‘What’s more, there’s been a massive surge in sales, and my phone hasn’t stopped ringing with people wanting interviews with Tess Delaney, wanting her to endorse everything from hairspray to condoms to pick-up trucks. I have to say, Garrett, I thought you’d blown it, but the woman is a genius. I’ve sent an email to K. Ryde, but haven’t heard back yet. And I can’t get hold of Kay Lake. Any ideas where she might be?’
Garrett and Kendra shot each other a quick glance, and she nodded her OK. ‘I’m here, Don,’ she said, her gaze still locked on Garrett.
There was a moment of silence. Garrett could almost hear the man thinking the situation through, speculating as to whether Kendra had just arrived or if she had stayed over. Neither Kendra nor he gave anything away.
Then Don continued, ‘As for endorsements, well, I understand that’s a bit beyond the pale for the moment, but I think we will need to discuss interviews, Garrett. Strategically planned and done sparingly, they could keep the wave going, keep the sales rising, keep everyone on the edge of their seats guessing what Tess Delaney will do next. Certainly having her seen with Garrett Thorne was a spot of genius if ever there was one.’
Garrett bristled. ‘This isn’t part of the plan, Don. Tess has done what you asked of her. That was what we agreed on and nothing more.’
Don offered a nervous laugh. ‘I know, buddy, I know. But you have to understand, this is way bigger than either of us could have imagined, and I’m sure that K. Ryde will agree when he gets back to me. I just think it would be foolish not to take full advantage. A gift horse and all, you know?’ Before Garrett could do more than growl, he continued, ‘Look, all I’m saying is just think about it. Give me a chance to talk to Ryde and get back to you, and I’m sure we’ll figure out the best way to make this work to the greatest advantage for Tess.’
The line went dead, and Garrett and Kendra sat staring at each other. Garrett reached for the remote and switched off the television. ‘So what do you think?’ he said. ‘I mean, you are K. Ryde.’
She ran a hand through her hair and tightened the sash at the waist of the robe. In the kitchen they could hear the coffee maker gurgling out the last of the coffee into the pot. ‘Garrett, I work for Tess Delaney, not Don Bachman, and I think it’s up to you. You’ve done what was asked of you. It’s had better than expected results, and now I think you should do what you want. I mean, a huge part of Tess’s appeal is her mystique. The more public she becomes the more she risks losing that mystique. If you do decide to have Tess make the odd public appearance, then I’ll happily oblige, but the more I pretend to be Tess Delaney, the more risk we run of her really being outed.’
He tugged a strand of her red hair. ‘You think I should do what I want?’ He scooted closer and brushed a kiss against her parted lips. ‘Because I’m pretty sure you have a good idea of what I want right now.’
She made a half-hearted effort to pull away from him. ‘Garrett, this is serious business. I need to know, K. Ryde needs to know what to do next.’
He gently nipped her lip and felt her breath catch. ‘I understand that, Kendra, believe me, I do.’ He guided her hand to rest against the bulge barely contained by his straining shorts. ‘But I can’t think very well at the moment. If you could just help me out a little bit here –’ with his other hand, he slid open the bottom of the robe to reveal her lush thighs and beyond ‘– then maybe I could concentrate on business a little better.’
She forced an irritated sigh that ended in a soft giggle as he pulled her to him, shoving the robe open still further, exposing her breasts to the explorations of his lips and the cupping of his hands as he eased her back onto the sofa, wriggling his way in between her legs. He had just worried open the sash and slipped a hand down to cup her and stroke the unbelievable warmth of her when a loud crash on the front porch caused them both to jump. She jerked the robe back around her, and he shot up from the couch like he was spring-loaded.
‘What the hell?’ He scrambled to the door with her right behind him, tightening the sash of the robe as she went.
‘Wait, Garrett. Don’t open it.’
She reached for his hand, but it was already too late. He wasn’t thinking straight. How could he possibly be thinking straight when he had been just about to make love to Kendra Davis? He swung the door open wide and found himself, in nothing but his scant and somewhat bulging workout shorts, with Kendra barely covered in his oversized robe, facing a sea of reporters. Cameras flashed, the press surged, and before Garrett could close the door, someone shoved a microphone in his face, shouldering his way into the breach of the door. Garrett sought to recall his name. Mike Pittman, that was his name –Garrett remembered the irritating reporter from Dee and Ellis’s meeting with the press a few weeks ago.The microphone might have been in Garrett’s face, but Pittman’s eyes and the lens of the cameraman’s camera were focused on Kendra, hair thoroughly mussed from last night’s romp, still tying the robe that was clearly his, and looking more than a little like she’d just been caught in the act.