Diamond Girl. Diana Palmer

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СКАЧАТЬ had a full, nice shape. If only she could get rid of the rest of her and just be eyes and a mouth, she might catch Denny’s eye. The thought amused her and she grinned, turning away before the mirror could tell her how different she looked with her face and eyes animated by laughter.

      She turned on the television before she went into the small kitchen to fix herself a sandwich for supper. She’d never had much appetite, but she seemed to have even less lately. Well, she wouldn’t have to worry about getting fat, she told herself.

      She walked around the dining room with her sandwich and cup of coffee in hand, smiling at the modest furniture. She enjoyed this apartment where she’d lived for the past two years. It wasn’t expensive, but it was cozy, and the green flowered sofa and matching chair looked friendly in the gray-carpeted room with its pale gray drapes. She’d splurged a month ago to redecorate the living room in a burst of early-spring fever. Now it was really beginning to be spring, and she liked the new look. It made her feel brighter inside just looking at the furniture.

      She watched television until bedtime, trying not to think about Denny out with Margo. She’d seen him in evening clothes before and remembered miserably how gorgeous he was in black. It emphasized his blond good looks. He was so handsome. A prince if there ever was one. Prince. That brought back Regan’s horrible remark and she bristled again. Wasn’t it bad enough that she had to listen to Denny moon over Margo without having to put up with Regan’s evident dislike as well? She stormed off into the bedroom and went to bed before the memory had time to work her into a rage and keep her awake half the night thinking up horrible things to do to him.

      The next morning she wore a beige sheath dress that clung lovingly to the curves of her slender body. The color did nothing for her, although the fit wasn’t bad. She left her hair long, hating its frizzled look, but she didn’t suppose it made that much difference. Denny never noticed the way she looked, anyway.

      He was whistling when she got to the office, already pouring himself a cup of coffee and looking like a man on top of the world.

      He turned when Kenna walked in, and grinned. “There you are,” he said. “Regan made coffee.”

      She flinched at the sound of his name and bit her tongue before she could say something foolish. “Did he?” she asked. “How nice.”

      “He’s an early bird, all right.”

      She hung up her coat and turned on her computer, then turned the appointment calendar to the right page and sat down.

      “You’re cheerful this morning,” she said with a careful smile.

      “I feel cheerful. I’m off to the lake Friday for a long weekend. Come to think of it, you might as well take Friday off, too, if Regan doesn’t need you,” he added.

      For one wild, beautiful moment, she thought he might be going to ask her to go to the lake with him, and she beamed. The sudden radiance of her face captured his attention, and he frowned slightly.

      “I’d like that,” she told him.

      “Got a date?” he asked.

      “No,” she said quickly, just in case.

      “Too bad,” he remarked, smiling dreamily as he stared at the other wall. “I’m taking Margo up to Lake Lanier with me for some fishing. Can you imagine, she likes to fish?”

      Somewhere in Kenna’s heart, a candle went out. “Oh, really?” she murmured calmly.

      “I’m looking forward to the relaxation,” he confessed. “I’ve been putting in twenty-four-hour days lately.”

      That was true, he did need the rest, but why did he have to take Margo? she wondered miserably.

      “Well, we’d better get to it.” He sighed. “The sooner we finish, the sooner we can leave. Grab your pad and come on...”

      “Kenna!” came a muffled roar from Regan’s office.

      She gritted her teeth, casting a helpless glance in Denny’s direction.

      “Better go.” He chuckled. “I’ll wait my turn.”

      “Thanks, I’ll do you a favor someday,” she muttered, tossing him a dark look as she grabbed her pad and deliberately took her time going into Regan’s office.

      He knew she’d delayed on purpose, it was in his glittering dark eyes when she opened the door after a perfunctory knock and walked in. He was leaning back in his swivel chair, his jacket off, his broad chest rippling with muscles as he clasped his hands behind his head. Under the white shirt, she could see the thick shadow of dark hair, and the woman in her involuntarily appreciated the sheer masculinity of him.

      “Yes, sir?” she asked sweetly.

      He looked her up and down, and something in his eyes made her knees go weak. He was always appraising her, as if she were for sale, and it disturbed her more than she liked to admit. She tingled when those cold, dark eyes traced her body, feeling things she’d never experienced until he walked into her life. She didn’t know why she felt that way, and she didn’t like it. As a result, her hostility toward him grew by leaps and bounds.

      “The color stinks, but it’s an improvement,” he murmured.

      She flushed, clenching the pad in her fingers. “You wanted something, Mr. Cole?”

      He leaned forward. “I need to dictate a couple of letters. Have a seat.”

      She started toward the chair, aware of his eyes assessing her coldly.

      “Have you been crying on my brother’s shoulder?” he asked suddenly.

      She sat down heavily, gaping at him. “Sir?”

      “You heard me. He asked me this morning if I minded letting up on you.”

      Her chin came up. “I slay my own dragons,” she returned. “I don’t need help.”

      He raised an eyebrow. “Should I be flattered? Yesterday I was a frog, today I’m a dragon...”

      “I didn’t call you a frog, Mr. Cole,” she reminded him.

      “At any rate, that’s the wrong fairy tale. I’ve got something in mind for you, Cinderella,” he murmured.

      Her eyes widened, and he made an impatient sound. “Good God, I’m not that desperate for a woman,” he growled, and she flushed angrily. “At any rate, this isn’t the time to discuss it. Take a letter, Miss Dean...”

      It took only fifteen minutes to finish the dictation, but she was almost shaking when she started out the door.

      “Just a minute,” Regan said behind her, his voice curt to the point of rudeness. “Denny’s taking Friday off. Did he mention it to you?”

      She swallowed. “Yes, he did.”

      “Then presumably he told you why?” he added with narrowed eyes.

      She only nodded.

      “I’ll be out of the office for a couple of days. But I’ll expect you here Friday СКАЧАТЬ