Harlequin Intrigue November 2020--Box Set 2 of 2 by Barb Han

Author:Barb Han
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Dane Trask was topic number one at TDC Enterprises these days. Around the desks in the data processing department, conversation buzzed about the reward the company had offered for Dane’s apprehension, about what Dane had done with the money he’d stolen, and about what would happen to him when police finally caught him.

No one included Cara in these conversations, though she couldn’t help overhearing, and she couldn’t ignore the curious glances cast her way. She wanted to glare at all of them and shout that Dane was innocent, but she knew that response would only fuel more gossip.

When Maisie stopped by her desk at lunchtime on Thursday, two days after Cara had transferred to data processing, Cara wanted to leap up and hug her. As they headed together for the cafeteria, she felt like a prisoner momentarily released from her cell. “How’s it going in DP?” Maisie asked, as they made their way to a back corner table.

“I’m bored out of my skull,” Cara admitted.

“Are you looking for another job?” Maisie asked.

Cara knew her answer should be that she was polishing her résumé and searching for a position that made better use of her skills. But she couldn’t bring herself to do that just yet. “I’m hoping Dane will come back to work and I’ll get my old job back,” she admitted.

Maisie’s eyes widened and she leaned toward her friend and spoke in a low whisper. “Cara, honey, Dane isn’t coming back. His truck crashed in Black Canyon. And if he is still alive, when they find him, he’ll be in jail for a long time.”

He didn’t do anything wrong, Cara thought, but only pressed her lips together and shook her head. “It’s surreal,” she said after a moment of awkward silence. She looked down at her turkey sandwich, unable to eat another bite. “I don’t believe Dane is guilty of embezzlement, and I don’t believe he’s dead.”

“You don’t believe, or you don’t want to believe?” Maisie looked more concerned than sympathetic. “I’m worried about you,” she added. “It’s one thing to be loyal to your boss, but what you’re doing goes beyond that. I mean, you’re ruining your life for the guy.”

“I’m not ruining my life,” Cara said. “I didn’t ask to be transferred to data processing. I didn’t ask for people to spread nasty rumors about me and Dane.”

“I was hoping you hadn’t heard those,” Maisie said.

“How could I not hear them? It’s not like anyone is trying to keep their suspicions a secret.” She shoved the uneaten sandwich aside. “So far I’ve heard that I’m having an affair with Dane, I’m having his baby, or I’m going to be running away to Tahiti with him.” She blew out a breath in disgust. “The truth is, I haven’t heard from Dane, I don’t know where he is, I never dated him, and I never wanted to date him. Why can’t people accept that a man and a woman who work together can be friends without being lovers?”

“Because the lovers angle makes a better story?” Maisie patted her hand.

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