Campaign for Love

by Annabelle Stevens

  Suzanna was surprised when Candy kissed her goodbye and whispered, "Don't be afraid of your beauty, baby. It's wonderful while it lasts. And it won't last forever. Enjoy!"

  As they walked to the elevator, Suzy could feel Quentin's eyes boring into her, but he remained silent. When they were seated in a taxi once more, hip to hip, thigh to thigh, he said, "No wonder I couldn't keep my hands off you-or my mind, for that matter. Even though I couldn't see it, my body sensed it. Tell me why you've gone to all this trouble all this time to hide who you really are. Most women would kill for looks like yours."

  She didn't even try to deny his words. "I've already told you most of it. Being taken seriously for my talent in advertising, not wanting to have to sleep to the top. The rest was just that I was sick and tired of unwelcome male attention, of warding off passes, weary with saying, 'No thank you, I'm not interested.'

  "I wanted to make good in my field, and I knew I never would with my looks standing in my way. You'd be surprised at how many executives have their brains in their crotches."

  "Not all—"

  "No, but enough of them. I wonder, if I had looked like this at the time of the Brad Sherman incident, would you have been so sure he was stealing my ideas, and not vice versa? But no, I'm sorry, that wasn't fair of me. I shouldn't have said that. You're different."

  Quentin laughed uneasily. "Maybe not so different. In your case, I had your resume, I'd seen your work, and I was familiar with Brad's mediocrity. When I went over your references and saw the allusion to your not being taken seriously, I thought someone had made a mistake, until you smiled at me with your eyes that first day. I think I was lost at that very moment."

  "I guess you realize now that I did my best to disguise my face and figure. I wanted people to see my work, not my looks, for which I can claim no credit. I wanted them to notice my mind."

  They had pulled up in front of a small steak house not far from the office.

  "I forgot to ask, but would you join me for lunch? The food is quite good here."

  "I'd like it very much. They have a mixed grill I'm partial to."

  He paid off the cab driver as he said, "You enjoy eating, don't you?"

  "You noticed!"

  "'Yes, I did, but I've found that good cooks are usually good eaters. It doesn't seem to affect your figure, though."

  "No, it doesn't, but then, I jog a lot and work out at the ''Y'."

  "How about jogging with me some time?"

  "I'd love it. I'd feel a lot safer, especially in Central Park."

  The waiter had taken their order. As they sipped their vodka martinis, they discussed the startling developments of the day.

  "Tell me," Quentin asked Suzanna, "How did Candy happen to decide on you?"

  Suzanna colored slightly as she said, "She asked me to strip, then she whistled. But I don't think the idea occurred to her until Bruce said, 'I see you've found your Femme Fatale.'"

  Quentin frowned. "You mean to tell me you stripped in front of him?"

  "As a matter of fact, no. He didn't come in until I had the sarong on, and in any event, he's gay. But he spotted my looks and Candy agreed it was a good idea."

  "Glad to hear he is gay," Quentin muttered.

  She giggled. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you sounded jealous."

  "Lord! I do, don't I? I'm sorry. I certainly have no right."

  "Let's not fight. We'll order dessert instead."

  Suzanna ordered her favorite, a half cantaloupe full of vanilla ice cream.

  Quentin said, "That sounds good. I'll have the same. "

  Quentin attacked his with gusto also, and soon it was time to pay the tab.

  "I suppose it's about time to get back to the office," he said with a sigh.

  They chatted quietly together as they walked back the rest of the way, and Suzanna could not help but think how wonderful it was to spend time with someone who obviously admired her, but wasn't all over her like an octopus.

  Not that she would have minded in Quentin's case. But she could see he was on uncertain ground with her now that he had discovered her secret. She could not be sure if it was because he was angry with her deception, or merely confused at his feelings for her.

  After all, despite their mutual attraction, things could grow very complicated indeed in their working relationship if they gave in to their feelings.

  She sighed as she wondered why things always had to be so hard for her where the opposite sex was concerned. The one man she had ever really liked, and he just had to be her boss. It was so unfair.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  When they got back to Elder and Rubin, Sharon was at her desk in the outer office and looked up when Suzy and Quentin entered. Sharon's jaw dropped as she looked at Suzy in absolute stupefaction.

  Quentin kept right on walking into his office, but Suzanna stopped to say hello.

  "Suzanna!" Sharon finally exclaimed. "You look gorgeous! What did you do to yourself?"

  "I didn't do anything. We went to see the cosmetic client. They've been looking for an unknown, plain-to-average model so they could do a 'before' and 'after' campaign. Felix Morgan's assistant is Maxine Barr. She used to be a famous model several years ago."

  "I remember her!" said Sharon. "She called herself 'Candy' Barr."

