Mythe: A Fairy Tale (22 page)

When David arrived he leaned against the frame of her office door, holding a cup of coffee.

“I just saw Curt. He wants to see you in his office right away,” he told her, grimacing.

Manda sighed. “Was it a good ‘send Manda’ or a bad ‘send Manda?’” she asked.

“You tell me,” he answered with a shrug.

“Okay. Thanks, David.” She saved what she was working on and took the stairs down a floor to Curt’s office. His door was closed and she heard Jen’s voice coming from inside, so she knocked and waited for his invitation before entering.

Manda took one step into the office and froze. Richard was seated in the chair in front of Curt’s desk. Before she had time to completely absorb the shock of seeing him again, Curt launched into his reason for summoning her.

“Manda,” Curt addressed her brusquely, skipping all pleasantries, “I’m told by both Jen and David that you’ve been working too hard. Richard has expressed his concern as well. Looking at you, I can see that they’re probably right. You look like hell.”

“Traitors,” Manda muttered under her breath, glaring at Jen, who stood beside Curt’s desk with her arms crossed. Manda didn’t look at Richard.

“They’re your friends, Manda,” Curt scolded, “and they see that you don’t know when to quit. So, I’ve decided you’re taking the day off. I want you to relax this weekend. I’d prefer you took all next week off too, but I suppose that’s too much to hope for, so if you can’t stay away, you can come in and work mornings next week, but you’ll take every afternoon off at least. David assures me he can handle the workload alone for a while. Just so we’re clear on this, that means you’ll leave your computer here. I don’t want you going home and working from there. Is that understood?” Curt gave her a stern look.

“Yes. Understood,” Manda responded grudgingly, too distracted by Richard’s presence to argue. It probably wouldn’t have done any good anyway. Her pulse was racing with Richard so close, but she still didn’t look in his direction. Her emotions were a confused mess. She was excited and foolishly glad to see him, but at the same time she was angry and nervous. It was clear that she didn’t mean anything special to him. He hadn’t even considered her important enough to say goodbye to, yet he’d had the nerve to run tattling to Curt about her. Still, even with all of that, she was perversely pleased to see him again.

“Good. Now, go get your things and go home,” Curt ordered.

“Sorry, Manda,” Jen said, sheepishly.

“It’s okay,” Manda assured her. “I know I’ve been pushing it. Thanks for the concern.” She offered the other woman a small smile, then turned to Richard, steeling herself. “It’s good to see you again, Richard. Are you in town for long?” She was pleased with the nonchalant tone she achieved. She hadn’t been sure she could pull it off.

“That depends,” he said, staring intently into her eyes. “May I speak to you, please? We’re done here, aren’t we, Curt?”

“Of course, but maybe you could discuss whatever it is with David?” Curt responded with a puzzled frown. “I really do want Manda to take today off.”

“This isn’t about business. I promise,” Richard told the older man, not taking his eyes from Manda’s. “Manda? Do you have a few minutes?”

Manda laughed humorlessly. “Sure. I guess I’ve got all day now. I’ll see you guys later,” she told Curt and Jen, then turned and walked out the door with Richard close behind.

“What can I do for you?” Manda asked when they were several yards down the corridor. She slipped her hands into the front pockets of her jeans to hide their nervous fidgeting.

“I’d like to talk to you in private, if you don’t mind,” Richard requested.

“Okay. We’ll go up to my office.” Manda led him to the stairwell.
If this is going to be the “let’s just be friends” speech, he’s a little too late,
she thought. Perhaps he was concerned about how Josh was handling the work for the foundation. No, he’d said it wasn’t business. She’d been alone with Josh more since Richard had left. Maybe he thought there was a relationship developing there and was concerned. The first time they’d met he had said he thought Josh was interested, but Josh had never been more than friendly since then. Possibilities swirled through Manda’s mind as she led the way up the stairs with her stomach tied in knots. She was halfway up the first flight, a step or two above him, when Richard’s hands closed around her upper arms, halting her mid-step. She half-turned, looking back at him over her shoulder with a startled “What?” already forming on her lips. The word died there, however; smothered when his lips covered hers in a gentle, probing kiss.

