“First Washington Capital Bank, Branch Manager Roger Dinsmore here.”
“Oh, that’s too bad,” purred the woman on the phone. “You really should be here.”
I had to stifle a laugh as I shifted the phone to my shoulder. I glanced toward the door to my office, but no one loitered in the hall outside to overhear.
“Hello, Claire,” I said. “You know I would love to be there with you, but I don’t think John would like it.”
“John wouldn’t care. Or if he did, it wouldn’t matter. We’re divorced.”
I sat up straight and nearly fumbled the phone. “Really?”
“Mmmm, hmmm. Well, not officially yet. However, he has taken his own flat in Hampstead, leaving me so alone to rattle around in this big place.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“No you’re not. You never liked him.”
“He never liked me,” I protested.
“You were a threat, darling. I almost ran off with you.”
“That’s not true and you know it.”
“Oh, but can you be sure? We had such wonderful times together.”
I let out a sigh. That year in London had been one of the best of my life, and Claire had been a big part of it. I’d sensed the chemistry when we’d first met, when my colleague Jimmy had dragged me along to meet his old friends. Claire had looked me up and down as if I were a Greek god instead of just an American intern. I’d returned the favor, noting the low smolder in her eyes and lips that pursed as if to spit forth a quip worthy of Wilde. Then I’d noted the man standing possessively close to her—tall, dark, aristocratic, and curling his lip as he regarded ‘the nasty Yank,’ as he’d later called me. Of course, if Jimmy hadn’t insisted on me joining his ‘gang,’ I never would have heard his verbal sneers….
“But John is, well, John is happier now. Or at least he will be when he thinks it through.”
I snorted. “That’s what you said to me.”
She laughed. “And I was so wrong. Ah, well. Perhaps I will be wrong about John as well.”
“Perhaps.”
“But in the meantime, you should be here.”
I laughed. “I can’t just jump a plane to London on a whim.”
“Mmmm, but I’m not in London. I’m in Washington, at Dulles. My flight home was cancelled and they’ve rescheduled me for eight tonight. Perhaps you could come out for a little tête-à-tête?”
I let out a long breath. I looked at the stack of papers on my desk. I looked at my jammed daytimer. I looked at the clock. There would be hell to pay.
“Oh, but you must come out. This whole trip has been dreary and I need some excitement.” Her voice dropped low. “Wouldn’t you like some excitement with me?”
I sighed, but my cock knew no reason. It stiffened anyway.
“How about lunch?” I said. “I’ll call your cell when I get to the airport.”
“Brilliant! See you soon!”
She gave me her number and then hung up. Meanwhile, I mentally kicked myself for once again behaving like an eager puppy when it came to Claire.
The entire drive down the Dulles Access Road, I wondered what the hell I was doing. It was just so... Claire. The absolutely last minute plans. The refusal to let me politely decline her request. And the teasing innuendo that I knew, just knew, wouldn’t lead to anything.
That was a preview of Take it to the Bank. To read the rest purchase the book.