Fast Women Read online

  “Spare me,” Riley said. “Olivia is a complete vacuum, which was okay when I first started watching her, but it’s been three years now and she’s still dumb as a rock, going to the same stupid, noisy places, falling into bed with the same moronic guys, which wouldn’t bother me except that then I end up listening to them when I eavesdrop, and sooner or later I’m going to kill one of them just to shut him up.”

  “Never thought I’d see the day,” Gabe said.

  “What?”

  “You’re maturing. Way to go.”

  “Never say that,” Riley said, and got up to make his escape before Gabe could accuse him of adulthood.

  When Riley was gone, Gabe tried to concentrate on the reports in front of him, but Riley was right. Nell kept intruding, the same way she kept barging into his office and his life: abrupt and defiant and maddeningly efficient, snapping back up at him whenever he tried to put her down. She couldn’t have been more different from Chloe if she’d tried, but Chloe had never lurked in his subconscious. Chloe had always just been there, warm and loving and sure, part of the wallpaper of his life. She’d known what she’d been talking about when she said they both deserved better. She had certainly deserved better.

  He shook his head at his own obtuseness and resolved to be better to Chloe when she came back, if she ever came back; her last postcard had been from Bulgaria. That filed neatly away, he ignored Nell—standing in the center of his mind in her red T-shirt with her hands on her hips—and went back to business. Maybe he should call Trevor, see if he could worm out of him exactly what he was worried about with Olivia. That would make Riley’s life easier. Maybe he could also worm out of him whatever the hell Lynnie had been blackmailing him for. He needed his appointments for tomorrow, too; and Harold was going to need extra time since the Hot Lunch had taken a turn for the different, so better tell Nell—

  Nell knocked on the door and came in, carrying papers and a blue folder.

  “About tomorrow,” Gabe said, trying not to look at her red silk T-shirt. Unfortunately looking down gave him her legs. She had phenomenal legs.

  “Here’s your schedule,” Nell said, putting it in front of him. “I’ve given you extra time at lunch with Harold. He seemed a little upset when I talked to him.”

  “He’s married to Gina. That would upset any man.” He frowned at her, realizing what she’d just said. “What do you mean, you talked to him?”

  “He called back. You were on the phone with Becca.”

  “Right. Which reminds me—”

  “You’re going to see her tomorrow. Here’s her folder.” Nell dropped the blue folder on top of his itinerary. “Arranged latest job to earliest. Also the stuff Riley and I got on Randy, the phantom Texan, which is nothing. On the other hand, we didn’t find anything bad.”

  “Nothing is bad enough,” Gabe said. “Also I need—”

  “The Quarterly Report folder.” Nell held it out to him.

  “Stop that!” Gabe jerked it out of her hand. “Jesus, you read minds, too?”

  “No,” Nell said, looking taken aback. “I just figured you’d want to look at it since Trevor called twice.”

  “Thank you.” Gabe took the folder. “Sorry I yelled. Get him on the phone for me, will you?”

  “Line one,” Nell said, and when he jerked his head up, she held her hands up in defense and said, “Pure dumb luck. He called right before I came in here.”

  “You are getting a little creepy,” Gabe said, reaching for the phone.

  “Hey,” she said, and he looked up at her, caught in the dusky twilight from his window, her hair on fire over her snapping brown eyes, her slender shoulders braced back for his assault, her body arched in her tight red T-shirt curving down to hips that were undeniably rounder than they’d been six months before, tapering into impossibly long, strong legs planted firmly apart on his Oriental rug. “I am not a little creepy,” she said. “I am efficient.”

  That’s not all you are. He tried not to look at her, but it was impossible.

  “And Trevor just offered me that job again, so watch it, buddy, or you’ll be short a secretary.”

  “Sorry. I’m having a bad day.”

  “Oh, hell, Gabe.” She let her hands fall from her hips. “I’m sorry, too. I’m just tired and cranky. You want a cup of coffee before I go?”

  “No.”

  “Well, what can I get you? Tea? Beer? What?”

  You, he thought and gave himself the luxury of one shiny fantasy of Nell on his desk with his hands sliding up the pale, smooth skin under her T-shirt before he said, “Nothing. Go away.”

  “Your people skills need work,” Nell said and then mercifully went back into the reception room.

  He picked up the phone and punched “one.” “Trevor? Sorry to keep you waiting. Good to talk to you.” To anybody but Nell. He opened the bottom drawer and took out his bottle of Glenlivet. “I understand you’re worried about Olivia.” Nell. Jesus.

  “She’s up to something,” Trevor said. “I know that junior partner of yours is good, but I think this might be something for you to handle.”

  Gabe cradled the phone between his chin and his shoulder as he looked for something to pour the whiskey into. If Nell had been there, she’d have had a glass under the bottle by now. Of course, if Nell had been there, he wouldn’t want the whiskey. He’d want—“Riley’s not a junior partner, Trevor, he’s a full partner. And most of the time he’s a hell of a lot better than I am. He’s the guy you want on this one.” He looked around the room for a glass, an old coffee cup, anything, but he knew better.

  Nell had been there. The place was spotless. He gave up and took a swig from the bottle.

  “If you’re sure,” Trevor said.

  Gabe savored the heat of the scotch going down. “I’m sure. Riley is the best there is.”

  “Call me if you find out anything,” Trevor said. “I know I’m overprotective, but damn it, she’s my little girl.”

  “Right,” Gabe said, screwing the top back on the bottle. Olivia Ogilvie was a little girl the way Britney Spears was a teenager. “Count on us. Oh, and Trevor? Stop trying to steal my secretary.”

  He hung up on Trevor’s unrepentant chuckle, and Riley spoke from the doorway. “Thanks.”

  Gabe looked up, surprised. “I didn’t know you were still here.”

  “I’m the best there is, huh?”

  Gabe eased back in his chair. “Yeah, you are. Should have told you that before.”

  “It’s good to hear any time.” Riley slouched into his chair and regarded him steadily. “What did you say to Nell?”

  “She was fussing. I kicked her out.” Gabe thought about it and unscrewed the Glenlivet again. “I’ll apologize.”

  “She seemed a little annoyed.”

  “She’s always annoyed,” Gabe said and drank.

  “You okay?”

  “Never better.” He capped the bottle. “Trevor wants the report on Olivia tomorrow. Is that a problem?”

  “Not unless Olivia stays home and behaves herself. Since it’s Friday night, I’m guessing that’s not a problem.” Riley studied him for a minute, and just as Gabe was about to say, “What?” Riley said, “I think you’re right.” He straightened in his chair and looked open and forthright, which made Gabe narrow his eyes in suspicion. “I do have a more mature outlook on life.”

  “Okay,” Gabe said, waiting for it.

  “And just now talking with Nell and her T-shirt, I realized what I walked away from,” Riley said. “Mature men need mature women. I’m going to make a move on her again. That okay with you?”

  Gabe looked at him with loathing. “You couldn’t let it alone, could you? You had to keep pushing.”

  “Just wanted to make sure it’s okay.”

  “I will rip your throat out with my bare hands.”

  “There you go,” Riley said, standing up. “Big day for both of us. I’m into maturity and you’re out of denial.”

  “And the sad thing i