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"Welco My name is Anita, and this is Danielle and Eleni The three of you are very special Tonight, we have our second billionaire in MDM history, and he specifically requested professional woe and children And in Texas" Two of the worinned If someone had told me they were sisters, I would have believed it in a heartbeat I stifled a groan and continued with my welcome speech "We have ouron the first date, no sex before engagee"

The woirls we got in here I usually heard a chorus of, "But what if I really like him?" complete with a Valley Girl accent

"Quick question," said Arabella, a professional artist with bright blond hair "So this guy is a billionaire but I couldn't even find his picture online What gives?"

"We don't know much about him either," I said I'd expected this question I'd spent part of the night trying to find out more about him, but I hadn't been successful "But that's what makes this event very special And it's what makes the three of you very special as well We know you are all the type of woain a ht not find the right fit for Joseph right away, but with your help, we can all learn more about him" I saw a stretch limousine pull up outside, as shiny and tacky as any of the liuy was trying to rin and hurried the women back to the event space

"Is that him?" Another one of the women stayed behind me to look out at the li closed

"I' h the doors to the bar It was a tradition for the client to co in the event space "But we'll be back here for now He'll come when he's ready" Eleni stepped into the roo belly She didn't care that she'd broken all the rules with Josh — MDM still had its set of rules, and she was intent on getting the women to follow them I se feeling I'd had all day Even thinking about Billy had an reviewing the rules with the wo sure they stood where our billionaire could see thee space above the event space Tears stungme feel like this, but so much had reminded me of Billy recently I sat down heavily in one of the overstuffed chairs, wiping away my tears so that my mascara wouldn't run

"How did you co out in the empty room But of course there was no answer There never was I stared at the wall, listening to the people chatting below From the sound of it, our Texas oil billionaire had arrived His loud voice rang al about it reminded me of Billy The cadence of it His accent But that was silly wasn't it? I got up and went to the bathrooo back downstairs eventually, but maybe Danielle and Eleni wouldn't notice irlit fall over ood for a washed-up ex-dancer "And anyway, it doesn't matter what you look like This man isn't here tocame back to my voice I couldn't help but smile Billy had teased me so mercilessly about my accent it was hard for us to even talk so so hard we couldn't breathe Even though ere fro Southern accents in common I took a deep breath and s myself to step back out into the apart up the back stairs

"Anita! Anita, are you up here? Thisout to me

"Great," I sighed "Another diva I swear, these " I opened the door, and Danielle's tired face appeared beforewith?"

"Well, I don't know, Nita He ca to do with any of these wo for He was very polite and nice, but I'ht even go to the other agency"

"Can't Eleni talk to him? I'm not really in the mood"

"You know Eleni would just tell hih she's found her own rohed She probably would

"Okay, fine," I said, putting a hand on Danielle's shoulder "We'll go sort this billionaire out And we'll make hi" I patted Danielle on the shoulder and followed her down the stairs, sighing deeply and wondering just hoould convince this otten some of our loveliest women out here, and ere the best in the business As I descended the stairs, I caught a glimpse of the man in question He had his back turned away, and tonicely with one of the wolanced over his broad body, nearly laughing out loud when I saw that he earing jeans and a plaid button-down shirt Soht, I stepped down on ain

"Ji forward on Danielle The pain shot through ht Wasn't Billy's middle name Joseph?

Slowly, Joseph Wootton turned around, his blue eyes sparkling

"You okay ma'am?" The drawl poured from his mouth like warm honey, and instantly, I was transported back in ti hole in Asheville

"Billy?" I asked, h My brain tried to take in the i tricks onmy head back and forth

"As I live and breathe Anita Lee Taylor," said Joseph Wootton "I never thought I'd see you again It's been it's been so long" He stepped towardsevery sweet ht years It was the last thing I saw before I toppled backwards, the sparkling lights of the roo black before me

CHAPTER THREE

I slowly opened ht before ely — surreally — Billy's face appeared beside hers

"Anita, Anita Are you okay?" His accent was as thick and rich as I re to pull myself to my feet My ankle throbbed and didn't seem to want to hold me up Billy Joe — or was he Joseph Wootton? — turned toherbetter of it The vision of Billy's three dates shifted and swayed beforeout before I could fully stand

"Dammit"

"Your ankle, Anita! You can't hurt your ankle that's not going to be good for dancing" The deep concern in Billy's eyes nearlymy eyes There was so much he didn't know so much of each other's lives that we'd ht then and there, sinking into the exquisite hardwood floor and disappearing as he took on a new romance one that he could take horoide

"Who are you? And how do you know Anita? She broke her foot seven years ago, just after she joined the Los Angeles Ballet" Tears rolled downon his face

"Oh Anita," he sighed He knelt down besideit The tears poured down h my body Eleni brushed off her dress and smoothed her hair down, just like she did whenever she was nervous This billionaire's date

hadn't exactly gone as planned Eleni got up and turned her attention to the three feproperly

"Alright ladies, it looks like this date is a wrap for now My sister" Eleni glanced back at et you all home, and we'll call you up if Mr Wootton decides to return to the agency"

"Looks like he found his date," one of the women muttered The three of them tottered on their heels, headed for the door Daniellea little finesse to the situation That's what Eleni kept us around for anyway — a little bit of the finesse she couldn't give

"Billy Joe," I said, woozily raising ers over his stubble

"It's Joseph nowadays, or Joe,“ he said, sently turned ain "Do you think you can put any weight on it?" I shookto swell

"I'll get you to the hospital," said Danielle, stepping towardsat Billy Joe with suspicious eyes

"Don't you even think about it, Miss Danielle," said Billy "I'll get her there" Danielle put her hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow at Billy