[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
than she had remembered, and they glittered with anger just as guilelessly as
they had burned with passion at its height and shone with tenderness in its
aftermath.
Helpless tears welled up in Madeleine's eyes. She swallowed and took several
deep, steadying breaths.
Make-up, she thought vaguely. She had to fix her make-up.
He looked just as dangerous as he had that night in Montedora, far too wild
and reckless for these tame surroundings. For an awful moment, she'd been
afraid he would hit Preston.
Preston! Madeleine's eyes flew wide open and her stomach lurched again. Good
God! She had to get
Ransom away from Preston! And from her father, too! What could she possibly be
thinking of? Why was she hiding in here while that man was saying
God-only-knew what to her father and her almost-fiance? She must separate
them! Ransom mustn't be left alone with anyone until she'd had time to figure
out what to do about him.
Hastily fixing her make-up, she wondered if he'd tracked her down, or if he
was as surprised as she by today's turn of events. What would he want now?
Money? Influence? More sex? Madeleine gripped the
edge of the marble basin and tried to calm her nerves. There was no sense in
jumping to conclusions.
She'd get him alone and find out. Right away.
She finished applying her lipstick, took another deep breath, opened the
bathroom door, and faced her demon.
Ransom looked up as Madeleine re-entered the room, though he didn't bother to
rise for her entrance the way Preston and Barrington did. She looked perfect
again, he noted cynically. And not just physically there was a coolness in her
eyes and a composure in her face that hadn't been there five minutes ago. He
had to give her credit. The woman had moxie. He watched with bitter amusement
as she smoothly took over the proceedings, suggested that her father would
like to get back to work, and convinced her boyfriend to leave.
Yes, of course, the fiance said, accepting the dismissal with good grace.
What did a woman like
Madeleine see in this wimp? Wealth and position equal to her own, Ransom
supposed. I'll pick you up tomorrow at seven o'clock, then?
Fine, Madeleine answered absently.
See you tomorrow evening, sir, Preston said to Barrington, shaking his hand.
Hmmm?
The dinner party, sir, Preston reminded him.
Barrington tore his gaze away from Madeleine and said, Oh, yes, of course.
Tomorrow evening, then.
Mr. Ransom. Preston barely nodded in his direction before departing.
Nice guy, Ransom said blandly as the door closed behind Preston. Are you
really gonna marry him?
That's none of your business, Madeleine snapped. A look of alarm washed
across her features a moment later, and she turned quickly to her father.
We'll leave you now, sir. I'm sure you have things to attend to.
Yes, of course... Barrington stared at his daughter for a moment longer
before finally turning to smile briefly at Ransom. I've enjoyed meeting you,
Mr. Ransom, and I'm relieved to know that Madeleine will be accompanied by a
capable protector.
Recognizing the dismissal, Ransom nodded and stood up. He saw a glint of steel
in Barrington's eyes as the man shook his hand and added, And I know you'll
keep your word.
She'll be safe with me, Ransom reiterated gruffly, starting to wish he
hadn't promised. Why the hell didn't he just quit this assignment?
Barrington nodded and, to Ransom's surprise, clapped him on the shoulder. Then
he turned to his daughter. We'll expect you and Preston around eight o'clock
Page 25
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
tomorrow.
Yes, of course. Mr. Ransom? Without waiting, she turned and led the way out
of her father's office.
Ransom followed Madeleine out the door, through the reception area, and toward
the private elevator.
Ignoring him, she pressed a button to call for the elevator and stared at a
fern while they waited. The double doors swished open a moment later,
admitting them to a plushly decorated elevator nearly as big as Ransom's first
apartment. The doors closed behind them. Madeleine turned her back on Ransom
and
pressed a button on the control panel.
Alone at last, he said.
She flinched, as if she expected him to jump her. Don't say that! Her voice
was tight.
You ca
Don't say anything, she ordered, regaining her composure.
He frowned. For how long?
Until we're in my office.
Irritated, he decided to ruffle her feathers some more. Got a couch in your
office?
The fact that she did nearly made Madeleine's eyes cross. Instead, she glared
at him. That isn't funny.
Damned right, it isn't funny. He loosened the leash on his own temper. Who
the hell do you think you are? Where do you
You have some nerve saying that to me! By what right
What right? he practically shouted.
To come here
I was hired
And ambush me!
Ambush you? How was I to know? He was shouting now. Listen, lady, you were
the one who said no names!
And I had a good reason! she shouted back.
Did you re
How dare
The elevators doors swished open, and they both stopped in mid-shout.
Madeleine drew in a quick breath and paled when a dozen people near the
elevator bank stopped talking and turned to stare at her and Ransom.
Ransom shoved his hands into his pockets and lowered his head, trying to get
control of himself.
Between Doby Dune and Madeleine Barrington, he was liable to wind up killing
someone with his bare hands one of these days.
Um, is everything all right, Miss Barrington? someone finally asked.
Yes, Madeleine said, clenching her teeth with the effort to speak calmly.
Quite all right. Just a slight disagreement.
A young man stepped forward. Good-looking, well-dressed. Do you, uh ... Is
this person leaving now?
Realizing the guy was prepared to bodily evict him on Madeleine's say-so,
Ransom felt his sense of proportion returning. He certainly didn't want to
fight and possibly injure a Barrington employee just because Madeleine
couldn't control her temper. Fortunately, she pulled herself together and
assured everyone that she didn't need any assistance.
Shall we step into my office, Mr. Ransom?
By all means, Maddie.
Her jaw flexed in a way that made him suspect she was grinding her teeth.
Awkward silences and curious stares followed them along the elegant corridor
to Madeleine's office. He didn't need anyone to tell him that she was never
Page 26
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]