Page 29 of The Wedding

“What does that mean?”

Etta looked in the trash can. “Nothing.”

“Well… I was in the neighborhood and wanted to see you.”

At last, Etta put on her usual flirty grin and sat back in her leather chair, arms opened wide. “Here I am. Like what you see?”

Jamie rounded the desk. “Maybe. You’re notterribleto look at.”

Her girlfriend uncrossed her legs and patted her lap. “I can’t say no to you. Come over here. You’re beautiful in that dress.”

“This thing?”Came from a department store. Hardly the boutique fare women like Kathleen Allen wore. I saw it earlier. Rocking that pencil-skirt. Sigh.

“And I care because why, exactly?”

Jamie sank into her lap, happy to wrap her arms around Etta’s shoulders and kiss her cheek. “Because I am powerful enough to make your assistant quiver in her Prada heels.”

“She wears Prada?”

“Oh, shush.”

Etta was silent for a few seconds as she tapped a pen on the table, the tip coming in and out with every smack. “What’s in the bag?” she finally asked. “I can’t imagine what you bought at a toy shop. I doubt it’s the kind of toywe’re into.”

Jamie presented it to Etta, who peered inside.

“What the…” She pulled out the stuffed cat. Jamie took it from her and placed it on her desk. “What’s this about?”

She looked to Jamie for an answer. “I’ve been thinking a lot. If I’ve got cancer… maybe I can’t have kids. Like my grandma. She wanted more kids, but after my dad, they discovered her cancerjustin time to treat it. It was in her ovaries, Etta. They had to go!”

“Jamie…” Etta said as if she were about to reprimand her. “We don’t know anything.” Her tone implied that she expected Jamie to stop thinking about it.I don’t have work to distract me, thanks.“I don’t think there’s a need to worry about fertility when we haven’t even…”

She put a finger on Etta’s lips. “I don’t want to hear anything about it right now.” Her arm snaked back behind Etta’s head, their noses almost touching. “Now, how about we get dinner later? Let’s stay in the penthouse tonight. I want to go to sleep looking out at the view.”

“All right. We can stay in the penthouse if you call Beatrice to let her know they have the night off.”

“I will, as soon as I leave.”

Etta tipped her chin up. “Give me a kiss before you go.”

It was the kind of kiss that could have turned into something else if she had time and if Jamie were feeling up to it. However, they were both content with the ten seconds they had, lips tapping together and Etta’s hands dancing through Jamie’s hair. “My flower,” she muttered. “I look forward to seeing you later. It’s been a long day already.”

Jamie slipped off her lap and picked up her bags, making sure the stuffed cat was back inside. “I’m sure it has. Natasha told me you were interviewing a potential partner.”

She had never seen Etta look so serious before. Or was it pensive? Not distressed. Definitely not distressed. “It was an odd meeting.I still don’t know what to think of it.”

“Well, I won’t bother you with it.” Jamie blew her a kiss and twiddled her fingers. “I’ll see you later for dinner. Okay?”

“Sure.”

She showed herself out, rapping on Natasha’s desk on her way by and stealing a glance at Amanda on her computer. Before Jamie went into the hall, she heard Etta summon Amanda. The blonde shot back in her seat and scrambled to grab her tablet.

The elevator attendant nodded to Jamie again when she entered. Before the doors closed, however, a feminine voice called for it to be held. The attendant put out a gloved hand to stop the doors from closing while he pushed a button with the other.

A tall woman wearing a white sweetheart dress and a tight, black leather belt stepped into the elevator beside Jamie.Wow.Now here’s a put-together woman. Besides the nice dress, she wore a set of diamond jewelry that glittered in the overhead light. Her chestnut brown hair was looped in a fancy bun – far fancier than Amanda’s. This woman’s posture, her smart makeup, and the fancy bag hanging from her hand suggested she knew what she was about.And rich. Filthy rich.

“Hi,” she said with a melodic voice. “Sorry about that. Hope I haven’t held you up.”

Her kindly face nearly melted Jamie’s heart. “Oh, it’s no problem. I’m not in a hurry.”