"I a.s.sume my invitation is in the mail," Julien said.

Connor sighed. Sitting back in his chair, he explained, "It's a business matter."

"Ah."

"I looked her up. I wouldn't poke my eye out if she crawled into bed next to me."

"One more crack and this conversation is over."

"You're marrying a beautiful woman, Connor. And it's a business matter? Then you are either blind or stupid. She's Pernell's only heir. And according to sources, she's f.u.c.king brilliant with money."

"Sources?"

"She was an intern at one of my companies."

No surprise there. Connor nodded.

"She doesn't consider herself an entrepreneur," Julien continued.

"That wouldn't have come from a confidential HR file, would it?"

"Perish the thought. I'd never be so cra.s.s."

Connor remained skeptical.

"She can do amazing a.n.a.lytics and risk a.s.sessments, but developing new ideas isn't something she has a desire to do. And, my friend, that's your forte. So why is it simply a business arrangement? It looks like a match made in corporate heaven."

"You ever met a relationship you didn't want to meddle in?"

"What's the sticking point? I mean, besides you being an a.s.shole."

Nothing like old friends to give you medicine without sugar. "You know better than anyone that love is messy."

"It is. And that's what makes it so...oozingly delicious."

Connor shook his head. "It's not that easy."

"Be bold," Julien said. "You're not responsible for anyone else's mess. It's time you saw that. You're a different person than your father. You wouldn't make the same choices he did."

He recoiled. No one else but Julien Bonds would have the guts to say words like that. But he supposed it was easy to be a sage when you were examining someone else's life and didn't have to live with the consequences.

"So I take it I'm not on the guest list after saying that. No, wait. I'm confused. I was never on it, anyway. I might as well say anything I want."

"There is no guest list."

"Pity. Every woman wants a wedding."

"This one would prefer there was nothing other than a legal certificate. Wants to live in her own house and pretend we're not married."

"Can you blame her?"

The tension sledgehammered the back of his neck. "I might add it was her idea to begin with."

"Judging by what we know of Pernell, I'm guessing your bride-to-be needed some support. So my guess is she offered you something in return, a seat on the board, the opportunity for you to acquire the communications division. A sacrificial lamb, as it were. Unless you'd bend a little and offer some love, I wouldn't want to live with you, either."

"Thanks for that."

"Anyway, I'll be in Houston sometime next week. I have a real estate investor who wants me to look at sites for a new retail store."

"Galleria area?"

"Among them, yes."

He was intrigued.

"I'd love to meet the new Mrs. Donovan while I'm there."

"I'll keep you advised."

"No need. I'll calendar it for you. Let me know what changes. I do love shopping for wedding gifts."

"Save your money." He ended the call.

Julien's words haunted the rest of his morning and they were still on his mind when he and April arrived in front of Lara's office building.

She was standing inside the revolving door, and she pushed through it the moment he opened the car door.

At the sight of her, something sparked inside him, a recognition, an attraction, a feeling of possession. Today she wore cla.s.sic pumps, an above-the-knee skirt, white blouse and a blazer. Her purse hung from her shoulder.

No matter what she put on, from that slinky thing on Sat.u.r.day evening to one of his shirts last night, he responded to her.

She'd covered her eyes with sungla.s.ses.

Her smile looked polite. He knew enough to realize it was strained.

He kissed her cheek, but she didn't respond.

Instead, she accepted his hand into the car and told April how much she appreciated the ride.

He slid in beside her, and she removed the sungla.s.ses. It was then that he noticed the tension edged beside her mouth and eyes.

Julien's words plowed into him again. "Anything I can do for you?" he asked.

"No." She shook her head. "I just need to get through tomorrow."

"Trouble?"

She updated him on the fact her father hadn't shown up for work this morning so she hadn't had the opportunity to discuss the report she'd compiled after her Friday meeting with BHI's VP of Technology. "I can work on the financials," she said, "begin some due diligence, but if my father won't consider the proposal to sell the package of patents to Bonds-"

"Patents for?"

