Picking up his overcoat that he’d hung on the hook by the door, he contemplated the locks she had. She did live in a good neighborhood, but if he left, he’d only be able to lock the knob itself, and none of the deadbolts. He opened the door, checked the knob and found it less than sturdy. No wonder she had added such sturdy backup locks. Sighing, he shut the door and locked them. He couldn’t, in good conscience, leave her unprotected.
“Looks like you’re stuck with me tonight, Oscar. Don’t worry, I’ll sleep out here on this nice, soft sofa.”
Adam turned to study where he would be sleeping. He could tell just by looking at the couch his tall frame wasn’t going to fit between the armrests. Oh well, he’d make do. He shrugged out of his dinner jacket and pulled his tie off. He placed both over the chair, and then went in search of her bathroom. He looked through her medicine cabinet without guilt and noticed all the female things his mother had at home. Night crème, eye crème, good grief they even had a butt crème for cellulite—not that Katie needed it—but there it was on the shelf. Closing the cupboard, he got down to the business of preparing for bed in a strange house. He didn’t have a toothbrush, so he’d make do with his finger.
On his way back to the living room, he stopped at the hall closet for a pillow and a blanket. Back to his temporary bed, Adam made the best comfort he could. He took off his shirt, belt, and socks. When he was standing in his slacks he paused. He didn’t want to be caught in his shorts, but it couldn’t be helped. He shrugged. He was sure Katie wouldn’t faint at the sight.
He sat down and bounced. It seemed comfy enough, but when he laid his head on the pillow, his ankles hung over the end of the armrest as he had feared. Turning to his side, he brought his knees up, situated the blanket over him and closed his eyes. He was going to be stiff as a board in the morning. With Katie so close, probably in more ways than one.
Chapter Nine
Katie yawned, stretched, and then realized she was lying on top of her bedspread with her Dolphins throw on top of her. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember why she wasn’t under the covers. Looking over to Oscar who slept peacefully on her chair, she found no answers. She threw the cover back and got another shock. Why on earth did I go to bed in nothing but my panties?
God, her mouth felt like fur had grown on her tongue, fertilized by a night of drinking champagne. She didn’t really care that she didn’t remember how she got to bed. She needed a drink, preferably water. Without grabbing a robe, she started down the hall to the kitchen. Girl, you’re in trouble when you can’t even handle a couple of glasses of the bubbly.
She stopped abruptly at the door to the living room and stared at the man lying on her couch. Adam. She gulped down much needed air. The poor guy was on his back, one arm flung over his eyes and the other hanging onto the floor. His tall frame was too much for the small sofa and his feet dangled over the end.
Automatically crossing her arms over her bare breasts, she backed into the hall and turned to rest her back against the wall. Okay, Katie, think. Why is Adam still here? If something had happened wouldn’t he be in your bed? And if it didn’t, wouldn’t he have left?
There were no answers to her questions. She sighed as she walked to her room to fetch a robe. Feeling a little more protected, she tiptoed through the living room past the sleeping man to the kitchen. Coffee was in order. She filled the pot and pressed the start. Aroma of fresh brew filled the air. She sniffed appreciatively and pulled the pot out and stuck her cup under, not wanting to wait. Taking her first taste, she closed her eyes and savored. She’d better go change before she got caught in her robe. She turned, only to find Adam standing in the doorway, tousled and looking sexy as hell.
“Hi.” That sounded lame even to her ears.
“Hi, yourself. Can I have some of that?”
“Sure, help yourself.” She cleared her throat and shuffled her feet, trying to think of something to say to break the awkwardness. “Hmm…I’ll just leave you to your coffee, I’m going to go shower. Make yourself at home.”
As Katie rushed by, Adam stood to the side to let her. He raised an eyebrow at her hasty retreat. Red hot heat started at the opening of her robe and didn’t stop until it reached her hairline. Finally reaching the safety of her room, she went to her bed and sank onto the mattress. What is wrong with you? She’d never been so tongue-tied around anyone. She worked with Adam, for god’s sake. It wasn’t getting her anywhere just sitting there finding no answers. She stood and made herself grab some clothes out of the closet and retreat to the bathroom for a cold shower.
* * * *
Adam watched her go. He smiled as he turned to get some much-needed coffee. He hadn’t slept well at all. Several times he caught himself as he was about ready to fall from his makeshift bed to the floor. His back ached, and he didn’t think he’d ever get the kink out of his neck. Sighing at his first sip of the black fortifying liquid, he drank deeply, welcoming the burn down his throat. Oscar strolled in and looked at him as if to ask what his plan was.
“Well, buddy, I think I’m going to fold up the blankets I used and get home so I can get ready for the day,” he said to the dog as he passed on his way to the living room.
Oscar followed behind him and then hopped onto the couch. The dog cocked his head to the side and let his tongue hang out. Adam swore the dog was smiling at him. That was ridiculous.
“Come on, I need that if I’m going to fold everything and put them away for your mistress.”
The damn dog wouldn’t budge. Adam, giving a grunt of disgust, picked up Oscar and sat him on the floor in order to clean up. After he’d put everything to order, Adam found a paper and pen in the kitchen and left Katie a note. He had a feeling she’d need more coffee before she left, so he propped it by the pot and let himself out.
