Sizzle by Jennifer Cruise

Author:Jennifer Cruise
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 1994-12-08T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

AT FIVE O’CLOCK EMILY sat in her office, staring at the shopping bag on the floor next to her. It held the basics of Jane’s game plan.

I can’t do this, she thought. I’ll feel like a fool, and Richard will laugh at me. In the nicest possible way, of course. With a great deal of affection. And then he’ll never take me seriously again.

Jane knocked on the door. “I’m leaving.”

“Thanks for everything, Jane,” Emily said, “but—”

“But you’re not going to do it,” Jane finished for her.

“It’s too far out for me.”

“This from the woman who talked to her boss on the phone while her lover was under her desk?”

“That was not my idea.”

“Yeah. But this would be.” Emily shook her head again, and Jane sighed and shrugged.

“Keep all that stuff, anyway. Eat the strawberries, but put the rest of it away. Someday you may change your mind.”

“I doubt it.” Emily’s eyes widened as she looked beyond Jane. “Shut up. Here he comes.”

Richard paused in the doorway.

“Hi, Jane.” He leaned around her to talk to Emily. “Something’s come up. Can I pick you up later, say, eight?”

“What’s going on?”

“Meeting with George and Henry. It’s money talk. I told them you wouldn’t be interested. You can relax, and then we’ll have a late dinner after the meeting.”

“Did it occur to you,” Emily asked carefully, “that I might want to go to this meeting?”

“No.” Richard frowned at her. “Why would you want to come to a money meeting?”

Emily clenched her hands in front of her. “It’s my project.”

“I’ll fill you in later. Why should you waste your time?”

“If you’d asked me first, I probably would have agreed with you.” Emily drew a deep breath. “You didn’t ask.”

“I’m sorry,” Richard said impatiently, “but since you wouldn’t have gone, anyway, I don’t see why we’re having this conversation.” He looked down at Jane. “Don’t you have something to do?” he asked pointedly.

“Yes.” She crossed to Emily’s desk, picked up the shopping bag and dropped it in front of Emily. “Don’t forget this.”

Emily looked at her and nodded. “You’re right. I won’t.”

“What’s in the bag?” Richard asked.

“Surprises.” Emily smiled at him tightly. “Don’t pick me up. I’ll come to your place. Chill some champagne.”

Richard glanced at Jane, who smiled back at him serenely.

“All right. Eight o’clock.” He looked uncertainly from Jane to Emily, shook his head and left.

“I can do this,” Emily said.

“Absolutely,” Jane said.

Emily put her head down on the desk and moaned, and Jane patted her on the back.

* * *

AT EIGHT, EMILY RANG THE doorbell at Richard’s apartment, trying to balance the shopping bag and a silver bowl of strawberries without losing her purse. Richard opened the door wearing a thick velour robe, a smile and obviously not much else. His smile faded at the sight of her. She was still in her business suit, her hair pinned up and her reading glasses on.

“Strawberries?” she said.

“Thank you.” He took them and stood back to let her in. There was champagne in a bucket and two silver-rimmed glasses, chilled and waiting.

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