Dar tipped her chin up and gazed into her eyes. “I need you desperately. Every minute you’re gone is going to seem like a lifetime to me.” The look on Kerry’s face brought a smile to Dar’s.
“And we’ll miss you at work, too.”
It didn’t untwist her guts, but it did make her feel a lot better.
Kerry put her arms around Dar and hugged her. “Please take care of yourself while I’m gone.”
“You mean I can’t start that skydiving class I’d planned?” Dar teased gently. “Or the I-95 rugby league?” She kissed the top of Kerry’s head. “You be careful, too, okay? I want you back in one piece, safe and sound.”
“I will be,” Kerry promised.
“I hope your father’s okay,” Dar said, in a very quiet voice.
“For what it’s worth.”
Kerry didn’t answer, not sure of how she felt about that herself.
Chapter
Four
DAR GOT TO work before eight and figured she was safe enough to enter the building dressed as she was, with her change of clothes tucked into the gym bag she was carrying. “Morning.”
She met the door guard’s eyes, daring him to look down as she strode past.
“M…ah, morning, Ms. Roberts,” the guard stammered.
Dar stopped and looked back over one shoulder at him.
“Problem?”
He shook his head vigorously.
“Good.” Dar resumed her progress to the elevator. She entered the car and let the doors close, then turned and regarded her reflection in the mirrored surface. Hm. She crossed her legs at the ankles, and watched the powerful muscles in them tense and move under her tanned skin. Maybe wearing shorts this short isn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done, even this early in the morning.
The elevator perversely slowed to a halt on the 10th floor and the doors opened.
Crap. Dar exhaled silently. She would pick today to come in early. “Morning, Eleanor.” She was glad she was wearing sunglasses, which hid what she was sure was a mildly sheepish expression.
Eleanor entered the elevator and chose a spot on the side wall to lean against. “Good morning, Dar.” She smiled. “You’re a little casual today, aren’t you?”
Dar shrugged. “Had some things to do before work.” She kept her voice neutral. “What brings you here this early?” The elevator floors seemed to crawl by, taunting her as she resisted the urge to fidget under Eleanor’s appraising eyes.
“Marketing meeting, what else?” the Marketing VP
responded drolly. “You want to come? Those shorts’ll wake everyone the hell up, at least.”
Dar rolled her eyes and shrugged.
38 Melissa Good
“Hey, I’m not the one wearing them,” Eleanor said.
Dar straightened as the doors opened on fourteen. Finally.
“Well, good luck on it.” She escaped from the elevator, only to pull up as she almost crashed into Mark and three other MIS
techs. “Morning.”
And Maria. “Buenos Dias, Dar.” Her secretary managed to mask a smile. “I was going to get café. May I get you some, as well?”
“Love some,” Dar replied. “You blocking my hallway for some reason, Mark?”
Eyes up, face front. “Uh, no, actually, boss, I was just taking the guys down to pick up that new box for you. We’ll just get going now.” Mark gave the nearest tech a shove towards the elevator. “Be right back.”
Dar eyed them as they marched purposefully away. She couldn’t quite avoid hearing their hissed conversation, though.
“Holy shit, did you see those legs?”
“Shhh!”
Dar sighed. “Okay, so I’ve made my bad management decision for the morning. What’s next?” She exchanged a wry look with Maria.
“I think you look very cute, jefe.” Maria laughed. “What is the occasion?”
A sober look appeared on Dar’s face and she removed her sunglasses. “Kerry got some bad news this morning.” She opened the outer door and allowed Maria to precede her. “Her father’s had a stroke.”
“Dios Mio.” Maria’s eyes widened and she stopped in shock.
“I am so sorry to hear that, Dar.”
“Me, too.” Dar nodded. “I dropped her at the airport before I headed here.”
Her secretary frowned. “Should you not have gone with her?
That is terrible, to have someone so sick.”
Dar glanced at her. “Her family’s not fond of me.” She felt herself blushing a little at discussing something so personal.
“They’re already stressed—I don’t think my being there would help matters.”
“Ah.” Maria folded her hands. “Si, that is right. I remember now.” She seemed at a loss for words. “I feel for Kerrisita, though.
She has always felt such trouble with her family. Is there something we can do? Send something to them?”
Dar paused in the doorway to her office, considering the question. “For them? No.” She gave Maria a direct look. “But call the Marriott in Saugatuck and make sure Kerry gets treated to the best service they have there. I booked her a suite, but upgrade her Thicker Than Water 39
to the best they have, and have them stock it with the works.”
“Si.” Maria smiled. “I will do that, Dar.” She glanced at the door, where voices were growing louder. “Now, I think you maybe will change, yes?”
“Yeah.” Dar grimaced and swung the door closed after her.
“Before they start snapping pictures.”
KERRY TOOK A deep breath as she walked down the airline ramp from the plane. It had been two uneventful flights, and now that she was finally there, she wished they’d been longer. The white of the ramp gave way to dull brown brick and the familiar sights of the airport near her home.
A quick glance around told her she wasn’t being met, not that she’d expected to be since she hadn’t informed Angie of her flight plans, but part of her felt a tiny bit disappointed, all the same. On second thought, maybe that was for the best, Kerry decided, as she shouldered her bag and headed off towards the rental car counter.
Best for me to do this on my terms, right? Isn’t that what I told Dar?
She thought about that as she walked. Keeping a little distance from everyone seemed like a good plan, especially since tensions would be high, the press would probably be present, and the last thing anyone needed was a family spat right in the middle of a crisis.
In fact, on the way up, not going at all had crossed her mind several times. It was only Angie’s quiet finality that had pushed her forward, knowing in her heart that staying away and letting her father die without at least saying goodbye to him was something she just wasn’t capable of.
Or am I?
Kerry sighed unhappily and stepped up to the counter. “I’d like a car, please.” She’d picked the chain ILS usually used from habit.
“For how many days, ma’am?” the young man behind the counter asked politely.
Good question. “A week.” Kerry supplied her credit card and Florida driver’s license.
“Thanks.” The man took them and keyed in something, then paused, evidently surprised at something. “Oh, Ms. Stuart. We already have a reservation here for you.” He handed back her card. “ILS is taking care of it.”
One of Kerry’s eyebrows lifted. “They are, huh?” She found herself unable to be upset with Dar. “Okay.” She took the prof-40 Melissa Good fered keys and went outside, wincing as the cold wind bit her face. “Ugh. Forgot about that.”