She knew that was true. The cosmetic giant took out ads in most major magazines and it seemed her face was plastered in all of them.

"James Cameron called me just last week asking about you."

She could tell by the excitement in Neil's voice that he was hoping the inquiry was going someplace. Deep down she was hoping that it didn't. "I don't mind doing films on occasion, Neil, but my primary focus is elsewhere. I want to open a modeling school here in New York. I need to find a vacant building or warehouse and transform the s.p.a.ce."

"If you want to open a school, then do it later when you're my age. But you're still young, April. Too young not to continue to take advantage of your beauty."

She took a sip of her wine. "I don't see things that way, Neil and-"

"Excuse me. h.e.l.lo, April."

The deep s.e.xy voice compelled April to look up. At that moment her eyes connected with Griffin's. The moment they did, sensations she could only feel when she was around him flooded her insides.

"Griffin," she said with the surprise in her voice that she couldn't hide. She hadn't seen the man for years and now she'd seen him twice in a four-week period. How uncanny was that? "What are you doing in New York?"

"I thought this would be the perfect weekend to get away and I picked New York because I have friends here."

That was when April finally noticed the woman plastered to his side, who was giving her a cool look. April ignored the woman, since Griffin hadn't bothered to introduce her, but then she realized she hadn't bothered to introduce Neil, either. "This is Neil. A friend," she said simply, deciding not to reveal that Neil was her agent, as well.

Neil stood and the two men shook hands.

"And this is Paulina. Paulina, April is a friend from Hattersville."

A friend? For some reason April had merely considered Griffin and herself as acquaintances rather than friends, April thought, extending her hand out to the woman. The woman barely touched it before leaning even closer to Griffin and whispering loud enough for all to hear, "I think we should find our table. I'm famished, sweetheart, and it's all your fault." For some reason April had merely considered Griffin and herself as acquaintances rather than friends, April thought, extending her hand out to the woman. The woman barely touched it before leaning even closer to Griffin and whispering loud enough for all to hear, "I think we should find our table. I'm famished, sweetheart, and it's all your fault."

Something flickered inside of April. In an underhanded, strictly b.i.t.c.hy sort of way, Paulina had deliberately given April the impression the reason for her hunger was because she had spent long hours in bed with Griffin and was now in desperate need of something to eat. April was tempted to tell the woman to pull in her claws, since she was out of Griffin's league. Always had been and always would be.

"I'm surprised you're not in Hattersville this weekend," Griffin said, reclaiming her attention.

April figured since Erica was her best friend he'd a.s.sumed she would be at Erica and Brian's engagement party. "I figured that I would play the good girl and not give Mrs. Sanders another gray hair," she said honestly, knowing he would get her drift.

The twinkle in his eyes indicated that he did. "And I figured I wouldn't attend just to make sure my presence didn't give her the wrong impression."

Paulina eyed her, evidently annoyed at the fact she had no idea what they were discussing.

"They won't hold our table much longer, Griff," the woman said in an annoyed voice.

Griff? April lifted a brow. She recalled Griffin never liked that nickname back in the day and from the look in his eyes she could tell he still didn't. This woman might be his flavor for the hour-or the past hours-but little did she know she was skating on thin ice by using that nickname. April lifted a brow. She recalled Griffin never liked that nickname back in the day and from the look in his eyes she could tell he still didn't. This woman might be his flavor for the hour-or the past hours-but little did she know she was skating on thin ice by using that nickname.

"I'll let you two get back to your meal and we can grab our table," Griffin said tightly. With a brief nod to Neil, he said, "Nice meeting you." And then to April he said, "Good seeing you again."

Unable to resist, she said, "Same here, Griff. Griff."

He cut her a look that said he would get her for that the next time they ran into each other.

He gave her a smile before he and his bed partner turned and walked away.

"They're sleeping together, you know."

April turned to Neil and frowned. "And your point in telling me that?"

Neil chuckled. "Not the same point she wanted to make in dropping her hint, evidently. But there was something I detected, something in your reaction to seeing him with her, that gave me notice. Makes me think there's something there."

She picked up her winegla.s.s to take a sip and laughed some what nervously. "You're imagining things."

"Am I?"

"Yes." Her response had been quick. It had sounded confident. But she knew that she hadn't fooled Neil.

She couldn't help glancing over to the table where Griffin and the woman were now sitting. Her gaze met Griffin's and she wasn't sure if she was imagining things or not, but she could swear there was an intense look in the dark depths of his eyes that she'd never seen before.

Chapter Six.

"Do you have any idea how disastrous last weekend was?" Karen asked her daughter as she stared at her from across the kitchen table.

Erica looked up from the table, where she had several sheets of paper spread out in front of her, deciding not to be bothered by her mother's negative att.i.tude and constant complaints. "No, I thought everything went fine. In fact, Brian and I are pleased with how things turned out," she said in a pleasant tone.

