He could feel her rapid breath on his face. “It’s Dillon.”
“Dillon?”
“That’s right.”
“Dillon?”
“Yes.”
Exhausted, he bent his head over hers, resting it on her forehead while he sucked in drafts of air. He released her wrists. When he did, her arms fell lifelessly to her sides.
“Are you okay?” he asked hoarsely.
She nodded. He stepped away from her and clicked on the lamp. The letter opener still in her hand had a serrated blade. It could have been deadly.
“Jesus,” he swore. “What the hell were you trying to do with that damn thing?”
Jade dropped the letter opener onto the desk and simultaneously collapsed into her chair. “Protect myself.”
She was pale, trembling, and breathless, but otherwise seemed no worse for wear. Seeing that she was all right, Dillon allowed himself to get mad. “You damn near gutted me.”
Jade propped her elbow on her desk and pushed a handful of hair out of her face. “You shouldn’t have sneaked up on me.”
“I didn’t sneak. I made a hell of a racket outside. I called your name twice.”
“Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“I didn’t want to startle you.”
“Oh, so you just leaned over me like you were going to smother me.”
He let loose a string of curses.
“What are you doing here anyway? What time is it?” she asked, apparently still confused from being awakened so abruptly.
“Not that late,” he replied. “Just after eleven.”
“Oh, lord.” She picked the telephone off the floor. While she placed a call to her house, Dillon stood at the edge of her desk, glaring down at her. “I’m glad you arrived when you did,” she said as she replaced the receiver. “Cathy was worried, but said she hated to call and interrupt me while I was working.”
“What the hell were you thinking of to stay out here by yourself after dark?” he asked angrily. “You’re lucky it was me who came through that door.”
“The door was locked.”
“As though that would stop anybody who wanted in badly enough.”
“Well, nothing tragic happened, so let’s just forget it, shall we?”
That belittling tone of hers never failed to set his teeth on edge. As she came around her desk, he blocked her path. “We’ll forget it when I say it’s time to forget it. It’s not safe for a woman to be out here alone, miles from town, after dark. Don’t do it again.”
“May I remind you that you’re not in a position of authority over me?”
“Dammit, forget our positions. This has nothing to do with work. Besides, the only time you pull rank on me is when you know you’re wrong.”
Her eyes blazed up at him. “If it had been anybody but you, Loner would have barked to alert me of danger.”
Dillon lowered his head closer to hers. “Is that right?”
“That’s right.”