When The Lights Went Out...

by Judy Christenberry

  “That’s the thing that bothered me most. I began to think I was in the wrong,” he finally said. “Not him.”

  She stretched one hand across again and he caught it in his. “No, Jack, he’s the one who’s wrong. You’ve earned your way.”

  “I didn’t have to struggle like a lot of people.” He’d always felt a little guilty for his wealthy background.

  “Jack, your family wealth didn’t make your company prosper. Your hard work did that.” She squeezed his hand. “Eat your dinner.”

  He automatically took a bite and suddenly found himself hungry. He’d waited in her office that afternoon to have lunch with Sharon, but she’d presented him with proof of Roger’s traitorous behavior and suddenly food had seemed unimportant. Now he was hungry.

  After several minutes of devouring his meal, he paused. “So you really think I should press charges?”

  “Yes, I do. It won’t be easy, but I think it’s the right thing to do.”

  He cleaned his plate. “I don’t suppose you want to go with me to talk to the police?”

  “Tonight?”

  “Yeah, if I don’t go now, I won’t go. It’s too hard to think of his family. I can make it without the money he took, but—yeah, tonight.”

  She sighed and looked at her watch. “Sure, I can go with you after we finish our meal.”

  He frowned. “You got a heavy date tonight?” Her checking the time hadn’t made him happy.

  “I don’t think that’s any of your business,” she said stiffly, squaring her shoulders.

  “Oh, you’re back to the accountant mode? No longer a friend?” He felt the loss deeply.

  “I have to be careful. You called me honey in front of two of our accountants, Jack. Rumors will soon start flying.”

  “I did? When?”

  “When you asked me to call your secretary.” Her beautiful lips were pressed together.

  “Damn. I didn’t mean to. But I was upset. I’ll be careful, I promise.”

  “It doesn’t matter. As long as we don’t spend time together outside of the company, I can always deny anything. And you could call the lady you met at my desk, Deedee West, and accept her invitation.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Because it would create gossip about you and her to distract people. I don’t think she’ll turn down any invitation you offer.”

  “I don’t think she will either, but why would I want to offer anything?”

  “Isn’t she your type?”

  The waitress’s arrival with their pie stopped him from answering immediately, a good thing. He’d almost told her she was his type. But he wasn’t ready to commit to anything. Not yet. When the waitress had gone again, he said, “I don’t have a type.”

  Sharon shrugged her shoulders and took a bite of pie. “Oh, this is good. I shouldn’t eat it but—”

  “Why not? You’re not overweight. In fact, you look like you might’ve lost a little weight. Are you eating all right?”

  She didn’t look up. “Just fine, thank you.”

  Suddenly, after their intimate conversation, they had nothing to say to each other? He leaned forward. “Where did you go?”

  She looked up, surprise on her face. “I’m still here.”

  “My friend isn’t here. My accountant is.”

  “You’re right. But that’s the way it has to be. Especially when we go to the police department.”

  He sighed. “Okay. But I like the friend better.”

  “You’ll come see Kane Monday morning about the new business?”

  “Do I need to? He can’t just send someone over to my office?”

  “I think he assumed you’d come.” She took the last bite of her pie and closed her eyes, savoring the taste.

  Jack forgot the question, watching her.

  “Will you?”

  “Hmmm? Oh, yeah. I’ll meet you for coffee in the cafeteria and then—”

  “No. Monday mornings are pretty hectic. And I lost a lot of time today, so I can’t take any time off on Monday.”

  “You’re saying that because of the rumors, aren’t you?” he asked, his temper rising again.

  “Jack, I’ve already explained to Kane that we became—close in the elevator. But he expects me to maintain a professional relationship with you.”

  “What if he hears about tonight?”

  “I’ll tell him I convinced you to go to the police, and it only seemed fair to offer you my support.”

  Her quick reply irritated him. “You’re mighty fast with the excuses.”

  She didn’t respond. “Could you ask her for our ticket?” At the same time she reached for her purse.

  “Don’t even think about it.”

  Her head came up. “Think about what?”

  “Paying for your meal.”

  “Why not? You’re my client. I’m going to pay for yours, too.”

  “No, you’re not. The lady who came in here with me was my friend. She didn’t stay long, but I’m paying for her meal and mine, too.”

  After staring at him, she apparently realized it would be a useless battle. Shrugging, she nodded.

  Once they left the diner, he put a hand on her back and guided her toward his car.

  “Is it far to the nearest precinct?” she asked.

  “A few blocks. It won’t take long,” he added, remembering her checking her watch.

  He opened the car door and waited for her to get in. “I promise not to fall asleep this time,” she muttered.

  “I would hope not. It’s only a little after seven,” he pointed out. “Are you going to a doctor? Kane said he’d suggest one.”

  Sharon had escaped addressing that problem all afternoon because she’d been so busy. Then, when she’d talked to Kane, it had been about Jack’s business and he’d been too involved to think of other things.

  Now she had to respond. “That’s not necessary.”

  “I think it is. You were exhausted last night.”

  “Yes, I was. Tension does that to me. But I just visited my doctor recently.”

