Corporate Affair

7

Kalinda awoke the next morning with a curious sense of expectancy. She sensed the missing weight beside her in the bed and turned her tousled head on the pillow. At the same moment that she registered the empty place where Rand had been she realized the shower was going full blast.

She lay perfectly still for a moment, letting the memories of last night’s passion and intimacy wash over her. Again and again in the darkness Rand had reached for her, pulling her close, telling her of his need.

And she had gone to him, refusing to think of the future, allowing only her woman’s need to satisfy and be satisfied to guide her.

In the morning light, Kalinda lay gazing across the expanse of apricot carpet and asked herself the question she hadn’t wanted to ask during the night.

Why had Rand followed her back to Denver? It was hard to believe that he wanted an affair so badly he felt obliged to „prove“ himself worthy of her regard. He didn’t strike her as the sort of man who had ever felt it necessary to prove himself to anyone.

He must have met and probably seduced any number of tourists, she thought wretchedly, flinging back the covers. But how many had he followed back to Denver, seeking an affair?

But if it was routine for him, it was not routine for her. Kalinda had not been seriously interested in anyone after David Hutton had taken back his ring. There had been two reasons for maintaining the most casual of relationships. One had been the necessity for almost complete attention to Brady Data Processing. She had always been a hard worker, but the effort to save the company had required a ceaseless effort for the first couple of years. And memories of the fool she had been for trusting in David had constituted the second reason for extreme caution in her associations with men.

Yet within two days of knowing Rand Alastair she had gone to bed with him, and when he had shown up on her doorstep last night, she had known the probable result Known it and put up very little argument against it.

Kalinda got to her feet and winced at the unexpected soreness in her muscles. The evidence of the intensity of Rand’s lovemaking was going to be undeniable for a day or two, she thought dryly, reaching for a soft velour robe and belting it firmly around her waist.

She took a deep, steadying breath and headed for the bathroom where it sounded as if Rand was going through her hot water in record time. It was as she tentatively opened the door, the steam hitting her full in the face, that she realized she didn’t know exactly what she was going to say.

But something had to be said, she told herself resolutely. Last night had been only the beginning of an affair as far as Rand was concerned, but for her it had brought the blinding realization that she was in love with the man.

She didn’t want to be. Kalinda had no real desire to be in love with anyone. The last time she had allowed her emotions to become vulnerable she had been made to look a fool. Yet two years later she found herself swept into a far more passionate situation than she had ever known with David and with a man she barely knew.

How even as she stood there in the bathroom doorway letting the steam escape Kalinda recognized the depths of her feelings for the man standing complacently under her shower. She had let him in last night because she had taken one look at him and realized the strength of the bonds he had forged that morning in the mountains. She had gone to bed with him last night and let him strengthen those intimate bonds until by morning she had no alternative but to acknowledge them.

„Come on in and close the door, you’re letting all the heat out!“ Rand called from behind the shower curtain. „About time you got up. I was just about to come in and wake you!“ He stuck his head around the curtain, water plastering the chestnut hair to his head, the hazel eyes gleaming with remembered satisfaction as he took in her robe-covered figure.

Kalinda found herself responding to his obvious good mood in spite of her newfound resolution to have a serious talk. „Were you going to wait until you’d used all the hot water before you called me?“

„I’ve been saving some for you,“ he retorted imperturbably. „Come on in.“

„I’ll wait,“ she declared firmly. „Rand, I want to talk to you…“

„Come a little closer, it’s hard to hear over the noise of the water,“ he remarked innocently, ducking back behind the shower.

Uncertainly Kalinda moved forward. „I suppose it can wait until you’re finished,“ she began and then belatedly tried to step backward as a long, wet arm darted out to snag her wrist An instant later he reappeared from behind the curtain, a teasing grin slashing his tanned face.

