Page 39 of Bride By Committee

Chapter Seven

Principle 7: Trust, Honesty,

and the Honorable Way, Or…

What to tell your partner about yourpast!

“Oh, it definitely would have been after I seduced you,” Harry assured her. “To be honest, your seduction topped my list of priorities. My business interests with you come dead last.”

Madison shoved back her chair and stood. “This isn’t a joke.”

“I’m glad you agree.”

She turned and crossed to the French doors behind her desk. They opened onto a walled garden overrun with flowers. “Why are you here, Harry? And I’d appreciate the truth this time.”

“That isn’t what you want to know.” He came up behind her and she stiffened, her tension communicating itself in the rigid set of her shoulders and the ramrod alignment of her spine. “Ask your real question.”

“The men at the hotel were speculating about your current project. Who, what, where.” She turned just enough to risk a glance in his direction. He could see the devastation he’d caused and he swore beneath his breath. There ought to be an iron-clad rule about mixing business with pleasure—one he stuck to. Next time, there would be. “I’m your project, aren’t I?” she asked.

In more ways than she could ever guess. “Yes.”

“Which means I’m Dane’s research assignment. I’m also the favor Bartholomew asked of you.” The faintest tremor of her chin betrayed her and she returned to studying the garden. “You mentioned the favor when we were trapped on the elevator. You’re supposed to take a look at my operation and see whether or not I’m doing an adequate job for my family, aren’t you?”

Their discussion wasn’t proceeding the way he’d planned. His business matters rarely went this drastically askew, which made it all the more annoying that it would happen now, when the stakes were so high and the ultimate objective so vital. He shook his head in exasperation. But then, very little about this assignment had anything to do with business. Perhaps that explained why fate seemed determined to screw himover.

“I told my father I’d consider checking out your operation,” he admitted. “But I wanted to get a feel for you and how you ran things before I determined whether it was worthwhile interfering.”

“Because we’re such small potatoes?”

He smiled. “Very small. But that’s not why I hesitated.”

“Then why?”

The tremor in her chin had invaded her voice. He wanted to gather her close, to hold her while he explained. She deserved whatever reassurances he could offer, as well as an apology for allowing matters to get so far out of hand. He started to reach out, but an untouchable remoteness encompassed her, warning she wouldn’t appreciate or accept his attempt to comfort.

His arms dropped to his sides. Work the main problem, Jones. If he kept the personal aspects out of it for now, he might be able to see this thing through with minimal damage.

“I hesitated taking on this job because it isn’t strictly business,” he toldher.

Madison took a moment to absorb his explanation before rejecting it with a single shake of her head. “Piffle.”

Tiny ringlets had escaped the intricate knot she’d anchored at the nape of her neck, the wayward curls providing a striking counterpoint to her rigid control. In fact, she sent out a barrage of mixed messages today.

She wore a severely cut suit, perfect for the office if it weren’t for the fact that it was street-corner red. Flaming stiletto heels decorated her feet, the dainty scraps of leather more appropriate for a hot night on the town than a day spent hiding beneath a desk. Her slicked-back hair was the severest style she’d worn to date, yet it exposed the most vulnerable and appealing nape he’d ever seen. And though her makeup was elegantly applied, her mouth had been lushly outlined in a wicked kiss-me-now shade that echoed the color of hersuit.

It all added up to a woman who hadn’t quite decided whether today would be spent focused on business or on the man with whom she was conducting that business. It gave him the first shred of hope he’d experienced since arriving at her office.

“You said you were hesitant about taking on this job.” She splayed her hand across a small beveled windowpane set in the door, the gesture one of unconscious appeal. It was a dead giveaway. It didn’t take any effort on his part to realize she was reaching toward the sanctuary offered by the garden, aworld of natural beauty and serenity containing none of the current turmoil swirling through her office. “What have you decided? Are you going to look us over or not?”

“Now that’s an interesting question.” The curls beckoned him, begging to be twined around his fingers. He ignored the insidious temptation. “To be honest, Ihave to weigh my options.”

“And what options are those?”

He reached around her and ran his index finger over the top of hers. “First consideration. How will business affect our relationship?”

She stilled at the tantalizing touch. “It won’t,” she whispered. “Because we don’t have a relationship.”

“Liar.” He stroked her middle finger. “Second consideration. If I take a look at your operation, will you resent my interference?”

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