Storm Over the Lake by Diana Palmer Page B

machines,” she replied softly.
    â€œLearning the textile business, are you? I’ll have to take you through one of the plants. How about tomorrow? I’ll take you to lunch first.”
    â€œA…all right,” she murmured, taken aback at the invitation, at the caress in his deep voice. It was as if last night had lowered all the cold barriers between them.
    â€œBy the way,” he added, “call Fayre and tell her I won’t be able to make it tonight. I’ve got to fly up to South Carolina for a meeting. And get me a reservation on the next flight to Greenville.”
    â€œYes, sir,” she said absently, jotting down notes.
    â€œDana…!” he threatened.
    â€œI…I mean, yes, I will,” she replied quickly, omitting the “sir” this time.
    â€œBehave, brat. I’ll see you in the morning.”
    â€œYes…” She stopped again, just in time.
    â€œTry ‘darling’,” he suggested in that deep seductive tone he could use when he wanted something. “Later, honey.”
    The line went dead, and she sat there holding the receiver as if it were a fragrant rose, just looking at it for a long time afterwards.
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    Fayre was stunned by the news that Adrian wasn’t going to take her to the ballet, and Dana caught the full weight of her disappointment.
    â€œI don’t see why he couldn’t fly back tonight,” she said icily. “We’ve had tickets for three months, it isn’t as if he didn’t know in time! What kind of meeting was it?”
    â€œI don’t know, Miss Braunns,” Dana explained patiently, toying with her pencil. “He didn’t tell me, and I didn’t ask.”
    â€œCute, aren’t you? Did you make that appointment for him?” Fayre asked pointedly.
    â€œTo get him out of town, you mean?” Dana laughed shortly. “Miss Braunns, what he does is no business of mine except where my job is involved. I don’t want to be here any more than I want to live in the Colombian jungles, but I don’t have a choice. If you want to know why he isn’t coming back tonight, you call him and ask him. For all I know, he may have two women…”
    â€œHow dare you?” Fayre spat. “Nobody talks to me like that!”
    â€œAdrian does,” Dana replied calmly.
    There was a long, burning silence on the other end of the line, and she could feel her ears burn. “You little tramp,” Fayre hissed. “I’ll get you for that if it’s the last thing I ever do. You’re not cutting me out with Adrian…!”
    Dana put the receiver down with a thud.She found herself shaking with rage, with humiliation, with apprehension. This would just give Adrian another stick to beat her with. Why couldn’t she keep her mouth shut? She sighed. Fayre would have irritated her anytime, anywhere—she was just naturally abrasive. But her relationship with Adrian made it worse. To think of that small, too-sweet face pressed against his dark, broad chest…
    The phone rang. Hesitantly, she lifted the receiver, her heart thudding, expecting disaster in a deep, angry voice…
    â€œHello?” she murmured.
    â€œMiss Meredith?” came the reply. “This is the Juliane Travel Service. I’m confirming your reservation on the flight to Greenville…”
    She listened to the pleasant female voice with a tiny smile. Sometimes, heaven was kind.
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    The morning of her birthday started off backwards. She overslept and missed breakfast. The phone went wild the minute she walked into the office, and it was after ten a.m. when the rush finally stopped.
    Lillian poked her head around the door. “I haven’t been able to tell you—the Mister said Frank was to bring you to his office at eleven. Sorry, honey,” she smiled. “It’s been a busy morning, hasn’t it?”
    Dana smiled. “Very. I know what it’s all