Free Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It by Lucy Monroe Page B

women in committed relationships. It was a rule he adhered to just as strictly as the one about no commitments.
     
    Jack shrugged and took a sip of his coffee. "Don't sweat it, Ronnie."
     
    The subtle emphasis he placed on the shortened version of her name was not lost on her, nor on Marcus, judging by the narrowing of his gorgeous blue eyes.
     
    He stood up abruptly, his jaw tight, then picked up her tray and his own. "You said you had things to do this afternoon, honey. I'll walk you back to your desk."
     
    She nodded, getting to her feet. Now was not the time to take him to task for his abrupt manner. She might as well show Marcus his cubicle while they were at it.
     
    Jack jumped up too. "Hey, I'll walk with you."
     
    Veronica tried hard not to grind her teeth. The last thing she wanted was to walk to her cubicle with two testosterone-laden men vying for one-upmanship. She knew Jack's use of her nickname had been a deliberate ploy to show Marcus that he had as much claim on her as he did.
     
    When in truth neither man had a claim on her at all. And neither wanted one either. This wasn't about her; it was about male competitiveness and she wasn't having any part of it.
     
    Marcus returned from dumping their lunch trays. "Let's go."
     
    She drew herself up. "You two go ahead. I need to stop by the design team admin's desk. She and I have some scheduling issues to work out regarding an upcoming meeting."
     
    Issues that would be handled more efficiently on the phone with each admin having her department's calendars in front of her, but it was the only excuse she could come up with on such short notice.
     
    "What about my office?" Marcus asked.
     
    "It's kitty-corner to mine. There's a temporary nameplate with your name on it on the cubicle wall outside. You can't miss it." She smiled with smug triumph.
     
    She had taken care of walking upstairs with the two men and given herself a reprieve from seeing Marcus again. All in all, she'd handled the situation pretty well, if she did say so herself.
     
    Marcus's eyes narrowed. "I guess I'll see you tonight then. Let's saysix o'clock at the same restaurant we met at on Friday. Maybe this time we can actually get around to eating dinner."
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
     
     
     
    Marcus watched Ronnie follow the hostess to his table with a sense of relieved anticipation.
     
    After his parting comment that afternoon, he hadn't been entirely sure she would show. Storm clouds had already been gathering in her eyes when he'd decided to set Jack straight about Ronnie's availability.
     
    However, he knew for a fact that if he'd made such a suggestive comment in front of Alex two years ago, the last place she would have shown up for dinner tonight would be a restaurant he had practically ordered her to meet him at.
     
    The thought that she'd only come because of his threat to tell Kline about her past gnawed at his conscience.
     
    The hostess led Ronnie to the seat across from him at the small table, giving her spiel about the night's specials as she did so. Ronnie listened with grave politeness, saying nothing even after the hostess took her leave.
     
    "I didn't think you would show."
     
    If he moved his legs just an inch or two forward, his knees would be touching hers. She had worn a skirt tonight and it was a tempting thought.
     
    Those too-serious gray eyes fixed on him. "I didn't think I had a choice."
     
    His jaw clenched. "We all have choices in life, Ronnie."
     
    She'd made hers eighteen months ago when she sold out CIS and abandoned her lover.
     
    "You're right," she surprised him by saying. "But sometimes our choices are all bad for us and we have no alternative but to pick the lesser of two evils."
     
    Was she just talking about tonight, or was she trying to explain her actions down inPortland ?
     
    "Is having dinner with me really such an evil?" he couldn't help asking.
     
    She looked at him, her eyes unfathomable pools of gray. "I don't know. I'm not