Restore My Heart (27 page)

“And Mazzoni’s rolled oysters.”

“You probably know me better than anyone in Atlanta. I work seventy hours a week, play racquetball, and spend the rest of the time trying to catch up on my sleep. Sometimes I eat, but it’s usually a business luncheon. What social life I have revolves around people I work with because I haven’t time to meet people anywhere else.”

“Doesn’t sound like much fun to me.”

“Look who’s talking? You put in long hours, work out, and network at the Universal Joint.”

“Network. Is that a euphemism for drinking?”

Joe chuckled. “Probably.”

“I’m doing what I want to, though. I chose this life.”

“Don’t you have any dreams, Sally, besides running a successful business?”

“You mean, like marrying and raising a couple of little grease monkeys? That’s not in my future. I’ve accepted that.” There was a wistfulness in her voice that said otherwise, but Joe let it drop. “What about you, Joe?”

“I know better than to have those dreams. With my career, I’d make lousy family material. Most of the men in the firm who married are already divorced, their marriages casualties of the business.” And he dare not back off now, when he’d been offered the golden egg, a vice-presidency with the firm.

“Your career is in financial planning, right?”

“I’m a financial advisor. I help people invest, plan their retirement, that sort of thing. Plus I bring in new clients.”

“Must be stressful, having to worry about the stock market and such.”

It was what he lived for. “I have to stay on top of things, but I’m doing what I want to,” he said, borrowing her words. “I chose this life.”
But at what price?

Sally tried to get up but Joe tightened his embrace, pulling her back against him.

“Where are you going?”

“I think we could both use a bit of cleaning up.”

He quickly vanquished fantasies of soaping each other’s body. “I’d offer to share a shower with you, but did you see how tiny my shower stall is?”

Sally sighed. “Guess we’ll have to take turns in the bathroom. Then you can take me home.”

“You can’t stay?”

“And have your mom and my dad know exactly what we’ve been up to? I don’t think so.”

“What happened to consenting adults?”

“It’d be different if we both weren’t living at home, so to speak.”

“Yeah.” Joe chuckled. “But I doubt either would know
exactly
what we’ve been up to. Just some heavy petting.”

Sally’s mouth curved against his chest. “Thank you for a great evening, Joe. I mean that.”

“Hey, my pleasure.” It certainly had been, he thought, and grinned in spite of himself.

Much later, when Joe shared a lingering kiss with Sally at her front door, he didn’t grin. Something had shifted tonight, an undefined emotion that upset his equilibrium. His intimacy with Sally, far beyond sex, had bonded him to her. His feelings for her had strengthened, even though he couldn’t see a future for them. He had no idea what to do about it.

Sally opened the shop Saturday morning after only two hours’ sleep. Justin pulled in beside her Mustang, then followed her through the back door.

“Got two jobs coming in today.”

“Two? That’s great. We need the business. What are they?”

Justin shrugged. “A couple of street rods need work. I got a lead from Jerry Dixon.”

“Any kin to Dusty Dixon, the Indy driver?”

“Cousin.”

“Good work. Thanks.”

Justin headed toward the Chrysler 300, dismissing her. Or so she thought. Keeping his back to her, he added, “Those relays came in for the Skyliner. I installed ‘em.”

“So it’s finished?”

“Yeah.”

“All right. I’ll go write it up and call the owner.”

Writing up the ticket, Sally decided to skip her morning work out and head for the Universal Joint for lunch. Uncle Sal would want to see their official Fillies’ Derby Ball portrait. Monette and Jennifer would be waiting for a report from last night.

What would she tell them as she blushed from head to toe just thinking about her night in Joe’s bed? She’d never forget his tender touch, his talented mouth. As quickly as she’d climaxed, he had to know how ready she’d been for him. Or maybe he chalked it up to inexperience. He hadn’t seemed disappointed, though. She grinned.

Now that she’d admitted to herself—never to him—that she loved him, she couldn’t wait to make love with him. She’d buy the damn condoms if she had to. He’d made plans to meet her at the Universal Joint around four. After they visited Grandma in the hospital and reported to her on the Fillies’ Derby Ball, maybe they could go back to his place.

Sally lifted the plastic bag on the seat between her and Joe as they drove toward the hospital that evening. “What’s this?”

“Something I picked up for tonight.”

“Condoms?” she asked.

Parts of Joe leaped to attention. “You surprise me, Sally.”

“It’s your fault. You showed me too good a time last night.”

He shook his head, unable to prevent his own mind from replaying their love-making. “Then my answer is really going to disappoint you. That’s a four-pack of USB drives for a computer.”

“I guess we’re on different wavelengths this evening. So tell me your plans for the USB drives.”

