Perfect Partners

short lecture on the importance of not undermining the corporate chain of authority in front of others. So much for presenting a united front to the staff of Copeland Marine, Letty thought ruefully.
    Before she could come up with a graceful way to extricate herself from the awkward situation, Joel moved.
    He came away from the doorway, took his right hand out of his back pocket, and extended it to Keith. He even managed a wry smile.
    “What the hell,” Joel murmured as he and Keith stiffly shook hands. “She is the president of the company. That’s a real beauty of a black eye you’ve got there, Escott.”
    Keith winced. “Damned nose bled for an hour last night. The only good thing I can say about the situation is that you don’t look much better than I do today.”
    “Letty’s right. We’re both a little the worse for wear.”
    Keith hesitated and then shrugged. “Hell, it was my fault. I thought something went on between you and Diana yesterday morning. You know how rumors fly in this town.”
    “Yeah, I know.”
    Keith grimaced. “Certain people made sure I heard those rumors yesterday afternoon. Diana and I have been having a few problems lately, so I guess I was more than ready to half believe what I’d heard. I stayed late at the office and then went over to the Anchor and proceeded to get smashed. Then you walked in. I saw red.”
    “Forget it,” Joel said. “Bad timing. I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same if things had been reversed.
    Keith smiled bleakly. “I totally misunderstood the situation. Thought you’d come back to town because you were still carrying a torch for Diana. Copeland encouraged me to think that. But last night after Echler took you away, Letty explained how it was between you and her.”
    “Did she?” Joel’s brows rose in mockingly polite inquiry.
    Keith rubbed the back of his neck. “She told me that the two of you were involved. Told me about the connecting door in this room. Said she’d been in on the meeting between you and Diana and that it was pure business.”
    “Ah,” said Joel very softly. His eyes went to Letty. “So she told you we were involved. Interesting.”
    “I know I accused you of sleeping with the boss last night,” Keith said. “But I didn’t realize you actually were, if you see what I mean.”
    “Excuse me,” Letty said in a choked voice.
    “What I’m trying to say,” Keith continued, clearly floundering, “is that I didn’t realize the two of you were, you know, really involved.”
    “I think that’s enough,” Letty gasped.
    Keith smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, I won’t spread it around.”
    Joel nodded seriously. “Yeah, when you’re sleeping with the boss, you’ve got to exercise a little discretion.”
    Letty glared at him furiously. “
Joel
. Must you be so crude?”
    “Sorry, boss.”
    The taunting amusement in Joel’s gaze filled Letty with a strong desire to wrap her fingers around his throat. “I think that is enough on that topic,” she said forcefully. “The only reason I said anything at all to Keith was to reassure him that there was no longer anything of a personal nature between you and Diana. Which there isn’t, is there, Joel?”
    “Nope. Just business. Hasn’t been anything personal between Diana and me for fifteen years. Wasn’t all that much at the time, when you get right down to it.”
    Letty did not trust the expression in Joel’s eyes. “All right. Now that that’s settled, I would very much appreciate it if you two gentlemen would get out of my room. I would like to finish packing.”
    Keith turned to her with a worried frown. “I know I’ve overstayed my welcome. But can you at least give me your word you’ll look at that five-year plan?”
    “I’ll look at it,” Letty said. “But you know I can’t promise any more than that.”
    “It’s a start.” Keith relaxed visibly. “Thanks. I appreciate it more than I can say. There’s a lot riding on this. More than you know, in fact. Call me if you have any questions when you get back to Seattle.”
    Letty followed him to the door. “I will.”
    She closed the door behind him and leaned back against it. Mentally she braced herself for the scene with Joel. There was bound to be one, she thought. The man did not have the sense to let it drop.
    Joel ambled over to stand directly in front of her. He planted his hands against the door on either side of her head and loomed over her.
    “Don’t ever,” he said,