by Mary Andrews
your salmon and stop calling me Mr. Hughes. I mean it!” He reached across the table and grasped Stephanie’s free hand in his, bringing it to his lips for a soft kiss. “I’ll show you professional, Ms. Bell.” There was no getting around it. Stephanie had just become one of Jack’s rescued maidens.
3.
Stephanie spent the next few days avoiding Jack, although she was glad to hear Laticia had found the exact evidence of the handwritten account numbers that Stephanie had described. It was always on funds transfer requests to new clients. Jack left this information in a voicemail on Stephanie’s phone. She spent time cleaning the condo, and compiling a list of managers who had access to her floor at work, or who had traveled to their London office or worked there before. Jack advised her to include anyone and everyone who came to mind. He’d then trim the list by researching who was in financial trouble. He also asked Laticia if any managers had resigned around Thanksgiving, thinking the individual may have left the bank for good.
A week after Thanksgiving, Holly informed Stephanie she wanted to sell their condo as soon as possible, and move back home with her family. Holly had not changed her mind about returning to work.
“I’m thinking about going back to college for a master’s degree,” she told Stephanie when they got together to choose items to donate to charity from their condo. In Stephanie’s opinion, this was at least good news regarding her friend. She hoped Holly would get back to her old self soon.
Stephanie didn’t have her heart set on keeping the condo by herself. She was mulling her options when Laticia called from the office. Both Stephanie and Holly had been cleared by the internal investigation into the fraudulent wire transfer, and their suspensions were over. Stephanie didn’t tell Laticia anything about Holly, but thanked her for all her help. Relief washed over her, and Stephanie closed her eyes in silent thanks. Laticia didn’t have any details about where the investigation was headed now, although she wondered whether they’d concentrate on the London office next. Stephanie agreed to come in on Monday.
Stephanie called her mother in Paris and her sister in Chicago with the good news. The women firmed up their plans to be together for Christmas in their mother’s apartment on the outskirts of Paris. Their family friend, Henrik Muller, would also be there with his sister Helen. Years ago, Henrik had been mentored by Stephanie’s father and had always remained close to their family.
Stephanie’s mother convinced her to call Henrik to tell him about the suspension being over. She hadn’t realized how much Henrik had been worrying about her. When she hung up the phone, Stephanie felt grateful that so many people cared about her. Although she had mixed feelings about Jack, she forced herself to call him next. He had worked hard on her behalf, and Jack deserved to know the good news as well. Toward the end of the conversation, Stephanie agreed to come have dinner with Jack’s family.
Stephanie walked into the Hughes’ kitchen, and found Jack’s mother dusted with flour to her elbows and pounding dough on the table top. Jack pushed her toward a stool, and took one for himself. His mother smiled at them and continued to work.
“There’s no conversation with Mother when she’s in her element,” Jack commented, “but the meal will be to die for!”
“We’re so pleased to have you for dinner,” Mrs. Hughes puffed out a breath as she placed the dough expertly on a cookie sheet, which disappeared in the oven.
As promised, the meal was to die for: homemade lasagna and a big salad, plus the fabulous bread, still warm from the oven. Jack’s father was humorous but tired quickly. His mother was always terrific company. Jack himself was quieter than usual, obviously worrying about his father, and whether he was going to see the doctor the following week.
“That was delicious,” Jack had gotten his father’s agreement about the doctor, and turned to his mother. “I especially liked the bread.” He took Stephanie’s hand. “What did you think?” he asked her.
“I can’t speak, since I’m too full,” she smiled at Mrs. Hughes. “Thank you so much!”
“And now the good news, Mother,” Jack added. “Somehow I’ve worn down Stephanie’s defenses, and we are officially dating.”
“I guessed as much, my dear, and I couldn’t be more pleased!” Jack’s mother beamed. Stephanie was going to point out that they had not been on an official date yet, but decided against it.
“How can you say we are dating?” She asked Jack pointedly as they walked to her car. “We haven’t been on a single date! Working for me doesn’t count.”
“You know how much my mother adores you. I just wanted to make her happy,” Jack walked with his normal confidence, and took her hand in his.
