Love Songs (22 page)

Had the venom been saved for her alone Alanna might have preserved her patience. Listening to Brian insult Jake Wallace, however, tried her beyond control. Rising from her desk, she held herself with confidence as she approached the door.

“I think you should come in, Brian. We’ve got something to discuss and I’d rather not have all of WallMar listening.”

Surprised, Brian stepped across the threshold and Alanna slammed the door, her only sign of frustration. To all other appearances she was utterly composed, a remarkable feat considering the challenge before her.

“Privacy suits me well.” He shrugged, sauntering toward a chair opposite the desk and sinking into it. His smugness irritated her beyond belief. Determined to squelch it, she perched on the edge of the desk to give herself the advantage of height.

Arms crossed before her, she spoke with quiet disdain. “I’m getting very tired of your accusations, Brian. Are you
that
jealous?”

“Of Wallace?”

“Of
me!
” she snapped.

He seemed momentarily startled by her force. He had never seen her so livid. “I’m not jealous of you or anyone else.”

“No? Then why the problem each time I receive a promotion?” Her smile was deceptively benign.

“No problem. Just stating the facts.”

“And the ‘facts,’ in your view, are…?”

For the first time he grew defensive. “You know them. There’s no need for me to repeat them.”

“You’ve never been hesitant before,” she goaded him, her gaze hardening quickly.

“I’ve never been specific—”

“You’re right!” she interrupted, her temper flaring briefly before she forced herself to be calm. “You’ve always been vague, but very definitely suggestive. Now I’m asking for details. If you have accusations to make, back them up.”

For long moments the battle was purely visual. Each stared at the other, refusing to back down. The stalemate was broken only by Brian’s absurd declaration. “Everyone around here knows how you’ve gotten to this office, Alanna.” His gaze fell to the gentle curve of her breasts and it was all she could do to keep from showing the nausea she felt, but she held herself firmly.

“Go on.” When his eyes continued to linger she added, “Say it.”

Slowly Brian looked up. “It’s common knowledge that you’re having an affair with the boss.”

Alanna’s hands balled into fists behind her. “Is it? Common knowledge? Based on what proof?”

“Aw, come on. Look at you, Alanna.”
He
did, once more, and she felt positively raped. “You’ve got all the right curves in the right places. What man in his right mind wouldn’t take what’s offered?”

Her eyes narrowed angrily. “And how do you know exactly what
has
been offered, Brian?”

He sat back. “You’ve gotten the promotions, haven’t you? That speaks for itself.”

“It does not!”
she exploded, unable to contain her fury. “Has it ever occurred to you that I’ve
earned
those promotions through hard work,” her forefinger jabbed at the desk, “in this office? No,” she shook her head, “that would be too threatening for you, wouldn’t it? It would imply that I legitimately earned a promotion over you. A sexist accusation is more your style; that way you can overlook any possible professional failing within yourself!”

Brian spoke evenly. “A psychoanalyst, too?”

“It’s common sense, Brian,” she spat out. “
Another
thing you seem to be lacking.” She paused to steady her breathing and lower her voice. “I’ve been willing to put up with your sly little hints in the past because they’re so absurd that they’re not worth bothering about. But when you came out and mentioned Jake Wallace’s name just now you went too far.”

“If the shoe fits…”

In that instant Alanna realized she would never get anywhere with Brian Winstead. Perhaps that was why she’d never said anything before, intuitively sensing the futility of it. Now he was simply an outlet for the tension that had built up over this latest promotion.

Straightening, she slowly rounded the desk, tempering her annoyance to ponder the next step. When she reached her chair she slid fluidly into it, leaned back and feigned utter calm. Through it all Brian sat with a maddeningly impassive expression on his face. He didn’t even blink when she began to talk quietly.

“I have three things to say to you.” Her gaze was filled with an anger clearly held back at some cost. “First, I don’t want to hear anything else from you on this matter unless you plan to produce concrete proof of your accusations. Second, I don’t ever again want to hear Jake Wallace’s name muddied by your tongue. He’s worked too hard, too honestly and too respectably to build WallMar Enterprises. He doesn’t deserve your filth.” She inhaled sharply. “And finally, if I
do
catch wind of anything further, you can very probably fear for your job. Despite what your ego might lead you to believe, you are
not
irreplaceable.”

“Is that a threat?” Brian sat forward for the first time, more indignant than worried.

But Alanna was not about to give him the upper hand. She, too, sat forward, mirroring his movement. “It’s a promise!”

“And you’d swing your weight with Wallace to see it through.” It was not so much a question as a statement, verging on the very slander which had prompted their present confrontation. Again Alanna marvelled at his gall.

“Let’s get this clear, Brian. Regardless of how you believe I got here, I am now the Executive Vice-President of WallMar. I won’t need to swing
any
weight to send you packing. Based on job performance alone your position has been questionable at times. It’s on the record, entered by hands other than mine. But you are familiar with the company and, when you want to, you can be quite effective. If, however, that effectiveness is hampered by thwarted ambition you might do better to seek employment elsewhere. As it is,” she ventured, feeling suddenly drained, “if you continue with these unfounded accusations your co-workers may just begin to realize what a jealous and petty mind you have.”

The object of her scathing denunciation slowly unfolded himself from his chair as though determined to be the one to end the audience. He cocked his head arrogantly. “People
may
just believe me.” And with that he walked to the door and left.

Alone, Alanna settled back in her chair, took several deep calming breaths and proceeded to stew. The confrontation with Brian was but one small aspect of the situation. Now the force of the whole problem came down on her. Should she have accepted the promotion? Why
had
she accepted it, given the very serious reservations she had? Hadn’t these past few minutes made real what she had feared?

