“But you’d gotten directions from Maggie, hadn’t you?” Kane asked.
“Yes, thanks to your suggestion. He soon got back on track.”
Jack noticed Maggie smiling at Sharon, then nodding, as if answering a question. He frowned and turned back to Sharon. “Everything all right?”
“Yes, of course.” Her smile dimmed, but it was still a smile.
The waiter appeared and Kane ordered an expensive wine to start them off, but Maggie hurriedly said, “None for me, please.”
“Me, neither,” Sharon added, meeting Maggie’s questioning look.
“Well, then, gentlemen, it looks like it’ll be up to us he-men to drink the wine. But I think we’ll be up to the challenge. Now, do we want appetizers?” Before anyone could comment, he ordered a tray of various appetizers, then sent the waiter away until everyone could have time to study the menu.
He leaned over and whispered something to Maggie, but she shook her head no. Jack wished he could be as informal with Sharon. He had several things he’d like to whisper in her ear. But he also still had to worry about what she’d told Kane about being trapped in the elevator.
There was still a nibbling of suspicion that she might be trying to force him to offer marriage, or at least a money settlement, for what had happened. Not that she didn’t deserve some recompense for his losing control, but he’d hate to discover that was her plan.
“As I was saying,” Kane began again. “I had no idea you were the man trapped in the elevator. Sharon said you were a complete gentleman, of course, but I thought maybe dinner tonight would let you know how sorry we are that it happened.”
The alluring woman beside him didn’t raise her gaze from the menu.
“Thanks, Sharon, for praising me. I thought, between the two of us, we got through it pretty well.”
“Sharon had to have stitches,” Maggie said. “Did you suffer a like fate, Jack?”
“No, I didn’t. I’m not sure where Sharon cut herself, either. You haven’t told me what happened, Sharon.”
She looked at him as if he’d made a big mistake. Then she muttered, “The cut was nothing. We’re fortunate there were no bigger injuries. And I really appreciate that you had the elevators checked at once, Kane.”
Jack didn’t repeat that question. But he made a mental note to ask it again, when they were alone.
Andy reached over and turned Sharon’s arm. “Is it going to leave a scar?” he asked.
Sharon pulled her arm away. “I’m sure it won’t.”
“We can pay for plastic surgery,” Kane offered.
“No, please, I’m fine. I saw the blueprints of Jack’s project this morning. It’s going to be a magnificent building.” Sharon obviously didn’t want to be in the limelight.
Jack assisted her by telling several amusing stories about the project coming together. All the while, he went over the cut, the praise she’d heaped upon him without revealing what had actually occurred. Was she setting him up for blackmail?
The picture she presented made that hard to believe, but he’d been around for a while. His wife had had a butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-my-mouth look, but she’d trapped him into marriage.
But being trapped by Sharon wouldn’t be all bad. He’d have the right to touch her, then. To hold her against him all through the night. To make his dreams real. Maybe then he’d get a decent night’s sleep. Or at least losing his sleep would be for a worthwhile purpose.
He realized the waiter had returned and the two ladies were ordering. Both did so in flawless French. He stared at Sharon in surprise. “Good job. Willing to help me? I was never good at languages.”
“Of course. Do you know what you want?” She blushed and added, “I mean, steak, chicken, fish?”
“Steak,” he said firmly.
She told him his choices, then reminded him that the French served steak rare. He ordered his medium-well. The waiter wrote his order down with a sneer of disdain on his face. Since Andy and Kane also wanted their steaks cooked, Jack didn’t feel bad.
When the waiter had left the table, Maggie told a story about traveling in France. When she’d finished, Jack asked Sharon if she’d traveled in France, since her accent was so good.
“No, but I had some excellent teachers.”
Kane leaned forward. “Don’t you want to go?”
“Yes, I do, but I just finished my degree, Kane, and I hope to get my Master’s also. Someday I’ll manage to go,” she assured him with a calm smile.
