by Ginna Gray
This time, when he ended the kiss, he pulled her from her chair, retrieved her purse from the bottom desk drawer and stuffed it into her hand. "Why don't you go on home? I'll pick you up at seven."
"All right," she said in a dazed voice, and slipped her arms into her coat when he held it out for her. "I'll see you then."
As she turned to leave, her gaze encountered Jack, and a rush of hot color flooded her face. Dear Lord, she had forgotten all about him. What in heaven's name had prompted Dirk to kiss her like that in full view of his friend? She bit her lower lip and glanced from one man to the other. So much for discretion.
Belatedly she realized that she hadn't answered Jack's request for a date. The instant she saw Dirk, everything else had flown right out of her mind. "Oh, Jack … about tonight … I'm so sorry. I didn't mean… That is…" Embarrassed beyond words, she wrung her hands and shifted from one foot to the other, not quite able to meet Jack's eyes."
"Hey, don't worry about it."
"But—"
"It's okay, Alissa. Really." He cut a look at Dirk. "I know how persuasive this damned ruffian can be. Forget I asked."
"Are you sure? You're not angry?"
"With you? Naw. Don't give the matter another thought. We'll make it some other time."
She smiled wanly as Dirk made a restive movement beside her. "Well, in that case, I, uh … I'll say goodnight."
Jack twisted around on her desk so that he could watch her walk out. Dirk's eyes narrowed. He didn't like the way Jack was looking at her, like a wine connoisseur anticipating a delectable vintage he was about to sample. His jaw hardened, and a slow curl of anger began in his stomach.
"Forget it, Jack. Alissa is off-limits to you." He issued the command in a flat warning tone, and every nerve in his body braced to back it up.
Jack merely chuckled. Folding his arms over his chest, he studied Dirk, his head tipped to one side, and after a moment he asked, in a pleasant but curious voice, "Would you mind telling me just what the hell you think you're doing?"
Dirk's expression turned guarded. "What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb with me, pal. I'm talking about Alissa. It's obvious there's something going on between the two of you. She's a special lady, Dirk. I don't want to see her hurt.
"Neither do I. So what's your point?"
"My point is, with you it's inevitable. Alissa needs—and deserves—a whole hell of a lot more from a man than you're willing to give. Face it, you have nothing to offer her."
"Oh, and I suppose you do?"
"You might be surprised."
"Yeah, right," Dirk snorted. "This from the playboy of the western world. You know what I think? You're jealous because I beat you to her."
"Damned right I am. But we're not talking about me. In any case, there's no danger of me hurting Alissa. She doesn't look at me with stars in her eyes the way she does you."
The comment hit home, and Dirk winced as guilt sliced through him. "Alissa's an adult," he snapped back defensively. "She's capable of making her own decisions."
That earned him another long look from his friend. "True enough … provided she has all the facts."
"Meaning?"
"Have you told her you aren't interested in marriage? You've always been a stand-up guy with the women you dated, letting them know up front that you weren't offering happy-ever-after. Have you given Alissa that little speech yet?"
Dirk ground his teeth and glared at his friend. "Go to hell, Hennesey."
"Ah … I thought so."
Jack shook his head. "In the past, you've always stayed away from women like Alissa. It was a hell of a good policy. I just wish, for her sake, that you'd stuck with it."
Abandoning his casual seat on the edge of the desk, he stood up and ambled toward the door.
"Jack."
He stopped in the doorway and looked back. "Yeah?" Dirk watched his friend for several seconds. "Just so we're clear … I don't want to find you flirting with Alissa again. Stay away from her. Got it?"
Jack chuckled. "Oh, I hear you, old buddy, but I'm afraid I can't oblige. The lady's not wearing your ring. Until she is—and we both know that's not going to happen—you'll just have to take your chances like the rest of us." He winked and grinned. "See you, pal."
As Alissa had known would happen, the news that she was dating Dirk was soon the talk of the office. Her friends wasted no time in confronting her about it.
