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“Of course. You have a deal, Mr. Sterling.” She stretched out her hand and he took it in a grip that said he didn’t want to let it go again.
Fortunately their food arrived and he was forced to drop her hand. Dena ate her soup and sandwich as fast as possible, wanting to get back to her office. She made the appropriate small talk but was grateful when the waitress dropped the check on the table.
She snatched it up and glanced pointedly at her watch. “I’m sorry, but I’m on a really tight schedule.”
“No problem,” he said, getting to his feet so he could help her with her coat but she slipped it on before he had a chance.
“If you’ll just look at the information that’s in that envelope…” She trailed off, buttoning the front. “I think it’s all pretty self-explanatory.”
“If I have any questions, I suppose I could always tap three times on the floor,” he said with a crooked smile.
“It would probably be better for you to call Greg Watkins. He’s the person in charge of the project.”
“I’d rather call you.”
The look he gave her said it wasn’t because he’d have questions about the calendar. He was definitely interested in her. She could see it in his eyes.
“I’ve got to get back to work,” she said, tugging on her gloves.
He escorted her out of the coffee shop, his hand at her back. When she walked beside him she felt small and fragile, a rare experience for someone as tall as she was. She discovered she rather liked the feeling and wished that it had been other circumstances that had brought them together. She imagined a guy like Quinn Sterling could make a woman feel special in a lot of ways.
As she said goodbye to him outside, she realized there was no place for those kind of thoughts in her mind. He was an assignment and one she’d completed. There would be no reason for her to have any contact with him again other than the occasional hello that neighbors give one another. She’d experienced the power of celebrity charisma and had come through without any scars. Now she could go back to the real world. Her work.
DENA THOUGHT that once she delivered the news that Quinn Sterling had agreed to be Mr. January, her part in the calendar project would be finished. She never expected Greg Watkins would ask her to go with him to the photo shoot.
“I hope this guy shows up,” the art director said as they sat in the Delaney van with the engine running, waiting for Quinn to arrive. The camera crew had already set up their equipment on the skating rink. “If we have to reschedule, this snow and ice could be gone.”
“He’ll show up,” Dena said as she stared out the window, hoping that she was right. The outdoor conditions were ideal, especially for the first week in March. She knew that an early spring could turn the solid ice into slush and force them indoors for the shoot. Besides, if Quinn didn’t show up, she was going to feel responsible, which was ridiculous. All she’d done was get him to agree to do the calendar. She hadn’t even recommended him for the job.
“Well, I hope he’s on time. The professional athletes I’ve worked with have acted like the world should wait for them,” Greg said with disdain.
Dena didn’t comment but pushed back her cuff to see her watch. “He has seven more minutes to get here before you can call him late.”
“This Sterling character must have had his picture taken often enough that this should be a piece of cake. I hope it goes bing-bing and we’re done,” he said, snapping his fingers. “I don’t fancy having to stand out in the cold for hours on end.”
“I thought that was why you brought me. So I could stand out in the cold,” she quipped.
“I brought you because you were a part of the deal.” He tapped his gloved fingers on the steering wheel. “Besides, if you want to be an art director someday, this is good practice.”
She could have pointed out that she’d done her part of the deal—getting Quinn Sterling to agree to be in the calendar. Instead she focused on the fact that he’d brought her along because he wanted her to get experience. That meant he thought she had the potential to serve as one of the eight art directors at the agency, that she was talented enough to work at the same level as he.
“Yes, it is, and I thank you for such an opportunity,” she said sincerely. She knew that he could have chosen any one of the graphic designers working under him to accompany him on the shoot, yet he’d chosen her.
“Don’t thank me. I would have left you behind except Quinn Sterling said the only way he’d do the shoot was if you were there.”
“You’re kidding, right?” When he didn’t answer, she said, “Oh my gosh, you’re not.” Disappointment replaced the thrill of pleasure his earlier words had produced.
“Do you have something going with this guy?” he asked, giving her a slanted glance.
“No!” she denied vigorously. “Good grief, he’s my neighbor. That’s all.”
