Читать книгу Good To Be Bad - Debbi Rawlins - Страница 9

“YOU ASKED TO SEE ME?” Karrie stood tentatively at Malcolm Sandhill’s office door, waiting for him to look up at her with his ridiculously bushy graying eyebrows.

He frowned briefly at her before returning to leaf through the stack of papers in front of him. “Karrie Albright, from our PR department, right?”

“Yes,” she murmured, annoyed that the vice president of operations didn’t recognize her immediately. Although he really shouldn’t. After all, she was still a peon at Sanax, even though she’d been working there for two years. But the multinational corporation was so huge, and had its finger in so many pies, it was easy to get lost. At least after her boss retired next year and she became manager of the PR department, she’d be one more big rung up the ladder.

“Come in, Ms. Albright. Sit down.” He barely looked up from the piece of paper he studied.

She walked into the room, her gaze immediately drawn to the expansive windows and the awesome view of Central Park. She’d never so much as peeked into the plush corner office before, and she certainly hadn’t been summoned by Mr. Sandhill before today.

A little nervous, she sat on the edge of the brown leather chair and waited for him to say something. There was a scent to the room, despite its size and the immaculate neatness. It reminded her of her favorite bookstore where she often had coffee and read for hours on her days off.

The sound of papers shuffling brought her attention back to the senior vice president across the desk. His gaze narrowed on what she recognized as a company memo and she wondered why his wife didn’t get him to trim his eyebrows. “I understand you’re from Nevada. A town called Searchlight.”

Not something she necessarily liked to think about, but slowly she nodded, her curiosity skyrocketing.

“Our Nevada office has received a request from the University of Nevada Las Vegas to use some Sanax land located about two hours outside of the city near a place called Laughlin. Are you familiar with that area?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good.” He slid the memo across the desk toward her. “The archeology department wants to establish a dig on our property, and I want to examine the ramifications. I want all the specs on the land—possible uses, value, demographics. Make certain that if anything of significance is uncovered, it won’t hamper any potential revenue.”

It took her a moment to wrap her head around the direction of the conversation. It was so out of left field, but she wasn’t about to show Sandhill she wasn’t quick on the uptake. “I assume the dig is focusing on Paiute artifacts?”

She caught a hint of a smile, which disappeared so fast she might have imagined it. “That’s correct.”

“I see.” Her thoughts turned to her days at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She’d majored in business but studied archeology for one semester during her junior year because of the hunky teacher.

Although it had been five years since she graduated, she wasn’t likely to forget Dr. Philips…try as she might. She’d made such an ass out of herself. But so did half the other girls in his class, which had been predominately female. He hadn’t so much as flinched at any of the attention. The general consensus was that he had to be gay.

“Ms. Albright?” The sharpness in Sandhill’s tone startled her and she realized she’d drifted.

“I was just wondering,” she said quickly, “what makes them think there are any artifacts of significance left? The area has been pretty well scoured in the past few decades.”

“They admit as much but apparently it’s the digging experience they want for the students. Be that as it may, I don’t want them finding anything that would preclude us from using the land.”

“Which is slated for…?”

This time he did smile, albeit briefly. “Nothing at the moment. I assume you know the history of the corporation?”

Karrie nodded. She’d written tomes on the very subject. Sanax was bought from the heirs of a private owner about seven years ago, and had gone public under the new management. The previous owner had had more money than financial sense. He’d used company profits to buy up all kinds of land on speculation. A small percentage of it had paid off but the rest was just sitting there while branch managers all over the world investigated the profit potential. “So this land is still in limbo.”

“That’s correct, although the preliminary findings haven’t been encouraging. It is in the middle of the desert.”

“So was Laughlin once,” she said.

“Which is one of the reasons I want this land assessed.”

Her gaze strayed out the window as she enjoyed a brief daydream about having her own corner office with this awesome view. If she played her cards right, this could be her chance to shine. She looked back at him and found annoyance in his eyes. “I have a few questions,” she said. “First, may I ask why the Nevada office isn’t handling this?”

“I have them busy on another matter.”

“Fine,” she said, knowing from his tone that the subject was closed. “My understanding is that the office there is having problems with Clark County over water rights.”

He nodded, frowning. “Very touchy.”

“If we do decide to let the University have their dig, we could parlay that into an excellent PR opportunity. If played well, those water-rights issues may take a sudden turn.”

Sandhill’s eyes lit up. “I can see that we made a wise choice having you head up the project. Look into it and report back directly to me.”

“Yes, sir.” She rose when she realized his attention had already shifted to something else on his desk.

“Ms. Albright?”

She paused halfway to the door and looked at him. It dawned on her that his perpetual frown didn’t mean he was unhappy, just that he was deep in thought. She filed that tidbit away for further study.

