A euphemism if she’d ever heard one, but she had enough problems at this point with Tottingham still standing there. She wasn’t about to quibble.
Mr. Reynolds glanced from his son back to her. “Oh well, I’ll stay out of your hair, then.” He handed his overcoat to Miss Grady, saying, “And who the hell are you?”
“She’s an executive assistant trainee, Mr. Reynolds,” Andrea explained, not bothering to supply Colleen’s name as the old man wouldn’t care to have it.
“Damien, it’s me, Jack Tottingham.”
Damien turned to the voice, his usual haughty expression softening a touch. “Tottingham. What are you doing lurking there? Why didn’t you say something?”
The men shook hands.
“I heard about your son and was in the neighborhood. I thought I’d just stop in and see how you’re faring.”
“Bullshit. What do you want?” He ushered him toward his office, saying over his shoulder, “Interrupt me if Michael calls, will you, Miss Prentiss?”
“Of course, sir.”
When the door had closed behind them, she noticed Evan staring at it. “Goodbye to you too, Dad,” he muttered.
“Don’t you have some Portuguese to translate?” she snapped at Miss Grady, who was hanging her boss’s coat on a wooden hanger in the front closet. It was all her fault for bringing Tottingham in here in the first place, quite a breach of etiquette, which under other circumstances she would have been sure to address in thorough detail.
“Yes, I’m sorry, Miss Prentiss. I was just getting a drink of water and he tapped me on the shoulder. I thought I’d better bring him in.”
She refrained from giving a lecture and opted for a dismissive glance, which caused the girl to disappear in seconds.
Evan was still staring at his father’s closed door. “I always hated coming here.”
She ignored the stab of sympathy she felt at that, and said coldly, “I didn’t ask you to come here. In fact, I’m asking you to leave.”
He focused his green eyes on her once more. “Without my fuck?”
Her cell phone rang and she ignored it, allowing it to go to voicemail.
“Wow, I’m flattered now. You ignored your phone.”
She said nothing.
He ran a hand through his ruffled brown hair in what looked to her to be an uncharacteristically agitated gesture. “I’m sorry, Andrea, but I just don’t get you.”
“There’s nothing to get.”
“Just Perfect Miss Prentiss. Is that it?”
“Yes.”
He dug his hands in his jeans pockets and she tensed, although it had nothing to do with him. She was feeling that old, horrible panic seep back into her. If Tottingham had made the connection, it could come back to haunt her. She couldn’t stay. She’d make a phone call or two, but it was as good as sealed once he said the name Angelica Stavros.
Evan stepped a little closer and she deliberately stood her ground.
This was why she didn’t see men. She knew it was. This and whatever twisted, scarred hunk of flesh of a heart her adolescence had left her. She didn’t know what she had been thinking to let Evan Reynolds’ sweet smile and seductive ways make her forget it. Forget this drumming in her head, the clammy palms and shortness of breath.
It had been a long time, but the feeling was just as fierce.
She fought it down and said coolly, “I enjoyed our time together, Evan. But not only do I not want anything long term, don’t even call me next time you’re in town. I don’t want to see you again.”
He laughed. “Because I came to the office?”
“Because I don’t.”
He shrugged. “Fine. I’m not going to turn into one of your swooning admirers or anything. We had a nice time. End of story. Do you read poetry, Miss Prentiss?”
She didn’t answer.
“Check out ‘To His Coy Mistress’ sometime. You and your cell phone can enjoy eternity together.”
“Is that some kind of a threat?”
“More of a literary allusion.”
“Goodbye.”
For all he had acted as if he was going, he stayed rooted to the spot, watching her. Usually she could freeze a man out in seconds flat. But she had never already slept with them, enthusiastically, on two separate occasions. No doubt that made it a little more difficult.
She went to the door and held it open pointedly.
“I just wanted to get to know you better, Andrea. Not just for the sex.” He smiled. “Although that was better than I’ve had in a long time.”
“And free,” she piped in and though she really was trying to get him out the door, she seemed to have accomplished the opposite effect with that crack, finally pissing him off. He left all right, but he grabbed her elbow and yanked her out the door with him into the hallway, backing her against the wall.