Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
C ait stared at the computer screen for several minutes, blind to the information in front of her. Deep in thought, she released a long, slow breath.
Paul had been grateful to see her when she’d shown up at the office that morning.
The week between Christmas and New Year’s could be a harried one.
Lindy had looked surprised, then quickly retreated into her own office after exchanging a brief good-morning and little else.
Her friend’s behavior continued to baffle Cait, but she couldn’t concentrate on Lindy’s problems just now, or even on her work.
No matter what she did, Cait couldn’t stop thinking about Joe and the kisses they’d exchanged Christmas evening.
Nor could she forget his tortured look as he’d sat in his car after she’d gone into her apartment.
Even now she wasn’t certain why she hadn’t immediately run back outside.
And by the time she’d decided to do that, he was gone.
Cait was so absorbed in her musings that she barely heard the knock at her office door. Guiltily she glanced up to find Paul standing just inside her doorway, his hands in his pockets, his eyes weary.
“Paul!” Cait waited for her heart to trip into double time the way it usually did whenever she was anywhere near him. It didn’t, which was a relief but no longer much of a surprise.
“Hello, Cait.” His smile was uneven, his face tight. He seemed ill at ease and struggling to disguise it. “Have you got a moment?”
“Sure. Come on in.” She stood and motioned toward her client chair. “What can I do for you?”
“Nothing much,” he said vaguely, sitting down. “Uh, I just wanted you to know how pleased I am that you’re here. I’m sorry you canceled your vacation, but I appreciate your coming in today. Especially in light of the fact that Lindy will be leaving.” His mouth thinned briefly.
No one, other than Joe and Martin, was aware of the real reason Cait wasn’t in Minnesota the way she’d planned. Nor had she suggested to Paul that she’d changed her plans to help him out because they’d be short-staffed; obviously he’d drawn his own conclusions.
“So Lindy’s decided to follow through with her resignation?”
Paul nodded, then frowned anew. “Nothing I say will change her mind. That woman’s got a stubborn streak as wide as a...” He shrugged, apparently unable to come up with an appropriate comparison.
“The construction project’s nearly finished,” Cait offered, making small talk rather than joining in his criticism of Lindy.
Absently she stood up and wandered around her office, stopping to straighten the large Christmas wreath on her door, the one she and Lindy had put up earlier in the month.
Lindy was her friend and she wasn’t about to agree with Paul, or argue with him, for that matter.
Actually she should’ve been pleased that Paul had sought her out, but she felt curiously indifferent. And she did have work she needed to do.
“Yes, I’m delighted with the way everything’s turned out,” Paul said, “Joe Rockwell’s done a fine job. His reputation is excellent and I imagine he’ll be one of the big-time contractors in the area within the next few years.”
Cait nodded casually, hoping she’d concealed the thrill of excitement that had surged through her at the mention of Joe’s name.
She didn’t need Paul to tell her Joe’s future was bright; she could see that for herself.
At Christmas, his mother had boasted freely about his success.
Joe had recently received a contract for a large government project—his most important to date—and she was extremely proud of him.
He might have trouble keeping his books straight, but he left his customers satisfied.
If he worked as hard at satisfying them as he did at finding the right Christmas tree, Cait could well believe he was gaining a reputation for excellence.
“Well, listen,” Paul said, drawing in a deep breath, “I won’t keep you.” His eyes were clouded as he stood and headed toward the door. He hesitated, turning back to face her. “I don’t suppose you’d be free for dinner tonight, would you?”
“Dinner,” Cait repeated as though she’d never heard the word before.
Paul was inviting her to dinner? After all these months?
Now, when she least expected it? Now, when it no longer mattered?
After all the times she’d ached to the bottom of her heart for some attention from him, he was finally asking her out on a date? Now?
“That is, if you’re free.”
“Uh... yes, sure... that would be nice.”
“Great. How about if I pick you up around five-thirty? Unless that’s too early for you?”
“Five-thirty will be fine.”
“I’ll see you then.”
“Thanks, Paul.” Cait felt numb. There wasn’t any other way to describe it.
It was as if her dreams were finally beginning to play themselves out—too late.
Paul, whom she’d loved from afar for so long, wanted to take her to dinner.
