Compromising Positions (An Erotic Romance Novel) (13 page)

“What do you think?” He kissed her nose and closed eyelids.

“I think…” Correction—I know. “I’m thinking I might be falling—“

A cell phone rang. Somewhere in the living room. “Damn it!”

Gabe jumped up, leaving her lying on the rumpled bed alone.

Bewildered and disappointed, she looked up. “What is it?”

He dashed out, and she listened to his distant voice. When he didn’t return in a moment, she donned her robe and went to find him.

He ended the call as she entered the room. “I have to leave.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Damn it! I’m sorry. I can’t tell you. Not now. I’ve got to go, but I’ll call you later, okay?” He bent over and found his underwear, then his pants. Those on, he slid his arms into his wrinkled shirt and slipped on his socks and shoes.

“But what about my car?”

“I’ll call you later.”

“But—“ She stopped herself. Whatever the emergency was, it had to be important. He was rushing around like a man who’d been caught by his wife… No way! She wouldn’t finish that thought. “Is it work?” she asked.

He gave her a quick hug and a peck on the lips then headed for the door. “I know this looks bad, but please trust me. I have to go. Now.”

A chill slid up her spine. She hugged herself. “Okay.”

And then he was gone.

What was going on?

Sometimes the least likely prospect makes the most sense.

“Ryan, what the hell are you trying to do to me?” Duncan stood cross-armed, cross-legged, cross-every-thing.

“Nothing at the moment. Why?”

He charged at Gabe like a pissed off rhino as soon as the office door was shut. “You may be the best marketing guy in town, but that won’t stop me from firing you, especially if I have to choose between your ass and mine.” He slammed his fist against the door behind Gabe’s head.

“Do what you have to, but please, don’t fire Fate.”

“I’m going to fire both your asses. What kind of idiot do you take me for? I told you to knock off this ridiculous chase and do your job.”

“I did.”

“Bullshit! Get your act together, Ryan. No pussy is worth your career.”

“This one is.”

“Damn it!” He slugged the door again. “How am I going to get this through your thick skull? I’m done with this game. Got it? Do your job. She’s done, as of today.”

“No, please.” He’d pushed too hard. Duncan had no reason to play along. “I know I’ve taken advantage of our friendship, and I shouldn’t have. But, I’m begging you. Don’t fire her now. She’s trying to get a mortgage. She needs the job. Fire me. You know she’ll do the work, won’t be distracted if I’m gone.”

“You’re the best—correction, you were the best.”

“Not if I’m not doing the job.”

Duncan scrubbed his face with his palms. “You’re putting me in a real shitty position here, Ryan. I don’t like this package deal you’re offering.”

“She needs some time. That’s all I’m asking for. I don’t care how you do it. Demote me. I’ll work for her.”

“That’s stupid.”

“But it’ll get the brass off your back, right?”

“Not entirely. Alexa went over my head, thanks to her personal…affiliations…with Bradford. She told them you admitted your trip out of the office was for personal reasons.”

“Bitch! I never said that. I told her we were checking out the competition. I don’t know where she got that other idea.”

“You have anything to prove she’s lying?”

“No.”

“Now you see where I’m at.” Duncan walked around his desk and sat. “Come up with something, by tomorrow morning, or both you and Doherty will be standing in the unemployment line. You have to see I’m being more than fair about this. But I’m done being jerked around. I have three ex-wives to support and a car payment to make. I can’t be out a job. Damn lawyers’ll be knocking down my door in a week.”

“Okay. I’m sorry. I never meant to put your job at risk. I’ll give you a report tomorrow, and I’ll buckle down. The old Gabe Ryan will be in the office tomorrow.”

“That’s what I want to hear! Now, about Doherty—“

“Don’t fire her. Not yet. She needs this job. I’ll help her.”

“I can’t keep her. I’ll demote her.”

“Not yet. Give her another week.” He rested his hands on Duncan’s desk and looked him in the eye. “Please.”

“What is with you and that woman anyway? She’s cute all right, but why would you throw your career away for her? What’s so special about her?”

“What isn’t special about her? This is the woman I’ve loved for years. Have you ever been in love with a goddess? Someone you can’t believe would ever love you back? She’s a perfect diamond, and I’m clay. For years I didn’t know how to talk or act around her. I knew what she saw when she looked at me. How could I change that? How could she learn to love clay?”

