Part 48 (1/2)
”Nothing. Your opening made a real splash,” he continued as they walked out of the terminal.
”It met our expectations.”
”You're getting write-ups inNewsday andBusiness Week.” He shrugged when she looked at him. ”I heard.”
”AndWomen's Wear Daily ,” she added. ”But who's counting?”
”I've been. It's great, Natalie, really. I'm happy for you. Proud of you.” He set her luggage beside his car, and his limbs went weak.
”G.o.d, I've missed you.”
She stepped back, evading him, when he reached for her. He was not going to hurt her again, she promised herself. She would not allow it.
”Okay.” Slowly, stunned by the ache that one quick rejection caused, he lifted his hands, palms out. ”I had that coming. I've got plenty coming. I'll give you the chance to take all the shots you want.”
”I'm not interested in fighting with you,” she said wearily. ”I've had a long trip. I'm too tired to fight with you.”
”Let me take you home, Natalie.”
”I'm going to the office.” She stepped back and waited for him to unlock the car. Once inside, she sat back and shut her eyes. She just sighed when Ry laid the bright yellow flowers in her lap.
”They, ah, haven't gotten any more out of Clarence,” he said, hoping to chip at the wall she'd erected between them.
”I know.” She couldn't think about her suspicions yet. ”I've kept in touch.”
”You moved around fast.”
”I had a lot of ground to cover.”
”Yeah.” He dug out money for the parking attendant. ”I got the picture, after I chased you around Atlanta.”
She opened her eyes then. ”Excuse me?”
”I couldn't get a d.a.m.n cab,” he muttered. ”You must have hooked one the minute you walked out of my apartment.”
”Yes, I did.”
”Figures. I'm running the marathon to your apartment, then you're gone when I get there. I see the note, figure the airport, and get there in time to see your plane take off.”
She felt herself softening, and stiffened. ”Is that supposed to be my fault, Piasecki?”
”No, it's not your fault, d.a.m.n it. It's my fault. But if you could have sat still in Atlanta for five minutes, we'd have settled this.”
”Wehave settled it.”
”Not by a long shot.” Turning his head, he aimed a deadly look at her. ”I hate it when people hang up on me.”
”It was,” she said with relish, ”my pleasure.”
”I might have strangled you for it when I got down there. If I could have caught you. 'No, Ms. Fletcher's at her shop.' Then I get to the shop, and it's 'Sorry, Ms. Fletcher's gone back to her hotel.' I get back to the hotel, and you've checked out. I get to the airport and you're in the sky. I spent hours chasing my tail, trying to catch up with you.”
She shrugged. She didn't want to be pleased, but she couldn't prevent a little frisson of pleasure at the frustration in his voice.
”Don't expect an apology.” Still, she gathered up the flowers to keep them from sliding from her lap when he braked.