Page 32 of Dante
"A very abrupt one. You disappeared and no one could get hold of you. I know it has something to do with me. I just..." She spread her hands wide. "I want to know what you've decided."
"I'm not sure yet." He desperately wanted to kiss her. She was wearing something pale on her lips, a color he could not identify. Jesus Christ! What the hell was happening to him? He had never felt this kind of craving before, and it scared the crap out of him. He really should get rid of her. Surely if she was far away from him, the emotions curling inside him would go away.
"What do you mean you're not sure?" Unaware of the tumult she was causing, Courtney propped her hands on her hips and completely forgot that she was talking to the man who held her future in his hands. Nerves were dancing inside her and were ignored. Replaced by anger and frustration. "You were away for three days. Surely that was more than enough time for you to decide what to do. I spent those three days on tenterhooks wondering if I will still have a job. I'm not going to wait another minute wondering if you're going to get rid of me."
Her eyes blazed. "I need to know now."
Christ! She was magnificent, he thought as he stared at her in fascinated admiration.
"You're right."
His response threw her and for a few seconds she was confused. "I am?" Gathering her thoughts, she shook her head and lifted her chin. "Of course I'm right. So?"
"You still have a job."
The relief flooding through her body made her weak enough that she had to go and sit down. "You're not going to fire me." She pressed a hand to her chest. "Even after what I just said to you."
Amused, he crossed to sit at his desk. "I'm going to ignore the outburst."
"Thank you." She whispered sincerely. "You won't regret it."
"I hope not." He fussed with the files and started to leaf through one. "Coffee would be nice." He added without looking up.
"Of course."
He lifted his head to stare at her. "No argument?"
Shaking her head, she flashed him a bright smile. "None whatsoever. One cup of Joe coming up."
Chapter 9
October slid into November seamlessly and brought with it icy rain and cooling temperature. There was an uneasy truce between them, and she did her best not to draw attention to her pregnancy. She had not started showing yet, except her bosom. And thankfully the weather was cool enough for her to wear jackets.
She did everything right. Arriving early and leaving late. Even when he insisted that she did not have to. She wanted to secure her job, wanted to prove to him that she was indispensable.
He treated her with cool politeness and inquired about her health twice.
Her queasiness was increasing, but she had received anti-nausea pills that were working. Not wanting to tempt fate too much, she was sticking to mildly seasoned meals and drinking her milk as well as eating her vegetables and fruits.
Her brother popped around to check on her every night before going home.
She had to admit that after Michael had dumped her, she had wondered vaguely if she should get rid of the fetus, but now it was a baby to her. Her baby and she was going to break the mold and love him or her to death. She bought books and read avidly. She had also started playing classical music along with her rock and reggae. After all, she had to have a good mindset too!
She played the music when she was at home and in her car.
Her baby was going to be smart as a whip and well loved.
It was the end of the month when her cautious monitoring of her symptoms came crashing down. She had agreed to work late to get some reports ready for an emergency board meeting scheduled for first thing the next morning.
She had kicked off her heels and was sitting on the sofa by the window, as she took dictation and fine-tuned the report. He was seated across from her and trying his best to ignore the long legs encased in transparent nylon. It pissed him off royally that she did not seem to be aware of him, while he was in the throes of a desire that threatened to drive him bat shit crazy.
Picking up the bottle of water, she took a sip and felt the queasiness roiling inside her stomach.
"No. No. No."
"What is--" He stared in amazed shock when she shoved up from the chair and bolted in the direction of his private suite.
Putting aside his device, he got to his feet slowly and made his way through the bedroom and into the bathroom. She was on the floor and dry heaving.
