Chapter 6

Phoebe wrenched free of Cole's arms as Keith straightened from the doorway and strolled into the office. "This makes things rather awkward for Phoebe," he continued thoughtfully to Cole. "In the first place, I'm afraid some of the workers outside has witnessed a bit of this scene, and since they have a crush on you, they're bound to blame Phoebe."

Phoebe's mortified horror at some of her colleagues having seen them was totally eclipsed by her shock over Keith's next announcement. "n the second place, "he lied with a bland grin, "the date you wanted Phoebe to break on Tuesday happens to be with me. Since I am one of your oldest and closest friends, and since there are seven nights in a week, I don't think it's very sporting of you to try to usurp my night.

Cole's brows drew together in annoyance, but Keith continued imperturbably. "Since we both intend to pursue Phoebe, I think we ought to establish some ground rules. Now," he mused, "is she fair game here at the office or not? I'm perfectly willing to abide by-"

Phoebe finally recovered her power of speech. "I refuse to listen to another word of this," she exclaimed as she stalked toward her temporary office.

Keith stepped out of her way, but kept his challenging smile aimed directly at Cole. "As I was saying, Cole. I'm perfectly willing-"

"I sincerely hope," Cole interrupted shortly, "that you have a valid reason for this unscheduled visit of yours."

Keith relented with a chuckle. "As a matter of fact, I do. Jim called while I was out. I think he wants to talk about a deal..."

Phoebe was already through the doorway and leaned weakly on it. Why would Keith say that he has a date with her? Is he coming on to me or-

"If you don't have any work to do-" Curtis, her colleague, voice was like an icicle, "-I'll be happy to give you some of mine."

Phoebe flushed and doggedly resumed her work.

Cole was in meetings for the rest of the day, and at six o-clock Phoebe breathed a sigh of relief. Back downstairs, the sounds of raised voices and closing drawers heralded the end of another workday. Phoebe nodded absently to a woman who greeted her. Her eyes were on Keith as he came striding around the corner to her former desk.

"Want to talk?," he asked, inclining his head toward his office.

"Well?," he teased when Phoebe was seated in the leather chair in front of his desk. "Go ahead-we've certainly passed the point where we need to maintain any sort of formality between us."

Phoebe nervously pushed her hair back off her forehead. "What made you stand there and...and listen to everything? What made you say the the things you did about us-you and me?"

Keith leaned back in his chair, a wry grin tugging at his lips. "When I came back from lunch and found out you'd have been reassigned to Cole, I went up to be certain that you were doing all right. Curtis told me that you'd just gone into Cole's office, so I opened the door and looked in to see if you needed rescuing. There you were-smiling angelically at him while you gave him messages from other women and turned down his offer of an 'affair'".

Resting his head against the back of his chair, Keith closed his eyes and laughed. "Oh Phoebe, you were magnificent! I was just about to leave when you pushed him too far and he finally, er, came on to you"

He opened one eyes, saw Phoebe's scarlet cheeks and waved a dismissing hand. "Anyway, you seemed to be resisting Cole's physical retaliation well enough. I had just decided to leave when Cole put on the pressure and kissed you and you look like you were about to sink, so I stepped in to give you time to recover."

"Why?," Phoebe persisted.

He hesitated for a suspiciously long time. "I suppose because I saw you crying over him, and because I don't want you to get hurt. For one thing, if you do get hurt, you'll resign, and I happen to like having you around." His brows eyes warmed with admiration as he studied her. "Not only are you extremely decorative, young lady, but you're witty, intelligent and capable."

Phoebe blushed, but she wouldn't let the matter drop. He had explained why he'd interrupted, but not why he'd deliberate made Cole think there was something between Phoebe and him. "And," she speculated boldly, "if Cole thinks you're interested in me, I'll become even more of a challenge. If that happens, he'll spend more time and effort pursuing me, won't he?". Before Keith could reply, Phoebe finished smoothly, "And if he's busy chasing me, he won't have much time to devote to Patricia Callahan, will he?"

Keith's eyes narrowed. "Phoebe, what are you trying to say here? That I like Patricia?"

Phoebe leaned forward, "I'm saying you're trying to make her jealous of me and you want me to be the cause of their break up!"

He shot her a piercing look, then dismissed the matter with a smile. "I wonder when will the time come when I could just see her screaming like a baby..". He gave her a devilish grin. "Maybe I could speed up this charade and do exactly what I told Cole I was going to do and pursue you myself."

Phoebe smiled. "I have a feeling you're as jaded and cynical as he is." He looked so stung that she added teasingly, "Well, you are-but still very attractive, for all that."

"Thanks," he said dryly.

"Well, thanks for the chat," Phoebe stand up to leave. She stopped in the doorway and turned. "Keith," she said awkwardly. "Was I the only reason you came upstairs? I mean, did you make up that excuse about Jim wanting to talk about a deal?"

Keith's brown eyes leveled curiously on her. "No, that was the truth. But it was just an excuse." He chuckled as he opened his briefcase and began shoving papers into it. "As Cole rather bluntly informed me when you left, the Jim matter wasn't urgent enough to justify my coming up there and interrupting him." He picked up his briefcase. "Come on, I'll take you home"

They crossed the marble lobby together, and the first thing she saw outside was Cole striding quickly toward a long, sleek silver limousine waiting for him at the curb.

As Cole turned to slide into the back seat, he glanced toward the building and saw them. His gaze sliced over Keith before settling on Phoebe. His eyes smiled a promise at her-and a warning: tomorrow he could not be so easily put off.