Manhattan Merger

She also looked so damn fresh and innocent in a white cotton top and tan jeans, he found her utterly desirable. His heart slammed into his ribs.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”

“He went back to his apartment.”

How convenient.

“If this was a bad time, why didn’t you just say so? I’d have come by later.”

“You’re a busy man, Mr. Sterling. Since you took the time to drive over here, I didn’t want you to be put out by having to come back again.”

She was hiding something from him.

“It would have been nice if you’d tried to be this thoughtful by staying put at my sister’s house until you were flown home.”

She didn’t move a muscle, but she couldn’t prevent the blush that swept up her neck into her beautiful face.

“I was brought up to believe a good stay is a short stay. Last evening I did all I could to make your fiancée and niece feel better about what happened. When I woke up this morning, I could see no reason to prolong my visit.”

“I can give you one.”

Her hands rubbed the sides of her hips in a gesture she probably wasn’t aware of. She didn’t look quite so sure of herself now. “I-Is something else wrong?”

“I’m afraid the hallway of a busy apartment building is hardly the place to carry on the conversation I have in mind.”

Color stained her cheeks again.

“Would you prefer to come downstairs and sit in the limo while we talk?”

“No—” she cried softly, putting a nervous hand to her throat.

“I can go to my office and come back later in the day if that would suit you better.”

“Please don’t do that.” She sounded panicked.

“Then what do you propose? If you were planning to spend the day with the man upstairs, just say so. We can talk tomorrow.”

“No,” she whispered. “You can come in for a minute.”

For a minute?

She darted inside and left the door open for him.

After crossing over her threshold, it took all his strength not to slam the door as he shut it. When he turned around, one look at her denuded walls and desk, and his body went cold.

“It looks like you’re in the process of vacating the premises,” his voice grated.

“Yes.” There were several boxes on her couch already packed. She hurriedly moved them to the floor. “There. Now you can sit down.”

He stayed where he was. “Are you moving in with him?”

She bit the soft underside of her lip in a betraying gesture that beguiled him.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but I hardly believe that’s anyone’s concern except mine.”

“It’ll be my niece’s when she tries to invite you to a family party once her parents get home on Monday and you can’t be located.”

Her gilt-blond head reared. Her eyes had gone that smoky green color again and looked haunted. “You mustn’t let her do that!”