A Murderous Game

by Paris Patricia

  Abby's gaze jerked to the right to see Gage sitting in front of Norwell's desk.

  "Yes, of course," she said, surprised to see him.

  "Good afternoon, Ms. Carpenter." Gage glanced at her blouse, then without missing a beat, extended a hand. He seemed alarmingly detached, and cold, but as they shook hands his fingers tightened in a gentle squeeze. It worked miracles to calm her nerves. It had been his way of telling her to relax, to trust him, and everything would be fine.

  As Abby sat down, Norwell cleared his throat. "Mr. Faraday asked for this meeting after he realized, based on a conversation he had with Harold last week, that a misunderstanding had occurred."

  Abby stole a glance at Gage. He looked powerful and almost too handsome for words in a deep charcoal grey suit that had obviously been made for him, a crisp white shirt, and maroon and silver paisley silk tie. His long body rested casually in the chair.

  "Unfortunately, when Mr. Faraday told me to assign Billings to the account, I assumed he meant permanently." Norwell paused and glanced at Gage, who looked up and after a moment inclined his head for Norwell to continue.

  "In actuality," Norwell went on, "he intended to meet with Billings a couple of times and then to do the same with you, reserving a decision until he'd had the opportunity to determine which one of you best suited his style."

  Abby wondered if her boss believed that or just had no choice but to suck up or lose the account. Following Gage's instruction from the other night to act surprised by whatever happened, she leaned slightly forward and looked at her boss.

  "I'm not sure I understand, sir." She was about to paraphrase some of what Norwell said when Gage let out an impatient sigh.

  "It's quite simple, Ms. Carpenter," he cut in curtly. "Mr. Norwell misunderstood what I wanted." He rested his elbows on the arms of the chair and steeped his fingers in front of his chest.

  Abby ventured a glance at Norwell and was sure he was gritting his teeth. Suck up, she decided. She looked back at Gage, who appeared to regard her and Norwell with arrogant tolerance.

  "I don't know how my intentions were misconstrued. I'm sure I made them clear." He waved a hand in the air as if he didn't have time to dwell on it. "It's neither here nor there at this point."

  Norwell looked nervous Gage could change his mind again. "You're right. The important thing is we understand each other now." He sat up straighter. "And as I assured you, none of us want you to be uncomfortable with your decision."

  Gage looked over the tips of his fingers at Norwell. "No," he drawled. "I don't suppose you do." He shifted his gaze to Abby. "I don't make rash decisions, Ms. Carpenter. Other people might, but I always explore my options."

  He was amazing, she thought, sitting there with that superior attitude, as if the world owed him, and pulling it off so convincingly.

  He flicked a glance back to Norwell. "I must admit, Billings seems bright. I liked some of his ideas. However, before I select him to work on Riv One, I want to assure myself he's the right choice."

  Gage made it sound like Billings was a foregone conclusion. He sniffed arrogantly then rubbed a finger across his mouth. It was then she noticed his lips twitch and realized he was enjoying himself.

  "I understand." She lifted her chin as if she'd been offended but was trying to maintain her dignity. "I'll do whatever Mr. Norwell decides."

  "No." Gage said in a tone that would have alarmed her if she didn't know it was for Norwell's benefit. "You will do whatever I decide." She almost smiled at him.

  Norwell blustered. "Ms. Carpenter will be happy to meet with you at your convenience." He looked pointedly at her. "Won't you?"

  "Yes, at least I'll try my best," she said, as if innocent of what was happening. "I do have several appointments scheduled over the next couple of weeks, but I'm sure I can find some time to meet with you."

  "Mr. Faraday is a very busy man." Norwell jumped in, looking like he wanted to give her a good shake. "You'll have to rearrange your other meetings to fit his schedule."

  Abby lifted her right shoulder in a slight shrug. "If that's what you want me to do."

  Gage stood up. "I've wasted enough time here." He looked down his nose at her. "Call my office and set something up for later this afternoon. I want to resolve this as soon as possible." He gave Norwell a curt nod then turned to leave.

