Man Under the Mistletoe Page 4

  So much for her resolution to stay strictly professional. Boy, was she a sap. But then again, when it came right down to it, she couldn’t ignore what had attracted her in the first place. He was the handsomest man she’d ever seen. Let’s face it, she’d have to be dead not to be affected. Any woman would.

  In a vague sort of way she’d wondered what Sybil’s son would be like, but today had blown any banal preconceptions to smithereens. He was dark, secretive, fascinating and much too dangerous to her peace of mind.

  “Feel like grabbing that Coke now?” Colin murmured as he dropped into step beside her. “I bet you need one after all that. I know I do.” They had reached the door and he was about to open it for her, but his father’s quiet voice stopped him.

  “I’m afraid you’ll have to take a rain check. There’s business to attend to. I’m sure Miss Cates understands.”

  She heard Colin suck in his breath with a sharp hiss and looked up to see a dull red flush darken his tanned cheeks. His lips compressed into a straight, obstinate line.

  “Can’t you wait till I’ve had a break?” He turned to face his father with an insolence that shocked her. This wasn’t like Colin at all.

  In the sudden deathly silence, she could hear the soft sounds of feet scuffing on the carpet as people shifted nervously.

  “I can wait, but I wouldn’t expect everyone else to. Would you?”

  A small tremor raced through her at that warm, black velvet voice behind her. Michael sounded reasonable and very calm, but a quick glance over her shoulder showed her the determination in his face.

  Colin gave her a tight smile and stepped away from the door to let her pass. The large office had gone very still and the air vibrated with an electric tension that was almost tangible. Practically lunging for the door, she whipped it open and made her escape.

  * * *

  MICHAEL WATCHED the young woman leave the room. She was unlike anyone he’d ever come across before. He fought back a smile, remembering her groan of horror when she first saw him.

  People didn’t usually display their emotions in such a dramatic fashion. Nobody he knew, and certainly not in a business meeting.

  He looked around at the sober, disapproving faces ranged on either side. They really had it in for poor Sabrina Cates. Walter had spent most of the time before she arrived complaining that the girl was a menace and lamenting how difficult it was to fire people these days.

  Didn’t he know it. A lot of changes were desperately needed at Worth’s; he’d known that for years. But it was too bad that he had to wait until Sybil died to set things right. He could only pray it wasn’t too late.

  Walter and the rest of the old guard were dead set against change of any kind. It was long past time they retired, but for once he couldn’t bring himself to force the issue. He’d known most of these men since his childhood.

  After all those years Walter had spent ingratiating himself with Sybil in order to reach the senior vice presidency, he now seemed to be enjoying every pompous moment of it. His smug attitude at Sabrina’s discomfort had been unforgivable. And with the store in its present disastrous financial straits, Walter should know better than to waste his time with this ridiculous vendetta.

  But he could understand why Sabrina Cates got under Walter’s skin. Now he understood the source of Walter’s frustrated tirade about “that girl.” She hadn’t been one bit intimidated or impressed by the vice president’s overbearing manner.

  And when she turned her unwavering look on him, when he looked into those fathomless coffee-colored eyes, he himself had felt extremely disconcerted, to say the least.

  According to her file she was twenty-seven, but she looked much younger. Maybe it was the way her glossy chestnut hair framed her face in a short, unpretentious bob. Over and over again, he’d found his gaze drawn to the fullness of her mouth, painted that deep, dramatic crimson. It was a dangerous compulsion, and he knew he should stop, but he hadn’t been able to keep his eyes off the slight pout of her lower lip that made her mouth look...

  And her skin... It was amazing, so creamy, so translucent, so soft that he was blown away by the unexpected urge to reach out and brush his fingertips over her cheek.

  Even now the thought made him shift uncomfortably in his chair. At the time he’d been absolutely mortified and wondered where the hell that thought had come from. He just prayed she hadn’t been able to see any of that in his face.

  But he was very much afraid that she’d noticed. He’d heard something in her voice, that husky voice so unexpectedly deep for someone so small.

