by Sherri Hayes
***
As promised, Matthew arrived at Cali’s office just before lunch. His shoulders were set, and he had an air of professionalism that had been missing these last two days. Without saying much of anything, he closed her door and walked to a far corner of the room.
“What are you doing?”
He kept his focus on the ceiling. Glancing over his shoulder, he grabbed a chair, sliding it against the wall. Removing a small object from his right pocket and another from his left, he said, “I’m installing a camera in here.”
Cali waited for him to say something more and to explain what she saw as his irrational behavior. But he didn’t; he just kept on doing his chore. She was about to ask him why he was installing a camera in her office when Jason opened the door and walked in with Lisa on his heels, holding several bags of food. “Cali,” Jason acknowledged with nod of his head before closing the door behind them.
With the sudden flurry of activity in her office, Cali watched Jason help his brother finish things with the camera hook up while Lisa set up the small conference table with the food. Clearly, they were all going to have lunch together in her office.
Aside from the four place settings and Jason’s brief acknowledgement of her presence, Cali could have been a ghost for all the attention they paid her.
Ten minutes later, Matthew climbed down from the chair and pulled out his phone. He punched in a few numbers and showed the screen to Jason who smiled. Obviously, whatever they were looking at pleased them. Finally, Matthew lifted his head and began walking toward her. Holding out the phone so she could see the screen, she noticed it was them. All of them. Here in this room. Now.
She looked up with questioning eyes before darting them to the camera and then back at Matthew. “I’ve set up the camera feed to come directly to my phone. No one will know it even exists except for the four of us.”
Not being able to keep silent any longer, Cali stood. She moved a little too fast and winced. Something changed in Matthew’s eyes. “Are you hurting, Cali?”
“I’m fine.” It was an automatic response. Taking a deep breath, she tried again. It still hurt, but she needed to get this out. “Don’t you think this is a bit much? I mean the chances of someone—” Cali didn’t get to finish.
“I’m not taking chances. That’s the point. I can’t physically be with you every minute of the day, so this is the next best thing.” She opened her mouth to protest again. “You’re not going to change my mind on this.”
It was final. She could see it in his eyes. He wouldn’t budge, and truthfully she didn’t have the strength to argue.
Lisa decided to take that moment to ask if she needed help getting over to the table. Cali declined and moved unassisted to her seat, taking extra care in sitting back down. Matthew watched her closely as she ate. The worry on his face was obvious. She needed to take another pain pill, but they made her sleepy. So she’d put it off for as long as she could.
Matthew decided it had been long enough and pushed himself away from the table and walked to her desk. When he returned, he held two tiny pills in his hand.
Looking her straight in the eye, he said, “And don’t tell me you don’t need them. It’s my job to see the details, and I know you’re in pain.” Not in a condition to argue with him, she took the pills and popped them into her mouth.
The rest of their lunch involved Jason giving them a run down of where the investigation stood. They’d made a fair dent in the list of suspects this morning but still had over thirty names to go. So far, only two individuals were possibilities since they were supposedly alone during the time in question.
Thirty minutes later, Cali was beginning to feel the effects of the medicine. Lisa stood and began to clean up.
“I’ll take you home.” She heard Matthew’s voice suddenly beside her. How had he gotten across the table so fast?
Without the strength to disagree, she just nodded. He helped her stand.
Lisa appeared with her purse and briefcase in hand before hugging her. “I’ll make sure everything here is taken care of. You get some rest.”
“Thank you,” was all Cali could say.
Wrapping his arm around her waist, Matthew helped Cali walk to the elevators.
When the doors opened to reveal Peter, Matthew instinctively held her tighter as Peter’s eyes traveled the length of her body, pausing on Matthew’s arm around her waist longer than necessary.
“Ms. Stanton’s had enough for today, and I am going to see she gets home safely,” Matthew said, answering the unspoken question and stepping inside the elevator.
“Oh. Well, Cali, if you needed a ride home, I would certainly be more than happy to provide one.”
“It’s okay,” she said with a weak smile. “You have to make sure our financials are on track since it doesn’t look like we’re going to be able to meet this week.” Her voice was weak but still clear.
“Alright then. If you need anything, you be sure and call me. I did promise your father I would look after you in his absence.” Cali felt Matthew’s body go rigid and wondered what was going through his mind.
She didn’t have time to ask though as the doors opened. Matthew quickly moved them out of the car, leaving Peter behind.
Waiting until they were in the vehicle and the doors closed, she turned and asked, “Are you okay?”
Matthew gave a small nervous chuckle. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”
Cali laid her head back on the seat as he pulled out. “I’m fine. Just tired.”
Nothing more was said as they drove to the house. He parked around back, helped her into the house and up to her room. She was barely conscious as she leaned against him beside her bed. Knowing she probably shouldn’t sleep in her three-piece suit, Matthew had a dilemma. Could he stand there and undress her while keeping his body and its reactions in check? Should he?
“Help me with my jacket and shoes? Everything else I don’t care about,” she said slowly, making the decision for him.
