Falling For Her Boss (15 page)

He sighed and raked a hand through his hair.  Closing his eyes and shaking his head, he sounded almost grim.  "Why do you want to torture us both?  You know we'd be better off if I went back to Richmond."

"You know that.  I don't."  She could've bitten her tongue once the words were out.

The sadness in his eyes clawed at her heart.  "Maybe I know better for both of us."

"Don't take responsibility for me, Noah."  She could see it came naturally to him.  He'd taken responsibility for his mother, Craig, who else along the way?

"You're still naive, Francie.  You think everything will work out because you want it to.  Don't you know life isn't like that?"

She was thoroughly frustrated with him, with the attraction between them, with the feelings that got stronger each day she was around him.  "Of course, I know it.  I sure haven't gotten my way, have I?  If I had, I'd be married to Brent, crossing the country with him, and this rink would be a childhood memory!  Someone isn't going to wave a magic wand and suddenly life will be rosy.  No one knows that better than I do.  So don't you dare call me naive."

The freshly-shaven skin alongside his jaw tightened, and the pulse at his cheekbone jumped.  "I don't know why you care about this damn rink when what you really want is to be in New York with McIntosh.  Why can't you admit it?"

His anger sparked hers.  Her fist came down on the counter.  "I care about this rink because it's important to me and the community.  Now, are you going to give me until Valentine's Day to show you why?"

She could hear her heart thudding in the silence, she could almost reach out and touch the tension ricocheting between them, and she hurt because "friendly" didn't seem possible anymore.

Noah crushed his cup into his fist and tossed it into a waste can.  "All right.  I won't accept an offer on the rink until after Valentine's Day.  But no more favors, Francie.  They complicate my life too much."

He strode toward the office and didn't look back.

She felt tears prick in her eyes and she blinked them away.  Didn't Noah understand her life was just as complicated by him as his was by her?

****

Early Friday evening Francie watched the kids roll around the rink, then almost did a double take.  Drew was skating with everyone else.  He rolled slowly, holding on to the edge now and then to steady himself.  Francie went to the office, where Noah was working on the computer.  Since they'd returned from New York, a cold war had hummed between them.  She hated it and didn't know what to do.  She just hoped Noah's mood would turn more receptive by Valentine's Day.  She was still working on her agenda, but if what she'd planned didn't change his mind, nothing would.

Noah didn't look up when she entered the office.

"Did you know Drew is skating?" she asked, stopping in front of the desk.

Noah raised his head.  His gaze perused her slowly, lingering on her mouth.  A shiver raced up and down her back.  "Drew brought a note last Friday when you were gone," he said.  "His dad gave him permission to skate.  You know I wouldn't let him skate otherwise.  The last thing we need is a lawsuit."

She sighed.  Of course that would be most important to him.

"Was there anything else?" he asked, so politely she wanted to throttle him.

She'd avoided talking to him because of his clipped, businesslike tone.  But now that she'd started, she might as well finish.  "Veronica and Theresa are going to take care of the rink on Sunday."

"Family get-together?"  His voice was gentler.

"No.  The skating club in Hershey is having a competition.  I know a few of the skaters.  I want to give them moral support.  The competitions aren't always well attended."

"Veronica knows what she's doing.  I don't see a problem.  Do you?"

"No.  I just wanted you to know."

He gave her a short nod.  "Now I know."

Without thinking, only following her heart, she said, "Noah, don't you think we can try to be a little friendlier?"

He blew out a breath and rubbed the back of his neck as if it had one very large crick.  "You know better, Francie.  This is the way it has to be."

She bit her lip.  He was stubborn, rigid, unyielding, and...she loved him.  The realization almost knocked her over.  She'd fallen head over heels in love with Noah Gordon—her boss, her adversary, a man whose life was a marathon trip.  If that wasn't enough to make her go cold all over, nothing was.

"Francie, are you all right?"

She steadied herself.  "Just fine.  I have to get back to the kids."  Turning, she fled the office before she did something stupid like telling him she loved him.

Francie skated around the rink in a fog, wishing she knew how to swear in French like her father.  It might help.  How could she fall in love with Noah in a matter of weeks?  With Brent, it had taken years!  Of course, she'd been young when she met him; he was dating women older than she at the time.  She'd always been in awe of Brent, and when they slipped into dating regularly, he'd controlled the relationship.

