“There’s a spider.”
He glanced at the desktop, empty except for her laptop, the dark wood pristine as always, not a scrap of paper marring the gleaming surface. “Where?”
“He’s hiding now. Probably went underneath or in a drawer, but he was humongous.” She stretched her arms as wide as they would go.
“That big, huh?” The corners of his mouth twitched.
“He was huge. And poisonous. A brown recluse.” She put enough certainty in her voice to properly warn him, though she hoped her hero was brave enough to slay the skulking beast.
“Venomous.” He sank to his knees, peering under her desk. “Spiders are venomous, not poisonous.”
“Either way, I hate them.”
“It wasn’t a brown recluse, though.”
“How do you know? Do you see him?”
“Not yet, but I know we don’t have brown recluse spiders in New York City. It gets too cold here.”
Too her horror, half his body disappeared under her desk, deep into the spider’s lair. “Don’t go in there.”
A muffled chuckle sounded, before he backed out and stood, miraculously unmarked, brushing his fingers on his jeans. “I knocked a little spider web down. That should take care of it.” His hand swept toward the desk, as if all were clear.
“No, thanks. I’ll just do my work over here until the exterminators come.” Katie stood, crept toward her laptop and snatched it, retreating back to her chair, well away from the spider’s domain. Then the monster emerged, charging across the rug. “There he is!” she yelled, on her feet and scrambling away. “Get him before he makes it to the bookshelves!”
With amazing calm, her hero stepped on the spider. Relief flooded Katie’s system, knowing she wouldn’t have to be on guard for his reappearance. Superman bent down and examined the conquered foe.
“You’re that afraid of a tiny little spider?” He cocked his head at her, fingers shoving through his damp locks, pushing them into adorable disarray.
She shrugged. “He looked bigger on the desk.”
He coughed behind his hand, but it sounded suspiciously like a laugh. “Now that we’ve ended this horrible arachnid infestatio
n, I’m here to see Steven.”
Katie snapped into her role, Guardian of the CEO.
“I’m sorry. Do you have an appointment, Mr. …?” She left the question hanging.
“Lassiter. Gary Lassiter. And no, I don’t have an appointment, but—”
“I’m afraid Mr. Gherring won’t be able to see you without an appointment. His schedule is quite full. Let’s see when we can fit you in.” She opened her laptop and pulled up his schedule, with no real intention of making an appointment. Steven Gherring had given strict instructions not to schedule any appointments he didn’t initiate himself. One of Gherring’s subordinates would no doubt handle this man, clearly an intruder, even if he did look like Superman and valiantly slayed large spiders.
“I think Steven will want to talk to me. We’re partners in a business deal.”
“If you aren’t willing to follow protocol, Mr. Lassiter, you may find your business deal canceled.”
“I’ll take my chances.” With an arrogant grin, Gary edged toward the entrance to Gherring’s private office, an ornately carved wood door.
In a flash, Katie was on her feet, racing for the door. With the element of surprise on her side, she reached it first, barring the entrance with her body. Her chin lifted in dogged determination as she glared up at the invader, who towered over her by at least six inches.
“No one goes through this door without an appointment.”
His devastating blue eyes crinkled at the corners as he retrieved his cell phone and held up his index finger. “One moment, please.”
He tapped once on his screen and held the phone to his ear. “Hi… I’m here… No, I can’t… Because your very attractive pit bull is guarding the door, baring her teeth at me.”
Katie heard her boss’ laughter from the phone in Gary’s hand just before the door opened behind her.