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Three of our sexiest, most successful bachelors!

Totally Tempting

Three powerful romances from three

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Totally Tempting

THE MAN MEANS BUSINESS

ANNETTE BROADRICK

TOTALLY TEXAN

MARY LYNN BAXTER

THE TEXAN’S FORBIDDEN AFFAIR

PEGGY MORELAND

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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THE MAN MEANS BUSINESS

ANNETTE BROADRICK

To Ralph and Betty Carruthers,

who believe that family comes first,

for which I’m extremely grateful.

One

“Man your battle stations! Incoming! Incoming!”

Jodie Cameron grinned at the innovative way the receptionist notified her that the man she worked for had finally arrived at the office on this gloomy winter day in Chicago.

“Thanks, Betty.” Jodie cleared her computer screen, brushed a wisp of hair that had escaped the tidy knot at the back of her neck away from her face and waited for him.

Jodie knew something was up with Dean Logan. In the five years she’d worked for him Dean had never come to work this late in the morning. He generally was already there when she arrived.

Earlier she’d checked his calendar to see if he was scheduled to go out of town, but he had nothing written down. She had wondered if he’d decided not to come in since it was Friday and he planned to go on a week’s vacation starting on Sunday. But that didn’t seem likely. He would have called to let her know.

This would be the first vacation he’d taken since she’d been his secretary, and she looked forward to having the time to clean out files, set up subfiles and work uninterrupted.

At least Betty had warned her that he wasn’t in the best of moods. Dean was moody at the best of times, but no matter how cranky he was this morning, she could put up with him for one more day.

She waited at her desk for him to enter her office.

Dean was an astute businessman and he’d worked hard to build his electronic security business. She had no idea why he didn’t appear content with what he’d accomplished during the past fifteen years.

The man looked more like a football player than the head of a multimillion-dollar corporation. Too bad he rarely smiled. As far as she could recall, she’d never heard him laugh.

He was not the jovial type.

His face looked as if it had been carved out of granite and his nose had been broken at some point. His heavy brows and piercing silver-blue eyes would never get him selected to a list of America’s sexiest bachelors.

Not that his looks stopped the bevy of beauties who flocked around him. Each hoped to have the distinction of becoming Mrs. Dean Logan.

From what Jodie could tell, he neither encouraged them nor discouraged them. Rachel Hunt was his latest arm candy. He’d been seeing her for almost three months now, which was close to a record for him.

Jodie knew when he started seeing someone new because he had her take care of sending flowers, ordering gifts, obtaining tickets for various events and, at times, listening to his comments about the women who came and went in his life.

He knew that most of the women were more interested in his money and connections than in him. He listened cynically to confessions of undying love and a yearning for a commitment he refused to give.

Hence the number of women who came in and out of his life.

There were times when Jodie saw the loneliness in his eyes. At some point, long before she’d come to work for him, Dean must have made the decision not to allow anyone to get close to him. She found that to be very sad. Not that she’d ever let him know that she pitied him. No, she listened when he needed to talk and kept her opinions to herself.

Of course, her sister would never believe that, since Jodie was known for expressing her opinion on myriad subjects at any given moment. She smiled at the thought.

Dean moved silently, and she had grown used to his suddenly appearing in her doorway. As he did now.

“Good morn—”

“No, it definitely is not a good morning.” Dean stopped in front of her desk, pulled an envelope out of his coat pocket and handed it to her. “I won’t need these.” He started into his office. “Would you mind getting me some coffee, please? I have a hellacious headache.”

“Sure,” she replied absently. She picked up the envelope and looked inside. The envelope held the airline tickets to Hawaii that she’d ordered for Dean and Rachel. Had Rachel changed her mind about going?

She stood and walked over to the coffeepot, filled one of the large mugs she kept nearby and followed him into his office.

Dean stood with his hands in his pockets looking out the window. She set the cup on his desk and sat in her usual chair.

“What happened, Dean?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead he stared out at the spitting snow and occasional ice blowing against the glass. She waited.

After several minutes of silence, he turned and sat down behind his desk, reaching for the coffee. “Do you have any aspirin?”

“Certainly.” She went to the small bar behind a sliding door and poured him a glass of water before she picked up the aspirin bottle and set it in front of him.

He really was in a ferocious mood. His frown, always intimidating, was firmly in place. No wonder people were wary of him. She didn’t think he realized how gruff he sounded…and that was on one of his good days.

When she’d first gone to work for him, Jodie knew she had replaced a string of four women who had attempted to work for him and left after only a few weeks. So she’d been warned.

However, she was made of sterner stuff. She’d been raised with three brothers and she and her sister had learned to hold their own with the boys.

After several minutes of silence, Dean looked at her with a puzzled expression. “Why are you here?”

“I work here,” she replied with a straight face.

He closed his eyes. “Sorry. I’m not in the best of moods.”

No kidding. And he’d actually apologized! She must mark the day on her calendar.

“How long have you worked for me?”

“Five years.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“If I’m such a disagreeable person, why do you put up with me?”

“Who said you’re a disagreeable person? I find you extremely agreeable as long as you get your own way,” she replied lightly.

“Rachel says that everyone in this office is intimidated by me. But you aren’t.”

“I wasn’t aware that was part of my job description. Is that what’s bothering you this morning?”

“No.”

“Do you care what people in the office think of you?”

“No. Well, except for you. What do you think of me?”

