Megan steeled herself before pushing through the revolving doors into the downtown skyscraper. Up ahead, waves of white-collar professionals surged toward her, like business-suited ants swarming from their high-rise nest in search of noonday sustenance.
As Megan weaved her way through the throng, every eye in the place seemed to follow her. She felt virtually naked in her short-shorts and tank top. Nowhere to hideânot even behind her long auburn hair, which was stuffed under her Vincenzoâs Pizza ball cap. Even the guard at the security desk spent more time goggling at her figure than checking out the pizza box in her hands. But at least he let her pass.
She headed for the bank of elevators. There was only one open carâwell, âopenâ was a relative term. The elevator was full to bursting with men in dress shirts and power ties, talking about everything but work. As Megan pulled up in front of them, the conversation abruptly ceased, leaving fourteen slack-jawed gazes fixed squarely on her.
They know Iâm not a delivery girlâitâs written all over my face. I am so gonna get thrown out of here.
Not enough room in there anyway. Problem solved, right? Megan backed awayâ
As if prompted by a collective unconscious, the guys all squeezed farther back into the car, creating a space a scant two feet square. En masse, they beckoned. âCâmonâ¦! Plenty of roomâ¦! Seeâ¦?â Then they waited, eager as pups, practically drooling.
No way to refuse now. With a polite smile, Megan carefully shoehorned herself into the proffered spot. One glance at the floor buttons told her she didnât have a prayer of reaching them. âSixty-two, please,â she said. Her voice was hoarse, nervous.
The guy nearest the panel pushed 62. âDamn,â he said good-naturedly. âIâm on twenty-five.â
Megan ducked her head to conceal her scarlet blush. âBetter luck next time,â she said demurely.
âWhat kind of pizza?â another man asked.
âThree-cheese garlic chicken with herbs and caramelized onions on a pan crust.â Megan thought her reply was a little rushed, but no one seemed to notice. A few guys even made yummy sounds. Maybe the delivery-girl act was working after all.
She turned to face the elevator doors as they slid shut. To make room for the pizza, she was forced to lean back, subtly pressing against the group. There was a soft exhalation from the man behind her, and she felt the tickle of his breath on the back of her neck. She focused on the numbers over the doors, watching them light up one by one. Fifty-nine floors to go.
This is the stupidest thing Iâve ever done in my life, hands down. What the hell am I doing here, anyway?
Thirty-eight hours earlier
Michael was nodding off over dinner. At the rate his head was drooping over his plate, Megan figured he would crash-land in his beef béarnaise any second now.
She jumped up and came around behind him, taking his shoulders just in time. He jerked back to full wakefulness, then chuckled, chagrined. âI did it again, didnât I?â
Slipping her arms around him with a soft giggle, she pulled him to his feet. âTime for bed, sleepyhead.â She blew out the candles on the dining table, then steered him toward the bedroom, holding his hand as she would a sleepy childâs.
âBut I donât wanna go,â he protested. âIâm a ball of fire!â
Hmm, maybe thereâs still some potential here after all, Megan thought. âWeâll discuss that when we get to the bedroom.â
Michael pouted. âLately it seems as if weâre not doing much with each other except saying goodbye or good night.â
âThe price of being indispensable,â she smiled.
âThis work schedule wonât last forever.â Michael stifled a yawn as he plopped down on the bed. âItâs just that the board of directors is champing at the bit for me to finish this library project, and thereâs a lot do yet. The good news is, theyâre really excited about my designs.â
As she knelt to untie his shoes, Megan sighed theatrically. âI hope they know how lucky they are, having you all to themselves, day after dayâ¦â
He took her hand. âYou have to make the most of the opportunities life gives you, babe.â
She arched an eyebrow at him. âSo how long do you think you can keep this up?â
He shrugged and smiled. âUntil Iâm finished.â
Megan was reminded of a story sheâd read in a French class back in collegeâ¦some poor guy dying on a battlefield. Je suis mort!â¦I am finished! Terrific. Aloud, she said, âIâm glad youâre so important to them.â
As she slipped off his shoes, Michael watched her with heavy-lidded eyes. She was wearing an off-the-shoulder jersey dress that clung to her in all the right places and showed plenty of cleavage, especially from his angle. âYou look nice tonight,â he said.