Immediately, Jack envisioned himself showing the beauty of Paris to Sharon. He knew, from her interest today that she’d love the architecture. “Do you like art?”
“Most art. I’m a fan of the Impressionists.”
“Then you definitely must go to Paris.”
She nodded. “But I’m not deprived of art here in Chicago. We have great museums. I go to the Art Institute frequently, and there are a lot of smaller museums.”
“Too bad you couldn’t go with that lady yesterday. What was her name?”
Jack realized Kane was watching them and wasn’t surprised when Kane questioned Sharon. She explained, “Deedee West was in our department. She had a spare ticket for a showing at the Art Institute.”
Andy snapped his fingers. “Oh, that’s the showing of the armor through the ages. It’s amazing how small men were back then. Neither of you guys could fit into any of it.”
Sharon was surprised that she enjoyed herself. The food was delicious. She was glad she’d chosen chicken, along with Maggie. The steaks were cooked medium, at best, and she couldn’t have faced it.
Her dress had been a surprise, too. She had found it almost at once, and it had fitted perfectly. And, as Maggie had said, the price was reasonable. She’d already thought of several different ways to change it.
She’d borrowed her mother’s shawl tonight, a long-ago gift from an elderly aunt.
In fact, everything had gone well. Maybe she could do this after all. As long as she had someone with her. In addition to the man beside her. Just sitting next to him brought back so many memories of their time in the elevator. A time she needed to forget.
She switched her thoughts to her mother. Tonight, she and her beau had gone out to dinner, too. He seemed very nice. Her mother had met him at church, and they’d become friends first. But Sharon couldn’t help but worry. It would destroy her mother if she were betrayed again.
She suddenly realized everyone was getting ready to leave. “Oh, sorry, I was daydreaming,” she said with a smile and stood to gather her shawl around her.
“We couldn’t convince you two ladies to have dessert, so I guess we’ll have to end the evening,” Kane said with a teasing look. “Besides, Maggie says she needs her beauty sleep.”
Jack said, “I can’t imagine any two women who are in less need of more beauty.”
“Nicely said,” Maggie returned with a smile.
Sharon felt much more awkward. “Thank you,” she murmured.
Suddenly, she remembered she needed to call a taxi. She’d get the concierge to do so when they got to the front of the restaurant.
When they reached the lobby, it was as crowded as when they came in. But she stepped to the podium and asked the gentleman to call a cab.
“Not necessary,” Jack said and handed several bills to the man.
“What are you doing? I need to get home.”
He took her elbow and moved her toward the door. “I’ll see you home. I’m not sure it’s safe to take a cab alone this late in the evening.”
There was one cab standing outside the restaurant and Sharon tried to head toward it, but Andy rolled to it before she managed more than a step. She knew Andy lived in the opposite direction to her, so she didn’t arm wrestle Jack for her freedom. Kane turned around, after giving his receipt to the parking attendant. “Oh, Sharon! I forgot about getting you a cab. Let me—”
“I’m taking her home,” Jack said firmly.
Kane stared at him, but Sharon not
ed that Jack’s gaze flicked to Maggie, then back to Kane.
“All right with you, Kane?” he asked.
Something was going on. Sharon just wasn’t sure what.
“Yes, thank you, Jack. I’m sure Sharon will appreciate the ride. It’s a nice, friendly gesture.”
“Yeah. Thanks for the dinner. It was a pleasure.”
“We enjoyed it, too. See you tomorrow, Sharon.” Maggie bid her goodbye, too. And Sharon was left standing on the sidewalk, in Jack’s clutches.
chapter seven
Jack laughed at himself under his breath. He felt like a middle-school boy, dying to get the girl alone, but not sure what to do once he does.
He looked at Sharon. “Comfy?”
“Sure. Who wouldn’t be in this car?” she asked, rubbing her hand on the leather seat. “Very nice.”
“Thanks.” He was proud of his car, a Mercedes. “Better than a taxi?”
