A Solitary Romance: Book 1 in the Only Love Series

by Violet Sparks

  The man looked downright rakish.

  "Not at all."

  "I'd better get going. Are you going to be all right?" he said, rising from the table.

  She watched him use his cell phone to call a cab, confirming her address. Then, he took their mugs to the sink and washed them with hot, soapy water. He grabbed a dishtowel and dried the cups before placing them on the counter. Katrina observed, stunned, as her new boss performed simple housework. He tossed the empty saltine box in the waste can before heading for the door. She followed him, prepared to say good night.

  The man stopped abruptly and turned. Katrina found herself inches from her new boss.

  "Those crackers expired six months ago, and as far as I can tell, they were the only real food in the house. No wonder you're always on the verge of passing out. You need to eat more, Katrina."

  "The expiration date didn't seem to bother you," she retorted. "And I'm not always about to faint either. The other day was a fluke."

  "You wouldn't have such trouble concentrating if you had better nutrition," he added, dismissing her comments.

  Katrina found it strange standing so close to a man in her home—especially this man. Everything about him disturbed her, from his palpable masculine presence and aggravating comments, to the way he clenched his granite jaw and how she felt at his touch. She didn't bother responding to his last remark, tired of the strain of arguing with him. Instead, she drank in every detail of Robert LaSalla and chose to ignore his words, not difficult in these close quarters.

  He brushed a long golden brown strand of hair from her shoulder and once again examined her necklace, drawing even closer. Kate froze and focused on keeping her breathing steady and her pulse from racing out of control, which only managed to make her aware of his scent, that masculine, woodsy aroma. She fought the urge to close her eyes, lace her fingers behind his neck, and fall into his arms.

  Robert released the pearls, which fell against her clavicle with a thud. Quality fakes are heavy. He took a step towards the door, opening it before pausing to look back at her. She hadn't moved.

  "I'd tuck you in, but that I would have to report to Harriet Reynolds," he said, flashing a parting smile before leaving.

  His low, jagged tone did strange things to her. She locked her door and retreated to the bedroom, hoping to get some sleep.

  Hours passed before slumber overtook her. She'd had a narrow escape tonight in more ways than one. Acting rashly downtown, she'd put herself at risk, and later, back in the apartment, she had almost thrown herself at her protector. She'd vowed never to be that kind of woman . . . the kind of female who flocked around Robert.

  She tried thinking about the Heller and her opportunities there. She pondered the blog she'd need to write over the weekend and what, if anything, she'd tell her family about her new work environment. Nothing could keep her mind off Robert LaSalla. Then, she remembered the note in the flower arrangement from his lady friend. She went from feeling soft and mushy to hard as iron. Another Rod Baxter she did not need.

  Sleep came, but not a peaceful slumber. She tossed and turned, awaking every half hour stressed and agitated.

  In the morning, she packed a bag, and after stopping at a drive-thru for breakfast, drove to the high desert where her father had retired. It took about an hour to reach the family home, but traffic proved light and the trip scenic. Katrina loved heading out of the Los Angeles basin. It always produced a liberating feeling within her. She appreciated the sage brush and California poppies that would soon bloom on the hills along the pass. Before long, she drove through Acton, a small town known for its horse-loving population. Another five minutes and the Antelope Valley spread before her.

  Dad's place had a view of the lake, and he'd become a member of the Fin and Feather Club there. She pulled off the highway and took Avenue P to a lane that led up into the hills. Her mother would have loved living out here, almost away from it all.

  "Hey, if it's not my scrawny kid sis!" James yelled as he rushed from the house. Her brother took her overnight bag before giving Katrina a bear hug.

  "Ouch! Take it easy, Jim. I've got some bruises."

  "Why, what happened?" her big brother demanded.

  "Nothing really. I sort of took a spill, but someone grabbed me before I fell and I ended up bruising my shoulder."

  "Oh, well, as long as you're all right. Come in and see Dad."

  She followed her brother inside, noting he'd put on some muscle during his latest tour of duty.

  James Crimshaw had served three tours overseas. He'd seen action in Afghanistan and Iraq. She had assumed he'd be safe on a ship since he was in the Navy, but that hadn't been the case. Working with Marines on the ground, her brother had carried out several missions in dangerous areas. He was a source of the constant worry in the back of her mind. Tall, blonde, with blue eyes and handsome, he'd somehow remained single. She assumed his job had something to do with it, but she always figured she'd be an aunt by now. Jim would hit his early thirties soon.

  Donald Crimshaw met his daughter at the door with a gentle hug. He'd overheard her conversation with Jim.

  "Your room's all ready, Sugar. Jim, drop her things on the bed, and then we can decide what to do for lunch."

  Katrina bent to pet Bowzer, her father's bull dog. The animal seemed thrilled to see her, wagging his tail and slobbering on her hands.

  "There, there, boy. I know you love me. I love you too," she said, scratching behind his ears.

  When Jim returned, the three sat down and attempted to catch up on six months of activity. Her brother spoke of his missions in whatever detail deemed appropriate or non-classified. The family decided to barbecue steaks and catch a movie together later in the afternoon. Just being around her men allowed Kate to unwind and relax.

