Love 'N' Marriage (7 page)

She couldn’t believe this was happening. The two of them together, enjoying each other’s company, bantering like old friends, applauding each other’s skill. She imagined that Jonas was about as relaxed as he ever allowed himself to be. As little as two hours ago, she would have thought it impossible, to carry on a civil conversation with the man.

“I’ll admit that the pleasure part comes from the fact I knew you wouldn’t be simpering at my feet,” Jonas commented, breaking into her thoughts.

“I never simper.”

“You much prefer to challenge and bully.”

“Bully? Me?” She laughed a little and shook her head. “I guess maybe I do at that, but just a bit.” She didn’t like admitting it, but he was right. She was the oldest of three girls, and did have a tendency to take matters into her own hands. “While we’re on the subject of bullies, I don’t suppose you’ve noticed the way
you
treat people?”

“We weren’t discussing me,” he said dryly.

“We most certainly are.” She flattened her palms on either side of her plate and shook her head, unwilling to alter the course of the conversation. “I’ve never known anyone who treats people the way you do. What I can’t understand is how you command such loyalty.”

He arched both eyebrows expressively, and his mocking gaze swept her with mocking thoroughness.

Stephanie ignored him, and continued. “It’s more than just money. You pay well, but the benefits leave a lot to be desired.” She mentioned this because the girls from the office had.

“Is that a fact?”

“You’re often unreasonable.” She knew she was pressing her luck, but the wine had mellowed her.

“Perhaps,” he admitted reluctantly. “But only when the occasion calls for it.”

For all the heed he paid her comments, they could have been discussing the traffic. “And I’ve yet to mention your outrageous temper.’’

“I wasn’t aware that I had a temper.”

“You demand as much from your staff as you do yourself.”

“As every employer should.”

Despite the fact he didn’t seem to find their conversation the least bit amusing, Stephanie continued. “But by far, the very worst of your faults is your overactive imagination.”

His gaze flew to hers and narrowed. “What makes you suggest something so absurd?”

Stephanie knew she’d trapped him, and she loved having the upper hand for the first time in their short acquaintance. “You actually believed I was meeting someone last night.”

“With your own mouth you admitted as much.”

Stephanie nearly choked on her wine; her gaze captured and challenged his. “I most certainly did no such thing.”

“You mentioned the taxi driver—”

“That’s so farfetched, I can’t believe you’d stoop that low.”

“Perhaps, but you seemed to have enjoyed yourself. You spoke at length of the sights you’d seen.”

“If you want the truth, I hardly saw a thing. I was thinking about—” She stopped herself in the nick of time from admitting that her thoughts had been filled with him.

“Yes?” Jonas prompted.

“I was preoccupied with the meeting today...I was worried about how I’d do.”

“Your French is superb. You needn’t have been anxious, and you know it. What
did
occupy your thoughts? Or should I say who?”

Stephanie was saved from answering by the waiter, who reappeared to take their plates. She gave him a grateful smile and finished the last of her wine before the man returned with two steaming cups of coffee.

Jonas asked for the bill, paused and looked at Stephanie. “Unless you’d like something more? Another dessert, perhaps?”

“No.” She shook her head for emphasis and placed her hands over her stomach. After downing half of everything on the menu, she felt badly in need of exercise.

The sun had set, and the sky was darkening in shades of pink by the time they finished the last of their coffee.

“Shall we go?”

Stephanie nodded and stood. “Everything was wonderful. Thank you.” The food had been marvelous; she freely admitted that, but it was this time with Jonas that had made the dinner so right. For this brief span of time, they hadn’t sharpened their claws at the other’s expense. Stephanie didn’t want the evening to end. For the first time since she’d worked with Jonas, she felt at ease with him. She feared that once they arrived back at the hotel, everything would revert to the way it had always been between them. Jonas would immerse himself in the papers Adam was getting for him, and everything would be business, business, business.

The maitre d’ was about to call for the limousine when Stephanie placed her hand on Jonas’s arm. “Would you mind if we walked a bit?”

“Not at all.” Jonas turned toward the maitre d’, who nodded and wished them a pleasant evening.

