Eclipse of the Heart (20 page)

"My aunt told me exactly what to look for. She warned
me never to make any assumptions about who went into his office, no matter how
slutty they looked."

"You haven't heard that awful nickname about me going
around the office lately, have you?" Amanda tried to speak casually, but
she wasn't surprised when Rosie's eyes narrowed.

"No, I haven't. And since the office grapevine knows
everything—" Rosie waved the hand that wasn't full of pins. "I guess
you're really not sleeping with him."

"Please. Stop saying that."

"No wonder that Phoebe's
hangin
'
around like a cat in heat." Rosie twitched the jacket's hem and began
pinning again. "You'll never convince me that she'll be good for
him."

Amanda pressed her lips together as a totally unwarranted
jealousy jumped up and bit her. How could she keep this job if she had to watch
Logan with another woman? She really should start looking elsewhere. But, deep
in her heart, she knew she'd never find another job with the pay and benefits
she had at Winter Enterprises.

She was trapped.

***

Josh cornered Amanda after the next staff meeting.
"Sorry I haven't been around," he said. "I figured you knew
Winter
sent me off to Singapore for three weeks."

Amanda hadn't heard that. Since Josh only attended staff
meetings when his boss was out of town, no one had remarked on his absence.

"I've heard Singapore is a great city," she said.
"Did you like it?"

"Yeah."
Josh smiled.
"Winter hinted that there might be a permanent assignment for me
there.  I'm sure I'd still be there but he needed me in New York to work
on his upcoming public offering."

"I've only heard bits and pieces about the public
offering. I'm surprised he's selling part of his company."

"He's just selling a minority stake. Apparently, the
need came up quickly. One of his original investors needs to cash out."

"Is the company in trouble? I haven't seen any
indications." Amanda's heart thumped a little more quickly. She really
wanted to run Daily Eats. But if Logan were having financial difficulties, he
might not be able to make the investment to buy the Molloys' company.

"No." Josh reinforced the word with a head shake.
"Winter Enterprises is solid. He may have to cut back on a few
investments,
that's
all."

"All?" Amanda's voice squeaked. "Do you know
which deals are on the block?"

"I don't think Logan knows yet. Like I said, this came
up quickly. He needs a large sum of cash to buy out one of the original
investors, and that's not easy to come up with, especially with the stock
market as bad as it is right now. So it's all hands on deck to push the public
offering quickly. If he can't sell a minority stake, I'm not sure he can pay
off the investor."

"Winter Enterprises is a strong company. I'm sure he'll
be able to pull it off."

"As long as he doesn't run into any
bad luck."

"Now you're making me nervous." Amanda forced a
laugh.

Josh raised his brows.
"Nothing to do
with you.
If the offering fails,
I
might be
out of a job, but there's no reason why you would be."

Amanda decided not to tell him about Daily Eats. She really
had to start pressuring the Molloys. They'd been silent for too long. She
needed to get the deal done.

***

Since Amanda didn't have much going on this weekend, she
decided to catch up on her work. Her one bright spot would be shopping in Soho
with Rosie. They both enjoyed the smaller scale of the trendy neighborhood,
even though the prices could be as eye-popping as uptown.

Rosie knew all the best boutiques, including the resale
shops where treasures could be found by someone with an astute eye. But when
she steered Amanda into
L'Agent
Provocateur, Amanda
had to object.

"I can't buy this stuff," she murmured when Rosie
held up a peek-a-boo corset missing its crotch and part of its bra cups. The
expensive lingerie was beautiful, but too risqué for her, with its thin
crisscross straps everywhere baring skin in a well, provocative, way.
"Where would I wear it?"

Rosie rolled her eyes. "I bet our boss would love
it."

"Are you kidding?" Amanda put down a see-through
nightgown. "He's way too uptight for this stuff."

"I think he could enjoy a little kink…" Rosie
glanced up with a sly smile, "…if someone offered it."

"Don't look at me." Amanda glanced around wildly,
praying she wouldn't start to blush. Her goal was to make sure no one at work
knew what had already happened. Although she trusted Rosie, she had no
intention of confiding in her.

