What had he done? 'What did you do?' echoed the housekeeper as she picked up the tray.
'Just asked for a fashion parade. Then she cut and ran.' The raised eyebrows showed he needed to clarify that request. 'Of the gowns, tennis gear and jodhpurs…all the things you bought her today?'
'Lingerie too?'
'Lingerie?'
Ethan, upon hearing of Chloe's 'discoveries' and subsequent events, groaned at his drivers and his own stupidity.
How many times had he been in staff meetings and how many memos had he sent regarding sexual harassment in the work place? Here the only two men in Cathie's life in the space of an hour had been guilty of not once but twice over stepping the boundary. David's gaffe was harmless in the light of the humorous circumstances surrounding it. He though was essentially her unofficial guardian and here he was flirting with her, looking openly at her body. Of course he hadn't meant the lingerie only the clothes she had mentioned. But added to the earlier episode with David and the lingerie and his same use of the term fashion parade he now understood Cathie's …was it…outrage, embarrassment? A deep sigh whooshed from Ethan as he stood up and entered the house.
Several gentle knocks later Ethan was tossing up whether to enter her room or not, the lack of response worrying him. Then he noticed the sudden quiet when a soft hum stopped.
Ah, he thought, drying not crying.
This time he knocked loud enough to be heard in the ensuite and waited patiently, practicing his apology.
'Yes?' Hands on hips and a belligerent stare told Ethan it had better be good.
'Can I come in?'
'It's your house.'
'But it's your bedroom, for as long as you want it...May I?'
Cathie, glaring at Ethan, crossed her arms across her chest and stepped back. Ethan entered, and primed for surrender, said an immediate 'I'm sorry.' which deflated the chest and softened the eyes, but only just.
'Darlene filled me in…about the lingerie and the fashion parade comment. We were both very…crass and I, especially, overstepped the mark.'
The contrite look on his face and sincere tone softened Cathie further. However the arms stayed crossed. He had overstepped the mark.
'I guess I overreacted. I'm just not used to being asked to parade around in my underwear. Certainly not that kind of underwear!' Ethan was amazed that phrases such as 'not being used to' came easily off her tongue.
'Darlene really out do her self did she?'