Color of Love Read Free Page B

gratification.
    Leah could recall in minute detail that afternoon, nearly three years ago, when he’d cornered her in a supply room between shelves of Strathmore paper and bristol board. Under the pretext of needing her help, Mike had followed her inside the narrow room and closed the door. Leah turned around to protest, but had found herself engulfed in an embrace and his mouth fastened to hers. She could have screamed, but she’d known that the implications would have worked more against her than Mike. She’d let her body stiffen and kept her mouth tightly closed against his attempt to force it open. His hands had quickly pressed over her with a boldness that made her breath draw in.
    He finally pulled back impatiently.
    “Come on,” Mike breathed heavily. “What’s the big deal? You know you’ve been wondering what would hap—”
    Leah hauled back and belted him. She couldn’t believe she was actually doing it, but nonetheless the punch landed on Mike’s cheek, catching him completely off guard.
    “Oowww!” He cringed in genuine surprise.
    Leah pushed her way around him and got the door open. “You try that again and you’re going to wish you never heard the words Black Power.”
    “I can get you fired,” he said, but more hurt than angry.
    “Before or after you explain why I hit you?”
    Leah had hurried away to the ladies’ room, where she’d locked herself in a stall and stood shaking for several minutes.
    Mike had given up trying to maneuver her against a wall, but there remained a tension between them that was still sexual for him, suspicion for her. But she knew he’d never try anything with her again. And she felt sorry for his wife.
    When the telephone rang, interrupting her concentration, most of the rough sketch was complete, and it was good. Still, when Leah answered she was distracted.
    “Hello, Art Department.”
    “I don’t believe it’s raining,” Gail said in annoyance.
    “Could be worse.”
    “That doesn’t make me feel better. People might not come tonight if the weather is bad. This could ruin my event. This is a pain in the ass.”
    “Calm down and stop exaggerating. People will come and it will be a huge success.”
    Finally, Gail chuckled. “You promise?”
    “For whatever it’s worth, sure.”
    “And Allen better not show up in a suit or I won’t let him in.”
    “He hates the western look.”
    “I don’t care. This is my event.”
    Leah rubbed her temple. “God, I hate it when the two of you go on this way. Why are you always at each other’s throats?” She had expected another barbed answer from Gail, but she was surprised at the momentary silence.
    “Ask Allen,” Gail responded. “I have to go. There’s still a lot to set up. Is Allen coming back to the house with you afterward?” she asked suddenly.
    Leah felt an odd heaviness in her chest. “Probably. Why?”
    “I don’t want him to mess up my plans. I’ll see you later. Bye.” She hung up.
    Leah sat holding the receiver a moment longer, completely confused by her sister’s last remark. Did that mean Gail was going to be with someone else? She had lost count of her sister’s short-term affairs and, given Gail’s attention span for most things, wondered what exactly it was her sister was looking for. And did it really take so many men to find out?
    She stared at the new sketch, put it away in a folder of ideas, and tried to turn her attention to the half-finished jacket of the money book. It was taped to the board, and she eyed it with disinterest. She felt distracted. Edgy. She wasn’t looking forward to the show. She wasn’t particularly looking forward to being with Allen. He was either going to complain about the people in his office, how he was not appreciated enough, or trash Gail’s efforts. And Leah wondered who her sister was going to spend the night with this time.
    Leah got up from her drafting table and left the studio to go to the small staff lounge. There she made herself a cup