Then he noticed Rob. "And who are you?"

Julia made quick work of the introductions, and the men shook hands. Ben continued on toward the

kitchen.

"Wait!" She leaped after him. As soon as she caught his arm, she found a smile that she hoped covered her nerves. "I need your help."

His eyes narrowed.

"Please." She batted her eyelashes.

"Batting eyelashes won't get you anywhere with me."

"Okay, how about you owe me."

Ben grinned at her, that frustratingly sexy lock of dark hair falling forward on his forehead. "You already

used that one to get me under the desk. Remember?"

Blood rushed to her cheeks. She doubted she would ever forget. She stared at him, feeling the heat slide through her. It had been two weeks since he had arrived, a week tomorrow since they had made their

mad dash to the hospital. He still walked with a hitch in his step, but it was easy to forget that he had ever been wounded.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I shouldn't have asked. It's just, who is going to send those men in one at a time?

I never dreamed I'd have this kind of turnout."

His smile fled and he studied her. After a second, he shook his head. "All right, tell me what to do. But after this, you'll owe me." The eyebrow with the slash in it rose ominously.

Julia set up shop in her father's office. She had a stack of resumes that she had gathered. Rob would move around the room, taping everything that went on. Todd would help, shooting footage with his own brand-new video camera whenever he got the chance.

Ben maintained order over what had to be at least seventy-five men waiting in the living room and dining room. A quick glance at the rank and file revealed an assortment of leather-clad men, leather-faced men, and even a couple who were carrying leather whips. Julia ruled those out after deciding that any man with a whip was beyond even her help.

At nine sharp, Ben came to the office door. "Are you ready?"

She must have looked like she felt, scared out of her mind, because he laughed and shook his head. No words of encouragement, no You can do it. He turned to the living room and called out the first name.

"Jones, Bo."

Rob set up to capture the guy walking into the office, but had to quickly pan up because the man was

so tall.

"Mr. Jones," Julia said, standing and extending her hand.

The guy about crushed her fingers in his grip.

"All right," she said, pulling away when he didn't let go. Instead he eyed her up and down.

"Prim, but hot," he announced.

"Hey, buddy, shut up and sit down."

This from Ben, who stood in the doorway like a prison guard. If she hadn't been so relieved that he

was there, she would have bristled at his command.

Like he owned her.

Another traitorous thrill raced down her spine.

"So, Mr. Jones, tell me about yourself."

He sat, slouching in the chair, crossing his ankle on his knee, which pulled the already tight jeans so

tight on his crotch that she could make out the line of his balls.

Ugh.

"The ad said you wanted bad boys. I'm bad to the bone, candy lips."

Candy lips?

He leaned forward, planting his elbows on his knees, and looked at her in a hot, piercing way. "No need

to bother with all the other twerps out there. I'm your man."

No, he wasn't, she thought instantly. Not even if she had to pose as the man herself to get the show done. "Great, thanks. I'll keep that in mind." She stood. "Next!"

Bo Jones grumbled, but thankfully he departed without making a scene. In fact, when she caught a

glimpse of his face as he was leaving, he seemed to deflate, and she wondered if the whole production hadn't been a show. Maybe he wasn't a bad boy at all, but an actor playing a part.

She didn't want an actor. She needed an authentically bad bad boy.

Richard Paxton entered next. He genuinely seemed rugged and archaic, but she sent him on his way in seconds.

Ben poked his head in. "That was fast."

"He wasn't right."

"You could tell that quickly?"

"If you have to know, I need a cute guy."

Ben shook his head. "You talk about men being bad. I swear, women are worse.

"Next!" he called out.

They went through quite a few of the men by midday. They stopped for lunch only because she had a recovering patient and a teenager to think about. But even then they stopped for only twenty minutes.

It was during those, twenty minutes, however, that Julia met Sonja.

The woman was stunning. Gorgeous in a tall, blond, blue-eyed, Nordic sort of way. Her lips shone with

pink gloss, her nails painted to match. Her clothes were short, tight, and expensive. Just the sort of attire Julia used to wear.

She felt a twinge of envious longing, then pushed it away.

"Can I help you?" Julia asked when the woman entered the office.

After a quick introduction, Sonja said she had heard about the show.

"I want to offer my services. I'm a hairdresser," Sonja said. "Services rendered for publicity. I'm trying

to grow my business, and this feels like the perfect way to do it."

They talked for a few minutes, and Julia was surprised by how much she liked the woman. By the time she was ready to get back to work, she had struck a deal with Sonja.

Julia already had arranged for clothes through the Fashion Place. Now she had a hairdresser. Another

piece falling into place. Now she just needed the guy.

Sonja left her phone number so that Julia could call once she was ready to start taping. Then Julia got

back to work.

"Who was that?" Ben asked, coming into the office.

"My new hairdresser," she stated proudly.

"You're going to cut your hair again?"

"No." She chuckled. "My hairdresser for the show. Now please send in the next contender."

It took several more hours to get through nearly half the candidates, but by five-fifteen, they had to put

the remainder off until tomorrow. Rob stretched the small of his back, and Todd collapsed in the interview chair. Even Ben looked worn out, and Julia was too exhausted to think.