"Okay." Rosie picked up an ivory set consisting of
a low-cut bra, panties, and a wide garter belt worn around the waist.
"This would be perfect with your coloring."

"I don't need it." Amanda lowered her voice.
"This stuff is really expensive. Have you looked at the prices?"

A reed-thin saleswoman appeared and whisked the garments out
of Rosie's hands. "Let me ring this up for you."

"Do you have a similar set in black?" Rosie asked.
She leaned over to whisper in a low voice to Amanda. "Some men only go for
black."

The saleswoman smiled at Rosie.
"Of
course.
I'll just get the black set from the back."

When she returned, Rosie had added a transparent silk robe and
a lavender feather boa to the heap of clothing.

"I'm sure you want the matching stockings," the
saleswoman said, holding up the black lingerie.
"How
many pairs of each?
A half dozen?
A dozen?"

"I don't think—" Amanda gestured to the growing
pile.

"A half dozen," Rosie said, interrupting.

"Rosie! You can't charge this stuff to Logan."

"He'll never notice." She grinned.
"Unless, of course, you wear it for him."

"No." Amanda shook her head firmly. "This
type of clothing is not part of the deal."

"Of course it is. He told me I was free to spend
whatever I liked to showcase my talent and make you happy."

"This is not going to showcase your talent because no
one will ever see it."

Rosie slapped a credit card on the counter. "It works
subtly. You'll see. You'll feel much sexier when you know you're wearing this
stuff. Feeling sexy will increase your confidence." Rosie laughed.
"Listen to me. Shrink of the day."

When Rosie suggested going out for dinner, Amanda had to
plead exhaustion. She couldn't think of anything but getting undressed and
crawling into bed. Even the new clothes seemed a burden when she realized she'd
have to carry them all home.

She splurged on a taxi, fell into bed, and when she woke up
on Sunday, she knew she was sick.
Sore throat, fever and headache.

On Monday, she had no choice but to call in absent.

"I'm going to come over at lunchtime and make you some
chicken soup," Rosie said. "I'm an excellent cook, you know."

"Thanks, Rosie, but that's not necessary." Amanda
took a sip of her lukewarm tea. "I'm calling the doctor next and I don't
know when I'll get an appointment. I might not even be here at lunchtime."

"Call me when you know," Rosie ordered.

Amanda was grateful to get an early appointment due to a
cancellation. She was in and out by noon, with a diagnosis of strep. The
thought of trudging to the drugstore to fill her prescription was daunting, but
it had to be done.

She checked her cell when it rang, and Logan's name popped
up. Sighing, she answered. He
was
her boss.

"I heard you're sick." His deep voice caressed her
ear.

"Rosie has a big mouth."

"She knows who signs her check." Logan's voice was
amused.

"I'm on my way to get my drugs. I'll be in
tomorrow."

"No," Logan said in his calm way. "Change of
plans. Where are you?"

"A couple blocks from home. Why?" He couldn't make
her go into the office. Her brain was mush, her throat burned like it was being
carved with a knife, and work would be impossible.

"Felipe is on his way down there. He'll pick up the
prescription, and bring it to your apartment."

"That's not necessary." Her protest was weak, but
that was due to the fact that
she
was weak.

"You sound hoarse." In typical Logan fashion, he
didn't argue, but merely carried on with his plans.

"I have strep. The drugs will clear it up."

"Hmmm…" He managed to make the murmur sound sexy.
"I think you should stay at my place."

Her stupid heart leaped with excitement until he added,
"Mrs. MacDonald can take care of you."

Her heart thudded back into an unhappy place. Why did she persist
in hoping that he might care about her?

"I am perfectly able to take care of myself." She
leaned against a storefront. She really did not feel well.

"You don't have to worry about me." Logan's tone
was very dry. "I'm going to Paris this afternoon."

Okay.
Time to face facts.
He'd
taken her words to heart, and he was done with her. Why didn't she feel happier
about that?

"Thanks for the offer," she managed. "I'll be
fine."

