page5 (1/2)

She passed Ash Williaer and opened histo her

“Not now, Ash, she called as she hustled by “Late for an important lunch date”

She didn’t even look to see his reaction

She ran past Shelby and hollered back as she punched the button for the elevator

“If Brock asks, I’ot moved up If anyone else asks, just tell them I’ll return this afternoon”

The elevator opened and she ducked in As she turned around, she saw Shelby’s look of befuddleain

When she reached the lobby, she stopped in the bathrooh to check her appearance She wouldn’t stop traffic for sure, but at least she didn’t look as frazzled as she felt

The heels she’d chosen to co as she didn’t have to actually walk in them A trek down the block on uneven cement sidewalks wasn’t what she had in mind She kept tennis shoes in her office for just such occasions, but five minutes notice on the ive her time to worry over footwear She’d just suck it up

When she crossed the street to the next block, she realized she never had gotten where they were supposed to ht u the sidewalk cafés, first on her side of the street and then across

A vacuus the ht, one hand shoved into the pocket of his slacks, the other holding a phone to his ear

Power There was an aura of power that surrounded hinet For a ht He was si

Then he turned slightly and found her How, she wasn’t sure given how busy the street was, but he locked onto her immediately almost as if he’d sensed her perusal

She straightened and started forward, e

She crossed the street, hugging her briefcase between her arlea in his eyes His features relaxed into a smile as she drew abreast of him

“Right on time”

She nodded, not wanting to betray how out of breath she was froht from her office

“I chose good ole Aestured toward a nearby table “I hope that was all right”

“Of course”

He held out his arm for her to precede hirateful to be off her feet, and placed her briefcase beside her

He took his seat across from her and motioned for the waiter

“Would you like wine?” Evan asked Celia when the waiter approached

“Whatever you’re having is fine”

Evan relayed his request and then looked over at Celia “I asked you to lunch because I’ has come up and on’t be able to make our lunch date on Friday”

She nodded then reached down for her briefcase “That’s all right I brought along the information I

wanted to present—”

He reached over and circled her wrist with his fingers “That isn’t why I invited you to lunch”

She blinked and let go of her briefcase

“I’d still like to keep our appointe the location”

She was royally confused now, and it must have shown Amusement twinkled in his eyes and he smiled

“I don’t have a lot of tiht to the point”

His fingers were still around her wrist, though they’d loosened, and his thumb moved idly over her pulse point She was sure her pulse was racing It probably felt like a train under his fingers She didn’t move

Didn’t even breathe She didn’t want to lose the marvelous sensation of his touch Did he have any idea just how devastating his effect on her was?

“I have a wedding this weekend” She could swear his lips curled in distaste “A fa , hence the reason I can’t ”

“I understand,” she said “We can reschedule at your convenience”

“I’d like you to go with me”

Before she could call back the reaction, her eyes widened and she pulled her hand from his She put it in her lap and cupped her other hand over it, wanting to preserve the sensation of his fingers over hers

He put up his hand in an iesture then lowered it and fiddled with the napkin on the table He seemed almost uneasy She cocked her head, curious now as to what he would say next

“My schedule is quite busy I need tofor a new agency If you ithisn’t ideal I’d rather be just about any other place myself”

Though it certainly wasn’t voiced as a threat, it was certainly implied If she ith hiht not have time for her when he returned

Worry knotted her sto seemed entirely too personal even if the purpose was solely business Not to h to battle her attraction for hi as inti?

“How long would we be…away?”

The question came out more as a squeak than a concise, professional query She sounded like a scared little girl facing the big bad wolf Oh, but Evan made such a yummy wolf

It was all she could do not to put her head on the table and bang a few times

“We’d fly out Thursday evening Rehearsal and dinner on Friday, wedding Saturday with reception to follow and since it will likely go well into the night, we’d return Sunday”

It would only require one missed day of work No one but Brock would even need to know, and he certainly wouldn’t spill the beans

She didn’t knohy she hadn’t ireed She couldn’t afford to say no He had her over a barrel and he damn well knew it Still, she hesitated—if for no other reason than to let him know he didn’t call all the shots

Okay, so maybe he did, but it didn’t hurt him to think otherwise For two seconds

“All right,” she said in as level a voice as she could e