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.Certainly disappointment, but something else more intense.He cared about her feelings.He cared very much about her.He took another calming breath before speaking.“I have a business meeting tomorrow evening and I’m not sure how late it will last.Is it okay if I call you when the meeting is over?”“Yes, I’d like that.”“And the next night…Thursday…I have access to a couple of very good seats for the jazz concert.” He brushed a tender kiss against her lips.“Would you like to go with me?”A soft smile curled the corners of her lips.“I’d like that, too.”“I’ll call you tomorrow night.” He gave her a goodnight kiss that said far more than his words had.He reluctantly left her condo and drove back to his hotel.Jean had him completely confused about everything when he used to be so certain.Where he once had shunned the notion of a relationship based on anything more than physical desires, now he found the idea creeping into his thoughts more and more.And those thoughts centered around Jean.The former Sally Jean Potter, his special high school friend from long ago, now monopolized his thoughts as Jean Summerfield to an extent he never believed could be possible.And it truly frightened him more than anything ever had.On Wednesday evening, Ry opened the door to his hotel suite and greeted his visitor.“It’s nice to see you again, Matt.” He indicated the table where they would conduct their meeting.Matt Jarvis opened his attaché case and removed a file folder.“It’s like I explained to you, Ry, a furniture manufacturing company has some special problems not present in other manufacturing situations, especially ours where we do custom work and very little assembly-line-type of production.I know we are in serious need of instituting some new streamlined methods, but I don’t know where or how to begin.I’m particularly concerned about the personnel department.It seems to be a quagmire of unrelated things and I’m not sure how to straighten it out.My personnel manager does a marvelous job with what has been handed her, but there has to be some easier way to handle all the bits and pieces of stuff that gets thrown her way.”Matt leveled his steady gaze at Ry.“So, how do you want to proceed on Monday morning?”“It will probably be easier if you and I go from department to department where you can introduce me and explain why I’m there.It will be less disruptive than shutting down everything and calling all the employees together in one place.I’d like to spend the first week just observing the various departments and watching how they interrelate, then I’ll spend concentrated time in each department to study their flow system.At the end of the four weeks I’ll present you with a written report of my findings along with detailed recommendations for improved efficiency within each department and a better flow between departments and an overall restructuring plan for the company.”“That sounds good to me.” Matt opened a file folder.“Here are some of my concerns and areas where I’d like you to pay particular attention.” He handed several sheets of paper to Ry.The meeting continued for another three hours with Ry and Matt discussing the areas of concern and the procedures Ry would be using for his four week evaluation.Finally Matt closed his attaché case and left Ry’s hotel suite.Ry made some additional notes and added them to his file, then set the work project aside.His mind was filled with so many thoughts of Jean that any more work had become nearly impossible.Even if he couldn’t see her that night he could at least talk to her and hear her voice.He dialed her number.“Hi, I didn’t wake you, did I? I’m sorry to be calling so late.”“No, you didn’t wake me.I was watching the news.”“I would have called earlier, but my client just left.The meeting went a little longer than I had anticipated.I had hoped it would end early enough for us to still be able to do something tonight.” He hesitated, not sure of exactly how to express himself.“I’m still willing.How about you? I could be at your place in a few minutes.”A soft laugh traveled the phone line to his ear.“Not tonight.I’m already in my pajamas and will be headed for bed as soon as the news is over.”He started to make a comment about helping her to her bedroom, but held his words.Even though he knew she would tell him it was too late for them to see each other that night, it did not stop the twinge of disappointment from assailing his senses.“Yes, you’re right.It is too late.Are we still on for the jazz concert tomorrow night? I’ll pick you up at seven o’clock.Will that be okay?”“That will be perfect.I’ll see you then.Good night.”“Good night.” Ry hung up the phone, but allowed his hand to linger on the receiver after placing it in the cradle.He wanted to share everything with her, be part of everything she did.It was a very new feeling for him, something he had not experienced before.But exactly what did it mean? He didn’t really know if he wanted an answer to that question.Following the concert Thursday night, they returned to Jean’s condo.Ry unlocked Jean’s front door, then handed the key to her.“Great concert.I can still feel the electricity in the air,” he said.“I totally agree.What an exciting performance.The music is still coursing inside me.” Her words may have been enthusiastic, but her concerns for what the evening’s culmination would bring had been growing inside her on the drive back to her condo.She stepped inside, hesitated, then moved aside so he could enter the living room.It was a moment that had been preying on her mind for the past half hour, ever since the end of the jazz concert.Would she be able to continue resisting his all-too-tempting manner? Or perhaps a better question might be to ask herself if she would be able to resist her own heated desires where Ry Collier was concerned [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]