She shot him a look that told him he was pushing. “You know it is, but there was no need for you to take me home. I would’ve been fine in a taxi.”
“I know, but I don’t ever get you alone.”
She did a double take. “Don’t be ridiculous. We don’t need to be alone.”
“Yes, we do. I have lots I want to ask you.”
She seemed to shrink within herself, which worried him. Was she hiding something? What did she fear he might ask her?
“Like, was your father in construction? You were so relaxed with my crew, I thought—”
“My father, for the five years I knew him, sold insurance.” Her voice was clipped. No regret in it.
“Five years?”
“I told you in the elevator he wasn’t in the picture.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t realize he—you were only five. Did he die?”
“Nope. He just moved on to greener fields, leaving my mother with five children. I’m the oldest.”
He noticed she was staring out the passenger window, not looking at him. “That must’ve been hard.”
“We managed.”
“And that’s why you still live at home, helping your brothers and sisters get through school?”
“Someone had to.”
He chuckled again.
“What?” she demanded, irritation in her voice.
“I was thinking about what my sister’s response would be. The least selfish thing she does is shop.”
Sharon stared at him. “Why is that unselfish?”
“Because she’s doing her part to fuel the economy,” he explained, mock surprise on his face.
Sharon couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “That’s an interesting theory.”
He liked making her laugh. Even in the elevator, he’d distracted her from her fears long enough to occasionally hear that sexy laugh of hers.
“I gather your sister doesn’t have money shortages?”
“None of my family does. Didn’t you know?”
A bewildered look on her face encouraged him.
“No. I know Kane said you’re an important client but—I assumed your company was doing okay.”
“It’s doing more than okay, but I didn’t work my way up from poverty.”
“Lucky you.”
“Could be lucky you if you intend to sue me.” He purposely didn’t look at her, keeping his gaze on the road.
Sharon said nothing for several minutes, and Jack figured he’d surprised her by guessing her intent.
“Is that what is going on? You wanted to talk to me because you’re afraid I’ll sue you?” she asked, her words stiff. “You think I’ll sue you for having sex with me in the elevator?”
“I lost control. You may think I owe you for that.”
“You lost control because I lost control first. If I hadn’t had hysterics, I doubt we would’ve progressed as we did.”
He risked a glance out of the corner of his eye and found her staring straight ahead, her jaw squared. “So, you’re not going to sue me?”
“No. Do you want me to sign a release? Have your lawyer draw something up. I’ll sign it and fax it to you. You won’t have to waste any more time on our ‘incident’.”
She crossed her arms across her chest and looked away.
“That wasn’t the only reason I wanted to spend time with you, honey,” he murmured gently.
“My name is Sharon, not honey,” she snapped.
He tried to make amends for her anger. “What we shared was special, Sharon, but I had to know—”
“That the price wasn’t too high? So you see me as a high-priced prostitute? I suppose I should be pleased that you don’t think I’m a common, run-of-the-mill lady of the evening.”
“Stop that! I’m trying to tell you—”
“I don’t want to hear anything you have to tell me. Just stay away from me.” She turned her shoulders away and leaned her head against the window.
“Sharon, you’ve misunderstood.”
Nothing.
Okay, fine, he’d let her sulk for a while. She’d given him directions to her home earlier. They drove in silence. Occasionally, he’d look in her direction for some letup in animosity, but she remained turned away.
Coming to a stop in front of her house, he put the car in park and turned off the engine. Still she didn’t move. “Do you want to have a civil discussion now?” he finally asked.
She refused to answer him, which only irritated him more. Definitely being difficult. He reached out and touched her arm. “Sharon?”
A slight sound startled him. He leaned forward so he could see her face, and the noise was repeated. A ladylike snore. Sharon had fallen asleep.
He couldn’t believe it. He’d waited for her to get over her snit, to apologize for exaggerating. Instead of agonizing over their conversation, she fell asleep. He shook her arm. “Sharon?”
