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“Well, it does come in handy when I’m shopping in Mexico City and trying to figure out the exchange rate.”
Again he shook his head, counting out bills.
“Twenty-two dollars and twenty cents,” she said helpfully.
“Amazing,” he said, dropping the cash in the tray and handing it up to the waiting server.
Caitlin was staring solemnly at him.
“What now? You thinking about calculating the national debt?”
She shook her head. “I’ve never had to support myself before, Joseph. And I realize I’m spoiled. But that’s going to change.” She let out a little laugh. “It has to, actually. I don’t have any money.”
“Maybe a loan,” he said desperately. “They have them everywhere now. All the banks…”
“I want to work.”
“There are other jobs, other things you could do that would suit you better.”
“I’m not a quitter, Joe.” Determination and pure grit shimmered off her, and her voice was soft yet strong and even, completely without rancor. “I just need a little time to prove myself. And if you don’t have the inclination to give me the time I need, then I’m sure Andy and Tim and Vince will.”
She had that right, he thought as he glanced at the three cohorts, all staring across the room directly at Caitlin, stars sparkling in their eyes.
Caitlin scooted back from the table and rose with wounded dignity. Every male eye in the place was instantly on her. Every eye but Joe’s.
He was lost in thoughts of her determination and grit—two of his favorite qualities. He almost liked her, he realized with some surprise.
How many people could he say that about?
5
CAITLIN GOT UP the next morning and discovered two unpleasant things. One, if she wanted to eat again in the near future, she was going to have to ask Joe how often she got paid. Weekly, she hoped as she stared with dismay into her nearly empty refrigerator thinking that, given a sorry choice of expired cottage cheese or a mustard sandwich on stale bread, payday couldn’t be soon enough.
Two, and even more important, her car was gone. Missing. Vanished from the face of the earth.
Just the thought had her hyperventilating. Her BMW, her pride and joy, the one thing her father had given her that she knew he’d bought with her in mind… Well, he hadn’t actually paid for it outright, but up until his death, he’d given her the money for the lease and insurance.
She’d already called the police when it occurred to her that she might have missed a few payments.
It wasn’t her fault, really. She’d been so busy. First in Paris with a girlfriend for holiday shopping. Then in Mexico at another friend’s resort for Christmas. She’d come home in time for New Year’s Eve at the Comedy Club.
Then her father had died, and both her so-called friends and her money had disappeared.
Well, at least she hadn’t been kicked out of her condo yet. That was something, wasn’t it?
* * *
CAITLIN HAD NEVER in her life had to rely on public transportation. It was every bit the adventure she’d thought it would be and more. And so, of course, she was late.
She dashed through the foyer, waved to Amy, leaped on the elevator and stumbled into the office at ten o’clock to face a not-so-happy-looking Joe Brownley.
“How nice of you to grace us with your presence,” he said overly politely.
Usually, nothing flattened her faster than disapproval, but she wasn’t in the mood. Not today. She thought about telling him so, but stopped when she realized that, given how he’d grown up, he might not be exactly sympathetic to her losing the BMW she hadn’t paid for in the first place.
“I’m sorry I’m a little late—”
“A little?” He let out a short laugh and shook his head. “Princess, there are going to have to be rules in this…this…”
“Relationship?” she suggested sweetly, making him scowl even deeper.
“Office. This is not a relationship,” he said stiffly. “It’s a job. You come in at eight like the rest of us. In the morning,” he added with emphasis.
He wore black jeans today. And a black polo shirt, untucked as usual. It stretched tight across his broad shoulders and snugged his hard, lean chest. With his hands on his hips and that scowl on his handsome face, he looked like a modern-day pirate, capable of pillaging along with the best of them.
She definitely should not have stayed up late reading that fantastic lusty historical romance. The pirate hero had tossed the heroine over his shoulder and stalked with her into his private cabin, where he’d tossed the passionate but virginal redhead on his berth and—“What is that?” her pirate demanded, pointing to her outfit.
Caitlin glanced down at herself, but saw nothing wrong with her canary-yellow captain’s jacket and matching short full skirt, or her equally yellow high-heeled pumps. She’d needed the extra height this morning to boost her lagging confidence and stomped-on spirits.
She would have preferred an expensive shopping trip to Italy, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.
Of course, no one had told her she’d have to walk nearly a mile—twice—to catch connecting buses.
Tomorrow, she was wearing her cross trainers.
She’d only gotten on the wrong bus once. Okay, twice, but that second time hadn’t been her fault.
“What’s wrong with my clothes?” she asked.
“Everything!”
She looked again, just to make sure she’d buttoned all her buttons and didn’t have toilet paper stuck to her shoe, but everything was just fine. “What?”
His sigh exploded out of him as he turned away. “Nothing.”
“It’s something.”
He whipped around to face her, plowing his fingers through his hair. His raised arms, stretched, tightened, and made her mouth go dry because he was so…
“You said you’d wear…more,” he said at last.
