A Calculated Seduction(47)
The force of his thoughts struck him like a thunderbolt. He was in love with her. That’s why the thought of living without her, of trying to get on with his life hurt. He sat in his chair, his mind whirling. He’d failed to make her happy, to keep her by his side.
“You look like you just got hit by a ton of bricks, boss.”
He glanced at Anderson wondering when the hell had that happened? When had she crept into his heart? When had living without her become something he couldn’t think about without his stomach turning queasy and his hands sweating?
Anderson laughed. “You didn’t know? How could you not know you love the woman?”
Irritated and uncomfortable, he stood and began to pace behind his desk. “How was I supposed to know?”
“Let me ask you this. Is she the first thing you think about in the morning and the last thing you think about at night?”
The tone of Anderson’s voice made Ethan stop and study the younger man. “You sound like you know what you’re talking about. ”
He smiled, his brown eyes lit with amusement. “Yeah, I do and it’s pretty special when you find that one person you want more than anything else in the world. You’re very lucky she’s the one for you, boss. She’s the sweetest, most loving woman I’ve ever met. Now all you have to do is convince her you’re the one for her.”
He turned to leave. “Anderson.”
He glanced back over his shoulder at Ethan.
“Thanks. For everything.”
“Just make her happy.” And then he left Ethan alone with his thoughts.
There had to be something he could do. Determination swelled through him. He picked up the phone and started to make his plans.
* * * *
Dulcy spent most of Monday looking through the want ads and avoiding the phone. Bill, her stepmother, even both of her sisters had called, but nothing from Ethan. Of course, she hadn’t expected the worm to call. A man as arrogant as Ethan would never lower himself to apologize to her. In his own warped mind, he’d probably convinced himself he’d been in the right. Making love to one dowdy secretary didn’t really ensure a gate pass to hell. It should, especially since she’d spent a night having the best sex of her life.
She sighed. If only she had her trust fund. She could set up her charity and not have to worry about unemployment, or the rent, or the phone bill.
The doorbell rang. For a moment, she seriously thought of ignoring it.
“Dulcy. Open up this door right this minute,” yelled Clarice. Sparky, the demon Chihuahua, yipped his agreement.
Slowly, as if trying to avoid the gallows, she walked to the door. She peeked through the peephole and sure enough, there stood Clarice, dressed to the hilt in a pink silk suit. Sparky wore his matching pink collar.
Dulcy opened the door.
“Really, Dulcy, I’ve been calling all morning. I can’t believe you haven’t answered your phone today.” She brushed past Dulcy, set Sparky down on the floor and turned. Dulcy quietly shut the door and studied Clarice.
How could the woman look that perfect at this time in the morning? There was not a hair out of place, and her makeup was perfect. Clarice removed her sunglasses, concern darkening her blue eyes.
Then she did something Dulcy never would have expected. She threw her arms wide. “Come here, honey.”
Dulcy hesitated for just a second, then practically ran into her arms. Clarice surrounded her with motherly warmth, and Dulcy hugged with every fiber of strength she had. Unheeded, tears rose to the surface, all the pain seeped out.
“Oh, sweetie. You just go right ahead. Let it all out. ” She patted Dulcy’s back and cooed. “Men are pigs.”
For several minutes, nothing but the sound of her crying filled the tiny apartment. When she finally cried herself out, she pulled back from Clarice’s shoulder, but not out of her embrace.
“Feel better?” Clarice asked. Dulcy nodded. “Well, you come sit over here.” She guided her to the couch. Sparky jumped into Dulcy’s lap. “Sparky and I brought you some things needed at a time like this.”
She picked up her pink bag and pulled out a massive bag of chocolate, some strawberries, a couple of champagne glasses and a bottle of champagne.
After getting the things ready, she settled next to Dulcy. They ate in silence, other than commenting on the food and drink.
“You know, I really lucked out with both my husbands. Victor and your father were part of a dying breed. Men of their ilk are hard to find these days. You know your father proposed to me in one of those little horse drawn carriages in Fort Worth.”