Just One Kiss Page 4

  “I was snug in bed before midnight, and in answer to your first question, I’m fine. No broken bones, just a scrape on the old noggin.” Nikki’s hand touched the bandage on her forehead. “And I was so tired by the time I hit this bed, I wouldn’t have heard a jackhammer, let alone the telephone.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re okay. I worried until I got that call. If you don’t mind me saying it, I told you so. You should never have made that last run.”

  A pleased smile spread across Nikki’s face as memories of her tumble and subsequent rescue swept into her mind.

  “Oh, I wouldn’t say that, Amy. I think it was worth it. Are we on for breakfast? I’ll tell you all about it.”

  “That’s what I called you about. I’ve got to pass on breakfast. Darlene Nichols asked me if I’d help register and check in the late arrivals for the meetings this morning.”

  “Darlene Nichols?” Nikki recognized the name but couldn’t place it.

  “Executive assistant to the President of Prisma. Same position I have—excuse me—had at Kingway. On a much grander scale, of course.”

  “Right. Her name was on the memo organizing these sessions. What’s she like?”

  “Muy elegante, as they say in Spanish. Regal is probably an appropriate word. Smart, organized, and very attractive. The only thing I’ve got on her is youth. I’d put her between thirty-five and forty-five, although she’s one of those women you’re never sure about. You know, kind of ageless. Anyway, she asked me to help today, and I didn’t want to say no. Besides, it will give me a chance to meet a lot of people. So I guess I won’t see you until the first session?”

  “Prod my memory. What’s the first session?”

  Nikki sat up in bed. She could hear the rustle of paper from Amy’s end of the phone. “Sales Policy and Procedure.” Amy chuckled. “Doesn’t that get your juices going?”

  “Yuck! Whose brilliant idea was that?”

  “Darlene’s, I guess. It does sound a tad dull to kick off a sales meeting, doesn’t it?”

  “Like organized rain at a picnic. Do you think I’ll be missed if I no-show? I can use the time to give a last minute polish to my presentation. I’m sure I can catch up on Prisma’s policy and procedures later.”

  “I don’t see why you should, you never caught up with them at Kingway.”

  Nikki laughed. “Very funny. How do you know I won’t turn over a new leaf now that I’m working for Prisma?” But Amy was right. Nikki had the true salesperson’s aversion to forms, policy, regulations. Paperwork of any kind was last on her list of priorities.

  “Ha!” Her friend snorted into the phone. “I doubt that. Anyway, there’s probably going to be some two hundred people at the session. I’m sure your absence won’t be noticed. If it is, I’ll cover for you, and John and Christy will be there.” Amy paused before she spoke again. “You know, Nikki, I’m beginning to think Jayne was right when she said we could get lost in a crack at Prisma. It seems awfully big all of a sudden. To think this is only the North American sales operation. The European side is four times the size. It won’t be like working for Jayne, that’s for sure. There will be a lot of changes.” Amy’s voice trailed off.

  “Changes for the better, if we make them that way.” Nikki’s tone was upbeat. “Jayne wouldn’t have sold out if she didn’t believe that, and Prisma wouldn’t have bought the company if they didn’t value it. The only risk we run is not asserting ourselves—becoming invisible.”

  Nikki was determined to make the staff and products of Kingway known and respected in the huge Prisma organization. This afternoon was the beginning. “All the more reason that I take the time this morning to fine-tune my presentation. Wish me luck?” she asked.

  “You know it.” Amy replied with enthusiasm. “Although I’m not sure how much luck you need with the amount of work you’ve put into it. Besides, you only have the president of Prisma to impress and, knowing you, you’ve probably done that already. Oh, oh! Here comes Darlene in full float. Gotta go. See you this afternoon.”

  A soft click ended the conversation, leaving Nikki wondering what Amy meant about her already having impressed Prisma’s president. She didn’t even know the man!

  Nikki dialed room service, ordered orange juice, coffee, and a lightly poached egg, then headed for the shower. When she came out of the steamy bathroom, terry clad with her head wrapped swami-style, breakfast was there. She ate quickly, anxious to get to work.

