A Woman's Touch

don’t think I haven’t realized that the more fainthearted types have started asking you to run interference for them, so they won’t have to face me themselves when things go wrong.“
    Rebecca frowned. That last comment was very close to the truth. She’d been asked on more than one occasion to brave her boss’s temper on behalf of some nervous midlevel manager.
    „I don’t know why everyone thinks I’ve got some sort of special touch when it comes to dealing with you. The truth is, you do tend to scream – excuse me, I mean roar – occasionally, but in the end you’re generally quite reasonable.“
    Kyle gave her a look that was halfway between astonishment and amusement. „There are people in this room tonight who would collapse laughing if they heard you say that.“
    „Why?“ she demanded. Lately she had begun to feel as if there were a joke going around. One for which everyone at Flaming Luck, except her, knew the punch line.
    „Let’s just say I’ve got a reputation for being difficult.“
    „Most men in your position are occasionally difficult,“ Rebecca said philosophically. „Not that being the boss excuses your rudeness and inconsiderate behavior, of course,“ she added firmly.
    „I’ll keep that in mind. I do appreciate the lecture on manners, ma’am.“ Kyle’s hard mouth was edged with faint mockery.
    Rebecca hesitated and then took the plunge. She had to know. „Well?“ she challenged softly.
    Kyle looked at her. „Well, what?“
    „Why do people think I’ve got some sort of magic touch with you? Were you really all that difficult to deal with before I joined Flaming Luck?“
    Kyle contemplated that for a moment. „Richardson in personnel has a diplomatic way of explaining it. He says you’
    ve brought a touch of civilization to Flaming Luck.“
    Rebecca smiled slowly, feeling a warm glow. „That’s nice to hear. Not the usual sort of personnel evaluation, but rather charming. I hope he remembers to jot that down in my file.“
    „Some of the others have a less diplomatic way of explaining your magic touch,“ Kyle went on very gently.
    Rebecca’s smile faded. She met his gaze, her own full of sudden wariness. „What do some of the others say?“
    „They say the reason you can wrap me around your little finger so easily is that you’re sleeping with me.“
    Rebecca nearly dropped her wineglass. For an instant she couldn’t think at all. Shock ripped through her. It was as if Kyle had read her mind and viewed her secret fantasies. Kyle and everyone else on his staff, apparently. She struggled to regain her self-control.
    „No,“ she whispered, dazed at the implications. If people were really saying such things, she was in a terrible mess.
    She would have no choice but to leave Flaming Luck Enterprises. „No,“ she said again, agonized. „Why would anyone say such a thing? We haven’t… I mean we aren’t even dating, let alone sleeping together. I don’t understand.
    It’s not right. They can’t say such things. There’s no basis for it. Our relationship has been totally professional. How dare anyone imply…?“ She broke off, floundering.
    Kyle’s watchful eyes narrowed as he studied the stunned expression on her face. „Would it be so bad?“ he asked with typical bluntness.
    „How can you say that? It would be terrible. That kind of gossip is destructive and dangerous.“ Rebecca was beginning to feel frantic. „It has to be stopped.“
    „Why?“
    „Because if s not true,“ she said desperately. „What's the matter with you? Don’t you understand?“
    „I’ve got news for you, Becky. People have affairs all the time in the workplace these days.“
    „I don’t!“
    He smiled grimly. „No, you don’t, do you? You’ve got a downright prudish notion of proper office behavior. Your old boss told me all about how professional you always were. He said you wouldn’t even date anyone you worked with. And I’ve seen the way you handle the male half of my staff. But there’s a first time for everything. Answer my question. Would sleeping with me be all that bad?“
    „For heaven’s sake, how can you ask me such a thing?“
    „Think about it.“
    „Kyle.“
    He ignored her, his gaze on a portly man across the room. „I just saw Clifton Peabody come in. Considering all the money we made off him last year, I’d better say hello to him. Excuse me, Becky. I’ll be back in a few minutes.“ He started off and then halted and swung around