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Hope returned to her office, then straightened a few things up She watered the cactus on the sill, answered all her e Then, out of busywork, she sighed

Instead of picking up the phone, she stared at it Mentally, she tried a few different approaches They were all aard—or worse, left her vulnerable and uncertain She didn’t want to know this ry for the information

What the hell rong with her? She needed to find Rafe Sterling a wife Instead, he’d upended her equilibrium

Shaking her head at her cowardice, Hope snatched up her phone, searched out his contact inforh each ring and exhaled a relieved whoosh when she reached his voiceh his voice was recorded, the smokiness in his words sent little shivers of arousal skittering through her

Since she had no business reacting to a client in that way, she cleared her throat before leaving what she prayed was a coherent e

After the short reprieve, her anxiety spiked Now she had to wait for him to call back

Torturing her, he tookworkday Tony and Skyler had already left the office, and Hope had been organizing her desk before heading to the gym

In a s, she didn’t answer until the last possible second, right before her ringtone trailed off “Prestige Group”

“It’s Rafe Sterling”

His voice sent treh her

“What can I do for you?” he asked

Her spine lost strength, and she sank deeper against the back of her seat “As you knoe are setting up the mixer”

He waited without response

She had no choice but to move forward “I have an…indelicate question for you”

“About…?”

What was the word he had used? “Your proclivities”

“That sounds interesting” Hu her uncomfortable “Please, proceed”