Perfect Partners

thoughtfully as he put down his fork. “We really must arrange to terminate Blackstone immediately. I told you I do not care for the way he is handling this takeover and liquidation of Copeland Marine.”
    “Joel stays,” Letty said.
    “I really don’t think we can allow that. I must tell you, Letty, that I have come to the conclusion that Blackstone wields too much influence over you.”
    With that, Letty lost her temper entirely. There was no point in trying to talk to Philip. She got to her feet and leaned forward, hands flat on the table. “I said he stays. He works for me. I own Thornquist Gear.
He stays
.”
    Philip’s expression turned to one of reproach. “I can see that the stress you’ve been under lately has taken its toll. It’s a good thing I scheduled that appointment with Dr. Sweetley for you.”
    Letty stared at him. “You haven’t heard a single thing I’ve said, have you? You’ve never heard a word I said unless it agreed with something you said. At least Joel talks to me. Even when he’s mad at me, he hears what I’m saying. I cannot believe I was ever stupid enough to get engaged to you.”
    Philip began to look alarmed. “Letty, you must get control of yourself, my dear.”
    “I am in complete control of myself.” Letty glanced down at her plate of pan-fried oysters and fries. She scooped it up and dumped the contents over Philip’s head before he realized her intention.
    “Letty, have you lost your mind?” Philip brushed frantically at the french fries and oysters that were cascading down his face onto his gray-vested suit. He shot to his feet, grabbing up a napkin and using it to brush at the grease that was soaking into his jacket.
    “I have only one other thing to say to you, Philip Dixon. Thank God for Gloria the grad student and her scarlet-tinted lips. If it hadn’t been for her, it might have taken me a lot longer to realize what an insufferable ass you are.”
    Letty snatched up her purse, whirled and strode toward the door.
    She collided with Joel, who had just walked into the restaurant. His arms went around her, steadying her.
    “Something wrong with your lunch?” he inquired politely. “Or is that the way people eat their oysters back in Illinois?”
    “Indiana,” Letty muttered, her face buried against his chest. “What are you doing here?”
    “I came looking for you, Madam President. In case you aren’t aware of it, we’ve got a slight management crisis on our hands back at the office. You ready to leave?”
    “Yes,” she hissed, raising her head. She did not look back to see what was happening at the table. Letty could hear the commotion as waiters bustled to clean up the mess. “Let’s get out of here.”
    “Spoken like a true executive.”
    Joel took her arm and steered her out of the restaurant and onto the sidewalk. They forged their way through the noontime crowds thronging the red brick—paved street that ran through the heart of the Pike Place Market.
    It was not easy, but Joel navigated with expert precision. They circled the crowd hovering around a fishmonger’s stand, evaded two panhandlers and a mime, and managed to get past the long row of busy vegetable stalls.
    Letty was still fuming silently when she realized Joel had come to a halt beside a tiny eatery selling walkaway food through a window that opened directly onto the sidewalk. “What are you doing?”
    “Getting us some lunch. I take it you didn’t have a chance to eat much of yours.”
    “No. I’m not hungry anymore.”
    “Nonsense,” Joel said bracingly. “An executive has to keep up her energy.” He looked at the young woman waiting on the other side of the counter. “Two hummus and pita bread sandwiches, please. With cucumber and yogurt sauce.”
    “You got it.” The young woman went to work filling two large, round pitas with the mixture. A moment later she handed the two plump sandwiches wrapped in wax paper through the window to Joel.
    “Here you go. Eat up.” Joel put one of the pitas into Letty’s hand.
    “He made an appointment for me,” Letty said tightly. She took a whopping bite out of the sandwich. “Can you imagine?”
    “An appointment for what?”
    “Therapy. To help me work through my sex problems.”
    Joel chewed a mouthful of hummus. His eyes gleamed. “You don’t have any sex problems.”
    Letty flushed. “I know. I tried to tell him that. But he didn’t hear a word I said. I realize now he never did hear anything I