Love 'N' Marriage (11 page)

“My limp.”

“What about your leg?” Deliberately, Stephanie set the pencil aside.

“Does it trouble you?”

She noticed the way his hand had tightened around the handle of his cane. His knuckles were stark white, and some of her outrage dissipated. “Of course not. Why should it?”

“Some women would be repelled by a cripple.” He wouldn’t look at her; his gaze rested on the filing cabinet on the opposite wall. “I want neither your sympathy nor your pity.’’

“That works out well, since you don’t have either one.” Her voice was crisp with impatience. She hated to believe that he had such a low opinion of her motives, but he gave her no choice but to think that.

“You could have your pick of any man in this company.”

“Listen,” she countered, her patience having long since evaporated. “It isn’t like I’ve got a tribe of men seeking my company.”

“You’re attractive, bright and witty.”

“Such high praise. I don’t know how I should deal with it, especially when it comes from you, Mr. Lockwood.”

Jonas was still studying the filing cabinet, ignoring her. “I can see that our little talk has helped clear away some misconceptions,” he said.

“I certainly hope so.”

“Have a good day, Ms. Coulter.”

“You too, Mr. Lockwood.”

Jonas had been gone five minutes before Stephanie fully accepted the fact that he’d actually been in her office. It took her another ten minutes to react. Her fingers were poised over the typewriter, ready to resume her task, when she realized she was shaking. She closed her eyes, and savored the warm feelings that washed over her in waves. Then she felt chilled; nerves skirted up and down her spine. Jan and the others had been right about Jonas. He was attracted to her, although he wore that stiff, businesslike facade like a heavy raincoat, not trusting her or the attraction they shared. He didn’t have faith in her attraction to him, but she hoped that eventually he would realize her feelings were genuine.

Unable to contain her excitement, Stephanie reached for her phone and dialed Jan’s extension.

“Personnel,” Jan said when she answered.

“He was here.”

“Who?”

“Guess,” Stephanie said, laughing excitedly. “You were right. It was his move, and he made it.”

“Mr. Lockwood?”

“Who else do you think I’m talking about?”

“I’ll be right there.”

Jan arrived a minute later, followed by Barbara, Toni and Maureen. “What did I tell you?” Jan said excitedly, slapping Barbara’s open hand with her own.

“There isn’t time for you to read more romances,” Toni murmured, looking worried.

“The only thing she can do now is follow her instincts,” Maureen said brightly. “He’s interested. She’s interested. Everything will follow its natural course.”

“What do you mean ‘natural course’?” Stephanie asked, concerned. This was beginning to sound a lot like kidney stones.

“Marriage.” They said the word in unison, and looked at her as though her elevator didn’t go all the way to the top floor. “It’s what we’re all after.”

“Marriage?” Stephanie repeated slowly. Everything was happening too fast for her to react.

“But you like him,” Toni challenged.

“Hey, wait a minute, you guys. Sure I like Jonas Lockwood, but liking is a long way from marriage.”

“You’re perfect together.” Maureen was incredulous that Stephanie could question her fate. The four romance-lovers had everything arranged, and her resistance wasn’t appreciated.

“Perfect together? Jonas and me?” Stephanie frowned. The two of them did more arguing than anything. They were only beginning to come to an understanding.

“You have to plan your strategy carefully.’’

“My strategy?”

“Right.” Barbara nodded.

“You’ll need to make him believe that love and marriage are all his idea.”

“Don’t you think we could start by holding hands?”

“Very funny,” Jan said, placing her hand on her hip.

“I feel it’s more important to let this relationship fall into its own time frame.” Stephanie looked up at the four who were standing around her desk, arms crossed, staring disapprovingly down at her. “That is, if there’s going to
be
a relationship.”

Together they all shook their heads. “Wrong.”

“Okay, what are you planning next?” Jan asked.

“Me?” Stephanie held her hand to her breast. “I’m not planning anything. Should I be?”

“Of course; Mr. Lockwood made his move, now it’s your turn.”

This romance business sounded a lot like playing chess. “I... hadn’t given it any thought.”

“Well, don’t worry, we’ll figure out something. Are you doing anything after work?”

“Depositing my check, and picking up the bookcase I’ve had on layaway.”