“I ate so much that I feel like a stuffed turkey at Thanksgiving. I’m sure a little exercise will help.” She was conscious of his leg, but trusted that if it pained him, he would say something. His limp was barely noticeable as they strolled down the narrow sidewalk. “There’s a park across the way.”

“That sounds perfect.”

They crossed the street and sauntered down the paved walkway that led them into the lush green lawns of a city park. Black wrought-iron fences bordered flower beds filled with bright red tulips and yellow crocuses. Row upon row of trees welcomed them, proudly displaying their buds with the promise of new life.

“I’ve always heard Paris in springtime couldn’t be equaled,” Stephanie said softly. She mused that anyone happening upon them would think they were lovers. Paris in the spring was said to be a city meant for lovers. For tonight she’d pretend—reality would crowd in on her soon enough.

They followed the walkway that led to the center of the park, where a tall fountain spilled water from the mouths of circling lions’ heads.

“Shall we make a wish?” she asked, feeling happy and excited.

Jonas snorted softly. “Why waste good money?”

“Don’t be such a skeptic. It’s traditional to throw a coin in a fountain, any fountain, and what better place than Paris for wishes to come true?” She opened her purse, digging for loose change. “Here, it’s my treat.” She handed him a dime, since she had little French money with her.

“You don’t honestly expect me to fall victim to such stupidity?”

“Humor me, Jonas.” She noted the amusement in his blue eyes, and she ignored his tone, which sounded harsh and disapproving.

“All right.” Without aim or apparent premeditation, he tossed the dime into the water with as much ceremony as if he were throwing something into the garbage,

“Good grief,” Stephanie muttered beneath her breath. “I don’t know of a single fairy in the entire universe who would honor such a wish.”

“Why not?” he demanded.

“You obviously haven’t given the matter much thought.”

One corner of his mouth edged upward slightly. “I was humoring you, remember?”

“Did you even make a wish?”

He shrugged. “Not exactly.”

“Well, no wonder.” She shook her head dolefully and looked at him in mock disdain. “Try it again, and this time be a little more sincere.”

His eyes revealed exactly what he thought of this exercise. Nonetheless, Jonas reached inside his own pocket and took out a silver dollar.

Stephanie’s hand stopped him. “That’s too much.”

“It’s a big wish.” His look was far more thoughtful as he took aim and sent the coin skipping over the surface of the water. The silver dollar made a small splash before sinking into the whirling depths.

Stephanie gave him a brilliant smile. “Okay, my turn.” She turned her back to the fountain, rubbed the nickel between her palms to warm it, closed her eyes and, with all the reverence due magical wish-granting fairies, flung the coin over her shoulder and into the fountain. “There,” she said, satisfied.

“How long?” Jonas demanded.

“How long for what?”

“How long,” he repeated with exasperation, “must one wait before the wish comes true?”

“It depends on what you wished for.” She made it sound as though she had accumulated all the knowledge there was on the subject. “Certain wishes require a bit of manipulating by the forces that be. However, I’m only familiar with wishes made in American fountains. Things could be much different here. It could be that the wish fairies who guard this fountain are on a slower time scale than elsewhere.”

“I see.” It was clear from the frown that dented his brow that he didn’t.

“Maybe you should just tell me what you wished for,” Stephanie suggested next, “and I can give you an estimate of the approximate time you’ll have to wait for your wish.”

“It’s my understanding that one must never reveal one’s wish.”

“That’s not true anymore.” Stephanie laughed, enjoying their inane discussion. “Science has proved that theory to be inaccurate.’’

“Oh?”

“Yes, I’m surprised you didn’t read about it.”

“So am I.” He reached for her hand, and they resumed their walk. “But if that’s the case, then perhaps you’d be willing to share your wish with me.”

Color instantly flooded Stephanie’s cheeks. She should have known Jonas would turn the tables on her when she least expected it.

“Stephanie?”

It was completely absurd. With everything that was in her she’d wished that Jonas would take her in his arms and kiss her. It was silly and impractical, and as he’d pointed out earlier, a waste of good money.

