What do you want me to do with this? she asked.
Witness it. He pointed out a few spots on the contract. Sign here and here and initial here. All youre doing is swearing that you saw me sign it. And put the date here.
She grinned. But as a Christian, I dont swear. He returned her grin but didnt comment. As she leaned over the desk to sign, he was so close that she could detect the faint scent of his musky aftershave, even so late in the day. She hastily scribbled her signature and backed up. Monty removed his gla.s.ses and laid them back down on the desk.
He seemed unaffected, making her feel foolish. She fumbled with her purse for lack of something to do with her hands. I think Id better phone Robert, just in case he wants this back today.
Be my guest. Monty pushed the phone across the desk and left the office to allow her to make her call in private.
The quick phone call gave her time to calm her rattled nerves. When she opened the door after hanging up, Monty was speaking to one of the other office workers. As soon as he noticed her, he straightened and approached her. His shirt was now b.u.t.toned up, the cuffs rolled down and fastened neatly at his wrists, and his tie was pulled all the way to the top and neatly straightened. Unless she imagined it, his hair was also freshly combed.
He asked me to take it home and bring it in Monday morning.
Great. If youre not expected back, why dont we go out to dinner while youre here?
She wanted the opportunity to talk to him in private, but going out for dinner was too intimate a setting to suit Cindy. Besides, she didnt think it would be very nice to allow him to take her out for dinner only to tell him she didnt want to see him again. I dont know. . . . Cindy looked at the door, then at her watch. I have to go to the bank.
Im famished, but I hate to dine alone. I wish youd join me. He smiled, setting off the adorable crinkles at the corners of his eyes, weakening Cindys resolve.
I guess, she mumbled.
It will take me about fifteen minutes to finish up what Im doing, if you dont mind waiting. Then Ill show you to the nearest bank, and we can have an early dinner. Monty nodded toward the chair beside her. You can stay right here in my office while I finish this.
She didnt like his expectant expression. The man wore his heart on his sleeve. She strengthened her resolve to tell him tonight, before he got any more wrong ideas. Cindy hesitated, but she didnt know what else to do. Okay.
With that, he put his gla.s.ses back on and continued typing. Within the predicted fifteen minutes, he stood, slipped on his suit jacket, and tidied up his desk. Done. Lets go.
The receptionist spoke as he opened the door. When will you be back?
Monday.
All three staff members stopped working to look at their wrist.w.a.tches.
Is everything all right, Montgomery? the receptionist asked.
Just fine, he answered. Good night, all. With that, Monty rested his hand lightly on the small of Cindys back and ushered her out the door.
Six.
I gather you dont usually leave early?
Monty nodded. Agnes enjoys taking great pains to catch me working late and then giving me a rough time about it. Lately, Ive been leaving around seven oclock, but since everything at the office is connected to my home by modem, I finish up there. He shrugged his shoulders. Dont ask me why I let her do this to me. After all, Im the boss.
He stopped talking as a man walked past them in the hallway and nodded in greeting. When Monday morning comes, I wont hear the end of this from her. He pushed the b.u.t.ton for the elevator. The bank is in a mall just around the corner. We could walk in less time than we could drive.
Inside the elevator, they again stood exactly eye to eye. Cindy suddenly faced forward. If she had known this was going to happen, she would have chosen flatter shoes. I think I should put the contract in my car. I dont want to take a chance losing or bending it.
When she opened the car door, the scent of flowers wafted out. By the way, you said you werent going to send me any more flowers.
Did I say that? I dont remember promising.
Very funny, she mumbled.
He had the nerve to grin.
What do I have to say or do to get you to stop sending all these flowers?
Dont you like flowers?
Of course I like flowers.
So whats the problem? I enjoy sending you a few flowers from time to time.
Every day did not const.i.tute a few, but recognizing the signs of a losing battle, Cindy gave up. A little bird told me that you didnt finish your lunch, so I guess we should go get something to eat right after I deposit my paycheck.