Karen rolled her eyes. "It's quite obvious the two families won't mesh."

Erica chuckled. "Mom, it doesn't matter if the two families mesh. Brian and I mesh and that's what counts. Now, are you going to help with this list or not? I don't want to offend anyone by not inviting them to the bridal shower April is giving me in a few weeks."

"I'm surprised she didn't come to your engagement party. She was invited."

"April had business to take care of in New York."

Karen gave a dignified snort. "Considering she is supposed to be your best friend, I would think your engagement party would have taken precedence over any business matters."

Erica leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. Her mother was always trying to chomp away at her and April's friendship. "April didn't have to be here for me to know I have her support. Besides, I'm sure she figured she would make things easier on you by not showing up."

Other than rolling her eyes Karen didn't make a comment. Erica knew there was nothing her mother could truly say. At fifty-seven her mother would never change her way of thinking. It was an ingrained part of her. Erica's position was and would always be that her mother's opinion wasn't her own. Ninety-nine percent of the time it wasn't.

Erica gathered the papers together in front of her, slid them into her purse and stood up. "Since you don't seem to have anything nice to say today, Mom, I'd rather be somewhere else. Your negativity is draining and I'm still tired from this weekend."

"Before you go there is something we need to discuss."

"What?"

"Brian's mother and that outfit she wore. Makes me cringe to think what she might wear to the wedding."

Erica turned to leave thinking that holding a conversation with her mother was becoming excruciatingly difficult. For once she would like to visit without feeling resentful and wondering just how her father managed to put up with it.

Undaunted, her mother continued. "Do you think it would be out of line if I were to suggest that Harriet give her a call?"

Erica swung back around, her eyes full of anger. "Don't you dare, Mom." Harriet was her mother's personal clothes designer and for some reason her mother thought if Harriet hadn't made it then it shouldn't be worn.

Erica pulled in a deep breath thinking she'd had enough. She had tried being patient with her mother, even a little under standing. Now here it was just three months before her wedding to a wonderful man and her mother still hadn't accepted how things were going to be.

"Several people happened to like Ms. Lawson's outfit and thought it was very flattering. I was one of those people." And without giving her mother a chance to say anything, Erica opened the back door and walked out.

When she got to her car she just sat there for a moment as she gazed up at the house she had lived in most of her life. The Sanders Estate was a huge three-story mansion with dormer windows housed under a gambrel roof. She'd always been told that her great-great-grandfather had befriended a Dutchman who had built the house in 1915, which was the reason for its Dutch colonial design.

She had always loved everything about the house, especially the fireplaces in all the bedrooms. As a child she would lie on the shiny hardwood floors in front of her bedroom fireplace with a pillow and blanket while she read her favorite book.

The huge, welcoming structure had been her safe haven, and her secret "away place" beneath the stairs had been her private sanctuary. Even after returning home from college she hadn't thought of living anyplace else but here, especially since she'd had the entire third floor practically all to herself.

But things changed after that summer she'd met Brian. Once her mother began badgering her to break things off with him and focus on winning Griffin's heart, she'd made the decision to move out. It hadn't taken her long to turn her condo into a home and, when Brian had flown in one weekend to spend time with her, he had helped her christen the place in the most romantic and intimate way. Just thinking about that particular weekend always made her smile.

She had been upfront with Brian from the start, figuring it was best to level with him regarding her mother's att.i.tude. He had accepted it all in stride and a.s.sured her he was the sort of guy who eventually grew on people.

So far he hadn't grown on her mother...and probably never would.

"Thanks for letting me sit in on your court case today, Brian."

Sitting across the table in the now empty conference room, Brian glanced up and smiled at one of the firm's new attorneys, Donna Hardy. "No problem. I hope you were able to learn something."

"I did. Never go into a courtroom to face Judge Meadows unprepared."

Brian laughed as he stood. "You figured that one out quickly, didn't you?"

"Yes. I admired the way you handled him."

"Or the way he handled me," he responded with a smooth grin. "I've been in his courtroom enough, and besides, my father was there before me. All the rumors you've probably heard about Judge Meadows are probably true, and to be downright frank, it's long past time he retired."

"I agree but I have a feeling he'll be around awhile." They began walking out of the conference room together when Donna asked, "So, your father was also an attorney?"

"Yes, and one of the best until an aneurysm cut his life short when I was fifteen."

"Did your mother remarry?"

He glanced over at her, wondering why she'd asked. "No."

She nodded. "My dad died when I was twelve and Mom remarried within a year to a man who also had a daughter my age. I was lucky to acquire a sister and a best friend in one."