Stunned, Manda froze, her mind going blank in shock, but as his lips moved against hers, seductive and electrifying, her eyes fluttered closed and she returned his kiss almost involuntarily. With her head spinning, she
swayed slightly and he pulled her firmly against his chest. When he finally drew away from her, his breathing was ragged and Manda was trembling slightly.

If her feelings had been a confused mess before, they were a hopelessly indecipherable tangle now. Richard had never been more than friendly to her; never given her any indication of romantic interest at all—in spite of any wishful imaginings she may have had to the contrary. Then, when she’d come to think that they were at least friends, he’d disappeared without a word. Now, suddenly, he’d come back and told Curt he was worried about her. And this—a kiss.

Manda stood numb and dazed on the stairs, unable to make sense of Richard’s behavior. He turned her around by her shoulders and gently pushed her down to sit on a step, seating himself on the step below her.

“I’m sorry, Manda,” he said unsteadily. Was he apologizing for kissing her? Noticing her slight frown and seeming to read her mind, he shook his head. “Not for the kiss. I’ve wanted to do that since the first time we met; I just didn’t realize it for a long time.” He took several steadying breaths and continued. “I’m sorry for leaving the way I did.”

Manda swallowed. “I’m not your keeper. You don’t owe me any explanations.”

“No, you’re not my keeper, but I do owe you an explanation. I care for you a great deal, and it was wrong of me to just disappear like that. Please forgive me.” He pushed his right hand through his hair absently. “I didn’t realize...I thought...” He exhaled in frustration before collecting himself and beginning again. “Being close to me isn’t an easy thing, Manda. Any woman I become involved with will be on the receiving end of a great deal of unpleasant attention.” A bleak look flitted across his face and was quickly gone. “The media will be merciless. You’re a very private person and I didn’t want to put you through that.” Richard was looking into her eyes intently again.

“So, you left to protect me?” Manda asked dubiously.

“Yes,” he confirmed without hesitation, “and I thought a clean break would be best. I had all the best intentions, but you know what they say. The road to hell and all.”

“So, why did you come back?” Manda asked, wary of where this was leading. He’d said he was sorry for leaving
the way he had
, not that he was sorry for leaving at all. Perhaps he was just here to say goodbye properly.

Richard answered with a grimace. “I came to my senses. Josh told me I was being stupid but at first I refused to listen, and so he’s been badgering me every day. Last night I finally realized how wrong I was. It’s not really my decision to make, is it?”

“What decision?” Manda asked, confused.

“The decision about whether you want to spend time with me or not. You’re very special to me, Manda. I care for you and I hope that maybe you feel something for me, too. If you don’t, or if you don’t want to endure the constant attention, I understand. But I’m going to let you make that call. I’m sorry I tried to make it for you.” He held her gaze as he spoke, then dropped his eyes and ran his hand through his hair again in agitation. “I’ve missed you,” he admitted in a whisper.

Manda sat frozen, not sure if she was hearing what she hoped she was hearing. “I’m sorry if I’m being dense, but what is it that you’re saying, exactly?” she asked cautiously.

He gave a short, self-deprecating laugh. “I guess I’m not doing this very well. I’m asking for your forgiveness, and I’m asking you if you’ll...I don’t know...go out with me...be my girlfriend.” He shrugged helplessly. “That all sounds so trivial. I don’t know what to call it. All I know is I’m happy when I’m with you and I’d like to be with you a lot more, if you’ll have me.” He gathered both of her hands in his.

Manda was stunned. Would
she
have
him
? As well ask her if she’d like to breathe—yes, thank you very much! But the power to speak eluded her.

“Manda?” he prompted, uncertainly.

“Ummm, I’d like that,” she finally managed in a barely audible voice. She stared down at his hands as they held hers. “I’m glad you came back. I missed you, too.”