  “What did she say?”

  She swallowed and sat quietly while he entered the stream of traffic. Visions of a wreck if she actually told him brought a smile to her face. When he turned to look at her, she wiped it away.

  “She said I—I have a female problem that’s temporary, nothing to worry about.” Most men avoided any talk about female problems. She was sure Jack would, too.

  “What kind of female problem?” he asked.

  “I don’t want to talk about it. It’s private.”

  “But—”

  The persistent man! “No, Jack, I will not discuss it with you. I’m in no danger. If I get a little tired, I’ll recover from it.” In twenty years, maybe.

  He found a parking place on the street across from the police precinct, and she marvelled at his luck.

  “How do you always manage to do that?”

  “What?”

  “Always find a parking place. It’s amazing.”

  He shrugged. “I’d say I’m lucky, but after today, it wouldn’t sound convincing.”

  “At least the loss isn’t going to destroy you. That should make you feel lucky,” she pointed out. “If someone stole much from me, I’d be down for the count.”

  “And you’re still not going to sue me? I told you I have money.”

  She stared at him, irritation filling her. “I guess you’re talking to your accountant now, not your friend, right?”

  “My friend so seldom appears, I guess you’re right.”

  She got out of the car, suddenly not feeling so warm about the irritating man beside her.

  Inside, they asked for the white-collar crimes division.

  “Third floor, to the left after you get out of the elevator,” the desk sergeant said. “Just a skeleton crew at night, though.”

  “Thank you, officer,” Jack said.

  To Sharon’s surprise, he grabbed her hand and headed in that direction.r />
  “You don’t have to force me. I said I’d go,” she pointed out.

  “Anytime elevators are involved, I’m afraid you’ll quit on me.” For some reason, he was grinning at her.

  She didn’t find that particular memory too amusing.

  After a brief ride in the elevator, they found the department they needed. Two men were sitting at desks and they both looked up.

  “Can we help you?”

  “Yes, we’d like to report a crime,” Jack said, still holding Sharon’s hand.

  Afraid it would make them look unprofessional, she tugged on her hand, but he held on tightly.

  “If you were mugged, sir, you’ve come to the wrong department.”

  “It’s a white-collar crime. Right department?”

  “Yes, sir. Come have a seat, you and the missus.” The man stood and pulled two spare chairs over to his desk.

  “I’m his accountant, not his wife,” Sharon quickly said. Jack had dropped her hand after the man’s comment, and she dug in her purse for a business card.

  “Are you the guilty party?” the detective asked, smiling.

  “No! I—I thought I might be able to back up his story,” she said, appalled at how they’d handled the situation.

  “My fault,” Jack said. “I was reluctant to charge the man with a crime, and she talked me into it.”

  “She could talk me into a lot of stuff, too,” the other detective said softly, staring at her.

  Sharon was ready to let all three men have it as they grinned at each other.

  chapter nine

  Sharon spent most of the weekend trying to figure out what to do.

  Jack had made the decision both easier and more difficult on Friday night. When he’d insisted on driving her home, she’d accepted gracefully. And she hadn’t fallen asleep.

  Which meant, when he parked in front of her home, she had to face him and say good-night.

  “For this moment,” he’d said with a charming smile, “We’re friends, okay?”

  She really hadn’t figured out what was to come. So she’d seen no problem with agreeing. She’d nodded.

  Without any more words, he’d swept her into his embrace, his lips covering hers. She was immediately transported to her last time in Jack’s arms, when they’d carried the embrace to its ultimate conclusion. Hunger filled her. She wanted him to love her.

  Only the memory of her job, her career, the one thing she’d dedicated her life to, made her pull away from him. She’d been proud of her strength—and devastated by her loss.

  She’d told herself since she was five that men couldn’t be trusted. Men couldn’t be counted on. She’d stared at Jack, her heart pleading to trust him, her mind refusing.

  “Sharon, I—this attraction is powerful.”

  “Yes,” she’d whispered. She couldn’t deny his words, not with her heart trying to jump out of her body.

  “We’re not in an elevator.”

  “No,” she agreed, her voice shaking.

  “But the feelings are still there. I think maybe we should explore it. Don’t you?”

  “How?”

  “Spend time together.”

  “W-we can’t.”

  “But, Sharon—”

  She hadn’t been able to calmly sit there and discuss the explosion that had occurred in her body when he kissed her. She’d opened the door and slid from his expensive car. Then she’d raced into her house and slammed the door behind her.

  She’d stayed there listening until she’d heard his car drive away. Then she’d hurried to her room.

  But she couldn’t shut out her emotions, the longing that became a solid ache, the fears that made her tremble.

  So the debate had begun. Did she resign as head of the Waterton project—which could mean the loss of her promotion and her raise?

  Or did she try to keep her distance, work as much with Pete as she could, rather than Jack? Refuse to be alone with him? Could she control herself? Or, an even greater question, could she control Jack?

  On Sunday afternoon, her mother sat her down, trying to help her. When Sharon confessed her problem, Edith had tried to convince her daughter that some men could be trusted.