  The weekend passed all too soon. James would be home several more weeks before heading out on one final tour of duty. He thought of leaving the military after that and adopting civilian life. Katrina hoped that would happen.

  She enjoyed herself so much, the auditor chose to stay over Sunday night as well and drive home early Monday morning. Saying goodbye proved difficult, but she determined not to cry. It would upset her father. She'd made the mistake of mentioning her fainting spell. Dad wanted her to go in for more tests and talk to a specialist. Katrina tried to ease his fears. She didn't feel that getting doctors involved was necessary at this time. She promised that if she passed out again, she'd pursue that route.

  After stopping at her apartment to change, she arrived at work later than usual, but still before most other employees. She dropped her briefcase in her office, and ran into her friend near the periodicals cube.

  "Good morning! You're here early, Kiki," she greeted her good pal.

  "I needed to catch you first thing. I tried calling you Friday night, but you never picked up. You're late this morning."

  "I think my battery died or something, and then I spent the weekend with Jim in the high desert."

  "Oh, really? Jim's in town?" The receptionist lifted an eyebrow but continued without waiting for an answer, "Well, listen. Chuck thinks you're his date for the Spring Fling."

  "What? Where did he get that idea?"

  "I don't know, but when I saw him to his cab Friday night, he apologized to me, saying he was sorry he couldn't be my escort because he'd already committed to taking you!"

  Katrina burst out laughing. She couldn't help it.

  "I don't see why you think this is funny. You're the one in a pickle, Kate, not me."

  "It's just that I said I'd let you have a go at him, remember? Well, here's your chance, because I am definitely not going to the Fling on his arm," Katrina said between loud guffaws.

  "Are you going stag?" the receptionist asked.

  "I'm thinking of bringing James. He'll still be in town, you know."

  "He will?" Kiki's excitement grew.

  "Uh huh." She acted as nonchalant as possible, knowing her friend had wanted to meet her broth
er for some time.

  "So, I'm going to get to see the famous James, after all this time!" she almost squealed.

  "Well, let's hope so. He's put on a lot of muscle weight in the last year, and I'm not sure he'll still fit in his tuxedo," Kate said.

  "Wow, six foot three and muscular! I can't wait to meet this hunk!"

  "Easy. Kiki," Katrina laughed as she grabbed a weekend financial paper. This time, the periodicals were within easy reach.

  The auditor walked back to her office, giggling, while Kiki proceeded to the front desk. Neither girl saw Robert LaSalla rise from behind the HR cubicle, his face twisted into a scowl of disappointment and disapproval.

  Chapter 7

  -Your Chariot Awaits-

  She saw little of her new boss the next week. The get-to-know-you lunch never materialized. Maybe he felt it unnecessary after their chat in her apartment. She tried to shake off the disappointment she felt, telling herself she had no future with Robert LaSalla.

  She busied herself with the task he'd given her. He wanted more information on that Malaysian company. She started by phoning Mike Johnson, their old friend from Wood and Associates, and the trickster who'd tried to sneak up on Robert that first night in the library.

  "Hey there, Kat. How are you?" he answered his office phone.

  Mike worked at a venture capital firm and had good connections all over the world. She figured he'd have some good leads for her, and he owed her big time. She'd arranged for her friend to accompany him to an event where he needed to impress a potential Asian client. Kiki, with her Asian studies background and gorgeous Hawaiian looks, pulled it off, and Mike landed a cash cow.

  "I'm good, Mike, but I sure could use your help."

  "How's that?"

  "I need some information on Daud Industrial. Ever heard of them?"

  "No, can't say that I have, Kat. Where are their headquarters?"

  "Malaysia."

  "Can you share what you'd like to know?" he asked.

  "It's a long story, but while performing due diligence for one of our clients, I stumbled upon this obscure investment vehicle issued by Daud. That's D-A-U-D. It turned out that everything was kosher, and we feel fine recommending that our client purchase the company—not Daud, but a company that invested heavily in Daud. However, my new boss wants me to dig up additional information on this Malaysian firm. He's hoping to impress our clients with some unknown tidbit of information."

  She was about to say some unflattering remark about LaSalla, but caught herself, remembering that Mike Johnson knew him.

  Instead, she added, "Hey, did you know that Robert LaSalla is our new boss at Dodd and Company? William's on R and R, and Robert's in charge."

  "No, I didn’t know that. But Robert knows what he's doing. If he wants further information, he's got a good reason. Let me dig around a little and see if I can come up with anything. No promises, though. I'll just do my best."

  "Thanks, Mike. I really just need to be pointed in the right direction, and I figured if anyone could give me some guidance, it was you."

  The friends signed off, Katrina confident that Mike would come up with something. In the meantime, she'd concentrate on her next project and her meeting with Barry at the Heller.

  By the time Wednesday rolled around, Kate felt all jittery and insecure. She had trouble picking out her clothing and wondered what jewelry she should wear. She couldn't wait to get back to the museum, but she feared her ideas might have lost their luster after the director had time to think about them.

