A Calculated Seduction(46)

* * * *He rushed down the hall to his office early Monday morning. He’d wanted to arrive before Dulcy and he figured he had since her car wasn’t in the parking lot downstairs.

He unlocked the door, reminding himself of the speech he’d prepared for Dulcy. He had an explanation. It was solid, it made sense, and she had to take him back, didn’t she?

Her desk was neat, as usual. He hurried to his office, unlocked his door and flipped the light switch. He set his briefcase down beside his desk and dropped his keys into his pocket when he noticed the letter sitting on his desk.





Chapter Thirteen



Ethan grabbed the letter and quickly read the contents. Disbelief held his sense hostage. Then pain so sharp, it twisted his heart. His breath tangled in his throat. Dulcy had resigned. She’d walked out on him. Instead of trying to make amends, work it out, she ran away, frightened.

Maybe, just maybe, it was a threat. He practically ran to her office and noticed things he didn’t before. All her personal items had been removed from her area. No pictures, no little knickknacks. Hell, she’d even taken the plants.

Slowly, he walked back into his office with a weary sigh. Nothing. He had nothing left for him here. Without her, he might as well head back to Houston. The thought of his cold apartment caused him to think twice. It was barely furnished and he smiled, thinking of the colors Dulcy would add to brighten it up. He couldn’t see going back there by himself. He really couldn’t envision his life without her.

“Bad weekend, boss?”

He looked up and there stood Pete Anderson.

“From the look on your face, you read her resignation.”

Without an invitation, he stepped into Ethan’s office and settled into a chair.

“You knew and you didn’t think to call and tell me?” Ethan asked.

“Hey, you thought I was stealing from Bill. You think I should help you?”

Ethan sighed and looked out the window. “I didn’t know what to think. The woman had me running in so many different directions...”

Anderson chuckled. “Yeah, and she had no idea what power she held over you. Still doesn’t. She’s that naïve.”

Ethan slanted him a look. “You know it wasn’t just the investigation. ”

“Yeah. Good Lord, you practically staked your claim by looking at her.” He crossed his arms and studied Ethan. “I talked to her last night when she called to give me the heads up about the investigation. She was crying. And hurt. So, what’cha going to do about it?”

“What can I do? The woman wants nothing to do with me.” Pathetic. He sounded absolutely pathetic.

“So, you’re just going to let her go. Let her have her own life, meet another man, have babies with him.”

Images of Dulcy with another man, in his arms, in his bed, filled his mind. Jealousy and possessiveness almost choked him.

“Ahh, so you’re not as cool as you pretend to be about this,” Anderson said, a smile curving his lips.

“What the hell do you want from me, Anderson?”

“I want Dulcy happy.”

“Why? Why is her happiness so important?”

“Boy, you are self-centered.”

Remembering Dulcy’s accusations the morning before, he frowned. “So, you’ve had a chat with Dulcy?”

He nodded.

“How’s she doing?”

It was Anderson’s turn to sigh. “What do you think? You broke her heart. Now, you have to fix it.”

“How?”

“You figure it out. You are the shark I’ve seen lurking around the office the last few months, aren’t you?”

“Yes. Don’t you have a job to do?”

“Listen, the woman adores you. Not at the moment, but she really does love you. She fell so fast for you. I don’t think she had time to contemplate what she was getting into. That was a good thing. Dulcy’s been careful since Jason dumped her. She lost all that reserve she had with other men when you showed up. Clear sign she was in love with you.” He stood and walked to the door. “I have a feeling you’re as much in love with her as she is with you. Don’t let your damn pride get in the way.”

“In love?” Ethan’s world tilted. Love Dulcy? Lust, desire, burning passion. All of this he associated with little Dulcinea Menendez. All thoughts slipped away and realigned. Never in his life had he had the burning need to possess, to protect a woman. And never had he ignored his better judgment. Every thought, every fiber of his being had been concentrated on one thing— Dulcy .