CHAPTER THREE

Casper entered the suite of offices he had rented for his stint in London. He smiled and nodded to his secretary, but he came to a halt when she got out of her seat, a concerned expression on her face.

"You shouldn't go in there," Becky said quietly. When he realized she was pointing toward his office, he arched an eyebrow.

"Why?" he enquired.

"Because she's sitting in there."

Casper turned to face his office down the hall, but the door was shut.

But he didn't have time for it. He returned his gaze to Becky, trying to contain his mounting irritability. The girl was quite efficient, albeit a touch weird. But he enjoyed the unusual, and she gave a certain liveliness to an otherwise stuffy office here.

"All right, Becky. First and foremost, who the hell is 'she'?

Becky's nose wrinkled in disgust. "This is Miss Black, sir." I was unable to stop her. She was quite arrogant. She said she'd wait for you."

He had no time for Kendall today and couldn't imagine what she may say to him. He covered the little distance to his door and opened it.

"Kendall," he murmured, throwing his briefcase on his desk. "What exactly brings you here?"

Kendall stood up and smoothed her clothing with her hands. The action drew attention to her legs, her self-avowed favorite personal feature. The dress came almost to mid-thigh, so a lot of those legs were on display.

He was not going to lie. He'd had fun with those legs. It was just a shame they were connected to the rest of her. Her face furrowed into a pained grimace. She crossed the room, stretching her hands out in front of her as if to grasp his.

"I wanted to express my gratitude for consenting to attend the wedding. It means everything to Ryan and me. "I understand how painful it must be for you after I broke your heart."

Casper just stood there staring at her. Part of him wished he could ask her what planet she lived on, but he already knew the answer. It was Kendall's globe, and everything revolved around her. Did she truly feel he was still in love with her?

"Stop the show, Kendall. What brings you here? You don't care whether I show up or not, so why pretend? In fact, I'm inclined to bet you were hoping I wouldn't."

She blinked, and he caught a glimpse of bitterness in her eyes.

"Your mother stated that you were bringing a.....date." It was quite intelligent of you. But you're not fooling me, Casper. Everyone knows you haven't had a serious relationship since me. What is her name? "Do you even know who she is?"

He exaggerated his face of surprise. "You compliment me. I had no clue you were so concerned about who I dated. "I would have thought my brother kept you too busy to keep an eye on my love life."

"Bring your date with you, Casper." But you and I both know she isn't me. She'll never be like me. Don't think you'll detract from my wedding day."

She stalked out of his office, leaving Casper shaking his head. He should call his brother and thank him heartily.

He sank into his chair and opened his day planner, his thoughts immediately turning to Anika. He'd planned to call her, but a proposition like the one he had in mind was really better delivered in person. He wouldn't have much time, and he doubted she had much free time, either, but he knew without arrogance that if he invited her to lunch, she wouldn't refuse. She wanted his business too badly.He hit the button to call his secretary.

“Yes, sir?”

“Becky, I need Anika Hart of Stoll Communications on the phone.”

Anika stepped out of the elevator and was met with a cheerful hello from Joyce, the receptionist for Stoll Communications.

“I’m expecting a call from Casper Sullivan’s assistant. I don’t care what I’m doing or who I’m with, make sure I get that call.”

When the interoffice intercom chimed, she'd made a significant headway in the pile of messages.

"Anika, Mr. Sullivan is on line number two."

"Put him through," she urged emphatically.

She shook her head after wiping her hand on her skirt. What was she so concerned about? She answered the phone as soon as it rang.

“Anika Hart.”

“Anika, how are you?”

Even his voice shot a shockwave through her body. When would she cease acting like an adolescent girl experiencing her first sexual awakening? It was hilarious. It wasn't appropriate.

"I'm fine, Casper. "How about you?"

"I don't have much time." I wanted to get together for lunch today. That is, if your schedule allows it."

His voice had a confident tone to it. He was certain she wouldn't say no. She quickly checked the time. “What time?”

“Now.”

Panic scuttled around her stomach. Now? She wasn’t prepared to meet him now. Surely he didn’t want to reschedule their informal pitch session from Thursday to now?

“I thought we had a lunch date on Thursday?”

