Page 38 of Bride By Committee

Black-tipped nails flicked through a stack of neon-green messages. “Harley’s called four times. He wants you to know that the emergency is now a Beemer. He also complained that he hasn’t been able to reach you for the past twenty-four hours.” The small hoop earring decorating the end of Rosy’s eyebrow punctuated her questioning glance. “What did you do? Turn off your cell?”

“It drowned.”

“That must have been one hell of a picnic.”

“Anything else?” Harry interrupted.

She turned to look at him, ablue-eyed glare finding its way through all the mascara. “Funny. Icould have sworn I was talkin’ to Madison.”

Smart-mouthed brat. “Wrong. Your employer is going to her office while you and I enjoy a brief conversation. Then I’ll be joining her and you’re going to hold all her calls. Now is there anything else you need to tell her before that happens?”

Madison started to intercede. One glimpse of his expression and she spun on her heel and stalked down the hallway. Something about the irritable swing of her hips warned that he’d be hearing about his presumptuousness.

Rosy shook her head in admiration. “You’re one tough hombre. I’ll give you that.”

“I’ve also got the muscle to back up my mouth. How about you?”

“Hell, no,” she scoffed. “It’s all talk.”

A swift grin slashed across his face. “At least you’re honest.” His smile faded. “Now explain to me why Harley told Madison we’d be working together. Because I’m going to take him apart piece by piece if I don’t like the answer.”

Rosy’s eyes narrowed to two black smears. “Why should that upset you? It’s the truth, isn’t it?”

“It’s a possibility. Ihaven’t decided whether to accept the job. I’m here for other reasons, if you’ll recall. You may also recall that if I decide to accept the assignment, I’ll be the one explaining it to Madison.”

Rosy shrugged. “Go explain. No one’s stopping you.”

He fought for control. What was it about these Sunflowers? He’d never met so many people with so little regard for self-preservation. “Then the idea was actually yours?”

She snorted. “I’m not that stupid. This was Harley’s brilliant notion.” She had the nerve to laugh. “I think he got it from one of your rules. Something about working together and having Important Discussions. Sound familiar, Jones?”

Harry gritted his teeth, holding on to his temper by a thread. “Tell Harley I want to speak to him. In fact, tell your entire family I want to see them. For now, I’m going to have one of those Important Discussions with Madison. Do not let anyone interrupt us. Understood?”

“I think I can handle it.”

“Make very sure you do.”

Harry left Rosy’s office, turning in the same direction Madison had gone. There were two doors at the end of the hallway, one leading to a small, efficient kitchen, another into what must have once been a living room but now served as Madison’s office. He entered the room and closed the door behind him, looking around with pleasure.

With the exception of Rosy’s desk, the entire house had been decorated in golden oaks and warm antique white walls. This room was no exception. But there was more, adefinite essence of Madison’s presence that permeated the office, exuding a feminine charm captured within an efficient business-like setting. The couch and chairs were upholstered in a sunny yellow and bowls of fresh cut flowers accented the simple, natural wood furnishings. The total effect came across as cheerful, welcoming and—he couldn’t help smiling—practical.

Madison sat behind her desk and regarded him with a stoic expression. The look didn’t surprise him. She was a smart woman. The fact that she hadn’t figured out certain aspects of his presence long before this spoke more to her trusting nature and a certain amount of personal distraction than to a lack of intelligence or business acumen.

“Your family doesn’t seem to understand the concept of intimidation,” he offered as a conversational gambit.

She inclined her head. “That must be very frustrating for you.”

“I’ll survive.” Though Harley’s life expectancy remained in question.

“What did you need to talk to Rosy about?”

“I asked her why Harley told you to come to my hotel room to discuss our mutual business interests.”

“Our mutual business interests.” She took a moment to absorb that and he waited for the inevitable questions. The first one she chose to ask, though, took him by surprise. “Does it matter who told me?”

“Yes. Your family knew I’d planned to initiate the discussion with you in my own good time and in my own way.”

She nodded as though he’d confirmed her suspicions. “Just out of curiosity… When would that have been? Before you’d seduced me or after?”

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