Free Falling for the Boss by Elizabeth Lennox Page A

no, we’ve only just talked about marriage.  He hasn’t proposed yet.”
     
    Thomas looked down at her and gently pushed a strand of hair out of her face.  “He’s a stupid man.”
     
    And with that, Thomas handed her key back to her then walked to the next door and unlocked his door, letting himself in .  Victoria watched him walk away then disappear into his hotel room , confused about his parting comment.
     
    She walked into her own room and closed the door, leaning against it as she repeated his words over and over in her mind.  What had he meant? 
     
    Finally, she gave up trying to figure out that enigmatic man.  She could put all sorts of meanings behind his words but she would only be thinking fancifully.  Bracing reality was what she needed and she pushed against the door and got ready for bed.
     
    The next morning, Victoria finished her evaluation and called it quits.  They were leaving the next day for Milwawkie.  Bob and Mike had already left for the afternoon, taking some time off while the work was slow.  Thomas had left earlier in the morning for meetings and no one had seen him since.  She was the last one to finish up and she quickly typed up her notes o n her computer then packed up all the files. 
     
    Victoria went back to the hotel and wondered what she should do with all this extra time.  She had about five hours before she had to start packi ng for the next city.  She stood in her hotel room and bit her lip.  The sun was shining outside, beckoning her.  She decided to pull on her bathing suit and take a dip in the pool.  It was about ninety degrees outside and the crystal clear water of the hotel pool was just what she needed to cool down and relax for an afternoon. 
     
    After changing into her bathing suit and a filmy sarong, s he stopped in the hotel gift shop and bought some magazines thinking she might have a chance to do some reading.  She also picked up a big, floppy straw had to protect her face.  Pulling the hat low down on her face, she ventured to the pool.  Since it was the middle of the afternoon, most of the chairs were empty and she had her pick of the prime sun bathing spots. 
     
    Victoria started reading the first magazine but after only one article, her eyes were so heavy she could barely hold up the magazine.  She laid it down beside her, pulled her hat down lower, pushed her sunglasses higher and relaxed her head against the chaise lounge .  Almost instantly she was asleep. 
     
     
    Thomas shook hands with Jim Anderson, the Atlanta bureau chief.  He had one more meeting and then he would be done for the day. 
     
    “Why don’t we go to the bar outside and have a drink?” Thomas suggested.  “It gets pretty hot here in the summers,” he said, leading the way to the patio bar. 
     
    They sat down at one of the tables and ordered ice tea . The sun felt good on Thomas since he’d been cooped up in conference rooms for what seemed like months. 
     
    He was listening to Jim go over some of the details of an initiative the Atlanta office was experimenting with when the sexiest pair of legs he’d ever seen caught his eye.  He was facing the pool but could only see the legs and not the rest of the body.  One leg was bent and the other was straight out on the lounge chair. 
     
    “So you think this will work in other areas of the company?” Thomas asked, forcing his attention back to what Jim was explaining. 
     
    “I think it could be applied to several of the other offices but maybe not in the manufacturing branches,” he replied and continued on with his explanation. “If the rumors are true that ATI is branching out into retail, it might be applied there as well, but would need to be adjusted slightly.”
     
    Thomas tried to focus.  Jim was going over the financial details of his idea and all Thomas could do was nod in feigned understanding.  The woman was either asleep or was reading something very interesting because she didn’t