“I’ve never seen you act like this.”

“She’s the one.”

“There’s no such thing. I’ve been married three times. If anyone would know, it’d be me. She’ll change, you know that don’t you? The minute you put a rock on her finger, she’ll blow up like a balloon and turn into a cold bitch that won’t spread her legs without a crowbar.”

“Not Fate. I know she won’t.”

“You’re an idiot.” Duncan shook his head. “I never thought you were so stupid.”

“Stupid, happy, what’s the difference?” Gabe opened the door. “Like I said, I’ll have that report on your desk tomorrow. And I promise to come through. Thanks!” He left before Duncan had a chance to reconsider.

Whew! He’d nearly lost that battle.

In fact, he couldn’t call it much of a victory. He’d maybe bought a few days, if he could keep his end of the bargain.

And how the hell would he keep his mind on work with Fate Doherty in the same room? Shit! It was his turn to rub his face with his palms. How? All she had to do was sit there, silent, and she’d be a distraction.

He glanced around the front office, a collection of cubicles running in rows up and down the open space. The telemarketers used those. Cramped, with only a phone and a cheat sheet pinned to the wall, they were a miserable place to work.

Perfect.

Grateful the telemarketers had been laid off for the next two weeks, he found one in the back corner. And as he left the office, he prepared the speech he’d give Fate. He couldn’t tell her too much, or she’d think he was still the immature, manipulative child he was years ago…and probably was to this day.

After all, he was not just risking his career anymore. He was also putting Duncan’s and Fate’s at risk too.

There was no option. He had to make it work.

*****

Fate looked at the clock again. Almost eight.

He didn’t call last night. He hadn’t called yet this morning. How would she get to work?

What was going on?

She lifted the phone and flopped open the phone book. It would have to be a cab. She didn’t dare wait to see if he would show up.

After placing the order, she hung up, gathered her things, and sat on the couch.

Something was very wrong. That familiar dark mood settled over her. It matched the ugly weather outside, gray, chilly.

But then his car pulled into her driveway, and her heart jumped. He’d come. He hadn’t forgotten. Would he explain last night to her?

She didn’t wait for him to knock. Instead, she cancelled the cab and dashed outside. He opened the passenger side door and she sat, waiting until he was in the driver’s seat before speaking, “I wasn’t sure you were coming.”

“I had some important things to deal with last night.” He shifted the car into reverse and backed out of the driveway. “I’m sorry I didn’t call.” He looked at her as he shifted into drive. “I know I said I would, and you have every right to be pissed.”

Donning her “everything’s good” mask, even though her stomach weighed at least a ton, she smiled. “I’m not pissed. But I’d like to know what’s going on. Can you tell me?”

“Alexa got us into some trouble yesterday, filling Bradford’s head with a bunch of bullshit. I had to straighten it out.”

“Oh, no.” She saw the pink slip coming…They were going to fire both her and Gabe. Her heavy-as-lead stomach flamed. “Why would she do that?”

“Because she’s a bitch.” He glanced at her then reached out and squeezed her shoulder. “I have the situation under control. I wrote up a report to prove she’s lying. But I have to move my office. I can’t work with you anymore.”

“Why?” She couldn’t believe it. She was going to miss him. Her office would be so empty.

“Again, to prove she’s lying. We’ll work over the phone. I’ll be in a cubicle out front.”

“Okay.” She nodded, hoping she appeared outwardly agreeable. Inside, she was in turmoil. She believed him, sort of. There was that nagging doubt. Why would Alexa do such a spiteful thing? She had to have a reason.

Jealousy? That made sense. Although two years was a long time to cling to a dead relationship…unless it hadn’t been two years ago.

“Anyway. We’ll probably get a lot more done this way. You know I can’t concentrate when I’m near you.” He glanced at her, his gaze hot.

She swallowed. “It is hard.”

“That’s the truth.” He smiled. “We have to get half of the rough draft of our report done by today if we’re going to have any hope of turning in a reasonably complete project on Monday.”

“Is Duncan going to fire me then?”

“No.” He looked her in the eye. “Trust me. He won’t.”

Her face warmed, and she dropped her gaze. “I just get the feeling I’m on borrowed time, like he can’t wait to show me the door.”