She should be dancing around the office with glee, or at least feeling something other than this peculiar dull sensation in the pit of her stomach.
If this was such a significant, exciting, hoped-for event, why didn’t she feel any of the exhilaration she’d expected?
After taking a moment to collect her thoughts, Cait walked down the hallway to Lindy’s office and found her friend on the phone. Lindy glanced up, smiled feebly in Cait’s direction, then abruptly dropped her gaze as if the call demanded her full concentration.
Cait waited a couple of minutes, then decided to return later when Lindy wasn’t so busy.
She needed to talk to her friend, needed her counsel.
Lindy had always encouraged Cait in her dreams of a relationship with Paul.
When she was discouraged, it was Lindy who bolstered her sagging spirits.
Yes, it was definitely time for a talk. She’d try to get Lindy to confide in her, too.
Cait valued Lindy’s friendship; true, she couldn’t help being hurt that the person she considered one of her best friends would give notice to leave the firm without even discussing it with her.
But Lindy must’ve had her reasons. And maybe she, too, needed some support right about now.
Hearing her own phone ring, Cait hurried back to her office. She was consistantly busy from then on. The New York Stock Exchange was due to close in a matter of minutes when Joe happened by.
“Hi,” Cait greeted him, her smile wide and welcoming. Her gaze connected with Joe’s and he returned her smile. Her heart reacted automatically, leaping with sheer happiness.
“Hi, yourself.” He sauntered into her office and threw himself down in the same chair Paul had taken earlier, stretching his long legs in front of him and folding his hands over his stomach. “So how’s the world of finance doing this fine day?”
“About as well as usual.”
“Then we’re in deep trouble,” he joked.
His smile was infectious. It always had been, but Cait had initially resisted him. Her defenses had weakened, though, and she responded readily with a smile of her own.
“You done for the day?”
“Just about.” She checked the time. In another five minutes, New York would be closing down. There were several items she needed to clear from her desk, but nothing pressing. “Why?”
“Why?” It was little short of astonishing how far Joe’s eyebrows could reach, Cait noted, all but disappearing into his hairline.
“Can’t a man ask a simple question?” Joe asked.
“Of course.” The banter between them was like a well-rehearsed play. Never had Cait been more at ease with a man—or had more fun with a man. Or with anyone, really. “What I want to know is whether ‘simple’ refers to the question or to the man asking it.”
“Ouch,” Joe said, grinning broadly. “Those claws are sharp this afternoon.”
“Actually today’s been good.” Or at least it had since he’d arrived.
“I’m glad to hear it. How about dinner?” He jumped to his feet and pretended to waltz around her office, playing a violin.
“You and me. Wine and moonlight and music. Romance and roses.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her suggestively.
“You work too hard. You always have. I want you to enjoy life a little more. It would be good for both of us.”
Joe didn’t need to give her an incentive to go out with him. Cait was thrilled at the mere idea. Joe made her laugh, made her feel good about herself and the world. Of course, he possessed a remarkable talent for driving her crazy, too. But she supposed a little craziness was good for the spirit.
“Only promise me you won’t wear those high heels of yours,” he chided, pressing his hand to the small of his back. “I’ve suffered excruciating back pains ever since Paul’s Christmas party.”
Paul’s name seemed to leap out and grab Cait by the throat. “Paul,” she repeated, sagging against the back of her chair. “Oh, dear.”
“I know you consider him a dear,” Joe teased. “What has your stalwart employer done this time?”
“He asked me out to dinner,” Cait admitted, frowning. “Out of the blue this morning he popped into my office and invited me to dinner as if we’d been dating for months. I was so stunned, I didn’t know what to think.”
“What did you tell him?” Joe seemed to consider the whole thing a huge joke. “Wait—” he held up his hand “—you don’t need to answer that. I already know. You sprang at the offer.”
“I didn’t exactly spring,” she said, somewhat offended by Joe’s attitude.
The least he could do was show a little concern.
She’d spent Christmas with him, and according to his own mother this was the first time he’d ever brought a woman home for the holiday.
Furthermore, despite his insisting to all and sundry that they were married, he certainly didn’t seem to mind her seeing another man.
“I’ll bet you nearly went into shock.” A smile trembled at the edges of his mouth as if he was picturing her reaction to Paul’s invitation and finding it all terribly entertaining.