A Lyon's Share by Janet Dailey

Author:Janet Dailey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 1976-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

THE filing drawer of the metal cabinet was slammed shut as Joan walked into her office. Her darting look was just in time to see Brandt glance at his watch.

"I'm five minutes early," she informed him coldly, walking to the coat-stand to hang up her coat.

When she turned around, he was propped against the cabinet. The hard line of his mouth was pulled up at the corners in a mirthless smile while his gaze inspected her sardonically.

"I have never known you to be less than punctual, Miss Somers." His arms were folded complacently in front of him "Although I did think you might cheat a bit this morning after what must have been a full weekend."

In truth, it had been a wretchedly flat weekend. Too many forced smiles and laughs. Too much pretence that she was actually enjoying Ed's company or his kisses.

"Like you, Mr. Lyon, I don't let my personal life affect my work," Joan responded curtly. Walking to her desk, she removed her reading glasses from her bag and slipped them on to her nose. "Now, what was it you wanted from the filing cabinet?"

"You've slipped back into your business skin, haven't you, Joan?" The dryly rhetorical question mocked her subtle attempt to divert the conversation "My comment was motivated by a purely friendly interest that your weekend was all that you hoped it to be."

"You're no more interested in hearing about my weekend with Ed than I am to learn the highlights of yours with Angela."

There was altogether too much bitterly jealous truth in her stiff words. Her entire weekend had been haunted by visions of Brandt making love to the dainty blonde.

The carved features hardened. "I want the completion schedule on the Blackwood project. Bring it into my office." Then Brandt was pushing away from the cabinet and walking with long strides to the open doorway of his office. "Let me know when the cold war is over," he tossed back.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Joan was stung to retort.

Brandt stopped in the doorway, his eyes narrowing as he met her haughtily cool look. "I'm not accustomed to receiving a severe case of frostbite simply because I make a casual inquiry," he snapped.

"We've never exchanged confidences in the past and I see no reason to begin now." Her voice matched his own clipped tones.

"You sensitive little prig!" He laughed shortly and harshly. "I intended no personal or private exchange. The type of conversation I had in mind was 'How was your weekend?' to which you would reply 'I had a good time.' Then I would say 'The fun is over and it's back to work for another week.' My intentions were all very innocent!"

Joan flushed scarlet, firmly put in her place. "I didn't know … I didn't realize …" She fumbled for an apology. I misunderstood. I'm sorry."

"As usual, you were making mountains out of molehills," he stated dryly, the contempt leaving his voice. Her gaze skittered to his face and bounced away. His head tilted inquiringly to the side.

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