She sat back in her chair and considered her answer. Finally she looked him in the eye and said, “I think you’re a brilliant man who is impatient with people, a man who has single-handedly built this company into a thriving corporation by ignoring the naysayers and following your own vision.”

“Hmph.”

He took the aspirin and drank the water. Then he picked up his coffee and sipped.

They sat in silence for several more minutes.

Finally Dean said, “Rachel broke up with me last night.”

She couldn’t hide her surprise. That must be a first for Dean. He was generally the one who broke things off any time a woman wanted more from him than he was willing to offer.

“Because you wanted her to go to Hawaii with you?” she asked, her disbelief plain.

He grimaced. “Actually she didn’t give me a chance to surprise her with the tickets before she informed me that she never wanted to see me again.”

Jodie was caught off guard by his admission. “Oh? I didn’t realize you’d planned the trip as a surprise.”

“Well, I did. Turns out I was the one surprised.”

“What in the world happened?”

“I forgot we had tickets to the opera last night. I worked late to clear my desk and I’d forgotten to put the opera on my calendar.”

“Oops.”

“By the time I checked my cell phone messages on the way home, I was an hour late picking her up.”

“Uh-oh.”

“She was furious when I arrived at her place. I pointed out that we could still get there before intermission. It wasn’t as if we didn’t know the story, after all. However, the opera no longer mattered as far as she was concerned.” He scrubbed his face with his hand. “She handed me a sack with the things I’d left in her apartment since we’ve been seeing each other and told me to get out.”

“Rachel was obviously upset at the time,” Jodie said. “Why don’t you call her today and tell her about the trip you’ve planned? I’m sure you’ll be back in her good graces once she discovers your surprise.”

He was shaking his head before she finished. “I’m not going to do that. She made it plain she wanted no part of me, so why should I bother?” His mouth turned up at the corners. “I’ll admit my ego might have been bruised a little and I went home to sulk, but she made it clear that we were through. I can accept that.”

He nodded toward the envelope she’d placed on his desk. “So,” he said with a shrug, “I won’t be needing those.”

Oh, dear. She’d promised herself never to offer her opinion unless he asked for it—and then any question he asked invariably had to do with business.

She wrestled with her conscience for a long moment but could no longer remain quiet. “I disagree,” she said bravely, bracing for his response. “I believe you need the time away whether Rachel is with you or not. You know you love Hawaii and it’s been three years since you acquired the condo there. I think you should go and spend some time on the beach. Forget the business for a few days. Catch up on your sleep. Once you’re there, I know you’ll enjoy it.”

He leaned back in his chair and stared at her. She waited for his salvo telling her to mind her own business. Jodie was surprised when instead he asked, “Do you think I’m married to my job?”

She eyed him uncertainly. This man had never questioned himself in front of her before. Now that he’d asked her opinion, she wondered how candid she could be while he was in this unusual mood. “Maybe,” she said cautiously.

He lowered his brows and stared at her. “Gee, thanks.”

She might as well continue. “Look at it this way. You needed to put in long hours when you first started the company and you got into the habit of spending most of your time here. Now you’ve hired people you can rely on to take care of the day-to-day business. Maybe it’s time for you to discover other things you might like to do with your life besides work.”

He rubbed his chin. “I suppose.” He shook his head. “I still can’t get over how angry Rachel was when I arrived. What did I do that was so bad, please tell me? She could have called a cab when she couldn’t reach me and been able to see the whole thing.”

“Did you by any chance call her after you listened to her messages?”

“Why? I was on my way to pick her up by that time.”

She coughed to hide her amusement. “My guess is that her irritation was the result of an accumulation of times when you’ve been late or forgotten to call or gone out of town without notice. Some women can find that sort of behavior off-putting.”

“You don’t.”

“You pay me quite well not to notice. Besides, I’m your secretary, not your girlfriend.”

He studied her in silence for a moment. “That’s only going to last another few months,” he said, not sounding at all pleased. “You’ll be moving over to Frank’s department in June.”

She grinned. “All thanks to you.”

“You caught me in a rare moment of gratitude for your hard work. You graduate with your degree in business this spring, don’t you?”

“That’s right. I wouldn’t have been able to take the night classes without your paying for my tuition.”

“I didn’t pay it,” he growled. “The company did. It was strictly a sound business decision. With your knowledge of the company and your quick grasp of things, it would be foolish to hold you back from exercising your full potential.”

He rubbed his forehead as though the headache was hanging on. “Of course, that means I’ll go through hell finding someone to work for me.”

“No, you won’t. I’ll do the screening. If I think someone—male or female—will be able to work with you without running the first time you raise your voice, I’ll set up an appointment for you to meet them.”

“I suppose that might work.” He didn’t look happy at the thought.

His decision to promote her had been quite a sacrifice for him and she knew it. Beneath that tough, gruff exterior was a very fair man.

Of course, he was clueless about women, but what man wasn’t?

“Do you socialize much?” he asked, surprising her again. He’d never shown any interest in her personal life. He was definitely in a strange mood today.

“I date occasionally. Of course, going to school three nights a week and studying takes up most of my spare time.”

“I work you too hard.”

She offered him a cheerful smile. “Comes with the territory.”

“The only reason I planned the trip was to appease Rachel, even if I was a little late in doing so. However, there is a man I’d like to meet in Honolulu. Steve Furukawa owns several businesses in the islands, and I’d like to offer our services to him.” He studied her for a moment. “In case he’s interested, I’d need you to help me make a presentation to him. I think we should both fly out there. We’ll spend a day or two on business and the rest of the time we’ll be on vacation.”

