Authors: Cat Johnson
Amy
led the way from the break room to the conference room and flipped on
the television.
Henri
“hmmphed” as the television sprung to life. “It
still pisses me off it doesn’t burn your butt Maria White
published her first novel here with us, then hauled her lesbian self
over to our competition where she wrote a
New York Times
bestseller.”
“
We’ve
been over this. They’re not our competition. We publish
romance, not memoirs. We always knew that’s what Maria wanted
to write. Her romance novel with us was just a stepping-stone to get
her an agent so she could get her memoir published. Besides, she’s
become a good friend, so stop being bitchy.”
“
Oh
there’s a bitch in this room, sister, but it’s not me.”
With that he crossed his arms and refused to look in her direction.
Henri was a great assistant in a field where finding and actually
keeping a good one was next to impossible and somehow in their two
and a half years together they’d also become friends. But at
times like this, Amy enjoyed fantasizing about a day when she
actually felt like his boss and he didn’t give her any
attitude.
Just
then, the host on television introduced Maria.
“
Shh.
She’s on.” Amy grabbed the remote control off the
conference table and raised the volume.
Maria
looked great on screen in her black suit and cropped hair. The
interview went perfectly, all two minutes of it. Maria talked about
her new book and her life that had led up to the writing of it. At
the end, Maria mentioned Amy by name and thanked her for publishing
her first book that gave her a start in writing.
Amy
switched off the television. “See, she thanked me. And I expect
to see an increase in sales of her romance novel because of that
appearance, so it’s a win-win situation for everyone.”
“‘
Win-win’?
You’ve been in the conference room with the big guys too much.
You’re starting to sound like them. Next you’ll be
‘thinking out of the box’.” He emphasized his point
with air quotes.
Amy
rolled her eyes, picked up her coffee and headed out the door. “Oh,
speaking of being out of the box, I won’t be staying at my
apartment for the next week. I’ll be sleeping at Maria’s.
I’ll leave you her number since my cell doesn’t work
great in her building.”
Henri
raised a brow. “Have you got something to tell me? Have you
switched teams due to the lack of eligible straight men in this
city?”
“
No.
I’m cat-sitting for her while she’s away on another
cruise.”
Henri
snorted. “You hate cats.”
“
I
do not. I just choose not to have any, that’s all. Hey, how
often do you think I have to clean that litter box thingy the cat
goes in?”
“
When
it smells.” Henri looked at her like she was an imbecile.
“
Doesn’t
it kind of always smell?” She assumed it would, considering
what the cat deposited in it.
Henri
nodded. “Pretty much. Have fun with that.”
“
Stop
being bitter because I’m helping Maria out. Besides, my
landlord is a miser with the heat and Maria’s apartment is
always toasty warm and sunny, not to mention way bigger than mine.
It’ll be like being away on vacation for a week.”
Henri
sniffed at that. “It’s not like you can’t afford a
better apartment.”
“
Yeah,
on my huge Acquisitions Editor salary. Besides, you know I’m
saving for a house.”
They’d
reached Amy’s office. She slid behind her desk and opened her
email browser, trying not to feel overwhelmed by the eighty-one
unread emails waiting there for her.
“
I
know, your dream house with the white picket fence and the hunky
husband. Lucky for you Home Depot now installs picket fences since
you don’t seem to have the hunk to do it for you.”
Boy
oh boy, Henri was being way more catty than usual. Amy couldn’t
help but wonder if there was trouble in paradise and Kenneth wasn’t
so perfect after all. Although, putting up with Henri did qualify
Kenneth for sainthood. Her too, come to think of it.
“
What
would you know about Home Depot?” Amy questioned. He wasn’t
the only one with attitude.
“
I’ve
got a few lesbian friends of my own, missy.” With that, Henri
flounced out of her office.
Amy
sighed. Besides Henri’s attitude this morning, it was Friday.
She wasn’t into working at all today, particularly after seeing
Maria on a nationally broadcast talk show.
This
job had been fulfilling enough for a while, but now she wanted more.
Maybe it was the lack of a man in her life, or her depressingly small
apartment, or the fact that she had launched countless writing
careers for others and had yet to get her own off the back burner of
her life.
Whatever
the cause, she was feeling a building restlessness that made sitting
behind her desk and facing the day nearly unbearable.
The
ringing of her phone provided a welcome excuse for procrastination.
She grabbed for it. “Amy Gerald.”
“
Did
you see me?”
Hearing
Maria’s excitement radiate through the earpiece made Amy smile.
“Of course. You looked great. And thank you for the mention.”
“
Are
you kidding? I wouldn’t have even been there without you. And,
guess what? Oprah’s people called. I’m booked on her
radio network the week after I get back.”
“
Oprah.
Wow.” Amy clawed through the green haze of envy that settled
suddenly upon her at that bit of information and actually managed to
come up with a heartfelt, “Congratulations.”
For
her own sanity, Amy changed the subject. “Are you ready for
your cruise?”
“
More
than ready. I need some time off after this first leg of the press
junket. We leave from New York at noon today. Are you all set to stay
at my place?”
“
Yup.
Got my bag packed and your extra set of keys in my purse. Anything
special I need to know about taking care of the cat?”
“
Just
don’t let him out. He’ll take off and believe me, he’s
not easy to catch.”
Great.