These feelings for Noah were so different...so intense... so explosive...

Somebody called her name.  When she swung her head around, she saw Veronica coming toward her.  Her assistant pointed to the other side of the rink where a crowd was clumped.  "Drew fell.  He hurt his arm.  I don't know if it's serious—"

"Go call his dad.  Hurry.  Jud Pierson.  Artillery Drive.  I'll go stay with Drew."

Francie skated to where the crowd had gathered.  Drew sat on the floor, holding his arm protectively.  She crouched down beside him and could see he was trying gallantly not to cry.

She put her hand on his shoulder.  "Honey, what hurts?"

"My...my arm.  I hit my elbow..."  He started to get up.

"No, Drew.  Stay still.  Does anything else hurt?"

"I don't think so."

"Veronica called your dad."

Now the tears came to Drew's eyes.  "He's gonna be so mad.  He told me..."  Drew bit his lip and the tears rolled down his cheeks.

"It's okay, honey.  He'll know it was an accident."

"But he said..."

Noah crouched down beside Francie, his expression unreadable.  "How are you doing, son?  Your dad will be here in a few minutes."  When Drew didn't respond but tightened up into more of a ball, Noah said to Francie in a low tone, "Pierson almost bit Veronica's head off.  If she'd told me what she was doing, I would have made the call.  He hung up before I could talk to him.  I'm going to call the paramedics.  Then Pierson will know we've done everything we can."

Noah was taking every precaution so the rink wasn't liable.  Francie sighed, then spoke to Drew softly and soothingly.  He seemed to be more worried about his dad's reaction than about his arm.

The paramedics arrived first.  They'd finished checking out Drew when Mr. Pierson came running into the rink.  He glared at Francie and knelt down beside his son.  "How is he?"

The paramedic answered, "He seems to be fine except for his arm.  We'll transport and get him X-rayed at the hospital.  If you want to hop in the back with your son, you can."

Pierson nodded absently.  "Yes, of course."  He stood and turned to Francie.  "This is all your fault.  I told you I didn't want my son on skates.  But, no, you people are all alike.  Anything to make a buck."

Noah stepped up beside Francie, his demeanor calm.  "This is not Ms. Piccard's fault.  She had your son's interest at heart.  And since you gave your permission—"

"I never gave my permission."

Noah frowned.  "I saw the note myself."

"You're only interested in saving your own neck because you know I can sue."  He looked at Francie.  "Did you see the note?"

"No, I was away.  Mr. Pierson, maybe we can settle this after Drew's taken care of."

Pierson pointed his finger at her.  "Yeah, so you can call a lawyer in the meantime.  Well, go right ahead.  You'll need one.  Because I'll be back."

Noah handed the irate man a business card.  "You might get tied up in Emergency.  That's my cell number."

Pierson glanced at Francie.  "I thought she was in charge."

"She is.  But I own the rink, and I'm the one who saw the note."

Some of the steam seemed to seep out of Pierson, but the hard purpose didn't leave his expression.  He spun on his heels and hurried after Drew and the paramedics.

Francie felt as if she'd been hit by a herd of teenagers skating at high speed around the rink.  First, her realization that she loved Noah, now this scene with Drew and his father. 

Noah came to her and she moved away.  She wanted too badly to feel his arms around her, his lips on hers.  She couldn't be close to him now and not betray her feelings.

Noah took her by the elbow.  "Let's go get a cup of coffee."

She yanked her arm away, burned by his fingers.  "I don't need coffee."

His lips tightened when she wrapped her arms around herself.  "Then let's go to the office and talk."

"What about?  The way I get too involved with my customers?  So you can say I-told-you-so?"

Noah surveyed the skaters starting the motion around the rink again.  But a few were still watching Noah and Francie.  "Let's take this someplace private, Francie."  His voice was low, carrying a warning.

"Private?  We don't need to go anywhere private for me to hear what you have to say.  And I'll save you the trouble of saying it.  You were right and I was wrong.  Tell me, Noah, did you stand by me because you care about me or to prevent a lawsuit?"

