breath as Sue scooted out the door. Bringing the phone to her ear, she said, "Hello."
"Hi, Kate."
"Hello, Drake. Is something wrong at work?"
"Not that I'm aware of. The reason I'm calling doesn't have anything to do with work."
Kate closed her eyes. "Why are you calling?"
"We didn't get to finish our conversation today."
"We didn't?"
"No, we didn't. I'm confused by a couple of things you said."
"Which things would that be?"
"First, you said we both know I shouldn't have sent the flowers. I want to know why you think I shouldn't have. Second, I'd like to know what you meant when you said you'd be safer with the chocolate than with me."
"I don't suppose we could do this some other time. I've had a rough day and am not thinking too clearly right now."
"We could do it over dinner tomorrow," he offered.
"Then again, maybe now isn't such a bad time after all." She sighed. "Look, it was really nice of you to send me flowers. I just think it was inappropriate. I didn't notice you sending flowers to anybody else at work after talking to them." Kate ran a hand through her hair. "As for the other thing, people are already trying to find out who sent the flowers. If they found out it was you they would make my life miserable. The rumor mill at work has a life of its own. If we were seen together and my name got linked with yours it would be terrible. I've seen what such rumors as secretaries and their bosses, or copy girls and supervisors have done to a few people. I can't imagine what kind of havoc the tool crib attendant and the Vice President would cause. It's bad enough my friends saw you the other night. They're still not finished badgering me about our dinner."
His voice slid into that soft sensual tone again. "Well then we better start coming up with a plan."
"A plan for what?"
"A plan for how we're going to see each other without the rumors getting out of control. I want to see you Kate, and not just at work in passing."
Kate's heart skipped a beat. Her lungs constricted and she couldn't breathe.
"Kate?"
She forced air into her lungs and tried to form some sort of rational thought. "Yes I, ah..." Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat. "I'm flattered really." She swallowed hard and continued. "It's just not a good idea. You're new in town and don't know anybody here yet. I understand if you're feeling lonely and want someone to spend time with. We had dinner together and it was nice, but that doesn't mean we should see each other. If you'd like I could introduce you to some of my friends. Like Sue for instance, she loves to go out and have fun. She knows lots of people. She could help you have a full social life in no time and--"
"Kate." She was startled into silence. "I'm not lonely or lacking for a social life. Nor do I want to go out with Sue. I have nothing against her, but she's not the one I want to spend time with. I would like to get to know you better. I don't mind keeping a low profile for now if it makes you more comfortable."
Kate was surprised to find she was almost in tears. She must be more tired than she thought, and getting overly emotional. "I don't think it's a very good idea."
"I think it's a very good idea." he said with a self-assured laugh. "I know you've had a long day so I won't keep you any longer. I'll see you tomorrow." Before she could hang up, she heard him softly call her name.
"Kate?"
"Yes?" she whispered.
"Sweet dreams."
She heard a soft click on the line and he was gone. She replaced the receiver and sat hugging her pillow.
Kate was again awake half the night tossing and turning trying to convince herself Drake hadn't meant what he said. An hour before her alarm was set to go off, she woke from a dream. The most erotic dream she'd ever had. Unlike most of her dreams, she could remember this one in vivid detail. Even now that she was awake it still felt real. Her body tingled and her breathing labored. If she closed her eyes she could feel Drake there.
She threw
"Hi, Kate."
"Hello, Drake. Is something wrong at work?"
"Not that I'm aware of. The reason I'm calling doesn't have anything to do with work."
Kate closed her eyes. "Why are you calling?"
"We didn't get to finish our conversation today."
"We didn't?"
"No, we didn't. I'm confused by a couple of things you said."
"Which things would that be?"
"First, you said we both know I shouldn't have sent the flowers. I want to know why you think I shouldn't have. Second, I'd like to know what you meant when you said you'd be safer with the chocolate than with me."
"I don't suppose we could do this some other time. I've had a rough day and am not thinking too clearly right now."
"We could do it over dinner tomorrow," he offered.
"Then again, maybe now isn't such a bad time after all." She sighed. "Look, it was really nice of you to send me flowers. I just think it was inappropriate. I didn't notice you sending flowers to anybody else at work after talking to them." Kate ran a hand through her hair. "As for the other thing, people are already trying to find out who sent the flowers. If they found out it was you they would make my life miserable. The rumor mill at work has a life of its own. If we were seen together and my name got linked with yours it would be terrible. I've seen what such rumors as secretaries and their bosses, or copy girls and supervisors have done to a few people. I can't imagine what kind of havoc the tool crib attendant and the Vice President would cause. It's bad enough my friends saw you the other night. They're still not finished badgering me about our dinner."
His voice slid into that soft sensual tone again. "Well then we better start coming up with a plan."
"A plan for what?"
"A plan for how we're going to see each other without the rumors getting out of control. I want to see you Kate, and not just at work in passing."
Kate's heart skipped a beat. Her lungs constricted and she couldn't breathe.
"Kate?"
She forced air into her lungs and tried to form some sort of rational thought. "Yes I, ah..." Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat. "I'm flattered really." She swallowed hard and continued. "It's just not a good idea. You're new in town and don't know anybody here yet. I understand if you're feeling lonely and want someone to spend time with. We had dinner together and it was nice, but that doesn't mean we should see each other. If you'd like I could introduce you to some of my friends. Like Sue for instance, she loves to go out and have fun. She knows lots of people. She could help you have a full social life in no time and--"
"Kate." She was startled into silence. "I'm not lonely or lacking for a social life. Nor do I want to go out with Sue. I have nothing against her, but she's not the one I want to spend time with. I would like to get to know you better. I don't mind keeping a low profile for now if it makes you more comfortable."
Kate was surprised to find she was almost in tears. She must be more tired than she thought, and getting overly emotional. "I don't think it's a very good idea."
"I think it's a very good idea." he said with a self-assured laugh. "I know you've had a long day so I won't keep you any longer. I'll see you tomorrow." Before she could hang up, she heard him softly call her name.
"Kate?"
"Yes?" she whispered.
"Sweet dreams."
She heard a soft click on the line and he was gone. She replaced the receiver and sat hugging her pillow.
Kate was again awake half the night tossing and turning trying to convince herself Drake hadn't meant what he said. An hour before her alarm was set to go off, she woke from a dream. The most erotic dream she'd ever had. Unlike most of her dreams, she could remember this one in vivid detail. Even now that she was awake it still felt real. Her body tingled and her breathing labored. If she closed her eyes she could feel Drake there.
She threw
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