“Not at all.” He drove into the parking lot and shut off the car. “Now, let’s go get that report done and prove what geniuses we are.”

She didn’t wait for him to open her door. But she did accept a hand out. She didn’t miss the way he stiffened as they walked into the building and passed Alexa’s desk.

Alexa gave them both a smile. “Good morning.”

“Good morning.” Fate climbed the stairs and shot Gabe a look before parting ways.

With a tip of the head, he encouraged her on. “I’ll call you.”

“Okay.” She flipped on her lights, took a seat, read through her mail and messages, and skimmed the packet Michael had left on her desk.

It was too damn quiet.

The phone rang, and she snapped it up. “Gabe?”

“Hello, Ms. Doherty? This is Ms. Meyers from the bank. I’m sorry for calling you at work.”

“It’s okay. What’s up?” She held her breath, not sure if the phone call meant good news or bad.

“We have a problem.”

Bad! Oh no. Her heart sunk to her toes, not that it had far to go anyway. After Gabe’s news it was already down somewhere around her knees. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m reading the appraisal. It just came in. It’s much too low.”

“How much?” She grabbed her doodle pad and started scribbling with a pencil.

“About twenty thousand.”

“Oh.” Damn! Where would she get that kind of cash?

“You can get one-oh-five, unless you want to find another house. You’ve been pre-approved for one-thirty.”

“Okay. I’ll have to think about this. Figure out what I can do.”

“All right, then. I’ll wait to hear back.”

“Thank you.” She hung up the phone. “Damn it!” She needed some sanity. There was only one place she would find that. She punched Tracy’s number.

*****

“So, what’s the big emergency this time?” Tracy, looking her cool, corporate self, sat at the table, stirring a cola with a straw.

Fate sat, ordered a diet from the hostess, and rested her elbows on the table. She dropped her chin into her palms. “My life is a mess.”

“That bad?” Tracy smiled.

“I’m serious this time.”

“So, what’s going on? You aren’t going to make me pry it out of you, are you?”

The waitress brought Fate’s drink, took her order, and left. Fate took a long swig. The cool liquid felt good going down.

“Well, let’s see. I think I’ve fallen in love with Gabe—“

Tracy slammed her hand on the table. “I knew it! See? What did I tell you.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“So, what’s wrong with that?”

“I don’t know. He’s amazing. And I won’t tell you how oh-my-God-how-incredible he is in bed.” A smile tugged at her lips and heat shot to her groin and face simultaneously. “But something’s up. He’s acting weird.”

Tracy cocked her head. “Weird? How?”

“Well, we were doing great, granted getting carried away at work. Then we slept together, and he got a phone call, ran out of my house, and now he won’t stay in the same room with me.”

Tracy scowled. “That doesn’t sound good. Has he explained why?”

“He claims an ex-girlfriend from two years ago got us into trouble with the powers-that-be, and he doesn’t want to give her any more ammunition.”

“Do you believe him?”

“I do…I think. I mean, she doesn’t act like a scorned woman.” She took another drink. “So, I have that to contend with, plus I have the feeling they’re going to fire me any day. Gabe says they aren’t, but I don’t think I believe him. Plus, I got a call about the house.”

“Yeah?” Tracy glanced over her shoulder. The waitress set their salads down, Tracy poked distractedly at a tomato.

“The appraisal’s too low. Twenty thousand too low.”

“What’re you going to do?”

“I have no idea. You’re the numbers person. You tell me.”

Tracy chewed, eyeing the ceiling. “What about your sister, Destiny? Can she help?”

“Nope. She’s ‘horny-mooning’ somewhere in Europe. Brian wanted to see the world. It’s kind of strange, if you ask me. He kept saying that finally he was free. No, I’d hate to ruin this for them. Besides, after the wedding and this trip, I doubt they have two nickels to rub together.

“Oookaay, You could take out a loan against your 401K. It’s tax free money. They’ll take it out of your paycheck.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.” A little bit of weight lifted from her shoulders. “Thanks.” She took a bite of her salad. Creamy. Yum. “Wonder how much twenty-thousand will cost me a week.”

“It’ll be a chunk.” Tracy lifted her eyes and blinked, a common thing for Tracy to do when she was calculating. “Almost four hundred a week if you want to pay it back in a year. Of course, there’s another problem.”