  Seductive green eyes were pushed, time and again, to the back of her busy mind. Nikki willed herself to focus on her speech. Green eyes were for later.

  She worked steadily until twelve-thirty, stood, stretched, and headed for the closet. It wasn’t enough to be good, she had to look good, too. For the next half hour, she gave the same scrupulous attention to her appearance that she’d given her speech.

  The perfectly cut black suit provided a dramatic contrast to her creamy skin and brilliant hair. To complement it she wore a white high-necked lace blouse and added another puff of lace to the breast pocket. Fine Belgian lace, a gift from Amy.

  She wove her coppery hair into a loose braid and swept it upward from the nape of her neck, giving some naturally unruly tendrils freedom to frame her face and neck.

  With a grimace, she leaned closer to the mirror and pulled the dried bandage from her forehead. She remembered gentler hands than her own doing the same last night. Very gentle hands. Wonderful hands. She found herself staring vacantly at the mirror, told herself to snap out of it. Some hard-headed business woman she was. One of the most important meetings of her life coming up in the next hour, and she was mooning over a man, a complete stranger at that. She shook her head and returned her attention to her damaged forehead.

  There was still some swelling, but not much. Makeup and some extra softening of her hair would cover it, she decided. She draped a towel over her shoulders to protect her suit and set to it, deciding it was a good time to give her complimentary Prisma cosmetics a try.

  The camouflage worked. From a safe distance, no one would notice. She stepped into a pair of high-heeled Italian leather shoes, ridiculously expensive, but worth every penny. She eyed herself carefully in the full-length mirror.

  “You’ll have to do, kiddo. I can’t think of anything more,” she said aloud, adding a pair of gold earrings and smoothing her skirt over her hips. Again she looked at her image. “Now for the important part.” She closed her eyes.

  Nikki blocked all other thoughts from her mind and focused on the coming presentation. Her lips moved soundlessly as she mouthed the opening words of her speech, her concentration total. She imagined the crowd, then herself standing before them. She envisioned her success, then played it back in her mind. This visualization technique, used to bolster confidence and prepare for challenging situations, had always helped her in the past. This time when she closed her eyes, she felt a slow flush rise to her cheeks and a creeping sensuality.

  “Curse it!” she muttered, frustrated at being unable to curb her wayward thoughts. A knock at the door marked the end of her weakened ability to concentrate.

  “Yes?”

  “Parcel for Nicole Johnson.” A young man smiled up at her.

  “Parcel? Just a minute.” Nikki went to her purse for a tip.

  She closed the door, leaned against it, and opened the large manila envelope with its curious bulge. Inside was the atrocious scarlet toque and a brief note.

  Nikki.

  Feeling better today, I hope.

  Mike.

  P.S. I look forward to seeing you again

  (perhaps sooner than you might like).

  Nikki puzzled a bit over the last line but couldn’t help the satisfied smile that played across her face. She couldn’t deny the powerful attraction of her charming rescuer. She was anxious to explore it, and from the sound of his note, he was anxious, too.

  Again she looked at her watch, 1:10. Time to go. Her stomach gave a nervous roll as she grabbed her briefcase and headed for
the door. With her hand on the doorknob, she hesitated briefly, took a deep breath, then said aloud. “Look out, Prisma, here I come.”

  ***

  The conference room easily held the large crowd. With time to spare before the meeting, the men and women responsible for selling Prisma Cosmetics in North America milled about aimlessly or huddled in groups. Nikki was scarcely in the room before Amy appeared at her side.

  “Quite the group, isn’t it? Nervous?” Amy asked.

  “I wasn’t, until I stepped into this room. Now my stomach feels like a Model T on a back road. I’ll be okay, but I’m glad I’m first up. I would be more nervous if I had to wait through other presentations.”

  “Sorry, but I’ve got bad news for you. You’re not first up. Darlene changed the order because the eastern region V.P. has to take an early plane back tonight. Some unexpected business problem, she said. You’re now slotted for three-fifteen right after the break for coffee.”

  “Great,” Nikki muttered under her breath. She hated last-minute changes.

