Campaign for Love (16 page)

 

 

"I'm not playing—"

 

 

She cut him off ruthlessly with a glare. "And one last thing. If you
won't be first, you won't be anything, and you'll never know what
you've missed. I have heard that lack of experience in a woman is no
drawback when it comes to sex, since couples learn as they go. But
if
you have nothing to teach me, then just keep away from me. No more
late
night visits to the office, lunches, anything. Just steer clear. We
have to work together, after all, and if you don't think I'm worth
the
risk, then you sure as heck aren't either."

 

 

She headed for the door now, skirting past him.

 

 

"No, don't touch me again. I'm going."

 

 

She grabbed her coat and marched to the elevator.

 

 

Quentin hurried along behind and caught up with her while she
waited.

 

 

"You really tell it like it is, don't you? I'm sorry, Suzanna,
really.
I'm just so confused. I mean it. But be fair. If I had made love to
you, way down deep inside wouldn't you have thought it was because
of
the 'new' you?"

 

 

She sighed, but avoided his earnest gaze. "Maybe. I'm not sure. "

 

 

"Yet you know I've kissed you in the past, had a hard time resisting
you then, and that was long before today. Look, the fact is, I've
never
had an office romance. You know it isn't politically correct. "And
while I admire your candor about your, well, your virginity, I am
not
sure I can handle that at the minute. I mean, I want you to be
completely sure. It's a big step. You're waited this long. Surely
waiting a bit longer so we can both be sure would be for the best?"

 

 

"So you're not rejecting me?" she asked softly.

 

 

He shook his head vehemently. "Not in the long term, no. We just
need
to get to know each other better as people, not co-workers. And I
don't
want us rushing into anything because of our rampant feelings."

 

 

"All right, I'm sorry. I had no right to chew you out like that."

 

 

He patted her on the shoulder. "You had every right. I don't blame
you
for feeling hurt."

 

 

"Thank you for acknowledging my feelings, even if you don't share
them."

 

 

"I do share them. That's the trouble. I feel them all too much. I
just
need us both to be sure."

 

 

"I understand. It's hard, but I do."

 

 

"Truce?"

 

 

"For the moment."

 

 

"Great. So let me just get my gear and I'll walk you out."

 

 

She waited for him at the elevator bank, and they rode down together
in
silence. It wasn't a strained one, merely thoughtful, as they both
replayed their volatile kiss, which still heated their cheeks
despite
the chill of the glass and chrome elevator.

 

 

They walked through the building foyer together arm and arm, and
once
outside, he managed to hail a cab without any trouble.

 

 

"I can tell you're a native New Yorker," she joked.

 

 

"Yes, it does require a certain technique. Come on, I'll drop you
off."

 

 

"You don't have to."

 

 

"I know I don't. I want to."

 

 

All the way up town they simply held hands, and they stayed on safe
ground by discussing accounts and the upcoming location trip to the
Bahamas, which Suzanna said she was looking forward to enormously,
since she had never been.

 

 

Quentin told her that the date had been moved up so that they would
have their commercials on the air and their ads in newspapers early
in
December to capitalize on Christmas shopping for a sales boom.

 

 

Quentin saw her to her door and said goodnight, but before he left
he
turned back to her and said, "I'd like to ask you one favor."

 

 

"What's that?" she asked.

 

 

"I'd like you to be your real self in our two offices from now on.
If
you feel the need to keep up your disguise with the rest of the
employees, and throw a tent over your ordinary clothes, that's all
right too, but I want to see the real you from now on. "

 

 

"I'd like that. It was what I had planned all along. Femme Fatale
has
messed up my schedule a bit. I'd figured to come out of my cocoon at
the Christmas party anyway. Everyone would have thought I'd had
myself
beautified for the occasion."

 

 

"Yes, that makes sense. The holidays aren't that far off. In the
meantime, we will have had our sojourn in the Bahamas, and a lot of
the
credit will go to Femme Fatale."

 

 

"I hadn't thought of that. But starting tomorrow, I'll be myself for
you if you'll do something for me."

 

 

"I'll try. What can I do for you?"

 

 

"Stop teasing me. That means don't kiss me again unless it's leading
somewhere."

 

 

"That's quite a favor. But I'll do my best to keep my distance. "

 

 

"Thank you. Goodnight."

 

 

She held out her hand and he took it in a solemn handshake.

 

 

Quentin looked troubled as he walked toward the cab for his ride
uptown, but Suzy sighed and shrugged. They would both just have to
be
patient with each other.

 

 

 

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

 

 

Suzy's phone was ringing as she entered her apartment. It was an
exuberant Elsa.

 

 

"Suzy!" she gushed. "It's happened! Barry called, and we have a date
for this Friday. I just hope we'll get along. We have a lot to learn
about one another, but I'm sure he feels the same way. We're going
to
dinner, and that's about the best way to get acquainted."

 

 

"That's right, the taxi ride, waiting to be served, drinks before
and
after, the drive home. You can get a lot of talking done. It's
encouraging."

 

 

"I think it means he likes me better than if he had invited me to
the
movies, where you can't talk at all."

 

 

'I think you're right. He's an interesting talker and has a way of
drawing people out. I believe he's ready for a serious relationship.
You'll be good for one another."

 

 

"Thanks, Suzanna. Incidentally, he speaks highly of your work and
says
he thinks Quentin has more than just a business-like interest in
you."

 

 

"How did you answer that?"

 

 

"I said it was possible. After all, you're brilliant and attractive.
He
agreed. Only one thing worries me. I hope he won't try to get into
my
bed on the first date. The way I feel about him now, I might even
let
him. But it would spoil everything."