“Me?” She almost strangled on the word. “I can’t do something like that!”

“Why not?”

She stared at him in disbelief. Didn’t he understand? Obviously not.

“I’m in the middle of classes, for one thing. And it just doesn’t look right, our going to Hawaii together.”

“It will be a business trip.”

“You’ve never needed me on one before.”

“Jodie, you’re a very competent secretary and levelheaded. As for school, I doubt missing a week’s worth of classes will cause you to flunk. Will it?”

“Well, no, but—”

“Then I don’t see a problem.” He ruffled through the stack of files on his desk. “Would you check with accounting and see if they have the latest figures on the Malone file? I’d like to see them before lunch if possible.”

Two

“What did you say to him?” Jodie’s sister, Lynette, asked her that evening after dinner.

Jodie had a standing invitation for dinner at Chuck and Lynette’s home every Friday, but she’d never had such earthshaking news to share as she did tonight.

Chuck had called earlier to say he’d be home later than normal and for them not to hold dinner for him. Jodie hadn’t mentioned Dean’s plan when she’d arrived. Instead she’d helped with dinner and then made certain that her nephews, Kent and Kyle—seven and six respectively—got their baths and were ready for bed.

It was only after she’d joined Lynette in the living room while she nursed eight-week-old Emily that Jodie dropped her bombshell.

“I think I muttered something but don’t remember what. I was reeling.”

“You’re going, of course.”

“He practically ordered me to go,” Jodie wailed with a laugh.

“When are you supposed to leave?”

“The tickets are for Sunday morning. Early Sunday morning.”

“So his latest darling finally had enough of your romantically challenged boss, did she? She lasted longer than the others, though.”

“I think what got to him was that she was the one who broke things off. He usually has the privilege of doing that. At least he got a taste of what rejection feels like.”

“I can’t believe she turned down a trip to Hawaii. I would have gone and then broken up with him,” Lynette said with a grin.

“She didn’t know about his plans. He’d kept the trip a surprise.”

Lynette shook her head with disbelief. “Doesn’t the man know anything about women? The anticipation of going is part of the excitement.”

“We’re talking about Dean Logan. Of course he doesn’t know anything about us. For a brilliant businessman, he’s unnervingly obtuse about the opposite sex.”

“Well, who cares, if you get a free vacation out of it?”

“I’ll be missing three classes.”

“So? You’ve aced all your tests, you can easily catch up.”

The door opened between the garage and kitchen, and Lynette peered over her shoulder. Chuck was home.

“Good evening, all,” he said, sauntering into the room. He was a police detective for the city and looked good in his sports jacket and slacks. “How are my three favorite women doing?” He leaned over Lynette and gave her a leisurely kiss that made Jodie’s toes curl to watch.

When he straightened, he brushed his lips across the top of Emily’s head. Emily ignored him. Dinner was more important at the moment.

“Your dinner’s in the fridge. Just put it in the microwave.”

“How are things going for you, Jodie?” he asked casually as he turned to go back into the kitchen.

Before Jodie had a chance to answer, Lynette said, “Her boss has invited her to go with him to Hawaii for a week.”

Chuck stopped in his tracks and spun around. “Are you serious? Logan asked you to go away with him? Wow. Aren’t you the sly one? I had no idea you two were an item.”

“We’re not! Believe me, there is nothing going on in a romantic sense. The girl he’s been seeing broke up with him. He had the tickets. I suggested he should take the vacation anyway, and he decided to meet with a prospective client while he was there. He said he could use my help. So it will be a working vacation.”

Chuck grinned. “And you believed him.”

“Of course. Why shouldn’t I?”

Chuck, his dinner forgotten, sat down next to Lynette. “Jodie. Honey. Let’s get real, okay? A man doesn’t invite his good-looking secretary to go away with him to a tropical isle without some strictly male motive. He’s going to do his best to get you into his bed. Count on it.”

“Chuck!” Lynette kept her voice soft but emphatic. Jodie wondered how she did that. “Not every man has sex on the brain like you do.”

He gave her an intimate smile. “Oh, yes, they do. Some just hide it better than others.”

Jodie said, “You’re probably right, Chuck, but Dean is a definite exception. I’ve worked for him too many years not to know that he doesn’t notice me as a woman. I’m an efficient machine to him and that’s fine with me.”

“If you say so. When do you leave?”

“Sunday morning.”

“Have you ever been to Hawaii?”

“No.”

“Then go and enjoy yourself. I would guess he’s picking up the tab for your accommodations.”

“Actually he acquired a condo there a few years ago. It was part of a business deal he made. He went over to check it out and that’s the last time he was there. There are three bedrooms and three baths. I think the company he bought it from used the condo for the executives to, quote, get away, unquote, for some relaxation.”

“So he’ll have you right where he wants you for a leisurely seduction,” Chuck replied, twisting his imaginary mustache with a grin.

“Nothing wrong with your imagination, that’s for sure,” Jodie replied, laughing. “If you’d ever met him, you’d see how far off base you are.”

“Why? Is he some kind of monster?”

“Let’s just say he takes some getting used to. Once his business is completed he’ll probably forget that I’m there.”

Lynette said, “Now that’s carrying the platonic bit too far, sis. There’s bound to be a middle ground between what you’ve imagined and what my crazy husband came up with.”