"Dirk! Good grief, Alissa! Have you completely lost your mind?"
"Dirk? You mean Dirk Matheson?"
"How many men named Dirk do you know? Of course Dirk Matheson!" Margo snapped impatiently at Annie before her gaze switched back to Alissa with concern. "How long has this been going on? Why didn't you tell us?"
"Why didn't someone tell me?" Annie wailed. No one paid any attention to her. "I'm always the last to know everything."
Confusion and hurt swirled through Alissa. She had expected her friends to be happy for her, but as she looked around the table, their faces held only alarm and dismay.
"Not long. And I didn't mention it because we're trying to be discreet. Dirk and I would prefer not to provide grist for the office gossip mill."
"Dirk and I?" Jolene groaned. "Oh, dear, I don't like the sound of that."
"Well, I wish you had told us. Maybe we could have talked some sense into you before you got in too deep, but I can see by that sappy look on your face that it's too late for that."
"You see? Didn't I tell all of you that there was a lot more to that business at the Christmas party than just a little harmless payback on Mr. Matheson's part?" Annie demanded in a self-righteous tone. "I warned you that something serious was going on, but as usual, no one ever listens to me."
"That's because you're such a starry-eyed romantic," Dorothy snapped. "You see a budding romance whenever two people exchange a good-morning at the watercooler."
"But … I don't understand. I thought you would all be pleased. You urged me to take advantage of my position to attract Dirk's attention."
"Good heavens, Alissa, we were kidding around! It never occurred to us that you would actually do it. We're your friends. Did you really think we would want you to get mixed up with a man like Dirk? That would be like throwing a lamb into the lion's den."
Alissa stiffened, but Margo laid her hand on her arm. "Jolene's right, honey. Dirk Matheson is a fascinating man, but he's way out of your league. Look, we're your friends. The last thing we want is to see you get hurt. And believe me, that's all that could possibly come of this. Dirk is a forty-year-old bachelor. He isn't about to offer marriage. You have to know that."
The others murmured agreement—all except Dorothy.
She pursed her lips as a frown puckered her brow. "Well, now … I don't know about that," she said slowly. "I've heard that the reason Mr. Battle is dragging his feet about retiring is that he would prefer his successor be a married man. The talk going around is that he's not pleased that Dirk has remained single and he's having second thoughts about turning the reins over to him. Everybody knows how ambitious Dirk is," she added, casting a meaningful look around the table.
Annie sucked in her breath. "You mean … you think he'd actually get married just to get that promotion?"
"I wouldn't rule out the possibility."
"That's right," Margo agreed. "Dirk has had his eye on the presidency ever since he came to work here. I can't see him letting it slip through his fingers now. If it takes a wife to get him the job, I'm sure he'll find a suitable one."
"Yeah." Jolene nodded. "And who better than our little Alissa? Everyone knows how fond Mr. Battle and his wife are of her."
Alissa's gaze darted from one friend to the next, her face stricken. "You think that's why Dirk is seeing me, don't you? That he's merely using me."
"Oh, I'm sure that's not the only reason. You're a beautiful woman. He'd have to be blind not to find you attractive," Margo quickly placated. "But let's face it, Alissa. Until recently, in all the year
s you've known Dirk, he's never given you a second look."
Alissa didn't want to believe that Dirk would do such a despicable thing, but the conversation continued to weigh on her mind throughout the afternoon.
In addition, there was Dirk's strange mood. For the past four days, ever since he returned from California, he had been distracted and quiet, as though something were troubling him, though he denied it when she asked.
Alissa was so upset she was queasy and could barely concentrate.
Luckily, Dirk was out of the office with a client that afternoon, but her boss noticed her distraction.
"Are you all right, Mrs. Kirkpatrick?"
"What? Oh. No, I'm fine, sir. I, uh … I just have a personal problem."
"Are you sure? You look a little pale. Maybe you should take the rest of the day off. Go home and get some rest."
