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She laughed ‘No could any girl resist an offer like that?’

Five hours later they’d just had enough time to dash back to the apartment and dress for dinner Anissa hadn’t checked to see what Leo’s PA Keisa had sent over She’d just grabbed the hangar and rushed into her rooe She blasted her hair with the dryer and applied soave a little flip at the box of shoes on the bed Black patent leather stilettos with red soles Probably costand shook out the dress

It was gorgeous—red, a colour she rarely wore It had a straight neckline, falling fro at her knees

She stepped into the dress and the shoes and took one quick glance in theout to Leo

‘Wow’ He was standing waiting for her in a dark suit and tie, a glass of red wine in his hand The lights in the penthouse were dimmed and she loved the way his eyes sparkled as she sashayed towards him

She gestured down, ‘Well, I haven’t met Keisa but she sure has impeccable taste’

Leo nodded appreciatively ‘She does’ Then he gave a little sht have sent her a photo’

‘Of me?’ She was surprised ‘When?’

‘Today’ He shrugged ‘We took masses of pictures at the statue and the Natural History Museum the other day’

She moved forward and tapped his chest ‘And I have a spectacular photo of you pretending to hold a giant blue whale from the other day’

He laughed ‘I forgot about that one You could use it as blacker ‘Actually, I have a really good picture of someone with their head inside a T-Rex’s ood blackmail picture’

She slid her arms up around his neck ‘You’d really blackmail me?’

His hands rested on her hips and his gaze was loaded ‘I could be persuaded not to’

She ainst hers ‘Tell ht Tell me about Joe’

He aze ‘Are you worried about dinner?’

She pulled a face ‘Not worried, really But I know this is a big deal for you I don’t want to say anything wrong Is there anything I should avoid?’

He shook his head ‘Just be yourself You’re perfect Joe will love you’

It was like warh her Since he’d opened up to her last night it was as if all the walls had come down He seemed easier,what to do next about his family, but the dark, hooded look had left his face It was almost as if he was relieved to have finally shared hoas feeling about things

She stepped back and slipped her hand into his ‘Come on, then, Mr Baxter, take me to dinner’

It was his favourite restaurant—and it was Joe’s too The restaurant slowly rotated as they ate, ot to see all the views of New York

Service was smooth and quick And just like he’d predicted, Joe was charmed by Anissa It was the first ti but soht

Anissa had enchanted Joe with stories about her childhood in Austria, and then intrigued hi experiences

As she spoke Leo couldn’t help but notice the far-off look in her eye or the slightly wistful tone in her voice He wasn’t quite sure what to say or how to react As their main courses arrived, she turned towards both of them

‘I’ve had an interesting job offer’

‘You have?’

She nodded hesitantly ‘Fros with—there’s a vacancy on the International Skiing Championship Committee’ She seemed a little nervous ‘They’ve considered me’

Joe leaned over and squeezed Anissa’s hand ‘Of course they have They know talent when they see it’ He seeht away ‘They’ve considered you—are you considering them?’

It was the careful way Joe turned the question around He was a wily character with years of experience in dealing with people Leo held his breath He wanted to know the answer to that question too Anissa hadn’t mentioned the job offer earlier—why not?

She toyed with the food on her plate ‘I’m not sure,’ she said finally

Leo couldn’t help himself ‘Why not? It sounds wonderful’