  Clouds threatened Wednesday morning and a blustering wind blew debris up and down her street. She scrapped her original attire and chose instead a black knit turtleneck dress with matching high-heeled boots and stockings. The dress proved a little snug, but she felt she could get away with it due to its dark color. She draped herself with one of her most outstanding necklaces and headed out the door.

  She'd found the Knoll and Pregizer piece at a yard sale. Its KP punch so tiny, she didn't know what she had until she got home and examined it with a loupe. Made from silver that mimicked platinum, costume pearls and the finest paste and glass to impersonate diamonds and rubies, the Deco piece stunned. Sure, it was a copy of an authentic jeweled necklace, but she paid full price with no questions. Almost a steal, the long strand consisted of half-inch rectangular links of intricate tooled silver. Some contained a large pearl, held in place by a hidden wire, allowing the small treasure to spin. Others embraced imitation large emerald cut diamonds or rubies. The piece lay perfectly on her body, a heavy tassel at the bottom weighting the chain so it fell in the narrow channel between her breasts. The sumptuous seed pearl fringe landed a few inches below her chest, and KP crowned this adornment with horizontal rows of crystal, ruby and diamond baguettes.

  Boots and jewelry always made her feel as if she had a layer of protection on, guarding her from the world. They proved a sort of armor that built her confidence. She felt better about her meeting at the museum already.

  She stepped off the elevator before dawn, enthusiastic to greet the day as the pearl tassel swished and shimmered with each step she took. The floor appeared dim, lit only by motion activated ceiling lights. She caught sight of Robert LaSalla's outline. He stood in the shadows at the end of a long aisle of cubicles between her and her office, blocking her path. She smiled as she approached her new boss, happy to see him. He didn't return the favor. All she got was a clenched jaw and a scowl.

  "Good morning, Robert." She tried to sound cheerful, although a knot quickly formed in her stomach as she approached the man. His dark expression reflected the same storm blowing in off the Pacific. He didn't move out of her way, and she didn't see how she could get by his large frame. So, she drew up a few feet from him and waited, either for violent thunder and lightning or the gentle rain of a tempest blowing over. She wasn’t sure which he'd unleash, but knew him capable of both. She noticed he wore no glasses. Maybe that's why he scrutinized her so . . . he couldn't see well.

  "Forget your eye glasses?" she asked.

  The glare he gave her would make anyone wither, and she felt a fight or flight response forming within. She wanted to run but held her ground. The silence became too much to bear, and she noticed that his clenched hand gripped the top of one of the padded partitions that formed the aisle.

  "Is there something you need from me, Robert?"

  He didn’t answer right away, but instead allowed his eyes to trail over her necklace, settling on the three-inch tassel. He took a step in her direction, and again every nerve ending in her body shouted, Run.

  "I don't think expensive, flashy jewels have any place in a professional setting," he growled, still glowering down at her, but now close enough to touch. "I expect more from you," he added, his voice a low rumble.

  "What?"

  "You heard me."

  Something snapped in Katrina. Flight mode shifted into fight.

  "Are you insane? These aren't real!" she pulled the necklace away from her body and shook the seed pearls beneath his nose. She continued, "I wear vintage costume jewelry, and there's nothing unprofessional about it. Just because I'm an auditor, doesn't mean I can't dress in an attractive manner and express myself in whatever small way is available to me!"

  She pushed her boss aside with her hands, making contact with his rock hard abs, and marched to her office, slamming the door. She could feel her body shake with anger beneath her dress. This was supposed to be a good day, and that behemoth had to start things out by insulting her. She dropped into her chair and fought back tears.

  Her phone rang, and she picked it up without thinking.

  "Hello, Kat? It's Mike. I know you get in early, so I took a chance on reaching you."

  "Hi, Mike," she managed to say between sniffles.

  "Hey, what's wrong over there? You all right?"

  "I'll be fine. Just had an ugly encounter this morning is all."

  "Do I need to come by and bust a few heads for you, Gorgeous?"

/>   "No, Sweetie. I'm okay, Mike, really."

  "Well, I've got some news that's going to make you even better, Doll."

  "I could use some good news."

  "Daud Industrial is set to make a fortune. Your client would be wise to snap that company up, and its investment in the Malaysian firm. They've just signed a contract to supply pipes to China. I'm not talking just any old ordinary plumbing, either. Daud has a proprietary formula for a new, extra-strong plastic, and the only facility in the world where it can be manufactured. The process is proprietary as well."

  "That's wonderful!"

  "It gets even better. Daud is thinking of floating more securities to build a new plant so they can ramp up production to meet all the needs of the Chinese. Mr. Daud and his son are going to be in Los Angeles next week, and I think we can facilitate a meeting between them and your client if your people are looking for additional investments."

  "Thank you, Mike. This is fantastic. What day would work?"

  "I think we should shoot for Tuesday or Wednesday. Check with your client, and we'll coordinate. I think your office would be the perfect spot to have them meet."

  "I can't thank you enough, Mike. I'll call them as soon as regular business hours begin!"

  "You're welcome, Kat. Don't let the turkeys get you down, all right?"

  "Sure thing, Mike. Bye."