LITMIR.BIZ

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devilish quirk of a smile set off in her. And maintaining a stiff posture didn’t help that one iota.

      “Did Sadie warn you about what I require in the way of a secretary?”

      “She said you were brusque and demanding.”

      He laughed, a deep, barrel-chested sound that seemed to warm the air all around them. “Honesty. I like that. Did she warn you about the amount of work I need from a secretary-slash-assistant-slash-researcher and the kind of hours I keep?”

      “Basically. But you should know that I absolutely will not work past five o’clock.”

      That sobered him and pulled his brows nearly together over those stunning eyes of his. “Okay, I’m going to go out on a limb here because you’re Sadie’s niece and this is somewhat of an informal interview. I’m in a mess and the last thing I need is another single mother running through this office. I’ve had my fill of them in the last two months. Every time I turn around they’re on the phone with one of their kids or worrying about them or leaving to do something with them. So I’m not asking if you have children. But if you do, do us both a favor and just say thanks but no thanks here and now.”

      Max was not something Lucy hid from anyone and it was on the tip of her tongue to admit that yes, she was a single mother. But at the same time it also occurred to her that it was none of Rand Colton’s business one way or another. Being a parent—even a single parent—would not interfere with the job he wanted her to do for him. On the other hand, as vehement as he was on the subject of single mothers, Lucy thought that it could very well influence his opinion of her and that could reflect down the road in referrals or derogatory comments he might make to other attorneys she could be courting for research work.

      She didn’t deny having a child—that was something she would never do. But since he was leaving it up to her to give him the sign that she did have a child by turning the job down, she just didn’t do it. Instead she said, “I assure you I will not let personal calls interrupt my work and you’ll get very full days out of me. They’ll just end at five.”

      “I work later than that.”

      “I don’t.”

      Lucy met him eye to eye in the stare-down that followed, not so much as blinking before he did. Yes, she’d come to realize working with this man would give her just the opening and contacts she needed to garner future research work and so the job was more valuable to her than she’d originally thought, but it wasn’t so vital that she would neglect Max because of it.

      Rand Colton was the first to break the standoff.

      “You know I’m under the gun here. The library back there—” he threw a nod over his shoulder in the direction of the corridor behind him “—is full of files that need to be updated, sorted and put away. I don’t know how people can tout themselves as competent when they don’t even seem to know the alphabet. I’m working on several big cases and, as I’m sure you’ve gathered just since arriving, my scheduling is a mess.”

      “I can take care of all that.”

      “But not after five.”

      “I’ll give you one late night to get things under control. But after that I leave at five. No matter what.”

      “Are you rushing off to a husband or a boyfriend who can’t fix his own dinner?”

      “Is exposure of my private life a factor in doing your filing?”

      He sized her up again but his expression was still more amused than not.

      “So I can take your services or leave them, but anything outside of the office is off-limits. Is that it?”

      “I’m only temporary help,” she reminded him. “I don’t see why too many details need to be explored for me to come in on that basis.”

      He went on piercing her with those deep cobalt-blue eyes that seemed more remarkable the longer Lucy looked into them. But in the end he conceded.

      “I’m trusting Sadie not to steer me wrong about your skills, so I guess I’ll have to be satisfied with days that end at five. But you’d better be as good as your aunt says you are.”

      “So I’m hired?”

      “You’re hired. Can you start tomorrow?”

      “On a Friday?”

      He nodded. “And stay tomorrow night the way you said you would.”

      Rand Colton, playboy, wanted to work on a Friday night?

      “All right,” Lucy agreed because it wasn’t as if she had anything planned. “Then I’ll be here at eight tomorrow morning.”

      “Sadie didn’t tell you about that?”

      About what? Her aunt hadn’t told her much about him at all over the years, just as Sadie had apparently not told him about her.

      “I don’t know what you’re referring to. I know you’re a prominent attorney who was originally from California, and that’s about all Sadie has told me.”

      “She also told you I’m brusque and demanding,” he reminded, that quirky smile making a reappearance to let her know he found that amusing.

      “And that you’re brusque and demanding,” she confirmed. “But nothing about what’s wrong with my being here at eight tomorrow morning.”

      “I live in Georgetown, too. I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty. I like to start work on the way in. It saves us going over what needs to be accomplished for the day when we both get here. So, seven-thirty,” he repeated. “Sharp. Don’t keep me waiting.”

      Since that sounded like a dismissal, Lucy stood.

      “Seven-thirty. I’ll be ready.”

      “And I have you until late tomorrow night.”

      Why did that sound like something that involved more than work?

      She was probably just imagining it.

      Or was he trying to charm her?

      It didn’t make any difference because she was absolutely going to ignore those flutters that were dancing around in her insides again in response.

      “I’ll even bring after-hours shoes,” she said as if to convince him.

      “Okay. Then we’re squared away.”

      “But you will be looking for someone permanent to take my place? I really want to get into my freelance work at home before too long,” she said to make sure they were clear.

      “I have an employment agency on it as we speak.”

      “Good.”

      “Say hello to Sadie for me,” Rand Colton said then.

      “I will.”

      “If you’re half the secretary she is, I’ll be satisfied.”

      “I’m sure you’ll be satisfied,” Lucy said, mortified the moment the word was out of her mouth that she’d unconsciously put a lascivious spin on it. “With my work,” she added in a hurry, compounding her error.

      Rand Colton grinned at her this time. A full, delighted grin of glistening, perfect white teeth that let her know right then and there why he had so many women willing to spend time with him.

      But he let her off the hook by crossing to the office door to hold it open for her and saying a simple, “Seven-thirty.”

      Lucy fought the blush that was heating her cheeks and took her exit, unhappy that she also noticed the fresh, clean scent of his aftershave as she passed in front of him to leave.

      “I’ll tell Sadie you said hello,” Lucy muttered just for something to say as she left the office.

      But her encounter with Rand Colton didn’t end then because he

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