“Well, for heaven’s sake, what’s more important?” Jan gave her an incredulous look.

“You want the truth?” Stephanie glanced around at her friends. It didn’t matter if she was with them or not; they were going to plot her life to their own satisfaction. “I’m going with the bookcase. If you four come up with something brilliant, phone me.”

Several pieces of polished wood lay across Stephanie’s carpet, along with a bowl full of screws. The screwdriver was clenched between her teeth as she struggled with the instructions. The phone rang, and she absently reached for it, forgetting about the screwdriver.

“Hebbloo.”

“Stephanie?”

“Jonas?” Her heartbeat instantly quickened as she grabbed the screwdriver from between her lips. For one crazy second, she actually wanted to tell him he couldn’t contact her—it was her move!

“I hope this isn’t a bad time.”

“No... no, of course it isn’t. I wasn’t doing anything.” She stared at the disembodied pieces of the bookcase scattered across her carpet, and added, “Important.”

“I know it’s short notice, but I was wondering if you were free to join me for dinner.’’

“Dinner?” Stephanie knew she sounded amazingly like an echo. Again she toyed with the idea of contacting Jan before she agreed to do anything with Jonas, but just as quickly rejected that thought. Her co-workers were making her paranoid.

“If you have company or...”

“No, I’m alone.” She picked up the instructions for assembling the bookcase and sighed. “Jonas, do you speak Danish?”

“Pardon?”

“How about Swedish?”

“No. Why?”

At this point, she was so frustrated she wanted to cry. “It’s not important.”

“About dinner?”

“Yes, I’d love to go.” Never mind that she had a roast in the oven with small potatoes and fresh peas in the sink ready to be boiled.

“I’ll pick you up in a few minutes then.”

“Great.” Stephanie glanced down at her faded Levi’s, ten-year-old sweatshirt, and purple Reeboks, and groaned. She picked up the receiver to phone Jan, decided she didn’t have enough time, and hurried into her room. The sweatshirt came off first and was flung to the farthest corner of her small bedroom. She found a soft pink silk blouse hanging in her closet and quickly inserted her arms. Her fingers shook as she rushed to work the small pearl buttons.

She had the jeans down around her thighs when the doorbell chimed. Stephanie closed her eyes and prayed that it wasn’t Jonas. It couldn’t be! He’d only phoned a couple of minutes ago. She jumped, hauling her jeans back up to her waist, and ran to the door, yanking it open.

“Listen, I’m sorry if I sound rude, but I don’t have the time to buy anything right now—” Stephanie stopped abruptly, wishing the earth would open up and swallow her. Her breath caught in her throat and she closed her eyes momentarily. “Hello, Jonas.”

“Did you know your pants are unzipped?”

She whirled around, sucked in her stomach and pulled up the zipper. “I didn’t expect you so soon.”

“Obviously. I called from a pay phone across the street.”

“Please come in. I’ll only be a few minutes.” If he so much as snickered, Stephanie swore, she’d find a way to take revenge. Some form of justice fitting the crime, like a pot roast dumped over his head.

Jonas glanced around at the pieces of wood strewn across her carpet. “You’re building something?”

“A bookcase.” She’d hoped to have that cleaned up before he arrived, but that had been her second concern. She’d wanted to be dressed first. A soft cough that sounded suspiciously like a smothered laugh came from Jonas.

“Did you say something?” Her hands knotted at her side, and she eyed the oven where the pot roast was cooking.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you flustered before.” His look was amused, and his voice soft and gruff at the same time. “Not Stephanie Coulter, the woman who defies and challenges me at every turn.”

“Try answering the door with your underwear showing. It has a humbling effect.”

Jonas chuckled, and the sound had a musical quality to it. Despite her embarrassment, Stephanie laughed with him, feeling completely at ease with him for the first time since Paris. “I’ll only be a few minutes.”

“Take your time.”

She was halfway to her bedroom when she stopped, realizing that she’d forgotten her manners in her eagerness to escape. “Would you like something to drink while you wait?”

“No, thanks.” He picked up the assembly instructions for the bookcase, which were on the end table by the phone. “Danish?” he asked, cocking both brows.

“I guess. It may be Swedish or Greek. I can’t tell.”

