stepped onto the front porch and Elise started to close the door. Trent slapped his hand against it, stopping her. “Did Ashley carry pepper spray?”
“Yes. Mom made sure it was a habit for us to have it with us all the time.”
“It didn’t help her, did it?”
Somewhere in the back of her mind, Elise already knew that; she just didn’t want to admit it.
She shoved the door shut, blocking him and any further disturbing statements he might make. She had enough to deal with without his help, thank you very much.
And just to make sure he didn’t come marching in here again, uninvited, Elise locked the door and went to get dressed up.
Tonight, she had a part to play, and she was going to need all the time she could get to make herself look like she hadn’t been crying and sick with worry all day.
And then, once she poured herself into one of her sister’s daring dresses, shoved her feet into high heels and heaped on the makeup and hair spray, she’d be the perfect bait.
Tonight, she was going hunting.
Gary had watched the clock all day, counting the minutes until he could leave the bank and get back home.
He was looking forward to seeing Wendy again. And to tonight’s project.
Through the glass wall of his cubicle at the bank, Gary saw one of the tellers approach with another woman. They were headed right for him.
He clenched his jaw in frustration at the delay. It was just his luck that he’d get a customer two minutes before the bank closed.
Gary plastered a fake smile on his face as they came through the open doorway. “Mr. Maitland, this is Gloria, and she needs to make a change to her student checking account.”
“Thank you, Candice,” said Gary.
As the teller left, Gary got a clear view of the customer. She was young and moved with exceptional grace. Though her face wasn’t beautiful, she was pretty enough. And she was blond, just like Wendy. He’d always loved blondes.
Gary reached out his hand in greeting. The young woman put her hand in his and time seemed to slow. Her fingers were long and slim, her skin so warm and soft, it reminded him of Wendy’s hands before the accident. She always knew just how to stroke him, just how to touch him.
His erection was swift and startling, and it took him a moment to remember his manners. The slight tug against his palm reminded him to let go of the woman’s hand.
Before she could see his arousal, Gary eased himself into his chair. “Have a seat, Gloria,” he said. “I’ll be happy to help you.”
She sat, lowering herself to the chair in a single, fluid movement.
“You’re a student?” he asked.
“Yes. I major in dance.”
Ah. That explained her gracefulness. No wonder he was drawn to her. He’d always had a thing for creative women. “That must be fun.”
“It’s hard work, but I love it.”
“So, what can I do for you today?”
“I just moved out of my ex-boyfriend’s apartment and got a place of my own, so I need to change my address.” She slid a piece of paper across the desk. “Here’s the new one.”
He clamped down on the urge to ask if she lived alone until it made his head throb. He never found his women at work. They’d be too easy to trace back to him. He knew better, but Gloria was so lovely. So perfect.
Maybe just this one time he could break his own rules. He owed it to himself to at least find out more about her. He owed it to Wendy.
“I’ll need to see your ID.”
Gary watched as she reached into her purse and pulled out a wallet. Those slender, graceful fingers of hers sorted through the cards until she came up with her driver’s license. She handed it to him, and he couldn’t stop himself from grazing one finger against hers.
He shifted in his seat, trying to ease the discomfort his trapped erection caused.
Rules were meant to be broken, and if ever there was a woman worth taking a risk for, it was the one sitting across his desk. There was just something about Gloria that gave him hope that
“Yes. Mom made sure it was a habit for us to have it with us all the time.”
“It didn’t help her, did it?”
Somewhere in the back of her mind, Elise already knew that; she just didn’t want to admit it.
She shoved the door shut, blocking him and any further disturbing statements he might make. She had enough to deal with without his help, thank you very much.
And just to make sure he didn’t come marching in here again, uninvited, Elise locked the door and went to get dressed up.
Tonight, she had a part to play, and she was going to need all the time she could get to make herself look like she hadn’t been crying and sick with worry all day.
And then, once she poured herself into one of her sister’s daring dresses, shoved her feet into high heels and heaped on the makeup and hair spray, she’d be the perfect bait.
Tonight, she was going hunting.
Gary had watched the clock all day, counting the minutes until he could leave the bank and get back home.
He was looking forward to seeing Wendy again. And to tonight’s project.
Through the glass wall of his cubicle at the bank, Gary saw one of the tellers approach with another woman. They were headed right for him.
He clenched his jaw in frustration at the delay. It was just his luck that he’d get a customer two minutes before the bank closed.
Gary plastered a fake smile on his face as they came through the open doorway. “Mr. Maitland, this is Gloria, and she needs to make a change to her student checking account.”
“Thank you, Candice,” said Gary.
As the teller left, Gary got a clear view of the customer. She was young and moved with exceptional grace. Though her face wasn’t beautiful, she was pretty enough. And she was blond, just like Wendy. He’d always loved blondes.
Gary reached out his hand in greeting. The young woman put her hand in his and time seemed to slow. Her fingers were long and slim, her skin so warm and soft, it reminded him of Wendy’s hands before the accident. She always knew just how to stroke him, just how to touch him.
His erection was swift and startling, and it took him a moment to remember his manners. The slight tug against his palm reminded him to let go of the woman’s hand.
Before she could see his arousal, Gary eased himself into his chair. “Have a seat, Gloria,” he said. “I’ll be happy to help you.”
She sat, lowering herself to the chair in a single, fluid movement.
“You’re a student?” he asked.
“Yes. I major in dance.”
Ah. That explained her gracefulness. No wonder he was drawn to her. He’d always had a thing for creative women. “That must be fun.”
“It’s hard work, but I love it.”
“So, what can I do for you today?”
“I just moved out of my ex-boyfriend’s apartment and got a place of my own, so I need to change my address.” She slid a piece of paper across the desk. “Here’s the new one.”
He clamped down on the urge to ask if she lived alone until it made his head throb. He never found his women at work. They’d be too easy to trace back to him. He knew better, but Gloria was so lovely. So perfect.
Maybe just this one time he could break his own rules. He owed it to himself to at least find out more about her. He owed it to Wendy.
“I’ll need to see your ID.”
Gary watched as she reached into her purse and pulled out a wallet. Those slender, graceful fingers of hers sorted through the cards until she came up with her driver’s license. She handed it to him, and he couldn’t stop himself from grazing one finger against hers.
He shifted in his seat, trying to ease the discomfort his trapped erection caused.
Rules were meant to be broken, and if ever there was a woman worth taking a risk for, it was the one sitting across his desk. There was just something about Gloria that gave him hope that
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