  "Right," said Suzanna. "Anyway, she took some 'before' shots, and turned their make-up man loose on me. He did all this, including my hair, and then took 'after' shots. They want me to be their Femme Fatale. So since Mr. Pierce had no objections, and he feels that Elder and Rubin won't have any, I'm their new model."

  "That's marvelous!" enthused Sharon. "You're so lucky!"

  "Don't I know it. Especially since I would have had to go on location for the account with Mr. Pierce anyway. This way, the trip will be more interesting, and it will about double my salary, I would think."

  "And the work doesn't sound too challenging," Sharon added, with a touch of obvious envy.

  ''Well, I'd better get back to work. Maybe we can have lunch together tomorrow," Suzy offered, hoping people were not going to start treating her differently now that she had come out of her cocoon.

  "You bet," said Sharon. "I've missed your company."

  Suzanna had to try to catch up after being away all morning. She had work left from the day before, plus the day's accumulation.

  She became so engrossed she lost all track of time. Part of her mind was on the fact that it was time to see a doctor. She'd never used the pill or any birth control, but it was about time she started worrying about those things.

  The idea of being with Quentin on location was more than she could grasp. It was probably the worst idea of her life, longing for her boss, but she simply could not help it. They were so suited in every other way, maybe it was about time she learned what love was all about.

  Sharon had called in 'goodnight' some time before, and Suzy now up at the clock again for the first time in ages, and became aware that it was quite late.

  She didn't like to be in an office building alone at night, even though there was a security guard and a sign in and out desk.

  She put the finishing touches on the last layout, yawned, stretched and prepared to leave. It was six-thirty.

  As she got up to get her things, a sudden shadow in the doorway made her jump.

  It was Quentin.

  "I see you fell behind a bit today," he said casually.

  "Yes, I did. It's almost impossible to avoid it when you're out of the office that many hours."

  He continued on in, and walking to her desk, picked up the work she had just finished.

  "Great, as usual. Suzanna, you're a living wonder. "

  She was behind him looking over his shoulder when he turned and found her only a heartbeat away. He enveloped her hungrily as her arms reached out and held him in an impassioned embrace.

  She raised her lips, parting them to receive his torrid kiss. His lips were soft at first, then more and more demanding. Their tongues met and m
oved in a mating dance of their own.

  She pressed her body feverishly against the excited swelling she could feel growing against her. Her hands caressed his back and travelled the length of his spine until they reached his buttocks. She pulled him toward her with all her strength.

  He traced a path up her cheek with his tongue, licked her eyelids, tickled her lashes, then wandered to each ear in turn. He thrust the tip inside, tracing the shell-like contours until she arched herself against him and almost cried out.

  As she started to move her body unconsciously in a sensuous rhythm, arousing him even more, she ached for something she'd never known. She wanted to feel his naked body close to hers.

  She should have been prepared for what happened next, but she wasn't. It was a cruel shock when, with a show of more than superhuman willpower, he pushed her from him once more.

  "I'm sorry. It still isn't right. The timing is wrong, because if I made love to you now you'd think it's because of the way you look, a caterpillar into a butterfly. The place is all wrong too, my dear, because you deserve more than a quick and shoddy office intrigue."

  "Any time and place would be right for me with you, Quentin. I think, no, I'm sure, I'm falling for you. How could it be shoddy?"

  "You don't really know that you love me," he replied.

  "I know you make me feel more than I ever have in my life for a man."

  "Ah, yes, well, that might just be because your experience is so limited. I know I have no right to ask this, but when you saw your friend last, the one you've been close to for years, did he make love to you?"

  She stared at him. "Are you asking me if we had sex? Are you implying that if I were no longer a virgin you would be perfectly willing? A piece off a cut loaf would never be missed? Worse yet, do you think that once my virginity is gone I'll take on all comers? How far back in line would you like to be, Quentin, or do you think I should pass out numbers?"

  "Now I never said...."

  She stormed away from him to start gathering her things to leave. "You know what you are, Quentin? You're just a male tease. But I'll tell you something else. I know now that my number one will be for all time. I can't take sex lightly. I know it will be the most meaningful experience of my whole life.

  "Mr. Years has a name. It's Jerry. I kissed him, on our date, for the very first time. I heard no bells, the earth didn't move the way it does with you, but it was pleasant. I don't know what I'd have done if he'd pressed his advantage, but I certainly didn't feel empty and abandoned the way I do now that you've rejected me."

  "I never meant—"

  "You've left me with all my defenses down. You have my head completely in a spin every time you even look at me, let alone touch me. You get me all hot and bothered, then back off. Well, I'm tired of the dance. So enough is enough. I won't be this available again. You don't want me, then hands off. No more little office games."

