Page 21 of Be Mine Forever

Shaundra wasn’t a worrier, but there was one wrinkle on the whole of her creamy-coffee-colored face. And Jo knew that small line between her brows was for her. She pulled her hands away from the keyboard and let them fall to her lap, giving her assistant and friend her full attention for the few seconds she could afford.

“I’m fine, Shaun. Really.”

“It’s just that ever since you got back from New York that first time, you’ve been—”

“Busy,” Jo cut in, raising her brows to underscore that the conversation was coming to a close. “And I still am. Like I said, I need a little time to catch up.”

Jo felt Shaundra’s eyes on her for a few more seconds but resumed typing, putting on herI’m concentrating so hard right nowface to deter any more probes.

When Shaundra headed back to the outer office, Jo flopped back in her ivory leather chair. The lean, clean lines were deceptive. The chair might look hard, unyielding, uncomfortable, but it was practically squishy and enveloped the often-tense muscles of Jo’s back like a marshmallow. Jo let her shoulders drop and pushed cool, calming air across her lips. She pulled her iPad off the docking station and laid it in her lap, pulling up a familiar album of photos.

Her heart squeezed around an emotion she didn’t even have a name for when she flipped to the photo she pulled up at least once a day. An epic spread of white teeth nearly overtook the small face the color of cocoa beans. A smile so big and bright everyone around the little girl seemed to fade away, at least to Jo. A wild, rough cloud of hair haloed the too-thin face. The child’s clothes were simple and clean but would soon be raggedy. Never enough food. Disease-infested water. No parents. No home.

What do you have to smile about, little girl?

And yet it was that defiant joy that watered Jo’s eyes and made her heart swell up in her chest like the freaking Grinch who stole Christmas.

“Everyone loves Tiki,” a deep voice said from just above her shoulder.

Jo jumped in her seat, nearly dropping the iPad. She navigated back to her home page and redocked the tablet on her desk. She looked up at the tall man who had entered her office without sound enough to pull her attention from the picture.

“Peter, you startled me.” Jo laid a hand over her heart, which pounded through the thin silk of her dress. “I was just looking at the first group of kids up for adoption.”

“Can you believe it’s finally happening?” Peter perched on the edge of her desk, his body broad but trim. His blue eyes swept over Jo’s face, feature by feature until her cheeks warmed up. When was the last time she had blushed? But under Peter’s affectionate focus, she did.

“How can I help you?” Jo leaned back and crossed one leg over the other.

Peter’s eyes immediately dropped to the smooth line of calf and thigh on display when her dress, the tease, fell away. Jo willed herself not to fidget or shift. She wasn’t some innocent girl unused to men’s attention. She didn’t typically seek it, but it never made her nervous. Men had been eyeing her body since she was fifteen years old. She barely noticed it anymore.

“Two things.” Peter held up his middle and index fingers, a smile teasing the line of his lips above his neatly trimmed, dark blond goatee. “One, Camille and Josiah are coming to visit, probably early next year. I just got off the phone with her assistant.”

“That’s great.”

Jo’s mouth took over her mood and smiled before she realized it. Camille Jameson, widow of the man murdered right in front of Walsh when he’d been kidnapped in Haiti, was a remarkable woman. Not only was Camille raising her son Josiah alone, but she also didn’t hesitate when Jo approached her about assuming a significant role in the foundation’s latest venture.

“She was the perfect choice to head up our private adoption efforts in Haiti.” Peter picked up a photo of the twins, grinning before setting it back down on the desk.

“Her visit could be perfect timing. Cam Mitchell has decided to hold his first art exhibit at Walsh House.” Jo studied her nude-colored manicure. “Considering how much attention he’s gained lately, might be some good publicity for our private adoption launch if we link the two. Maybe have Camille say a few words while all the cameras are there, if her visit coincides.”

“That’s a great idea.” Peter picked up the photo Jo had turned flat. “This is him, right? Cam?”

Jo didn’t even glance at the photo but kept her eyes on Peter’s handsome face and nodded.

“I’d heard he was close to your family, but to have his first exhibit here? Quite the coup.”

“He’s not just close to my family. Heisfamily. I can’t think of a better place to introduce the private adoption launch than at his exhibit. Aunt Kris would be bursting with pride.”

“I’m not much of a tabloid guy, but I think I just saw him on the cover of one.”

“Really?” Jo measured out just enough casual and poured it all over her tone. “Interesting.”

“Yeah, apparently he’s seeing some French hotel heiress. Effie, Ellie, or—”

“Etty. Etinette Chevalier.” Jo uncrossed her legs and sandwiched her hands between her thighs and the leather seat. Sitting on her hands so she wouldn’t curl them into claws at the thought of Cam with that…girl. That spoiled, pink-haired…celebre-heiress…

“So you’ve heard the rumors?” Peter leaned forward a conspiratorial inch. “I heard she tattoos her lovers’ names on her body.”

“Aren’t you the gossipy busybody?” Jo teased Peter with her eyes for a moment before adding a smile. “I actually met her in New York. Cam was staying in her personal suite at the Chevalier.”

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