“So you two think I should go ahead and plan to go?”

They answered in unison. “Yes.”

“But what about the talk around the office?” Jodie asked. “Won’t that give everyone the wrong idea?”

“So what?” Chuck answered. “It will give them something to gossip about. Probably improve morale. The office employees will start a betting pool as to when you’ll announce your engagement.”

“You’re a big help,” Lynette said, shaking her head at her spouse. “The idea here is to give her reasons to go, not make up stuff.”

“Well, since it looks as though I’m going, I’ll need to go shopping for beachwear tomorrow.”

“Great idea. Buy some things that are colorful and tropical. No business suits.” She eyed her for a moment. “You’ve said you never have time to get your hair cut. Why don’t you get it trimmed tomorrow, as well?”

Jodie nodded. “I could do that.”

“And get plenty of sunscreen. You know how easily we burn, thanks to our Scandinavian ancestors.”

Jodie looked at her arms and ruefully shook her head. “I hope to come back with at least a little more color. I’ll slather myself with the stuff and see what happens.”

Lynette lifted Emily to her shoulder and rubbed her back until she gave a very unladylike belch, causing the three of them to laugh. “I need to put her down,” Lynette said. “I’ll be right back.”

“I need to go, you guys. It’s been a long week,” Jodie said, rising. “And it looks like I’ll be spending tomorrow shopping.”

“Poor baby,” Lynette consoled with a grin. “That’s your favorite hobby in the entire world, and we both know it.”

“True. And buying summer things in the dead of winter will be just the thing I need to get into the spirit of the trip.”

Later that night while Jodie prepared for bed, she thought about the comments she’d heard tonight from Lynette and Chuck. She scrubbed her teeth and removed her makeup before looking in the mirror.

“Are you going to be brave and treat this as a chance in a lifetime to see Hawaii with all expenses paid?”

Here image stared back at her with sparkling eyes.

After a long pause, she sighed and said, “You’re no help. You want to see Hawaii. Will the trade-off be worth it? Hawaii with all its pleasures weighed against a week with a man who’s a workaholic? Knowing Dean, he’ll have us working the whole time we’re there.

Then again, we’re bound to find some time to enjoy the sun and sand.

She smiled as she crawled into bed.

Three

Dean stood in front of the mirror shaving early Sunday morning and wondered what he was doing. Had he lost his mind?

What had possessed him to invite his secretary to go with him to Hawaii? She was a great secretary. In fact, she was a great human being, but he didn’t need to spend a week with her to be reminded of the fact.

Of course, if he planned to meet with Furukawa, he could use her presence there to help him make a presentation and to help formulate a contract. She was very conscientious and did her work without a complaint.

But to take her to Hawaii with him?

Had his midlife crisis arrived sooner than expected? Why else would he have considered taking her? He knew nothing about her outside of the office. Well, he knew she was single, but that was about it. Did she have family close by? Would they warn her about going with him?

He could get in trouble for harassment.

Well. Maybe that was a little extreme. She’d had the option to say no. When he’d called her at home last night she’d sounded agreeable enough. He certainly hadn’t coerced her. At least, not much.

He finished dressing and picked up the bag he’d packed. He’d had trouble knowing what to pack besides his business clothes. The only other time he’d been there, his business suits had been expected, but then he hadn’t been on vacation. He’d spent the three days in meetings, ironing out the conditions of the merger with the parties involved.

He’d tossed in a few shirts and khaki pants this morning and even remembered to stick in a pair of tennis shoes, which was a laugh. He hadn’t played tennis in years, but it was the idea that counted.

Maybe he was a little too focused on business. Working hard had become a habit, and he wasn’t certain that he could break it.

Or that he wanted to.

He’d really let Rachel’s comments get to him, which was ridiculous. What did he care what she thought about him? He’d just been surprised, that’s all.

He and Jodie would get along well enough for the few days they’d be there, he was fairly certain. He’d treat the trip as a bonus for Jodie in appreciation for her years of service.

He smiled at the thought, pleased that he’d found the correct category for the trip.

* * *

Jodie had almost reached the door into the airport before Dean recognized her. She looked different, but why? Then he realized that she was wearing her hair down. He’d never seen her wear it any way but pulled back into a knot on the nape of her neck. It danced around her neck and shoulders in the wind. She certainly looked different this morning.

He glanced at his watch and frowned.

As soon as Jodie stepped out of the cab, she spotted Dean waiting for her just inside the door to the airline check-in counters. She hurriedly crossed the sidewalk toward him.

The wind-chill factor must be in the teens. Hawaii sounded better and better to her. At least she’d be getting away from the wonderful winter weather of dear old Chicago for a few days. She looked forward to soaking up some sun.

Just as she reached the door, he opened it and took her bag. “You’re late,” he snapped. “Security is tight and I don’t want to miss the flight.”

Actually she was forty-five minutes earlier than the airline recommended, but she wasn’t going to start their trip together disputing his words. Instead she smiled at him and said, “I’m here now and good morning to you. Have you checked your luggage?”

“Yes.” He glanced down at her suitcase. “Is this all you’re taking?”

She looked down at her bag and then back up at him. “We’re only going to be gone a week,” she replied.

“I thought women packed three or four suitcases wherever they went,” he mumbled.

“Not me.”

“Well,” he said awkwardly. “That’s good.”

She walked over to join the line to the counter and he followed her. “I might as well stay with you. No sense losing you in this crowd.”

