Simply Sexy (Simply 5)

“Colin.” Relief settled over her that this wasn’t bad news.

“Mmm. Now this is where the night gets interesting,” Frankie said.

Rina kicked her in the shin. “Shh,” she whispered.

“Hi, honey. Listen, I needed to talk to you,” Colin said, his deep voice pulling at her in inexplicable ways.

With his use of the endearment, Rina’s mouth grew dry and her nerves kicked in. She lowered herself onto the couch beside Frankie, her legs suddenly unable to support her.

“Did I wake you?” he asked.

“No. I was just entertaining a friend,” Rina said, a little devil on her shoulder urging her to bait him.

Because though he’d left for a good reason, there were other ways he could have handled things. Especially afte

r how intimate they’d been minutes earlier. She wasn’t angry nor would she hold his ditching her against him. But why not make him wonder?

He cleared his throat. “I see. Well, I just called to make sure you got home safe.”

At his concern, her heart skipped a beat. “How’s Joe?”

“He had a ministroke. It shouldn’t affect him long-term, but it will slow his recuperation and therapy. The doctors are trying to stabilize his medication to prevent it from happening again.” He paused. “Thanks for asking.”

She heard the pain in his voice and softened, knowing how much he loved the older man. “But he’ll be okay?”

“This time. Rina, look. I’m sorry I left you.”

His husky voice traveled through the phone lines, bringing her arousal to life all over again, along with more wariness this time. “I understand.”

“Good. Then I won’t keep you. I’ll see you at work. ’Night, Rina.”

“Good night, Colin.” She hung up the phone and met Frankie’s curious gaze.

“Still unsure of him? Or is it yourself you don’t trust?” her friend asked too perceptively. “It’s obvious what you want from the guy and it’s equally obvious he’s interested. He cared enough to make sure you got home okay. Better than my date who left me on the sidewalk, and will probably never be heard from again.”

Rina rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “I need to take that leap of faith, don’t I?”

“No one can answer that except you.”

Frankie had a good point, and Rina stood up taller. “You’re right. What kind of example do I set for my readers or myself if I overreact and get crazy the first time a guy screws up?”

“I like what I’m hearing.”

Rina nodded. “So do I. I’m a woman of the new millennium. I know what I want and I know how to go after it.”

Frankie applauded and Rina bowed for her audience. But she hoped she could sustain the bravado come Monday morning when she faced Colin again.

CHAPTER SIX

I WAS JUST ENTERTAINING a friend. A day later, the comment still stung. After leaving Rina at a party, Colin supposed he deserved the barb. He didn’t think she was entertaining a man, but his jealousy had been aroused anyway. Which had probably been the point. He cursed himself good for letting himself take the bait.

He had an agenda regarding Rina, but it had been pushed to the back burner by real feelings he hadn’t anticipated. Jealousy? Damn.

He picked up the phone and called some smaller companies who advertised in the Times and was assured they’d continue to place ads. Then he made preliminary calls to add state and more in-depth national information to the wire service the paper already received. As it was, Corinne was printing what she called “need to know” headlines on an inside section of the paper. Colin jotted notes to contact Bloomberg for financial news and the possibility of acquiring national sports from the AP. Separating man from his sports? It was no wonder Corinne had lost much of her audience. From his perspective, everything was ready to go—should he be able to convince Corinne in time.

Of course, Colin’s changes would cost money, but he’d have to spend something to rebuild readership. Some of that cost could be recouped in Rina’s and Emma’s salaries, he thought guiltily.

“Good morning, Colin.” Emma strode into the office, too perky and happy for a Monday morning. Especially this Monday morning.