Erica Spindler - Cause for Alarm

He let himself into the house. He found Kate in the kitchen opening a bottle of merlot. He crossed to her, closing his arms around her from behind. He bent and pressed his lips to her ear. "Hello, beautiful."

She turned in his arms, looping hers around his neck, smiling up at him. "Hello to you, too."

He kissed her, then moved his gaze over her face, taking in the shadows beneath her eyes. "You look tired."

She grimaced. "I am. Emma had a fussy day."

He released her and went to the cabinet for a couple of wineglasses. "She's quiet now."

"Thank God. Nothing I did today made her happy. I swear I spent most of the day walking the floors with her."

He poured them each a glass of the mellow, red wine and brought her one. "I guess you didn't get to The Bean the way you hoped to?"

"Not a chance. Emma would have lasted about two seconds." Kate brought the glass to her lips, sipped, then sighed. "I needed that." She took another sip, sighed again, then put down the glass. "How are the interviews going?"

"Funny you should ask that. I interviewed someone interesting today. A woman."

Kate glanced at the baby monitor to make sure it was on. "Tell me about her."

So he did. When he had finished, Kate looked at him. "She sounds like a dream. Are you going to hire her?"

"I don't know. She's young. Not experienced enough." He eyed his wife's expression, then laughed. "I can see you take umbrage with something I just said."

"It's not that, it's…do you think she can do the job?"

He considered the question a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, I do."

"And you think you could work with her?"

"No doubt, though-" he cut his wife an amused glance from the corners of his eyes "-all that hero worship could get a little old."

"Hero worship?" Kate laughed and tossed the dish towel at him. "Give me a break."

He laughed and leaned against the counter. "So, what are you saying? That you think I should give her the job?"

"It's your decision, of course." From the monitor came the sounds of Emma beginning to stir. Kate straightened. "But she sounds great. And after all, you said she reminds you of me. She has to be good, then."

This time it was he who tossed the towel. She sobered. "Think about it, Richard. We were both young and untried once. Why not give her a chance? Hire her on a trial basis, see what she can do. Tell her you'll evaluate her performance in thirty days."

He thought a moment, then nodded. "I think you're right, I should give her a chance. I'm going to offer her the job."

Over the next two weeks, Julianna threw herself into her new job, anxious to impress Richard. The work was deadly dull-making speaking engagements, contacting supporters, running errands-but working with Richard was heaven on earth.

She used every opportunity to worm her way into his affections. Her plan of attack was two-fold. She chose every day's attire with care, endeavoring for a balance between sexy and professional. She purposely wore her skirts a bit too short and when she could, left an extra button of her blouse unfastened-neither being overt enough to cause talk or arouse suspicions, but with an eye to being sexy, womanly. Inviting. The second part of her plan involved being completely accommodating to him, making his every wish her command.

She wanted him to grow to depend on her, to look forward to seeing her, to desiring her. She wanted him to realize he couldn't live without her.

Some days, when he smiled at her in that special way of his, or when he laid a hand on her shoulder or cast a furtive glance at her legs or breasts, she would think she was winning. Other days, when she hardly saw him or when he barely acknowledged her presence, her confidence would sink, her spirits with it.

On those days, she reminded herself that they were meant to be together, that Richard was her destiny. Then she would double her efforts.

"Julianna?"

Receiver propped between her ear and shoulder, Julianna lifted her gaze. Sandy stood in the doorway to her closetlike office, her expression hopeful. "Yes?" Julianna asked, frowning.

"I thought…maybe, we could have lunch?"

"Sorry." Julianna shook her head. "Mr. Ryan and I are having lunch today." "You and Mr. Ryan? Your boss, Mr. Ryan?" "Yes, Sandy." Julianna sighed. "We have business to discuss."

"Oh." She cleared her throat. "So, when can we have lunch together? Tomorrow?" "I don't know. Maybe." "That's what you told me yesterday," Sandy said, her tone that of a petulant child. "And the day before, too."

Julianna narrowed her eyes. "Your point?"

"We haven't had lunch once since you came to work here. And it's been two weeks." "I've been busy. Work comes first." "I understand. I… How about dinner, then? Or coffee at the Bottom of the Cup? We never see each other anymore."

"Sorry. Can't."

Julianna returned her attention to the call she needed to make, dismissing the other woman without a word. Sandy didn't budge. "I saw you with Laura and Bruce yesterday. You weren't too busy to have lunch with them. " Julianna made a sound of impatience. Sandy was proving to be an annoying drag. The little mouse was the last person she wanted to be associated with at the firm, the last person she wanted Richard to associate her with. But still, it seemed unwise to make an enemy of her.

"Geez, Sandy, you sound almost jealous. Like I'm cheating on you or something."

Hot spots of color flew into the other woman's cheeks. "I don't mean to, but…when I got you this job, you promised-"

"Wait a minute, you didn't get me this job. I got it. For myself. On my own merits. What would people think if they heard you say that?"

The woman took a step backward. "I'm sorry. It's just that-" She twisted her fingers together, eyes sparkling with tears. "It's almost like you're…dropping me or something."

Julianna closed her appointment book, bent and fished her purse out from under her desk. She slipped the strap over her shoulder and met the other woman's eyes once more. "You're imagining things. I'm just so busy now. In fact-" she glanced at her watch "-I've got to run. Richard is waiting."

For a moment, Sandy simply stared at her, then something crossed her face, a kind of dawning realization. "You used me," she whispered, voice quaking. "To get this job. So you could get next to Mr. Ryan."

"Don't be ridiculous." Julianna battled to conceal her unease. "I didn't know anything about you when we met. Including where you worked."

Sandy shook her head. "How do I know that? You could have been following me around for weeks, learning everything you needed to in order to get close to him."

Julianna stood, alarmed. She hid it as best she could. "And why would I do that?"

"Because you're in love with him. I see the way you look at him. Everybody does."

"You need to get some professional help, Sandy. That or a life." Julianna crossed to stand directly in front of her. "You're really pathetic, you know that? I feel sorry for you."

Julianna slipped past the other woman, leaving her standing in the office doorway, her shoulders shaking with the force of her tears.

Julianna and Richard went to the café across the street from the firm. The hostess led them to a table by the windows, and Julianna gazed out at the patio. She looked back at him and sighed. "I love dining alfresco."

Richard laughed. "That's right, this is your first August in southern Louisiana. What do you think? Hot enough for you?"

"What do I think? That I'm going to melt, it's so blasted hot."

She propped her chin on her fist, something that Kate did often and Richard was struck by how much she reminded him of his wife.

"Is it ever going to cool down again?" she asked.