Jodie realized that he was nervous! She found that hard to believe, considering how much traveling he did. Was it because she was along?

She hadn’t spotted it at first, probably because she’d been shaken by his accusation that she may have caused them to miss their plane. There was no way she would lose him in the crowd. As tall as he was, she’d spot him in any group.

She circumspectly checked out what he’d chosen to wear for the trip and was pleasantly surprised to see him in black pants, a black turtleneck sweater and a black leather jacket that fit snugly at his waist.

The wind had ruffled his dark hair and the leather jacket made him appear dangerous and very masculine.

He looked downright swashbuckling.

Now if he’d only smile once in a while, he could be attractive.

They reached their plane with time to spare, which Jodie wisely did not point out. Dean stopped and bought himself a paper and a couple of magazines. Jodie found the newest book out by one of her favorite authors, as well as a crossword puzzle book in case she got tired of reading.

She watched Dean as he paced the concourse. Was the man ever still? She placed her parka on her lap and started reading.

When it was time to board, first-class passengers were seated first. Not too bad. Dean waved her to the window seat before settling down beside her. A flight attendant checked to see what they would like to drink and handed them menus for breakfast.

Once they gave their orders, Jodie settled comfortably into the luxurious depths of her seat and looked around her.

The only time she’d seen first class on her flights was when she’d walked through to the tourist section. What a way to travel.

“Are you nervous about flying?” he asked after several minutes of silence.

She’d been peering out the window when he asked, and she straightened. “A little perhaps. Why?”

“I noticed your fingers gripping the armrests, and the plane hasn’t moved.”

She jerked her hands away and folded them into her lap. After a moment she dug into her purse and pulled out the book she’d been reading but gave up a few minutes later because she couldn’t seem to concentrate. Maybe she’d work one of the crossword puzzles.

After another prolonged silence—were they ever going to leave the terminal?—Jodie asked, “How long is the flight, do you recall? I’ve forgotten what the reservations said.”

“About thirteen hours, depending on a headwind. We change planes in Los Angeles.”

“Oh.”

“We should reach Maui by midafternoon local time.”

“But we’ll still be on Midwest time.”

“True.”

Well, she’d exhausted all her skills at social chitchat with him. Jodie picked up the airline magazine and began to thumb through it.

After what felt like hours, the plane finally taxied out to the runway for takeoff. Then it stopped. The captain apologized for the delay. There were nine jets ahead of this one. Great. That gave her plenty of time to rethink this whole idea.

Dean cleared his throat. “Jodie?”

She’d just peered out the window again. “Yes?”

“I’m a little embarrassed to mention this after you’ve worked for me so many years, but I really don’t know much about you besides your work ethic, which is outstanding, and your determination to get your degree, which is admirable. I’d like to learn more about you. Why don’t we use this time to get acquainted?”

“I’m sorry, but I really don’t want to talk right now. I need all my concentration once we’re ready for takeoff to make absolutely certain the plane’s wings are firmly attached.” After all, there was a lot of thrust by the jet engines, and everyone knew that takeoffs and landings were the most dangerous times during a flight. Unless they happened to fly into the side of a mountain. They had to cross the Rockies, didn’t they?

Or if they went down over water…say, maybe the Pacific Ocean?

“Jodie?” She jerked her head away from the window and looked at him inquiringly.

“We’re perfectly safe, you know.”

“Of course we are,” she promptly agreed. “As long as we sit here on the runway.” She glanced back out the window to continue to check the wings.

Dean made some kind of noise that sounded as if he was either choking or coughing. She looked back at him in concern. His lips were compressed and he wore a frown. His shoulders shook and suddenly, like Mount St. Helens, he erupted into laughter.

Laughter? She had rarely seen him smile, much less heard him laugh, and she stared at him in amazement. What a difference it made in him. He looked much younger than his thirty-eight years. Who would have believed it?

He immediately attempted to quell the sound, but then he looked at her again, recognized her bemusement, shook his head and continued to laugh—a deep-throated sound that finally made her smile.

He reached for his handkerchief and wiped his eyes, blew his nose and finally, after what seemed like forever, managed to stop.

But he continued to smile and she still hadn’t recovered from the change in him. Dean was smiling and, miracle of miracles, his face hadn’t cracked into a thousand little pieces. Who would have believed it?

“Care to share the joke?” she asked. She smiled her pleasure at this unexpected peek into the man she thought she knew so well.

He touched her arm and slid his hand down, lacing his fingers between hers. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have laughed at your nervousness. You’re going to be just fine, I promise.”

“From your lips to God’s ear,” she muttered.

He chuckled again. He was certainly getting a great deal of amusement out of her fear of flying. Then again, maybe it was worth it to see that the man had a human side. A decidedly masculine side at that.

The brackets around his mouth had revealed dimples. She bet he hated them.

In fact, the man bore little resemblance to her stone-faced boss. Same hair and eyes, same strong jaw, and yet with his silver-blue eyes sparkling and his teeth flashing he was actually handsome.

Okay, she was losing it. When she looked at Dean Logan and saw a handsome man she knew she’d lost her grip. Fear could certainly do crazy things to a person’s perceptions.

“I was born in Indiana,” he said in a casual voice as though answering her question. “Came to Chicago to attend Northwestern and never left. How about you?”

She cleared her throat. “We’re from Wisconsin originally.”

“Who is we?”

