Free FallingforSharde_MLU by Marilyn Lee Page B

walked across her office and out the door.
    So her wanting anything more than sex from him was shit? Shaking, she went back to her desk and sank down into her seat. Her attempt to force him into something more had backfired. She buttoned her blouse and put her hair back up.
    She spent the rest of the day trying without success to concentrate on work. Two hours later, she decided she’d had enough. She picked up her briefcase, the decorative bag containing her new teddy, and walked out her office.
    She paused at her secretary’s desk. “Judi, I’m going to call it a day. If anything comes up within the next hour that can’t wait–”
    Judi, fifty-something and mother of several children, gave her a long look. “I’m sure Darbi can handle whatever comes up. You go home and relax.”
    “I can’t. This is my Friday to work at the shelter. I’ll see you on Monday.”
    Judi nodded. “Okay. If you want to talk about it–”
    She shook her head. She wasn’t about to admit to anyone in the office that she and Jefferson had broken a cardinal rule by sleeping with each other. What was the point when she suspected Judi didn’t miss much? “I’ll be fine. Thanks. Once I get to the shelter, there’ll be so much to do it’ll be time to head home to bed before I know it.”
    She encountered Jefferson in the lobby. “I’m leaving early,” she told him. “Have a good weekend.”
    He nodded curtly and held the entrance door open.
    As she went to slip past him, the handle on her lingerie bag caught on one of the brass handles of the door. She heard a tearing sound. She dropped her briefcase and made a grab for the bag. She missed it and the torn bag tumbled to the floor, exposing the dark red teddy.
    Before she could bend and grab it and stuff it into her open jacket, Jefferson reached down and picked it up. He stared down at the skimpy material for a long time before he looked at her. “Who are you planning to wear this for?”
    Face burning, she snatched it from him, stuffed it inside her coat, picked up her briefcase, and hurried past him into the private parking lot.
    She felt a tingle along the back of her neck and turned. Although it was freezing cold and he only wore a suit, he followed her. She paused at her car and faced him. “What is it?”
    “You told me you weren’t seeing anyone, Sharde.”
    She opened her car door and tossed her briefcase inside. “It’s none of your concern who I see, Jefferson.”
    “I didn’t say it was.”
    She slid into her car. “Then why the third degree?”
    “What third degree? I asked a simple question. If that’s too personal for you, forget I asked! Wear it for whoever the hell you like!” He slammed the driver door and quickly walked back towards the building entrance. She sat watching him until he went inside.
    Taking several deep breaths, she started her car, then jumped as someone tapped on her driver side window. She turned and stiffened.
    A beautiful blonde with blue eyes bent over her car. Swallowing a rush of dislike, she lowered her window, considering Vanessa Del Warren with a smile that was as phony as the other woman’s. “Vanessa. What brings you here?”
    “It’s lovely to see you again, Sharde. I’m here to see Jefferson, of course.”
    “Why?”
    Vanessa’s smile widened. “Because I want him back. Why else?”
    Sharde’s nostrils flared. Vanessa would get him back not a moment before hell froze over. “What makes you think that’s possible after the way you walked out on him?”
    Vanessa flashed her ungloved left hand where she wore a large diamond engagement ring. “He allowed me to keep this ring because he was hoping I’d come back to him. Well, I have.”
    Bile rose in Sharde’s throat. “Things didn’t work out in your greener pasture? What’s the matter? Frazier wasn’t interested?”
    Vanessa’s eyes shot angry daggers at her. “Look, I’ve always known you were jealous, but the fact is, Jefferson wants me. He has from the