“My secretary will make your travel arrangements. Tell her you’ll be leaving tomorrow.”

Karrie lost the smile. “Pardon me, sir, you want me to physically go to Las Vegas?”

This time his frown wasn’t pensive. “Is that a problem?”

“I believe I can handle the entire investigation from here. I’ll simply coordinate with the Nevada branch, and have the report for you in—”

Impatience drew his bushy eyebrows together.

“Sir, I’m in the middle of a project for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and—”

“That can wait,” Sandhill said. “This matter can’t. We have to get back to the University with our answer as soon as possible.”

She took a deep breath and swallowed several arguments that were on the tip of her tongue.

“Ms. Albright, I’m giving you the chance to put your best foot forward. If we do support the dig, I don’t simply want a press release. I want you in front of the news cameras extolling our generosity.”

“Ah, I see, sir.” God, she did not want to go back to Las Vegas. Not even for a single day. “And I do appreciate the opportunity.”

“I’ll expect to hear from you next week. In the meantime, show the community we at Sanax are team players.”

She barely held her tongue at his flip use of we. “I’ll update my supervisor and plan on leaving tomorrow.”

By way of dismissal, he picked up a file folder and opened it. “Gerda will let our people in Vegas know you’re going out there.”

A funny feeling niggled at her. “Who’s my contact at the University?”

He didn’t look up but glanced at the memo. “Dr. Philips. Dr. Rob Philips.”

R.P.

Karrie couldn’t move. She simply stared at the top of Sandhill’s graying head, her stomach doing flip-flops as the words of Madam Zora came back to haunt her.

ROB GOT OUT OF HIS CAR and looked down at his shoes. Great time to check and see if they matched. The Sanax representative was to meet him in five minutes. He hoped she wasn’t late. A dozen midterm exams waited grading in his office.

He hated this part of his job. Having to schmooze with corporations for either endowments or land use. The only thing worse was dealing with academic bureaucracy. But he played the games so that he could have freedom in the field. He’d learned the hard way to carefully choose his battles.

Having been a child prodigy had its drawbacks. He’d entered college too young, graduated too young and earned his Ph.D. at the age most people were figuring out their majors. Along the way social and tactical skills had lagged. He’d had his share of butting heads with the Dean and board members because he lacked the diplomacy and the patience that presumably came with age.

He wove through the parking lot of Joe’s Crab Shack, thinking again how peculiar it was that the rep had requested they meet at a restaurant. Probably figured he owed her dinner after having to come all the way from New York. Little did she know he’d do a lot more than spring for a meal to gain access to this particular site. Hell, he’d get down on his hands and knees and suck up big time if he had to.

Already having forgotten her name, he patted his pocket for the piece of paper the department secretary had given him. But, because he’d done something vile in a past life, it wasn’t there. He was cursed with a total lack of memory when it came to names. Modern ones, that is. He could list all the Greek gods from Atlas to Zeus without blinking. But anyone from this lifetime, and he was hopeless. It didn’t seem to matter that he’d repeated the name of the cursed woman over and over before leaving for the restaurant. All he could remember were initials. K.A.

He got inside the cool restaurant, and despite his fervent wishes the hostess informed him the Sanax watchdog hadn’t arrived yet, so he followed dutifully to their reserved table and ordered a glass of wine while he waited.

The place was starting to fill up and he hoped he wouldn’t see any of his students. Even though he didn’t get out much he seemed to run into someone from one of his classes every place he went. Which was one reason he didn’t circulate often. Young women appeared to be getting increasingly bold each year.

Although the restaurant area wasn’t too crowded yet, the bar was lined with happy-hour patrons, some of them standing for lack of stools. His gaze immediately was drawn to a redhead sitting at the end of the bar. Really more auburn, her curly hair was tied at her nape and hung halfway down her back.

Even in a khaki skirt she had a great backside, curvy and lush just as it should be. What he could see of her legs made his pulse quicken. Slender yet rounded with just the right amount of muscle.

A man walked up and said something to her and when she turned her head to respond, Rob thought there was something vaguely familiar about her. The slightly upturned nose, high cheekbones, the long graceful neck… She wasn’t one of his students. He was sure he’d remember. Even in his Thursday lectures where attendance often reached a hundred and fifty she would’ve stood out.

Anyway, she was too old to be a student. Probably in her mid to late twenties. Which automatically didn’t rule out the possibility except she was dressed in business attire. So where the hell could he have seen her before?

“Here you go.” The waitress set down his wine and smiled. “Did you want to order, or are you still waiting on someone?”

“Still waiting, thanks.”

“How about an appetizer in the meantime? The crab and artichoke dip is excellent. We also have an assorted shrimp platter.”

“No, thanks anyway.” What he wanted was for her to move and not block his view of the bar.

