Once again she was operating on the principle of giving her friend the benefit of the doubt. It had worked with Angelo.
Looking unconvinced by her assurance, he asked, “Have you spoken to her?”
“No. She wasn’t at her desk when security walked me out and she hasn’t returned my call.”
“My second in command will be attending the remedial management training course on human resource development.”
She felt a twinge of sympathy for the general manager. “That will be quite the come-down.”
“Particularly if you teach it.”
She laughed. “I no longer work for Primo Tech.”
“This is true.” He buried his hand in her hair and brushed his fingers through it to the ends. “That’s so damn silky. I’m hoping you’ll take a position closer to me.”
“What?” First he was talking about her hair and then a job offer? “Are you offering me a position in your main office?”
“In my life.”
“You mean you don’t want me working for you?”
“Of course I want you working for me. Do you think I want a brain like yours going to a competitor?”
She warmed at the compliment, but still wasn’t sure what he was driving at. “Um…I’m getting confused here.”
“I’m hoping you’ll take your next job…working for me…as Tara Gordon rather than Tara Peters.”
She swallowed and then plunged. “Yes.”
He looked like he’d been turned to stone. “You will marry me?”
“As soon as you like.”
“You are serious.”
“Very.”
“No big production?” he asked, sounding very satisfied.
“No, but I’d like my mom and Darren there, and Danette.”
“Done.” He kissed her again and this time they were both disheveled and missing some clothes when they came up for air.
She still had her bra on, but her shirt was gone and his was completely unbuttoned. His tie hung over the back of the couch and his suit jacket was in a crumpled pile on the floor.
He was looking at her like a starving man facing a five-course meal. “I want you.”
She rested against the hard warmth of his chest. “I want you, too.”
“But we’re waiting.”
“Until we’re married?” she asked, an unnamed emotion making her heart squeeze.
“Yes.”
It felt right and she smiled, glad that she’d agreed to marry quickly. She liked the idea he wanted to wait, but she didn’t think either of their self-control could stand up to a long engagement. “We’re going to have one heck of a wedding night.”
“Count on it.”
The buzzer for the front door sounded again.
“Are you expecting anyone else?”
“No.” But she got up.
“This time use the intercom.”
She pressed the gray button, thinking she should have done it before. Never mind it being some deranged criminal, what if Angelo had been a reporter? “Who is it?”
“Tara?”
“Yes.”
“It’s Danette. Can I come up?”
“Of course, hon.” She buzzed the entry lock and then dove for her shirt.
“Button up, Angelo. Danette’s on her way up.”
“Worried if she sees my manly chest she’ll swoon?”
“Maybe.” She winked. “But mostly I don’t want to advertise what we’ve been doing for the last half hour.”
“You’re a conservative little soul, all things considered.”
She shrugged, but bit her lip. “Does that bother you?”
“No. I was raised by a traditional Sicilian woman, you’ve got to remember. Before my father died, she defined the term conservative.”
“I wish I could have met her.”
His eyes clouded over. “Me, too.”
There was a knock on the door and Angelo answered it because he was closer.
Danette stared at him as if she was seeing a ghost. “Mr. Gordon?”
“Angelo. I’ve eaten meat from your barbecue. That puts us on a first name basis.”
At that, Danette’s eyes filled with tears and her fist flew to her mouth, but the sound of a sob escaped.
Tara rushed across the room and threw her arms around her friend. “It’s okay, hon. Truly. We know you didn’t have anything to do with it.”
She wasn’t totally sure about what Angelo believed, but he wasn’t acting all cold and accusatory, for which she was grateful.
“But Ray did.” And then the sobs escalated.
Tara held Danette until she calmed down and stepped away, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief Angelo handed her.
She took a deep breath and then let it out, her eyes wounded pools in her tear ravaged face. “He doesn’t understand why I’m so angry.”
“The idiot. I’m sorry.”
“Me, too. I broke up with him.” Her lip quivered, but she maintained control. “I can’t believe I let myself love that slimeball.”
“Aw, hon…”
Her gaze darted to Angelo. “I quit my job, too. Told Primo Tech what they could do with their management training program after I found out you’d been fired.”
“I’ll get you reinstated,” Angelo said without hesitation.
Danette shook her head. “Thank you, but I need to get away. I’ve lived here all my life and been protected for most of it.” She bit her lip and swallowed. “I want adventure. I thought Ray was it, but I was wrong.”
Tara’s heart broke for her friend.
“Maybe I could help find you something.” Angelo said.
A glimmer of hope sparked in Danette’s eyes. “Seriously? You mean it?”
“Yes.”
“Aren’t you mad at me?”
“You are not responsible for the malicious behavior of your former boyfriend.”
“I’ll never make another scrapbook page again.”
Tara gave her a hug around her shoulders. “Let’s not get hasty. One scheming photographer does not the death of a hobby make.”
Danette gave her a weak smile.
They talked her into staying for dinner. When Angelo discovered she spoke both Spanish and Italian, he said it would be a piece of cake to get her a job abroad if she’d like.
Danette left with a smile on her face, despite the sadness in her eyes.
Tara frowned at the closed door Danette had just walked through. “I’d like to punch Ray right in the nose.”
“I’ve done better than that. I’ve instigated proceedings against