Page 9 of Bride By Committee

That’s what she’d thought. Harry had a presence, no two ways about that. But until recently she didn’t feel threatened by it. He’d been wonderful toward her, right from the start. The moment he’d sensed her claustrophobia, he’d done his best to alleviate it. The fact that he’d gone out of his way to try and make her feel better should have told her something.

Her breathing eased, the give-and-take far less panic-stricken. Maybe that explained the strange attraction she felt. It certainly didn’t have anything to do with Bartholomew Jones and his peculiar notions of instantaneous bonding and love at first sight. Thank goodness for thatmuch.

“Do you think we could talk about something else?” she suggested. Anything that might take her mind off her foolish behavior. Then just to prove how her claustrophobia had stolen every remaining vestige of self-control, she asked, “Do you really believe in love at first sight?”

“Yes.”

“Even though it’s so impractical?”

“I realize it’s out of character,” he said with suspicious humbleness. “But, sure. Ithink it’s quite possible.”

“Then you agree with Mr. Jones? You buy into all this stuff about love being chemical?”

“I suspect chemistry plays a part. Think about it. Why are we attracted to one person and not another? There has to be some sort of subconscious or instinctive or chemical reaction happening.”

“Is it happening now?” she whispered.

She couldn’t begin to guess where the question came from. It simply spilled free of its own volition. Before she could snatch back the words, or soften them with a reasonable—if patently false—explanation, the phone in the control panel rang. Divine intervention at itsbest.

She heard Harry make his way to the phone and answer it. There was none of the blundering or awkward scrambling she’d have expected because of the intense darkness. His movements were slow and sure and precise.

“Yes, we’re stuck. No, there are two of us. Right. Hang on and I’ll ask.”

“What? What are they saying?”

“It’s going to be a little longer before they can release us. Is there someone you want them to contact? Family who’ll worry about you?”

“I was on my way to the office. Could they call Rosy and let her know where I am? I’m sure my family’s in a flat-out panic by now.”

Harry relayed the information along with the assistant’s number, refused their offer to contact anyone for him and hung up the phone. Then he settled in his corner of the elevator. Should he tell Madison that it would be several hours before they fixed the problem? Probably not the wisest move. The past half hour had been tough enough for her. No sense in spooking her with the unadulterated truth.

“Where were we?” Harry asked. As if he didn’t know. The chemistry or instant attraction or instinctive male-female push-and-pull had been humming between them like a live current. Is it happening now? she’d whispered. Hell, yeah, it was happening, whatever “it” was. And it had been from the start, afact she’d have admitted if she weren’t so damned stubborn—or apprehensive.

“I can’t remember what we were talking about,” she lied without a hint of compunction.

If there’d been any light, he suspected he’d have seen a blush vivid enough to rival Seattle’s most glorious sunset. He considered calling her on the lie. After all, he’d already let her off the hook once when she’d demanded he stay put on his side of the elevator.

He’d been the perfect gentleman about the incident, too, politely acting as though he believed it was claustrophobia or fear that had prompted the remark, instead of a chemical reaction to end all chemical reactions. This would be the second time he’d let her off the hook. She might not know it, but she wouldn’t be given a third chance, afact he’d make clear at the first opportunity.

He’d learned long ago that life didn’t serve its delicacies on a silver platter. Aman went after what he wanted, grabbing hold with both hands. Right now he wanted Madison Adams. Let her deny the emotions sparking between them if it made her feel better. Denying the truth wouldn’t make it go away. It simply made it easier to be caught defenseless, afact he’d take great delight in proving soon enough.

At his continued silence, Madison broke into hasty speech. “So… How did you end up getting stuck on my elevator? You must have been in the building for a reason. Iwas here to have lunch with my grandmother, Sunny. She has an apartment on the fifteenth floor and was supposed to introduce me to this Jones character—the one from the book?—but he never showed. Figures, right? The good news is… Maybe I don’t have to worry about their relationship. It’s one thing to talk on the phone or communicate over the internet. But when it comes to face-to-face and in person, that’s a whole different ball game. Don’t you think? Maybe he changed his mind about flying out to meet her.”

Harry waited until she ran out of breath before responding, choosing to answer the most innocuous of her questions and comments. “I came here for a meeting.”

“Oh. Consulting with someone on economic structures and models?”

“I was asked to, yes. Ihaven’t decided yet whether I’ll take the job.”

“Is it a big corporation?” A hint of excitement threaded her voice. “Perhaps a certain gentleman who deals in computer software? Or… Who else has corporate headquarters in Seattle? Could your meeting have to do with airplanes, maybe? How about a national coffeehouse chain?”

He smiled at her avid curiosity. “I’ve been known to deal with companies that size, but not this time. I’ve been asked to examine a very small group as a favor for my father. Iguess you could call it a working vacation.”

“Oh.” She sounded disappointed. “No doubt they’ll be very grateful to have a man of your caliber look them over.”

“Would you be? Grateful, Imean?”

“The situation wouldn’t arise. As I explained, Ihave everything in hand,” she assured. “But I’m certain this small group will benefit from your expertise. Not everyone can be as clever at predicting economic growth and market trends as the two of us. Once they realize how much better off they’ll be, those in charge will be delighted to listen to what you have to say.”

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