“Okay, I’ll check back later.”

As soon as she stepped away his gaze returned to the woman sitting at the bar. She was gone. The bartender cleared her empty glass and another woman claimed the chair.

Rob glanced around but didn’t see the redhead. She’d probably left with the guy who’d been talking to her. It didn’t matter. It wasn’t as if Rob would’ve tried to pick her up. That wasn’t his style.

Nevertheless, he took another cursory glance around the room and came up empty. He checked his watch. She was one minute late. He muttered a curse as he reached into his pocket to check once again for the slip of paper with her name on it. He was supposed to be a bright guy with a high IQ. One would think he could remember a name for more than three minutes.

K.A. It should have been enough of a reminder to give him the whole name, but it didn’t. He had no clue.

Taking a sip of his wine, he glanced in the direction of the hostess stand. Two couples hovered, waiting for her attention. Rob rolled a shoulder, curious at the tension cramping his muscles and making him inexplicably edgy.

This meeting wasn’t going to be a big deal. Just a formality. He didn’t expect them to turn down his request. They’d already given every indication that there’d be no problem with the dig. Although why they didn’t simply send him approval in writing he didn’t understand.

Maybe it was his guilty conscience making him uneasy. He hadn’t been totally forthcoming about his reason for selecting that particular site. Still, it shouldn’t matter to Sanax. The land was virtually useless. At least to them.

He took another sip of wine, and as he set down the glass, he saw her. The redhead was coming from the other side of the restaurant. He tried not to stare but the snug fit of her blouse and the way her breasts jiggled slightly reduced his resolve. She had a small waist, too, with a nice flare to her hips. Nothing emaciated or boyish about her.

As she got closer he forced himself to look away, hoping his appointment showed up before he got stupid enough to ask the redhead to have a drink.

“Dr. Philips?”

He turned. She stood in front of him, a tentative smile curving her lips. “Yes,” he said slowly, pleased yet disappointed that she obviously knew him. He’d really hate if she turned out to be a student, after all. But now that she was up close, she really looked familiar.

Her smile faltered. “You probably don’t remember me.”

Frowning, he studied her more closely, and when her tongue slipped out to touch the corner of her mouth, recognition instantly dawned. “Karrie?”

Slowly she nodded.

That name he hadn’t forgotten. What amazed him was how he could have forgotten that face for a single instant. She’d been the one student, the only one, who’d nearly been his undoing. He struggled for composure. “It’s been a long time. Five, six years?”

“Something like that.” She pulled out a chair and sat down. “How have you been?”

He glanced over his shoulder, surprised at her pushiness in inviting herself to his table. He remembered her as being a little on the shy side. Certainly not like some of the other more brazen female students.

Not that he didn’t want to talk with her, catch up on what she’d been doing, but he still had to meet with the Sanax watchdog. Besides, just seeing her again had knocked the wind out of him, and he needed to be on his toes. She wasn’t his student anymore. No more boundaries. And he was definitely interested. But first, business.

“Dr. Philips? Is anything wrong?”

He met her puzzled eyes. Hazel. More golden than green. And lashes that were naturally long and thick. He’d never been this close to her before. He’d made it a point not to.

“No, not exactly. I, um…”

She sucked in her lower lip, making the tiny dimple at one corner of her mouth more pronounced. It looked as if she’d pulled her hair back tighter since she’d been sitting at the bar, but escaped tendrils curled around her face, a mass of golden highlights picked up by the flickering light from the candle on the table.

“Good evening. May I get you something to drink?” The waitress said, making him jump. He hadn’t even seen her approach. “A glass of wine while you look at the menu maybe?”

“Just some iced tea, please.” Karrie smiled at the other woman and then looked back at him. “I got here early and had something at the bar already.”

Damn. How was he going to do this tactfully?

“Look, Karrie,” he said as soon as the waitress left. “I’d really like to hear about what you’ve been doing. Maybe you could give me your number and—”

She looked affronted.

This was precisely the type of situation he tried to avoid. Small talk, especially with women, was not his strong suit. He always managed to say the wrong thing. “The truth is, I’m here to meet someone. It’s business.”

Her confused frown deepened, her lush full lips parting provocatively. It threw him off balance and he fumbled for the right words that wouldn’t sound as if he were blowing her off.

He pushed a hand through his hair, then checked his watch. “Do you have plans later?”

Her eyebrows rose. “I don’t think so.”

“This meeting I have. It shouldn’t take long.” He gave her one of those grins his secretary described as devilishly boyish and shrugged. “I’m trying to sweet-talk some corporation rep into letting me use the company’s land for a dig. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem. Probably just want to make me jump through a few hoops before they agree.”

Her eyes briefly widened and then a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Well, start jumping and sweet-talking. I’m the Sanax rep.”