  "I'll see you out." Norwell jumped up from his chair and hurried around the desk. Gage was already out the door. Abby got up to leave as well. Norwell threw her a punishing glance and hissed out a warning. "Just do what the bastard wants. He's an unreasonable son of a bitch, but we can't lose this account."

  ~~~

  Abby hadn't been back in her office ten minutes when the phone rang. It was Gage.

  "I thought it would be less awkward for you if Norwell and Billings just thought I was an unreasonable prick rather than wonder if you had anything to do with me changing my mind."

  The fact Gage had come in person rather than calling, and deliberately made himself look like a demanding eccentric, amazed her. She knew he'd only done it to shift the focus away from her.

  "So what happens when my week is up, and you have to give Norwell your final decision?"

  "I'll tell him you impressed me with your brains and vision, and I'm choosing you to work on the project."

  "I'm flattered. Is that the real reason?"

  "Yes," he said succinctly. "And because you look better in a skirt than Billings does." She was about to say she didn't think that should be a consideration when he cut her off. "I'm just getting into a cab. Can you meet me this evening? Around seven at my office?"

  "Well, I guess so." She considered asking if it would be better if she came tomorrow, during the day.

  "I'll see you then. I'll ask Grace to order in some dinner."

  Abby returned the phone to the carriage. She hoped they weren't establishing a pattern. She didn't mind evening meetings as long as they weren't the norm.

  It was more than that. Being alone with Gage made her nervous. She ran the pad of her index finger along the edge of the desk. She didn't trust her feelings for him. Each time they were together she felt even more attracted to him. She'd been upset when she lost the account, but now that she had it back she might just have a bigger problem on her hands.

  ~~~

  "I'm flying to Chicago tomorrow," Gage told Abby as they discussed promotional strategies that evening in his office. "I won't be returning until Friday." He stretched his arm along the back of the couch. From her vantage point in the chair opposite him, he reminded her of an aristocrat. Despite his middle-class background, he'd beat the odds and risen to the very elite within the corporate world. Now, everything about him emanated success and power.

  "There goes my week to try and win the account," she teased.

  His lips curved sensually. "I've already called Norwell and told him something came up, and I won't be able to meet with you until next week."

  "And tonight?"

  "Tonight's a bonus meeting since he made the mistake of misunderstanding me." He shot her an amused glance.

  "You didn't really tell him that…did you?" she asked, fully prepared to hear that he had.

  "No. Although I'm sure if I had, he would have apologized for the error all over again. It amazes me what some people will do at the prospect of losing money."

  "A lot of money," she said. "Norwell's not willing to risk your business. If you had said you'd never even brought up account managers, he probably would have said he'd made the mistake of confusing you with another client."

  Abby frowned. "At least Norwell's not snorting smoke from his nostrils like Harold Billings is. I don't think he's as convinced as Norwell that I didn't have something to do with you changing your mind."

  "Did Billings do something to upset you?"

  "Nothing I can't handle," she said.

  Gage's eyes narrowed momentarily but he said nothing. Abby felt the weight of his vigilant watchfulness. Did he study everyone so intently?


  She looked at her day planner where she'd outlined some marketing ideas she wanted to run by him. They still hadn't discussed ground rules. Maybe there wouldn't be a need. Maybe he'd already forgotten their kiss, and there'd never been any chance of a reoccurrence.

  When she lifted her gaze he was still watching her, only now there was a crooked grin on that oh so sexy face. She made a show of checking her clothes and realized she'd forgotten about the large stain on her blouse.

  "Oh! I forgot about that. I wondered what you kept looking at. I just missed being run over by a kid on a skateboard at lunch. Fortunately, he only bumped me. But I was holding a hot dog at the time, and it ended up on my blouse."

  Amusement danced in his eyes. "I wondered what happened when you walked into Norwell's office this afternoon." His expression changed. "I wasn't looking at the stain, though. I was just wondering what you look like with your hair down."