„Come on in, honey. The water’s fine.“

‘ ‘Rand, this is serious,’’ she began earnestly and then had to stop her argument in order to push away his fingers as they reached for the belt on the robe. „I need to talk to you.“

„I’m listening.“ He pulled her closer, slipping the robe off her shoulders and, still holding her, plunking the green shower cap down on her head. „You look cute in the morning,“ he murmured, surveying her with a satisfied nod. „Rather like a grumpy cat“

„Are you always in such a lively mood at this hour of the day?“ she demanded caustically as he tugged her into the stall beside him. The full force of the water struck her and she found it pleasantly reviving in spite of her mood.

„You’ll have a chance to do a statistical analysis on the subject and find out, won’t you?“ Rand reached for the soap and, cradling her with one arm against his slippery side, began to lather her back.

„That’s… that’s what I wanted to talk to you about,“ she said breathlessly, violently aware of the uncompromising maleness of him. It was entirely disconcerting to have him taking over her bathroom and her life and Kalinda fought for a means of self-defense.

„First my good-morning kiss,“ he intoned, bending his head to find her lips as his hand slid possessively down her back and over the curve of her hip.

„Rand, please listen to me. This is very serious…“

„Ummm,“ he growled against her mouth, tasting her with evident enjoyment. „Just what a man needs to get the day started properly!“

Beneath the warm water streaming over them his mouth moved even more warmly on hers, probing deeply, lazily, possessively. Kalinda found herself clutching his glistening shoulders, aware of just how much he was telling her with this proprietary good-morning kiss. It was very clear that as far as Rand Alastair was concerned, she was now his. Kalinda wasn’t sure how to argue with that overwhelming assumption, especially since her whole being longed to agree.

The hand on her hip began gliding upward, fingers spreading briefly across her stomach before continuing the journey to her breasts. He caressed her with slick, sensuous motions that made her tremble against him.

But when she unconsciously moaned a throaty response and moved her own hand down to his waist and beyond, it was Rand who lifted his head and turned her firmly around to break the contact.

„Enough of that wantonness, Miss Brady. You and I have work to do today,“ he chided bracingly. „None of which is going to get done if you seduce me here in the shower!“

„1 wasn’t seducing you,“ she began wrathfully, feeling the laughter in him. „I was the innocent victim!“

„It’s all in one’s point of view, I suppose,“ he shrugged philosophically. „Now, what was it you had to tell me?“ Briskly he finished soaping her body.

„I’ll… I’ll tell you during breakfast,“ she sighed. Then she realized there had been no scrape of morning beard when he had kissed her. „How did you manage a shave?“

„I had my things downstairs in the car. I threw on my slacks and went down to get them before you awoke.“

„You really came prepared, didn’t you?“ she muttered.

„A man has to look his best first day on a new job.“

„You meant what you said last night? You’re really going to help my company fight off David’s takeover bid?“ she asked uncertainly.

„Don’t worry, honey. One way or another I’ll see to it Hutton doesn’t get the firm.“

It was only later over the breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast she prepared that Kalinda finally found the courage to bring up the subject which had been on her mind since she awoke.

„Where did you plan on staying while you’re in Denver, Rand?“ She didn’t meet his eyes as she set the plates down on the table.

There was a heavy pause from the other side of the table. Unwillingly Kalinda finally looked up from her eggs. Rand was regarding her with a rather enigmatic speculation.

„Is this the opening volley in your small war to make sure I don’t stay here with you?“

She held onto her determination. „1 think that as long as you’re intent on working for Brady we ought to maintain a… a more businesslike association.“

„I’m supposed to prove myself worthy of the affair before you’ll continue with it?“ he murmured mildly.

„I’m not asking you to prove anything, Rand. You’re the one who showed up unannounced on my doorstep last night in the middle of a party and said you were coming to work for me!“ she flared.

„I didn’t come back to Denver only to work for you.“

Kalinda felt herself go warm under the caressing glance he poured over her. „Do you always follow your latest female interest in order to pursue an affair?“ she whispered.

