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“Where are you?”
Nash walked around and peeked under the desk to find her crouched beneath. “Right here.”
“Oh.” She hung up the phone. “What took you so long? I really think they’re going to kill each other.”
“Is that why you’re hiding under the desk?”
“Of course not. I’m hiding from Jason.”
Nash really didn’t have time for this, but he couldn’t help asking. “Why would you be hiding from your fiancé? I thought he was the one hiding from you.”
She sighed. “And I should’ve left things that way. But when those old people were passing out magic brownies, I thought it would be a good way to get Jason to loosen up. I just didn’t realize that once he discovered the delights of Kelly Wang, there would be no going back. The man is insatiable. After three times on Saturday night, he went for a record six on Sunday. I know if he sees me, the poor man won’t be able to control himself. And I really don’t want to get fired for sex on the desk.”
Since there was no good reply to that without crossing way too many sexual discrimination clauses, Nash chose to move on. “All right then, so where are Deirdre and Samuel?”
“In the design studio. But be warned, it’s not pretty. She’s locked all the designers out.”
“Don’t you have a key to the door?”
Kelly fished in her pocket and then held out a key. “I don’t get paid enough to go into a war zone.”
As it turned out, Kelly wasn’t too far off the mark. Nash opened the door of the design studio to find what looked like a battlefield. Dress form mannequins were knocked over, and bolts of material, ribbon, tape measures, and other sewing items cluttered the floor. Amid the chaos, Deirdre Beaumont stood like a woman on the warpath. Instead of being perfectly coiffed, she wore mismatched sweats, her hair was wild, and her face was devoid of makeup. But Nash wasn’t concerned with her appearance as much as the pair of scissors she held in her hand.
“Are you saying, you sick bastard,” she yelled, “that the only way I could get you in bed is by slipping a roofie in your drink?”
Samuel peeked out from the bolt of purple satin he held like a shield. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. And exactly what happened. Why else would I have sex with a spoiled gold digger?”
Deirdre lifted the scissors and took aim, and Nash might’ve stopped her if he hadn’t been so shocked by what he’d just learned. Samuel and Deirdre had sex? What happened to Doug? Nash was still trying to figure things out when the scissors when sailing. Fortunately, Samuel had quick reflexes. He ducked behind the bolt of material just as the scissors stuck in the purple satin with surprising precision.
Samuel peeked out and stared at the embedded scissors. “Why, you little minx.” He dropped the bolt and headed toward her with fire in his eyes. “I should take you over my knee for that.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” Deirdre backed up.
“Why? Because I’m gay? Wasn’t that the rumor you spread about me?”
Deirdre moved around a table. “People wouldn’t believe it if you dated women instead of holing up in your office.”
“You know why I don’t date, Dee Dee,” he said as he followed her around the table.
Dee Dee? Nash was slowly but surely putting the pieces together. And if he hadn’t been so distracted by Eden, he might’ve put them together sooner. Everything made sense now. Deidre and Samuel’s dislike for each other had been nothing but a ruse to hide their true feelings. And those feelings seemed to run pretty deep.
Deirdre stopped backing up. “How would I know anything about you, Sammy, when you stopped talking to me? When you treated me like I didn’t exist.”
“And what was I supposed to do? Show my true feelings?” Samuel slammed his fist down on the table. “You were married!”
“Well, I’m not now!”
“You’re right.” Samuel grabbed her arm and pulled her over to a chair. “Except now you’re just a spoiled brat who has become a pain in my ass.” He sat down and pulled her over his lap. But before he could do more than lift his hand, Nash figured it was time to intervene.
“Good morning.” He smiled brightly as he strolled in. “Are you thinking of adding some S and M designs to the new collection, Samuel?”
Samuel lowered his hand and looked embarrassed while Deirdre continued her rant as she got up from his lap. “This man,” she pointed a finger, “is a bully and a pervert, and I demand restitution.”
“Of course, it always boils down to money with you,” Samuel said snidely.
“Who said anything about money? I want your resignation.”
“What?” Samuel came out of the chair.
