Can't Help Falling in Love by David W. Menefee, Carol Dunitz Read Free Book Online Page A

like a torpedo launched from a
submarine.
        
They were still six feet apart when Marshall practically shouted, “Allison, I
want you to meet a friend, Sharon Eaton.  She’s as capable a media person
as you’re likely to meet in this town. Sharon, this is Allison Webster. She’s
in the creative end of things. I thought you two might want to meet.”
        
Allison studied the woman who stood in front of her, taking a quick mental
picture of her that burned into the retina of her mind. While
she might very well be capable in her work, the adjective Marshall selected to describe her would have been the last one I would have used in an
introduction.
         Before her stood a beautiful woman. She was not more
than five-foot four and weighed, perhaps, ninety-five pounds. Sharon had fine
facial features that were framed by her feathered, dark wavy hair. The suit she
wore drew attention to her tiny waist and accented the curves of her body. Surely
any man in the room would be delighted with the opportunity to spend time in
this woman’s company, Allison assumed with a
slight twinge of jealousy.
        
Sharon smiled widely. Allison noted the deep colored lipstick she had expertly
applied in a way to accent her large white amazingly straight teeth. Caps! Allison was quick to conclude. Her
eyes sparkle with self-assuredness, and she’s wearing a lot of expertly applied
makeup. I can smell her delicious perfume. She knows just how to use
Fifth
Avenue ’s latest offerings
to her best advantage!
         Sharon spoke with exuberance. “So you’re
Allison Webster. I’ve heard so much about you and your work. What a pleasure to
finally meet!”
        
Allison wondered, What— if
anything—have you heard about me . . . and from whom have you heard it?
        
As if to answer her unspoken questions, Sharon continued her praise. “Marshall and Jeff
recommend your services all the time. You certainly have admirers in these two. Funny that we’ve never met up until now!” Sharon
smiled again as if to give Allison her cue to speak.
         What’s
funny about that? Allison asked herself. You’ve dropped into my world with
the suddenness of a cruise missile! But she responded out loud, “Yes, isn’t it? I guess we’ve clearly been working
with different clients.”
        
“We have been.”
        
“Perhaps that will change,” Allison suggested in a voice that smacked of a
heroine in a Harlequin romance. “Who knows what the future may hold?”
        
“Don’t you?” Sharon’s expression had turned hard. She smiled now, but the smile
had no warmth. “I’m glad we had the chance to meet here. I’d love to stay and
talk, but I have an appointment with Phil Samuels that was scheduled weeks ago.
No point in being late!”
         Do
you think I don’t have a busy schedule, too? It was you who waylaid me while I was
on my way out! “It was
nice to meet you. Hope to see you again soon.”
        
“Oh, you will!” Sharon said, as she shook Allison’s hand. 
        
“Have a good day.”
         Sharon scampered off like the White Rabbit in Alice
in Wonderland .
        
“What a strange introduction!” Allison commented. “It certainly didn’t last
very long.”
        
“Long enough to establish a relationship,” Jeff replied. 
         “A relationship? I felt like Melanie Wilkes meeting
Mata Hari !”
        
Jeff chortled and shook his head. “They’re from different eras.”
        
“You know what I mean!”
        
“I told you Sharon was up to something.”
        
Marshall joined in. “She’s so pretty. You’ve got to admit that. Sharon has
those perfect china doll sort of looks.”
        
“And a china doll sort of stiffness, too,” Jeff remarked.
        
“Don’t let her looks fool you,” Marshall warned.  It’s only skin deep.
She’s lethal. The lady has no conscience.”
        
Allison pulled her coat from the rack.