Free In a Heartbeat by Donna Richards

landed in my lap headfirst. That was an imposition, but this—”
    “Will you keep your voice down! Someone will hear,” she hissed.
    “Besides, you know what I mean. You’re involved with someone.”
    “That’s got nothing to do with it. I invited you to rest your ankle, not appease my perverse appetites.” He frowned down at her. “Tell me, were you afraid that I would take advantage of the situation—”
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    In a Heartbeat
    “No--” she injected.
    “Or that I wouldn’t,” he finished.
    She blanched.
    “My God.” He stuttered. “That’s it. That’s why you left!” A pretty blush covered her cheeks. She turned her face to the wall, but he reached over and gently turned her face to his. The vulnerability in those sweet blue eyes squelched the joy of his discovery. His breath caught. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I was so worried and then—” His chin sank to his chest. “I’m sorry.”
    Her fingers gently wrapped around his palm, tugging his hand from her cheek. “It’s not your fault,” she said. Her words rode on a current of sweet breath that warmed his cheek. Her scent, soft and inviting, penetrated his thoughts. “I never should have—”
    “Philip!” a woman shrieked.
    Elizabeth Everett, wrapped in a body-hugging sweater dress, glared from the doorway. “Am I interrupting something?”
    Damn. He hadn’t expected her to arrive so soon. He hesitated, then straightened. “As a matter of fact, you—”
    “You called and said we needed to talk. I drop everything, catch a plane to Ohio,” she glared at Angela, “and find this.”
    “Knock off the dramatics, Elizabeth. Nothing was happening here.”
    The woman was a hellcat. Owens’s offer of a million dollars might not be enough. “Ms. Blake and I were merely discussing—”
    “Discussing?” She stepped closer, a smug smile firmly in place. “Is that what you call it when some sweet young thing spreads her legs for you in your office?”
    Angela’s eyes widened into two blue ovals while his entire body went rigid. Clenching his hands into fists at his sides, he stepped between Elizabeth and Angela. “You have no right,” he growled.
    “Excuse me,” Angela said behind him. “I think I should go.”
    Hank motioned behind him for Angela to stay. If anyone should leave, it should be Elizabeth.

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    Donna Richards
    “Right? I have every right,” Elizabeth screeched. “Is this what you wanted to discuss?” She pointed an accusatory finger. “Her?”
    “Calm down. It’s not what you think,” he repeated. Although his words were directed to Elizabeth, his thoughts centered on Angie as she brushed past him on her way to the door. He wanted to stop her, wanted to explain, but it would be impossible with Elizabeth in the room.

    Angela slipped through the open door, turned and attempted to pull the door closed quietly behind her. Elizabeth stepped in the path of the closing door, leveling her glare at Angela. “I won’t forget you.” She narrowed her eyes. “Nobody messes with what’s mine and gets off this easy.”
    Goosebumps lifted on Angela’s arms. No one had ever threatened her before, especially with such pure hatred. She jerked the door free of the model’s grasp and pulled it closed.
    “Jesus,” a man’s southern drawl sounded behind her. “What was that all about?”
    Angela swirled around, practically ramming the controller’s chest. As the head of the accounting department and one of the few employees who had been with the company since it was founded, Tom Wilson could be crucial to her ability to earn that coveted promotion. He obviously hadn’t been overly impressed with her at that meeting last week. Now this.
    “Mr. Wilson.” She stepped back, smoothing back the hair from her face. “I, uh, Mr. Renard had a visitor.”
    “A loud one from the sounds of it.” He grinned at the feminine wail partially muted by the closed door.