“I don’t care what he is as long as he’s on time.” His attention was captured by the silver SUV approaching. “And it looks like he is.”
Dena recognized the vehicle and knew it was Quinn.
“Okay, let’s get this over with,” Greg said when the SUV had parked on the other side of the photographer’s van.
Dena pulled on her gloves and went out into the cold. They walked over to Quinn’s SUV, where he stood with the back open.
Other than shaking his hand and saying hello, Dena remained quiet, content to let Greg do the talking. Determined to keep everything on a professional level, she followed the art director’s instructions and paid close attention to the technical aspects as the photographer did his job.
To her surprise, Quinn treated her as impersonally as he did the others at the shoot. He said little, cooperating in a manner with which Dena knew Greg could find no fault. There were no flirtatious glances, no sexy smiles tossed her way. By the time it was over, she was wondering why he had even insisted that she be there and decided she’d misread his interest in her earlier.
When the last of the shots had been taken, he skated over to the wooden bench from where Dena had watched the shoot. He sat down beside her so he could slip a pair of skate guards over his blades.
“So how do you think it went?” he asked.
“Good. Richard Davis does beautiful work. I think you’re going to be pleased with the results,” she said, nodding toward the photographer. “Greg has already shown me the proofs for several of the calendar models, and they’re incredible.” It had started to snow, and huge white flakes fell around them. She caught some in her gloved hand and said, “Looks like we finished just in time.”
When she glanced at him, he was staring at her. The look of interest was back on his face. There was no mistaking it and his words confirmed it. “I’m glad you came today.”
“Greg told me you requested I be here.”
“Yeah, I did,” he said, taking off his gloves.
“Why?”
“Because I like being around you.”
She thought the warmth of his words could have melted the snow settling on her coat. “I didn’t think you even noticed I was here,” she said softly.
He gazed into her eyes and said, “Believe me, I noticed.”
“Dena!” Greg called out from a few feet away, causing her to look away from those penetrating eyes. “You can head back to the van if you want. I’m going to talk to Richard.”
“I will. It’s cold out here,” she called back to him, then rose to her feet.
Quinn got up, too. “I have something for you. Come with me,” he said, nodding toward the parking lot.
The cars were only a few steps from the ice rink. As soon as Quinn reached his, he stashed his sticks, gloves and helmet in the back, then went around to the side to open the passenger door. He reached into the glove compartment, pulled out a slip of paper and handed to her.
On it was a date and an address. “What’s this?” she asked.
“Your end of our agreement,” he answered.
“It’s only a time and a place. What am I supposed to do with it?”
“Do you like to read?”
“I love to read.”
“Good. That’s an elementary school in St. Paul. The kids there love reading. The Cougars have set up a program that encourages them to read as many books as they can. Once a month we visit the school, read a few stories to them and then talk about books they’ve read—you know, what they liked and didn’t like, that sort of thing.”
“And where do I fit into this picture?”
“You’re going to be a part of the program. They love having adults read to them.”
“I’m sure they love having famous hockey players read to them,” she corrected.
“Listen, some of these kids don’t even have a clue what I do for a living,” he pointed out, then added with a wry grin, “so you won’t feel out of place.”
Oh, yes, she would. Just being around him was enough to make her feel as if she were way out of her league.
“It’s a great program and not a bad way to spend a morning,” he went on. “And you’re lucky because the next visit isn’t until the twenty-fifth so you have a couple of weeks to prepare.”
“Prepare?”
“To see me again,” he said with a sexy grin.
Yes, it was getting to the point that she did need an advance warning as to when that grin was going to be flashed her way. She only wished she were immune to its power. It was sheer craziness to fall for that kind of charm, especially since he was a man whose life was in the public spotlight. She already had a list of bad choices she’d made when it came to men. There was no point in adding another name to it. And she wasn’t naive enough to think that he was asking her to do the reading program because they were short on volunteers.
“I’d love to help the kids, but I really haven’t been at my job long enough to be asking for time off,” she suggested, knowing it would be wise to keep their relationship on a professional level.
“You want me to ask Greg for the green light on this one?” He nodded toward the art director, who was still on the ice.