Following her instructions, he unbuttoned her jacket and tried not to think of the many times he’d done the exact same thing in his dreams. Slipping it down her shoulders, he turned to lay it on the chair at the foot of her bed. When he turned back to face her, she was already sitting. Moving back to her side, he knelt down and removed her shoes from her feet. He couldn’t help that his hand lingered a little too long on her soft ankles.
Shaking off his desire to run his palms up her calves, he stood back up and helped her under the covers. “Just get some sleep. I’ll be right downstairs.”
A soft sigh escaped her lips as her breathing found a steady rhythm, and she fell asleep. Matthew stood at the door for a few minutes, watching her. She was beautiful.
He pulled the door closed and walked down the stairs to Alvin’s study before his body betrayed him again. Pulling out his laptop, he connected to his computer at the office and picked up where he’d left off before lunch.
The sound of movement on the stairs brought him out of his trance. He got like that sometimes when he worked especially when it was something important.
And this was, perhaps, the most important project of his life, at least since returning home, and definitely the most meaningful to him personally.
Closing his laptop down, he moved cautiously to the hall. Knowing it was probably Cali didn’t mean he would take unnecessary chances. Looking around the corner, he saw her copper hair as she limped into the kitchen. Without pause, he followed her.
She’d just opened the refrigerator door. “Hungry?” he asked, leaning casually against the archway.
Cali jerked slightly. She hadn’t heard him approach even though she knew he was in the house somewhere. Glancing over her shoulder, she said, “Yeah. A little.”
Pushing off the wall, he strolled over to her. “What are you in the mood for?”
“Pizza is sounding really good, but I don’t think we have any,” she said with a frown. “My dad isn’t really big on p
izza.” Matthew raised his eyebrows at this with a who didn’t like pizza look clearly written on his face. Cali laughed and then groaned as the movement sent pain to her sides. “Strange, I know, but true. He’s more of a steak and potatoes type of guy.”
Matthew smiled. “Can’t argue with steak and potatoes.” He paused. “How about we have one delivered?” he said, already reaching for the phone. “What do you like on your pizza?”
Shutting the door to the fridge, “I can do anything but anchovies.”
“Ah, my kind of girl,” Matthew said with a huge smile and then caught himself.
Where had that come from? She was not his girl and never would be. Ignoring Cali’s stunned expression, he turned his attention to ordering the pizza.
***
That night Cali lay in bed reflecting on her day. Matthew had gone into protective mode where she was concerned. When he’d told her father he wouldn’t let her out of his sight, it hadn’t been far from the truth. And now, with the addition of a camera in her office, she would have less time out of his sights.
Cali wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Having Matthew around was nice, more than nice, but also very confusing. And then today in her office—their kiss, well almost kiss—she wasn’t sure if touching lips for a fraction of a second actually counted as a kiss or not.
The problem was, she wanted that kiss. She wanted it, and he’d spent the rest of the day acting like nothing had happened. He’d been kind and courteous to her.
He’d taken care of her when she needed it, but that was all. Matthew hadn’t attempted to kiss her again nor talk about what happened or nearly happened.
It was late now, almost midnight, and she wondered if he was asleep. With him being just two doors down from her, she found it comforting but also frustrating.
After today, she knew without a doubt that whatever this was between them affected him as much as it affected her. And the part of her brain that told her she couldn’t be with him because he was her employee was getting smaller and smaller.
Flipping slowly to her back as not to cause herself pain, she looked up at tiny patterns in the ceiling. What would happen if they gave in to whatever this was?
Cali knew how he felt about office romances. He’d been furious when he found out about Jason and Lisa. They made it work though. No one but Cali and Matthew seemed to know. Could they manage the same? Would he want to?
Cali shut her eyes tight against her thoughts. It didn’t matter. None of this mattered unless Matthew felt the same way and wanted something more with her.
As much as she tried to suppress the thoughts and feelings running through her, it was impossible. It was well after two in the morning before she finally drifted off to sleep, and even then, Matthew Andersen was the one who filled her thoughts.
Chapter 26
Thursday went much like Wednesday with the exception of Jessie fixing them breakfast and Cali managing to make it until two before having to call it a day.
Thursday evening, Matthew made her spaghetti and meatballs, and they sat around the kitchen table eating and talking. It would have been difficult for an outside observer to think they weren’t a happily married couple.
On Friday, Cali insisted she needed to work through the day so she refused to take any pain medication. By four o’clock, she was starting to ache. She’d just shifted in her seat trying to get comfortable when Matthew walked into her office, telling her it was time to go.
She looked at the clock. “It’s only four.”
“Yes,” he said, moving to pick up her things, “but we have a gala to attend tonight.”
“That isn’t until seven.”
Rolling her chair back, he offered his hand to help her up, which she refused. “And I don’t want you to be rushed getting ready.” He moved to the side to let her pass but kept his hand on her lower back. “I can tell you’re exhausted, Cali.”
“I’m fi…” She let the words die on her lips as she looked at him and saw he didn’t believe her. He could be very stubborn when he wanted to be. Besides, he was right. She was exhausted. Luckily, the stabbing pain of the first two days had faded to a dull ache, but it still made staying in one position for a long time uncomfortable.