  An acute wave of embarrassment swept over him all over again and he felt a dull heat in his face. He couldn’t believe he’d been so crude. God forbid he was deteriorating into one of those disgusting men who preyed on their female employees.

  “So what was so important, you couldn’t wait?” His son’s petulant voice brought him back abruptly to his surroundings.

  They were all still there, looking at him, waiting for him. And suddenly he found himself wishing they’d all just disappear. Wishing he were someone else. Someone who could get up and follow Sabrina Cates to wherever she was going.

  “That will be all, gentleman. Thank you.” The dismissed vice presidents filed out. With a reluctance he abhorred as cowardice, he turned to his son. Only to be faced with the usual belligerent stance. “Take a seat, Colin. We have a few things to discuss.”

  The boy sank down into the chair with ill-concealed resentment.

  A frown creased his brow. His son appeared to be smitten with puppy love. He knew it had to happen eventually, but it took him by surprise. Sometimes he had to remind himself that Colin was no longer a little boy. He was growing up, experiencing all those normal urges.

  It wasn’t hard to see why he’d be attracted to Sabrina Cates, but she was too old for Colin.

  So what was he thinking, that she was just right for him? He was disgusted with himself for thinking that way, and even more disgusted that he had virtually ogled her.

  It was still embarrassing to think how his gaze had run over her small, slender figure. Even now he could see the image of her sitting in the very chair Colin now occupied, and through her shirt the faintest shadow of lace had been visible, curving over the swell of her breast. He’d torn his gaze away, shocked at what he was doing, only to find her dark, intent eyes watching him.

  Once again he squirmed with embarrassment. It was a salutary reminder. Better stick to business. Good business and proper ethics demanded that he not get involved with his female employees. Not even think about them in that way. Besides, he had enough problems. Most important of all, his son.

  “So what’s all this nonsense I hear about backpacking around Europe, Colin?”

  * * *

  AFTER QUICKLY TIDYING her desk, Sabrina shoved the costume designs in her briefcase, then raced for the elevator, late for her date. Charlie would understand. Who could blame her for being a little distracted? It wasn’t every day you got your new boss practically arrested. That was quite a feat, even for her.

  Reaching the main sales floor, she hurried toward the doors leading out onto Yonge Street, then came to a skidding stop. Turning to her right, she dashed over to the perfume counter.

  The woman behind the counter smiled. “Hi, Sabrina. What’ll it be this evening?”

  “You tell me, Doris. I’m meeting Charlie.”

  “Hmm... How about this? It’s light and summery and just a bit old-fashioned.” She held out a delicate crystal flacon of pale gold L’Air du Temps.

  With a smile, Sabrina took the bottle and liberally sprayed her wrists and throat before aiming a quick spray behind her ear.

  Doris gasped, staring in shock over Sabrina’s shoulder. She turned slowly to find Michael Worth standing behind her, looking down at an ugly wet patch on the lapel of his immaculate navy suit.

  “Oh, Mr. Worth.” This couldn’t be happening to her. “I’m so sorry.” She glanced back at the salesclerk in pan
ic and saw that Doris had brought out a box of tissues and was holding a cluster toward her. “Here, please allow me...”

  Taking the tissues with one hand, she splayed the other across his chest, then began dabbing ineffectually at the spot on his lapel, trying to soak up the perfume that had already seeped into the fine wool, and leaving tiny little flecks of tissue behind.

  If she’d only been concentrating she would have realized that her efforts were not only futile, they were making things worse. Now instead of a wet spot that would have eventually evaporated, he had an ugly patch of lint marring the perfection of his lapel. But all she could think of was how warm and solid he felt, his heart beating slow and steady beneath the suit and crisp white shirt.

  He stopped her with a firm grip on her wrist and she stared at his hand holding hers. Although well manicured, it wasn’t the soft, pampered hand she might have expected. She could feel the callused ridge of his palm and see that the tips of his long, lean fingers were callused, too. Such a strong, masculine hand.