His gaze scanned the pieces on the floor. “Would you like a little help?”

“I’d like a lot of help.” A wry smile twisted her mouth. She’d spent the better part of two hours attempting to make sense of the diagram and the foreign instructions.

“Do I detect a note of resignation in your voice, Ms. Coulter?”

“That’s not resignation, it’s out-and-out frustration, disillusionment, and more than a touch of anger.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Stephanie started to leave, but when she saw Jonas take off his suit jacket and reach for one long piece of shelving to join it to another, she paused. “That won’t work.” Soon she was kneeling on the floor opposite Jonas. She began to feel like a nurse assisting a brain surgeon, handing Jonas one part after another. In frustration, he paused to study the diagram, turning it upside down and around, just as she had done, but still couldn’t figure out which pieces linked.

“Wait,” Jonas said, shaking his head. “We’ve been doing this all wrong.”

Stephanie groaned, and mumbled under her breath. “The man’s a genius.”

“If I was such a whiz, these bookcases would have books in them by now,” Jonas grumbled, his brow knit in a thoughtful frown. “Give me the screwdriver, would you?”

“Sure.” Stephanie, who was kneeling close to his side, handed it to him.

Jonas turned to thank her. Their eyes met, and they stared at each other for an endless moment. Stephanie blinked and looked away first. Never before had she been so aware of Jonas as a man. He looked different than any time she’d seen him in the office. Younger. Less worried. Almost boyishly handsome. He made no move to touch her, yet Stephanie felt a myriad of sensations shoot through her as though he had. He was so close she could smell the spicy scent of his after-shave and feel the warmth of his hard, lean body as it seeped into her, chasing away the chill of her insecurities. She could feel his breath against her hair, and she welcomed it, swaying toward him.

Stephanie didn’t know who moved first. It didn’t matter. Before she was aware of anything, they were on their knees with their arms wrapped around each other. Stephanie closed her eyes and let the warm sensation of his touch thread through her limbs. His hands gripped her upper arms as he moved his mouth to hers. His kiss was tentative, exploring, as though he expected her to stop him. Stephanie couldn’t; she’d been wanting him to hold and kiss her for days. His lips were open, warm, suckling as they covered her own. The tip of his tongue traced her lips, and she eagerly opened her mouth to his exploration.

Stephanie’s fingers moved from his hard chest and she slid her arms up and around the thick column of his neck, flattening her torso to his. His hands were splayed across her back, drawing her nearer as his tongue slipped between her silken lips and his kiss grew greedy, hungry, and demanding. Her breasts peaked, yearning for his hands.

When his fingers moved to cup her breast, Stephanie’s body throbbed with wild sensations, and a small moan of satisfaction slid up her throat. His thumb stroked the crest, and Stephanie felt her nipple harden in immediate response.

Her hands reveled in the feel of the hard muscles of his shoulder and the softness of the thick hair at the base of his neck. A delicious languor spread through her.

Jonas buried his face in the hollow of her throat and shuddered. “Stephanie?”

“Humm.” She felt warm and wonderful.

“I don’t know what it is, but something smells like it’s burning.”

Stephanie’s eyes flew open. She let out a small cry of alarm and jumped to her feet.

Chapter Seven

“Oh, Jonas, the roast.” She grabbed two pot holders and pulled open the oven to retrieve the pot roast. Black smoke filled the small kitchen, and Stephanie waved her hand to clear the air. “So much for that,” she said, heaving an exasperated sigh.

“What is it?” Jonas joined her, examining the charred piece of meat.

“What does it look like?” she said hotly, then stared at the crisp roast and slowly shook her head. “If you have any kindness left in your heart, you won’t answer that.”

Chuckling, Jonas slipped his arm around her shoulders. “There are worse disasters.”

“I imagine you’re referring to an unassembled bookcase with instructions in a foreign language.”

Amusement glinted in his blue eyes at the belligerent way her mouth thinned. Stephanie couldn’t help pouting. She was furious with herself for ruining a perfectly good piece of meat, and what was even worse was to have to face this disgrace in front of Jonas.

“Come on,” he prompted. “There’s a fabulous Chinese restaurant near here. The kitchen can air out while we’re gone, and when we get back, I’ll finish putting that bookcase together.”