Free A MAN CALLED BLUE by EC Sheedy Page A

started to work for Josephine. And she hadn't missed it until a certain pair of blue eyes started to make midnight promises.
    "Nice room."
    Blue! Startled, and embarrassed by her thoughts, she swiveled toward the sound of his voice. He came up from behind her and rested his hands on the back of her chair. If she turned her head, she could touch her cheek to his knuckles. There it was again, that irritating catch in her breathing.
    "Thank you," she murmured. "I like it."
    She stood to face him, but he'd already turned and walked to the casement window that opened onto a view of the rear garden. Forcing herself to remember her plan for the evening, she mentally reviewed it; dinner, conversation about Hallam Industries, and an early evening. She would remain courteous and in charge. She could do this. Then she looked at him and was instantly mesmerized by his broad back, the tan hand he ran up the frame of the old window, the tilt of his head as he leaned forward to look outside. Every nerve and sinew in her body shook themselves to life, quivering and warm.
    Still standing by the window, he turned."Really nice room," he repeated. "All it needs is an ocean view."
    "A tall order in the heart of London," she said, her voice surprisingly normal considering the tightness in her throat.
    "You look wonderful," he said, making an abrupt change in the direction of the conversation. He raked his gaze over her in open appreciation.
    "Thank you," she said evenly. "And you look—" He wore black slacks and a blindingly white shirt with a mob of Walt Disney characters spilling from the pocket. No tie. "Interesting," she finished, incapable of coming up with a better word and working hard to suppress a grin.
    "All thanks to Harrods." He touched the pocket. "Collins' idea. He twisted my arm."
    "I'll bet." She nodded toward the dining room. "Shall we go in. We've already thrown Mrs. Dreiser off her schedule."
    "After you."
    When Blue stepped into the dining room, he whistled softly, took one look at the acre of table separating their place settings, and said, "Tell me you're kidding."
    Simone blushed but didn't answer, saved by the entrance of Mrs. Dreiser who appeared with the soup, placing a fragile bowl at opposite ends of the table. Blue looked around in undisguised amazement as he followed Simone to her end of the table.
    He held Simone's chair for her and leaned to whisper in her ear. "This is all very cozy, but I'd like to request two things. First, a cab to take me to my end of the table, and second, a 'how to' diagram for that place setting down there."
    "I'm sure you'll cope," she said. His mouth, all warm breath and tease, taunted a few obscure nerves. Her neck prickled and warmed. She leaned forward to pick up her soup spoon. "Shall we eat?" She didn't dare look at him.
    He took his place and the meal began, broken only by the soft scrape of sterling on bone china and the rustle of linen napkins. Simone wished she'd put on some music, anything to lighten the mood of the room. When she glanced down the table at Blue, he only smiled, as if he recognized her uneasiness, but didn't intend to do a thing about it.
    Damn the man! All jokes and easy patter when it was uncalled for, and not a word when the situation required it.
    By the time Mrs. Dreiser came to clear the soup bowls, Simone couldn't stand the awkward silence a moment longer. "Did you start on the Hallam sales analysis?" she asked.
    Blue cupped a hand behind his ear. "What was that?" he asked, his voice about three decibels louder than usual.
    Simone prayed for patience. "I asked if you'd looked at Hallam's sales numbers." She did not raise her voice.
    They were interrupted by Mrs. Dreiser bringing their salads. When Mrs. Dreiser set Blue's in front of him, he shook his head. "No thanks, Marie," he said, giving the older woman a smile. "I'll skip the salad."
    To Simone's surprise, Mrs. Dreiser smiled back. She couldn't recall the woman ever smiling, at least not at her. After