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her face back to his. “Just promise me you’ll order something big and expensive. Deal?” His efforts earned him a smile and a nod. It made him want to kiss her, to tell her that Eric Miller was a bastard and demand that she cancel their date and— “Good night, Willa,” he said abruptly, his voice still hoarse. He leaned down to scoop up the cane he’d dropped during their heated exchange and walked back across the now deserted room to get his gym bag.
    Willa clasped the clipboard to her chest and pushed through the door. Once in the hall, she leaned against the wall and took in several deepbreaths. It didn’t help. Without a doubt she was in over her head. Way over her head.
    She hurried toward her office before Nick could come out and find her still standing there. Eric was waiting in her office. She had to be clearheaded if she was going to pull this off.
    Willa wasn’t sure if she had any willpower left to deal with Eric and this whole mess tonight. What she really wanted was to go home and sink into a tub full of steaming water, drink a glass of chilled wine, and pretend the past two days had never happened. Then she thought of Nick, and how for a moment he’d seemed to look into her soul and request her help in healing his. She couldn’t ignore that, or her responsibility to him. Whatever his motives were for the little scene in the doorway, she still needed to clear his name. And her own.
    She was a fool if she thought for one minute that he had any real desire for her. He believed she had betrayed him, cost him a part of his life. Even if she exonerated herself, there was no way he could ever look at her without being reminded of his past and her significant role in it. And for that she couldn’t blame him. She had to clear him and stay clear of him.
    Eric straightened immediately from behind her desk as she entered the room. Before Willacould question him on what he was doing, he asked her a question.
    “Where have you been? I feel like I’ve been waiting for hours.” His pout made Willa sick.
    Swallowing her distaste, she said, “Sorry I’m late, Eric. My last appointment ran a little long.”
    “Well, are you ready to go?” Eric jammed his hand through his salon-styled blond hair and shifted from one foot to the other. He seemed impatient, almost edgy.
    “I still have to shower and help Kelly lock up. It will only take about thirty minutes, but if you’d rather not—”
    “No, that’s okay.” Eric walked toward her, looking contrite over his less than polite greeting. “I’m sorry, Willa, I guess I’m just anxious to be alone with you.”
    He touched her arm, and she casually moved away. “Why don’t you go ahead to the restaurant and order our drinks,” she said, her voice bright. And about ten appetizers , she added silently. “I’ll meet you there.”
    “That’s okay. I’ll wait here.”
    She hadn’t forgotten he’d been behind her desk when she’d come in and she wasn’t about to leave him in her office alone again. “Why don’t you wait upstairs in the reception-area lounge?It’s closing time, so I don’t think you’ll be bothered.”
    “I’ll be counting the minutes.” Eric flashed his perfect teeth. “I’m really glad to be seeing you again.”
    As he bent his head closer Willa reached behind her and opened the door. “The sooner I leave, the sooner I’ll be back.” She backed through the doorway and pointed up the hallway. “Just head up those stairs and take a right.”
    Eric had no choice but to leave the office. Willa locked the door and headed the opposite way down the hall.
    Twenty minutes later she emerged from the locker room, showered and changed, though not exactly refreshed. Pulling her hair into a ponytail, she fixed it with one of her favorite green puffy bands. She adjusted a thin leather belt over a forest-green print shirt. She couldn’t stop her thoughts from wandering to Nick and imagining what it would be like to dress for him, to see