  Slowly she lifted her gaze to meet a long, glittering intense look. Then, without warning, he smiled, and she was stunned by the transformation. That grim intensity vanished, to be replaced by a flash of white teeth and eyes that crinkled at the corners with a lazy sensuality that had her knees turning to jelly. If that wasn’t bad enough, a rakish dimple appeared in his left cheek.

  What a tantalizing contrast to that cool, formal executive demeanor. This was a test—she knew it—sent by a malevolent fate to torture her already overstressed libido.

  It was hard to believe this was the same formidable man who had so disconcerted her this afternoon. But maybe not. Deep in his eyes she could still discern that impenetrable wall shielding the private Michael Worth from the world.

  “Thank you.” He coolly took the tissues from her hand. “It’s quite all right. I can manage. Please, continue with your pilfering.”

  She choked on a gasp and began to cough, then recovered herself sufficiently to say, “I don’t blame you for being ticked off.”

  A brief curve of the lips momentarily softened the hard lines of his face. “But I’m not...ticked off.” The expression sounded so stilted and strange on his lips, and said in that grave formal manner it made her smile involuntarily. “Consider it recompense for the injury done to you.”

  And then before she knew what he meant to do, he placed his index finger gently, and briefly, on the tip of her nose. “I hope you’ve recovered from our collision.”

  He remembered. “It...it was nothing,” she stammered, taken aback by the incredible surge of electricity racing through her at his gossamer touch.

  “Good...good.” He seemed to collect himself and gave her a more restrained smile. “You smell very nice, and thanks to you so will I, at the business dinner I’m attending.”

  “Oh, no...” She put her hands to her burning cheeks. “I’m sorry.”

  “I don’t mind. But next time, perhaps you could choose a fragrance that’s a little more—” he sniffed his lapel “—me.”

  Like what? Eau de gorgeous?

  With a slight nod and a murmured good-night, he walked away toward the main doors.

  “Did I hear you say Mr. Worth?”

  Doris’s voice brought her abruptly out of her stupor. She tore her eyes away from his tall, athletic frame and turned to face the other woman.

  “Uh-huh. That’s our new boss.”

  “Pretty cool customer.”

  She nodded in agreement with Doris. But there was absolutely nothing cool about the way he made her feel. For a moment she was overcome with a premonition of disaster, but she shook it off. She was just overreacting to a simple physical attraction. A disastrously inappropriate one, perhaps, but nothing to justify this insidious sense of danger. She determinedly pushed it from her thoughts and headed for the revolving doors.

  Emerging onto the sidewalk, she looked up to see Michael Worth about to get into a long black limousine pulled up at the curb.

  He glanced at her and broke into a wry smile. “Can I offer you a lift?”

  “Oh...thank you,” she said in surprise, “but that’s not necessary. I haven’t far to go.” She waved an arm in the direction of the restaurant across the street.

  “In that case, I’ll say good-night.” He smiled and climbed in as the uniformed chauffeur held the door open.

  In the dim interior, she noticed a pair of long, elegant legs clad in sheer black hose and delicate, expensive evening pumps. The legs moved over to let Michael in and Sabrina’s smile faded.

  The driver shot her a sidelong, curious glance. She spun on her heel and walked off quickly as the limo pulled away.

  Shame on her. The hired help, daring to lust after Michael Worth. She paused in the doorway of the crowded restaurant, then spotted Charlie’s snow-white head and hurried over to the table beside the large window that looked out on the bustle of Yonge Street.

  “I’m so sorry I’m late.”

  A smile wreathed his lined face when he saw her. He slowly rose to his feet and came around to hold out her chair. He was a gentleman of the old school, and she loved him for it. In spite of their age difference, he was her best friend.

  When she first came to Worth’s three years ago, fresh out of school and knowing no one, they’d thrown her in at the deep end, not just doing displays, but putting her in charge of Santa’s Castle in the toy department, smack-dab in the middle of the pre-Christmas madhouse.