His cheeks darkened slightly. I guess I got so lost in what I was doing, I didnt notice the time. And for the record, my office isnt usually such a mess, but Im pushing a deadline. Im not going to lie. Im famished. Do you have a favorite restaurant I can take you to?
A hamburger in the small food court inside the mall would have suited her purposes just fine. Anything is okay with me.
Theres a nice little j.a.panese place nearby, the kind where you go into a little room and take off your shoes. Hows that sound?
It sounded far too intimate. Well, I dont know. . . .
Its not far, just down that end of the mall and around the corner.
She opened her mouth to protest, but changed her mind. Someplace within walking distance was probably better. That way, she wouldnt face an awkward situation with transportation or have to spend more time with him once she said what she had to say. Okay, which way?
To the right.
As they walked through the mall toward the bank, Cindy couldnt help but be aware of the uneven pace that accompanied his constant limp. She took extra care to walk slowly, hoping it wasnt too obvious that she was slowing down for him.
He sat at a bench while she ran into the bank, then they continued on their way to a small j.a.panese restaurant that had entrances both from the mall and the outside.
The hostess, attired in a floral-patterned j.a.panese geisha costume, escorted them to a quaint little room with rice paper walls, hand-painted with scenes of flowers and dragons and people in old-world costumes. Tw.a.n.gy oriental music played softly in the background. The hostess indicated where to leave their shoes, and they slid into place at the low table.
Cindy noticed that Monty slid in very slowly, then exhaled in relief as he straightened his left leg. Shed done her best to ignore his constant limp, which was a poignant reminder that his accident really hadnt been all that long ago.
After presenting the menus, their waitress left them alone in the small cubicle.
Instead of reading the menu, Cindy studied the room. Even though the walls between the tables were made of thin paper, they still provided an atmosphere of privacy. She heard the low murmur of voices, but couldnt make out individual conversations.
Shed hardly been out to dinner at all in the past year, and lately the only person shed been out with besides Erin was Troy. In the private atmosphere, if she had been with Troy, by now he would be trying to play footsie under the table since they had to take off their shoes.
Across the table from her, with his gla.s.ses perched efficiently on his nose, Monty studied the menu. Feel exotic? he asked without lifting his head. Ever tried sushi?
Cindy abandoned her a.n.a.lysis of the room and picked up her menu. Except for sushi, which she knew was raw fish, she had no idea what any of the menu items were. I think youd better order for me. Ive never been to a place like this before.
He lowered his chin and peered at her over the tops of his gla.s.ses. Really? My, but youre trusting. Well, you asked for it. At his impish grin, Cindys heart beat a little faster.
When the waitress returned, he gave her their orders and returned his gla.s.ses to his pocket. A few minutes later, the waitress brought them a painted ceramic teapot and two small ceramic cups without handles.
Cindy sniffed at the fragrant steam. What is this?
A special blend of green tea, mostly jasmine, I believe. You have to let the tea steep for a few more minutes. Watch out, its very hot. When its ready, be careful to pour slowly so you dont get tea leaves in your cup.
After waiting a sufficient amount of time, she cautiously tasted the tea and discovered she liked it. To her surprise, she enjoyed the entire meal, which came in small unidentifiable servings, one item at a time. This made the entire dinner stretch out to an unbelievable amount of time. Monty made a lame joke about the necessity of saying grace over each new arrival, even though they didnt. Each course amounted to little more than a few bites.
In the neutral atmosphere, Cindy allowed herself to relax. Despite the fact that Monty seemed to be very serious-minded, she enjoyed his company. Unlike her time with Troy, she didnt have to constantly be on her guard to fend off any advances, however playful. Even though Troys teasing always started out as fun, he didnt know when to quit, and after awhile she got more than a little tired it. Not having to worry about any hidden agenda, Cindy could simply relax and be herself with Monty. After all, she had nothing to lose. By the time the evening ended, if he was even still interested, she would tell him how she felt, and they would part friends. She chatted amicably, enjoying herself more than she had in a long time.
