And as for kissing her, that had been a big mistake. Because in spite of her lunacy, he wanted to do it again.
“Like I started to say, Claudia, I don’t know what you’re after,” he bit out, “but you’ll not get anything from me and I mean anything.”
Rising to her feet, she met his gaze and as she did so a terrible sadness welled up in her. Yet she could understand his doubts and suspicions. She couldn’t blame him for accusing her of being dishonest. She still couldn’t quite believe any of this herself. It would be stupid to expect him to swallow such a story.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Bedford. This is the last time you’ll ever see me.”
Politely, she reached to shake his hand and felt a sense of gratitude that he didn’t object. “I apologize for taking up your time. Goodbye.”
Bewildered by this sudden turn of events, he watched her start toward the door. “What will you do now?” he asked.
Glancing back at him, she shrugged. “Go home and hope that I never see your face again.” And she wouldn’t, she told herself grimly. If she took off the opal. Claudia had not told this man about the ring. She’d understood it would’ve only made the whole thing even more far-fetched. And now it didn’t matter. She was ending her search. And the visions.
Hayden thought he would feel relief once the woman was out of his office. But now that she was gone, the room felt eerily empty, as though she’d taken the very life out of it.
Raking a hand through his hair, he sank into the comfortable chair behind his desk and reached for the telephone. Halfway there, his hand paused in midair and, with a muffled groan, he flopped back against the seat.
He’d kissed the woman! And not just a peck on the cheek. He’d really kissed her! What had he been thinking? Oh, he’d met women before that he’d been attracted to on first sight, but he’d never impulsively kissed one. In fact, he couldn’t think of one woman he’d kissed since he and Saundra had divorced.
That notion was shocking in itself and he quickly leaned up and pushed the button on the intercom connecting him to Lottie’s desk.
“Yes, Mr. Bedford.”
The fact that the woman called him Mr. Bedford was laughable. She’d been with the company for thirty-five years and during that time she’d seen Hayden born and his father die. She knew everything about the family, including births, deaths, marriages, divorces, public scandals and hidden affairs. But apart from her knowledge of the Bedford family tree, she kept the office running smoothly. No matter if they were experiencing times of joy or strife.
“How long have I been divorced?”
“Three years, sir.”
“That long?”
“Yes. Why?”
“I just realized something about myself, that’s all.”
“Are you ready to start taking your calls now?”
“No. Not yet.” He paused and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Lottie—”
“Ms. Westfield is staying on the river walk. I have her hotel and room number.”
“What makes you think I was going to ask you about her?”
There was a pause and then his secretary said, “I just had a feeling.”
“That’s a scary thought. The last time you had a ‘feeling’ crude oil bottomed out to a record low.”
“Well, I hardly think Ms. Westfield could have any effect on crude prices.”
No, but she’d already had an affect on him, Hayden thought. And he wasn’t a bit sure what to do about it.
“Cancel the rest of my calls, Lottie. I’m going out to the site to see Vince and then I’m quitting for the rest of the day.”
“What about Ms. Westfield?”
He snatched up a pen. “All right, damn it, give me the hotel and room number. I’ve got some unfinished business with her.”
“What sort of business is she in?”
“Illusions, Lottie.”
“Illusions? Did you have a few beers with your lunch, Mr. Bedford?”
“I’m stone-cold sober,” he answered. “Although right now the idea of getting drunk has a mighty big appeal.”
Inside her hotel room, Claudia snatched up the telephone directory. She was going to call the airport and get the next available flight back to Fort Worth. There was no point in staying in this town any longer. Hayden Bedford was a jerk and she’d been stupid for ever allowing Liz to dare her into making this ridiculous journey.
As for the opal, she’d get rid of it as soon as she got back home. The only thing the ring had ever brought her was a pile of misery. Never again would she allow it to lead her anywhere. Especially to a worthless man!
Claudia was on hold, waiting for the ticket clerk to make a search through scheduling when a knock sounded at the door.
With an impatient groan, she dropped the receiver onto the bed and walked across the room. At the door, she called cautiously, “Who is it?”
“Me. Hayden Bedford.”
Claudia was so stunned she grabbed the doorknob and gripped it to keep from falling over.
“What do you want?” she asked warily.
“Not to have this conversation through the door,” he said.
Her hands shaking, she unbolted the lock, then opened the panel of wood wide enough for her to see him squarely. “Our conversation was concluded back in your office, Mr. Bedford.”
“Call me Hayden. Since you’ve already kissed me, you might as well use my first name,” he said, using her earlier phrase.
“I’m sorry, but I’m on the telephone. I don’t have time to talk to you now.” Nor do I have the courage, Claudia thought. This man made her feel weak, strange and vulnerable. Just looking at him reminded her she was a woman. One who didn’t know anything about men like him or how it felt to be in the grip of a passionate love affair.
“I’ll wait,” he said, then pushed through the open door before she could stop him.
Seeing she didn’t have much choice in the matter, Claudia hurried over and snatched up the telephone. Long before she placed the receiver against her ear, she could hear the loud buzz of the dial tone. Damn it, she’d lost her connection!
Dropping the receiver back on the hook, she turned to find he’d helped himself to a seat in a stuffed armchair. As though he had every right to make himself comfortable in her room. She’d never seen anything like him!
You need to correct yourself on that, Claudia. You’ve seen him before. Too many times.
But those visions hadn’t given