* * * *
Katie turned as Oscar entered the bedroom with a dejected look on his shaggy face. Then a second later, she heard the click of the front door closing. Understanding dawned, and she bent to pat the dog on his head.
“Did your new friend leave? Don’t worry—Katie plans to have him back.”
Katie did have plans to have him back. She just didn’t know how to manage the task. The agenda of the day would be to go to the office and act as if nothing unusual had happened the night before. Pretend that her boss hadn’t stripped her down to her panties, then slept on her couch.
The phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. “Hello?”
She listened for a moment. “Oh, hi, Mom, did you have a good time last night?”
Katie took the cordless phone with her to the kitchen, where she found the note Adam had left her and smiled as she read it. Katie Did, Had a wonderful and interesting time last night. See you at the office. Adam.
“What?” she said into the phone when her mother asked her if she was listening.
“Oh sure, I’d love to. Do you want to go this weekend?” Her mother loved her annual trip to Martha’s Vineyard. Usually Katie begged off, but she had nothing to do this weekend. Adam would be going to Nassau. Maybe her mom would have some ideas of how to make Adam notice her in a commitment kind of way.
“Yes, I’m sure I can take Friday off. I haven’t taken very many vacation days this year.” Katie paused while her mom gave her the time they would leave and the details she really didn’t need to hear. Her mom was always thorough.
“Okay, Mom, I’ll see you then. Love you. Give my love to Dad too.” Katie placed the receiver into the cradle. What would she do without her parents? So many women her age didn’t have time for theirs. Like her friends who only saw their parents on holidays. How sad was that?
“Well, Oscar, let’s feed you so I can manage to arrive at work before noon.”
* * * *
Katie opened the door and stopped. Jordan waited in her office. He’d made himself comfortable in her chair behind her desk and read her paper.
“Excuse me. I think you’re sitting in my chair. Do ya think I could get to my desk?”
“Hey, Katie. I thought you weren’t coming in today, it’s so late.” Jordan jumped up and moved around the desk. He indicted the packages he’d set on the side table. “I brought those packages for the great ‘Mr. Romance,’ but his office is locked.”
“He’ll be in soon, I’m sure. What’s interesting in the paper?”
“Nothing. I looked all over for anything about the weekend trip in the society pages, but nothing was there.”
Katie raised an eyebrow. “I thought you didn’t like to read about him. Besides, it is already Wednesday. The trip articles usually appear in the Monday edition,” Katie said, remembering the previous week when Jordan had commented that Adam made things bad for men and dates in general.
“I like to look at the hot pictures of his dates. Hey, a man can fantasize, can’t he?”
“Good morning,” Adam greeted as he entered the office. Without glancing at the two, he walked to his office, unlocked the door, stepped in, and closed the door without another comment.
“Good morning,” Katie and Jordan chorused, but Adam had already closed the door. The two looked at each other in question.
“I wonder what’s up with him. Well, can’t wait to find out. I’ve wasted enough time waiting for you to get in. Just make sure he gets the packages. Talk to you later.” Jordan waved a jaunty hand in salute and left the office the way Adam had entered.
Katie sat looking at both doors forlornly. She sighed and turned on her computer to start her day. She had dressed for comfort, wearing one of her bohemian flowing dresses. She’d left her hair to hang down her back. She wore her frameless glasses, her eyes too sore for her new contacts. She felt she looked pretty darn good. But how was she going to attract Adam if he never looked at her?
* * * *
Adam sat at his desk staring at his posters, mentally patting himself on the back. He’d made it through the office without glancing in Katie’s direction. A picture of her long slender neck and smooth back had flashed through his mind at odd moments since he’d left her apartment. At the coffee shop where he’d stopped to grab a bagel he’d almost embarrassed himself when the image presented itself.
He sure hoped his date with Janice would take his mind off Katie. He could not let his growing fascination with his beautiful assistant ruin his working relationship with her. All he had to do was think of how awkward the office would be afterward if they went on a weekend trip. She’s the only one that fits all of your qualifications, his mind argued, and he ruthlessly pushed down the unwanted thoughts.
Looking at the clock, he realized he’d been daydreaming for a while. If he didn’t leave, he would be late for the meeting with Katie’s father and the CEO of the new investment company they wanted to take over.
“Katie, I’ll be back in a couple of hours.” He breezed by her desk, not letting himself even glance in her direction. If he did, he knew it would bring back the image of last night. Having an uncomfortable bulge in his pants wouldn’t do when he had to meet with her father.
* * * *
Dottie paused by the elevator to brush a hand over her perfect hair. Katie wasn’t expecting her. Dottie wasn’t there to see her, but Mr. Russo. Lunch was just an excuse to get another look at Katie’s handsome boss. Ever since their girl’s night when Adam had joined them, Dottie hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him.
Sure, Katie was in love with the man, but she wasn’t going to do anything about it. Besides, Dottie didn’t want a permanent relationship the way Katie did. She just wanted a wild adventurous fling, and Adam Russo was the perfect man to give that to her.