Monty sat back, listening to Cindy talk, entranced. Hed never met anyone like her before. She was exactly as she claimed to be. She didnt flirt with him, in fact, the opposite. Everything she said and did showed no ulterior motives or designs. She appeared to simply enjoy her evening out. At least he hoped she was enjoying herself as much as he was. Most of all, she didnt look up or down at him.
She didnt treat him like the lowlife illegitimate son of some hooker or drug addict, which all indications had led him to believe himself to be. He had no desire to dig into his records to find out that his suspicions were true. Having run away from the social services system enough times as a youth, often living on the streets until he was too scared or hungry to take any more chances, hed been bounced around through a high number of foster homes, both good and bad, until he reached legal age. Hed spent the majority of his life on the wrong side of the tracks. She didnt care about his past.
Now that he had become a success, those who previously ignored him or showed their disdain appeared out of the woodwork. For awhile, some of his business contacts and even one woman he thought he recognized as a neighbor had appeared in the strangest places, giving him sideways glances and hints that made it impossible to mistake their motives. He wasnt interested in those types of people.
However, Cindy didnt fall at his feet or try to impress him, flirt with him, or play feminine games. He had been perfectly honest with her, and without giving her a notarized bank statement of his net worth or financial standing, she was intelligent enough to figure out that he was well on the way to being independently wealthy. She not only did not care, she appeared to have created a distance between them at that discovery, and he admired her for her strength of character. He could let his guard down and simply be himself.
Unfortunately, he had the impression that if Robert hadnt given her the contract to deliver, she wouldnt be with him now. Being with Cindy and joining in the lighthearted conversation made him realize he hadnt been able to sit back and really relax in years, or perhaps in his entire life.
He couldnt help but admire her solidness of faith. Several of the foster homes where hed lived had been Christian homes, and they constantly told him that G.o.d loved him, even dragged him to church despite his unwilling att.i.tude. He hadnt believed anything they said. Instead, hed felt G.o.d had abandoned him"until the day of his accident, when he realized G.o.d had been with him all along and he had been the one pushing G.o.d away, not the other way around.
Despite the situations in which he found himself, in hindsight, he could see G.o.d had always been with him, keeping him safe. When he made his decision to apply himself and make something of his life, he thought hed fallen into every opportunity on his own. Looking back, it was G.o.d who had opened every door. Wide. Even when hed been on deaths doorstep, G.o.d again reached out to touch him by sending Cindy just for the short time he needed her, before she disappeared.
And now, when hed given up on finding her, G.o.d blessed him again, putting Cindy in his path. This time he wouldnt lose her.
He smiled at yet another of Cindys amusing anecdotes, wishing the evening could last forever. However, since theyd had dessert and finished a second pot of tea, he had no excuse to keep her any longer. He could hardly wait until the following weekend, the day of their planned hike.
Monty slipped on his shoes, then stepped back to allow Cindy to do the same. The woman, although far from dainty, exhibited a grace beyond physical size. He extended one hand to offer some support, even though he knew if she did more than merely steady herself on him, hed never be able to maintain his balance and hold her up. Just to have her touch him, he decided to risk possible embarra.s.sment.
Absently, she slid her hand into his, then leaned slightly as she slipped one foot into her shoe, then the other. Thankfully, he managed to maintain his balance.
When she straightened, Monty didnt let go of her hand. At her little tug, he continued to hold on until her eyebrows scrunched and she stared at their joined hands. When she tugged again, he reluctantly released her. For a few unguarded moments, it had felt right, just to touch her, even in such an innocent and harmless way.
Once outside, he walked as slowly as possible without appearing obvious in his desire to simply want to spend more time with her. She slowed her pace to match his without comment or protest. Too soon, they arrived at her car parked alongside the curb in front of his office building.
Can I drive you home?
