Instead, he would remind himself of his plan and continue to act on it. Cathy was physically better. Now he’d offered her a job. He was well on his way to fixing her and her life. Soon she wouldn’t need him anymore, and he could set her free.
But the idea of Cathy being gone was even more painful than the wanting, so he pushed that thought away. He was doing the right thing for the right reason. The desire had no place in this.
He shifted until he was facing his desk again, punched a button on his computer keyboard and went back to work. But it was nearly an hour until the throbbing subsided to a manageable level, and that night, despite a healthy dose of Scotch, he was restless. When he slept, he dreamed of making love with Cathy, waking to a sweat-slicked body and a hardness aching for release.
* * *
Cathy pulled back the drapes and stared out at the morning. As usual the sky was clear and the ocean a deep shade of blue. “I don’t have to leave,” she said softly to herself, and grinned. It was all too wonderful to believe.
As she showered and dressed, she made a mental list of everything she had to do. She agreed with Stone that she should rent out her house in North Hollywood. Today she would find a broker who handled that sort of thing and sign the necessary papers. She also wanted to pack up her personal belongings and store them in the little room off the garage. She should probably get a post-office box somewhere close, too, so she could have her mail forwarded. So many things, she thought, happy to be busy at last.
She returned to the bathroom to apply her makeup. It was Saturday. She would start working for Stone on Monday morning. A flutter of excitement rippled through her. The thought of the new job was a little scary, but she was determined to work as hard as she could to be successful. This was a terrific opportunity, and she wasn’t going to blow it.
She reached for her compact of blusher, then stared at herself and laughed. She didn’t need the color in her cheeks; she was already glowing. Cathy chuckled. Her happiness wasn’t all about her new job, either. Some of it was about the kiss.
She sighed softly and closed her eyes. Instantly she was transported back to those few moments in Stone’s arms. Her body began to tingle as she remembered being so close to him. She could recall the scent of him, his heat, the way his hands had felt against her back and waist. His had been the most amazing kiss of her life.
Cathy opened her eyes. “Not that I have a whole lot to compare it to,” she reminded herself.
There had been a couple of kisses in high school at different parties when kissing games had been played. But she’d never had a boyfriend. She’d been shy and standoffish, mostly because of her mother. It had been too dangerous to let anyone get close. She couldn’t have risked someone wanting to come home with her ever. So she’d refused the few tentative offers she’d had.
Her only other kissing experience had come at an acquaintance’s summer party a couple of years after high school. Cathy didn’t remember very much about the night, except it had been very hot and the college boys had spiked the drinks. She did recall one young man cornering her by the billiard table. He’d pushed her into the shadows, murmured something about her being quiet but sexy. Then he’d stuck his tongue in her mouth and his hand down her shorts. She’d been too stunned to react. He’d taken her silence as agreement and had started pushing her toward one of the bedrooms. Cathy had escaped by asking him to get her a drink, then ducking out a side door and walking home. At the time, she’d decided that the kissing they talked about in books was highly overrated and she wasn’t ever going to worry if she didn’t do it again.
But now everything had changed. Stone’s kiss hadn’t been anything like the ones she’d experienced before. She’d liked it and she wanted him to do it again. Not that he would, she thought as she put her makeup away and headed toward the door. She was going to be working for him, and that meant they would have a professional relationship. She just wished there was a way she could have it all.
Ula was in the kitchen when Cathy arrived. She quashed a flash of disappointment that Stone wasn’t there. He rarely joined them in the morning, but sometimes he did and after what had happened yesterday, she’d been hoping this would be one of those special days.
“Good morning,” the housekeeper said as she put a plate of cut-up fruit in front of Cathy. “How did you sleep?”
“Great. And you?”
“Well as always.”
Cathy speared a strawberry. “Did Stone tell you?”
Ula poured them each a cup of coffee, then took her usual seat on the opposite side of the small table. The kitchen itself was large, with restaurant-sized appliances. The floors and countertops gleamed in the bright morning sun. The windows faced east and caught all the early light. Fresh herbs grew in a built-in planter, while several vibrant, healthy plants hung from hooks in the ceiling.
Ula’s dark eyes brightened with curiosity. “Mr. Ward hasn’t told me anything.”
Cathy leaned forward. “I’m not leaving. Stone has offered me a job as his assistant. I start Monday. He said it would be better for him if I continued to live in the house.” Some of her good humor faded. “I hope you don’t mind the extra work.”
“Child, you worry too much.” Ula gave her a smile, then touched the back of her hand. “I’m delighted for you. I could never understand why someone as bright as yourself had gotten locked away in that boring job. Mr. Ward is a demanding boss, but he’s fair. Besides, I suspect you’ve already seen much of his temper is more bark than bite.”
Cathy relaxed into her chair. She hadn’t realized how concerned she’d been about the other woman’s opinion until she’d told her about the job offer. Ula wasn’t an open person and she didn’t let on either her feelings or what she was thinking. But over the past several weeks, Cathy had noticed a softening by the housekeeper. She was glad to know she had the other woman’s approval.
“I have a lot to do today,” Cathy said. She explained about renting out her house and getting a post-office box.
Ula nodded. “You might want to think about picking up a few things to wear, too. Everything you own is loose. Besides, I suspect Mr. Ward will want you to go into the office for him, from time to time. It’s some grand building on the west side. One of those high-rise places. They all dress nice over there.”
Cathy hadn’t thought that far ahead. “You’re right. I still have a few pounds to lose, but I could get a couple of things now and fill in as I go. There’s a nice mall at the intersection of the 101 and 405 freeways. I’ll stop there on my way back.” She smiled. “Thanks for the suggestion.”
“You’re a sweet girl. You’ll do well for Mr. Ward. See that you do well for yourself, too.”
“I plan to learn everything I can.” Cathy knew her happiness showed on her face. She couldn’t help beaming. For the first time in her life, everything was going right.
* * *
“I’ve read the prospectus,” Stone said into the phone. When Ula tapped on the door, he motioned for her to enter and put his breakfast tray on his desk. “Yes, I understand what everyone is saying about the IPO. I don’t agree. I think they’re going out too high with their initial public offering of stock and I’m not going to buy. The company has merit and they’re going to be successful, but wait a month. I’m betting that by then the initial price is cut nearly in half. Then we’ll buy.” He listened for a couple of minutes. “Fine. If Johnson disagrees, he can risk his own money, but not my clients’ funds. No, I don’t want to talk to him about it. Uh-huh.” There were a few more protests, then Stone realized Ula was still in the room. She obviously had something on her mind, which was unusual. She rarely interrupted his business day. “I’ll get back to you later,” he said, and hung up the phone.