"Mrs. MacDonald likes to be busy. I know she'd be happy
to have someone to fuss over." There was a faint intonation in his tone
that suggested Amanda would be quite selfish to deny Mrs. MacDonald this
opportunity.

"Slick," she said dryly. "But no."

"I know you think I'm a self-centered son of a
bitch." Logan paused for a long moment. "But January 20
^th
is the anniversary of the day that Mrs. MacDonald's husband died. I really
would like her to have company this week."

Damn. How had he arranged that?

"Good," Logan said into her silence. "We'll
consider it settled. I believe Felipe is at your apartment right now. By the
way, I think Rosie is with him."

"
Eeek
!
I don't want her to know I'm going to your place."

"Too late.
She was right there
when I was giving Felipe instructions."

"Lord." Amanda groaned out loud. "The company
gossip mongers will have a field day."

"Don't dawdle," Logan said briskly, ignoring her
comment. "I need Felipe to take me to the airport."

Amanda sighed as she hung up the phone. How did he always
manage to put her on the defensive?

Another thought struck her suddenly. Where would she
actually stay in his apartment? Did he have a guest room?

The answer was no. Logan Winter did not have a guest room in
his spacious apartment. He had a workout room, a book-lined study, and a TV
room.
But no guest room.
Clearly, he never had guests.
Amanda gazed in frustration at Mrs. MacDonald, who'd been delighted to open the
front door to her a few minutes ago.

"Yes, Logan called me," the housekeeper had said,
"and told me you'd be staying here in his absence."

Mrs. MacDonald led the way to Logan's bedroom, without
indicating in any way that Amanda already knew where it was. "Of course,
he doesn't have a guest room, but he said you were welcome to sleep here."

She opened the door to the gray and blue room.

A pang hit Amanda right in the chest. Memories flooded
through her. Logan up on his arms, braced over her, pounding into her.

Juxtaposed with the "other"
Logan.
Lying alone and silent on his side of the bed.
Unaffectionate.
Cold.

She shivered.

"Logan said you have strep." Mrs. MacDonald
frowned. "Have you started your antibiotics?"

"Yes." Amanda tried to dredge up a smile.
"I'll be fine."

"You don't look fine,
dearie
,"
the housekeeper answered bluntly. "Why don't you get in bed and take a
nap? Would you like a nice bowl of hot soup?"

"Maybe later."
Amanda
looked at the bed.
Sex.
Passion.
Whatever you wanted to call it.
She'd had it, and
she'd had to throw it away. She gripped the handle of her suitcase, and turned
back toward the door. "You know, Mrs. MacDonald, it was a mistake for me
to come here. I don't think I can be comfortable away from home."

"Oh, no."
Mrs. MacDonald
held up a hand. "You can't leave. Why, Logan would never forgive me. He
told me specifically to take care of you."

"I'm sure you'd do a wonderful job. But I just can't
stay here." Amanda began to drag her suitcase toward the door.

"He hasn't had anyone here since you were here."

The words stopped Amanda cold.

"That's none of my business," she whispered. Her
lips were as stiff as the suitcase handle.

"You don't need to feel like an interloper. Logan will
be gone all week." Mrs. MacDonald placed the back of her hand on Amanda's
forehead. "You have a terrible fever. You need help. Please stay."

The older woman removed her hand, and her eyes met Amanda's.
"I would welcome the company."

Amanda's heart dropped. Her head swam with a sudden
dizziness. What choice did she have now? She was sick. Mrs. MacDonald was
lonely. Maybe they could help each other.

She let go of the suitcase. "You're right," she
said. "I could use your help."

"Good. That's all settled then." Mrs. MacDonald
bustled over to the closet with the suitcase. "I'll unpack this when you
get up from your nap." She opened the door and gestured to the empty
closet. Amanda realized it was one of two master closets in the room. Its stark
emptiness saddened her.

Logan Winter had convinced himself he didn't need other
people. She shouldn't be foolish enough to think she could change that.

Mrs. MacDonald left, and Amanda crawled into the bed. The
sheets were crisp and fresh, and she could tell they'd been ironed. But they
still bore the faint scent of Logan. She buried her face in that false comfort,
and fell asleep.