Page 14 of Miracles and Marriage
Cal read all the items on the list; some were a puzzle to him, but most were clear. Zoe was listing criteria for the father of her baby. Cal gave a sardonic chuckle. How many men would relish being judged on criteria listed instead of on themselves or a spark of attraction between them?
Curious, he began to jot notes beside each. He spent time behind his desk, but he didn’t consider his life sedentary. He worked out at the gym, liked to ski in winter, sail in summer. And being out in the field kept a man busy providing the needed protection his clients demanded.
It was after seven by the time he finished. An exercise in getting into Zoe’s mind, he thought as he balled up the paper and tossed it into the trash. He thought he knew how she thought from their working together. But her list surprised him. Not the fact she had a list; as long as he’d known her, she was always jotting down lists. But the various aspects she considered important were the surprise.
Nowhere did he see anything that applied to a lover or mate for her. Was she so caught up in a baby, she discounted herself?
He took his folder and left. The offices were silent. Everyone working today had left except the night crew manning the monitors. He passed that large room, glanced in through the glass walls and noted people competently carrying out their assigned tasks. He knew everyone there, but only in a business sense.
The same way he knew Zoe. But the glimpse into her personal life intrigued him. Especially after thinking about her criteria. Why wasn’t she looking for something for herself? Or maybe there was a page two and he hadn’t seen. The thought almost had him turning around to try to get into her computerto search. But that would be an invasion of privacy, and Cal had a strong sense of right and wrong. It bumped the limits reading the paper from the floor. He’d never deliberately go into her files without her permission.
But it didn’t stop him from speculating what she’d want in a lover.
He had never thought about her in that light. For a moment he could picture her cheeks flushed with passion, her eyes sparkling and her smile seductive. It wouldn’t take much imagination to see her on a bed, with that glossy brown hair spread out around her and her lips parted in temptation.
Sunday morning Zoe slept in—at least for her. She rose at eight and took a quick shower. The day loomed endlessly. Last night’s date had been another bust. Maybe there was a reason for her not being part of a couple—she was too picky. But she couldn’t help it. She wanted the best man possible to father her baby. Was it her fault she couldn’t find one? Mark hadn’t appealed to her on a basic level. Not to mention he was still hung up on his ex-wife.
Peter from Chloe’s office sounded too immature himself to be considered as a father. For some men having children caused them to grow up. In this case, Zoe suspected she would find rivalry between Peter and a baby. Not her ideal situation.
And somewhere she had to add sex appeal. So far the thought of kissing any of the men hadn’t held any appeal. How could she get naked with them?
After a hasty breakfast, she put on warm wool slacks and a sweater. She’d run by the office for a little while and make sure she had all the latest data for the head of that African country’s visit next month. Not a big player in world politics, nonetheless she wanted to make sure his visit to the nation’s capital went without a hitch. And one never knew where fanatics lurked.
Entering the office a short time later, she went right to work. It was almost noon by the time she was ready to take a break. Maybe she’d get a sandwich at the deli up the street and study some of the men there. She felt as if she was becoming skewed in her thinking. Now everything revolved around men, men, men.
Glancing around as she rose, she noticed a ball of paper in her otherwise empty wastepaper basket. She never did that. Curious, she pulled it out and smoothed it open. It was one of her lists—filled out! She recognized Cal’s handwriting.
For a moment she was mortified he’d found her list. What had he thought? Then she began to read it. He had actually jotted brief notes by each of her traits. For a moment she felt disoriented. Dare she considerCalas a possible father for her baby?
He’d meet all the attributes. Even without his notes on the sides she knew that. He was educated and valued it highly—witness the education matching funds he provided employees and the internships he gave promising college students each summer.
He had a wide variety of interests, which made him fit in with every single person he protected, be they heads of states or prominent businessmen.
She knew he had a subscription to the symphony and ballet, as he often gave away tickets when business intruded.
She looked out the window, hearing her sister’s voice echo—you’re too involved with Cal.She wasn’t, not in that sense. They worked together—closely. But it was strictly business.
Not that she’d have a problem picturing them kissing. Or doing more.
She banged her head against the glass. She’d never thought of her boss in that way—but only because it would prove too dangerous.
She’d felt a pull of attraction at their first meeting. Getting started in her career had been too important to her to fantasize about a personal relationship. Over the years she’d become used to hearing snippets about his women friends from others. She couldn’t compete. And she didn’t want to.
She loved her job, relished being considered a colleague, having her opinion sought and listened to. She especially liked the nights when they worked late—sharing dinner, solving impossible scenarios.
She wasn’t some empty airhead who thought looks more important than brains. Those were the kind of women he liked to take out.
But there was a hint of pleasure in remembering he’d called her pretty at the cottage.
She folded the paper and stuffed it into her pocket. Grabbing her purse and jacket, she left the office. She was not going to get ideas about her boss. He was so far off-limits she should not even think of him and a baby in the same frame.
Yet every other man she’d seen recently paled in comparison. Was that the problem—Cal set the standard the others failed to meet?
Zoe spent the rest of Sunday wishing she hadn’t gone into the office. She’d thrown away the paper and fished it out of the trash twice. Finally she stuffed it in the bottom drawer in her dresser beneath a stack of sweaters. But out of sight did not mean out of mind.
Was he interested?
If so he was too direct not to say something.
