The Boss's Little Miracle

The buzzer sounded on Ellie’s desk.

“Is Anna Larkin there?”

“She’s been waiting,” Ellie said, smiling at Anna.

Anna took a deep breath and rose, heading into Tanner’s office like she was heading into a lion’s den. She still hadn’t a clue how to handle this interview. Did she pretend they had never met? Accuse him of dumping her? Or try to keep a cool facade and let him take the lead?

Tanner stood near the window that overlooked San Francisco Bay. She entered the room and closed the door behind her. It had been shut for Ben and if anything personal was said, she’d just as soon Ellie not hear.

He turned and looked at her. For a moment their eyes met and she felt a catch in the region of her heart. He still had the ability to cause a flutter in her heart rate. She’d been well on her way for falling for the man. He’d called a halt and a good thing, too. She had her life mapped out and getting deeply involved with a man did not figure in her plans. She knew better.

“Hello, Tanner,” she said, hoping he’d ask her to sit before her wobbly knees gave way.

“Anna. Have a seat. I won’t keep you long. I’ve already spoken with Thomas in Brussels. He brought me up to speed on the European division. He said you had a few new ideas you wanted to try when you’re at the helm. I’d like to see them. And get your assessment of our European standing.”

So he was playing it strictly business. She could deal with that. She placed the folder on his desk. “The new plans, complete with rationale and implementation schedules, are all laid out. After you review them, I’d be happy to discuss any questions you have. Otherwise, I think you’ll find Thomas’s assessment matches mine—robust in the U.K. area, not so strong in Italy and France. We’re running into a lot of competition from local interests. But cell phones are expanding and our new components are the best around. We just have to convince all customers of that.”

He nodded, sitting behind his desk. He drew the folder over and opened it. After a minute, he looked up, studying her for a moment.

“Are you all right?”

“I will be. I think I have a touch of the flu.” If she had to say that one more time today she would scream.

“Maybe you should go on home and rest up,” he suggested.

“I’ve stuck it out this long. I can hang in the rest of the day.” She wasn’t going to have the new CEO think she couldn’t handle her job no matter what. Or that she expected any favors. Once she might have thought she knew Tanner, but now she felt he was a stranger. The man who had shown her a fabulous time for three magical weeks was barely recognizable in the hard face opposite her.

Tanner looked back at the papers in the folder, quickly scanning them. Anna was on pins and needles watching him. Each second seemed to move in agonizing slowness. With him focused on the report, she could study him with impunity.

There were new lines around his eyes, his hair was cut shorter, his business suit fit to perfection. He looked like the successful businessman he was. Had circumstances been different, she would have been immensely proud of him for achieving such a high level position at a relatively young age. He was younger than she was and already CEO of a major corporation.

She’d hesitated dating him when she’d discovered he was four years younger. She’d never been sure exactly why this dynamic thirty-four-year-old man had wanted her company. She soon forgot the age difference. They had so much in common, from liking similar kinds of movies and books, to enjoying walks along the deserted San Francisco’s streets after the businesses had closed for the day. Exploring out-of-the-way streets, eating at little restaurants that were mere holes-in-the-wall had been exciting and new with Tanner.

There had been certain topics tacitly off-limits. She rarely talked about her work, nor did he talk about his. She’d been too caught up in the dizzying feelings around him, the physical attraction as well as the stimulation of their conversation. He’d been someone special.

He glanced up and caught her eye. She froze. He couldn’t read minds, could he?

Closing the folder he put it to the left side of the desk where a stack of folders rested.

“I’ll review this in greater detail tonight. If I have further questions, I’ll call.”

Taking that as a sign the interview was over, she rose swaying slightly, feeling light-headed. She gave a polite smile and turned to go. Her hand was already reaching for the knob when he spoke again. Glancing over her shoulder she saw he’d risen and was leaning casually against the side of the desk, resting on one hip.

“How are you really, Anna?” he said in that low, sexy voice of his.

She shrugged, turning slightly to better see him. “At the time I wondered why you didn’t call. In light of today’s events, I understand perfectly.”

“If there had been any other way—” he began.

She shook her head. “We wouldn’t have had that long together anyway. I’m headed for Brussels in January.” She looked at him closely. “I am still headed for Brussels, right?”

He nodded. “From what Thomas Ventner and Allen Taylor have said, you are by far the best person qualified for the position. I haven’t seen anything to contradict that.”

She turned back to the door. Suddenly she almost doubled over in pain. Her stomach was cramping. Please don’t let me be sick in Tanner’s office!

“What the hell?” Tanner dashed around his desk to get to Anna. She clutched her abdomen, almost bent in half. The pain was sharp, but already beginning to ease. She tried breathing again. She’d be mortified if she threw up over her new boss’s shoes.

“Are you in pain?” he asked the obvious.

“I need a rest room. I think I’m going to be sick again. I’m sorry!” So much for looking professional. With the way her luck was going, she’d infected him and he’d have the flu by the end of the week.

“Ellie,” Tanner said, opening the door. “Can you take Anna to a rest room?”

“What’s wrong?” she asked. Seeing Anna with her hand over her mouth, she swiftly put her arm around her shoulders. “We better hurry, right?”

Anna nodded.

Five minutes later Anna was splashing cool water on her face.

“You should go home,” Ellie said, patting her back.

“You’re right.”

“Call your doctor and see if he can recommend anything to ease the symptoms.”

Anna mumbled, “Nothing the doctor can do.”

“Have you eaten anything today?” Ellie asked.

“I had some soup for lunch. I felt better after that. Guess I was fooling myself.”

Anna hated all the fuss that was being made. All she wanted to do was slink away to her apartment, pull covers over her head and sleep the clock around. Instead she’d made a spectacle of himself in her new boss’s office. Even more, she was worried Tanner would hold this against her when considering making her head of the European division.

“Still, call your doctor. It can’t hurt,” Ellie suggested.

Anna nodded reluctantly. “First things first, though. I’m taking a cab home. And then I’ll call the doctor. But you know, the most he’ll tell me is to drink plenty of fluids and get a lot of rest.”

“You tried to do too much today,” Ellie said. “Don’t come in tomorrow unless you’re feeling fit again.”

“Now that’s something I can easily comply with.”

Within a half hour Anna was home. She gave her doctor a call, but as she suspected, he was already booked for the remainder of the day. The nurse agreed to squeeze her in early the next morning. And as Anna had predicted, the recommendation was to drink lots of fluids and get plenty of bed rest. Not a hardship. She put on her warmest nightie and made sure her cat, Mitzie, had fresh food and water then crawled into bed and pulled up the covers. In no time she was fast asleep.

The telephone woke her. It was dark. How long had she been asleep? Anna fumbled for the phone. “Hello?”

“What did your doctor say?” Tanner asked.

CHAPTER TWO