Conflicts of the Heart Read Online Free Page A

away, and came back.”
    “Then welcome home.”
    “Thanks.” She paused. “You didn't waste much time making an appointment.” He amused her, like he was a young boy sitting in front of a principal waiting for the ax to fall..
    “Time is not on my side. May I sit?”
    She gestured to the seat across from her desk.
    Patrick unbuttoned his suit jacket, sat down in the chair, and leaned back. She sensed his gaze roaming over every inch of her body. She folded her hands on her wide, uncluttered walnut desk. “Ann tells me that you've been ignoring the contract ever since Leon Benson left.”
    “Like how?”
    The quick edge in his voice sparked her tension. “Like meeting with employees on the floors during work time. You're supposed to use the cafeteria.” She made sure she maintained a lilt in her voice. Starting too threatening could defeat her purpose. To make their lives easier, she wanted to maintain a good relationship away from the negotiating table. “If I were pushed too far, I could file charges against you.”
    “You wouldn't.”
    She grinned, leaned back in her chair, and folded her hands in her lap. “Don't press your luck.”
    They were sparring, a part of the job she liked. What he wants is to see how we’re going to work together, maybe even cut a few deals on the side, and put this contract to bed.
    “Just doing my job, Dana. All Ann had to do was call security. I'd have hightailed it outta here like a jack rabbit in front of a double-barreled shotgun.” He chuckled. “Look, all I wanted was a chance to get to meet you more privately.”
    She rose from her chair and ambled around to lean against the desk beside him. “So, why don't we start off by setting some ground rules we can both live with, without security or double-barreled shotguns.”
    “Sounds reasonable. I hope you'll let me meet with the staff in their break rooms up on the floors.”
    “According to your contract, you have access in the cafeteria.”
    “That's not enough. Those restrictions don't fly. I can't do my job.” His speech pattern quickened. He leaned forward. “Coming from the Bay Area, you know what I'm talking about.”
    She could tell by the way he moved in his seat he had become tense. “I'm sure we'll spend time on that subject during negotiations.” Maybe Gil had been right when he said Patrick probably considered a woman a cakewalk. She shook her head and pressed her index finger against her upper lip. “Let’s not change anything until we meet at the table.” She eyed him carefully. “May we speak off the record?”
    He rose from his seat. “Yes. That’s why I came to see you.” He had his right palm in the air. “I came here to get to know you, not start negotiating.”
    She laughed. “Truce?” She held out her hand.
    His large hand wrapped around hers and squeezed. He held on a moment too long. An involuntary tremor coursed through her. She slid her hand from his grasp and moved behind her desk.
    “Where have you been hiding?”
    “San Jose. Borland Medical Center.”
    “Heavy place. Didn't like it?”
    “I liked it a lot, but Gil Hargrove made me a better offer.”
    “You can't go wrong here. Templeton's tops. I like Ashton too.” She could see his shoulders relax.
    “You ride horses?” He asked out of the blue.
    “Not since I was a kid.” To her surprise, he’d changed the conversation to casual. “What made you bring that up?”
    He sat back down in his chair. “That's my hobby, my passion outside of work. This is supposed to be a get-to-know-you meeting.” He leaned forward, smiling. “When I was a kid, I had horses. Then after college, I moved to New York. The horses are in Central Park. The first thing I did when I came here was buy an Arabian mare. Guess I’ll have to sell her when I leave.”
    A frown creased his forehead.He told her anecdotes about long-distance races he’d won and lost and outrageous tales of hospitals he'd won and lost. When he laughed, his face lit