  Abby reached up and smoothed a hand over her head. When she realized what she was doing, she snatched it away and folded it with the other one in her lap. She cleared her throat. "It's easier this way for work."

  He nodded then stood up. "Not that it isn't attractive. I just wondered." He walked across the office to the corner bar. "I'm going to fix a drink before we continue. Would you like one?"

  Abby stood up. "Yes, thank you." As nervous as he made her feel, she could use something.

  He pulled out a bottle of wine. "Cabernet, right?"

  She nodded and then went to the wall of windows to look out at the city. "You've got a beautiful view."

  Gage finished with the drinks and came around the bar. Abby could see his reflection in the glass as he came up behind her. Her pulse sped up when he stopped just at her back.

  "It's probably my favorite thing about this office," he said.

  She didn't move, afraid to turn, afraid they were too close. Every nerve in her body screamed for her to step away, step far away, but she didn't seem capable.

  "Your wine." He handed the glass around her from behind and she shivered.

  She had to force herself to breathe. She felt trapped by his arm. Belatedly she realized he was still holding the glass. She reached up suddenly, too suddenly. She knocked his wrist with her hand, and the wine flew up from the glass. Horrified, she jerked sideways and looked down.

  "Oh, no!" She peeked up at Gage, embarrassed by her clumsiness.

  He took a step back. Cupping his right elbow with his left hand, he brought the right hand up to his chin. "I'm afraid you're going to have to retire that blouse." His serious expression slipped, and she realized he was trying not to laugh. She didn't appreciate him laughing at her. She turned away and took a few jerky steps toward his desk, her cheeks flaming.

  She spun back to face him. "This is your fault," she said unthinkingly, her emotions getting the best of her.

  "How is it my fault?" he asked, still grinning. "All I did was hand you a glass of wine."

  Abby crossed her arms, partly covering the spreading wine stain, just under the mustard and ketchup stain.

  "You didn't just hand it to me. You snaked it around me and said your wine in that deep, husky voice. And you, well, you made me nervous."

  Gage started toward her. He had that look, the one that made her hum. She took a retreating step, and the back of her thighs came up against the hard edge of his desk. Startled, she shot him a nervous glance only to realize he now stood mere inches in front of her.

  He set his drink and her now empty wine glass on the desk then planted his hands palm down on either side of her. Abby leaned back, not sure what it accomplished because now she felt trapped in his mesmerizing gaze.

  "Do I make you nervous, Abby?" His eyes smoldered. He began to lower his head, his intent clear.

  She placed her hands on his chest, her head and her heart waging a battle over whether to let him kiss her. "I don't think you really want to do this," she said, wondering how she'd possibly convince him when the betraying voice in her head sang, oh yeah, boogie down, get it on.

  "Oh, yes I do. I've wanted to do this since you walked through that door." He leaned in, and she leaned further back.

  "You might think that right now, but I should warn you there's a high probability you'll be sorry in the morning."

  His gaze fell to her mouth. "The only way I'll be sorry in the morning," he whispered against her lips, "is if I don't kiss you tonight."

  He covered her mouth, slanting first one way and then the other. Gently he urged her to kiss him back. And she did. God, she was so easy.

  Gage stroked his hands up her arms, over the tender skin on her neck, and molded them to her face. With a seductiveness that rendered her helpless, he pressed his body against hers. Time stood still while he brushed infinite kisses across her cheeks, her neck, back to her mouth. He traced her lips with his tongue and sought entrance to dance with hers.

  Abby gave in to every wonderful sensation. They just felt too good to end yet. He continued to caress her. One hand drifted to her head and began removing the pins from her hair.

  "You have beautiful hair," he said, weaving his fingers through it. His other hand trailed down her back, circling, molding her to him. She murmured his name.