  "I'm not playing—"

  She cut him off ruthlessly with a glare. "And one last thing. If you won't be first, you won't be anything, and you'll never know what you've missed. I have heard that lack of experience in a woman is no drawback when it comes to sex, since couples learn as they go. But if you have nothing to teach me, then just keep away from me. No more late night visits to the office, lunches, anything. Just steer clear. We have to work together, after all, and if you don't think I'm worth the risk, then you sure as heck aren't either."

  She headed for the door now, skirting past him.

  "No, don't touch me again. I'm going."

  She grabbed her coat and marched to the elevator.

  Quentin hurried along behind and caught up with her while she waited.

  "You really tell it like it is, don't you? I'm sorry, Suzanna, really. I'm just so confused. I mean it. But be fair. If I had made love to you, way down deep inside wouldn't you have thought it was because of the 'new' you?"

  She sighed, but avoided his earnest gaze. "Maybe. I'm not sure. "

  "Yet you know I've kissed you in the past, had a hard time resisting you then, and that was long before today. Look, the fact is, I've never had an office romance. You know it isn't politically correct. "And while I admire your candor about your, well, your virginity, I am not sure I can handle that at the minute. I mean, I want you to be completely sure. It's a big step. You're waited this long. Surely waiting a bit longer so we can both be sure would be for the best?"

  "So you're not rejecting me?" she asked softly.

  He shook his head vehemently. "Not in the long term, no. We just need to get to know each other better as people, not co-workers. And I don't want us rushing into anything because of our rampant feelings."

  "All right, I'm sorry. I had no right to chew you out like that."

  He patted her on the shoulder. "You had every right. I don't blame you for feeling hurt."

  "Thank you for acknowledging my feelings, even if you don't share them."

  "I do share them. That's the trouble. I feel them all too much. I just need us both to be sure."

  "I understand. It's hard, but I do."

  "Truce?"

  "For the moment."

  "Great. So let me just get my gear and I'll walk you out."

  She waited for him at the elevator bank, and they rode down together in silence. It wasn't a strained one, merely thoughtful, as they both replayed their volatile kiss, which still heated their cheeks despite the chill of the glass and chrome elevator.

  They walked through the building foyer together arm and arm, and once outside, he managed to hail a cab without any trouble.

  "I can tell you're a native New Yorker," she joked.

  "Yes, it does require a certain technique. Come on, I'll drop you off."

  "You don't have to."

  "I know I don't. I want to."

  All the way up town they simply held hands, and they stayed on safe ground by discussing accounts and the upcoming location trip to the Bahamas, which Suzanna said she was looking forward to enormously, since she had never been.

  Quentin told her that the date had been moved up so that they would have their commercials on the air and their ads in newspapers early in December to capitalize on Christmas shopping for a sales boom.

  Quentin saw her to her door and said goodnight, but before he left he turned back to her and said, "I'd like to ask you one favor."

  "What's that?" she asked.

  "I'd like you to be your real self in our two offices from now on. If you feel the need to keep up your disguise with the rest of the employees, and throw a tent over your ordinary clothes, that's all right too, but I want to see the real you from now on. "

  "I'd like that. It was what I had planned all along. Femme Fatale has messed up my schedule a bit. I'd figured to come out of my cocoon at the Christmas party anyway. Everyone would have thought I'd had myself beautified for the occasion."

  "Yes, that makes sense. The holidays aren't that far off. In the meantime, we will have had our sojourn in the Bahamas, and a lot of the credit will go to Femme Fatale."

  "I hadn't thought of that. But starting tomorrow, I'll be myself for you if you'll do something for me."

  "I'll try. What can I do for you?"

  "Stop teasing me. That means don't kiss me again unless it's leading somewhere."

  "That's quite a favor. But I'll do my best to keep my distance. "

  "Thank you. Goodnight."

  She held out her hand and he took it in a solemn handshake.

  Quentin looked troubled as he walked toward the cab for his ride uptown, but Suzy sighed and shrugged. They would both just have to be patient with each other.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Suzy's phone was ringing as she entered her apartment. It was an exuberant Elsa.

  "Suzy!" she gushed. "It's happened! Barry called, and we have a date for this Friday. I just hope we'll get along. We have a lot to learn about one another, but I'm sure he feels the same way. We're going to dinner, and that's about the best way to get acquainted."
<
br />   "That's right, the taxi ride, waiting to be served, drinks before and after, the drive home. You can get a lot of talking done. It's encouraging."

  "I think it means he likes me better than if he had invited me to the movies, where you can't talk at all."

  'I think you're right. He's an interesting talker and has a way of drawing people out. I believe he's ready for a serious relationship. You'll be good for one another."