That’s all Amy needed was to accidentally lose Maria’s
cat. Although really how fast could a cat be? Didn’t they have
those short little legs? And that long tail should be easy to grab
onto, kind of like a handle.
“
Got
it, no letting the cat out. You have a great time and don’t
worry about a thing. Your kitty and I will be fine.” Or at
least Amy hoped so.
~
Hours
later, the damn cat was the last thing on her mind as Amy stood at
the door of Maria’s apartment and struggled with the keys and
locks, two of each, to be exact.
“
Damn,
damn, damn.” She turned the deadlock one more time, only to
find that the doorknob didn’t turn. She reversed the key in the
doorknob, but the door still didn’t open.
Amy
sighed and let her forehead fall hard against the door. She had a
Masters Degree. She should be able to open a damn door.
“
Problem?”
The deep masculine voice behind her brought her head up quickly.
There
was a brief struggle within her about whether or not to use her
pepper-spray, which was immediately settled the moment she saw the
Greek god that stood before her.
Tall
and broad, he looked like he could easily hoist her currently ten
pound overweight body right up and carry her to his bed without
breaking a sweat. She liked the image of that. He smiled at her and
his white teeth sparkled as brightly as his beautiful blue eyes. His
strawberry blond hair was cropped short in almost a military cut. She
would follow any command he gave, yes, sir.
Her
gaze dropped to his left hand. No ring. Good sign. Who was this man
and what would it take to make him hers?
It’s raining men.
Halleluiah, it’s raining men. Amen.
She
cleared the lump from her throat. “Actually, yes. I can’t
seem to get both locks to cooperate at the same time.”
He
extended his hand and took the keys from her.
Real
smart, Amy
. This guy could be a serial killer and she’d
just handed him the keys, as well as her life. No, she argued with
herself. God would not be that cruel and put the mind of a serial
killer inside a package like this. No way. Besides, this was a secure
building and no one could even get in the front door without checking
in with the doorman, so this guy must live here. Yummy, she sure
hoped so.
“
The
deadlock key turns toward the right, you can remember that because
you want the deadbolt to pull away from the doorframe. Okay?”
He looked over his shoulder at her.
She
nodded, feigning interest in what he was saying when in reality she
was far more interested in watching his butt in those tight jeans.
“
And
the door knob turns the opposite way. Turn the key and the knob at
the same time. It’ll probably take two hands for you.” He
glanced down at her hands.
Doesn’t
take two hands for you, does it, big boy?
Oh
boy, wouldn’t those big hands feel good right about now. Jeez,
it had been way too long since she had a man in her life. She better
get herself under control before she started drooling.
The
door swung open easily and he handed her back the keys, picked up her
overnight bag and placed it effortlessly just inside the doorway.
Still standing in the hall he asked, “Anything else I can do
for you?”
She
shook her head. “Nope. Thanks for the help.”
What are
you, crazy?
her libido yelled.
Don’t let him get away
.
“Um, I guess I should introduce myself. I’m Amy Gerald.
I’m a friend of Maria’s.”
“
Ah.”
One ginger-colored eyebrow rose.
“
Ah?”
What the hell did that mean?
“
I
meant that makes sense since you don’t look like the typical
burglar. I’m Troy. Troy O’Donnell. I live right across
the hall.” He extended his hand. Amy reached out and shook it,
enjoying how big and warm it felt against her own.
“
Nice
to meet you—” A blur of motion caught Amy’s
attention as the cat came whizzing out of the door. “Shit. I’m
not supposed to let the cat out.”
She
hadn’t even gotten into the apartment and she’d already
messed up.
“
Not
to worry. He and I have a special relationship. I cat-sat for Maria
last year while she was away.” With a smile, Troy bent and
scooped up the cat that was weaving its way in and out between his
legs, rubbing and purring loudly.
Amy
knew just how the cat felt. She wouldn’t mind doing some
rubbing against him herself and she was sure he could make her purr.
“
I
guess maybe I didn’t do such a good job, since she didn’t
ask me again this year.” Troy stroked the cat in his arms.
“
Oh,
that’s not it at all.” Amy’s mouth was now dry from
watching all the petting. “I offered. I needed to get out of my
apartment for awhile.”
He
raised an inquisitive brow. “Oh? Roommate trouble?”
“
No,
I live all alone.” She wanted to assure him of that. No
roommate, no husband, no boyfriend, hint, hint. “It’s
just my landlord thinks that because it’s after March first, it
means he can turn off the heat no matter how cold it is outside.”
He
nodded and handed her the cat, which she took from him with as much
enthusiasm as if he had handed her a dirty diaper. “Well if you
need anything while you’re here, just knock. I should be
around. I filled in for a guy at work and did back-to-back
twenty-four hour shifts so I have the next few days off.”
“
Those
are some hours. What do you do?”
He
opened his ski jacket and pointed a thumb at the fire department
insignia on his sweatshirt. “I’m with Ladder Company #3.”
She
tried to control her glee. It was too good to be true. This guy was
her dream man, the very stereotype of her fantasy of the hunky
fireman. “That’s near my neighborhood. It’s good to
know that my fire safety is in such capable hands.”
The
cat was now in the process of trying to claw its way out of her arms,
hooking her favorite cashmere coat in the process. A greased pig
would be easier to hold than this thing. Talk about a kill joy. This
cat was ruining her flirting with hunky fireman Troy.