“Mom, my three brothers, my sister and me. My parents got married way too young, but they were in love and didn’t want to wait until after they finished school to get married. My brother came along not long afterward, and Dad dropped out of college to get a job. He took good care of all of us, but I think he pushed himself too hard for too many years and he died of a heart attack when he was forty-five.

“Mom had to get a job but had trouble finding one since she’d never worked before. Without training or an education, it was tough going for her. She ended up as a waitress. Both Mom and Dad really stressed the importance of an education when we were growing up. All three of my brothers worked their way through college so they could take care of her.”

“Where does your family live?”

“All over the place. Mom’s in Phoenix. That’s where they lived when Dad died. One of my brothers is an attorney in Oregon, one is career Navy and based out of Bremerton, Washington, and one lives just outside of D.C. doing who knows what. If anyone asks, he says, ‘I work for the government’ in a vague way and changes the subject. My sister, Lynette, and I live here in Chicago.”

“Do any of them have children?”

She smiled. “Chuck and Lynette have two boys and a brand-new baby girl. The boys are pleased as little boys can be that they have a baby sister. My sister had two miscarriages before Emily came along.”

“Are any of your brothers married?”

“Not a one. Too busy with work or too busy playing the field.” She waited, and when he didn’t ask any more questions, she said, “It’s your turn. Tell me about your family.”

She wasn’t sure at first that he was going to answer her, but eventually he said, “My mother lives in a nursing home here. I had an older brother, but he and my dad were out on Lake Michigan at the wrong time years ago. A storm blew up and they didn’t make it back.”

“How awful. How old was your brother?”

“Twelve. I was eight and had a cold, so my mother wouldn’t let me go with them.” He looked away. After two or three minutes he added, “I haven’t talked about them in years.”

She wondered about the emotional scars he carried from that time. No doubt he’d been upset, probably angry, that he didn’t get to go. Then to lose them like that. Survivor’s guilt probably played a part. She knew him well enough not to say any more by way of sympathy for his loss.

“Why aren’t you married?” he asked bluntly.

She looked at him in surprise. “Isn’t that a rather personal question to ask?”

“Probably. But if I’m going to drag out all my personal stuff, I figure you can, too.”

“Mmm. I don’t think it’s quite the same, unless you want to discuss why you’re not married.”

“That’s easy enough. I have no intention of getting married. I was engaged once, but she found someone who had more money and broke the engagement six weeks before the wedding.” He shrugged. “She’s on her third marriage now, so she did me a favor. After that I decided to devote my time and energy to building my business, which was much more important to me than getting too involved in a relationship.”

“You know, Dean, one of these days you’re going to meet the woman you’ve been waiting for your whole life. And when you do, you’ll be a goner.”

“Somehow I doubt that very much.” He studied her for a moment in silence. “So,” he finally said, “have you ever been married?”

She shook her head, feeling a little exasperated with him. His persistence was one of his strongest traits. It made him an excellent businessman. But she didn’t particularly like it when he aimed his curiosity at her.

Before she could decide how much she wanted to share with him, the captain’s voice came over the speakers and said they were next to take off.

She immediately tightened her seat belt.

“Any tighter and you’ll cut off the blood flow to the rest of your body,” he said drily.

She took a deep breath, held it briefly and slowly exhaled. She was being an idiot. She adjusted the strap around her and forcibly relaxed her shoulders.

“No,” she finally said in a strained voice. “I have never been married.”

“Why not?”

“Because I haven’t wanted to be, obviously.”

“Any particular reason?”

“I feel like you have me under a microscope.”

“Why? We’re going to be together for the next week. I just want to get to know who you are when you’re away from the office.”

“Oh, all right. I had one serious relationship when I was nineteen. I shared a tiny apartment with one of my coworkers. We were both secretaries in a law firm and that’s where I met him. He was a law student working at the firm part-time.

“We dated for more than a year and we talked about marriage once he finished law school. We spent most of our free time together. Everything was perfect…until I came home early one night and found him in bed with my roommate.”

“Ouch.”

“Yeah.”

“Did he explain why?”

“To hear him tell it, he’d left school early and thought I might be home. When I wasn’t, my roommate suggested he wait there for me. I’m sure she planned everything to work out the way it did. His explanation was that she was there and one thing led to another and it didn’t mean anything. He apologized. Said it would never happen again.”

“And you said?”

“I was very dignified. I told him if he ever made an attempt to see me again, I’d severely injure a delicate part of his anatomy.”

He made a strangling sound but didn’t comment.

“He pretty much left me alone after that. He and my ex-friend/roommate got married a few months later because she was pregnant. I don’t know what happened after that because I accepted the job I have now and moved closer to work.”

“You took it hard.”

“That I did. There’s something about finding out that someone you considered a friend and the man you thought you were going to marry betrayed you that dampens the spirit.”

“But that was—what?—five years ago?”

“About that.”

“And you haven’t had a relationship since?”

“Not a serious one, no,” she said, knowing she sounded defensive. “I just don’t intend to get hurt again. So I don’t allow anyone to get too close.”

He looked at their hands, still entwined. “Then I feel honored.”

She lowered her brows and glared at him. “We are not close. I work for you. Just because you think I’ll try to get out of this plane before we take off doesn’t mean we’re close.” She pulled her hand away just as the plane began to roll.

“Actually you work for the company.”

“You are the company. Like I said, I work for you.” Faking nonchalance, she picked up the book and determinedly began to read, hoping his questions were at an end.

