Naughty, Naughty Prince Charming (Charming 1)

Greg held her hand far too long. Celia and Lucy made eye contact, and Celia gave her a silent apology before she delivered the bad news. “Greg is your teammate for the BG account.”

Lucy managed to plaster on a fake smile. Words, however, proved more difficult.

“I’ll just leave the two of you to your duties,” Celia said making a quick exit. Yes, run, Lucy thought. Leave me as the victim.

“So, Lucy,” Greg said, making himself comfortable in a chair. Lucy didn’t like the familiar way he used her name or the flirtatious twinkle in his eyes. “Tell me about yourself.”

She bit back a retort. “I’d rather talk about the campaign.”

“If we’re going to be working together, I think we should get to know each other.”

“I’d rather get to know BG. Tell me what they’re all about.”

Lucy was relieved when he started talking, dropping all the flirtatious undertones. Since he liked to talk, it took several hours for him to relay all he knew about BG. Surprisingly, he knew a lot. The problem was they disagreed on what BG needed for the campaign.

“Look Greg,” she said thankful the lunch hour approached and thus an escape route. “Why don’t you draft your ideas and I will draft mine. Let’s meet tomorrow morning and compare notes.”

“We’re supposed to be working together,” he said firmly.

Painting on a smile that was beginning to make her cheeks hurt, she said, “But you have an upper hand. You know the account, I don’t. I need to take the afternoon to research and understand what I am dealing with.”

He studied her a long moment. “How about we meet up for dinner to compare notes?”

A bark of laughter escaped her throat. “Ah, no. Bad idea.”

His eyes narrowed. “It would be strictly business.”

“Would it?”

He grinned. “Unless you prefer it be different.”

Her lips thinned. “I prefer we meet first thing in the morning.”

He gave her a knowing look as he pushed to his feet. “If you change your mind, buzz my office.”

Relief washed over her as she watched him walk toward the door. She had a campaign to think about. It was important to her to do a good job on this.

Chapter Ten

Lucy opted for lunch out, walking to a pizza place she’d seen only a few blocks away. She never got tired of pizza and in the small deli, she’d hide in a corner and think while she devoured at least two pieces. No dinner the night before had her stomach in knots. The comfort of the small booth combined with her first bite of pizza delivered a rush of peace. This was her few minutes of private time to think.

She had just finished a second bite when a visitor slid into the seat in front of her. It was Logan. “What are you doing?” Lucy demanded, and then deposited her pizza on the plate.

He looked down at the two slices of pizza he’d set on the table. “Same as you it appears.”

“How… I mean—”

“I guess we just have a knack for showing up at the same places.”

“Oh,” Lucy said because nothing more brilliant would come. The small table put them at arm’s length. He looked handsome with a dark suit and a maroon silk tie.

“I used to come here years ago. Glad it’s still around.” Logan took a bite of pizza. She wanted to ask for more detail but she didn’t let herself. Dabbing at his mouth, he smiled. “Why, you ask? My father was a workaholic so Mom and I would come by and visit him. We’d take him pizza and sit in what’s my office now and eat as a family.”

She reached for her pizza feeling odd watching him eat. Clearly, he planned on staying. “Sounds like your family is close.”

“We are. Or were. My mother passed away several years ago.”

Lucy swallowed. “I’m sorry.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment. “What about you? Are you close to your family?”

This wasn’t a question she wanted to answer. She placed her pizza on the plate. “Why are you here, Logan?”

He smiled and picked a piece of pepperoni up. “Great food.” He popped it in his mouth and swallowed. “You know, I consider myself a connoisseur of good pizza.”

“Oh, I—” Crap. Lucy started to tell him she considered herself the same. She knew all the cheap good places. But then, cheap wasn’t an issue to him and she didn’t need to get personal with her boss and ex-one-night stand. “Wouldn’t have guessed.”

One dark brow inched upward. “No?” he asked. “Well, I am. I’m the single closest thing to a pizza expert in this city.”

Okay, that was a challenge. She had to respond. “I doubt that very seriously,” Lucy said.

“Really?” he asked a hint of a smile in his voice. “I suppose you can do better?”

She nodded and finished off her first piece of pizza. “Prove it,” he said.