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she’d
experienced in such a short time, Betsy had completely forgotten
she’d promised Mary she’d meet with the loan officer at the bank.
Or that she’d somehow convince the man to give them an extension on
the twelfth month stipulation written into their loan agreement.
But things certainly had changed since she made that promise. Now
that she’d committed herself to taking Skylar on as a client, the
banker wouldn’t need much convincing.
    “Finished,” Mary suddenly blurted, then
handed the sheet of paper to Betsy. “Now that I’ve taken a closer
look I’m happy to report we aren’t in that bad a shape.”
    Betsy scanned the double column rows of
numbers on the one side of the paper. “In black and white you
hardly notice all the red spots.”
    “That’s nothing to joke about, Betsy.
Seriously though, those figures aren’t bad considering the slump
the market’s been in. But to a banker--”
    Betsy knew if she allowed the woman to get
herself all worked up she’d have another one of those ulcer attacks
she’d been suffering with since they became business partners.
    “Calm down, Mary. The bank isn’t going to
even care about those figures once I mention we’ve taken on Skylar
Blakewood as a client.”
    “But I thought--”
    “Can’t a girl change her mind? Besides, it’s
a little hard to say no to a seven percent commission.”
    “You’re kidding?”
    Betsy smiled as she gave a nod.
    “This calls for a celebration.”
    Betsy watched the happy woman reach for the
phone. “Who are you calling?”
    “Ordering a pizza smothered in pepperoni.
That still is your favorite too, isn’t it?”
    Betsy chuckled. “You know it is.” Then she
remembered. “What about your ulcer?”
    “It loves pizza. And it’s my treat too.”
    ***
    Betsy put the closed sign in the front
window and locked the door behind the delivery boy. The two women
headed up to Betsy’s office where they spent a good part of the
next hour talking about anything that popped into their heads,
while they polished off the entire pizza.
    It was almost five o’clock when Betsy
finished at the bank and started off on foot for the office. She
couldn’t allow the ninety degree temperature and high humidity to
slow her down on the two block walk. Not only had Mary gotten into
the habit of leaving the office at five on the dot, Betsy knew
she’d be chewing her fingernails off to the skin until she heard
the outcome of her meeting.
    Betsy put on her biggest smile as she burst
in the door. “You can stop biting your nails. We got the
extension.”
    Before Betsy could continue, Mary started
waving her hand in the air to silence her. “Skylar Blakewood’s
waiting for you in your office,” Mary whispered, while Betsy leaned
over the desk so she could hear her.
    The sudden rise in Betsy’s body temperature
had nothing to do with the weather. She’d left that heat outside on
the doorstep. And even though she wouldn’t admit it to a soul, she
was certain the hot waves washing through her had to do with
hearing his name and knowing he was nearby.
    Somehow, she managed to whisper back to
Mary. “What’s he doing here?”
    Mary shrugged her slender shoulders, stood,
grabbed her purse and started for the front door. “See you
tomorrow,” came out in a normal tone. So did her, “They’re all
still there too,” as she waved her fingernails in front of Betsy
seconds before she pulled the door shut behind her.
    Betsy stood still while she watched Mary
through the front window until she disappeared inside her
economy-sized car. She remained standing there, statue-like when
the sound of his voice came to her from behind.
    “We’re alone again.”

 
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    Betsy attempted to steady her breathing and
quiet her stomach that turned a somersault at the sound of his
seductive voice.
    She slowly faced him. “Skylar, this is a
surprise.” The words came out in one quick sweep instead of smooth
like Betsy planned. But when