But Alex’s parting words of that morning echoed in her ears, her only source of courage. As he had stood at her door preparing to leave he’d taken her shoulders and held her firmly before him.

“Now, listen, Alanna.” His gray eyes had reached her soul. “I want you to take it.”

“Take what?” She’d feigned ignorance, preferring to bask in the pleasure she’d found in his arms such a short while earlier.

“The promotion, damn it!” he had growled impatiently. “You’re more than capable of doing the work and you owe it to yourself to have the title.”

She had shaken her head then, blond tangles falling about her shoulders. “I don’t know.…”

But his voice had lowered in the tone of challenge she recalled from that very first encounter she’d had with this man she now loved. “Can’t stand the heat? Fire too bright? You can always retire, give it all up, become a full-time homemaker.…”

His point had been well-taken. Business had been her whole life until Alex had entered it such a short time before. The precise nature of their future as a couple was still an enigma; her future at WallMar Enterprises was more fully sketched out. She realized that it wasn’t Alex’s dare that had goaded her into accepting the promotion. Rather, it was his underlying message. She had entered the corporate world in large part for the challenge it offered; to shy away from that challenge now, even considering the sordid aspect of one part of the drama, would be to turn her back on everything for which she’d worked so long and hard.

When Jake appeared at her office door at six and insisted on buying her a celebration drink she was more than happy to leave her work for another day and focus on the positive nature of this promotion. Alex had planned to pick her up at her own apartment for dinner at eight, so she had the time to spend with Jake, to whom she owed so much.

“I only wish Elaine could be here,” she mused wistfully after Jake had toasted her future with the champagne he’d ordered as they sat together in a lounge not far from the office.

Jake’s eyes sparkled with pleasure. “She’s waiting for us at home. Drinks are just the beginning. There’s a full-course meal on the agenda!”

Alanna was touched and excited. “How sweet of her, Jake! But she shouldn’t have gone to the trouble!” Then she realized that Alex would be waiting, also. How nice it would be to bring him along, to have him meet these two people who had been so wonderful to her over the past few years!

Her face must have told the entire story, for Jake responded, “Alex should be there by the time we arrive.”

The soft brown pools of her eyes warmed with pleasure. “But how did you…?”

“Elaine did all the arranging, Alanna.” He brushed the details away with the gentle sweep of one pudgy hand. “You’ll have to ask her. You
were
planning to see him tonight, weren’t you?”

“You know I was.” Her answer held her smiling resignation. “You’re a pretty sharp fellow, Jake. Have I ever told you that before?”

“Save it for
him
, dear.” The older man beamed at her. “He’ll need all the bolstering he can get what with the fame you’re finding!”

Alanna’s blush was unbidden. “Alex Knight isn’t about to be threatened by me. You’ll see when you meet him.”

What Jake and Elaine Wallace saw was a paragon of charm, wit and intelligence. Alex spent some time with Elaine before the others arrived, comfortably assisting her with the last-minute dinner preparations. When Alanna and Jake walked through the front door it was Alex who nonchalantly wheeled a glowing Elaine from the kitchen, Alex who mixed the first round of drinks, Alex who was fully composed and utterly triumphant in his conquest of the Wallaces.

Much later that night Alanna hugged him especially hard for the genuine and forthright warmth that he had shown her friends. “Thanks, Alex,” she murmured, burying her face against the strong column of his neck.

“For what?” His arms curved about her slender body reflexively as they stood in her living room.

Alanna tipped her blond head back to survey the gentleness of the features that seemed so perfectly to depict manliness. “For being so wonderful to them, with them. Elaine is often sensitive with new people, but she seemed totally at ease with you.”

Silver sparkles shimmered in his eyes. “
You
should know about my way with women.…”

“But you were great with Jake, too!” she quickly went on. “I can’t believe how freely he discussed WallMar with you. He’s usually more guarded with a potential competitor.”

One dark brow arched. “Perhaps he sees me as a future in-law of sorts.” His gaze narrowed. “You know, I couldn’t help but notice how he looked at you. He does see you as a daughter. And unless I’m way off base, I think he’d like to see you married.”

Alanna scoffed at the suggestion though she knew it to be fact. “If that was the case why would he just have had me promoted?”

“Perhaps he agrees with me that you can do the job whether or not you’re married.”

Sensing that they were on the verge of a discussion she was still unready to tackle, Alanna moved out of Alex’s arms and crossed the room to stand by the sofa. Her voice was very soft. “Please don’t hassle me, Alex. I’ve had enough tension today without this. I already have too many second thoughts about taking the job; what I really need is your support.” At the instant she said it she knew it to be the truth. Had Alex not been part of her life now she wondered whether she would have had the courage to accept the promotion she knew was so controversial among her co-workers. It had been this time with him that she had looked forward to all day; these moments made everything else worthwhile.

Alex’s long strides brought him to her in an instant. His arms were iron bands, surging with strength as he held her. “Have I told you how proud I am of you?” he whispered, the warmth of his breath flowing over the skin of her cheek. “I have to confess, it was very easy to like Jake and Elaine, seeing how much they obviously adore you.”

Touched by his words, she could only cling to him. This was the man she loved; his praise meant the world to her. It put things in perspective, made things special.
He
made things special when he was with her. What would she ever do if she lost him?

Her throat constricted around a half gasp as she understood, at last and with a sudden clarity, the full meaning of fear. It had been hard enough to assimilate the fact that she loved him. This new information—that she did, indeed, want him to be part of her life on a permanent basis—shocked her even more. Shocked her, frightened her, disconcerted her … and left her at a loss for words.