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“Soda?”

      “No thanks,” he said, his glee at gaining entrance far too evident on his face.

      “You have concerns?”

      He immediately adopted an air of thoughtfulness as his gaze shifted to the bedroom door. “What’s our TV coverage on this thing?”

      She’d told him before. Written him memos. But she said none of that. “Entertainment Tonight, E!, Access Hollywood, MTV, VH1, and three cable shows.”

      He nodded. “Good, good. And what about celebrities? Are they all verified?”

      “We’re sending twelve limos, but most of the crowd is arriving on its own.”

      “Who, exactly?”

      She bit back a sigh. “Julia Roberts, Keanu Reeves, Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr., Nicole Kidman, and oodles more. Should I ask Marla to come up with the list?”

      “No,” he said too quickly. “That’s great. Just great.”

      “But it won’t be just great if I can’t make the calls I need to, so…” She headed toward the door. He didn’t follow.

      “I’m sure the calls can wait a few minutes.”

      “No, Owen, they can’t.”

      The expression on his face changed again. This time to lovelorn puppy. “Jess, can’t you see what a team we make? Isn’t it obvious?”

      “Yes, absolutely. The next week will prove it. We’re going to make New Dawn a household name.”

      He walked toward her, holding his hands out as if he meant to grasp her, which was simply out of the question. Only, he was blocking her easy exit. In order to get around him, she’d have to practically leap over the chaise. “That’s not the partnership I’m talking about.”

      “There is no other partnership, Owen.”

      “But there can be. Should be.”

      “You have a partner already.”

      He shook his head as he took those last steps, angling himself so that now she truly was caught. His right hand touched her forearm. “I don’t. Honestly. I’ve told you before. Ellen is a great mom—”

      “I’ve got a partner, Owen.”

      He stopped. Blinked. Kept his hand right where it was. “What?”

      “A partner. A man. I have someone in my life.”

      First, a flash of hurt, then confusion, quickly followed by doubt. “What are you talking about? You don’t date.”

      “I don’t talk about dating.”

      “You’re always at the office.”

      “No, I’m not. I do have a life. Which is private. But there is someone, and it’s serious.”

      Doubt became out-and-out disbelief. “Who?”

      “You don’t know him.”

      “What’s his name?”

      “Not that it matters, but Dan.”

      “Dan what?”

      The annoyance factor was starting to shift into the furious factor. “Crawford.”

      “Never heard of him.”

      “Exactly.”

      “How did you meet?”

      “In school. Ages ago.”

      “And he just showed up again?”

      “That’s right. He showed up, and the old flames were rekindled.”

      Owen finally removed his hand from her arm. “Where does he live?”

      She stepped back, grabbed the door handle. “I don’t see why that’s important.”

      “It is.”

      “Why?”

      Flustered, he looked around the room as if searching for a clue. “Because I care about you. I don’t want you to get in with the wrong sort of man.”

      “He’s not. I assure you. He’s a very good man, and I care about him.”

      “This is pretty sudden.”

      “Actually, it’s not.”

      “Marla knows about him?”

      “No, she doesn’t.”

      His mouth thinned. “Why not?”

      God, she wanted to throttle him. “Because it’s no one’s business. I keep my private life private.”

      “Right.”

      “Owen, I have to make some phone calls.”

      “Uh-huh. Dan Crawford, right? What does he do? Is he in marketing?”

      “No, he’s not.” She opened the door. “Please, if you don’t mind. I have work to do.”

      He made a move toward the door, but before he crossed the threshold, he turned to face her, his determination a bit daunting. “Come on, Jess. Don’t forget who you’re talking to. I know your hours. I’ve called you at home at 3:00 a.m., at five. You’re either there or at work, or in transit. So where did this private life come from? What, did you rub a bottle and he popped out?”

      “No,” came a voice from just behind her. “She won me in a poker game.”

      She whirled around to see Dan, bags in hand, staring past her. She’d never been so grateful to see anyone.

      The small gurgle behind her made her turn back to Owen, who looked decidedly greenish.

      “Owen McCabe,” she said, “this is Dan Crawford. “Dan, this is Owen.”

      Dan put down his bag, put one arm around her shoulder and swung her into his arms. Then he kissed her. Kissed her as if he owned her. Kissed her until she thought her knees would give out.

      Not just lips to lips, but teasing tongue, hot breath, intimacy that made her clench her fists so she wouldn’t push him away. Then his tongue slipped between her teeth, and he was inside her. This man she didn’t know. Her hired escort. And, good God almighty, her entire body went ballistic. Everything from goose bumps to hard nipples to curling toes.

      She heard Owen cough, but that was somewhere out there, and she was busy. She tasted him back, rubbed her unclenched hand over the breadth of his shoulders.

      Finally, when he was well and truly finished, he let her go. She gasped for breath, sure her face was aflame, her arousal as clear as the blush.

      Dan smiled too knowingly, turned to her boss and grabbed his hand. “Nice to meet you, Owen. Jessica has told me a lot about you.”

      HOW TO IMPRESS A WOMAN

      Wine her and dine her. Listen to her. Laugh with her. Buy her flowers. Go shopping with her. Don’t stop reminding her she is beautiful. Console her when she is down. Rejoice with her when she is up. Read romantic poetry to her. Tell her you love her.

      HOW TO IMPRESS A MAN

      Arrive naked. Bring beer.

      Source: Borja, Greg “How to Impress a Woman” http://www.buzzle.com/

      4

      DAN FOCUSED his whole attention on Owen McCabe. Not just because he wanted to gauge the man’s reaction to his rather spectacular introductory move, but because he didn’t dare think about that kiss.

      Holy shit. He hadn’t expected anything like that. Not that he hadn’t had great kisses before, but this was…he wasn’t sure what it was. Maybe because he knew he was going to

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