Perfect Partners

to see Victor Copeland’s face when the older man realized who was really behind Thornquist Gear and what fate had in store for him.
    Joel wanted to look straight into Copeland’s eyes when he found out that his little kingdom was about to be sacked and destroyed.
    What Joel had not figured into his calculations was Letty’s response to the whole thing. Yesterday morning, after apparently dwelling on the matter for a full day, she had marched back into his office and told him she wanted to take a look at Copeland Marine Industries herself before making a final decision to liquidate.
    Before Joel could think of a way to stop her, she had told her secretary to call Victor Copeland and tell him that the new president of Thornquist Gear was on her way to Echo Cove to review the situation.
    Joel barely had time to order Mrs. Sedgewick to make reservations for two at the Marina Motel.
    He convinced Letty he should accompany her and told her they might as well drive out to the coast together. Joel spent the two-hour trip talking. Fast. He went into great detail about the hard realities of the business world. He carefully explained that Thornquist Gear could not pour good money after bad. Copeland Marine had to be liquidated.
    He was not sure if Letty had been paying attention to his lecture, however. She’d had a rather vague, distracted, faraway look in her eyes. She appeared to be lost in thought somewhere deep inside herself.
    The invitation to join Victor Copeland for dinner had been waiting for Letty when she checked into the motel with Joel an hour earlier.
    “You might as well come along, Joel,” Letty had said as she picked up her key. “I hope you brought a jacket and tie. This is a business dinner, you know.”
    What the hell. He didn’t mind wearing a tie when he told Victor Copeland it was all over.
    He finished adjusting the knot on the tie and picked his jacket up off the bed. It had gotten a little crushed in the back seat of the Jeep, but he was willing to bet he would look less rumpled than Letty did. Joel hooked the jacket over his shoulder as he went to the connecting door and rapped loudly.
    “Just a minute,” Letty called.
    The door opened a moment later, and Letty peered up at him, scowling thoughtfully. Joel hid a grim smile. Letty’s heavy tweed suit already looked as if she had slept in it. Her hair was in its usual feisty state, already struggling to break free of the clip at the nape of her neck.
    Joel was annoyed with her and uneasy about the recent turn of events, but he could not help thinking that she looked remarkably cuddly. He had to keep reminding himself just how dangerous the lady was.
    Letty pushed her glasses up on her nose and gave him a brisk nod of approval. “You look very nice.”
    “What did you think I was going to wear? Jeans?”
    “From what I’ve seen of your normal business attire, I couldn’t be certain how you would dress for a formal business dinner.” Letty turned away and stepped into her high heels. “Are you ready? We’re due at the restaurant in twenty minutes.”
    “Don’t worry. The restaurant is on the other side of the marina. We can walk to it in ten.”
    Letty brightened. “Good. I’d like to see more of the town. I want to get a feel for the place.”
    “Why?”
    She gave him an unreadable glance. “I just do, that’s all.”
    “Suit yourself.”
    She smiled a little too sweetly. “I will. After all, I am the boss, right?”
    “You’re the boss,” Joel agreed softly. “Just remember that a lot of money is at stake here. Don’t go making any rash statements tonight, Letty.”
    “I told you, I just want to meet Copeland and talk to him personally before Thornquist Gear makes a final decision on liquidation.”
    “The final decision has been made,” Joel told her. “It’s too late to change it. I explained that to you on the way down here. I went over all the figures with you. The only thing left to do is inform Copeland that there will be no extension on his loan and no further investment cash from us.”
    “Well, for heaven’s sake, don’t tell him over dinner.”
    “All right. I can wait,” Joel said.
    But there would be no waiting. The instant Victor Copeland saw Joel at Letty’s side, he would know it was all over for him.

    Letty surveyed the lights of the Echo Cove marina as she and Joel made their way along the waterfront. Only a handful of brightly painted private yachts and cruisers were tied up at the docks.