Miracle On 5th Avenue (From Manhattan with Love 3)

“Not you, specifically, but certain aspects of a character are inspired by you. I thought I had enough to write to the end of the book, but it turned out that wasn’t true. The moment you left, I found the writing hard.”

Her heart was pounding. He’d thought about her. He’d put her in his book. She wasn’t going to read anything into that. No. She definitely wasn’t. “So I’m the inspiration for one of your characters.”

He hesitated. “In a manner of speaking. Loosely.”

“I’ve never been in a book before, loose or otherwise.” She was immensely flattered. She told herself it was that and nothing else that was making her heart sing. “I’m honored, but I can’t come back. I have to work. I’m the creative side of this company and we’re horribly busy.”

“I’ll pay you.” He named a figure that made Frankie choke on her drink.

“It isn’t just the money.” Paige was calm. “Eva is right. She plays a key role in Urban Genie. She’s the creative brain and clients adore her. They always ask for her personally. Even if we could reassign some of her face-to-face meetings, we’d still need her to be available for phone consultations. Would you be happy for her to do that from your apartment?”

“The third bedroom can be easily converted to an office. She can work there.”

“In that case I’ll give you a rate.” Paige tapped on the keyboard. “You want her until Christmas? That’s three weeks, not just days but nights, too—”

“Hey, this isn’t Pretty Woman,” Eva protested but Paige ignored her and named a figure that made Eva’s jaw drop.

“Done.” Lucas didn’t hesitate. “You drive a hard bargain. I can see why your business is thriving.”

Paige gave him a cool smile. “We charge a fair rate for our excellent service and our business is thriving because we’re the best at what we do. You want Eva full-time, in person, and she isn’t cheap.”

Eva blinked. “I—”

“You have yourself a deal.” Lucas stood legs spread, arms folded across his chest, a study in male magnetism and arrogant assurance.

“Wait a minute.” Eva stood up, her legs shaking. Saying yes would mean it had all happened on Lucas’s terms. He was a man who was used to getting his own way, but she needed to see him flex a little. On principle. “If I’m doing this for you, then I want you to do something for me.”

One dark eyebrow lifted. “The amount I’m paying could buy you a small Italian sports car.”

“I don’t want a sports car.”

His gaze locked on hers and tension shimmered between them. “Then what,” he asked softly, “do you want me to do for you?” There was an intimacy in that gaze that made her heart kick hard against her ribs.

“I want you to go to the Snowflake Ball.”

There was a long, loaded silence.

His expression was unreadable. “Why does it matter

to you if I go to the damn ball?”

“Because I want to go, and I’m not walking in there on my own. You’re going to take me.”

At least then she’d be one step closer to achieving her goal of getting out of the apartment.

“And if I say no?”

“Then I won’t come and work for you.”

His eyes narrowed. “I hardly think your partners would allow you to turn down a piece of business that significant.”

“I’m an equal partner. It’s my decision,” Eva said quietly. “So what’s it to be?”

“You’re serious?”

“If I’m stuck indoors in your apartment for the next three weeks, at least I’ll have this one opportunity to get out and meet people.”

“So you don’t plan on being my date. Your plan is to use me shamelessly to gain entry into the ball and then abandon me?”