„I haven’t been out of those mountains for eighteen months,“ he said evenly.

„Then why have you come after me?“ she managed tightly.

His face gentled. „I thought I made that obvious last night.“

She shook her head. „Rand, we knew each other for only a couple of days…“

The edge of his mouth turned upward and he said carelessly, „As you are soon going to learn, I am nothing if not a first-rate strategist and decision-maker. I know what I want, Kalinda.“

„And you think you want me?“

„I know I want you. 1 also want to show you I’m fully capable of the business skills you seem to admire so greatly. I saw the disapproval in your eyes when you commented on my rather easygoing way of life in the mountains. You admire men from your own world. So I’m going to show you I can handle myself in that world.“

„There’s no need…“

„There’s every need. But if it will make you less fretful this morning I’ll tell you I have a place to stay. You don’t have to worry about giving me room and board.“ He dug into his eggs with gusto.

„Where?“ she asked, wishing it didn’t seem so right having him here sitting across from her at breakfast But she had to know more about him, more about his motives. She simply could not believe he had followed her just to take her to bed again.

„An apartment here in town,“ he smiled. „Now eat your breakfast, sweetheart, we have a lot to do today.“

It wasn’t until later that morning when Kalinda convened an emergency meeting of the highest-ranking members of her staff that she realized she wasn’t the only one with a profound wariness of Rand Alastair’s motives.

But the hard chill in the air that greeted her as she walked into the conference room with Rand at her side took Kalinda by surprise. She was accustomed to an easy, comfortable, respectful familiarity from the circle of mostly middle-aged faces. The shock of the cold nervousness she saw in even Harold Sebastian’s eyes left her momentarily unnerved.

Rand seemed totally unaffected by it, taking a seat with a casual nod to the ring of eyes that focused on him. Then he politely turned his attention to Kalinda and she automatically took control.

„What I have to say will be a shock for all of you,“ she began grimly, glancing around the table. „But perhaps that’s my fault. I should have anticipated such an event, given the current merger fever in this country. To put it bluntly, Brady Data Processing has become the target company of a hostile bid…“

The rumble of stunned, accusing voices interrupted her. Before Kalinda could recall the meeting to order, she realized that Rand was the focus of the grim glances and angry murmurs. He sat unheeding, his eyes on Kalinda.

„If I may have your attention,“ she said dryly, still not fully comprehending the reaction of her staff. Why were they staring at Rand like that?

„You’ll have to understand, Miss Brady,“ Palmer Greyson said finally, his portly body rigid with indignation. „We’re all a Utile stunned by this. When Harold told us this morning that you’d been seen on friendly terms with Rand Alastair, well, we just couldn’t believe it How could you? Your father would never have done such a thing. I’m sure he would be as shocked as the rest of us to know you…“

„I assure you, Palmer,“ Kalinda said, appalled, „the takeover attempt is not my idea. I believe I mentioned the bid being made is a hostile one!“

„But Harold said you were more than a little friendly with Alastair last night and others saw you…“

Kalinda, realizing the drawbacks to running business in a more or less democratic way, tightened her mouth and regarded her accusers coolly.

„I’m sorry to have to admit it, but, frankly, I don’t have the skills necessary to combat the bid. And neither, if you’re honest with yourselves, do any of you! We have gone our own way here at Brady, staying out of the conglomeration movement and concentrating on building our firm from within. As a result, we’ve allowed ourselves to be taken by surprise…“

„You can’t just turn the company over to him without a fight!“ Harold Sebastian interrupted forcefully, bringing his hand down flatly on the table. He swung his head around to stare at Rand who merely arched an eyebrow in response. „I knew your name was familiar last night but it took me until this morning to place it How did you talk Kalinda into this? She’s always been as concerned with Brady as her father was…“

„That’s enough, Harold,“ Kalinda said quietly, the authority in her voice bringing all eyes back to her. „There seems to be some misunderstanding here. If you know something I don’t know than perhaps you should tell me about it In the meantime, hear me out We will then throw the subject open for discussion. Is that agreeable?“

With muttered remarks and a few resentful glances at Rand Kalinda’s staff settled back into their seats, clearly expecting to hear nothing hopeful from her.

