Speak to the Wind (19 page)

She swallowed hard.
"I think you've learned how to project a voice of authority quite well."

He shifted downward to a more comfortable and intimate position, kneeling on one knee and resting his torso against her legs. "Weren't we working on body language when the phone rang? I have a few things to say on that subject." He leaned forward and kissed her briefly.

"We were still on power
talk."

His closeness sent her senses spinning and her papers askew. Her pen clattered to the tile floor when he framed her face with his hands and kissed her again. "How can you doubt me when the feelings between us are this strong?"

"I don't doubt you," she declared, touching his face.

"Don't ever—"
His kiss carried them away for a brief interlude.

"Before we
lose everything
, Joe, we should review the de
livery techniques," she managed to say, trying valiantly to keep their minds on the work at hand. "Can you remember the rules? What about volume?"

"Let's see... keep your voice even and relaxed." He shifted and let his hands trail down her arms. "How can I be relaxed when I'm so close to you
?
"

"
Good
. Now what about pitch?"
Her voice was a pitch higher than she wanted it to be.

"
Keep everything l
ow and level. Actually, I'm feeling a little high right now." His hands reached
for
hers
, covered them
.

"And s
. . . s
peed?"

“
Take your
sweet
time." He lifted one hand at a time to his lips and brushed them with slow, deliberate kisses.

"Breath
?
"

"Long breath, short sentences." He
lean
ed forward to kiss the wildly pulsating spot at the base of her throat. "I'm breathless at the moment. And a little hot."

"It's because you aren't breathing with your diaphragm," she answered, feeling equally breathless. "And rhythm?"

"My favorite part." He stroked the sides of her breasts. "Give a definite beat to the phrases.
Get physical.
"

"Musical, not physical."

"Yes, teacher." He kissed her again, rubbing his thumbs over her
tight
nipples.
“Let’s get musical. Feel the beat.”

She tried to keep her voice steady. "And don't forget to enunciate clearly."

"Ummm... right." He mumbled something
he wanted to do with her
, then teased the corners of her mouth with
his tongue.

"Now
let’s move
on to body lan
guage
.
"
She brushed his hands from her breasts. "Don't fiddle.
Or jiggle.
Makes you appear nervous."

"
I like fiddling. And jiggling
.
Don’t you?
"

"Keep a poker face."

"We Indians are good at that."

"Don't laugh a lot."

"You mean I can't be joyous?"

"Not in public."

"
How about in private?
"

"
Listen.
Keep an open body stance. Expand into space."

He chuckled. "I've got that one right now."
He put her hand on an expanding part of him.

"Joe..."
She took a shuttering breath, finding it increasingly hard to concentrate.

"Wasn't there another rule about invading someone else's space?"

"Only when you want to appear dominating. I think you know it already."

"
Let’s invade each other’s space. You
,
first
." He took her hands and pulled her to her feet, ignoring the notebook and papers that scattered everywhere. "Let's go in the
bed
room and practice breath
ing techniques.
  We'll conquer body language before lunch."

"Joe... Joe
!
" She
giggl
ed
and jiggled
as he lifted her high in his arms and whirled them around. And into the bedroom.
And they both fiddled until they were exhausted.

When the phone rang
again later that afternoon, Joe reached for it, muttering something about it probably being Josh with a change of plans. But Maria could tell right away it wasn't Josh.

Joe replaced the receiver and turned to h
er with a tight
lipped expression. "Now how the hell did they find me here?"

"Who
?
"

"McAndrew and Company, developers from Phoenix."

"Developers of what?"

"Land. They work on large projects like shopping centers, office complexes and condos."

"What do they want with you?"

"I think I know. The ma
n on the phone said he had some
one who was anxious to meet me personally for drinks, to discuss our mutual business interest." Joe sat on the edge of
the bed and rested his elbows on widespread knees. "Do you want to come along?"

"No, Joe. This is your
personal
business. It has nothing to do with
me.
”

"I may need some help.
You could pretend to be my sec
retary."

"That is definitely not my territory." She paused and looked at him. "You know what they're after, don't you?"

"I have a good idea. A few years ago McAndrew approached the tribe with some deal about building various projects o
n the reservation. But an agree
ment was never reached," Joe explained without hesitation. "There was so much controversy and opposition within the tribe that the matter was eventually dropped.

"Last year another
proposal was submitted from Mc
Andrew. I understand it's different, but the goal is the same, I'm sure. To build something on the reservation. The tribal council tabled it until after the election."

"Smart move. That way
the new chairman can be respon
s
ible." She sat up and pulled the sheet over her breasts
. "If McAndrew knows, that explains why he wants to see you."