She raised one eyebrow and stared at him strangely. Drive me home? Is there something wrong with your car? Did you want to borrow mine?
Monty felt his cheeks heat up. Hed never fished for an invitation from a woman before, but he hadnt achieved his present success by being insecure. No, its fine. Its still in the underground parking at the office. I could always take a cab back later to pick it up. I thought that since the night is still young, we could spend more time talking together.
Well, there is something I need to discuss with you, now that you mention it.
He could hardly wait to find out what she wanted to say. Where do you want to go?
Cindy lowered her head as she dug in her purse for her keys. After two pots of tea, I dont feel like going out for coffee and donuts. Why dont you come to my house?
He smiled. He hadnt forgotten where she lived. Sure. Ill only be a few minutes.
He hurried as best he could to his car, then followed her through the downtown area and the older section of town to her small duplex.
While he parked, he made a mental note that the lights were still out, which indicated that Erin was not yet home. He waited behind Cindy as she unlocked the front door.
She turned her head to glance over her shoulder. Wait a minute. Ill turn on the light for you. While he waited, Cindy stepped inside to the right, and before his eyes, her arms shot out to the sides, and she started to topple.
Without thinking, he dashed up the two steps and grabbed her around the waist so she wouldnt fall. Pain shot through his left leg and it buckled at the strain of trying to catch and hold her weight. He gritted his teeth against the stab of pain as he started to go down along with Cindy, his arms still locked around her waist. So he wouldnt land on the floor on top of her, he pushed her sideways and leaned deliberately to the right. Together, they thumped into the wall and somehow remained upright.
He couldnt see anything more than her vague outline in the dark and he certainly couldnt make out any of her features without his gla.s.ses on, but he could feel every inch of her as he sandwiched her between himself and the wall. The pain in his leg subsided to a tolerable level as soon as he straightened his knee and took the majority of his weight off of it. As soon as he could, he stood, leaving only an inch between them. With his hands resting firmly on the feminine indent of her waist, even though he felt like a caveman pinning her against the wall, he couldnt make himself back up. His heart pounded in his chest as he fought the urge to close that inch. Instead of doing anything ungentlemanly in this intimate position, Monty lifted one hand to graze his fingertips along her cheek.
You okay? he asked, his voice coming out much more husky than it should have.
Erins shoe. . . , Cindy mumbled, her voice trailing off and doing strange things to his insides.
Inwardly, Monty kicked himself for not being able to wear contacts, nor was he a candidate for laser surgery. His eyes had become accustomed to the semidark, and even though her features were a blur, in the dim light reflecting through the window, he could see Cindys slightly parted lips and her wide shimmering eyes staring directly into his. He was lost; he couldnt help himself.
His eyes drifted shut, and he tipped his head to kiss her. The second his lips touched hers, the light flashed on.
Cindy? The door was wide open and. . . Erins voice trailed and died.
Cindys head turned abruptly at the same time as they both flinched and separated. Monty dropped his hands, stepped back, and turned around.
He blinked against the shock of the sudden light. Erin stood in the doorway, her eyes and mouth open wide, and behind her stood Troy, towering over Erin, glaring at him, his lips pressed tightly together.
Seven.
Monty backed up to allow Cindy to step away from the wall. She cleared her throat and smoothed her hair. Her voice came out in a strained squeak. Erin, Troy. Hi.
Monty gritted his teeth at Cindys weak greeting, then tried to smile graciously, although hed never felt less like smiling. Looking at Troys expression, he had been judged, tried, and convicted on the spot. Not only was the developing relationship between himself and Cindy none of Troys business, but after the display Troy and Erin had made on the couch a few days ago, Troy was in no position to judge. Monty also refused to be intimidated by a hostile ex-boyfriend, despite the fact that Cindy said that she and Troy were now just friends. He didnt see how any man could possibly be merely friends with someone as special as Cindy.
Neither of them answered Cindys feeble greeting. She cleared her throat again. Why dont we all go into the living room and sit down?