She laughed. “No, I never said that. You did.”
He closed his eyes, a habit she’d noticed he fell back on when frustrated or furious, both seemingly constant elements of his charming personality. “I asked nicely,” he said, his voice strained.
“You most definitely did not.”
“Please,” he said after a moment. “Please, wear more. Lots more.”
“Is that a rule, too?”
His eyes flashed and she didn’t miss the quick humor they revealed. “If I said yes, would you follow it?”
She grinned back. “Probably not. I don’t do the authority thing too well.”
His gaze became serious. “This isn’t going to work.”
“It will if you stop bellowing.”
He went still. “I haven’t yelled at you.”
“You raised your voice when I dropped the lamp on your thingie.”
“Zip drive,” he said through his teeth. “It was a zip drive, princess. A very expensive one. And I didn’t yell—I nearly cried!”
“You’re doing it again.”
His shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry. I tend to talk loud when I get—Never mind. Christ! How the hell do you always get me so off track?”
“You were picking on me.”
“I was not picking on you.” He stopped, drew a deep, ragged breath. “Forget the zip drive, okay? Just answer the phone. Nothing else.”
She thought of his disastrous files, which she had started to organize. She could have the office fully operational in no time. “But—”
“No buts.”
He hadn’t fired her.
This man was not nearly as tough as he thought he was, which made her smile. She would fix his office, and he’d see just how valuable she could be.
He’d need her then…and she liked the sound of that.
“Now—” he pointed to the phone “—there are two lines, and the first one—”
“Thank you, Joe,” she interrupted softly, laying her hand over his.
He yanked his hand back and scowled. “Pay attention. Our phones are ringing off the hook right now because of the merger. A lot of our customers—”
“Customers?”
“We design and sell software. We also provide the tech support.”
“That’s what Tim, Andy and Vince do?”
He nodded. “Among other things. Just find out who it is they need to speak to. Put them on Hold, then use the intercom in our offices and we’ll pick up.” He pointed to another series of buttons, but Caitlin’s mind began to wander. She lifted her head and encountered the most expressive light blue eyes she’d ever seen. “Do you wear contacts?” she wondered out loud.
“Caitlin.” His nostrils flared. “You’re not paying attention.”
Paying attention was hard when he was so darn magnificent. He stood there, leaning over her, wearing that fierce expression—his jaw all tight and his sexy mouth hard—and suddenly, she wanted to kiss him.
Bad idea, she decided, and ducked her head. “I’m sorry. I’m listening now.”
Vince came out of his office, took one look at Joseph’s tense face and changed directions from the kitchen to Caitlin’s desk. “Joe,” he said quietly, “Tim needs you. He’s having trouble with a control panel and wanted me to let you know.”
“He’ll have to wait a minute.” Joe rubbed his temples. “I’m training Caitlin.”
Caitlin’s stomach tightened uncomfortably with the now familiar feeling of stress. She hated it.
“I’ll help her,” Vince suggested, tactfully slipping in between Joe and Caitlin and giving her a shy smile. “After all, I’m the one who trained the last hundred secretaries you scared off. What’s one more?”
There was her hero, Caitlin thought. Too bad his smile didn’t stop her heart like Joseph’s did.
“Good luck,” muttered the modern-day pirate as he escaped scot-free.
“Don’t worry about him.” Vince grinned, which went a long way to relieve Caitlin’s tension. “He doesn’t have much patience. He’s far too focused.”
“Well, I hope he focuses somewhere else this morning while I organize this place. It’s a disaster.”
“Um…maybe you shouldn’t.”
He was worried and it made her smile. “I can do this. You’ll see.”
“But Joe—”
“Doesn’t know how good I am.” She patted his hand. “You’ll see,” she repeated.
* * *
TIM AND ANDY came through a short time later, looking for fun, as they always did on their break.
Tim toed the controlled mess she had on the office floor, and whistled slowly. “What’d Joe say about this?”
Caitlin had to smile. “After complaining about how late I was, and then my clothes, he sort of ran out of steam. I’m sure he’ll get to it the next time he happens by, but I’m hoping to file all this away by then.”
Tim looked nervous. “Maybe I should help you,” he suggested. “No use riling him up.”
He was afraid she’d get herself fired, and it was so sweet she smiled in spite of her own nerves. Besides, she refused to put Joe in a position where his men had divided loyalties. She’d caused enough trouble. “I’ve got it covered,” she assured him.
“What’s wrong with your clothes?” Andy wanted to know, looking her over in frank appreciation. “They look plenty good to me.”
“He said I needed more,” Caitlin told him. Both Tim and Andy protested loudly, only to fall completely silent when Joe came into the front office.
He took one look at them hanging around the reception desk, and his jaw went impossibly tight.
Caitlin imagined he’d have quite a headache if he kept it up. “I’ve got the phone down pat, boss,” she said sweetly.
“Terrific.” Joe glanced pointedly at the two techs, and they scattered, each offering muttered excuses.