  Gage moaned. His mouth became more urgent, his tongue more demanding. He combed his fingers through her hair, loosening it further until it fell completely free to tumble over and around her shoulders. His mouth felt hot on her throat, hungry lips and teeth driving her to the edge of sanity.

  She welcomed him, her hands roaming restlessly over his back, urging him closer. He cupped her breast, molding it through her blouse. Then his fingers were traveling along the row of buttons in front, flicking them open with an expertise that should have alarmed her. His lips found hers again, making her drunk on desire.

  "I want you, Abby." He started backward, pulling her with him toward the couch. Somewhere, in the far corners of her mind a lonely, rational thought struggled for attention.

  Gage pushed her blouse off her shoulders. He kissed her there, scorching a path across her exposed skin. "Abby." His voice sounded hoarse. He wanted her. Her body exploded with need. A warning screamed in her head. He wanted to make love to her and that would be disastrous.

  Abby jerked in his arms. "No," she said, suddenly alarmed, pushing at his chest. "We can't."

  "Yes we can. Don't pull away."

  "We can't!" She repeated.

  He raised his head and stared at her, eyes smoking, and stormy with desire.

  "Please," she pleaded again more softly, turning her head away from him. "We have to stop."

  Gage eased his hold and his hands fell slowly away. Abby couldn't look at him. She never should have let this happen. She had promised herself it wouldn't. It didn't matter that desire still pounded through her blood. It didn't matter that she wanted him more than she'd ever wanted any man in her life.

  How could she make love to him when she knew how it would turn out? She didn't think she could bear to look in his eyes and see the disappointment when she failed to please him. She was still galaxies out of his league, would always be, and she knew better than to welcome that kind of pain again.

  ~~~

  Gage pushed his hands through his hair, wanting to groan his frustration. Abby sat on the couch, gathering her notes and putting them into her briefcase. Why had she put such an abrupt stop to things? He didn't think he'd misread her interest. Should he let it go for now or confront her so he could try to understand what the hell just happened?

  Picking his drink up off the desk, he joined her on the couch. "Abby." He waited for her to look at him. She stopped what she was doing and stared down at her hands. He set his drink on the table and reached for her fingers, rubbing them between his own.

  "I'm sorry," she said, not looking at him. "I'm sorry I let that happen."

  Gage closed his eyes a moment, trying to think. He didn't like seeing her upset, but he wanted something with her, and he wasn't willing to take a step back
ward.

  "I'm not. I'm attracted to you. I've been attracted to you since the first time I saw you."

  She gave a half smile. "You mean when I came into your uncle's taffy shop?"

  Gage squeezed her fingers. "What did I know then? I was just a dumb kid."

  "I think you've got us confused. I was the dumb kid, remember?"

  He lifted her chin. "Don't pull back from me. I know you wanted me a few minutes ago. I could feel it. And I'm not going to lie. I want more than a business relationship with you. Much more."

  "We can't, Gage."

  "We can't isn't a reason. And certainly not one I'm willing to accept." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. "If you're going to reject me, you'll have to do better than that."

  Her chest rose and fell on a deep sigh. "You're a client. If we had a relationship and Norwell found out, I'd lose my job."

  He kissed her thumb. "If he threatens to fire you, I'll threaten to go to another firm."

  She gave him an impatient look. "What if we had an affair and something went wrong? We'd still have to work together."

  "We're both professionals." He kissed her index finger. "We'd manage."

  "What if I screwed up on the account?"

  "Then I'd fire you."

  Her mouth formed a perfect "O" and he grinned.

  "Would you really?" she asked.

  "Of course I would. Business is business."

  "Well, if you fired me, then Norwell might fire me, and I'd be out of a job."

  "I'd tell Norwell to rehire you, and if he didn't I'd break my contract. Your boss made it clear he'd do almost anything to keep my business. So you don't have to worry about your job."

  She narrowed her eyes. "I'm not sure I like that last bit. And whether you believe it or not, I'm the one with the most to lose here. There are too many things that could go wrong if we were to have a personal relationship."