Her head lolled back against the soft leather, but she didn’t awaken. He stared at her. What was he supposed to do now? Unlocking his door, he circled the car and opened hers, practically catching her as she fell into his arms.
Lifting her against his chest, he pushed the door shut with his shoe. “Baby, when you sleep, you really sleep,” he muttered. He’d never seen anyone sleep so deeply.
He crossed the modest lawn and hoped her mother was home to open the door. Leaning on the doorbell with his elbow, he then stood back and waited.
The door swung open and an attractive woman, quite similar to Sharon in looks, stared at him, surprise on her face, then concern. “Sharon! Is she all right?”
“She’s asleep. I tried to wake her, but she must be really tired.”
Her mother hesitated, then said, “She sleeps deeply,” she assured him as she swung open the door. “Do you mind carrying her to her bedroom?”
“Of course not.” In fact, he kind of liked carrying her. Besides, it was a one-story house.
A man appeared behind the woman. “Is everything all right, Edith?”
“Yes. Sharon has fallen asleep,” she said to him with a soft smile that told Jack a lot.
“Right down the hall, the first door on the left,” Edith called out as Jack moved past her.
He nudged open the door, stopping a minute to stare at Sharon’s personal space. There was no coldness here. Memories filled the room, from pictures to keepsakes. There were twin beds, very fiftyish. It was tidier than he would’ve expected, but most of all, it was warm and welcoming.
Hearing a step behind him, he asked, “Which bed?”
“The one by the window,” Edith said. “Let me turn down the covers first.”
She did so, and he eased Sharon to the bed, reluctantly withdrawing his arms. Without ever opening her eyes, Sharon turned on her side and curled into her pillow.
He frowned. She must need the sleep badly.
Edith said softly, “I appreciate your carrying her in, Mr. Waterton.”
“You know who I am?” he asked in surprise.
“She told me she was going to dinner with you, Andy and Mr. Haley. I’ve met
both of them so I assumed—”
“Right. Look, I’ll call Kane in the morning and let him know, but I don’t want you to wake Sharon in the morning. Let her sleep in. I’m worried about her health.”
Edith stared at him, surprise on her face. “You are?”
“This kind of exhaustion isn’t normal.”
“Oh, but—yes, you’re probably right. Thank you for your concern. You’re sure it will be all right for her to go in late?”
“Oh, yeah. Tell her I’ll talk to her tomorrow afternoon.” Then he wrenched his gaze away from the beautiful young woman who seemed to occupy his mind most of the time. “Good night,” he said and left the house.
* * *
Sharon stretched beneath the covers, a smile on her lips. She felt good. She didn’t often sleep in on Saturday mornings, but she was glad she hadn’t set her alarm.
After last night’s—last night was Thursday. Today wasn’t Saturday. It was Friday. Her eyes snapped open to stare at the alarm clock beside her bed. It was ten-fifteen.
When she finally took in the time, she sat bolt upright. Ten-fifteen! She couldn’t imagine what had happened. Last night she’d gone to dinner with Kane, Maggie and Andy… and Jack. Then Jack had insisted on taking her home.
After he’d accused her of intending to sue him, her memory stopped. Oh, dear, she’d fallen asleep.
But how had she gotten into bed?
She got up and began racing about the room, gathering her clothes, until her head and stomach told her to stop. She sank back down, taking deep breaths to control the nausea. Remain calm.
As she followed her own advice, she saw the note.
Dear Sharon,
Mr. Waterton said for you to sleep in. He would explain to your boss. Hope that’s okay. You certainly seemed to need to sleep.
Love Mom
Sharon lost her focus on staying calm, wishing Jack was close enough for her to kick him in the shins.
What was he trying to do, ruin her career as well as her life?
She grabbed the phone and dialed Andy’s number. When he answered, she began in a rush. “Andy, it’s Sharon. I overslept. I’ll be in by noon and will work late this evening to make up for it. I’m so sorry.”
When The Lights Went Out... Page 7
