with one hand tied behind her. It was the memory of that unexpected, searing kiss that had her jumpy as a June bug.
Fortunately the first person she saw when she walked into Taylor’s office was Darlene, not her new boss.
“Hey, there,” Darlene said, beaming. “You’re right on time. Today should be a light day. Mr. Matthews had to take Caitlin back to school. Then he planned to go on over to Charleston to file some motions in a case he’s handling over there.”
Zelda stopped in her tracks. “Caitlin?” she questioned, her pulse hammering.
“His daughter,” Darlene said, totally unaware that she’d just dropped a bombshell of atomic proportions. “Haven’t you met her yet? She’s the cutest little thing. She’ll be eight pretty soon. Looks just like her daddy. She’s in boarding school, has been ever since…” She paused and bit her lip. “Well, maybe that’s something you ought to hear about from Mr. Matthews. He wouldn’t want me gossiping about his personal life.”
Of all the times for Darlene to decide to hold her tongue, Zelda thought in frustration. She didn’t dare probe too deeply for fear the talkative Darlene would later mention her interest to Taylor.
“All lawyers rely on their secretaries’ discretion,” she said diplomatically. “I’m sure he must appreciate yours. Of course, if I’m going to be working here, it would help to know if I should expect his wife and daughter to be popping in, and whether he minds being disturbed.”
To Zelda’s regret, Darlene grinned mischievously. Obviously she was quicker than Zelda had given her credit for being.
“Oh, Mr. Matthews will fill you in on all that kind of thing, I’m sure,” she said. She regarded Zelda speculatively. “You know I was talking to my mother about you. She remembers you from when you lived here before.”
“Oh, really?”
“Her name’s Jeannie Wilson. She’d already had my older sister, that’s Danielle, by then. Anyway, she said you and Taylor—I mean, Mr. Matthews—well, that you had something real special going.”
“We were friends,” Zelda said a little too emphatically.
Darlene regarded her disbelievingly. “Sounded to me like it was a whole lot more than that.”
“Well, you know how rumors are.”
“How come you didn’t mention any of that when I asked you if you wanted to apply for my job? I mean, I knew you knew him because of his doing your mama’s will and all, but I’d never guessed about the rest.”
“It hardly seemed relevant,” Zelda said.
“Yeah, I suppose not. My mother said you split up and then you left for California.”
“That’s about it,” Zelda agreed, knowing that the capsulized version didn’t begin to cover all the heartache involved. “Darlene, don’t you think we ought to get to work?”
Darlene blinked at the pointed suggestion. “Oh, yeah, sure. I guess we should. Mr. Matthews told me to explain which cases he’s working on, where we keep things, that sort of stuff. Mondays are usually pretty busy because he sits in that house all weekend long with his dictating machine. I spend the whole day typing.”
“Perhaps I should do that today,” Zelda suggested. “I ought to get used to it while you’re still around to explain how he likes his letters and notes done.”
“Why, sure,” Darlene replied, looking pleased at being considered an expert on her boss’s ways. Suddenly her complexion turned chalk-white. “Whoops! ‘Scuse me,” she exclaimed, and raced for the bathroom.
While Darlene dealt with her morning sickness, Zelda moved into position behind the computer terminal. Judging from the instruction books piled up, the office clearly had the most up-to-date programs. As soon as Darlene returned, she pointed out the codes, all of which were exactly like the standard ones Zelda was used to.
“I think I’m all set,” she said finally.
“Then I’ll just try to catch up on some of this filing,” Darlene said. “Mr. Matthews
Fortunately the first person she saw when she walked into Taylor’s office was Darlene, not her new boss.
“Hey, there,” Darlene said, beaming. “You’re right on time. Today should be a light day. Mr. Matthews had to take Caitlin back to school. Then he planned to go on over to Charleston to file some motions in a case he’s handling over there.”
Zelda stopped in her tracks. “Caitlin?” she questioned, her pulse hammering.
“His daughter,” Darlene said, totally unaware that she’d just dropped a bombshell of atomic proportions. “Haven’t you met her yet? She’s the cutest little thing. She’ll be eight pretty soon. Looks just like her daddy. She’s in boarding school, has been ever since…” She paused and bit her lip. “Well, maybe that’s something you ought to hear about from Mr. Matthews. He wouldn’t want me gossiping about his personal life.”
Of all the times for Darlene to decide to hold her tongue, Zelda thought in frustration. She didn’t dare probe too deeply for fear the talkative Darlene would later mention her interest to Taylor.
“All lawyers rely on their secretaries’ discretion,” she said diplomatically. “I’m sure he must appreciate yours. Of course, if I’m going to be working here, it would help to know if I should expect his wife and daughter to be popping in, and whether he minds being disturbed.”
To Zelda’s regret, Darlene grinned mischievously. Obviously she was quicker than Zelda had given her credit for being.
“Oh, Mr. Matthews will fill you in on all that kind of thing, I’m sure,” she said. She regarded Zelda speculatively. “You know I was talking to my mother about you. She remembers you from when you lived here before.”
“Oh, really?”
“Her name’s Jeannie Wilson. She’d already had my older sister, that’s Danielle, by then. Anyway, she said you and Taylor—I mean, Mr. Matthews—well, that you had something real special going.”
“We were friends,” Zelda said a little too emphatically.
Darlene regarded her disbelievingly. “Sounded to me like it was a whole lot more than that.”
“Well, you know how rumors are.”
“How come you didn’t mention any of that when I asked you if you wanted to apply for my job? I mean, I knew you knew him because of his doing your mama’s will and all, but I’d never guessed about the rest.”
“It hardly seemed relevant,” Zelda said.
“Yeah, I suppose not. My mother said you split up and then you left for California.”
“That’s about it,” Zelda agreed, knowing that the capsulized version didn’t begin to cover all the heartache involved. “Darlene, don’t you think we ought to get to work?”
Darlene blinked at the pointed suggestion. “Oh, yeah, sure. I guess we should. Mr. Matthews told me to explain which cases he’s working on, where we keep things, that sort of stuff. Mondays are usually pretty busy because he sits in that house all weekend long with his dictating machine. I spend the whole day typing.”
“Perhaps I should do that today,” Zelda suggested. “I ought to get used to it while you’re still around to explain how he likes his letters and notes done.”
“Why, sure,” Darlene replied, looking pleased at being considered an expert on her boss’s ways. Suddenly her complexion turned chalk-white. “Whoops! ‘Scuse me,” she exclaimed, and raced for the bathroom.
While Darlene dealt with her morning sickness, Zelda moved into position behind the computer terminal. Judging from the instruction books piled up, the office clearly had the most up-to-date programs. As soon as Darlene returned, she pointed out the codes, all of which were exactly like the standard ones Zelda was used to.
“I think I’m all set,” she said finally.
“Then I’ll just try to catch up on some of this filing,” Darlene said. “Mr. Matthews
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