“I’ve another favor to ask of you. I want to do some snooping in Dad’s files.”

“Okay, but I thought you’d done that.”

“Not freely. I want to examine all the files without the danger of someone walking in on me. Are you game?”

“Tonight? At Bloom Desalvo’s?”

He nodded. “I’ve given some thought to Dan Alsop, Ellen Kennedy’s Packard, and the files. I think there may be a second data base, a file of Dan Alsop finds versus legitimate deals.”

“Do you know what you’re saying? You think someone at Bloom Desalvo is involved with Alsop?”

“When I questioned Vic about Alsop, he acted— well, ill at ease, for lack of a better way of explaining it. Call it a hunch.”

“So you want me to act as the lookout?”

“That probably won’t be necessary. I just need my partner there to back me up.”

How could he explain to her that he needed her with him? Period. No rational explanation. In a short time, he’d grown attached to her company. It wasn’t that he was falling in love with her, of course. That would be a mistake, although after last night, he knew he’d crossed some line in their relationship that he hadn’t intended. And he’d been powerless to stop it.

The condoms remark had rattled him, although he’d tried not to show it. Sally wanted to take that final step and become lovers. Funny, but Joe had never worried about the emotional consequences of sex before. Now with Sally, he walked on eggshells, determined not to lead her on or hurt her. Where his mind had resolve, his body betrayed him. That’s why there would be no stopping for condoms tonight. It was one purchase he couldn’t afford.

At the hospital, Grandma greeted them with a satisfied smile. “Did you two enjoy the ball?”

He and Sally both nodded. “I brought you pictures, Grandma.”

One-handed, Grandma opened the cardboard folder. Joe had splurged and ordered additional prints of the photograph when he’d seen Sally’s radiant smile, although his own smile looked downright sappy. He wanted to remember the way her aqua dress had exposed the muscle definition in her arms and shoulders, the way her swept-back hair showed off her beautiful eyes. The hot pink color highlighted her lush lips and her delicate fingers. The camera had captured Sally’s transformation perfectly.

“You make a striking couple. Sally, I almost don’t recognize you.”

“I clean up well.” Sally winked at Grandma, who chortled.

“I only meant your natural beauty is enhanced by glamour.”

“Thank you.” Sally ducked her head as her cheeks reddened.

“How are you feeling today?” Joe asked.

“I’m ready to go home, but the doctors want to wring another two days out of Medicare.”

“Why don’t you just relax and enjoy being waited on?”

Joe smiled at his grandmother’s indignant snort. “Have you bought Sally dinner yet, young man?”

Always subtle Grandma. “We wanted to visit you, first.”

Grandma wrapped her bony fingers around his hand and squeezed. “Don’t waste a Saturday evening hanging around the hospital, kids. Go enjoy yourselves. Life’s too short.”

“Good to see you’re feeling better,” Sally said as Grandma shooed them from the room.

They reached the elevator. “Do you mind if we stop by Bloom Desalvo before we go to dinner?” he asked.

“Suits me. I’m not that hungry, anyway.”

Joe slipped his hand through hers. He was hungry, but not for food. Just the touch of her skin against his had him wanting her. The sound of her voice had him dreaming about things he had no business thinking, like how pleasant life would be waking up to her laughter every morning.

To realize those dreams, he’d first need to uproot himself. Give up a lucrative career, sell his condo—if he could—and leave Atlanta. Then he couldn’t afford the dream. He’d be better off not entertaining forever kind of fantasies. If he wasn’t careful, he could fall in love with Sally Clay. Then where would he be?

His internal debate didn’t change the way he held her hand, or the way he touched the small of her back, or supported her elbow. The way he found any excuse to touch her. Excuse? He just plain couldn’t keep his hands off her. He was head over heels in lust.

Battling the Saturday evening traffic, Joe concentrated on what he needed to do tonight. He had to search every computer file, even if he had to break into Vic Bloom’s desk to do it. He hadn’t shared that part of his plan with Sally. It may not come to that. But he’d promised his mother he’d find answers. Joe intended to deliver on that promise.

“Find anything?” Sally asked an hour later after Joe’s silence had gotten to her.

He’d been going through Leo Desalvo’s computer files, opening every one. “Not yet.”

Sally would’ve been more entertained at the hospital than sitting around a closed used car dealership. If Grandma could see them now.
Go enjoy yourselves. Life’s too short
. Yeah, right. Of course, Sally wouldn’t complain to Joe. His quest seemed important.

And life was too short. For all she knew, the killer could have followed them this evening. The thought gave her pause. “Uh, Joe? I don’t want to rush you, but we are kind of isolated here and nobody knows where we are.”