She was stalling as her brain scrambled to catch up. “I want to discuss Thursday today. There’s been a change of plans.”

Her heart sank. There was no way she could have her act together right now.

“I only have thirty minutes,” he continued. “We’re just a few blocks apart. Shall we meet at some point?”

“Sure,” she said faintly.

She propped the phone between her shoulder and her ear and began frantically digging for her notes on his account. She stuffed everything into a folder and reached for her briefcase.

“Great. Shall we meet in say five minutes? I’ll start out now.”

“Sure, I’ll meet you soon.”

He hung up and for a moment she stood there like a moron, the phone still stuck to her ear. Then she slammed it down, took in a deep steadying breath and declared battle. She could do this in her sleep.

Slinging the bag over her shoulder, she all but jogged out of her office and down the hallway.

When she arrived at the lobby, she went to the restroom to check her appearance. She wouldn't stop traffic, but she didn't appear as frazzled as she felt.

The heels she'd picked to complete her ensemble were stunning—as long as she didn't have to walk in them. She didn't intend to go down the block on uneven cement walkways. She kept flat shoes in her office for exactly such circumstances, but with only five minutes notice for the most important lunch date of her career, she didn't have time to think about shoes. She'd just put up with it.

She noticed she hadn't gotten to where they were meant to meet until she crossed the street to the next block. Her gaze moved across the street, scanning the umbrellas spread around the sidewalk cafés.

The instant she saw him, a vacuum developed, sucking all the oxygen out of her lungs. He stood in the sunlight, one hand in his slacks pocket, the other holding a phone to his ear.

Power. An aura of strength surrounding him, and it drew her in like a magnet. She just stood there staring at him in girlie joy for a bit. He was simply.....delicious in appearance.

He then took a little detour and discovered her. She wasn't sure how, given how busy the street was, but he locked onto her right away, almost as if he sensed her interest. She stood up and moved forward, mortified that she had been seen staring.

She crossed the street, her briefcase clutched between her arm and her side. Casper stood there, thin hunger shining in his eyes, watching her approach. As she approached, his features softened into a smile.

"Right on time."

She nodded, trying not to show how out of breath

she was after her flight from her workplace.

“I ordered a little bit of everything for you cause I don’t know what you like,” he said as he gestured toward a nearby table.

“I hope that was all right.”

“Of course.”

He held out his arm for her to precede him to the table at the end of the row. She sat, grateful to be off her feet, and placed her briefcase beside her. He took his seat across from her and motioned for the waiter.

“Would you like wine?” Casper asked Anika when the waiter approached.

“Whatever you’re having is fine.”

Casper repeated his request and then turned to face Anika. "I asked you to lunch because I'm afraid something has come up and we won't be able to make our lunch date on Friday."

She nodded before reaching for her briefcase. "Don't worry about it. I carried the material I wanted to present with me—"

He leaned out and wrapped his fingers around her wrist. "That isn't why I invited you to lunch."

She blinked and released her grip on her briefcase.

"I'd like to keep our appointment and maybe a little bit more.....I'd just like to change the location."

She must have been completely perplexed at this point. His eyes twinkled with delight, and he smiled.

"I don't have much time today, so let me get right to the point."

His fingers had relaxed on her wrist, and his thumb glided leisurely over her pulse point. Her heart was definitely beating. It was most likely like a train under his fingertips. She remained still. She didn't even take a breath. She didn't want to miss out on the wonderful sensation of his touch. Did he realize how crazy his influence on her was?

"I have a wedding coming up this weekend." She swears his lips twisted in disgust. "It's a family wedding." My brother is marrying in Marrakech. I'll be there Wednesday evening, which is why I won't be able to attend our Thursday meeting."

"I understand," she said. "We can reschedule at your earliest convenience."

He made an agitated motion with his hand, then lowered it and fiddled with the napkin on the table. He appeared unsettled. She cocked her head, waiting for him to say, "I'd like you to accompany me."

Her gut was clenched with worry. Even if the objective was strictly business, accompanying a family wedding seemed far too personal. Not to mention how difficult it was to fight her attraction to him in a professional atmosphere. But what about something as personal as a wedding?

"That's not all," she said, her face flushed as he dropped the bomb.

"I'd like you to accompany me as my Fiancee."