Four

Jodie was glad to get off the plane in Los Angeles and walk around. She’d finished her book and decided to get more reading material.

“We have time to get something to eat if you’d like,” Dean said as they walked past several small restaurants located along the concourse.

“I’m not really hungry. They’ll feed us on this next flight, won’t they?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll wait.”

She glanced out the glass walls and saw sunshine, blue skies and palm trees. What a difference from Chicago. “I’ve never been to L.A. before. I guess this doesn’t count since all I’m seeing is the airport.”

“Don’t you like to travel?” he asked. He motioned for her to go into one of the coffee shops with him.

“I haven’t done all that much. I’ve flown to Phoenix several times to see my mother. One Christmas the family gathered in Oregon at my brother’s place. Otherwise, my schedule keeps me too busy.”

They got their coffee and found a small table near the glass wall overlooking one of the runways. “Then I’m glad you’ve come with me this week.”

“Thank you.”

“I hope this isn’t out of line, but I can’t get over how different you look with your hair down.”

“Ah. You have no problem asking why I’m not married but hesitate to make a comment about my hair?”

“You have a point. Is it too late to apologize for my earlier questions?”

“Much too late since you listened to the entire tawdry story.” She spoiled her solemn reprimand by chuckling at the expression on his face. “Do you like my hair shorter?”

“Oh. You had it cut.”

“Yesterday.” She ran her fingers through it. “I’m still getting used to it myself.”

“It’s, uh, you look very, uh—” He stopped. “Yes, I like it.”

“Why, thank you.” She looked around them. “Are you ready to find the gate for the next leg of our trip?”

He stood and stretched, briefly causing a gap between his sweater and pants. His stomach was flat and toned. She wondered what he’d look like in a bathing suit.

On the way to the gate Jodie picked up a couple of magazines. She was a little more relaxed for this second flight. In fact, she was getting sleepy despite the coffee. Perhaps she’d be able to nap once they got into the air.

Jodie stirred as the captain announced that the plane would be making its descent into Kahului Airport, Maui, and that they would be landing in forty minutes.

She couldn’t believe she’d slept that long. She glanced at her lap and saw the magazine she’d been reading when she’d fallen asleep.

She looked over at Dean. He wore his horn-rimmed reading glasses and seemed engrossed in a technical manual. No murder mysteries and thrillers for that man.

“I see you found something light and entertaining for your vacation reading,” she said.

He lowered his chin and looked over his glasses at her. “Each of us relaxes in his own way. Did you sleep okay?”

“Surprisingly so.” She covered her mouth and yawned. “I could get used to traveling in style.” She waited a beat and said, “If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to go freshen up before the seat-belt light comes on.”

Dean moved promptly out of his chair and stepped back. She walked to the front and saw that the lavatory was unoccupied, thank goodness. She went in and locked the door. After she washed her hands, she found her comb and ran it through her hair.

The haircut really did give her a different look. The waves fell around her face and called attention to her eyes. She was surprised that Dean had not only noticed but commented on her appearance.

She felt that she’d been on the plane for at least a week and wondered if she’d ever get the constant drone of the engines out of her head. When she opened the door, she found another first-class passenger standing there. She smiled. He returned her smile with interest.

Jodie felt herself blush and hurriedly returned to her seat. Dean had seen her coming and was standing in the aisle out of her way when she arrived.

“Thank you,” she said hurriedly and slipped into her seat.

He sat down beside her and closed the manual he’d been reading.

During the next fifteen minutes he asked her a few more questions about her life—her hobbies, favorite movies and television shows—and she gave him brief answers, at least enough to satisfy him. After that he left her to read her magazine.

She still felt strange about traveling with him, but she’d no doubt get over that once they arrived at the condo and she set up a routine of sorts.

Once they landed, she and Dean methodically checked around them for their belongings before getting off the plane. Anyone seeing them would think they were a couple who’d been married for years. She had no idea why the thought made her nervous.

Once in the terminal, Jodie noticed that many of the people on departing flights wore leis. She smiled, looking forward to getting one for herself. Dean found an available taxi and he and the driver put their bags in the trunk of the cab.

Dean settled into the seat next to her. “So what do you think?”

“I’m amazed. The scented air is refreshing.”

“Beats the heck out of car exhausts and diesel fuel.”

She glanced at Dean while he gazed out the window and asked questions of the driver. He already looked more relaxed than she’d ever seen him. That was good. She had hopes that the rest would do him good.

The scenery was breathtaking, with towering mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. They followed the coast for several miles until the taxi slowed and turned onto a lane that led to security gates.

Dean gave his name and the gates swung open.

Once inside the gated area, the lane wound through tropical foliage that looked green and lush. When they reached the building, she felt that they’d burst into sunshine with a panoramic view of the sea and the sand.

She sighed with pleasure.

Dean helped her out of the taxi, and while he went to get their bags and pay the driver, Jodie looked up at the building. Balconies jutted out, all facing the water. There would be a fantastic view from each one. The scent of lavish blooms wafted all around her, and she took several deep breaths for the pleasure of soaking up the aromas.

“Ready?”

Jodie turned and saw Dean waiting by the door, their bags in hand. “Sorry,” she said. “I’m awestruck.” She walked over to the door, opened it for him and then followed him across a large lobby to the elevators.

She pushed the button and the doors silently opened. Once inside, she asked, “Which floor?”