"No, that won't be neces—" She paused, reconsidering. It would be a relief to get away, somewhere quiet and peaceful where she could think things through in private. Immediately she thought of her family's farm.
Alissa smiled wanly at her boss. "Actually, I think I will go home after all. I realize this is short notice, but since this is the holiday season and we're not terribly busy, if you don't mind, Mr. Battle, I'd like to take a couple of weeks of vacation."
Dirk was surprised when he walked into Alissa's office that afternoon and found it empty. Her computer monitor was covered, and everything on her desk was neat as a pin, the way she left it each night. He frowned and checked his watch. It was only four. It wasn't like her to leave early.
At that moment, Henry emerged from his office, wearing an overcoat and carrying his briefcase.
"Dirk, my boy. I didn't expect to see you back today. I was just on my way out. Got that business cleared up fast, did you. Good. Good."
"Where's Alissa?" Dirk asked, ignoring Henry's ramblings.
"Alissa? Oh, you mean Mrs. Kirkpatrick. She went home early. Why do you ask?"
"Went home? Why? What's wrong? Is she ill?"
"She said not, although she was a little peaked. I believe she was upset about something."
"Upset? Did she say about what?"
"No. But then, I didn't pry. She asked for a couple of weeks off, and I gave it to her. We're never that busy around the holidays."
"A couple of weeks!"
Henry cocked his head to one side and eyed him thoughtfully. "So. What I hear is true, then."
"What have you heard?" Dirk replied irritably. Dammit, he wanted to find out what was going on with Alissa. He didn't have time to stand around shooting the breeze with Henry.
"That you've started a relationship with my secretary."
Dirk stilled, and his face tightened imperceptibly. "We've been seeing one another, yes," he replied, with a challenging edge to his voice. "Do you disapprove?"
"Well, now, I wouldn't put it quite that way. I do have some concerns, however."
"Such as?"
Henry studied him. "I like and respect you, Dirk. You know that. But … well … the truth is, your relationships with women never seem to last very long. I'm quite fond of Mrs. Kirkpatrick. She's been through a lot in the last year or so, and I wouldn't want to see her suffer any more heartache."
Dirk's jaw tightened. "Are you telling me to stop seeing her?"
"No. No, of course not. I would never presume to do such a thing."
"Then what are you saying?"
"Well, I suppose…" A wry grimace twisted Henry's mouth. "As old-fashioned as this must seem—I'm asking what your intentions are toward Alissa."
"I'm going to marry her."
It was a toss-up who was more surprised.
Dirk had not intended to say any such thing; the words had just come pouring out of his mouth of their own accord. However, as soon as they had, he knew that marriage to Alissa was what he wanted.
"Marry her? Are you serious?"
"Yes. If she'll have me."
"Well, that's great. Just great. I can't tell you how pleased I am. I must confess, I've been a bit concerned that you've remained a bachelor so long, but now I'm glad that you did. A woman like Mrs. Kirkpatrick is worth waiting for." Beaming, Henry slung his arm over Dirk's shoulder as they walked out of the office. "Why don't you come home with me, and we'll break the news to my wife and have a celebratory drink?"
"If you don't mind, I'll take a rain check. I probably should pop the question before I start making announcements. Anyway, I want to find out what's bothering Alissa."
Henry laughed and thumped him on the back. "Of course. What was I thinking? You go see after your lady. But just remember, Francine and I expect an invitation to the wedding."
When the two men parted in the parking garage, Dirk sat in his car for several minutes, still dazed by how quickly he had made the most momentous decision of his life.
Or had he really made it so quickly?
It had irritated the hell out of him when he returned from the West Coast the day before and found Jack flirting with Alissa.
He had been exercising extreme patience with her, something that was excruciatingly difficult for him, but it had been worth it to have her melt in his arms.
On the surface, Alissa was as serene as nun at prayers, but he had seen her face glowing with pleasure, felt her trembling with need. He had discovered that beneath that calm surface was a warm, sensuous woman, and if any man was going to reap the benefits of all that fiery passion, it was damned well going to be him.
