Sweet Fortune

into the bathroom. Neither was he.
    The small tiled room was still steamy from Jessie's recent shower. Hatch opened the sliding glass door and stood gazing at the collection of items arranged on the ledge beside the shower handle. There were a variety of shampoo bottles and soaps, a woman's razor, and a long-handled back brush. The scent was fresh and flowery.
    When he got into the shower, Hatch felt as if he were invading some very private, very female place. It made him acutely conscious of his maleness and of how alien that maleness was here in this female sanctuary.
    The sense of possessiveness that rippled through him as he stood there in Jessie's shower made Hatch's mouth twist in a faint, wry smile. Everything felt right, somehow, as if he had been waiting a long time for this moment.
    When he emerged from the bedroom twenty minutes later he found Jessie sitting at the kitchen counter with the morning paper. She glanced up quickly as he came into the room and he caught the flash of nervousness in her eyes just before her elbow struck the coffee cup that was sitting next to her.
    The cup went spinning across the counter. Hatch watched with interest as it teetered precariously on the edge and then went over the side. As Jessie stared in dismay, he reached out and caught the empty cup before it hit the floor.
    “Another cup of coffee?” Hatch asked calmly as he picked up the pot and poured one for himself.
    “Yes, please.” She carefully refolded the paper.
    “Anything exciting in the headlines?” He sat down across from her and grimaced as he tasted the weak brew.
    “There's another article about the damage being done to the earth's ozone layer by pollutants.” Jessie frowned. “You know, I can see why people would be attracted to a cult that focused on saving the world from environmental disaster. The issue has the same awful sense of impending doom that the thought of global war has. Don't forget, there was a time when everyone wanted to build a bomb shelter in his backyard.”
    “Speaking of which, have you given up that damn-fool idea of using the invitation to visit DEL headquarters?” Hatch asked without much real hope.
    “Of course not. I'm going to phone and make the arrangements first thing tomorrow morning.” She eyed him warily. “Are you still going to insist on going up there with me?”
    “I don't see that I have much option.”
    “Sure you do. You can decide to let me go alone.”
    “No way, Jessie. We don't know what you're getting into. You're not going up there alone, and that's final.”
    “It'll probably take a couple of days,” she pointed out. “That's a heck of a long time to stay away from Benedict Fasteners. The company might fall apart without you.”
    “Don't you think I know that? Stop trying to talk me out of going with you. You aren't going alone.”
    “What about the company?”
    “I'll leave your father in charge. He's run it for the past thirty years. No reason he can't handle it for a couple more days.”
    “I suppose you've got a point.” She frowned. “Are you going into the office? It's Sunday.”
    “There are some things I have to clear up if I'm going to be out of town for a couple of days.”
    “I see. Are you really sure you can afford to take the time off?”
    He raised his brows. “Don't bother trying to get rid of me, honey. I'm here to stay.”
    She bit her lip. “Hatch, we have to talk about this.”
    “The trip to the San Juans?”
    “No, this . You. Here. In my kitchen at eight o'clock in the morning.” She drew a deep breath. “If we're going to have an affair or something, we need to set a few ground rules.”
    “We're not having an affair.” Hatch got to his feet and carried his cup over to the sink.
    “What do you call this business of showing up on my doorstep at one in the morning and spending the night?” she demanded.
    “I call it being engaged to be married.” He caught her chin on the heel of his hand and gave her a quick, hard kiss. Then he headed for the closet where he had left his jacket and briefcase.
    “Hatch, wait. Don't you dare walk out of here before we've had a chance to discuss this. Hatch, come back here. I mean it. I swear, if you don't come right back here I'm going to…Oh, damn.”
    He gently closed the door behind him as he went out into the hall.

    Hatch was not in the least surprised to find Vincent in his office on Sunday morning. The older man almost always came in on the weekends, just as