her usual calm self? And all with only a word or a glance from those unnerving blue eyes.
Lisa made sure to take her time walking back to her desk. Picking up a steno pad and pencils, she walked into the inner office and seated herself across from Dan Nolan. He was sitting behind his desk, glancing through several typewritten sheets.
"To Mr. William Stanley," he began crisply, barely pausing for breath as he dictated several letters to Lisa. Her pencil flew over the paper drawing its own special symbols. "No need for rough drafts this time," he said. "I'll sign these after lunch." His tone indicated a curt dismissal, though he didn't look up.
"Yes, sir." Lisa gracefully rose to leave.
"Miss Winters."
Lisa halted her retreat and turned. "Yes, Mr. Nolan?" Her voice was polite, nothing more.
"Is it possible for us to be friends?" The expression in his blue eyes was unreadable.
Lisa was taken aback by his question. "Do you mean a truce?"
"Whatever will work for us." His voice was steady, so were his eyes, as he studied the conflicting expression crossing her face.
Lisa was aware that her pulse was speeding up under his unwavering gaze. It was almost as if he had physically touched her, but she didn't even like the man!
"I'll be sure that my distemper shots are brought up to date then, Mr. Nolan," she said demurely.
Amusement flickered in the depths of Dan Nolan's blue eyes. "Would you please make lunch reservations for two at twelve-thirty at that new French restaurant?" He now reverted back to his old self.
Lisa returned to her desk, unaware of a smile playing about her lips. She had just finished typing up her dictation when the phone rang.
"Lisa, a Miss Grant is here to see Mr. Nolan," the receptionist in the front lobby informed her.
"Thank you, Tina. I'll be right out."
A puzzled frown crossed her brow, as Lisa quickly flipped through the pages of the appointment calendar. Finally, feeling defeated, she pushed the intercom line and waited for an answer.
"Yes?"
"Mr. Nolan, a Miss Grant is here to see you, but I can't seem to find her name in the appointment book."
"Possibly because Miss Grant is here to meet me for lunch," he replied with forced patience. "Would you bring her back here, please?"
Lisa walked out to the lobby and easily spotted the woman. "Miss Grant?" Her face was a polite mask. "I'm Miss Winters, Mr. Nolan's secretary. He asked that I show you to his office. I'm afraid he's running a bit behind schedule this morning."
The tall, well-groomed woman looked Lisa over with indifference. And when she said thank you, Lisa knew it was definitely the same voice she had heard over the telephone so many times before.
Lisa guessed that the woman was in her late twenties and not the type to wear anything that didn't bear a well-known designer's label. Her blonde hair was smoothed back in a chignon, revealing cold, porcelain features. Her raw-silk suit of deep rose and her high heels, with narrow straps at the ankles, made Lisa feel like a gauche schoolgirl. I bet she had a nose job, Lisa thought cattily, as she knocked on her boss's door, then opened it to allow the other woman to pass through.
"Surprise, darling, I'm on time." Morgan Grant's voice was a throaty purr as she brushed past Lisa and closed the door.
A few moments later, when the door opened and the two walked out, Lisa noted how well-matched they were. Morgan Grant, with her cold patrician features, and Dan Nolan, with his rugged good looks.
"Have a good lunch, Mr. Nolan," Lisa murmured politely.
"We will, Miss Winters, we will." Lisa could have sworn to amusement in his husky voice.
"We'll knock off work early on Friday for Sue's baby shower," Barbara told Lisa that day over lunch. "Mr. Marsh is going to call her into his office for dictation around three-thirty to give us time to set everything out. He's even going to buy champagne for the shower."
"Probably to cry in," Lisa said wryly. "He's been letting everyone know he's sick to death about losing her. Sue has that man eating out of her hand."
"Not like some people I know," Barbara murmured.
"Has Mark been giving you a bad time?" Lisa asked in surprise. "He's always been so understanding that it's hard to imagine that he might be temperamental to work for."
"You know very well who I'm talking about. People are talking about the feud between you and your boss."
"We are not feuding," Lisa retorted.
"Well, that's the way everyone else sees it," Barbara told her. "Look, Lee, you have to expect talk. Unfortunately in our office there are some people who don't have time for anything else but. Plus, Dan Nolan is very good-looking and single and you're definitely not ugly. Some people wonder if he made a pass at you and you turned him down. Of course, I can't see that happening." Her smile told Lisa what her answer would have been had it been she.
&n
bsp; "None of that is true." Lisa leaned forward in her chair. "He's just too high and mighty for my taste, that's all. I'm not going to fall all over him and I intend for him to know that. And we get along fine. There is no feud and no hot and heavy love affair. So would you please let that get around to discourage any nasty rumors?"
"I'll do what I can," Barbara promised.
On Tuesday afternoon, Lisa was grateful to leave the office on time, since Dan had spent the afternoon in court. She let herself into the apartment and headed for the bathroom, desiring only a nice, relaxing hot bath. When she was in the midst of towel-drying her freshly washed hair she heard the sound of the front door.
"Hi," she greeted Debra as she walked out of the bathroom.
"Great! Am I glad you came home on time tonight," Debra said with an air of mysterious excitement.
"Mr. Nolan was in court all afternoon so I was glad to get out of there on time."
"I met a fascinating woman this afternoon, a psychic. She's agreed to give us readings this evening. Oh, Lisa," Debra continued, "I have a feeling that this could prove very interesting for you. I'll even treat you to dinner first."
Lisa sighed, feeling as if she would be fighting a losing battle if she tried to resist. "What exactly do you wear to one of these things?" she asked, resigned to her fate.
"Anything. Just let me take a quick shower and we'll go." Debra hurried past Lisa, afraid her cousin might change her mind.
After a quick dinner at a local restaurant, Debra drove to a small, nearby beach community, steering her small Triumph through the narrow, winding streets. As each street grew darker and narrower, Lisa felt uneasy.
"Her name is Xenia," Debra told her as she parked the car in front of a small house with a gaily painted green door.
"Xenia?" Lisa was ready to turn back, but her cousin kept a firm grip on her arm as they approached the door. She was unprepared to see a smiling white-haired lady in her late sixties answer the door.