  “Mother, he thought I was going to sue him. He didn’t contact me after we got to the hospital. If we hadn’t met by chance, I still wouldn’t know the last name of my baby’s father.”

  “True, those are points not in his favor. Have you discussed them with him?”

  “He said he had some problems. He was out of town for a month and then got a big job and had a— a personal problem come up.”

  “But he intended to contact you?”

  “When he got around to it. Maybe in five years or so. What difference does it make? I’m going to raise my baby alone. I don’t need him… or his money.” But she wanted him. And that bothered her most of all.

  Jack paced his condo most of the weekend.

  He’d scared himself with his behavior Friday night. His need for Sharon was something he hadn’t experienced before. He’d never needed his wife. He’d accommodated her movement into his life. He’d tolerated her lie, waited for the birth of his child. But he hadn’t needed her.

  He’d survived other disappointments alone. But Friday, he’d felt a real need for Sharon, for her touch, her understanding. Which made him vulnerable.

  When he’d kissed her again, it had only taken the first touch for his body to go hard as a rock, for an aching need to take control of his mind. In the elevator, it had taken a while for him to reach the point of no return.

  Friday night, he’d gone from zero to out-of-control in nothing flat. Only Sharon’s reaction had stopped the stampede of emotions.

  She didn’t want him.

  What now? Did he ask Kane to put someone else on his account? Would that reflect poorly on Sharon? He certainly didn’t want to harm her, but he also didn’t want to work with her. She would use it as an excuse.

  He had no intentions of giving her up. No, a man didn’t walk away from the feelings he’d been having. They were too rare, too powerful. So it would be better if he wasn’t working with her. Then he could pursue her without complications.

  Maybe he could explain to Kane.

  He’d try that when he was there Monday morning,

  Sharon wore red to work on Monday. For power.

  “Nice suit,” Alice assured her. “It looks really good with your hair. A real attention-getter.”

  “Thank you. I’m late because I went to the site across the street before I came up.” She’d figured she’d kill two birds with one stone. Eliminate one elevator ride and take care of business with Pete before Jack got in the picture.

  She’d definitely gotten the attention of the crew. “Here are your calls,” Alice said, handing her a stack of messages.

  “Thanks.” She shuffled through them. Yes, Jack had called. She sat down and called his office. Again, she was passed through at once.

  “Morning, Sharon,” his sexy voice said, and she almost melted. She questioned her decision. But she had to try.

  “Jack, I’ve already talked to Pete this morning, so I think everything’s on track.”

  “I was planning on visiting the site myself and checking a few things with you.”

  “I need to go over a few things with you, too. Can you meet me for a late breakfast in about half an hour at the diner we used Friday night?”

  Silence followed her request, and she figured she’d surprised him. But she certainly couldn’t have a discussion about their—about Friday night—here in the office. Or in front of his crew.

  “Sure,” he finally agreed, a smile in his voice. “I’d love to. I’ll even pick up the tab. Half an hour? I’ll be there.”

  So would she. But she’d pay the bill. In more ways than one.

  She went to the copy room to duplicate some papers and ran into Lauren.

  “Hi, Sharon. Are you coming to break today? We haven’t seen you much lately.”

  �
��I know, and I miss talking to everyone, but I’ve been really busy lately. And I can’t make it today, either. Tell everyone I said hi.”

  “Okay,” Lauren agreed, shrugging her shoulders.

  Sharon did miss the camaraderie she shared with the other women. And she liked to talk to Jen about her pregnancy, because she would be going through the same things. But not being able to tell anyone about it made asking questions difficult.

  Her mother was being helpful. After four pregnancies, one a double bonus with the twins, she could answer most questions. There were minutes when Sharon considered telling everyone. After all, it wasn’t a question of waiting for her to marry. She could imagine Jack’s reaction when he heard. He’d figure it to be another trick to ensnare him into a marriage he didn’t want.

  The way his first wife had done.

  When he’d told her that story in the elevator, as he’d held her, she’d been enraged for him. She still was. And she didn’t want to be lumped into the same category.

  Telling everyone about her pregnancy was an impossibility as long as Jack was around. And she wanted him to remain in the picture for at least another month, maybe two, if she was lucky.

  She’d decided she had the right to use him to prove her abilities. In that amount of time, she could ably demonstrate her talents. Then, when she asked to be relieved of that job, everyone would know it wasn’t because she couldn’t do the work.

  Then she’d announce her pregnancy, when someone else was his accountant. Since the transfer would have already been made, it wouldn’t occur to Jack to ask about her. He’d probably be too angry.

  So she had her strategy all laid out. What could go wrong?

  Checking her watch, she realized she could be late for the initial step, breakfast with Jack. She ran back to her desk to grab her purse and walk the three blocks to the diner.

  Why had Sharon asked him to breakfast?

  Last week, she hadn’t even wanted to share a cup of coffee with him. She was up to something, but he didn’t know what. He was going to hold in reserve his decision to have her taken off the job. He could spare some time to see what she was up to.

  When he entered the diner, the morning rush was over and the noon rush hadn’t begun. And Sharon hadn’t arrived.