donated the money to a needy organization. There was nothing to indicate his generous donation on the receipt, but she didn’t doubt for a second the sincerity of his claim. Austin was genuine, through and through, and she was about to take advantage of that generosity. Again.
Not wanting her thoughts to travel that road for fear she’d talk herself out of calling him, she tucked the receipt in her desk drawer, right beneath his Fantasy for Hire business card, and continued her search. Finding the plastic bottle, she twisted open the top and shook three tablets into her palm.
Needing water, she headed out of her office, down the plush halls of Sharper Image, to the small, unoccupied kitchenette at the end. Plucking a small paper cup from the dispenser next to the watercooler, she filled it, tossed the pills into her mouth and washed them down in one huge gulp. She closed her eyes, and forced herself to relax, hoping her headache would ebb soon.
Something brushed across her skirt-clad bottom, jolting her back to awareness. Startled, she glanced around and found Louden standing two feet away from her, his pale blue eyes giving nothing away. The caress had been so subtle, she would have thought she’d imagined it if she’d been by herself. She didn’t trust Louden, but neither could she prove anything had just happened.
Uneasiness slithered through her. Not wanting to be alone with him, she tossed her paper cup into the trash and turned to leave the kitchenette. He grabbed her arm before she could escape, gently, but firm enough that she couldn’t dismiss the gesture.
She glanced sharply at him, and he slowly released his hold, though he remained in her direct path. “I haven’t had the chance to ask if you enjoyed the party Saturday night.”
He hadn’t had the opportunity because she’d deliberately avoided him all day. She’d decided steering clear of Louden as much as possible was the smartest course of action until after next week, when the promotion was either assigned to her, or Fred Williams.
She straightened, meeting his gaze head-on. “The Christmas party was great. Austin and I had a wonderful time.”
“Ah, yes, Austin,” he murmured reflectively. “What a surprise it was to finally meet your boyfriend. You two certainly seemed convincing.”
Teddy managed a bland smile. “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
“Only that for a man who seemed so attentive during the party, he hasn’t shown much devotion otherwise.” A smile curved his thin mouth, but didn’t reach his eyes. “No flowers on your birthday, no phone calls at work, no lunch dates…”
Teddy shrugged. “He’s a busy man.”
“I’m sure.” He let that insinuation dangle between them as he withdrew a paper cup and filled it with cold water from the cooler. “Care to have a drink with me this evening to discuss the senior graphic design opening?”
In her opinion, there was nothing left to discuss. She qualified for the job in every way that mattered. “No, thank you. I already have other plans.” Not caring for the slant of their conversation, she stepped around Louden and headed for the hallway.
“For a woman who wants the position, you’re not showing much dedication to Sharper Image.”
Teddy immediately stopped, her blood beginning a slow simmer in her veins. Turning, she pinned Louden with a direct look. “My dedication shows in the quality of my work, the deadlines I’ve never missed and the long hours I put in when necessary.”
He sighed, shaking his head regretfully. “But you’re not very accommodating when the situation requires it.” He took a drink of water, as if he hadn’t just issued a double-edged comment.
She forced a calm she was far from feeling. “I don’t think Austin would appreciate me meeting with you after hours.”
He crushed the paper cup in his hand, as if to prove how easily he could demolish her dreams. “It’s just a drink between colleagues, Teddy. I would think if your boyfriend knew how important this promotion was to you, he’d understand.”
Teddy’s stomach pitched. After all she’d gone through to establish Austin as her boyfriend, it appeared Louden didn’t care that she was committed to someone else.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she smiled sweetly at her boss. “Why don’t you see if Fred Williams is able to have a drink with you this evening, and discuss the promotion? Maybe he’ll be more accommodating.” She turned to leave, but not before she caught a glimpse of Louden’s complexion turning an unflattering shade of red.
Feeling wonderfully liberated, she walked back to her office with a light step, shut the door and sat behind her desk. Clinging to that boost of confidence, she picked up the phone, dialed the number for Fantasy for Hire off the business card in her top drawer-the only number she had for Austin-and mentally rehearsed her request while the line rang.
The business recorder clicked on, and as much as she hated leaving a message for Austin when she’d rather talk to him in person, she had no choice. “Hi, Austin, this is Teddy. I’d really like to talk to you-”
The line picked up, interrupting her one-sided conversation. “Hello?”
The voice, though deep and male, wasn’t Austin’s. Another Fantasy for Hire employee, possibly? “I’m calling for Austin. Is he there?”
“No, he’s not, but I can take a message for him.”
The voice sounded a bit too eager. “All right,” she said, deciding she had no choice. “This is Teddy Spencer. He has my home and work numbers. Tell him I’d really like to talk to him, in person preferably.”
“Got it.” The friendly voice hesitated a moment, then added, “You know, you’re welcome to come by the house and talk to Austin. He should be home in about half an hour.”
“The house?” Confusion wove through her. “Isn’t this Austin’s business?”
“One and the same,” he confirmed. “He runs Fantasy for Hire out of the house.”
“Oh.” She imagined a dozen males in Austin’s house, dressed in various sexy costumes as they consulted their schedules for fantasy appointments. Doubt filled her-maybe going to Austin’s house wasn’t such a great idea. “Uh, I don’t think I should infringe on Austin’s business time-”
“You wouldn’t be,” he assured her. “This is Austin’s brother, Jordan,” the male voice went on to explain. “He’s told me about you, Teddy. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you stopped by to see him.”
She had to trust that Jordan knew Austin well enough to make such a statement. “Okay.” She jotted down the address Jordan gave her. “I’ll be there in an hour.”
“Great,” he said effusively. “I can’t wait to meet you.”
Teddy hung up the phone, hoping Austin shared his brother’s enthusiasm about her surprise visit.
“YOU DIDWHAT?” Austin glared at his meddlesome brother.
Jordan held his hands up in a supplicating gesture. “Hey, she said she needed to talk to you in person. It sounded important, and I’m not one to turn down a woman in distress.”
“Distress?” Austin laughed dryly at Jordan’s description. “Teddy can take care of herself just fine. Whatever she needed to talk to me about could have been done over the phone.” He would have preferred that, actually. The past two days, he hadn’t been able to think about anything but her. One date, if he could even term escorting her to her Christmas party as such, and she had his hormones and emotions twisted into something he refused to examine. Seeing her in person again, being close enough to touch her, was going to kill him.
And what in the world could be so important that she had to talk to him in person?
“Regardless, she’ll be here any minute,” Jordan said, then frowned at Austin. “And you look like you’ve been digging ditches all day.”
“Pretty damn close.” He’d been shorthanded today on the landscaping project under development for a newly built condominium complex and had spent the afternoon helping his guys install an elaborate sprinkler system, along with planting trees, shrubs and ground cover. Digging ditches wasn’t beneath him, not in his chosen profession.
Jordan waved an impatient hand toward the upper facilities. “I suggest you go and take a shower before she gets here.”
Austin glanced down at himself, a slow grin pulling up the corners of his mouth. He’d taken off his dirt- encrusted work boots at the back door leading into the kitchen, but the rest of his attire was just as filthy. A combination of soil and sweat coated his skin and adhered to his T-shirt and jeans. Dust layered his thick hair. Hell, he could even taste the day’s grime in his mouth. He was half tempted to greet Teddy just as he was, to give her a
