its cut plus the figure beneath it did the rest, although the slit up the right leg which offered glimpses of an elegant stocking-sheathed leg to just above the knee as she walked, reminded the onlooker that she was a woman, mysterious and just that little bit provocative.
She lazed for a relaxing half hour in a high drift of scented bubbles, washed her hair, and set it. She ate a fairly substantial supper because, while there would be a more than adequate buffet table, it would be her job to circulate, not to nibble.
She considered the evening before her with extremely mixed feelings. Her sense of the ridiculous was stimulated by the stir she was going to cause among the men whom she had met at the conference. They just weren't going to be able to believe she was the same self-effacing secretary who had sat so primly in their midst. On the other hand, her sudden emergence into the limelight was going to make her the prey of some rather nasty speculations and, in all probability, to some unpleasant (to Keri) suggestions from some of the "gentlemen" of the conference. She
made a bet with herself as to which ones were the most likely.
Well, those she could handle. It wouldn't be the first time! It was the longer term problem of Dain Randolph that she wasn't sure she could handle. The combination of experienced sensual challenge and potently attractive masculinity that he projected was devastatingly dangerous. Oh, well, forewarned (thanks to Mrs. Covey and her own common sense) is forearmed, she hoped.
When she was dressed and ready to leave, the mirror that had reflected the prim secretary in the morning showed her a far different image. Her hair shone in burnished glory as long curls cascaded from a Psyche knot. Her only jewelry, except for her skillfully highlighted green eyes that glowed like emeralds in a frame of dark bronze lashes, were gold filigree flower earrings set into the lobes of her small flat ears and a matching ring on her right forefinger. Dark amber topazes were set into the hearts of the flowers.
The mandarin collar of her dress caressed the base of the slender neck that supported her head so proudly and the tantalizing V-neck was frogged shut just above the lush swell of her breasts. Demure, but promising hidden richness. No longer did her lipstick hide the contours of her mouth, and her skin, freed from the disguising powder, had regained its warm apricot bloom, soft and smooth.
The transformation was complete and incredible, and to the man who stood with hand raised to knock, just as she opened the door, breathtaking. Keri paused in surprise, unconsciously framed in the doorway, confronting this unexpected, and unwelcome, apparition. His hand dropped forgotten to his side and his eyes shone with an odd glitter.
"My God, now I understand," he muttered, shaken. "What man wouldn't?"
"I beg your pardon?" Keri inquired frostily.
"I was making mental apology to someone," was the obscure explanation.
The appearance of her boss, clad in the severe black and white of evening dress, on her threshold was not calculated to calm Keri, and his cryptic words seemed all of a piece with his incomprehensible behavior. She was, however, afraid she knew what his next words were going to be, and she was right.
"I'll take you to the reception," he informed her, prepared to override and totally ignore her expected protest.
"But I. . ." Keri began to expostulate when the phone cut demandingly across her words.
It was a bad replay of the time Schyler had appeared at her door, she thought with exasperation as she watched Dain consolidate his position inside, much as Schyler had several nights before. She wasn't surprised either to discover that this time it was Schyler on the other end of the phone. Who else? She sighed in deepest exasperation.
"Hello, Schyler ... No,. Schyler, you cannot come over .... Because I won't be here starting about sixty seconds from now!" She banged down the phone sharply.
"Lover's tiff?"
She lazed for a relaxing half hour in a high drift of scented bubbles, washed her hair, and set it. She ate a fairly substantial supper because, while there would be a more than adequate buffet table, it would be her job to circulate, not to nibble.
She considered the evening before her with extremely mixed feelings. Her sense of the ridiculous was stimulated by the stir she was going to cause among the men whom she had met at the conference. They just weren't going to be able to believe she was the same self-effacing secretary who had sat so primly in their midst. On the other hand, her sudden emergence into the limelight was going to make her the prey of some rather nasty speculations and, in all probability, to some unpleasant (to Keri) suggestions from some of the "gentlemen" of the conference. She
made a bet with herself as to which ones were the most likely.
Well, those she could handle. It wouldn't be the first time! It was the longer term problem of Dain Randolph that she wasn't sure she could handle. The combination of experienced sensual challenge and potently attractive masculinity that he projected was devastatingly dangerous. Oh, well, forewarned (thanks to Mrs. Covey and her own common sense) is forearmed, she hoped.
When she was dressed and ready to leave, the mirror that had reflected the prim secretary in the morning showed her a far different image. Her hair shone in burnished glory as long curls cascaded from a Psyche knot. Her only jewelry, except for her skillfully highlighted green eyes that glowed like emeralds in a frame of dark bronze lashes, were gold filigree flower earrings set into the lobes of her small flat ears and a matching ring on her right forefinger. Dark amber topazes were set into the hearts of the flowers.
The mandarin collar of her dress caressed the base of the slender neck that supported her head so proudly and the tantalizing V-neck was frogged shut just above the lush swell of her breasts. Demure, but promising hidden richness. No longer did her lipstick hide the contours of her mouth, and her skin, freed from the disguising powder, had regained its warm apricot bloom, soft and smooth.
The transformation was complete and incredible, and to the man who stood with hand raised to knock, just as she opened the door, breathtaking. Keri paused in surprise, unconsciously framed in the doorway, confronting this unexpected, and unwelcome, apparition. His hand dropped forgotten to his side and his eyes shone with an odd glitter.
"My God, now I understand," he muttered, shaken. "What man wouldn't?"
"I beg your pardon?" Keri inquired frostily.
"I was making mental apology to someone," was the obscure explanation.
The appearance of her boss, clad in the severe black and white of evening dress, on her threshold was not calculated to calm Keri, and his cryptic words seemed all of a piece with his incomprehensible behavior. She was, however, afraid she knew what his next words were going to be, and she was right.
"I'll take you to the reception," he informed her, prepared to override and totally ignore her expected protest.
"But I. . ." Keri began to expostulate when the phone cut demandingly across her words.
It was a bad replay of the time Schyler had appeared at her door, she thought with exasperation as she watched Dain consolidate his position inside, much as Schyler had several nights before. She wasn't surprised either to discover that this time it was Schyler on the other end of the phone. Who else? She sighed in deepest exasperation.
"Hello, Schyler ... No,. Schyler, you cannot come over .... Because I won't be here starting about sixty seconds from now!" She banged down the phone sharply.
"Lover's tiff?"
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