LITMIR.BIZ

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into a large room in the front and waved her hand toward the shelves of oversize books.

      “This space is for clients. I have a lot of materials in here to give them choices about cakes and decorations.”

      Ryan looked around the cheerful space with its tables and comfortable-looking chairs, and she wondered if he was even remotely interested in her business.

      “Introduce me to your assistant and show me your office,” he said, studying Ashley with a hungry look.

      As she gazed at his handsome features, she thought, If only. Immediately, she stopped that train of thought. There were no if onlys. She had to get Ryan out of her office and her life. “Come with me,” she said briskly. She knew he was right behind her as she entered the hall, and then he fell into step beside her.

      She almost collided with Jenna, who saw Ryan and smiled.

      “Jenna, this is Ryan Warner. Ryan, meet my assistant, Jenna Fremont.”

      “You’re really Ryan Warner,” Jenna said, sounding as if she were meeting a movie star.

      “I’m the one and only. And you’re really Jenna Fremont,” he said, teasing her and grinning.

      She looked as if she would melt as she smiled up at him. “I’m the only Jenna around here.” She giggled. “It’s great to meet you. I’ve seen your pictures all over.”

      “Not on Most Wanted posters, I hope,” he kidded, eliciting more giggles.

      “I’m showing Ryan our offices. I’ll lock up, Jenna.”

      “It was nice to meet you, Jenna,” he said. “I’ll see you again, I’m sure.”

      “Oh, I hope so,” she cooed, and Ashley prayed that she’d never be that impressed with any man herself.

      “They obviously think you’re awesome. If not Carlotta, why don’t you take Jenna to dinner?” Ashley suggested, when they were alone.

      He smiled.

      “She doesn’t get my heart pounding, either,” he said. “It’s interesting how you want to hand me off to someone else.”

      Ignoring his comment, she motioned toward an open door. “Here’s my office.”

      Like a cat in new surroundings, he circled the spacious room, looking at pictures on the wall and at a table that held a spread of wedding snapshots. At her desk, he paused and leaned over, and she wondered what he was looking at. Her calendar, she realized.

      “Ah, you’re free tonight. Good.”

      She shook her head, knowing she had already lost the argument.

      “I promise, we’ll have a great evening,” he said, his gaze boring into her, and she could feel the sparks dancing between them. Attraction was hot and all but crackled in the air. At the same time, there was a clash of wills.

      “I’ll take you to your favorite place, unless you’d rather go to mine,” he said, giving her another one of those knee-melting smiles that made her remember being in his arms. As if the issue were settled, he moved on, looking at books and pictures on her shelves, picking up an old snapshot of her on the farm with her dad.

      Holding the frame in his well-shaped hand, Ryan studied the picture and then glanced at her. “Nice, Ashley. Do you miss the farm?”

      “No. I don’t want to farm. My brother can do that with my dad.”

      Ryan glanced at his watch. “It’s after five, so that means we can close now. I’ll drive, and bring you back later to get your car.”

      “Ryan, we’re not—”

      He narrowed the space between them and slipped his arms around her waist. “I want to be with you, talk to you and see you again,” he said in a hoarse voice. He trailed one hand up to stroke her nape lightly, evoking tingles. “Get your purse and I’ll help you lock up.”

      He was gone from her private office, his long legs carrying him in an easy stride into the hallway. She shook her head and stepped into her small adjoining bathroom to look at herself in the mirror. “Get rid of him,” she whispered. Why did he have to be so damnably handsome? And sexy and fascinating. Why did she respond so to him? she wondered, and then remembered the reactions of Jenna and Carlotta. What female didn’t respond to him?

      Squaring her shoulders, Ashley took a deep breath and left the room, switching off the lights and going to lock up.

      He was standing beside the alarm control box. “Do you have a code for this?” he asked.

      She told him, then watched while he punched buttons. “You did it all correctly,” she said as they left. “You’re efficient.”

      “Thank you,” he replied. “I’m glad to hear I have some pluses.”

      “You have too many pluses,” she remarked dryly, and received a curious stare from him.

      “That’s interesting. Too many,” he repeated. “Does this mean you want some uncivilized behavior from me?”

      “Hardly,” she muttered.

      “Don’t I wish!” he replied. He glanced around. “This is a good location for you, isn’t it? Just the right ambience, and probably caters to an upscale group of clients most of the time.”

      She nodded, thinking that she could add observant to his admirable qualities. As she walked beside him to his car, he slowed his stride to hers and continued to talk about businesses around them, noticing several that tied in to her own.

      He held open the door to the black sports car. When he went around to get in, she ran her hand over the elegant leather seat, reminded again of the differences in their worlds. As soon as he was seated beside her, he turned to look at her. “Do you have a favorite restaurant?”

      She shrugged. “I’ll let you pick where we go. What’s your favorite, Ryan?”

      “Do you like steak, lobster or pheasant?”

      “I like most everything if it isn’t too spicy,” she replied.

      “Including tall, black-haired businessmen?”

      “You have to flirt, don’t you?”

      “With you, absolutely. All right, I’ll take you to one of my favorite spots,” he said, smiling at her. He ran his finger along her cheek. “I really missed you,” he said in a thick voice that affected her as much as his light touches.

      “I find that hard to believe,” she replied dryly, glad he couldn’t detect her racing heartbeat at that moment.

      “I’ll admit that I haven’t been sitting home staring at the wall,” he said, giving her another disarming smile, “because I didn’t know whether I’d ever see you again or not.”

      “Actually, Saturday was a surprise.”

      “I hope one you liked. I’m working on changing your standoffish attitude.”

      She couldn’t keep from smiling at him.

      While they talked, he drove swiftly through the traffic.

      At the restaurant’s canopy-covered entrance, a uniformed valet came to hold open her door.

      The dining area opened onto a large deck built over a pond covered with blooming water lilies. Strings of colored lanterns hung above the tables, and bright yellow and red bougainvillea spilled from hanging pots.

      They were led to a linen-covered table overlooking the pond. Seated facing Ryan, Ashley knew she would remember this place and evening forever. Their waiter handed her a thick black menu, then gave Ryan a wine list and made suggestions.

      “If you like lobster, it’s very good here. The steaks are excellent, too,” Ryan said, offering her the wine list.

      Smiling,

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