 

 

"I think Barry is too mature for that. He wouldn't be that crass.
The
second date, maybe. You know what men are like."

 

 

"Oh, Suzanna, you're incorrigible."

 

 

They soon rang off after Suzy exacted a promise from Elsa to call
after
her date with Barry and tell her how it went.

 

 

The following day, Suzanna and Quentin happened to arrive at the
same
time. They met at the elevator and rode up together.

 

 

Quentin gave her a warm smile as he said good morning, clearly
admiring
her in her elegant new sable brown suit with her hair down around
her
shoulders.

 

 

On the way up to their floor he said, "You know, Suzanna, I thought
about us all the way home last night, and I think I know what my
problem is. I know a lot about you, your personal life, and yet I've
never really gotten to know you the way most people get to know each
other. We've never had a real date. I've never asked you out."

 

 

"Hmm, I guess you could be right."

 

 

"So let me correct the oversight right now. Will you go to dinner
with
me tonight?"

 

 

"That sounds wonderful. I have to admit it occurred to me last night
that I was being completely unreasonable. I spout off about myself,
and
my family, you've been to my apartment, and yet I know nothing about
you. There are quite a few questions I'd like to ask myself before
we
go forward. If we go forward."

 

 

"Why does that have an ominous ring?" he asked with a grin.

 

 

She gave a pert grin. "Hey, a girl can't be too careful nowadays."

 

 

"For sure. And it's what I've been telling you all along."

 

 

"Thanks for looking out for me, and not letting my feelings allow us
to
both act too impetuously."

 

 

"Any time, friend. So, that said, I can't wait to get to know you
better. Is seven okay? I'll pick you up from your office if that's
all
right."

 

 

"Fine." They had reached their floor, and walked to their adjoining
offices together.

 

 

Sharon said good morning, but otherwise showed no interest in their
arriving together, just exclaimed over how much she already looked
like
a model, and turned back to her computer.

 

 

Suzanna was clad that the other woman wasn't jealous, and made a
point
to go to lunch with Sharon that day. They sat at a table with the
same
group of young Elder and Rubin employees, which included Brad
Sherman.

 

 

One result that had come from his earlier theft of Suzy's ideas was
that he had become almost slavishly devoted to her. She did not
think
her new appearance affected his attitude at all. His gratitude to
her
for neither reporting him, nor asking to have him dismissed had
earned
her his undying loyalty, or so it seemed.

 

 

"Hi, Suzanna, hi, Sharon," he greeted them. "I've just about
finished.
Sit here," he invited as he moved over. "You'll have plenty of room
as
soon as I get up. Can I get you anything?"

 

 

Suzy tried to be polite. "Thanks, Brad, but I think we have all we
need."

 

 

He sat with them for a while talking shop, especially new
developments
in the Imperial Foods and Femme Fatale Cosmetics.

 

 

Suzy found that her original dislike of Brad had disappeared along
with
her other male-inspired animosities. But when he scurried off, she
was
relieved he was gone. His admiration for her was just too intense.

 

 

The lunch hour passed quickly and soon Suzy was back in her office
counting the hours until her dinner with Quentin. At last it was
five
o'clock, but Suzanna kept on working. She had heaps to do, and
plenty
of time to get ready.

 

 

She congratulated herself on her foresight in always keeping a good
outfit in her closet in case she ever needed to go out with clients.

 

 

At six-thirty she rose from her desk and went into her private
bathroom. First she brushed her hair, and then she applied more
makeup
to her lids and cheeks. She put on a more dramatic shade of lipstick
than usual, and looked every inch the Femme Fatale.

 

 

Her dress was a toasted almond colored silk jersey which caressed
her
curves, and had a deep vee neck which revealed more of her truly
magnificent body than Quentin had ever seen. Normally she would have
put a jacket and scarf over it to cover her curves, but in this
case,
she saw no need.

 

 

With it she wore a jade choker and matching earrings. Sheer hose and
brown suede high-heeled pumps pointed up her long, slim but shapely
legs.

 

 

"Eat your heart out, Quentin Pierce," she said to herself as she
took a
last look in the mirror.

 

 

When she emerged from the bathroom, Quentin was already seated in
his
chair waiting for her. He jumped to his feet and let his eyes roam
up
and down her body. His in-drawn breath, dilated pupils and the naked
desire in his eyes told her all she wanted to know even before he
said,
"You are beautiful beyond belief."

 

 

"Thank you," she replied. "Let's leave before you forget your fine
resolve."

 

 

"I thought steaks at The Grille would be nice if that's okay with
you.
We'll be able to talk there."

 

 

"That sounds good to me," she agreed.

 

 

They put on their coats and were soon on the way to Park Avenue. In
the
cab, Quentin sat close to her and took her hand in his.

 

 

Suzy didn't pull away, but neither did she respond as
enthusiastically
as usual. Quentin was getting the message.

 

 

"I once asked you about your friend Jerry. I had no right then, and
I
have perhaps less right now. But I have to know. Did you want Jerry
to
make love to you?"

 

 

"Not make love, no. I don't love him. I know now that I never can.
But
I've heard that sex for pure physical fun can be pretty good. But
the
subject never came up."

 

 

"Oh?" he said tightly.

 

 

"When I not only intercepted his kiss but responded to it, I took
Jerry
by surprise, and he was in a state of shock. He sensed, even before
that, that I had changed, but didn't know exactly how or why. He may
have suspected.

 

 

"After a pleasant second kiss, he left me at my door before he did
something that would turn me off again. I really don't know what I'd
have done if he had tried to make love to me. But it felt nothing
like
I feel when you touch or kiss me. That has to mean something."