They drove home with minimal conversation. Once inside, he put her things away and suggested she lay down for a while. She was too tired to argue and dragged herself to her room.
Stripping down to her underwear, she slid under the covers. She could hear him moving around downstairs. The sound was soothing, and soon she was drifting to sleep.
***
Matthew continued to work in Alvin’s study until it was time to wake Cali. He walked into her room quietly and just stood for a moment, watching her sleep.
She was on her side facing him, and her mouth was slightly open. Her mouth. The mouth he’d almost kissed two days ago.
He swallowed. That’s right, Matthew, he told himself. The mouth of your boss you almost kissed two days ago.
The mouth of his boss he still wanted to kiss even though he knew it was wrong.
Shaking those very dangerous thoughts from his head, he reached out and with a gentle hand on her shoulder, nudged her awake. “Cali,” he said, “Cali, you need to wake up.”
“Matthew,” she mumbled.
He removed his hand as if burned. The way she’d said his name did things to him.
Made him want to do things to her that he couldn’t do. That he wouldn’t do. He had to get out of there. Now!
Cali’s eyes opened. The strange expression on Matthew’s face put her instantly on alert, and her body tensed, thinking there was trouble. “What’s wrong?” she asked in a soft but firm tone.
He shook his head, and as he did, he shook his face free of the emotion there.
“Nothing. It’s just…time to wake up. You need to get ready for the gala.” With a quick glance, he stepped back toward the door and then another. Not looking back, he said, “Can you be downstairs in an hour?”
“Yes,” she said, now sitting up in the bed and holding the sheets tightly to her chest.
She saw him nod, and then he was gone.
***
What just happened? Cali stared after him for several minutes before getting up and heading to the shower.
As the water streamed down her body, she made a firm decision to put whatever was going on with Matthew Andersen out of her mind tonight. The gala was about the hospital and representing her father’s company. She would go and do her duty. She’d worry about the “crazy whatever this was” later.
Just as Matthew was coming down the spiral staircase in his tux, the doorbell rang. He looked at his watch. It was almost six thirty, and they would have to leave soon. He wasn’t expecting anyone so when he opened the door he was on guard.
“You clean up nice, little brother,” Jason said, looking him up and down.
Matthew rolled his eyes and stepped back. “And to what do I owe this impromptu visit?” he asked, closing the door behind his brother. The door clicked shut, and Matthew stopped cold, whirling to face Jason. “Did something happen?”
Chuckling, Jason shook his head. “No. At least I don’t think so.” He paused briefly.
“Did it?” Jason asked, raising one eyebrow suggestively.
Matthew didn’t miss the meaning of Jason’s question. “No,” he said with as much force as he could muster.
Jason just sighed and shook his head. Putting his hands in his pockets, he just continued to stare at his brother. “Was there something you wanted, Jason, other than trying to interfere in my life? Cali will be down any minute, and we need to get going.” Looking at his watch again, he realized how true that statement was.
Matthew glanced at the still empty stairs, “I’ll be right back. I need to make sure she’s okay. We really do need to be leaving.”
Jason placed a hand on his brother’s arm. “Let me,” he said, already taking the stairs two at a time. “I need to use the facilities anyway.”
With a deep sigh, Matthew watched his brother disappear up the staircase and down the hall. It also hadn’t escaped his attention that his brother still hadn’t told him why he was here. Walking into the study, he opened the top drawer and retrieved, what appeared to be, a pen. A very nice pen, but a pen nonetheless.
Making a few adjustments to the outer casing, the pen came apart and revealed a small knife. It wasn’t much, but it was all he would get since weapons were prohibited at tonight’s function. There was no way he was going in there empty handed, not with someone after Cali. A well-placed knife in the jugular was quite effective. Hearing noise on the stairs, he put the pen back together and placed it inside his jacket.
Walking out of the office, he stopped. Cali was descending the last few steps. He barely registered Jason’s presence in the room. Cali was magnificent. She wore an elegant, black and white, ball gown. It was strapless and clung to her body. He felt his body react, and he didn’t care.
She walked to him and came to a stop just out of arm’s length. That was probably best since he was having a very hard time controlling himself. He continued to stare at her until Jason cleared his throat.
Matthew’s eyes shifted to his brother, to Cali, and then back to Jason again. His brother just smiled a knowing smile, and Matthew winced internally. “I’ve gotta go. I’m having dinner with Lisa tonight, and I don’t want to be late,” he said, moving closer to the door. Pulling it open, he made a parting comment. “You two kids have fun.” And with that, he disappeared.
Matthew closed his eyes and sighed. Focus, he told himself. You need to focus.
Cali noticed his struggle but didn’t understand it. “Are you alright?”
His eyes popped open. “Yes. Yes, of course.” Moving toward the door, he opened it and motioned for her to go first. “Shall we?”
She nodded and disappeared through the door, out of his sight for just a split second. He took a deep breath and forced himself to relax.
