And You Will Find Love - Page 64/287

To Olafson, Barbara said, "It's almost five o'clock. I'll finish this filing later and go right over to Gail's. Can you tell Mister Armstrong when he calls that I'm sorry but I have to cancel our date?"

Olafson looked relieved, too. Barbara's silent misery in his office after her solo flight made him realize he had been unfair to put her on the spot with his new business associate. He was using her, and wanted her to know it would not happen again. He hinted at this in his reply, "Go ahead, Gail. I'll tell Armstrong it's off. I can see you don't care much for him. I'll try to say it so he gets the message that it's off for good, not just for tonight."

It made Barbara feel better about Olafson. Now that's a man!, she thought.

"I won't give him your home phone number or address, either. I'll tell him it's against company policy."

Barbara was glad then that she had her phone number unlisted. It had been because she was afraid Chet might learn it, and also where she lived.

But Chet was there, the next morning, waiting in his MG outside her house when she returned to her apartment after spending the night at Gail's. He blared his car's horn when he saw her get off a streetcar and approach the front door of the small north side apartment building where she lived.

"How did you...?" Barbara stammered as Chet got out of his car and took her in his arms.

"You didn't think I'd let little things like not knowing your phone number or address keep me from seeing you."

It unnerved her, realizing he had found her. While she struggled to free herself from his strong arms, she wondered if he had followed her to Gail's and then to her apartment, or had he hired a detective to trail her? When he tried to kiss her, she turned her face away.

"Down!" she cried out. "Off! Sit!"

He just laughed and despite her resistance, managed to kiss her squarely on the lips. In return, she bit his.

"Ouch! Why you little vixen! Don't you know that makes me want you all the more?"

She kicked him in the shin. The pain made him release her and grab his hurt leg. While he hopped up and down, she fled to the safety of the entrance to her building. She managed to close the heavy glass door leading to the stairs just a second before he got there. She felt safe when she heard the click that sounded when the door locked.