However, Jack's barbs had hit their mark, reminding him of what he'd known from the first but refused to face. Alissa was not a woman whom he could bed casually. Nor could he let her go. All week the problem had prodded his conscience like spurs.
Now he realized that on some subconscious level he had realized that night that he wanted to marry her. Actually, if the truth were known, that was probably what he had intended from the beginning.
And why not? She was perfect for him. He could never consider becoming a parent, but with Alissa that wasn't an issue. Which meant that with her he could at least enjoy the pleasure of marriage.
* * *
Chapter 6
« ^ »
Alissa had just finished packing and was about to take her suitcase to her car when the doorbell rang.
She sighed and set the case down in the utility room, which connected the kitchen to the garage, and went to answer the summons. It was only a little after three. It was probably the paperboy collecting for the month, she thought as she headed for the front door.
A look through the peephole made her gasp and step back. Dirk! What was he doing there? Alissa pressed her fist against her abdomen and caught her bottom lip between her teeth.
She didn't want to talk to him. When she was around Dirk, all her common sense seemed to go right out the window. She desperately needed to think things through, to go someplace where she could reach a decision without Dirk's distracting presence.
For a moment, she was tempted to ignore him and pretend she wasn't home, but, knowing his tenacity and thoroughness, she quickly discarded that idea. He would probably check the garage for her car, then camp on her doorstep and knock until she opened the door.
She rubbed her forehead and sighed. She wasn't ready for this scene but, like it or not, it appeared she had no choice. Drawing a deep breath, she reached for the doorknob.
An impatient scowl darkened his face and his pale eyes pierced her like lasers, but she pretended not to notice. "Hello, Dirk. What are you doing here?"
"More to the point, what are you?" he replied as his gaze ran over her. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, of course. I'm fine."
She had opened the door only a short way, and she tried to unobtrusively block the opening, but she should have realized she couldn't keep Dirk out. Before she knew what had happened, he'd taken the door from her hand, stepped around her into the foyer as though he had every right to be there and closed the door behind him.
"Henry said you were
upset."
"No… That is … I have something on my mind, is all."
"I see." His eyes narrowed on her face. "Why don't you tell me about it over coffee?"
"No, Dirk, really, I'd rather not," she protested, but he was already steering her down the hall toward the kitchen. "It's … it's a personal matter."
"Too personal to tell me? I thought we had gotten closer than that. What's the matter, don't you trust me?" In the kitchen, he released her and headed for the coffeepot. He had been here so often in the past weeks, he was as at home in her kitchen now as she.
"It's not that." But it was, she realized guiltily as a blush spread over her face. She wanted to trust Dirk. She wanted that desperately. She loved him. But after what she'd heard, she was confused, unable to dismiss the doubts that came creeping in.
It all fit—his sudden interest after years of treating her as though she were invisible, the intensity of his pursuit, his reasons for choosing her. She stood in the middle of the floor, where he'd left her, and watched him helplessly, not knowing what to say.
He looked at her over his shoulder and studied her red face for several seconds. "Alissa, don't you know by now that if you're upset I want to help?"
He filled the glass carafe, but when he turned to pour the water into the coffeemaker he froze, his gaze fixed on the suitcase sitting just inside the utility room.
Slowly, he turned his head and looked at her. "Going somewhere?" he asked, in a purring rumble that did not mask his anger.
Alissa squirmed and twisted her hands together. "Actu—" Her voice cracked, and she stopped to clear her throat. "Actually … I was just about to leave when you arrived. I'm going to my sister's. She and her husband, Will, farm our parents' old place and live in the house where she and I and our brothers grew up. It's a tradition in our family to gather there for the holidays."
Their older brother, Joe, had bought the adjacent farm before their father died, and he and his wife, Dolores, and their four rambunctious children were sure to be there. The only one who did not always make it home was Tyler. He was a fighter pilot in the navy, but if he could possibly get leave, he and his family would be there, too.