A Deeper Dimension by Amanda Carpenter Page A

thinner. He looked almost angry, and she couldn’t figure out why.
    “I’ve done a good job,” she said defensively. “Did someone tell you I hadn’t? Did Owen tell you?” She sounded indignant. “I wasn’t needing help.”
    “Owen didn’t breathe a word to me,” Alex sighed. “Don’t you think I could tell how you were feeling when I talked to you over the phone?” He leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees and holding his glass in both hands. She watched his profile, the strong nose and mouth and the jutting outline of his cheekbone. He looked up suddenly, catching her eyes. “I knew you had to be putting in at least ten to twelve hours a day, just to keep up with all of the new contracts you were sending us so fast! You haven’t taken a day off in weeks, have you?” She looked away with a vague expression on her face. “Have you?” he insisted, prompting a reluctant shake of the head.
    “Well, have you taken a day off?” Diana was stung into asking.
    He made an impatient gesture, jeopardising the safety of the drink he still held. “I knew it!”
    “It’s different for me!” he said angrily. “I can take it.”
    She began to seethe inside, all traces of sleepiness gone. “And I can’t, is that it? Have I done such a bad job? Have I complained, or shirked some job that needed to be done? Have I?”
    “That’s not the point!” he snapped. “I think you’ve done an excellent job with everything, and I know you haven’t complained. I’m used to the long hours, though, and can take more than other people can.” He stood up and started to pace the room in impatient strides. “And can you honestly say you could have handled the pace for very much longer?”
    Diana remained silent, staring stonily at the floor in front of her. She was unprepared for the hand that came under her chin to tilt her head up. His hand and face were gentle and he said, “I just didn’t want to see you all worn out.” His face blurred to her as her eyes watered unexpectedly.
    She tried to laugh and it came out shaky, as she wiped her eyes with both hands. “I guess I’m more tired than I thought,” she sniffed. Her hands shook ever so slightly.
    Alex took her hands and rubbed them for a moment. Then he suddenly let go and pulled her up with one arm around her waist. He kept his arm around her waist and walked her to the door of the spare bedroom, talking all the while. “You’re going to climb in bed right now, young lady, while I fix you a cup of hot chocolate. And you’re not to get up in the morning, but you’re going to sleep until you wake up by yourself. Then you’re going to take the rest of the day off to spend it how you please. At five o’clock tomorrow afternoon you can meet me at the office, and we’ll go out to dinner so you can fill me in on a few things. Okay?” He turned her around to face him and looked down at her with eyebrows raised.
    She pleaded, “Couldn’t I come in just a little earlier to finish a contract propos—”
    “No! That’s an order, Diana. Don’t you dare show your face before five o’clock!” He looked serious.
    She chuckled a little. “All right.”
    He looked pleased with himself. “Good girl! Now go and turn off your alarm and jump in bed. I’ll be right back with your cocoa. Move, child!”
    She looked indignant at that remark, but she scampered into bed quickly anyway. Soon he was back with the warm drink and he sat on the side of her bed and talked to her until she finished the relaxing drink. He then took the empty cup and watched her settle down in bed before he left the room. She was unprepared for the swift movement as he quickly bent down and brushed his lips against the top of her forehead and then was gone, closing the door behind him.
    Going to sleep without the thought of the alarm going off was simply marvellous…
    When Diana finally opened her eyes, daylight was seeping in through a crack between the curtains at the window. She