„We need an expert Mr. Alastair claims competence in the specialized area of business we need at this moment With your approval I intend to hire him to advise us during the next few weeks.“

„Hire him!“ The startled exclamation was repeated around the table as everyone turned to stare uncomprehendingly at everyone else. Only Rand remained aloof, looking half-amused.

„Yes, unless, as I noted earlier, you have some serious objection or a better suggestion,“ Kalinda finished forcefully.

„Miss Brady,“ Margaret Vannon said very slowly, her graying blond hair still an attractive frame for her pleasant features. „Who, exactly, is proposing to take over Brady?“

She told them the name of David Hutton’s firm and saw the astonishment in their faces.

„Hutton is trying to force a merger on us?“ Harold asked a little blankly, staring at Rand again. „Not Alastair?“

It was Kalinda’s turn to look blank. „That’s correct“

„And you’re proposing to hire Rand Alastair? To have him on our side?“ Palmer Greyson said in wondering disbelief.

„Yes. Now I’m prepared to throw this discussion onto the table, although it already appears to be there,“ she noted dryly. „I’m quite willing to have your input since this affects all of us… Hutton, by the way, has already filed with the SEC. We’re running out of time. May I have your comments, please?

Perhaps you would like to question Rand on his qualifications.“

„His qualifications!“ Margaret Vannon echoed wryly. „They could hardly be any better, as I’m sure you know.“ She looked frankly at Rand. „Have you really agreed to help Brady in this matter?“

Rand inclined his head in silent agreement.

„You’ll be working for us?“

„Yes,“ he smiled politely.

There was a thoughtful silence while everyone absorbed this. Kalinda was still trying to figure out what her staff knew about Rand that she didn’t when the vice-president in charge of marketing said half-humorously, „How’s it going to feel being on the other side of the action, Mr. Alastair?“

„Interesting,“ Rand replied, a small, anticipatory grin on his lips.

As if the single word had removed a barrier, the questions started coming fast and furiously. But this time they were asked with a growing excitement and confidence mat told Kalinda the turning point had been reached.

Rand had gone from being the villain at the table to the hero. She didn’t understand it but she was too good a businesswoman to question her luck. Her staffs obvious confidence in Rand’s abilities reinforced her own decision to believe in him. She sat musingly and watched him handle the questions and comments with easy skill. He really did know what he was doing. And he appeared familiar with the respect he was receiving. Yes, she thought privately, she had a lot of questions for Rand Alastair.

But it was Harold Sebastian who answered many of them for her. He approached her as the meeting broke up sometime later, an apologetic smile on his now-pleased face.

„You’ve really pulled off a coup, Kalinda. Your father would have been proud of you. Alastair may have been maintaining a low profile for the past couple of years but there’s no doubt he’s still got the ability! I’ll admit when I finally remembered who he was this morning and realized just how friendly the two of you seemed last night, I had a few bad moments. So did everyone else. That man’s reputation alone might be enough to spike David Hutton’s guns! How did you ever persuade Alastair to come back into battle? Word had it he’d retired a couple of years ago.“

„Just what is his reputation, Harold?“ Kalinda asked ruefully. „I mean, he’s admitted he knows something about the conglomeration business, but…“

„Knows something about it! My God, Kalinda, that man was the terror of every firm in the Rockies up until about two years ago. He had a reputation as a corporate raider that made Genghis Khan look tame! He had a piece of the action wherever he wanted it. Sometimes he would force a takeover, sometimes he only wanted a seat on the board of a particular firm. He manipulated stock, added any firm that took his eye to his own conglomerate, and generally seemed unstoppable. It got to the point where the mere mention that he was interested in a company was enough to send the management into panic.“

„How is it I never heard of him?“

„The timing, I suppose. You were working at that firm in Houston until about three months before your father was killed. You got engaged, as I recall, shortly after you moved up here from Texas. Alastair was going into retirement about the time you were going through the shock of your father’s death. When I saw you walk in with Alastair this morning I knew we were headed for disaster. And then when you said we were a target company…“

„You saw Rand sitting there and assumed I’d just handed over the reins to a shark?“ Kalinda mused with a wry smile.