  “Sorry, Niks,” Amy said again.

  “It’s not your fault, Amy, and it’s not a problem—honest. I’ll cope. By the way, how did the policy and procedure sessions go this morning? Exciting stuff, I’ll bet.”

  Amy grimaced. “You didn’t miss a thing, and you weren’t the only one not there. Not by a long shot. My guess is a good portion of the distributors and Prisma staff were on the slopes this morning. I don’t think our new president is too pleased with the way things are going. I saw him huddling with Darlene after the session, and he didn’t look happy. She’s been a tyrant ever since. By the way, what did you think of him?”

  “Who?” Nikki asked absently, her attention drawn to a tall, commanding woman bearing down on them.

  “Mich—” Amy’s eyes followed Nikki’s. “That’s her. That’s Darlene Nichols, female extraordinaire. Get ready.”

  “You must be Nicole Johnson.” A firm, expertly manicured hand reached for hers. “I’m Darlene Nichols.”

  The hand that took Nikki’s displayed a gleaming set of acrylic nails, each tip a dark, blooded red. Prisma Night Flame #68, Nikki guessed. She had studied all the latest Prisma colors. If she was going to work for a company, she was determined to know its products. Darlene’s handshake was strong and brief. Amy’s description was accurate. She was very attractive, possessing the polished, sophisticated look of a woman who understands her own style and maximizes it. Amy left out one adjective—formidable. Nikki guessed that behind Darlene’s practiced charm lay the tenacity of a pit bull.

  Nikki returned Darlene’s orchestrated smile with one she hoped was more sincere.

  “Has Amy explained to you about the slight change in plan? I hope it doesn’t inconvenience you. We’re all looking forward to your presentation.” Darlene glanced quickly at her watch, seeming not to care whether Nikki was inconvenienced or not. She went on.

  “You will stick to your time limit and finish by four-thirty, won’t you? We’re already late getting started. There’s a clock on the speaker’s dais. Please refer to it often so you stay on track. Oh, there’s Donald Wright now. Excuse me, but I think I’ll make sure he heads straight for the head table and doesn’t get sidetracked.” Again, the red-tipped hand reached for Nikki. “So nice to meet you, dear.”

  Nikki again shook the outstretched hand, and a wry smile crossed her face as she answered, “Nice to meet you.” They were her first words since meeting the phenomena that was Darlene Nichols.

  The tall woman turned to Amy and adopted a more authoritative tone. “Please take Nicole to the table, Amy. I believe her seat position is at the far left.” With that she was gone. Her purposeful walk took her directly to Donald Wright.

  At her departure, Nikki and Amy turned to look at each other. Nikki’s expression, plus a knowing grin eliminated the need for words. Amy shrugged, rolled her eyes and shook her head.

  “C’mon, Niks. Let’s find your seat. By the way, you look terrific. The suit is perfect.”

  “Thanks, I’m glad you think so. I’ve been eating bread and gruel for weeks trying to pay for it.”

  “It was worth it.”

  The two women headed for the table. Nikki’s position was the farthest from the speaker’s podium.

  She took her chair and looked out over the room of milling people. They were now looking for places among the rows of chairs in front of the raised speaker’s platform. Nikki felt her stomach muscles tense. She wished she didn’t have to wait. The hour and a half until her presentation would seem an eternity.

  “I’d better take a seat while there are some good ones left.” Amy started to leave, turned back, and spoke again. “Knock 'em dead, Niks. Do us proud. Okay?”

  “I’ll give it my best shot. See you later.”

  Nikki’s eyes followed Amy through the crowd. She wanted to know where she was sitting in case she needed a friendly face to fix on during her speech. When Amy took her place, Nikki saw she was sitting with John and Christy. Both were turned her way, trying to catch her eye. She smiled and lifted her hand. John gave her a V for Victory sign.

  The familiar faces eased her jitters. She was thoroughly prepared. There was really nothing to worry about. No reason not to be in perfect control. Again she focused on her presentation. Lost in her own thoughts, she heard voices coming from behind her. There was a tap on her shoulder.