  That first day Charlie had watched from his red velvet throne as she dashed around, pretending that she could easily cope with the zoo. He’d quickly seen the uncertainty beneath her bravado. As soon as he found out she was alone in Toronto, far from home and family, he’d become a kind of surrogate father and friend.

  By the end of that Christmas season, he was Santa Claus to her. The gift he gave was confidence in herself, helping her to see that she didn’t have to be afraid of the competitive, demanding job she’d taken on.

  As she sank down in her seat, Charlie sniffed appreciatively. “Stopped by the perfume counter on your way out again, didn’t you?” His warm gray eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled.

  “Yes, and don’t I wish I hadn’t.” Sabrina went on to tell him about the most recent disaster and then what had happened earlier in the day.

  Charlie laughed and laughed. By the time she had got through all the demoralizing details, he was dabbing at the tears with the corner of his napkin.

  Finally his laughter died away and he shook his head. “Well, now. Don’t let it worry you too much. Mr. Worth sounds like a reasonable kind of man.”

  Sabrina gave him a small smile and gazed out of the window at the crowds of commuters heading for the subway in the pleasant summer evening. Reasonable sounded so wishy-washy when applied to someone as vital and dominating as Michael Worth. He impressed her as a man who had the power to shape the world exactly as he wished.

  “But, you know, what bothered me most, Charlie, was Colin’s rudeness. I’ve never seen him behave that way before.”

  “I have. Don’t forget I’ve known that boy since he was knee-high to a grasshopper. He’s basically a good kid, until he doesn’t get his own way.”

  She sighed. “You’re right. I like Colin, but it’s a shame he’s been so spoiled. You have to admit though, he could have been a real brat. As it is, he’s pretty likable.”

  “Who wouldn’t be likable, when their every whim is indulged? And we all know his grandmother doted on him,” Charlie said knowingly. “But from what you’ve told me, I have a feeling things will be different now that his father is here.”

  “Yes, but...how different? I’m afraid things might take a turn for the worse. Colin really resents his father.”

  “That’s natural for a teenager. They’re always rebellious. He’ll grow out of it.”

  “I guess so.” But she wasn’t convinced. “I couldn’t imagine speaking to my parents the way Colin spoke to his father today.”

  She tho
ught of the mixture of tolerance, good-humored discipline and occasional exasperation that marked her father’s dealings with herself and her three teenage brothers.

  “You can’t compare their relationship to the one you grew up with. Don’t forget, the boy has always lived with his grandmother while his father lived in England.”

  “I guess you’re right. Colin’s never really talked much about his family, even though I was kind of like a big sister to him...until recently,” she added gloomily.

  “Is he still bothering you with that?” Charlie smiled with understanding.

  “Yes, but I plan on nipping it in the bud, once and for all.”

  While they waited for their order she sank her chin on her fist and stared out the window, recalling Michael’s face, his intense blue eyes, that smile that acted on her like a potent drug.

  Where had he been going? A business dinner like he said or... She couldn’t help wondering who the woman could be. Probably some pampered socialite who had never done anything distasteful, like work, in her life. But she shouldn’t be catty. It was only natural he’d be with someone like that.

  “So why don’t you tell me about that young man?”

  She gave a guilty start and turned to Charlie. “What young man?”

  “The handsome one you were talking to,” he said casually while he buttered his roll.

  “That was Michael Worth.”

  “Oh, I see.” Charlie gave her a keen, piercing look.

  “You know, he’s a very intense, powerful man,” she murmured abstractedly.

  “Oh, really?”

  She looked over to see his head tipped to one side and a knowing gleam in his gray eyes.

  “Oh, Charlie... You’re on the wrong track.” She laughed, embarrassed to be so transparent. “He’s Michael Worth.”

  “So? He’s also a man.”

  “Oh, no. No, that’s impossible. And you can stop matchmaking.”

  She saw the warmth in his eyes, the love and affection.