She closed her mouth. "I shouldn't have said that much. I forgot that you know him. You and I haven't signed anything yet. At the very least, we need a non-disclosure in place before I tell you anything else."

"Are they part of the communications deal?"

"No."

Then it was technology. And if they had value to Julien, they could have value to Donovan. He admired her determination to protect BHI. As CFO, that was paramount. And yet, as the man she'd ridden yesterday afternoon, the man who'd guided her through her first submissive steps, he wanted her to turn to him. He wanted to help her battle the dragons.

"You received a copy of the invitation I sent to the board. I listed you as a special presenter. I left Dad a message about the whole thing, and I scheduled a four o'clock with him tomorrow."

"Any response?"

"No." She rubbed her arms.

He could only imagine what was going on inside her head. He knew there was a part of her that felt as if she was doing something dishonorable. "No matter how he reacts, you're doing the right thing."

"I know. Or at least I think I do."

"There's no guarantee the board will agree with my communications proposal," he reminded her.

"True."

"But they have a right to hear it."

"d.a.m.n right. And we certainly do need your input." She tipped her head back. "What if it's all for nothing? What if we can't convince them and the company keeps going the way it has?"

"That could happen," he agreed.

She pulled away and turned so she could face him. "That's rea.s.suring."

"I've told you, Lara. I don't lie to you. It is a possibility. A real one. But it's the worst possible outcome. More likely we'll end up with less than we want and more than we expected. But know this, we'll do the best we can. We'll send the strategy to your mother in the morning for her feedback. And we'll consider what you'll say to your father. If it's not good enough, we'll regroup. I'll still have a place at the table for several years. Change is inevitable."

"You never give up."

"What's that saying? With enough time and determination, you can p.i.s.s a hole in a rock."

"Thank you for that." She grinned and allowed her shoulders to rest against the seat.

"Have you heard from your mother this morning?"

"A couple of times. She mentioned that you sent over a copy of the communications division proposal. She's got almost everyone lined up for tomorrow's meeting. She has a couple of calls in to my dad, but he hasn't spoken to her, either. And before you ask, no. I'm not surprised."

They arrived at the county building, and they rode to the third floor in silence. She held on to her purse and stared straight ahead.

The tension that he'd thought had left her was back, judging by the set of her chin.

There was another couple already with the clerk, so he and Lara took a seat. The pair had their hands linked, and they kept looking at each other. They were informing the clerk of their honeymoon plans. Then the soon-to-be groom leaned over and kissed his fiancee.

Lara turned away and busied herself flipping through the pages of a popular personal finance magazine.

The couple stood, and the man hugged his future bride.

Lara didn't look up.

Finally, the clerk called out, "Next!" and waved them over.

Connor held Lara's chair, and they each dug out their driver's licenses and answered the required battery of questions. He paid the fee.

A few minutes later, the clerk gave them some final instructions for returning the signed doc.u.ment then wished them much happiness for the future.

He scooped up the manila envelope containing the oversized doc.u.ment and followed Lara to the elevator.

"It took longer to drive over here than it did to get the license," she said.

Far less time than he'd budgeted.

In the car, he asked, "Do you have time for a coffee?"

"Yes. I was actually hoping we'd have a chance to talk."

April whisked them to a local coffee shop.

Surprising him, Lara ordered a large raspberry lemonade. "I need to be able to sleep tonight," she said. "Last night was rough."

"You never have to do it alone," he said.

Because of the time of day, they were able to find a quiet table in a back corner.

"I've decided you're right," she said. "Let's get the agreement over to our lawyers. I'll move in with you. I can rent out my place, put my things in storage. But the limit is two years."

"I was willing to consider moving into your house."

"I've changed my mind about that."

He noticed that she kept stirring the lemonade rather than drinking it. "Any particular reason?" he asked.

"The soaker tub."

He looked at her. "And if you were more serious?"

She sighed. "My place is better for families, for entertaining. Your loft suits our lifestyle better."

Connor nodded.

"And if the rumors about your prowess are true..."

He raised his eyebrows.