knowing smile that added to the feeling it wasn’t so terrible losing this round. “I’ll talk to you later. I left a meeting I need to get back to.”
****
Rachelle let out another sigh when Britt and the security chief left. Trembles from the delayed shock ran through her body.
“Are you all right?” She felt Lois’ hand on her arm.
“Yes, of course. It’s just a little scary. What do you think he’ll do?”
“He won’t let it interfere. He’s not the type of man to run scared or back down,” Lois said confidently. “Even if he let you have your way.”
“I didn’t mean Mr. Clairbourne. The caller, I need to come up with something to call him. Just ‘the man’ sounds too eerie.” She shivered.
“I don’t know what he’ll do. He’s crazy, if you ask me. You know, if you’re frightened, you can stay with me,” she volunteered, giving her arm a squeeze.
“Thanks, but you have a houseful with Jody’s family staying with you while their house is under construction. Besides, like I told Mr. Clairbourne, I refuse to be run out of my home. And I would probably kill myself tripping over one of the grandkid’s toys or at least take out a couple of lamps. I still have to be careful of them, I’m at three and holding.”
“Well, if you change your mind, we’ll make room for you. You’re always welcome. I can’t promise about the toys, but I can put the lamps away.”
Rachelle gave a small laugh. “Thanks, I appreciate that, but I’m okay.”
“Miss Independent,” the woman muttered. “I wonder if you’ve met your match.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, come on. I know you can feel it. Britton Clairbourne.”
“Am I that transparent?” Rachelle groaned.
“A little, but I was talking about him. He likes you.”
“It’s a good thing it’s about time to go home because you’re losing it. Mr. Clairbourne interested in me.” Rachelle shook her head in disbelief.
“You might not be able to see how he looks at you, but that man has a thing for you.”
“That man could have any woman he wants.”
“And if he wants you?”
“Come on, Lois, that isn’t even funny. I used to see pictures of the women he took out in the society pages, and believe me, there wasn’t a blind virgin among them.” She didn’t bother to keep the sarcasm from her voice.
“Don’t sell yourself short.”
“I’m not, I’m realistic. Even my fiancé, who was supposed to love me, and thought I would be the perfect proper wife before I had my accident, didn’t think so after.”
“Richard was a jerk and not good enough for you.”
“Yeah, well I didn’t get him.”
“Aren’t you lucky?”
“Sure, I got a psycho who likes my voice,” she sighed. “I’m sorry. I know you’re trying to lighten my mood, but teasing me about Britton Clairbourne isn’t the way. Right now it would be better for me to stick to reality.”
****
Reality slipped a little when she got home and tripped over a package as she walked into her apartment. She wasn’t sure what was so ominous about the shoe box sized package, but she was reluctant to pick it up. Shutting the door, she fingered it a minute longer before pulling loose the tape. With shaky fingers, she pushed the packing out of the way until she touched the piece of satin, running her fingertip over it to the delicate porcelain face. Silky hair clung to her finger as she lifted the figure from the box. When she felt the wings of the angel, she almost dropped it.
Her breath caught, panic hit her senses. He’d been there, at her apartment. Had he been there in the hall watching her arrive? Was he still out there watching? Leaving the package on the table, she made her way to the window, stumbling in her haste. She hit the end table. Rachelle reached for the lamp but was too late. It crashed to the floor. “Four lamps,” she groaned. At least this one was brass, so the breaking glass would only be the light bulb. It took her a second to close the
****
Rachelle let out another sigh when Britt and the security chief left. Trembles from the delayed shock ran through her body.
“Are you all right?” She felt Lois’ hand on her arm.
“Yes, of course. It’s just a little scary. What do you think he’ll do?”
“He won’t let it interfere. He’s not the type of man to run scared or back down,” Lois said confidently. “Even if he let you have your way.”
“I didn’t mean Mr. Clairbourne. The caller, I need to come up with something to call him. Just ‘the man’ sounds too eerie.” She shivered.
“I don’t know what he’ll do. He’s crazy, if you ask me. You know, if you’re frightened, you can stay with me,” she volunteered, giving her arm a squeeze.
“Thanks, but you have a houseful with Jody’s family staying with you while their house is under construction. Besides, like I told Mr. Clairbourne, I refuse to be run out of my home. And I would probably kill myself tripping over one of the grandkid’s toys or at least take out a couple of lamps. I still have to be careful of them, I’m at three and holding.”
“Well, if you change your mind, we’ll make room for you. You’re always welcome. I can’t promise about the toys, but I can put the lamps away.”
Rachelle gave a small laugh. “Thanks, I appreciate that, but I’m okay.”
“Miss Independent,” the woman muttered. “I wonder if you’ve met your match.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, come on. I know you can feel it. Britton Clairbourne.”
“Am I that transparent?” Rachelle groaned.
“A little, but I was talking about him. He likes you.”
“It’s a good thing it’s about time to go home because you’re losing it. Mr. Clairbourne interested in me.” Rachelle shook her head in disbelief.
“You might not be able to see how he looks at you, but that man has a thing for you.”
“That man could have any woman he wants.”
“And if he wants you?”
“Come on, Lois, that isn’t even funny. I used to see pictures of the women he took out in the society pages, and believe me, there wasn’t a blind virgin among them.” She didn’t bother to keep the sarcasm from her voice.
“Don’t sell yourself short.”
“I’m not, I’m realistic. Even my fiancé, who was supposed to love me, and thought I would be the perfect proper wife before I had my accident, didn’t think so after.”
“Richard was a jerk and not good enough for you.”
“Yeah, well I didn’t get him.”
“Aren’t you lucky?”
“Sure, I got a psycho who likes my voice,” she sighed. “I’m sorry. I know you’re trying to lighten my mood, but teasing me about Britton Clairbourne isn’t the way. Right now it would be better for me to stick to reality.”
****
Reality slipped a little when she got home and tripped over a package as she walked into her apartment. She wasn’t sure what was so ominous about the shoe box sized package, but she was reluctant to pick it up. Shutting the door, she fingered it a minute longer before pulling loose the tape. With shaky fingers, she pushed the packing out of the way until she touched the piece of satin, running her fingertip over it to the delicate porcelain face. Silky hair clung to her finger as she lifted the figure from the box. When she felt the wings of the angel, she almost dropped it.
Her breath caught, panic hit her senses. He’d been there, at her apartment. Had he been there in the hall watching her arrive? Was he still out there watching? Leaving the package on the table, she made her way to the window, stumbling in her haste. She hit the end table. Rachelle reached for the lamp but was too late. It crashed to the floor. “Four lamps,” she groaned. At least this one was brass, so the breaking glass would only be the light bulb. It took her a second to close the
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