And Peter simply gazed down at me, not letting on what he’d heard, leaving me to wonder.
I raised my eyes to his, then dropped them back to the floor.Along the way, I had a second viewing of his length.It was impressive.He wasa large man, long and lean.Beneath him, I felt small.
Delicate.
Feminine.
Get up,I told myself, but I couldn’t budge.My legs felt like rubber, and no wonder.The blood that was normally there had been rerouted to my chest.At least, it felt that way, my heart was thudding so loudly.
Nearly frantic to fill the silence between us with some sort of diversion, I looked up at Peter and said, “So.What do you think of Cooper?”
He didn’t answer at first.He had a shoulder propped against the wall and looked as if he could stay that way for a while.I was glad one of us was comfortable.
“I’m not sure,” he answered at last.“He’s tense.And angry.”
“I told you he would be.But do you think you can work with him?”
Again he didn’t immediately answer, and this time I wondered if the pause was for my benefit.With each minute that passed, I grew more aware of the way he dominated the narrow hall.“Mastery” was the word that came to mind.Peter Hathaway was definitely in control.
“I can work with him,” he said.
I was grateful for small favors.“Good.”
“Not that it’ll be easy.He doesn’t trust me.”
“Only because you’re new.But distrust is the least of Cooper’s worries.”With the directing of my thoughts to something constructive, I foundthe strength to stand.Not to move away, though.I figured I’d take it step by step.“It’s the whole situation,” I said, trying to explain.I leaned against the wall, hugging the telephone to my chest.“He’s furious with it.If he had his way, good old Chad McHenry would wave his hands and say a few words to the judge and the whole thing would be over and forgotten.But that won’t happen and, deep inside, Cooper knows it.Deep inside, he knows you’re his best hope.But it’s like exercising, you know?No pain, no gain.Trouble is he’s already in pain.He doesn’t relish the thought of more.”
“Why will it be so painful for him if I talk with people in town?”His voice seemed softer, more intimate now that my face was closer.
I took a shallow breath.“Because he’s a private—and prideful—man.He doesn’t like the idea of other people talking about him, and I can’t blame him for that.It’s a disconcerting feeling.”
“You’ve had personal experience?”
“Oh, yeah.”I thought of all the family gatherings I’d absented myself from where the topic of conversation had no doubt been my selfimposed exile.And then there was Adam’s death.“For months after the accident, I’d walk down a street and wonder who was watching from which window feeling sorry for me.I didn’t want pity.Neither does Cooper.”
“I’m not looking for pity.I’m looking for information.I want to know what people aroundhere think about what’s happened and why.”
“They’re apt to be wary, just like Cooper was,” I warned.“You’re a stranger.”
“But you’ll be with me,” he said calmly.
I blinked.“I will?”
“You’re my entree.”
I hadn’t counted on that.I’d assumed that Peter would talk with Cooper, then go about his business on his own.I was paying the bills and throwing in room and board.I hadn’t expected to be an assistant to the attorney, as well.
“This weekend?”I asked in a thin voice.
Peter nodded.
“Uh, I don’t know if I can handle that.”In more ways than one.“I’ve pretty much booked up my time.”
“With something wild and sexy?”
My pulse tripped.He’d heard what I’d said.Then again, maybe he hadn’t.Maybe he was just trying to be cute.“Actually I have work to do.I have a show coming up in a month.My sales representative wants to have a dozen new pieces by then.I’ve only got four done.”
Peter gave that some thought, but when I expected him to come up with something as cute as “wild and sexy,” he asked instead, “Where is the show?”
