Not Quite Mine

“Is she OK?”

“Just a sprain. And if you ask me, a deserving injury. She was wearing four-inch heels, for crying out loud. I told her she needed to wear flats, or tennis shoes. But Miss Fashion wouldn’t even buy a pair until last Friday.”

“She’s lucky it’s not worse.”

“I know—” Savannah’s cry filled the small apartment and made Monica’s heart jump inside her chest. “Oh, no.”

“What’s that?”

“I’m…er, babysitting.”

“Babysitting? You?”

“I know…strange. But a friend was in a bind. Can I call you back later?” Monica stepped into the apartment and closed the door behind her.

“Sure. Call when you can. Love you, sis.”

“Love you, too.” Monica hung up the phone and tossed it on the couch.

“Oh, Vanna…what’s the big deal?” After a quick diaper change, Monica moved Savannah to a baby carrier while she prepared a bottle. It took a little while for the baby to calm down. She’d been fussy all night from what she’d heard. When Katie had gone to work that morning, she looked like a zombie. The pace of keeping Savannah a secret was tiresome. It was only a matter of time before someone figured out that they were hiding a baby.

Monica hoped the investigator Katie had hired would come up with something soon. Now that Jessie was back, the last thing Monica wanted to do was lie to her sister.

Dean walked into a quiet office. Jo had called to tell him she had the flu, the icky stomach variety that would spread. She’d offered to come in, but Dean wanted nothing to do with getting ill.

The light on the phone blinked, letting him know there were messages, and the air-conditioning was already on. His office was dark but light under the conference room door ran along the floor.

A weekend with Mike reminded him of how much he’d given up since he’d met Maggie. It wasn’t until the second night, while sitting under a blanket of stars, that Mike had told him that Katie had suggested the guys’ weekend.

Damn if that didn’t warm him just about everywhere. “Katie said you needed a break,” Mike had told him.

Here Dean had worried about Katie not getting around on her bum foot, and she was pushing their mutual friend to help Dean relax.

He called himself all kinds of foolish for dreaming about her, but he couldn’t help it. Every time he closed his eyes, she was there. Even now, as he stood outside the conference room where he assumed he’d find her, he couldn’t stop the fast beat of his heart. Would she be wearing heels? Would she smile when he walked in the room?

Could he get through the day without touching her?

Turning around, he moved away from the door and went to his office. He fired up his computer and tossed his car keys on the desk.

Still, not a sound came from the other room.

He pried the blinds apart over his window and peered outside. The main entrance of the hotel had several workers milling about. But no Katie.

It took less than thirty seconds of his ass in his chair before he shot out of it.

Outside the conference room, he didn’t hear a thing. He slowly turned the handle and popped his head in.

His jaw dropped and something inside him melted.

Katie’s blonde head rested over one of her arms while the other one was curled up under her chin. Her eyes were closed and her lips were open as she slept. She wore a simple buttoned-up shirt and slacks. Dean glanced under the table and noticed a pair of flat shoes.

She didn’t hear him approach so he knelt beside her and lost his brief battle with touching her. A strand of hair fell into her eyes and he swept it behind her ear. He could watch her sleep forever. If she weren’t huddled over a desk, he would have left her alone.

“Hey, darlin’,” he whispered. He trailed his fingers over her hair and rested his palm on her shoulder. “Katie?”

“Hmm?” she murmured and sighed.

“Time to wake up,” he coaxed.

She smiled as she slept. “Dean?”

His stomach twisted and other parts stirred. The memory of her uttering his name, like she was now, gripped him.

She blinked a few times and focused on his face. A spark inside her leapt toward him in that brief moment and told him something that her lips never would. Katie closed her eyes, and shook her head.

But Dean had seen her desire…seen her soften. And he wanted to see it again.

“You’re sleeping in the office,” he said.

Keeping his hand on her arm, he leaned back, hardly realizing how close his face was to hers.

“Oh, lord.” She rubbed her eyes…eyes clean of her usual mask of makeup.

He’d ponder that later.

“It’s OK. I’m the only one here.”

He forced his hand off her and stood.

“I didn’t sleep well this weekend.” She glanced at him, and then to the papers she’d been working with before she’d dozed off.

“How’s the ankle?”

She looked confused for a minute. “Better. Hurts at night, though.”

“You could have taken another day off.”

“Too much to do. Besides, Jack will be here today. I don’t want him to think it was a mistake letting me help.”

Dean crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the table. “I’d vouch for you, Katie. No one can accuse you of slackin’.”

One side of her lips lifted in a grin. “You’re probably the only boss who’s caught someone sleeping on the job that said that.”