Blue Mist of Morning by Donna Vitek Read Free Book Online Page B

had
decided on the spur of the moment that it would be good for her to go
out with him.
    She had even gone so far as to buy herself a new dress, a
black sheath of real silk crepe de chine, which she had luckily found
on sale. Her conscience had pricked her slightly when she paid the
clerk, because she normally saved every extra penny to help with her
sister Sue's college expenses. But, just this once, it seemed important
to give herself a present, because, since the weekend at Ty's mountain
house, she had been feeling strangely restless.
    Even now, as she waited for Mike to arrive, she sat on the
window seat in her quaint, old-fashioned apartment and stared rather
morosely at the tree-lined street below. Normally, she felt content at
home, finding pleasure in the high ceilings and wainscoted walls of her
rooms. She preferred living here in this once-fashionable old home that
had been converted into apartments. Though most of her contemporaries
sought apartment complexes offering swimming pools, saunas and tennis
courts, Anne was happy here without all those recreational facilities.
    At least, she was usually happy, but tonight she felt
considerably less content and she knew why. The memory of Ty's kiss
hadn't diminished as she had hoped it would. Still disturbed by her own
response to his touch, she was rather displeased with herself. She
simply couldn't forget the lesson her first employer had taught her
when she was eighteen, just out of business college. And the lesson was
that getting involved with the boss was the prelude to pain and
humiliation.
    Strumming her fingers on the windowsill, she resolved
firmly to cease these foolish thoughts about Ty Manning. Certainly, he
had already forgotten the kiss they had shared, and if he could forget
it, so could she. Despite that resolve, it was still a relief when Mike
arrived a few minutes later. Forced to turn her thoughts to him, she
relegated Ty to the back of her mind and smiled as Mike complimented
her on the new dress with an exaggerated wolf whistle.
    As Anne allowed him to drape her cashmere stole over her
shoulders, she commented offhandedly, "I've never been to the Kennedy
Center before, so I'm really looking forward to this evening."
    "Let's go then. We'll have dinner first, because I
remember you don't like late evenings on weeknights." He grimaced playfully. "You're too much the perfect
employee to go in to work sleepy."
    She grinned. "A real party pooper, that's me."
    "But a very pretty one," he replied boldly, taking her arm
to escort her from her apartment.
    Dinner was enjoyable and relaxing, and the concert was
very entertaining, but, unfortunately, while leaving Kennedy Center,
Anne and Mike encountered Ty and his date for the evening in the lobby.
Resplendent in an ivory satin designer gown and a luxurious mink stole,
Millicent Beaumont flicked a rather amused gaze over Anne's less
extravagant attire. With her barely audible greeting, she conveyed her
boredom at running into two such unfashionable, unimportant creatures
as Anne and Mike. Ty, however, seemed more interested in talking to
them, much to Anne's discomfort. She tensed when he actually suggested
that she and Mike join Millicent and him for dinner. When Mike
explained that they had already dined, Anne apparently didn't
sufficiently disguise her relief, because Ty's gaze suddenly grew cold
as it swept swiftly over her.
    "Remember we have a busy morning tomorrow, Anne," were his
parting words as he and Millicent started to move away. "In fact, I
think you should plan to get to the office early."
    Nodding, Anne returned his murmured goodnight, then forced
herself to smile up at Mike as they, too, made their way through the
mingling crowd in the lobby. Later, at her apartment, Mike showed some
desire to come in with her, but she diplomatically reminded him that
she had to be at work early the next morning. Yet when he left her, she
almost wished she'd asked him in for a cup of coffee. Already, she