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“A working dinner”

“Of course”

There was no polite way out of it He was here, all the way fro the shots Like it or not She’d pushed him as far as she’d dared just now and her victory was thin If they were to work together for the next several weeks, ht…then somehow they needed to reach an amicable status quo She sed He had to know she was not afraid He had to know she put the hotel and its employees first

“One dinner, that’s all And we discuss work”

“Naturally”

Mari took a few sidesteps, thankful the door ithin reach “I’ll meet you in the Panorama Room at six”

“Perfect”

When he walked toward her she pulled open the door, a little too quickly to be poised His hand gripped the door frame above her shoulder and she felt the heat fro of her pulse was fear or exhilaration She slid out the opening as fast as she possibly could, clinging to whatever grace she could muster

“I’ll see you then,” Luca said softly

She fled for the elevator without looking back

It was 5:57 when Mari stopped before the entrance of the dining room and smoothed her dress

She paused in the door, scanning the room, but he wasn’t there Relief warred with annoyance She didn’t have to worry aboutan entrance this way, but at least he could be on ti to have her initial impressions of him confirmed so accurately Luca was unfocused, cavalier about the whole thing He was every bit the playboy she’d read about Sexy and s to drive her crazy