Free Her Sexy Valentine by Stephanie Bond Page B

It’s James’s loss that he tookadvantage of your love instead of returning it.”
    But Carol’s heart still squeezed at the injustice. James had led her on for years, gave her reason to believe they had a future together, all while having an affair and getting another woman pregnant. In hindsight, she wondered if he would’ve ever told her about the other woman if she hadn’t proposed and forced the issue.
    When the pain started to suffocate her, Carol turned away from the monitor. “I have to go.”
    â€œVery well,” Gabrielle said. “But don’t forget, it’s never wrong to love.”
    Carol walked to the door of the supply room and let herself out in the hall, shaking her head at what she’d just experienced.
    Dreamed, more like it. Walking back to the elevator, she reached up to touch the tender skin on her forehead. Maybe she’d taken a harder hit than she realized.
    That would explain her hallucination.
    As she approached the elevator, she realized preparations were already underway for the afternoon party.
    Carol squinted. But the party had already happened…hadn’t it?
    Red decorations of cupids and hearts abounded. Blowups of some of the company’s Valentine’s Day cards leaned against the wall, including the “take no prisoners” card she’d seen on her assistant’s desk. Cupid looked even more menacing at life-size.
    Thankfully, she didn’t see Luke among the volunteers…. She wasn’t ready to face him after their encounter during the party.
    She stopped and looked back to the party preparations, again disoriented. The workers threw her a look of distaste before turning back to their tasks. Well, even if other events were confused in her head, one thing remained true—everyone hated her for voting against giving the employee bonuses.
    On the elevator ride up, Carol did some mental calculations to try to clear her head. She counted backward from one hundred by multiples of nine…she recited the presidents of the United States.
    Everything seemed to be in working order.
    When the doors opened and she walked intoher department, Tracy looked up from her desk where she was playing with her new computer. In fact, everyone was still preoccupied with the new equipment she and Luke had scavenged from the storage room.
    â€œI understand Luke Chancellor was up all night installing these machines for us,” Tracy said, her eyes dreamy. “When you see him, give him a big kiss for me, will you?”
    Carol blinked. “Excuse me?”
    â€œIn the directors’ meeting,” Tracy said, then glanced at the clock. “You’re going to be late.”
    Carol massaged her temples. “Um, Tracy…what day is it?”
    Tracy narrowed her eyes. “Friday, February thirteenth. Are you okay, Ms. Snow?”
    â€œYes,” Carol lied. In truth, a low, throbbing headache had settled into her crown. She stopped by the ladies’ room to arrange her hair over the reddened bump on her forehead, then proceeded to the room where the directors’ meeting was held. Before entering, she took a deep breath, then pushed open the door.
    Her fellow directors looked up and she couldtell not all of them were relieved to see her. Luke Chancellor sat at the head of the table. It was the first time she’d seen him clothed since she’d seen him naked. She hoped it wouldn’t be awkward.
    He smiled up at her. “We were just getting ready to send out a search party for you, Carol.”
    She settled into an empty chair. “Sorry I’m late.”
    â€œWe heard a Good Samaritan delivered new computer equipment to your department this morning,” Janet, the art director, said with a smile.
    All gazes slid toward Luke. He held up his hands. “It was Carol’s idea—I just…facilitated.”
    She set her jaw—how did he do that? Manage to sound humble and still take