Running From Fate (46 page)

“It wasn’t one date,” James reminded her.
“
Our involvement started months ago and, if you want to get technical, our relationship really began years ago.
  Besides, I never said anything
about sex
.
All I did was offer you a friend to talk to and a safe place to sleep.
No strings and no expectations.”

“Come on James
,” she mouthed, glad that she had chosen to sit away from everyone.
“
I know you.
I’d have to spend the whole time fighting against your advances.”

“Are you trying to say that you find me irresistible?
Really,” James taunted.
The idea intrigued him and he spent several pleasurable moments
co
ntemplating how best to use his newfound
knowledge.  Getting her back into bed might not be so difficult after all.  His body tightened and he stepped closer.

“It was a slip of the tongue,” Mira
whispered
somewhat desperately.
“I meant fig
hting off not fighting against
.”

“Did you
have any questions Mr. Kelly?”

The voice came from the front of the room, startling them
both
as they realized exactly where they were.

The monthly progress meeting, Mira thought, was definitely not the place to have a private conversation or an argument, as this one was turning out to be.
Not only was it highly unprofessional, but it was also guaranteed to
have made its way around the entire building by lunchtime.
She had no wish to be the subject of office gossip
—
again.

In an effort to put some distance between James and herself, she scooted her chair to the side and turned to the front of the room.
Obviously, James had the same idea because he stepped back and focused on the speaker.

“Tha
nk you for your report Mr. Sims.
”
James
stalled
as he tried to think of a way to disguise his inattention.
After drawing a blank, he gave up.
It looked like he would just have to brazen it to his face.
  “
But I
have a few questions.”

“Certainly sir
,”
Barry
said deferentially.

“Remind me, if you would be so kind, when e
xactly we can expect the ground
breaking for Mr. Ashton’s resort.”

Apparently, Mira thought, her boss
took
James’ words
as a criticism
and not a valid question
because he swallowed thickly and quickly launched into an explanation.

“As I said, we should certainly be ready in five months.
But,” he rushed on, “there are valid reasons for the delay.”

“Five months, Mr. Sims? 
From what you told
me
last week the design was almost ready and the workers
are already
lined up.
What possible reason
can there be
for
such a long
delay?”

Mira looked over at her immediate supervisor and winced in sympathy.
Usually, he was a fairly charismatic, confident man but when faced with James’ cold
disapproval he seemed to have turned into a nervous teenager.
Beads of sweat were start
ing to form on his forehead and
h
is eyes flickered around the room as if seeking an
escape route.  She actually worried that he might bolt, but he
final
ly straightened and
seemed to regain a little of his composure.

“There have been several problems, sir,” he said with only a slight quaver in his voice.
“The first issue is just a slight difference of opinion between myself and the engineering supervisor, but,” he glanced quickly at the other manager and received a nod.
“We are ready to come to an agreement.
The other problem, I’m afraid, could involve some extensive changes to the design and could, potentially, push the project back for months.”

“I’m not sure that I understand you correctly.
”  James wondered fleetingly if he had missed anything else in his recent distraction.
“I’ve
already approved the final design.
As has the client and I was told that there would be no problems implementing it.
So what happened?”

“It’s not a problem on our side,” Mr. Sims hastily assured him, “but one with the suppliers.
We have
just
been informed that there will not be enough panels of solar glass to fit our needs.
Apparently, the company has other commitments.”

“Why was I not told of this sooner?”

“Excuse me sir,” the engineering manager bravely spoke up.  “But the call only came in this morning.  You weren’t in your office yet so I took it.”

Bold man, James thought, to deliberately, if subtly, remind of his tardiness.  He needed people like that on his not yet created executive team.  It was time he started delegating more
. 
First, though, he had a problem to solve. 

His
lighting sharp mind quickly shifted through all the possible ramifications and workable solutions.  His company had a reputation
for
delivering exactly what the client wanted on time and he wasn’t going to let things change now.  He would just have to find a hook.  “I will deal with the suppliers.” 
He stepped back and opened the door, signaling an end to the meeting.
“Continue as you are. 
I’ll
expect a report next week.”

A chorus of ‘yes sirs’ followed the employees out the door.

As
everyone
filed past Mira attempted to merge with the group and escape undetected.
James was much too good at persuasion and
she was afraid that if he got a chance to talk to her alone she might end up agreeing to stay with him
.  I
t was much too early for that. 
Surreptitiously, she stood up and tried to slide into the middle of the line.
Just as she thought she might make it, a heavy hand fell on her shoulder.

“Could
you
stay behind for a few minutes Mira?” James asked.
“I have something to discuss with you.”
He felt her body stiffen and tightened his grip.
There was no way that he was going to let her leave without finishing the discussion.
He knew Mira very well and, if he let her go
now, she might just be able to evade him for the rest of the day or, perhaps even, until her
town
house was habitable.

Since shaking his arm off and giving
him hell was bound to cause a scene and start the office gossiping, Mira decided to accommodate him.
She could always hold the dramatics
in reserve.

“I’ll give you five minutes,” she told him as she pulled out of his grip and walked back into the conference room.
“Not only do I have
work
to do, but I have nothing more to say on our earlier topic.
Amy is kindly letting me stay with her until my place is cleaned and repaired.”

James followed
her in
and shut the door.
“Ms.
Fairchild
only has one bedroom,” he
pointed out reasonably.
“
So
it must be cramped.
Are you sure you wouldn’t rather stay with me?
I could offer you a nice big bed.”

As if.  She
spun
toward him and crossed her arms.
“That’s a rather weak argument James.
I have to say that I
expected much better from you.  Anyway,” she asked suspiciously.  “
How do you know th
e size of Amy’s apartment?”

“Despite what you may have heard about my lifestyle, I don’t date employees.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“All right,” he
conceded
.
“I didn’t date employees
until you
.
”  He turned away and paced to the window. 
Things never went as planned when he was dealing with Mira
.
“
I know the company
who built her apartment complex,” he heard himself explaining.
“
And how did we get so off topic?”
With a sigh he walked back to the table and pulled out a chair
.
“Why don’
t you have a seat?”
Perhaps he could think better if she wasn’t standing there glaring at him
.

“I’m fine standing.”
Suddenly restless, s
he turned and walked over to the windows.
She wasn’t
sure exactly
what was going on, but James was acting
uncommonly nervous
.
For some
reason
her
temporary living arrangements were
much more important
to him
than
they
should have been.

“I know that I’m being pushy,” James averred, “but have you thought about the fact that you could be in danger?”

“I can handle Kim.”

He
crossed the room
and laid his hands on her shoulders.
Despite her bravado, her body
was still fragile and too easily broken.
He wasn’t sure
yet what his feelings toward her were
, but the thought of her being hurt tore at something in him.
He moved his hands to her waist and pulled her back against his chest, wrapping his arms around her.
Whether she wanted him to or not, he
vowed
, he would protect her.

“Look,” he said softly.
  “I saw the
state of your personal things
.  A
nyone who could do that is either unhinged or very angry.
That makes the
m especially dangerous. 
I don’t want to see you hurt.”