Hiding Out (3 page)

“I have a stylist at one of the boutiques down the road.  The company would pay for a cocktail dress, since it would be a business expense.  And, of course, I would pick you up before dinner and drop you off after…”  Her eyes were sparkling shyly now and she was biting her lip.

“What time would I need to be ready by, do you think?”  There was a hint of excitement in her voice.  Dare he hope it was because of him?

“Well, I would pick you up at seven.  The reservation would be for eight.  Does that give you enough time to get ready?”  Samuel realized that he was tensing up in anticipation of her response.

Her eyes clouded over.  “I like to run after work.  And I don’t know when I would have time to hit the boutique…”

She was ready to decline.  He could tell, but he also couldn’t allow it.  “Beth will come take your measurements first thing in the morning, deliver a selection of dresses for you to try on at lunch, and leave your choice with you, unless it needs alterations, in which case she would send it back later.”  Beth was going to really pad her bill this time.             

“Do places really do that?”  Her eyes lit up and he was captivated.

“For the right amount of money, most businesses can be very accommodating.”  Samuel smiled warmly.  Then he turned his attention to the other tidbit she had offered.  “How long have you been jogging?”

She winced as though she realized she may have revealed too much.  “Umm, about six months.”  Haley had only to look at his face to see that he wanted to delve further into that, but she studied the clock a moment so that he would take the hint.  “I think you are right about it being late.  I’ll go home now and start getting ready for tomorrow.  I’ll need my beauty rest,” she joked.

Instantly, Samuel wished he could tell her that she was attractive, that he liked her just the way she was, but he knew he couldn’t.  If she thought he was attracted to her, she might run away before he ever had the opportunity to get to know her.  Obviously running had become one of her self-preservation tactics.  He was certain that whatever happened to her had transpired six months ago.

“Okay, let’s get you home,” he said quietly.

As silent as he was on the drive to her apartment, Haley couldn’t help but wonder if she had said or done something to upset him.  Maybe he was regretting the dinner invitation.  She kept looking at him, trying to sense what was going on in his head.  Finally he caught her studying him, or maybe he had known all along.

“What is troubling you?”  He asked with concern.

“Whatever is troubling you,” she answered honestly.

Inhaling deeply, he said, “I was just thinking about a few things you reminded me about.” 
Like how you have had some horrible experience that you haven’t recovered from and haven’t shared with anyone. 
Then it dawned on him.  He should talk to Ellen.

Without thinking, he closed the distance between them with his hand.  He squeezed her forearm gently and said, “I’m sorry.  I just have a lot on my mind.”

Haley didn’t jump.   It was the first time since it had happened that she hadn’t jumped or tensed or trembled at a person’s touch.  She glanced down at his hand on her arm, looked out the window and smiled.

The limousine stopped in front of an older three story brownstone.  Haley looked at it, imagining how it must appear to him.  “It’s not much, but it’s home,” she said with an empty laugh.  He was still silent, staring at the building.  “I moved here very suddenly,” she explained.  “I needed some place to stay, so Ellen helped me secure a modest fully furnished apartment that I was able to sublease at a steal.”  She shrugged. 

Opening the door, he stepped out, turned and offered her a hand.  It was simply the gentlemanly thing to do.  She knew that, but for some reason that simple gesture made her heart skip.  Blushing, she put her hand in his and felt the warmth spread.  She cocked her head to one side as she tried to remember a time that a man had impacted her in such a fashion.  No one ever had, not even David.

“Please let me see you safely to your door,” he said seriously, suddenly aware of how dark the sky had grown on their drive to her apartment. 

She looked grateful as she said, “Thank you.  I’d like that.” 

He took the keys that she had readied in the limo and opened the front door of the building for her.  Samuel followed her at a safe distance as she walked up three flights of stairs and stopped in front of the first door on the left.  Again he unlocked the door using the key she pointed to.  “Wait,” he said, as she began to walk into the apartment. 

“Why?”  She asked curiously.  As much as she appreciated his assistance, she was now ready to lock herself in the confines of her apartment.

“You can’t possibly tell me that you would walk in here after dark and not check out the apartment thoroughly.  Anyone could be waiting in here.”  He was annoyed with her for taking what he perceived to be a careless risk.

“I don’t know,” she said slowly.  “I’ve never come in after dark before.”  She flicked on the light switch and leaned against the wall.

Trying not to react with shock, he simply nodded with a pensive expression.  “So, tonight is the first time?”  She nodded.  “You seem…fine.”

You make me feel safe. 
That’s what she would like to have said.  Ever since he had caught her and placed her ever so gently back on the chair.  All night she could see that he was trying desperately to move more slowly, enter rooms rather than burst through doors, and give her more space than he was used to giving anyone.  It meant that he cared about her and her comfort.  But all she could say was, “I am fine.”

Leaving her in the doorway, he turned on lights and gave the apartment a once over, looking in closets and under the bed.  Samuel had paused for a moment in her bedroom, where a framed picture stood on the dresser.  It was the flaming red hair that caught his eye.  He would never have recognized her.  She was smiling, glowing, and surrounded by people he could only assume were her family.  The people he took to be her parents were attractive, middle-class folks.  Another girl, who somewhat resembled her and appeared a few years younger, leaned against her.  Where were they now?  Had she run from them, too?  Had whatever happened to her been so terrible that she couldn’t even share it with them? 

“All clear,” he announced on his return to her side.

She smiled at him, but not like she smiled in the picture.  And for a moment he wondered if he could ever make her look that happy again.  “Thank you,” she said simply, stifling a yawn.