She shook her head. “No, please don’t. Maybe I could donate some books.”
“I’m not asking for books, Dena. I’m asking for your time. We made a deal, remember?” There was a challenge in his eyes, and she had a feeling it had nothing to do with books and reading.
Just then her boss called out to her.
“Can I count on you to be there?” Quinn wanted to know.
She looked at the date and address of the school one more time, then shoved the slip of paper into her coat pocket. “All right, I’ll be there. I’d better go. We’ll be in touch,” she told him, then hurried back to the Delaney van.
ALTHOUGH DENA KNEW she could be quite happy without a man in her life, she had to admit there were times when having one around did come in handy. Bringing a new computer home was one of those times. At the electronics store, she’d had help loading the boxes into her car. Now, parked behind 14 Valentine Place, she knew it was going to be a challenge to get them into her second-floor apartment.
Her only option was to take them one at a time. She bent to get the largest box, wrapping her arms around its width. With a grunt she straightened, only to find Quinn at her side. He’d left his jacket indoors and had come outside wearing a gray University of Minnesota sweatshirt and a pair of jeans.
“Let me help you with that,” he said, relieving her of the burden.
Grateful for the offer, she mumbled a thank-you, then bent to pick up a smaller carton.
“I can take another one,” he said, nodding toward the remaining box in the car.
Of course he could. He was a big guy. She set a slightly smaller box on top of the one already in his hands, which left only a small bag of accessories for her to pick up. She reached for it, then closed the trunk.
He followed her up the stairs to the second floor where she unlocked the door and let him in. Most men would have been breathing heavily if they’d carried such a load. He looked as if he’d carried a loaf of bread.
“Any particular place I should set these?” he asked, making a quick survey of the room.
“The floor is fine,” she said, gesturing with her arm.
“Anything else I can do for you?” His look intimated that his offer wasn’t limited to hauling boxes up the stairs.
“No, that should do it. Thanks for your help,” she said, noticing the way he took in the contents of her room.
“You’re welcome. It’s important for neighbors to help one another out, don’t you think?”
“Yes,” she agreed. “I’d offer you something to drink but I only have mineral water.”
“Mineral water is fine,” he told her, stepping farther into the room.
She had a small portable refrigerator in which she stored just enough things so that she didn’t have to use the main kitchen on the first floor. She pulled a plastic bottle from it and handed it to him.
“Thanks.” He unscrewed the cap and took a drink, then said, “This place sure has changed since the last time I was here. I suppose you know that before Leonie remodeled the house, this floor had boys’ bedrooms on it.”
“I did hear something about that,” she said, aware of his scrutiny of her things.
“I can tell you one thing, it was never this neat.”
Dena was glad she’d straightened the place before she’d left for the mall.
He moved over to her desk and leaned closer to peer at the models on her shelf. “These are cool. Did you do them?”
She nodded. “I’m working on packaging for soy nuts.”
He wrinkled his nose slightly. “Soy nuts?”
She reached for a small covered dish and removed the lid. “Try some.”
He held up his hand and shook his head. “No, thanks. I tried soy milk once and that was enough of an introduction to soy for me.”
She shrugged. “These are actually pretty good. They come in flavors like honey roasted, barbecue…”
Her words didn’t convince him to give them a try. “You do most of your work on a computer?”
Again she nodded. “Most of it.”
“Is that why you bought the new system? So you could bring work home?”
“Yes. Plus I also freelance. Brochures, business cards…that sort of thing.” When it became apparent he wasn’t in any hurry to leave, she said, “You probably have stuff you want to do. Please don’t let me keep you from it.”
“Not tonight. It’s why I was in Leonie’s kitchen when you pulled into the driveway.” Again there was no mistaking the interest in his eyes. She’d seen it the afternoon they’d had lunch and again at the photo shoot.
“Lucky for me. I’m not sure how I would have gotten that box up those stairs without help.” She nodded toward the computer cartons.
“It wasn’t luck. I was waiting for you to come home. I’d already tried knocking on your door so I went downstairs to see if Leonie knew where you were.” He moved closer to her and she caught the fresh scent of soap.