  “I’m not sure you’ve met our president, Nicole.” Darlene Nichols said. “May I introduce Michael Dorado. Michael, this is Nicole Johnson from Kingway.”

  Nikki looked up into a pair of familiar green eyes and gasped as if she’d been punched. Someone had sucked the air from her lungs, from the whole room! This wasn’t right. It was a cruel joke—a nightmare! This could not be him, but it was. There was no way there were two men who looked like that. She was speechless.

  Michael sensed her disquiet and took it on himself to break the tense silence between them. “Nicole and I have already met, Darlene.”

  The cool reserve in his voice shocked Nikki. She wished for half of it. His eyes met hers with quiet calm, showing no sign of surprise at seeing her seated at the Prisma head table. None at all. She was baffled.

  He went on, his voice deep and even, his look straightforward. “Unfortunately, the circumstances didn’t allow for proper introductions. That might be causing Nicole some minor embarrassment.” An apologetic smile touched his lips as he offered his hand.

  Minor embarrassment! Nikki turned the words over in her head. They were hopelessly inadequate. Try major mortification! She had asked this man, her boss, for a kiss with all the finesse of a curious, inept virgin. At the thought of it, a crimson tide surged up her neck and covered her creamy skin. Not even her considerable willpower could slow its course. All she managed was a tortured smile as she took his outstretched hand.

  When she didn’t speak, he continued, still holding her hand. “How are you feeling today? No side effects from the fall, I hope?”

  She had to speak. Gone was the quick-thinking, fast-talking Nicole Johnson. In her place was a thick-tongued, stuttering idiot. She took a deep swallow, mustered her composure, and adopted her most businesslike voice. It came out like a raspy croak.

  “None. None at all. Thank you.” She coughed to steady her voice, then aimed a cool, silvery stare into his smiling eyes. She pulled her hand from his.

  “My clumsy efforts at first aid were enough then?” His black brows raised in question, and his gaze traveled upward to the line of her hair.

  “More than enough. I’m fine. One hundred percent.” The remarks were staccato as one shaky hand fluttered to her forehead and down again.

  She marveled at how unperturbed he was at finding out she was one of his employees. Maybe that perfect cool came with the job of running an international company. She, on the other hand, felt like a penniless imp with her grubby hand caught in the licorice jar. She’d made a pass at her boss—which gave a whole new depth of meaning to the word stupi
d.

  Darlene took in the odd exchange, glancing at both of them with a mixture of curiosity and annoyance. She obviously didn’t like what she didn’t understand.

  “How nice that you’ve met and how mysterious.” She turned to Michael. “You must tell me all about it later when we have more time. Now I think we should sit down, or this meeting will never get started.” Again she looked at the fashionably large watch on her wrist. “Fifteen minutes late! We’d better move along.”

  Michael shrugged and gave Nicole a parting grin as Darlene took possession of him and propelled him to his place at the long table.

  Nikki let out a painfully long breath, thankful her scarlet face would have a chance to regain its natural color. For a moment her chagrin centered on Darlene, thinking how much she resembled the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland. I’m late. I’m late for a very important date.

  Unfortunately, the joke did nothing to lessen the tension building inside her like a rigid tower. She wondered miserably how she would get through the time until her own presentation.

  Her boss, she kept repeating to herself. That incredible, tantalizing man was her boss. It was embarrassing, humiliating and ... too damned disappointing for words.

  The fates were cruel.

  Chapter Six

  Feeling exactly like the blue-ribbon heel he was, Michael took his place at the speaker’s table. Damn. He should have forewarned her—mentioned something in the note when he returned her hat. God, when she’d recognized him, she looked as though he’d struck her. He’d wanted to apologize right then, but it wasn’t the time or place.

  He looked back at her, watched her pull her chair closer to the table, her copper hair sparking under the high overhead light. It looked even softer today. Must be those wild little curls around her forehead that she’d used to hide her cut. He’d had to stop himself from touching that forehead, that clear, beautiful face.

  He rubbed distractedly at his forehead. And I thought she was a kid. Some kid. Even the conservative black suit she wore couldn’t hide the woman he saw today.