Richard exhaled in relief and released her left hand. He slid his free hand behind her neck and pulled her closer, kissing her once more.

“Are you free today?” he asked when he finally let her go and sat back. His voice was husky and Manda’s racing heart skipped a beat.

“Why, yes. I believe my schedule just recently opened up,” she laughed breathlessly, holding tightly to his left hand. She felt light and buoyant, as if she might float away without his hand to anchor her.

“Spend the day with me?” he invited, with a smile that was almost as detrimental to her equilibrium as his kiss had been.

“Okay,” she agreed, so eagerly that Richard chuckled.

“So much for worrying that you’d make me beg,” he said, grinning.

“That would have been a first for you, I’m sure,” Manda teased, though she was blushing furiously.

“I would have done it,” he said earnestly, “though I should have known you’d be too gracious to make me.”

Unsure how to respond, Manda fidgeted uncomfortably. “Shall we get out of here before Curt has me escorted from the building? I think he might actually do it,” she suggested.

“He just might, at that,” Richard agreed wryly. “Let’s go get your things and see if we can’t sneak out before he sends a search party.” He pulled her up by her hands, retaining his hold on one as they continued up the stairs.

“What exactly did you say to Curt about me, anyway?” Manda asked as they climbed.

“The truth. When I called him the other day to tell him you wouldn’t be coming in to work, I told him I was worried about you, and that I’d never seen anyone closer to complete burn-out than you were that night,” Richard informed her matter-of-factly.

“You didn’t!” Manda groaned.

“If you don’t like that, you’re going to hate this,” he continued, unrepentant. “When I found out you still weren’t slowing down, I threatened to take my business elsewhere unless he did something about it.” Manda stumbled on the last step, her eyes wide and mortified. Richard’s hand was all that kept her from falling.

“Before you push me down the stairs, you should know that I was too late,” he told her ruefully. “David and Jennifer had already beaten me to the punch. They each went to him individually and told him you were working too hard, and asked him to intervene. Your fate was sealed long before I ever walked into his office this morning.” He held the stairwell door open for Manda. “Do you still want to spend the day with me, or should I start begging now?”

“As tempting as that is, I think I’ll let it slide this time,” she sighed. “I suppose I’m just lucky Curt didn’t banish me for a month with you three ganging up on him like that. You all meant well. I appreciate that. But, why didn’t you just say something to me? Why did you have to go to Curt?”

“First of all,” he said accusingly as they walked side-by-side down the corridor toward Manda’s office, “I have it on good authority that David tried all week to get you to slow down and take a break and you ignored him. Secondly, I wasn’t sure how you’d react to me after my recent behavior. Since Curt is apparently the only one with any control over you, that seemed the most reliable course of action.” Richard sighed regretfully. “I’m guessing I didn’t make things any easier on you by disappearing without a word. I am so very, very sorry for that.”

“Don’t be sorry, just don’t do it again, okay?”

He responded to her quiet plea earnestly. “I won’t.”

Manda punched in her access code and led Richard into the creative work area. David was stretched out on the sofa with a sketchbook on his lap. He looked up from his work when they walked in and his expression transformed from guilt to surprise and finally displeasure.

Manda glared across the coffee table at her coworker with her arms crossed. “Thanks for selling me up the river, Benedict Arnold!” She wasn’t really angry, but she intended to make him squirm a bit.

“Sorry, M. I was worried about you.” He looked so abashed that Manda relented immediately.

“I know. It’s okay. It’s my own fault. But, as a reward for your well-intentioned betrayal, you now get to do all of the work by yourself. I’ve been banished from the kingdom. If I’m a good little girl, I can come in and work mornings next week.” Her patently false enthusiasm for this plan made David’s mouth twitch up at the corners in a brief half-smile. “So, I’ll need to get you up to speed on my projects before I go. Give me a minute to get things organized and forward you the e-mails you’ll need, then I’ll fill you in.” She smiled up at Richard, a bit dazed that he was actually standing there beside her. “Give me fifteen minutes?”