Private Scandals

concentrating on some mental notes for the show.” She set the pot down, brushed suddenly damp hands down her hips. “How’d you sleep?”
    “Like a rock. I don’t know whether to be embarrassed or apologetic, but if you share that coffee, I’ll be anything you want.”
    “There’s nothing to be embarrassed or apologetic about.” But she couldn’t meet his eyes as she reached for the mug. “You were exhausted.”
    He lightly stroked a hand over her hair. “How angry are you?”
    “I’m not.” But her gaze cut away from his when she pushed the mug into his hand. “Do you want cream or sugar?”
    “No. If not angry, what?”
    “It’s hard to explain.” There wasn’t enough room in the kitchen, she realized. And he was blocking the way out. “I’ve really got to go, Finn. My driver will be here in a few minutes.”
    He stood his ground. “Try to explain.”
    “This isn’t easy for me.” Unnerved, she snapped out the words and turned away. “I’m not experienced in morning-after conversation.”
    “Nothing happened.”
    “That’s not the point, not really. I wasn’t thinking last night. I couldn’t. When I saw you, I was overwhelmed by what was happening, what I was feeling. No one’s ever wanted me the way you did last night.”
    “And I blew it.” No longer interested in coffee, he set the mug carefully on the counter. “I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have stopped that first mad rush, but I was afraid I’d hurt you.”
    She turned slowly, her eyes reflecting her confusion. “You weren’t hurting me.”
    “I would have. Christ, Deanna, I could have eaten you alive. And tearing into you on the floor, it was . . .” He thought bitterly of Angela. “It was too careless.”
    “That’s my point. Not on your side, Finn, on mine. I was careless, and that’s not like me.” There seemed to be nothing she could do with her hands. She lifted them, let them fall as he continued to stand and study her. “The feelings you’ve stirred up aren’t like me. And the way things turned out . . .” She tugged at her earlobe. “It gave me time to think.”
    “Great.” He snatched up the mug again and took a long drink. “Terrific.”
    “I haven’t changed my mind,” she said as she watched his eyes darken. “But we need to talk, before this goes any further. Once I explain, once you understand, I hope we can keep going.”
    There was a plea in her eyes, something she needed from him. He didn’t have to know what it was to respond. Crossing to her, he cupped her chin in his hands and kissed her lightly. “Okay. We’ll talk. Tonight?”
    Nerves vanished in relief. “Yes, tonight. Fate must be looking out for me. It’s the first free weekend I’ve had in two months.”
    “Come to my place.” As her body softened beautifully against his, he kissed her again, lingering, persuasive. “There’s something I very much want to do.” He nipped at her lip until her eyes fluttered closed.
    “Yes.”
    “I very, mmm, very much . . .” He traced her lips with his tongue, dipped slowly inside to savor. “Want to cook for you.”
     
    “So, what’s he going to cook?”
    “I didn’t ask.” Briskly, Deanna checked over her wardrobe list, noting the dates that certain skirts, blazers, blouses and accessories had been worn. She had a production assistant who dated and tagged each piece, listing not only when it had been worn, but in combination with what other items.
    “It’s pretty serious when a man cooks for you—especially on a Friday night.” Fran kept one eye on Aubrey, who was taking a peaceful nap in the Portacrib. “Very high-powered wooing.”
    “Maybe.” Deanna smiled at the idea. Meticulously, she began to arrange her choices for the following week’s line-up of shows. “I plan on enjoying it.”
    “My instincts tell me he’s good for you. I’d like a little more time to check him out personally, but the look on your face when you came in this morning was almost enough.”
    “What kind of look?”
    “Happiness. Strictly feminine happiness. Different from the gleam in your eye when Delacort renewed us, or when we got picked up by six new stations.”
    “How about when we moved into first place in Columbus?”
    “Even different from that. This is all-important. The show, what you’re able to do with it. The way you’ve shifted things around so I can bring Aubrey to work.”
    “I want her here, too,” Deanna reminded her. “Nobody on staff is