Perfect Partners

“do that again.”
    She licked her lips. “Do what?”
    “Don’t ever give me a direct order like that in front of someone, especially someone from Copeland Marine. I told you before, if you have something to say, wait until we’re alone.”
    “Are you talking about that handshake?” Letty’s eyes widened in surprise. She had assumed he was going to challenge her on the issue of making their relationship public.
    “Yes, I am talking about that handshake.”
    “Damn it, Joel, you do work for me, you know. I realize that’s hard for you to remember most of the time, but it doesn’t change the facts.”
    “This is your final warning, Letty. I let you off easy this time. I shook Escott’s hand like a good little boy. But if you ever try a trick like that again in front of someone from our staff or Copeland’s staff, I won’t be responsible for the consequences. Got it?”
    Letty’s temper flared. “Let’s get something straight here. The only reason I made that request—”
    “It was an order, not a request.”
    “All right, I gave you that order only because you were behaving in an extremely uncivilized fashion. You were way out of line. Furthermore, you are not to threaten me. I am the president of the company. I do not take orders from you; you take them from me. Has it occurred to you that I might fire you if you push me too far?”
    Joel’s mouth dropped open in astonishment. “Fire me?”
    “I can do it, Joel. We both know it.”
    “Bullshit. You’re not going to fire me. You need me to run Thornquist Gear. You know that as well as I do. If you don’t know it, you’re not nearly as bright as I’ve been assuming you are. Now listen up, Letty. As your devoted mentor, I am going to give you your management tip for the day.”
    She lifted her chin defiantly. “And just what would that be?”
    “Don’t make threats you can’t carry out,
boss
.” He leaned in closer. A slow, wicked grin slashed across his face. “Did you really tell Escott we were sleeping together?”
    “
No
. No, I most definitely did not say that.” Letty ducked under his imprisoning arm. “Not exactly.”
    “Not exactly? This gets better and better.”
    “I felt sorry for Keith last night.”
    “Sorry for him? Are you nuts? He’s the one who started that fight.”
    Letty began to pace back and forth across the room. “That fight would not have happened if you had not entertained Diana Escott in your room yesterday.”
    “I did not entertain her.”
    Letty ignored the interruption. “Nor would it have occurred if you had not decided to get real macho and go out drinking to relieve your frustrations last night. I’m not saying the fight was your fault, but you must admit you showed poor judgment.”
    “Damn it, what about Escott’s judgment?”
    “He was hurting because he thought you’d come back to Echo Cove to take Diana away. To make him feel better, I sort of implied that was not likely because you were sort of involved with me.”
    “Sort of.” Joel folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the door. His expression was one of complete fascination. “I guess that sort of explains why he thinks we’re sleeping together.”
    “I didn’t exactly spell it out. I just allowed him to make certain assumptions.” Letty stomped into the bathroom and scooped up an armful of toiletries. “I mentioned the connecting door between our rooms, and I also told him I was with you while you were having your
business
meeting with Diana. That’s all there was to it.”
    Joel moved into the bathroom doorway, trapping her in the small room. “Well, well, well. I guess it sort of doesn’t matter how it happened, does it? It’s sort of the truth.”
    She clutched the toiletries and scowled at him. “What are you talking about?”
    “We’re sleeping together.” Joel smiled coolly. “We’re involved. Wasn’t that how Escott put it?”
    “Now, Joel…”
    “Admit it, Letty. We’ve started an affair.” Joel took a step into the bathroom. He leaned over Letty’s armful of toiletries and kissed her soundly. When he raised his head, his eyes were gleaming. “We’re involved. Say it, Letty.”
    She stared up at him and licked her lips. “I guess we are. Sort of.”
    “Damn, I love it when you use that assertive lady-executive tone.” He grinned. “Come on, Letty, you can do better than that. Say it right out loud: ‘I am having an affair with Joel Blackstone.’”
    Letty could hardly