LITMIR.BIZ

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In fact, thanks to you, that part of my life is now history.’’ Standing across the room from him as she was, Julie thought it prudent to raise her voice so she could be heard. But given her frustration level at the moment, her raised voice quickly turned to something nearer a shriek. ‘‘What possessed you to go to my employer and tell her I was delivering kiss-o-grams and that you happened to ‘get lucky’? You made it sound like I was hiring myself out to deliver more than just a song and a greeting.’’

      If he was ashamed, he sure didn’t show it. He should have been avoiding her gaze. He should have been bowing and scraping and apologizing profusely, but instead he stood there like a statue of some gorgeous Greek god and studied her face with unwavering attention.

      ‘‘I’m sorry,’’ he said, taking a step closer. ‘‘That’s not what I intended to do.’’

      She gave him a point for appearing sincere, but the road to you-know-where was paved with good intentions. An overly honest conscience raised the point that it was she who had deliberately bent the company rules of not fraternizing with customers. Hunter’s role had merely been to bring it to her employer’s attention. But that didn’t stop her from venting her frustration over this setback in her career plans.

      ‘‘Then what, may I ask, were you intending to accomplish by telling my boss I was doling out kisses indiscriminately?’’ She’d been very discriminating when she’d favored him with an early birthday kiss, but there was no way she could have made Mrs. Quarles understand that.

      ‘‘I’m not really sure,’’ he responded, in a much quieter tone than she’d been using. He seemed truly perplexed.

      ‘‘You’re not sure why you wanted to ruin my career? Or you’re not sure why you set me up to look like a wanton woman?’’ It seemed as though her blood was boiling in her veins. Her face felt hot, her chest was tight and her vision became blurred as she tried to stare him down through the tears that had pooled in her eyes. Anger, she reminded herself. Stay focused on the anger, and don’t think about how much it hurts to have your career opportunities slashed and burned by one reckless conversation. She took a deep breath to fortify herself for the final salvo. ‘‘You owe me big-time, Mr. Hunter Matthews. And I want you to pay up now.’’

      She heard a rustling sound behind her, but was distracted when he stealthily approached her. Positioning his body close to hers, he reached toward her.

      For the space of a millisecond, Julie thought that he might take her in his arms and kiss her again. And during that slow-motion fraction of time, she wanted him to do it.

      Time had treated him well. Gone was the lean teen physique, and in its place was a body enhanced by firm muscles and a tailored suit. Further magnifying his physical appeal was the lithe confidence with which he moved—confidence gained from maturity and experience. It was an exhilarating combination, and Julie was not immune to it. He’d been a potent package before he’d left for college. Now he was absolutely stupendous….

      Lifting her chin in anticipation, she took a breath to steady herself. Of their own accord, her eyelids lowered, and she ran her tongue over her parched lips.

      His hand briefly touched her arm as he moved her slightly to one side, and her knees became like pudding. Then the contact was broken as he leaned past her to grab the door. Mmm, privacy.

      ‘‘Sorry about the disturbance, folks. Everything’s under control now.’’

      Julie’s lashes fluttered open. Folks? She turned just before he pushed the heavy wooden door shut and saw a half-dozen curious faces smiling at them. Most of them were the same people who’d watched as she sang to Mr. Oltmeier this morning.

      With a barricade between them and their audience, they were alone again. But having been jolted out of her momentary distraction, and disappointed that the situation hadn’t gone according to her secret wishes, Julie refocused her attention on the matter at hand.

      ‘‘You owe me a job.’’

      ‘‘That would never do.’’

      ‘‘I don’t think you understand how important the Merry Messengers job was to me. Losing that position is going to severely and negatively impact my career plans.’’

      He had the nerve to laugh. ‘‘You delivered singing telegrams. What kind of stepping-stone is that? Were you hoping to someday deliver singing and dancing telegrams?’’

      Julie crossed her arms over her chest. ‘‘Of course not,’’ she retorted. ‘‘I’ve already been a dancing banana.’’

      Too late, she realized she had only provided him more fuel for his entertainment. Looking at it from his point of view, she supposed it did sound silly to tie her career plans to a ridiculous part-time job, but she couldn’t tell him the real reason she needed the Merry Messengers gig. For one thing, it sounded disreputable to say it provided her with plenty of men to kiss. For another, claiming she needed kissable men to report about in her test column would betray the terms of the agreement she’d made with Mr. Upshaw.

      ‘‘Just give me a job working here, and I’ll let bygones be bygones.’’ Maybe she should just drop the matter now and look for employment as a waitress, but this was a matter of principle. He owed her. Besides, it would be so cool to do the Dick Tracy thing. As for the column, she’d have to find another way to meet potential kissers.

      ‘‘I told you I can’t do that.’’

      ‘‘Why not? I saw a TV news magazine report about private investigators, and it showed how you spend days or even weeks following people around. Certainly a couple of extra eyes, ears and hands could help lighten your load.’’

      Once again, he closed the distance between them. This time, though, he wasn’t reaching for the door. He touched her chin with the crook of his finger, and Julie couldn’t help wanting him to finish what she’d started in her mind a moment earlier.

      Hope resurged in her heart as his finger trailed upward along her cheek. Brushing a tendril of hair away from her face, he stroked the curve of her ear. As he leaned toward her, his dark eyes heavy with passion, she felt as though her lungs were paralyzed by his heady nearness. Her body braced for what was to come, and the memory of the last kiss sent a warmth throughout her that pooled in the pit of her femininity.

      He was so close she could feel his breath on her face. Her lips parted in readiness. And then it came. Apollo had landed. Unfortunately, it missed the mark and ended up on her cheek instead. A dry, brotherly kiss.

      Disappointment flooded her soul and found release in the form of a heavy sigh.

      ‘‘That’s why we can’t work in the same office.’’ Hunter leaned back and tucked his hands in his pockets, a wry smile on his handsome features. ‘‘Something happened between us this morning…something I’m not ready or willing to explore. I’ve accomplished too much here to risk it with an office fling.’’

      The cynic in her wondered if his reluctance for romance had anything to do with his former fiancée. No one knew why they’d broken up years ago; he was too much of a gentleman to talk about it. But that didn’t stop people from speculating that Yvonne had been at fault. In fact, Hunter’s silence on the matter may have contributed to that assumption. And they all hated her for breaking his heart.

      All except Julie. Although she’d hated to see him hurting, she’d been secretly glad that he would not be marrying. Not that she could have taken advantage of his availability; she’d been in college at the time and certain that someone as handsome, successful and mature as Hunter would not be interested in anyone like her.

      And now he’d made that perfectly clear. Julie straightened her spine. ‘‘Don’t flatter yourself. I have something to say about the matter, too.’’

      ‘‘Yes, and you’ve already said plenty.’’ He picked up the ukulele she’d set on the chair earlier and handed it to her. ‘‘I’d be happy to give you a good reference, though.’’

      ‘‘Your

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