"No doubt." Joe rose and began to pace,
in the nude
. "I only know one thing for sure. The bottom line means profit for McAndrew, or he wouldn't bother. But frankly, I don't
care about that. My main objec
tive is to make sure that the tribe doesn't lose. If elected, I plan to assign a task force to study the matter."

"You don't want to reject McAndrew outright?"

"No—I don't know. I haven't read the complete proposal. How can I make a judgment on something I haven't studied in depth?"

“
Then don't."
She shrugged.
"Don't make a decision. Sometimes no decision is the best decision. It buys the time you need." She scooted to the edge of her seat. "Remember when we listed goals and mentioned basic negotiating skills?"

"Yes." He snapped
his fingers. "Great idea, Maria
I need them now."

"Now? On this short notice? You're meeting these people in only a few hours!"

"Just hit the high points. I'll get details later."

Maria scrambled up and began digging in her briefcase for another notebook, mumbling to herself. "You must think you can learn everything in one day."

“
That's the general idea of a crash course."

She groaned aloud and p
ulled out the appropriate infor
mation.

“
That's what I like about you, Maria." He gripped her shoulders affectionately. "You're extremely capable. And you either know a subject well or have the information at your fingertips."

“
Thanks." She rolled her eyes. "Efficient is my middle name."

"It's just one of many fine qualities I like about you." He grinned and pulled her into his arms for a quick kiss. "We don't have time for a complete listing
right now, but I promise tonight. .
."

They spent the next
few hours role
playing win-win and win-lose positions in negotiating. Maria focused on certain topics she thought he would need. Joe listened carefully, asking specific questions
on some areas and dismissing ex
traneous details.

Finally he checked his watch. "Okay, that'll have to do for now."

"There's so much more."

"This will get me through tonight."

"Remember to focus on results, on what you can live with. Or, in your case, what you and the tribe would be willing to live with. Also, you don't need the developer's approval; therefore you have leverage."

He nodded. "I know where I stand."

"Good. You'll do fine."

He placed his hands on her shoulders. "Have I ever told you that you're terrific?"

"I just hope I've been of some help, Joe."

"You're all I need, my beauty." He kissed her quickly,
but thoroughly
.

She gathered her notebooks.
"You'd better
go
. I'll wait next door for you."

"I may be late."

"I don't care. Come over if you want to talk. But you don't have to, of course. It really isn't my business."

"I'll see you later," he
promis
ed with conviction
.

Maria returned to her casita, but close to the time for Joe to go to his meeting, she coul
dn't resist peeking out her win
dow for a glimpse of him. Striding forward confidently, he wore a
bei
g
e sport coat, open-necked shirt and navy slacks. Although dressed casually, he looked impressive. But then, to her he looked impressive in anything, with his broad shoulders and trim waist an
d dark, shaggy hair. Or in noth
ing
at all
.

His stride had somewhat
of a swagger, a masculine hold
over from his athlete days, she supposed. And he had a regal bearing, perhaps a trait from his ancestors. He will make a handsome leader, she conceded silently.

Joe disappeared beneath the arched doorway leading into the cantina. Maria turned around with a private smile. Just watching this man from afa
r did strange things to her in
sides. She'd never been so enthralled with a man, or so eager
to love since her college days with Wayne. And even then it hadn't been the same. Their relationship seemed tame and immature compared to what she and Joe now shared.

She began to undress, thinking about the man she'd been sleeping with for a week. And how, in that brief time, her life, her enjoyment of life, had changed. Since she and Joe were older, perhaps they valued love and life more, whereas she and Wayne had taken everything for granted. Each other. Love. Supportive families. The possibility of kids.
Life.
And yet over the years none of those elements had remained the same.

Wayne was gone and so was her father. Love was elusive; there had been no other. And having children... had been put on hold.

Maria let the last of her clothes drop to the floor and ran her hands over her firm breasts and down her slim middle. No love. No kids. She and Wayne had joked about having babies, but it had always been in the nebulous future.

But they'd been so young that it hadn't mattered. They would have plenty of time, they'd thought. Now he was gone and she was
thirty-one
and counting. And still no kids. Of course she thought ab
out it and went through almost
desperate periods of longing for a child, especially Wayne's child. She'd even considered adopting, but work always compensated or interfered. Or so she told herself.

Maria stepped into the shower and turned the water spray to massage. The rough w
ater pelted her shoulders vigor
ously, stimulating intimate thoughts of Joe. He was such a good lover, but he also had many
other
characteristics she valued. Joe Quintero was the only man since Wayne that she had considered being the father of her child.

This is foolish, she told herself. We aren't anywhere near thinking about kids. We aren't even thinking beyond two
more weeks in Mexico. She considered what would happen to them.