Suddenly You(72)

“There is something.” The manager hesitated and gave him a searching stare. “You have a visitor—Miss Briars is waiting in your office. If you wish, I will tell her that you are not available…” His voice trailed away as Jack strode to the stairs before he had even finished the sentence.

Amanda was here, wanting to see him, when she had taken care to avoid him for so long. Jack felt a peculiar tightness in his chest that gave a strained quality to his heartbeat. He struggled not to take the stairs two at a time, but proceeded up the five flights to his office at a measured pace. Even so, his breathing was not quite normal when he reached the top. To his chagrin, he knew the overexertion of his lungs had nothing to do with physical labor. He was so damned eager to be in the same room with Amanda Briars that he was panting like an amorous lad. He debated whether he should change his shirt, wash his face, find his coat, all in the effort to appear collected. He decided against it. He did not want to keep her waiting any longer than necessary.

Struggling to maintain an impassive facade, he entered his office and left the door slightly ajar. His gaze immediately shot to Amanda, who was standing by his desk with a neat paper-wrapped package held at her side. A strange expression crossed her face as she saw him…he read anxiety and pleasure there before she sought to cover her discomposure with a bright, false smile.

“Mr. Devlin,” she said briskly, coming toward him. “I’ve brought you the revisions for the last installment of Unfinished Lady…and a proposal for another serial novel, if you are interested.”

“Of course I’m interested,” he said thickly. “Hello, Amanda. You’re looking well.”

The commonplace remark did not begin to describe his reaction to her appearance. Amanda looked fresh and ladylike, dressed in a crisp blue-and-white gown with a pristine white bow tied at the throat and a row of pearl buttons that extended down the front of the bodice. As she stood before him, he thought he detected the scent of lemons and the whisper of perfume, and all his senses kindled in response.

He wanted to crush her against his hot, sweating body, kiss and maul and devour her, tangle his big hands in her neat braided coiffure, rip the row of pearl buttons until her sumptuous br**sts spilled into his waiting hands. He was ravaged by an all-consuming hunger, as if he hadn’t eaten for days and suddenly realized that he was starving. The violent rush of awareness and sensation, when he had felt nothing for weeks, made him nearly dizzy.

“I am quite well, thank you.” Her forced smile disappeared as she stared at him, and there was a flash in her silver-gray eyes. “There is a streak of dirt on your cheek,” she murmured. She tugged a clean, pressed handkerchief from her sleeve and reached toward his face. Hesitating almost imperceptibly, she dabbed at the right side of his face. Jack stood still, his muscles turning rigid until his body seemed to have been carved in marble. After the smudge was removed, Amanda used the other side of the handkerchief to blot the streaks of sweat on his face. “What in heaven’s name have you been doing?” she murmured.

“Work,” he muttered, using all the force of his will to keep from seizing her.

A faint smile touched her soft lips. “As always, you cannot seem to conduct your life at a normal pace.”

The remark did not sound admiring. In fact, it almost sounded a touch pitying, as if she had come to some new understanding that eluded him. Jack scowled and leaned over her to place the paper-wrapped package on his desk, deliberately forcing her to retreat backward a step or else have her body come into full contact with his. He was pleased to see that she flushed, some of her composure eroding. “May I ask why you brought this to me in person?” he asked, referring to the revisions.

“I’m sorry if you would have preferred—”

“No, it’s not that,” he said gruffly. “I just wanted to know if you had a particular reason for seeing me today.”

“Actually, there is something.” Amanda cleared her throat uncomfortably. “I will be attending a party tonight given by my lawyer, Mr. Talbot. I believe you have received an invitation—he indicated that you were on his guest list.”

Jack shrugged. “Mostly likely I did receive one. I doubt that I’ll attend.”

For some reason, the information seemed to relax her. “I see. Well, perhaps it is best that you receive the news from me this morning. In light of our…considering that you and I…I did not want you to be caught off guard when you heard…”

“Heard what, Amanda?”

The color in her face climbed higher. “Tonight, Mr. Hartley and I will be announcing our betrothal at Mr. Talbot’s party.”

It was news that he had been expecting, and yet Jack was stunned by his own reaction. Some great yawning gap opened inside, admitting a spill of pain and ferocity. The rational part of his mind pointed out that he had no right to be angry, but he was. The blistering anger was directed toward Amanda, and Hartley, but most of all to himself. Grimly he controlled his expression and forced himself to remain still, though his hands actually trembled with the urge to shake her.

“He is a good man.” Defensiveness was strung tightly through her tone. “We have everything in common. I expect to be very happy with him.”

“I’m sure you will,” he muttered.

She gathered her composure like an invisible mantle and straightened her shoulders. “And you and I will continue on as we have been, I hope.”