„I should have known you’d never do anything like that I guess I panicked, too, just the way everyone used to do when they heard Alastair was coming!“ Harold grinned. „But to have him actually working for us…!“

„You don’t mind having a shark around as long as he’s on your side?“

„Business is business,“ Harold chuckled and then excused himself to hurry off to his office. Rand had already begun dispatching people for the various reports and records he wanted to see.

The management offices of Brady Data Processing took on the atmosphere of an armed camp preparing for battle. Word went like wildfire through the company of the takeover bid, but word of Rand’s presence spread equally as fast Instead of the sudden depression in morale, Kalinda was amazed to find everyone invigorated with a purposefulness that told its own story. Brady management had a battlefield general and they were prepared to follow him into the fray, no questions asked. There was nothing like having a shark on your side, Kalinda thought idly at one point when George Barrett appeared with coffee and sandwiches.

„Thanks, George,“ Kalinda smiled gratefully, looking up from the pile of papers on her desk. Rand, sitting across from her glanced up almost curiously and then looked appreciatively at the sandwiches.

„I didn’t know an order for food had gone out,“ he grinned, helping himself to a thick pastrami on rye.

George lifted an eyebrow. „Miss Brady would never think to send me out for sandwiches,“ he murmured. „She respects my professionalism far too much, even in a crisis, to do such a thing. But I have eyes and it was clear neither of you had remembered lunch today!“

He left the room with a stack of rough drafts that needed typing, all business. Rand watched him go, one brow cocked bemusedly.

„Things seem to have changed in the business world during the past couple of years,“ was his only comment.

„George is the perfect secretary,“ Kalinda said calmly, watching his expression.

„Bosses,“ Rand drawled, „are known for falling in love with their secretaries.“

„George would never allow such an improper situation to develop,“ Kalinda said blandly. „Here’s that breakdown on Brady’s line of credit you requested.“

Most of the management staff stayed late that day, but not as late as Kalinda and Rand. The ultimate responsibility was on their shoulders and Kalinda found her new employee seemed avid to accept his share. It was, she decided, as if the shark had swum back into his element. An impressive sight.

The dinner hour came and went, sandwiches and coffee once again the only fare. After the brief break during which Rand asked a series of probing questions concerning the material he’d been going through they both plunged back into the task of planning the defense strategy. Rand was intent on immersing himself in a thorough understanding of Brady’s resources, weaknesses, and possible options.

Finally, shortly after ten o’clock he closed the manila folder in front of him and got to his feet. „Come on, honey, let’s go home. We’re not going to be worth a damn tomorrow if we don’t get some sleep tonight“

„Where is your apartment, Rand?“ Kalinda asked bravely, rising to her feet and stretching as a yawn threatened. She must be firm.

„I’m going to show you,“ he smiled benignly.

„I meant what I said this morning,“ she began determinedly. „I think we ought to maintain a business relationship until we have a chance to know each other better.“

„I said I’d show you the apartment, I didn’t promise to seduce you, too.“ He gathered up a stack of papers and shoved them into a leather case. „I’m not even sure I could at this stage,“ he reflected seriously. „It’s been awhile since I worked liked this. I’m a little out of shape!“

She smiled at that. „You don’t look it. You look like an eager warhorse getting back into harness!“

He took her arm and walked her toward the door. „Nevertheless, the stamina requirements are a trifle different than those of fishing and pottery-making!“

The white Lotus sped through the night toward an elegant apartment building near the downtown area. It was not far from her own town house, she thought ruefully.