She thought she saw pain, raw and sharp, flash in Noah's eyes.  But a second later it was gone, replaced by icy anger that made his words wintry-sharp.  "You believe what you want to believe."

Instead of heading for the office, he strode across the foyer and opened the glass door to the lobby.

****

Noah let the cold air sweep around him as he paced back and forth outside the rink.  So many emotions battered him he felt like taking off at a fast run to escape them.  But Pierson might call.  And Francie might need him.

Hell.  Need him?  She didn't even trust him.  That hurt so damned much his chest tightened.  She'd wrapped her arms around herself and backed away as if he might hurt her.  The oath he let out was loud and clear, sailing deep into the parking lot. 

She as much as said she wanted to be married to McIntosh.  She wanted to skate with him.  Why didn't she just do it and save them both all this grief?  Because she wanted to save the rink?

This situation was the exact one Noah had avoided all his adult life.  Somehow, he'd gotten sucked into caring about Francie and her family and her hopes and dreams.  None of it should matter to him.  But after the kiss McIntosh had  interrupted, it mattered too much.  So Noah had tried to stay away from her.

How could he stop wanting her in his arms...in his bed...in his life?

****

Francie saw Noah come back in as she rolled around the rink.  He looked windblown and distracted, the beard shadow along his jaw making him look more rugged, more untamed.  She might have spoken to him, apologized even, if he'd glanced her way.  But he didn't.  Instead he disappeared into the office and came out a few minutes later—suit jacket buttoned, laptop in hand—stopped to speak to Veronica, and then left!

Francie almost rolled to a stop.

If she went running after him, what would happen?  Would he admit he cared about her?  That's what she'd been trying to pull from him when she'd made her accusation.  She hadn't realized it then, but she did now.

She beckoned to Veronica when she caught her eye.  Francie couldn't leave the floor when she was the only member of their personnel skating.

Veronica rolled beside her.  "You want me to take over so you can get something to eat?"

"Where'd Noah go?"

Veronica tilted her blond head and gave Francie a speculative look.  "He said he was going back to his apartment to work.  He didn't tell you he was leaving?"

Francie felt her cheeks redden as she shook her head.

"I know it's none of my business," Veronica said, "but if you want to leave, Theresa can come out on the floor with me.  We've got plenty of people working tonight."

"You covered when I was gone.  You're covering Sunday."

"I like being here.  You know that.  I feel like I'm playing, not working."

Veronica did like helping to manage the rink as much as Francie liked doing it.  She was also single and had no one to answer to, so odd hours weren't a problem.  Francie's pulse raced as she thought about leaving and apologizing to Noah.  Obviously he was angry with her.  He could use some time to cool off.  She could use some time to prepare herself to see him.

"I'm not leaving now.  I'll take off around eight and let you close up if that's all right."

Veronica nodded. 

Francie was going to use the time to shore up her courage.  She had to apologize to Noah.

****

Francie ran up the steps to Noah's apartment, mindful of the red SUV parked in the driveway.  Pierson's station wagon.  She recognized the vehicle.  Sure, it could be someone else.  But who else did Noah know in Gettysburg?  Should she barge in?  This mess was her fault.  She wanted to know how Drew was and why his father was here.

Noah opened the door, his expression neutral.  Wordlessly, he stepped aside so she could enter.  Neither man looked particularly upset.  Pierson rose from the sofa when he saw her.

"How's Drew?"  No matter what else was going on, the little boy was foremost on her mind.

"Nothing's broken.  His arm is bruised.  He has to keep it in a sling for a day or two.  It wasn't the arm that had him so upset."

"But he said it hurt--"

Drew's father raised his brows.  "I'm sure it did.  But I was just telling Mr. Gordon I jumped to the wrong conclusions.  I want to apologize to both of you."

Francie breathed an internal sigh of relief.  "You were worried."

"That's the problem.  I've been worrying too much."

When Jud Pierson didn't explain, Noah did.  "Drew did bring in a note.  But his sister wrote it and signed it for him.  His father knew nothing about it."

Jud's forehead creased as he spoke.  "It seems my daughter, who's fourteen and knows everything there is to know, decided this was one way to get back at me for, as she puts it, keeping her under glass!  She's been fully recovered from her accident for six months now, but I'm still hovering.  She didn't want to see me do that to Drew."