When she didn’t respond immediately, Jonas stopped and turned, standing directly in front of her so that he could look into her eyes.

Stephanie felt the color mount in her face.

“I would think that one who was a self-proclaimed expert on the subject of fountains and wishes would have no qualms about revealing her own wish.” He placed his finger under her stubborn chin, elevating her gaze so that she couldn’t avoid his.

  “I...”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

“I wasted the wish on something impractical,” she blurted out. The whole park seemed to have gone quiet. Wind ruffled the foliage around them and hissed through the branches, but even the trees seemed to have paused as though they too were interested in her reply. Stephanie swallowed uncomfortably, convinced that Jonas could read her thoughts and that he was silently laughing at her.

“I fear I wasted my wish as well,” he informed her softly.

“You did?” Her eyes sought his for the first time.

He placed his hands on each side of her neck at the gentle sloping of her shoulders. “I’m seldom impractical.”

“I... know.”

His mouth descended an inch closer to hers, so close that she could feel his warm breath fanning her face. An inch more and their lips would touch. Stephanie moistened her lips, realizing all at once how very much she wanted to taste his mouth on hers. Her breath froze in her lungs; even her heart stopped beating.

“Could your wish have been as impractical as mine?” There was an unmistakable quaver to his voice.

Stephanie levered her hands against his chest, flattening her palms over his heart. His pulse was strong and even. “Yes.” The lone word was breathless and weak, barely audible.

His arms went around her, anchoring her against him. Gently, he laid his cheek alongside hers, rubbing the side of his face over hers as though he feared her touch, yet craved it. Stephanie closed her eyes, savoring his nearness, his warmth and the vital feel of him. A thousand objections shot through her mind, but she refused to listen to even one. This was exactly what she’d wished for at the fountain, fool that she was.

Jonas turned his head and nuzzled her ear with his nose, and she noted his breathing was shallow. His arms tightened around her and he whispered her name, entreating her—for what, Stephanie didn’t know.

It was at the back of her mind that she should break free, but something much stronger than the force of her will kept her motionless. He was her employer; they argued constantly and battled with each other at the office. Jonas Lockwood was an arrogant, domineering chauvinist. But all her arguments were burned away like deadwood in a forest fire as his lips moved to her hair. He kissed the top of her head, her cheek, her ear, and then moved back to her hair. He paused, holding her to him as though it were the most natural thing in the world for them to be wrapped in each other’s arms.

“Tell me, Stephanie,” Jonas asked in a hoarse whisper. “Did you wish for the same thing I did?”

Their eyes met hungrily and locked. Stephanie nodded, unable to answer him with words.

Jonas caught her to him and lowered his mouth to hers, claiming her lips in a greedy kiss that stirred her soul and left her weak and clinging. She felt herself responding; her arms slid around his neck. Their lips clung, and his tongue sought and found hers. Against her will, Stephanie arched against him, seeking to lose herself in his arms for all time.

Abruptly they broke apart, both of their own accord. Stephanie trembled from inside and out. She dared not look at Jonas. Neither spoke. For a moment they didn’t move, didn’t breathe. The world that only seconds before had been silent now burst into a cacophony of sound. Wind whistled through the trees. Car horns blared from a nearby street. An elderly couple could be heard arguing.

“Jonas, I...”

“Don’t say anything.”

She wouldn’t have known what to say. She was as stunned as he was.

“It was the wine, and this silly wishing business,” he said stiffly.

“Right.”

“I told you wasting your money on wishes was foolish.”

“Exactly,” she agreed, though not very strenuously. Their wishes had come true; now they both wanted to complain.

Stephanie noticed on the way out of the park that Jonas seemed to avoid being near her. His steps were quick, rushed. In order to keep up with him, she was forced into a half-run. The instant they hit the main thoroughfare, Jonas raised his hand and hailed the limo that drove them directly back to the hotel.

“Well, how was Paris?” Jan asked the first day Stephanie was back at Lockwood Industries. They sat in the employee cafeteria. Jan had purchased the luncheon special, and Stephanie had brought a sandwich from home.