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He was going to call but he didn’t have her number. Thought of calling her office but by the time he landed it was closed for the day. Not thinking straight, he’d just driven to her place. Truthfully, he had been thinking too often of her.
For the first time in years, he had been unable to focus on work because of a woman. Normally, he enjoyed a business trip. Had been known to take a few extra days just to appreciate the area, but this time all he could think about was getting back to Atlanta so he could see Cathie.
The need to touch her gnawed at him, especially at night. Even though he had sworn off women. Didn’t trust them. Still now all he wanted to do was convince Cathie they should share the weekend. Maybe he could get this, whatever it was, out of his system. This instant connection both in and out of bed between him and Cathie was too great for him to ignore.
Their night together had been the hottest night of his life. He could still see every detail of the look on her face when he’d had her in the kitchen. More than once he’d had to take a cold shower. They were certainly sexually compatible, but he enjoyed their conversations as well. She’d challenged him. And to find a woman that enjoyed baseball and Shakespeare in the same package was unusual. Most of all, he’d liked sharing a morning meal with her. Cathie was a rare find in his world. One he wasn’t ready to give up yet.
Still, he was a little baffled by her parting statement that she had been glad to meet him. They had already met so why would she say something like that? Maybe she was just tongue-tied.
He pushed the doorbell again.
The door opened. Cathie stood there in a bath robe with astonishment written all over her face. Heaven was being kind to him. Rick didn’t give her time to say a word. He stepped inside, dropped his bag, kicked the door shut and took possession of her mouth.
Breaking away he breathed, “I hope you’re not mad at me. I just got back to town and couldn’t stay away.”
“We had an agreement—”
“We’ll make a new one.”
His mouth came down onto hers before she could protest. She hesitated a moment before her arms came around his neck and she kissed him back.
He chuckled. “Bedroom?”
She waved her hand toward the hallway as her lips found his again.
Mouths still locked, Rick grabbed her around the waist and lifted her feet off the floor. He continued down the hall until he came to an open door. Entering, he continued to hold her until they reached the bed. “I’ve been imagining this for so long I can hardly believe I’m here.”
Her hand brushed over his bewhiskered cheek. “I missed you too.”
Pulling at her robe belt, he watched as it opened. “I appreciate you making this convenient for me.”
She laughed. “I was getting into the shower.”
He couldn’t believe his hands shook as he pushed the robe from her shoulders. “Whatever the reason, I’m glad.” He cupped her breasts before placing a kiss on her neck. “You’re more breathtaking than I remember.”
She fell back on the bed. “Come here and tell me more.”
Rick woke up the next morning to find himself alone in a far too small and far too feminine bed. He ran his hand over the spot where Cathie should have been. It was still warm. There was something reassuring about that. Sounds came from the bathroom. He put his hands behind his head and listened. It was nice to have someone to greet in the morning. For so long he’d made a point of never staying overnight with a woman. After Lauren, he didn’t want his dates to get the idea he was available for the long haul.
The bathroom door opened and Cathie came out wearing her robe.
He grinned. “Now that’s a sight I like first thing in the morning.”
She gave him a perplexed look. “A woman with her make-up on?”
Cathie was wearing so little he could hardly tell she had it on. Far less than he’d seen her wearing at work. “No, a woman in a robe, coming my way.”
She smiled. “I wish I was but I’m headed to my uh…extra closet for something to wear.”
“Why don’t you come over here and join me?” He reached out a hand.
She looked longingly at him. He was on the verge of jumping out of bed and grabbing her when she said, “I wished I could, but I have to be at work in half an hour.”
“I know your boss. I’ll call him and get you the day off.” Rick reached for his phone.
“No, no.” She shook her head. “Please don’t do that. I have work I need to see about. I have to go.” Her voice was panicky. She left the room and he climbed out of bed.
They needed to talk. Last night they had communicated but with few words.
Gathering his clothes, Rick headed for the bathroom. Afterwards he found her in the kitchen dressed in a simple blouse and pants. The only flashy thing she wore were bright flats on her feet. Even the large jewelry he was accustomed to seeing was missing. He liked Cathie’s new, more classic look.
Stepping up behind her, he nuzzled her neck. She leaned into him then turned and kissed him.
When he would have taken the kiss deeper she pushed away and shook her head. “If I’m not careful you’ll make me late.”
“What I’d like to do is take you back to bed but since you won’t let me do that, I’ll settle for answers to a couple of quick questions.” He had her attention. “I need a favor. I’m meeting Herbert next Monday at the lot. He wants me to bring you.”
“What can I do?”
“He seems to think you have some good ideas. I do too. I’d really appreciate it if you would.” Rick gave her an earnest look. This deal was important. If Cathie gave him an edge, he wanted to take it.
“Okay, if you really think I can help. I can’t be there until after three-thirty.”
Maybe things were starting to go his way. “Great. I’ll set the meeting up for four. Do I need to pick you up at the office?”
“I’ll just meet you there.” He didn’t understand why she didn’t want him at the office but he would accept it for now. Surely, she wasn’t worried about Ryan knowing about them? Rick had told him he was taking her to the gala. “Okay, if that’s the way you want it.”
She moved to place her coffee cup in the sink.
“One more thing.” He waited until she looked at him. “Since you’re stuck with me until after Monday afternoon what do you think about us spending this weekend together? I won’t say anything to Ryan. I know you don’t want him to think you’re dating out of the client pool. If we make it for just the weekend then it won’t be dating. Just a fling. How about having some fun?”
Carrie liked his brand of fun too well. Heavens, her little adventure was spiraling out of control. It started as a simple evening out and had escalated to a weekend away. She shouldn’t have agreed but she wanted to go. Wanted more time with Rick. She wasn’t going to let it go any further.
Loneliness had been heavy during the last two days. In an odd way, she’d been lost without him. So much so she’d wandered around the apartment not knowing what to do with herself. The baseball game hadn’t even held her interest. The cloud over her was so obvious her best friend at work had asked if everything was all right. She’d thrown all that off when she’d seen Rick’s handsome face through the peephole.
She’d already promised to meet with him and Herbert. She and Rick could spend the weekend together then she’d meet him on Monday afternoon and they would be done. Part as friends with a great time between them. Why shouldn’t she?
Because he thought she was her sister! This insanity had to stop.
It was starting to drain her. She’d woken with a start in the middle of night. What about the pictures of her and Cathie that were around the apartment? She hadn’t expected Rick to turn up. When he picked her up for the gala she’d made sure he’d not come in too far. But there were snapshots of her and Cathie in the bedroom, living room and on the refrigerator. Untangling her limbs from the warm man sleeping next to her, she’d quietly gone around the apartment hiding pic
tures.
This would end after Monday. Or she would have to tell him. But first she had to okay it with Cathie.
She hadn’t called yet, even after Carrie had left her several messages. Where was she? She should have been home by now. When she did call, Carrie was going to make it clear she was telling Rick and Cathie could handle the fall out. She was tired of keeping up the deception.
“Okay. But that’s as far as it can go. You’re on your own with Mr. Herbert after Monday afternoon.”
“Agreed.” Rick gave her a kiss that had her thinking of calling in sick.
They walked out to their cars together.
He opened her car door for her. “I’m going to have to move my calendar around to accommodate Herbert’s meeting which means I’m going to have to leave this evening to look at some property down near the south Georgia line. I’ll be back to pick you up here at five on Friday. We’re going to a cookout with some friends of mine then somewhere special. Pack a small bag.” He gave her a wolfish grin. “You won’t need much.”
