Page 8 of An Enchanted Spring

“For now,” he acquiesced. “I’m taking you as a woman of your word.” He released the binder, and she felt the thrill of a small victory. “I’ll pick you up here, or at your place?”

“I’ll meet you there,” she deferred.

He pursed his lips, but didn’t argue. “One more question.”

She waited expectantly.

Aidan picked up his suit jacket. “What’s the best piece of advice you give your clients about answering questions?”

“Never answer a question with a question,” she said immediately. “It just invites more questions.”

He smiled, and she felt as though she had passed another unquantifiable test.

“Wise. Perhaps you can walk me out,” he said as he shrugged his jacket back on and picked up the leather satchel. He tossed his empty water bottle into the recycling bin and gave her a conspiratorial wink. “My way in was fraught with predators.”

“Ah. Of the female sort? Perhaps you need a bodyguard more than a publicist.” Emma couldn’t help but let out another laugh.

He gazed at her. “You have a lovely laugh, Ms. Perkins. Ihope I get to hear it again soon.” He opened the door for her, then followed her out.

They were almost immediately waylaid by Heidi.

“Oh, Emma,thereyou are!” she exclaimed in her sultry, I-just-adore-you falsetto voice. She placed her hand upon her chest—more of it was showing than earlier—and gave a small shake of her head. “I’ve been looking alloverfor you. The deadline for theNew York Timespiece about your client came and went, and she just tried to cancel your contract!” Heidi placed a hand on Emma’s arm and lowered her voice. “Don’t worry—I wrote something for her a couple of years ago, and once I polished it up a bit, it did the trick. Account and reputation saved! But really, that’s the third time you’ve let her down this month!”

Emma’s jaw hung so far off her face she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to scrape it off the floor.

“Oh! I’m so sorry, you’re with a client. I didn’t mean to intrude.” Heidi held out her hand and batted her eyelashes. “Heidi Swanson, publicist of the year for Price Publicity.”

Aidan’s eyes never strayed past Heidi’s face, and Emma gave him major points for that. Heidi’s chest was so fluffed it was a wonder she didn’t float away.

“Aidan MacWilliam.” He shook her hand briskly. Despite having just been at complete ease with him a moment ago, Emma felt a frisson of intimidation at his stony expression. “You understand that your blatant attempts to discredit Ms. Perkins do you more harm than good, Ms. Swanson?”

“Oh, you misunderstand, Mr. MacWilliam,” Heidi hurried to explain. “Emma and I work together; we’re on the sameteam.”

“MacWilliam! Pleasure to finally meet you!” Mr. Price boomed as he approached. “Is your meeting over so soon?”

Fraught with predators.She couldn’t have stated it better herself.

“Price,” he replied in the same tone he had used withHeidi. He turned his full gaze to Emma, and though his face remained hard, his eyes softened toward her. His voice firm, he stated flatly, “Under no circumstances can anyone see the contract.” His eyes never left hers. “Absolutely no one. Just you, or the entire agreement is off.”

“Duly noted,” Emma replied, biting the inside of her cheek. Aidan MacWilliam was proving himself to be a very insightful client, and she had the sudden urge to ensure she kept him.

Heidi sputtered, and Aidan’s eyes crinkled slightly at the corners, as though he were enjoying ignoring her as much as Emma was.

“Right, right, Ms. Perkins only,” Mr. Price assured him as he tried to steer him back toward his office. “Do you drink? I have a delicious brandy. Vintage, very good stuff. Care for a glass?”

“He prefers whiskey,” Emma interjected, then pressed her lips together quickly. She hadn’t meant to say that.

Aidan caught her eye, and he let her see the humor lurking beneath his stern exterior.

“I have other engagements,” he said curtly. He gave Emma another kiss on the knuckles (she fought the urge to swoon again), then shook Price’s hand before stepping into the elevator. He didn’t acknowledge Heidi.

As soon as the doors closed, Heidi flipped her hair. “He carries a man-purse. Who does that?”

“It’s a medieval satchel,” Emma said, not troubling to hide her disdain. She didn’t bother to wait for a reply before saying to Mr. Price, “I’m meeting him for dinner tonight to discuss the contract. I’ll need the afternoon to review this binder, and you heard him. I think it’s best if I leave the office for a while to review this.”

Mr. Price didn’t object as she turned on her heel and left, a huge smile lighting her features as Gayle pretended to bebusy (and gave Emma a very tiny thumbs-up as she passed) and she made her way back to her desk.

Aidan MacWilliam was definitely an interesting character…and, she admitted to herself,quite a nice piece of eye candy.She grinned again.

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