Running a hand down her designer dress to smooth out any wrinkles that might dare be there, she took a deep breath and opened the door. Katie was absorbed in something on her computer screen as her fingers raced across the keyboard. Dottie gave a slight cough, announcing her presence. Startled, Katie jumped and swung her gaze in the direction of the door.
“Hi, sorry to interrupt your work, but I wanted to see if you wanted to have lunch with me.” Dottie nonchalantly made her way to the other door in the office, assuming it was Adam’s.
“He’s gone to lunch.”
Schooling her features to an innocent expression, Dottie turned to face Katie. “Who?”
“Mr. Russo. Don’t try to look like you weren’t going to check him out while you were here. It happens too often for me not to recognize the signs.” Katie started to clear her desk. “I’d love to go with you. Since you’re so interested why don’t you sneak a peek at his office while I finish up here?”
Sweet. Dottie didn’t need further urging. She opened the door and stepped in, then paused. She’d expected something more earthy and dark. Not this Hollywood scene, movie posters and director chairs. They weren’t even of the current era. The office had a feel of a roaring twenties production room. Not that Dottie had ever been to such a thing, but if she were to guess, this is what it would look like.
Dottie walked to the desk and started to ruffle through the papers. If he hadn’t wanted anyone to see something, he’d have put whatever was private in his desk. Then she spotted an interesting scrap. Picking it up, she was surprised to see what looked like a list of wifely qualities.
She felt a little qualm, wondering if Adam was ready to settle down. It was one thing to go out and have a fling with her friend’s boss, but quite another to actually go out with him if he had other things on his mind. Like marriage. Katie would be heartbroken. Reading the list over again, she’d have to think long and hard about pursing her idea of adventure. Katie called from her office.
Dottie put the list carefully back the way she had found it, not wanting him to notice anything amiss. She quietly shut the door behind her and joined Katie.
“Is there anywhere good to eat close by?”
“Depends on what you’re hungry for. Tell me, Dottie, other than trying to get a glimpse of Adam, what brings you to this part of the city?”
“I wanted to have lunch with my good friend. Isn’t that enough?”
* * * *
“Hey, looks like you just got back yourself. Did you have a good lunch?” Adam caught Katie in the process of hanging up her long cape as he walked into the office. How had he never seen past the black glasses? She wore the glasses she’d had at her apartment the evening of the footbaths. Yet they blended in with her face, whereas the others shouted “look at me!” Which one did, noticing nothing else.
“I had a nice lunch with my friend Dottie, Remember her?”
“If she was a petite brunette, then yes I do.”
“That’s correct. How was your lunch with Dad?”
“We got a lot accomplished.” He held up his briefcase, gave it a little shake, and wiggled a brow.
Katie couldn’t hold the chuckle in. “Good. I wanted to let you know that I’ll be taking Friday off. Unless you have something you need me to do.”
“Where are you off to?”
“It’s my mom’s annual trip north to Martha’s Vineyard. She usually goes with a bunch of her friends, you know, to get a jump on Christmas shopping and drink wine. Everyone had other commitments. She wanted me to go because she didn’t want to cancel.”
“Okay, shouldn’t be a problem. I’m sure we can get everything done before we both leave on Friday. I can check messages while I’m gone, since we’re just traveling down the coast I’m sure my cell phone will work from the schooner.”
“No, you aren’t. You’re on vacation this weekend. Don’t worry about anything. I’ll take care of it. Now go get your work done. I have a lot to do. In other words, get out of my office,” Katie said sternly, then placed her hands on her hips, gave him a smile, and winked.
“Okay, slave driver.”
Adam placed his briefcase on his desk and clicked the locks to open. He started to remove the papers he’d need to review before he moved forward with the acquisition. Glancing to the side, he caught sight of his list for his perfect wife. Picking the paper up, he read it over again.
It’s Katie—what are you going to do about it, Russo? “I’m not going to do anything, I’m going to put this stupid list in the garbage and forget I ever wrote it. I have no idea what I was thinking of,” Adam said aloud, hoping that when he heard the words, he’d actually believe them.
“Did you want something?” Katie said from the doorway.
Startled, Adam jumped and looked up guiltily as if he’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “How long have you been standing there?”
“I thought I heard you talking so I came in to see what you wanted.” She looked at him strangely.
“Oh, well, sorry about that. I was just talking to myself about the new company. You know, making a list of things I have to do.”
“Okay, well if you do need anything, just use the intercom, I can hear you better that way.”
Adam watched Katie turn to leave. He knew he’d been acting strangely all day, but he couldn’t help it. He was waging a battle with himself about the importance of keeping his distance from Katie. He wasn’t sure which side was winning, and he sure as hell was having trouble remembering what his reasons were.
The intercom beeped and Katie’s voice floated out, causing a little tingle to run down Adam’s spine. Good God, this has got to stop, Russo. But then, her words stopped the tingle before it could reach his toes.
“Adam, there are two detectives here that insist on seeing you.”
Martinez, Mary - Classic Murder: Mr. Romance (BookStrand Publishing Romance) Page 10