Dana bit back another sarcastic comment. The minute she’d agreed to a starting date and said goodbye, she went straight to the nearest pay phone and called Halloran Industries. Though it was past four o’clock closing time by Jason Halloran’s standards, she wasn’t surprised to discover that he was still in his office. No doubt he’d been waiting for her to call and bless him for this gift he’d bestowed on her.
“Listen,” she said abruptly when he picked up. “I can’t begin to understand what made you change your mind, but I think there are one or two things you and I need to get clear.”
“What the devil are you talking about now?”
“One, I will do the very best job on the Halloran Industries account that I can.”
“What?”
She was too busy warming up to pay much attention to the stunned tone in his voice. “I’m not through. Two, I don’t want you to think for one minute that I am so grateful that I will fall into your bed. If I sense even the tiniest hint that you have anything in mind besides business, I will quit and slap you with a harassment suit that will make your head spin. Have I made myself clear?”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“Not yet, but I’m a little concerned that a few weeks around you and I just might.”
“Are you finished?” he asked quietly. “I’d like to say something.”
“I don’t think so,” she said, her blood pumping fast and furiously with righteous outrage. “I’m afraid if I stay on this phone for another second I will tell you what I really think of a man who uses his position and power to control other people’s lives, to jerk them around like puppets. I’m not a puppet, Mr. Halloran. Remember that!”
She heard his muttered exclamation just as she slammed the receiver into place. If Jason Halloran thought for one second he was going to play games with her life, he was very sadly mistaken.
With her anger vented, she took a deep breath and allowed herself to think about the fact that she had gotten a job that would be coveted by any design school graduate. Not even Jason Halloran’s odd change of heart and questionable motives could take away the pure rush of satisfaction.
“Hot damn!” she said, spinning around in the middle of the sidewalk, oblivious to the smiles of those passing by. For the first time in her life, she really believed that things were going her way.
That notion crashed the minute she got home. She found Sammy in the bathroom trying frantically to disguise the fact that his eyes were black and blue and his jaw bloodied.
“Oh, Sammy,” she murmured, gingerly touching the swelling. “What happened to you?”
“I bumped into a door,” he muttered, shoving her hand away.
“Did this door have a name?” she asked wryly.
“Stay out of it, sis.”
“Did this have anything to do with the VCR? Is that man still bothering you?”
With a glare in her direction, he pushed past her and headed for the front door.
“Sammy!”
“It’s nothing, okay. I can handle it.”
“Is this your idea of handling it? What about next time?”
For just an instant he looked like a scared kid, then the bravado was back in place. It reminded her all too clearly of her own tendency to mask her fears with false courage.
“I don’t think they’ll mess with me anymore,” he said, sounding hopeful.
“But what if they do?” she asked. “They have to be stopped now, before you wind up really hurt.”
He whirled on her furiously. “You know what’ll really hurt me? Having my big sister let everyone know that she thinks I’m still a baby, that’s what. No wonder these guys think they can push me around. You treat me like a kid.”
Dana swallowed the desire to remind him that he was just a kid. Obviously his pride had been almost as battered as his face. He didn’t need her to deliver the final blow.
“I’m sorry,” she said gently. “It’s just that I worry about you. If anything every happened to you, I really don’t know what I’d do.”
Sammy’s tough facade crumpled the instant he detected the tears welling up in her eyes. “Aw, sis. Don’t cry,” he pleaded.
“How can I help it?” she said, swiping at the tears. “Seeing you like this scares me. Sammy, if you don’t stop hanging around with guys like these you’ll end up in more trouble than I can ever bail you out of.”
“I can take care of myself,” he reminded her.
Dana sighed. She couldn’t win this argument. No matter how badly she wanted to protect him, no matter how hard she tried to steer him on the right course, it was clear that there were some lessons Sammy was just going to have to learn for himself. Letting go, though, was absolute hell.
She drew in another deep breath and forced a smile. “How about pizza for dinner? We can celebrate my new job.”
Sammy’s responding smile was far more natural than hers. “You got it? I thought you said you weren’t gonna take it, that those Halloran guys were nuts.”
“I still think that, but I start in two weeks, anyway. The opportunity is too good to pass up. I’ll find a way to get along with them.”
Sammy’s arms came around her waist and he hoisted her into the air, twirling her around until they were both giddy with laughter.
“I knew it!” he whooped. “You’ve got it made now. Are they payin’ you big bucks?”
Dana’s laughter faltered. “Oh, my gosh. I never even asked.”
Sammy groaned. “Sis, you really gotta toughen up. Want me to go in and negotiate for you?”
Grinning at his change in mood, she said, “No, I really think I can handle this on my own, but thanks for offering. Now how about that pizza? A large one.”
“Pepperoni, onions and mushrooms?”
“The works,” she countered. “Everything except anchovies.”
“You got it. I’ll be back