Yes, he thought she was lucky in that aspect. When he was younger he'd thought about his mother remarrying and having another child, but after a while he got used to it being just the two of them. He'd wondered how his mother would adjust once he left home for college and she'd made the transition just fine. It wasn't uncommon to get a call from her from just about anywhere in the world.

"I understand you live in the Vanity Oaks subdivision."

He nodded, wondering who'd told her that.

"I'm buying a home there, too. On Pecan Park Road."

He chuckled. "Hey, that's right around the corner from me. That means we'll be neighbors...at least for a while. My fiancee and I plan to live there for a couple of years before building elsewhere."

She lifted a brow, surprised. "You're engaged?"

A huge smile spread across his lips. "Yes, and I'm counting the days."

She tilted her head to stare at him fully. "It's nice to hear a man say that. Most are brought to the altar kicking and screaming."

Brian chuckled. "Not me. I've been single long enough," he said, remembering the time he'd thought women and their mutual attraction were all that mattered in his life. He would leave home Friday night and make his rounds and not return back to his bed until Monday morning. At the time he'd thought life was good.

But that was before Erica.

He glanced at his watch. "I have a meeting with Mr. Hughes at one, so I'd better grab something to eat first."

"Sure. And thanks again for letting me join you in court."

"Don't mention it." Then he walked off.

Donna continued to watch him until he turned the corner toward the elevator. She wondered how it would be for a man to love her as much as Brian Lawson evidently loved the woman he planned to marry. She had been in and out of too many affairs that went nowhere. It was rather sad, actually. Good-looking brothers who had a decent job and weren't gay or on the down-low were hard to come by.

Here she was, thirty-three with no prospects in sight. All men wanted these days was a quick and easy lay on whatever day of the week that suited them. She drew in a deep breath and headed toward her office. She couldn't help remembering Brian's performance in the courtroom. He had been awesome. No wonder the other attorneys were whispering that they wouldn't be surprised if he were to make partner in the firm soon. To get your foot in the door at Brown and Samuels was a coup for any attorney. But to make partner was simply fantastic.

When she got to her office she closed and locked the door and leaned against it. Brian Lawson had a deep, s.e.xy voice and a body that was a total turn-on. She could feel the tips of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s hardening and the heat between her thighs stirring just thinking how he'd looked standing in the courtroom addressing the people on the jury.

Moving across the room to the windows she pulled the blinds and darkened the room before removing her jacket and sliding her skirt up her hips. She needed help from Freddy today.

Going to her desk she used the key to open the bottom drawer and smiled when she pulled out her new toy. Well, it wasn't so new, since she'd been giving it one h.e.l.l of a work-out since buying it a few weeks ago. She kept Sam at home. Roger went on the road with her. And Freddy would stay at the office.

Sam. Roger. Freddy. Each toy named after a man who'd helped her move her career forward, in the direction she wanted it to go. Professor Sam d.i.n.kins was the old fart who had helped her get her law degree. He'd made sure she'd got ten pa.s.sing grades when she should have failed half the courses.

Then there was Roger Lewis, a colleague of the professor's who'd demanded daily b.l.o.w. .j.o.bs, among other things, when he'd learned the truth after snooping around Professor d.i.n.kins's office one day and discovering all the exams she'd flunked. Although he'd been good in bed, she'd never appreciated the way she'd been at his beck and call. She hadn't felt an ounce of sympathy when she'd read in the paper a few years ago that he had gotten killed in a car accident. She had returned to Trenton, New Jersey, not to pay her last respects, but to verify for herself that the b.a.s.t.a.r.d was truly dead.

And lastly, there had been Fred Almay, the one man she'd enjoyed the most. He had hired her to work at his law firm right out of college, and she had slept with him of her own free will. They had spent two years together as lovers and he had taught her a lot. She would even admit to falling in love with him. He'd been a master at manipulation and had taught her all the key components of the game. But no matter how much she'd tried to please him, he had refused to leave his wife for her.

In the end Donna had decided it was in her best interest to move on when Mrs. Almay became suspicious of her role in Fred's life and her work at the firm. The one thing Fred had given her was the glowing recommendation that had helped her to land her job at Brown and Samuels.

She smiled as she curled into her chair. Her toys were okay when she needed a quick fix, but of course she much preferred the real thing. She licked her lips when she thought of Brian Lawson. He was an extremely good-looking man, well spoken and highly intelligent, and she knew he was going places.

He had charisma and charm and he radiated the confidence that only a natural-born leader could display. He was well liked by everyone at the firm and highly respected. And his knowledge of corporate law truly amazed her. She knew she could learn a lot from him, both in and out of the bedroom.

It meant nothing to her that he was engaged to be married. There was no such thing as a true-blue committed fiance and she wondered how long it would take to tempt him mercilessly and get what she wanted.

There was only one way to find out.