„Come on up for a nightcap. We deserve it,“ Rand instructed, giving her little option as he took her arm once again and assisted her out of the car.

„How do you happen to have an apartment, Rand?“ she murmured, trying not to think of the decision which lay ahead of her tonight How could she refuse him if he made love to her? His touch was like magic on her skin and the warmth in him was almost irresistible. She loved the man. But she had to have the answers to her questions about him. No amount of logic could convince her he had followed her out of the mountains merely for an affair. And he’d said nothing of love…

„I own the building,“ he confessed.

„Own it!“

„It was one of the few things I hung onto when I opted out a year and a half ago,“ he explained, watching her face as he pushed the elevator button. „It was something that didn’t have to be managed in person and provided a nice income.“

She shook her head. „You’re proving to be one surprise after another.“

„Good surprises, I trust,“ he smiled.

„Are you so very concerned about my opinion?“ she breathed, stepping into the elevator.

„I prefer seeing respect in your eyes rather than disapproval. Is that so strange?“ he asked wistfully.

Kalinda could think of nothing to say to that But some instinct warned her that a man like Rand Alastair didn’t worry much about other people’s opinions.

A moment later the elevator opened and they emerged into a thickly carpeted hallway. Rand fished a key out of his pocket and paused before the only door in sight.

„I phoned ahead and had the place put in order,“ he began as he opened the door. „I hope it’s decent“

He flipped on. the light, revealing a clean, uncluttered room furnished in an utterly masculine style. It was similar to the decor in his house by the lake, Kalinda thought, walking inside curiously. Browns and caramels were the predominant colors of the low-slung, modern furniture. Wide, sweeping vistas of the Denver night were provided by an expanse of windows.

Automatically Kalinda walked toward the view, knowing he was watching her. „It’s lovely,“ she smiled, looking out into the darkness and picking out familiar buildings. They were on the twentieth floor.

„I prefer your place,“ he said dryly.

She swung around to see him going over to a liquor cabinet and begin hunting through the collection of bottles.

She accepted the snifter he held out to her a moment later, meeting his eyes silently over the rim as they each lifted their glasses. For an instant as she met the glittering promise in the hazel eyes, Kalinda forgot all about her promise to herself. And when he took her wrist and led her silently across the tan carpet to the sofa, she couldn’t find the words of protest He sank down onto the leather cushions, tugging her gently down beside him. Then, wrapping the arm holding his drink around her shoulders so that she was forced to curl into his side, Rand reached for the leather case he brought with him.

He put his feet up on a hassock and fumbled briefly in the case. „Now, I’ve got a couple more questions about your relationship with the banks,“ he said calmly.

Kalinda turned her head quickly to stare at him and saw that he was quite serious. He didn’t appear to have any intention of trying to seduce her tonight She honestly didn’t know whether to be glad or feel insulted.

The amusement lit her eyes and quirked her mouth as she dutifully answered his precise questions.

Half an hour later she was still answering the occasional question as Rand continued reading beside her. With a strange feeling of contentment she settled more closely against him, finding his obvious interest in the work at hand somehow endearing. He was enjoying this, she thought sleepily.

Her eyes were closing when the impact of that statement finally made itself felt.

He was enjoying himself! He was thriving on the opportunity to get back into the dangerous game he knew so well. Belatedly Kalinda remembered the occasional feeling she’d had in the mountains that he’d latched onto her because he had been as bored as she was up there.

She was almost asleep when the plausible answer to all her questions popped into her head.

Had Rand followed her back out of the mountains because she had made him realize he was bored with the easy life? Was he using her to find his way back to the high-powered business world he’d once dominated?

The thought of serving as an accidental catalyst for a man who once again was seeking a change of lifestyle was not a pleasant one. What happened to the catalyst after it had served its purpose?