Sal couldn’t help himself. The laughter burst out of him. He’d expected another lie so her honesty caught him off guard. “Not really,” he said, her smile infectious. “Why do you think I’m only interested in you because of the negotiations?”
Laci laughed deep in her throat. “Don’t flatter me. I’ve seen your picture in the newspapers. The women on your arm are glamorous, famous and incredibly beautiful. I’m not your type, just as I said the other day.” She pulled her foot out of his hands, intending to put her shoe back on and get up to leave. But he just pulled the other foot onto his leg and took off that shoe.
“You don’t have to do that,” she said, but couldn’t pull it away as his fingers massaged the pain out of that one just as he had the first. The feeling was too wonderful for words.
Sal ignored her protest and continued to massage the second foot, concentrating on the arch and working his way to the stocking encased toes. “What if I said you were wrong about my type,” he asked.
Laci didn’t respond. She simply lifted her shoulders, her head leaning against the cushions again as the knots in her foot slowly loosened and left her muscles.
Suddenly, she looked up, staring at him straight in the eye. “Have you ever been sky diving?” she asked.
Sal blinked. “Yes,” he responded unthinkingly.
“When?”
“A few years ago.”
“Why?”
Sal laughed, leaning back so his hands were supporting him against the coffee table. “If I told you, I’d have to kill you,” he said, using the old spy phrase.
Laci couldn’t help it. He looked so serious. She just started laughing and couldn’t stop for several minutes. When she finally got control of herself, she had to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes. “Oh, thank you,” she said. “I really needed a laugh,” she explained.
“I guess you don’t get many jokes in your line of work,” he said.
“Only the occasional lawyer joke,” she said standing up and taking her martini with her. “Have you really been sky diving before?”
“Yes.”
“What was it like?” she asked.
“Why?”
Laci shrugged. “I was just wondering.”
“I’m not sure words can describe the feeling,” he said and got up to follow her. She was facing him, leaning against his desk. "You’re not planning on going sky diving, are you?” he questioned.
She almost choked on the sip of martini she’d taken. “No way. I’m terrified of heights. I’d be paralyzed.”
Laci thought there was a slight decrease in the tension in his shoulders. But she dismissed the idea, thinking she’d just imagined his concern.
“Have you done anything else dangerous?”
“What do you consider dangerous?” he questioned, moving closer.
“Mmmm, scuba diving?” she asked.
He nodded. With each question and answer, he slowly closed the distance but she wasn’t aware of his slow stalking.
“Race car driving?”
He nodded again.
“What about….”she thought for a few more moments. “Rock climbing?”
“I’ve never been rock climbing.”
“Why not?” she asked a little breathlessly.
“Takes time. I don’t have the time to learn that kind of stuff,” he explained.
Laci nodded. “Yeah, I guess running a huge business does get in the way occasionally.”
Sal smiled. “It has it’s perks,” he replied. He was less than a foot away from her and Laci had to lean her head back to look up at him.
Shaking her head, she realized how close he had gotten. “I’m not one of them.” She said and moved over to the bar. “I’d better be getting home,” she said.
“Have dinner with me,” he countered.
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I have plans,” she said, not daring to look at him for fear that he’d call her bluff.
“Tomorrow night,” he said, still standing by the desk where she’d left him.
“Plans for tomorrow night as well,”
“What are you doing tomorrow night?”
“Can’t say at this point,” she said, picking up her briefcase and jacket. Turning to smile at him, she said, “But it doesn’t include a tall, gorgeous man trying to corner me and convince me that health insurance costs should go up ten percent,” she said.
Laci walked quickly out of his office, loving the sound of his laughter as she exited. Laci stepped into the elevator, hoping to make a quick escape. She dared to look up at the last moment and caught him watching her. He still had a smile on his face and his arms were crossed over his chest as he leaned against the door frame, watching the doors close.
She thought she’d gotten away unscathed. But the look in his eyes told her she’d only won a minor skirmish. She wouldn’t win the next battle.
Chapter 4
Laci slept in the next morning, exhausted because she hadn’t fallen asleep until nearly dawn. She’d lain awake, fantasizing about how Sal’s long, strong fingers would feel if they were massaging other parts of her body instead of just her feet.
She woke about nine o’clock and rolled over, trying to figure out what day it was. Was it finally Saturday? Could she relax slightly? The bright sunshine broke through her consciousness and her mind was able to confirm that it was indeed Saturday. With that knowledge, she jumped out of bed and forced herself to get moving. She needed to be at the gym in less than an hour.
She showered and changed into leggings and a sweat shirt, with tennis shoes. She pulled her hair into a pony tail, then braided it and pinned it to her head, making sure it was secure. Today would be hectic and she didn’t want to worry about her hair getting in the way.
The streets of D.C. were relatively clear this early on a Saturday morning. She reached the old high school quickly and saw her girls’ basketball team congregating on the side, right outside the gym.
As soon as they saw her, they hurried towards her. “Ms. Anderson! You won’t believe what’s going on!” Alexa said, being the first of thirteen girls to reach Laci.
“What’s wrong? Are you guys all stretched out?”
“You won’t believe it!” Alexa said, almost out of breath. “They’ve given away our gym!” she exclaimed.