That afternoon , as she folded the new silk dress carefully in tissue paper , it reminded her again of the night of the party .sx It was the first real opportunity she'd had to think about it .sx Had it happened after all ?sx Or had it been only a dream ?sx It might as well have been , since the one certainty in her mind was that if she and Nick were to continue working together there could be no question of personal involvement .sx Still , even if it had been only a dream , it was a very pleasant one to remember .sx Nick was waiting for her in the living - room when she'd finished packing , and she was surprised to see that instead of wearing a business suit for travelling he had on his dinner - jacket again .sx " Are you all ready to go ?sx " he asked .sx " Yes , " she replied , puzzled .sx " How about you ?sx " .sx " Oh , I'm not leaving tonight , " he said offhandedly .sx Then he grinned .sx " I have a date .sx " .sx " But what about the documents ?sx We still have to pack up the files .sx " .sx " Oh , you can do that , " he said airily .sx Then she saw red .sx " And what if I happen to have a date ?sx " she demanded .sx " Do you ?sx " .sx " Well , no , but Jack has called several times - " .sx " Then get to work , McIntyre , " he broke in abruptly .sx My master's voice , she thought , as he started for his room .sx When he was gone , she frowned angrily down at the documents .sx Nick's high - handed attitude infuriated her , but what else could she do but obey ?sx Heaving a deep sigh of self - pity at the injustice of it all , she started picking up folders and stacking them into cartons , but , before long , as her anger grew , she found herself slamming them around noisily and throwing them inside any old way .sx Nick came back in a few minutes , his hands in his trouser pockets , jingling change and keys and whistling under his breath .sx On his way past the table to the door he glanced sharply at her .sx " Hey , be a little more careful with that stuff , " he said .sx " What are you trying to do , kill it ?sx " .sx By now she was more than ready to kill him , and she whirled around to face him .sx " Listen , " she said .sx " It's not fair .sx You've treated me like your slave ever since the first day I came to work for you , just because you resent the fact that I'm a woman who can do a man's job , and I'm fed up .sx " .sx He looked down his nose at her .sx " I've told you before , McIntyre .sx We all have to go through a certain amount of slave labour in the beginning .sx I'm not going to make an exception just because you're a woman .sx If you want special treatment , you'd better look for it somewhere else , because you won't get it from me .sx " .sx Regan bit her lip and fought down her anger .sx He was right .sx Nothing would be gained by antagonising him any more than she already had just for the sake of a personal grudge .sx She knew when she was beaten .sx She was skating on thin ice as it was .sx " Yes , sir , " she muttered through her teeth .sx She turned back to the hateful files and started straightening out the mess she'd made .sx Nick seemed to hesitate for a second , and she wondered what he was going to ask her to do this time .sx Pack for him , perhaps .sx Well , whatever it was she'd do it if it killed her and keep her mouth shut about it .sx Then she heard his footsteps as he walked away from her , heard him open the door and close it again behind him .sx When she was sure he was gone , she looked up and glared at the door , suppressed the urge to throw the file in her hand against it , and once again got back to work .sx On the flight back to Seattle early that evening , it seemed strange to Regan not to have Nick sitting beside her .sx Even though she was still simmering at the shabby way he'd treated her , they'd been together so constantly during the past five days that his absence left a real void .sx At least , she consoled herself , she wouldn't have to watch him ogling the stewardess .sx Once the plane was safely airborne , she lay her head back and closed her eyes , but she found she was still too keyed up from that last - minute rush to sleep .sx Nick had kept her so busy that this was the first real chance she'd had to try to put the events of the past week in some kind of perspective .sx All in all , she was satisfied that she'd done a good job for him .sx Even though she'd flared up at him a few times when his critical comments became personal , for the most part she'd followed him around and done his bidding like a faithful dog .sx She was grateful now that she'd held her tongue this afternoon when he'd announced the news that she would have to do all the packing herself because he had a date .sx She wondered who it was .sx The blonde stewardess from the trip down last Sunday ?sx The elegant blonde who'd been hanging all over him at the party ?sx Always blondes , she thought in disgust as she unconsciously ran a hand over her own light - brown hair .sx With the drone of the engine buzzing in her ears , her mind wandered idly back to that night of the party and the eerie encounter with Nick in the middle of the night .sx At the time she had convinced herself it had been a dream , but now , with the pressure of business off and the leisure to consider it more thoroughly , she wasn't so sure .sx Even if it had really happened , no doubt it was because they'd both had too much to drink earlier .sx Not only that , but it was over practically before it started .sx Yet , as she finally drifted off into a fitful sleep , it seemed to her that she could still feel that bare chest pressed against her , his arms holding her , the taste of his seeking mouth , his hand on her breast .sx The next thing she knew , they were landing at the Seattle airport .sx After collecting her bag , she went out in front to look for a cab .sx There was no point in calling Don to come and get her , as he'd offered .sx The Friday night traffic would be horrendous , and Don , who was even more overworked than she was , needed all the rest he could get .sx She'd just put the taxi fare on her expense account , and Nick could lump it if he didn't like it .sx She'd earned it .sx It was a lovely summer evening , the sun still shining at after seven o'clock , and , as the cab sped north on the motorway towards the city , Regan gazed out of the window at the familiar landmarks , the mountains to the east and west , the blue waters of Puget Sound and Lake Union , thinking how glad she was to be home .sx Seattle had never looked so good to her .sx Her apartment was hot and stuffy , and as soon as she was inside she ran around opening the windows .sx Her first goal was a warm shower .sx She could save the unpacking for later .sx Tomorrow was Saturday .sx She's have the whole weekend to go grocery shopping and do her laundry .sx She had finished her shower , dried off and was just wrapping a towel around her wet head , when there came a loud knocking at her front door .sx Quickly , she pulled on clean underwear , a pair of jeans and a cotton shirt and ran barefoot to answer it .sx " Yes , " she called .sx " Who is it ?sx " .sx " Regan ?sx " came Don's worried voice .sx " Is that you ?sx Are you at home ?sx " .sx She opened the door .sx " Come on in , Don .sx " .sx " I heard noises down here and thought I'd better investigate .sx " He stepped inside , closing the door after him .sx " You were supposed to call me when you got in .sx " .sx " Oh , I didn't want to bother you .sx " They were into the living - room .sx " Sit down for a minute if you have time .sx " .sx " Have you eaten ?sx " .sx " No , " she said in surprise .sx " I haven't , as a matter of fact .sx " She laughed .sx " I was so glad to be home I forgot all about food .sx " .sx " How about sharing a pizza ?sx " .sx " OK .sx " She pointed at the telephone in the hall .sx " Why don't you call and have one delivered ?sx I still have a few things to do .sx " .sx While Don made the call , Regan went back into the bathroom and picked up after herself .sx Her hair was not quite dry , so she used the drier on it for a few minutes , then brushed it back behind her ears , put on a dash of pale coral lip gloss , slipped into a pair of moccasins and went back to the living - room .sx " Well , " Don said , as she sat down opposite him on the couch .sx " How was the trip ?sx " .sx She made a face .sx " Harrowing .sx That boss of mine is a real slave driver .sx " .sx " Is that way ?sx " .sx " Oh , you name it .sx It's 'Go do this , McIntyre,' " she mimicked Nick's deep voice .sx " 'Make five hundred copies , get me a cup of coffee , pack those boxes .sx ' " She made a wry face .sx " I expected him to put me to work shining his shoes or pressing his suits by the time we were through .sx " .sx Don was laughing by now .sx " Tell me about it !sx " he said with feeling .sx " I've got a cardiologist at the hospital who must have learned his tricks in the same school .sx " h .sx When the boy came in with their pizza , Don paid him , then they went into the kitchen and sat down at the small table by the window .sx Don sliced the pizza while Regan got two bottles of beer out of the refrigerator , and they sat down to eat .sx " Have you ever thought of asking for another assignment ?sx " Don asked between bites .sx " I mean , if your boss is that hard to please , maybe you should consider it .sx They can't all be that bad .sx " .sx Regan slowly set down her glass and looked at him .sx " Why , no , " she said soberly .sx " That never entered my mind .sx " She shrugged .sx " Oh , granted , he's impossible , but working for him gives me the chance to learn from one of the best legal minds in the city .sx How about you and your problem doctor ?sx Would you leave him ?sx " .sx Don laughed .sx " Interns don't leave doctors .sx Doctors fire interns .sx " Then his expression grew serious .sx " And to answer your question , no , I wouldn't dream of it .sx Like your boss , he's terrible to deal with , but there's not another doctor around who could teach me as much about cardiology as he can .sx " .sx " Well , then , you should be able to understand the way I feel about Nick Wainwright .sx " She eyed the carton on the table .sx I'll toss you for the last slice .sx " .sx Regan virtually slept the weekend away .sx She hadn't realised just how exhausted she was from the gruelling sessions in San Francisco until she was back in her own bed .sx Then she could hardly bear to get out of it , except to do the most essential shopping and a little laundry on Saturday between naps .sx The weather remained fine , and by late Sunday afternoon she was beginning go feel rested at last .sx She took a long walk around Green Lake , had a light supper at her place , then spent the rest of the evening getting ready for work the next day .sx Nick should be back , and she was amazed at how much she looked forward to the prospect of seeing him again .sx She arrived at the office bright and early Monday morning and headed directly towards her own small office .sx It was good to be back , and as she walked by the library the other young lawyers labouring inside called to her , welcoming her back warmly , as though they really were glad to see her , making her feel as though she really belonged now .sx She went directly to Nick's office , assuming he would already be there .sx It was past nine o'clock , and she hoped he wouldn't give her a dressing down for being late .sx