“I saw that,” he said.  “I’m leaving.  We have a busy day tomorrow followed by a big night.”  He paused.  This was the point in the evening where he would normally plant a kiss on the woman.  He would kiss the forehead, if he didn’t plan on seeing her again; the cheek if it was a possibility; and the lips if he wanted another date and to test compatibility.  With Haley, it was different.  He wanted to kiss her safe on the forehead, touch her with a hint of romance on the cheek, and give in to impulse with those amazing lips.  He reminded himself she was an employee and turned to the door.  “Lock up behind me, okay?”  And before he could help himself, he squeezed her hand and pulled the door closed behind him.

Chapter Two

The ride between their domiciles was spent mulling over what he had learned about Haley that day.  He was surprised to discover how much the thought of her alone in her apartment bothered him.  Gabriella had never inspired such feelings.  In fact, he was often happy to have some space, since she was a high maintenance female that came with unequaled mood swings.  And even though he hadn’t lost a night’s sleep over losing Gabriella, he believed he wouldn’t escape as unscathed from a like situation with Haley.  He rolled her name around in his mind. 

Haley.  Haley, who was so hurt that she ran, ran for a hobby, ran from her home, ran from her life.  Haley, who always raced the darkness home.  Haley who trembled when touched and jumped at every unannounced entrance.  Haley, who was hiding her hair, her body, and her heart.

Closing his eyes and covering them with one hand, he lounged against the seat until they arrived at his door.  In the morning he had some important calls to make, Beth and Ellen.  He had to confirm their dinner plans.  But right now, he had to find a way to sleep.  Not a man inclined to drink alone; he grabbed a book off his nightstand to read himself into exhaustion.

It was unsettling.  Haley hadn’t known what to expect when she allowed Mr. Davenport into her apartment.  She smirked.  Actually, he had taken control of the situation and she had been only too quick to let him.  She had wondered how it would feel to have him here.  He was so…big, and the apartment so small.  She had thought that it might feel crowded, or he would seem out of place, but instead, he fit.  And that was strange, since even Haley didn’t feel as though she fit anymore.  Not at work, not at her apartment.  He was earning her trust.  She shivered.  Maybe she could learn to trust again.  It had been so long since she had allowed people in.

The morning had been so busy.  First he had called Beth, who came rushing over to take Haley’s measurements.  Had she known how Samuel felt about Haley, Beth probably would have taken her time arriving.  Quick to take control of the situation, Beth had then hauled Haley into Samuel’s office and whipped out the measuring tape.  He had risen to leave the room and offer some privacy in case Haley didn’t relish the thought of her boss knowing her measurements, but Beth insisted he stay.  No doubt she hoped to entice him with the provocative way she moved and bent over, but he was oblivious to everything but Haley’s reaction to the situation.  She seemed shy, but not mortified. 

“Well,” Beth announced, “you are an almost perfect size four.”

“Almost perfect?”  Haley asked quietly, uncertain of which of her many flaws was about to be exposed.

“Yes,” Beth said a little annoyed.  “The bust is a little…big.”

Samuel suddenly turned his attention to the ad campaign they had been working on, biting on his cheek to keep from smiling.  He knew it had to be killing Beth to admit how petite Haley was and that her flaw was one most men would relish.

“I’ll be back around lunch time.  Can I set up in here?”  Beth asked him merely as a technicality. 

He knew he had no choice but to agree to her terms.    He nodded.  “I may be in a meeting in another part of the building,” he said professionally.

“Well, I really need you to be here to sign all the necessary paperwork,” she said with a hint of annoyance. 

“Of course,” Samuel said smoothly.  “I just don’t think I need to be in the room while Ha…while Miss Iverson is trying on her cocktail gowns.”

“We’ll be using a screen, of course.”  Her tone was growing icier.

“I will be around.  I will be accessible.  That is my best offer.”  He leaned over the desk and gave her a look that she understood to mean she needed to stop pushing.

Nodding, she left the office.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Davenport,” Haley began quietly.  “I’m really looking forward to this.”

“Me too,” he said with a warm smile.  “I really appreciate having you accompany me.  I hate going to these things alone.  If you survive, I plan on asking you to repeat the experience…often.”  He watched her reaction.  And though she said nothing, he could see her pondering the implications with the hint of a smile playing on her lips.

Moments later, when Haley returned to her desk, he located Ellen’s number in his Blackberry and dialed.  Like the rest of the civilized world, Ellen had Caller ID and seemed surprised to hear from him.

“Mr. Davenport?”  She asked her breathing labored as though she was walking at a brisk pace.

“Did I catch you at a bad time?”  He asked, trying to be pleasant.  He wasn’t one for small talk, but he knew that in this situation he would have to tread with care.

She laughed.  “No, I’m just trying to get out of the recliner.  I don’t know why I thought I could sit in that thing,” she mused.  Suddenly her voice grew concerned.  “Is Haley working out?  I mean, she’s overqualified.  If you could just be patient with her…”  Her voice trailed off as she waited for his list of her friend’s shortcomings.

“It’s nothing like that,” he began, searching for the right words.  “She is efficient, organized, pleasant, and as you pointed out, over qualified.”  He cleared his throat.  “I’m just concerned about her.”

The shock in her voice was evident.  “You are concerned.”  And suddenly she grew bold in ways she had never been previously.  “The man who sent me shopping for my own wedding present, who accused me of being selfish for getting pregnant and needing maternity leave after I devoted three years of my life to his career, the man…”

But this time Samuel rolled his eyes and interrupted.  “I get the point Ellen.  And yes, I’m concerned.”  He turned his chair to face the window.  “She is very jumpy, seems unhappy much of the time, she won’t go out alone at night…”  He prepared to catalog all of Haley’s more telling characteristics.