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Feeling trapped, she glared up at him.
“Don’t get so close, you could get the flu.”
“I’ll chance it,” he said and closed the short distance between them until his lips brushed hers.
Trace left the apartment building and plunged into the rain. He strode the two blocks to where he’d left his car, annoyed with himself for reacting so strongly to seeing Cath. She looked as pale as she had that morning. He was glad he’d thought to bring her something to eat. When a person felt that bad, they often didn’t feel like preparing meals.
For a moment he remembered the good times they’d shared. He’d enjoyed her company more than he had with anyone else in a long time.
When he’d met her, it had been months since he’d been in a relationship with a woman. Jessica had been pushing for marriage, and after the disaster of his early marriage, that institution was the last thing he wanted. He’d broken it off with her last winter and concentrated on work.
Until he met Cath.
Most women followed a similar pattern—date, have fun, begin to talk about commitment and long-term. It was at that point he always cut the relationships.
But he and Cath hadn’t reached that stage. In fact, she was the first one to ever ignore the possibility of a future together. Never once in the three or four weeks they’d dated had she even hinted. He’d been intrigued.
Now that he knew she was planning to move to Brussels at the beginning of the year it made sense.
He reached his car and climbed in, shaking some of the rain from his hair. Starting, he pulled out into traffic and headed home. He had a stack of files to review tonight, more interviews tomorrow. The thrill of the new job, the changes he planned, kept him keyed up.
Deerfield had told him about each of the managers, their strengths and weaknesses. He’d been glowing about Cath. Each word emphasized Trace’s decision not to date an employee.
But he missed her. He’d like to discuss company strategy, to find out more how she viewed the European market. To see if she still indulged herself with Ghiradelli chocolates and then did an extra ten minutes on the treadmill.
And, if he were honest with himself, he wanted more than a light brush of the lips.
In fact, he was surprised at how much he missed her. He hardly remembered Jessica. Before her he’d been involved with a woman named Margo. While his focus had always been on business and the push to succeed, he did like having a pretty companion to go to social events with.
With Cath it’d been different. He was still attracted to her. He and Cath had laughed a lot, he remembered that. For a little while he’d thought he’d found the perfect companion—someone to relax with, to share interests and entertainment. And someone who wouldn’t expect to end up married.
He should have known it was too good to last.
His rule was hard and fast. He had certain standards he adhered to and not dating a fellow employee was one—especially when she reported directly to him.
Still, she was leaving in a few weeks. Maybe they could work something out.
He shook his head, astonished he’d even give thought to such an idea. Business was business and pleasure was entirely separate. He planned to see it stayed that way.
Tonight he had a stack of files to review, tomorrow it would be back to business. Cath could take care of herself. She didn’t need him bringing soup, or calling to check on her. And he certainly didn’t need to be kissing her.
Cath entered the doctor’s office the next morning feeling as sick as she had the day before. The brief respite she’d found last night hadn’t lingered for long. As soon as Trace had left, she returned to bed and slept the night away.
She refused to think about Trace’s kiss. They were no longer involved. He had made that very clear. And she had her move to Brussels to look forward to. As soon as she was well, she needed to begin getting her things packed, decide what to take and what to store at her parents’ place and begin winding up her own position in the home office in preparation to her new posting in Europe.
“Miss Norris?” One of the nurses called her from the doorway.
She showed Cath into an exam room asking her how she felt. Cath told her she was there for anything that could mitigate the symptoms of flu.
“There’s not much,” the nurse said as she took Cath’s blood pressure. “Bed rest is about the best thing. Sometimes we can give medication that will ease the nausea and diarrhea to avoid dehydration. Do drink plenty of fluids.”
She noted the blood pressure reading on the chart and glanced over it.
“I see it’s been a while since you’ve been in to see the doctor.”
Cath nodded. “Normally I’m as healthy as an ox.”
She wished she felt healthy this morning. She longed to get back to bed.