“The top one.” She nodded and pushed the fourth-floor button.

When the doors opened, Jodie discovered there was only one set of double doors on the floor. Dean put their bags down, reached into his pocket for a key and opened one of the doors.

He stepped back for the bags and nodded. “After you, Ms. Cameron.”

She hurried inside only to come to an abrupt stop, causing him to drop the bags just inside the door. “Oh, Dean, I’ve never seen anything like this. It looks like the set of a Hollywood movie about the rich and famous.”

He closed the door and followed her into the room. “Pretty impressive, I’ll admit. Would you like a tour?”

The condo encircled the elevator shaft, with windows looking out in all directions. She saw the well-stocked kitchen, the formal dining room with a mahogany table that could easily seat twelve people and three spacious bedrooms, each with its own bathroom and balcony. She thought the word for them in Hawaii was lanai but wasn’t certain.

“Pick whichever bedroom you like,” Dean said after their tour.

“Which one would you like?” she asked, feeling overwhelmed with choices.

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Mmm.” She paused in the doorway of one. The room seemed the size of a basketball court. The view drew her to the window. “This will be fine,” she murmured, opening the door to the outside.

She could hear the sound of the waves rolling onto the beach, the rhythm soothing to her ear. When she turned around, Dean was no longer there. He’d placed her bag on the bed.

Jodie wandered into the bathroom, which was larger than her living room in Chicago. She smiled. She could quickly become used to living like this. All she could think was, Wow.

Suddenly feeling energized despite the long trip, she quickly unpacked, changed into a pair of cotton slacks and a sleeveless blouse and went back to the main room.

Dean was at the bar, pouring himself a drink. “Want one?” he asked as she walked in.

“Water will be fine. I’m not much of a drinker. I thought I’d go down and wander on the beach for a while.”

“Aren’t you hungry? I thought we could go eat first.”

She thought about it. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. I suppose there will be plenty of daylight after we finish eating.”

The restaurant was next to the complex. One side was open with tables and chairs inside and out. Jodie noticed there were only a few people at the tables. She glanced at her watch. “I suppose it’s a little early to be eating according to local time.”

“Doesn’t matter. They’re used to customers coming in at all hours. They’re open twenty-four hours a day.”

Once seated, Jodie picked up her menu and started reading the items listed. She yawned and hastily covered her mouth.

Dean watched her for a moment in silence before speaking. “You’re going to want to go to sleep early tonight despite your nap on the plane, but if you can manage to stay awake, you’ll adjust to the time change quicker.”

“The steady sounds of the surf are so soothing. I hope I don’t fall asleep with my nose in the salad.”

Dean picked up his water glass and held it out. “Here’s to our working vacation together.”

Jodie picked up her glass and lightly tapped it against his. “I appreciate the invitation.” She yawned again. “The way I’m feeling now, I could sleep the entire week away.”

Once their food arrived, there was no more conversation. Jodie didn’t want to chatter; that wasn’t her style. Since they’d already commented on the beauty surrounding them, she could think of nothing to say to him.

By the time they finished eating, the sun was low in the west. Dean walked beside her in silence, his hands in his pockets, as she made her way to the sandy beach.

As the sky darkened, they watched the lights appear along the shoreline before turning back toward the condo. Walking in the sand would be an adjustment, but if she walked like this every day, she’d be in great shape when she returned home.

She smiled at the thought.

“What do you find so amusing?” he asked, stopping as she did to empty the sand from her shoes. He followed her example.

“I was thinking what a workout walking in the sand is. If I’m not in shape now, I will be by the time we leave.”

“Probably.”

A man of few words. Not that she cared. Tomorrow she would be up with the sun and she intended to enjoy every minute she was here.

After Jodie went to her room, Dean took a shower, dried off and stretched out on the bed.

He thought about Rachel. His anger at the abrupt way she’d dismissed him had caught him off guard. He’d learned many years ago to keep his emotions locked down. He considered himself to be a thinking man who wasn’t swayed by irrational feelings. But when Rachel had blown up at him—inconsiderate and unfeeling were the nicest things she’d called him—he’d felt an anger he hadn’t experienced in a long time.

She hadn’t given him a chance to explain. And she’d made it clear she wanted nothing more to do with him.

He had no problem with that and he was thankful he hadn’t told her about his plans. Jodie had been right. He’d needed to get away for a few days. Seeing her excitement and enthusiasm this evening had caused him to look at everything through her eyes.

He couldn’t remember a time when he’d been that joyous about anything.

Yes, having Jodie here with him might teach him how to enjoy life a little better.

He bet she’d been protected from the harsher realities of life until her—what? boyfriend? fiancé? she hadn’t said—pulled his stupid stunt.

He smiled at the way she’d handled the situation. She’d faced the clod and gotten rid of him. But she’d suffered. Why else would she now be too busy to date much?

He turned and adjusted his pillow, willing himself to sleep. Instead his thoughts circled around Jodie. She’d looked so different today when she’d arrived at the airport, wearing formfitting jeans, a sweater, ankle boots and a parka.

The cold had turned her cheeks and nose a rosy hue, and he couldn’t help wondering why he’d only noticed today how attractive she was. She was more than attractive, actually. Beautiful was an overused word and it didn’t quite fit her, but it came close. He liked her looks. He liked and had always appreciated her frankness and her refusal to be intimidated by him. Jodie worked hard and earned every penny of her salary. She was smart and he valued her judgment.