“You also know I came here to give you the list. Haven’t you noticed I’ve been avoiding you? We are not dating.” Stephanie tried to pull her hand out his grasp.
“You’ve been avoiding me, because you don’t want to be a rescued maiden,” Jack stopped by Stephanie’s car, and pulled her into his arms. “None of that matters now. Your suspension would be over regardless of what I’ve done. I just moved it along a little faster.” Jack tucked a strand of hair back inside Stephanie’s cap. “You said you like me, I said I like you. What else do we need to start dating?”
“Maybe I’ve changed my mind.” Stephanie tried to think objectively. Why was it that she didn’t want to date Jack? Her brain wasn’t functioning when he was holding her.
“If you’ve changed your mind, don’t kiss me,” Jack said calmly, lowering his mouth to hers. Stephanie’s response was out of her control. Her hands went to his hair, and her lips parted to let his tongue in her mouth. Jack unbuttoned her coat, and slid his arms around her waist. The kiss deepened.
Stephanie tried to catch her breath and pull away. “You taste like lasagna,” he murmured and let go of her mouth. Instead, he kissed the side of her neck and down toward her cleavage. “Tell me now,” his voice was hoarse. “Have you changed your mind?”
Stephanie’s heart was racing, and she couldn’t speak. Jack’s hands were sliding up toward her breasts, and she knew this had to stop.
“Jack, stop this instant!” Somehow Stephanie pulled back, and closed her coat. “We’re outside, for God’s sake, you can’t kiss me like that in public.”
“I was trying to prove a point,” Jack’s eyes flashed at her, and he took a deep breath. “You haven’t changed your mind. You have to admit it, we have tremendous chemistry.”
Stephanie pressed her fob to open her car door, and sat in the driver’s seat. Jack held the door open, continuing to look at her. “I admit nothing,” she replied, “but okay, maybe I haven’t changed my mind.” Jack’s eyes disappeared altogether as a wide smile split his face.
“I knew it! Say out loud that we are dating. Come on now, you can do it.”
“Fine. We’re dating, but we’re going to an expensive restaurant on a real date.”
“What about the list? Do you still want me to research the names?”
“Of course. I still want to know who did it, and why.”
“I’ll give you a full report before our date this Saturday, seven o’clock.” Jack closed the car door, still smiling. Stephanie drove home, admitting to herself she was dating Jack Hughes.
Saturday was a rainy day, and it brought a surprising announcement from Holly. Apparently Holly’s father wanted to buy the condo from Stephanie and Holly, and rent it out as one of his rental investments. He’d sold two units the previous year and wanted to add a newer unit to his portfolio.
The three of them met in the afternoon and agreed to a reasonable price, and the girls signed papers accepting the offer at the same time. Holly and her father left to go Christmas shopping together. The closing would be in two weeks, a few days before Stephanie departed for Paris for Christmas.
Stephanie didn’t have a lot of time to decide where to relocate. She thought briefly about moving to
Paris to live near her mother. Henrik, who lived in Germany, would love that. It’d mean getting a new job in a totally new environment. Then her thoughts reverted to Jack, and the excitement she felt when she was with him. If she wanted to date Jack, she’d have to find a place to live nearby. With this scenario, Stephanie could return to her old job, and Laticia would be pleased.
Seven o’clock came too quickly, and Stephanie was still combing her hair when Jack arrived. She made him wait a few minutes. When he saw her, Jack’s reaction was worth the extra effort she’d put into getting ready for their date.
“Wow, Stephanie! You’re even more beautiful than at Thanksgiving,” Jack’s eyes were warm, and he hugged her carefully, so as not to disturb her hair. He was wearing cowboy boots with jeans, a nice shirt and suit jacket. Stephanie’s dark blue dress matched the color of his tie, which he pointed out to her. She smiled at him, but he seemed subdued. Their usual banter was off. Jack took her by the hand and they went to sit at the dining room table.
“Your list had 14 names,” Jack got right to the point, “and over half of them were easy to eliminate. Some of the managers were on vacation, some out of the country, and some were on video from other cameras in the building during the time period that the wire transfer took place. There were eight names left that
