Strange Bedfellow Read Free Page B

in her mind—one Dina didn't like facing, but there seemed to be no eluding it.  
    Shaking her head, Dina walked back to her desk. She picked up the telephone receiver and hesitated staring at the numbers on the dial. There was a quick knock on her office door, followed by the click of the latch as it was opened without waiting for her permission to enter. Replacing the receiver, Dina turned to the door as Chet appeared.  
    “You'll never guess what I just heard,” he whispered with exaggerated secrecy.  
    “What is it?” Dina grew tense.  
    “Chet Stanton is going to marry Mrs. Chandler.”  
    What she expected him to say, Dina had no idea. But at his answer she laughed with a mixture of amusement and relief, some of her tension fleeing.  
    “You've heard that rumor, too, have you?” she retorted.  
    “Are you kidding?” He grimaced in a boyish fashion that made her heart warm to him all the more. “I've been trying to get to my office since nine o'clock this morning and haven't made it yet. I keep getting stopped along the way.”  
    “As bad as that?” Dina smiled.  
    “The hallway is a veritable gauntlet.”  
    She knew the feeling. “We should have called everybody together this morning, made the announcement, then gone to work. It would have made a more productive morning.”  
    “Hindsight, my love,” he chided, walking over to kiss her lightly on the cheek.  
    “Yes,” Dina agreed. She removed her glasses and made a show of concentrating on them as she placed them on the desk top. “Now that everyone knows, they're all waiting for me to hand in my resignation and name you as the successor to the Chandler throne.” Without seeming to, she watched Chet's reaction closely.  
    “I hope you set them straight about that,” he replied without hesitation. “We make an excellent team. And there certainly isn't any reason to break up a winning combination in the company just because we're getting married.”  
    “That's what I thought,” she agreed.  
    Taking her by the shoulders, Chet turned her to face him, tipping his head to one side in an inquiring manner. “Have I told you this morning how beautiful you are?”  
    “No.” The edges of her mouth dimpled slightly as she answered him in the same serious tone that he had used. “But you can tell me now.”  
    “You're very beautiful, darling.”  
    With the slightest pressure, he drew her yielding shape to him. As his mouth lightly took possession of hers, the intercom buzzed. Dina moved out of his arms with a rueful smile of apology.  
    She pressed the button. “Yes, Amy?”  
    “Jacob Stone is on line one,” came the reply.  
    “Thank you.” Dina broke the connection and glanced at Chet with a resigned shrug of her shoulders.  
    “Jake Stone,” he repeated. “That's the Chandler family attorney, isn't it?”  
    “Yes,” she nodded, reaching for the telephone. “Probably some business to do with Blake's estate.”  
    “That's my cue for an exit.” And Chet started for the door.  
    “Dinner tonight at eight?” Dina questioned.  
    “Perfect,” he agreed with a wink.  
    “Call Mother Chandler and tell her I've invited you.” She picked up the telephone receiver, her finger hovering above the blinking button on line one.  
    “Consider it done.”  
    Dina watched him leave. Just for a few minutes, Harry Landers had made her suspect that Chet might be marrying her to elevate his position in the company. But his instant and casual rejection of the suggestion of becoming president had erased that. Her trust in him was once again complete.  
    She pushed the button. “Hello, Mr. Stone. Dina Chandler speaking.”  
    “Ah, Mrs. Chandler. How are you?” came the gravelly voice in answer.  
    “Just fine, thank you.”  
     

 
    Chapter Two
     
    BY THE END of the week, the excitement generated by the news of their engagement had died down and work was able to settle into a routine again. The invisible