In A Heartbeat Read Free Page A

carefully. “I would have remembered you.”
    The twist grew to a half smile. Yeah, he knew and understood the difficulty she was in. “We’ll discuss your ‘unique qualifications’ at another time.” He released her hand. A shiver tripped down her spine. She hadn’t left the frying pan yet.
    He turned toward Falstaff. “What exactly constitutes interim testing?”
    “We need to test our understanding of your accounting systems to make certain our year-end procedures will be effective,” Falstaff explained.
    He addressed Angie. “So you’ll be—?”
    “Interviewing your personnel,” she said. “Flowcharting your systems. Once we’ve documented how paperwork flows through the company, we’ll run a few checks to see if our understanding is correct.” At least this was more familiar territory.
    “I see.” He stepped back and appraised her. Angela felt the familiar wavering in her knees. The man made the very air ripple with authority. “I’ll need to acquaint myself with the systems as well. No need to make unnecessary demands on the department heads by doing two separate interviews. I’m meeting with Tom Wilson in his office at ten o’clock. Be there.”
    Her spine stiffened. His arrogance appalled her. Did he think she’d be so inefficient as to come here without her own pre-scheduled interviews? “I’ve already scheduled a different appointment for –”
    Falstaff interrupted. ‘‘Excellent idea, Henry. Angela will be happy to accompany you.” His expression suggested she’d best be so.
    Her jaw dropped, but she quickly recovered. Still she sent a quick scowl toward Renard when neither he nor Falstaff was looking. Henry? That model called Renard “Phillip” two nights ago. Maybe she wasn’t the only one with secrets.
    “Are we through here?” Renard asked Falstaff. “I want to speak with Jim Owens before he leaves for the airport.”
    “Mr. Owens is here?” Angie asked. She knew he owned the company, but she had never so much as seen the man.
    Falstaff clapped Renard on the back as if they were old friends and not recent acquaintances. “He came in to introduce his new CEO. Come on. I’ll walk you down the hall. I need to head back to the office myself.”
    “Ms. Blake. Max.” Renaud nodded curtly to each of them. “It’s been a pleasure.”
    They left as quickly as they had arrived. The conference door closed silently behind them. Angela leaned on the table, releasing her captive breath.
    “What was that all about?” Max asked.
    “What do you mean?’’ She took a deep breath, catching the lingering traces of a deep woodsy scent, his scent.
    “That Renard guy looked at you like he wanted to tie you to the rack.”
    A fit description, she thought. “I’ve met Mr. Renard and his date before under unflattering circumstances.”
    “Unflattering for who? You, or the avenging warrior?”
    Avenging warrior, how apropos. She closed her eyes. That Brooks Brothers suit was a thin layer of civilization over a more primitive individual determined to mete out punishment.
    Punishment! Her eyes flew open. That squeeze before he ended the handshake. Those steely eyes that broadcast his disapproval of her to everyone in the room. Punishment was exactly what he had in mind, and ten o’clock was the time for execution.
     
     
    RENARD WAITED FOR the conference room door to close before allowing himself the slightest suggestion of a smile. So the little minx was moonlighting as a limo driver. No wonder she stood her ground so courageously. He had to admire her for that. In fact, he’d backed down out of appreciation of the elfin chauffeur’s stalwart principles and the knowledge that Elizabeth conceivably could have had drugs, even though she swore to him she’d abandoned the practice. That disturbing thought pulled the smile from his face. He’d deal with that possibility later. He had more immediate concerns at the moment.
    Falstaff, who had been talking nonstop about the weather, the