grinned. “I guess I’ll just have to work at changing your mind.”
“You can try, but my mind isn’t easily changed.”
“Challenge accepted.” She pulled a tablet computer out of her bag. “I have a few more questions, then would you mind giving me a tour? I’d like to take some pictures, get the lay of the land.”
Bad idea. He should wash his hands of the whole thing, but if he was the one to answer her questions and show her around, he controlled the information she got. Which meant he could skew things so she wouldn’t want to consider doing a TV show here. Then Dad couldn’t try this trick of his again.
For the next thirty minutes Vivvy continued to ask questions, and Nate continued to answer them. She continued to make little provocative movements—touching his knee, toying with her top button—and he continued to picture her naked.
Nate showed her around the airport and she made notes, all the while clicking around the cracked concrete and grass in high heels as though it was nothing. She took pictures and eventually some of his brain-draining lust faded.
“Will your grandfather and father be here tomorrow? I’ll need to meet everyone involved. Aren’t there an Annie and Ryan Harrington as well?”
“Annie is my mother and our part-time secretary. She usually works from home, but she’s up here on Wednesdays. Ryan’s my brother. He’s a lawyer in Kansas City.”
She nodded. “And your father and grandfather?”
Nate didn’t scowl, though that’s what he wanted to do. “Hard to say. We don’t keep strict schedules around here, Ms. Marsh. You’re around for a week, right?”
She nodded.
“You’ll meet them all eventually.”
She frowned at that and studied her notes. “I see. Well, I have a lot of work to do this evening. Thank you for your cooperation. If I come by tomorrow around eight will someone be here?”
“Ten would be better.”
She let out a sigh. “All right. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He moved toward the door with her, intent on walking her to her car. “Where are you staying?”
“A place called Ivy Vines. It looked like the best option.”
“The only option, anyway.”
“Not a ringing endorsement.”
“Never been inside, but it doesn’t have the best reputation.” In Demo, not the best reputation was the worst of the worst. Nate studied her just-so outfit and hair. “It’s certainly not LA-nice from the outside view.”
She waved it off. “You have no idea how many weird places I’ve been to, and how many less-than-accommodating places I’ve had to stay.”
“Why don’t you tell me about some of them?” He widened his smile, a smile that usually got him what he wanted with the opposite sex, at least for a little while. “Over dinner.”
Not his best pickup line, and the chance of some sexy, successful California woman hopping into bed with him was crazy slim. Especially when he had no interest in giving her what she wanted—a show. Why not take a shot, though? He worked too hard not to take an opportunity for fun when it presented itself.
Vivvy didn’t say no or shy away, she looked up at him thoughtfully. “Is there someplace decent to eat in Demo?”
“Decent.”
“All right. I should go back and work on my report. I could be done by seven.”
“I’ll be in the lobby at seven, then.”
She stood. He stood. He had the blinding urge to kiss her. Luckily she held out her hand for a professional shake. “I’ll see you soon, Nate.”
He held onto her hand longer than necessary, and squeezed. “Soon.”
She studied him, then her lips curved upward. “You’re going to be trouble, aren’t you?”
“I surely hope so.”
She laughed, a low, throaty laugh that had his gut clenching with blinding lust again. But she was already to her car. With one last wave, she slid in and drove away.
He might be trouble, but he had nothing on Vivvy Marsh.
Chapter Two
“It’s looking good. Promising. I have a business dinner with
“You can try, but my mind isn’t easily changed.”
“Challenge accepted.” She pulled a tablet computer out of her bag. “I have a few more questions, then would you mind giving me a tour? I’d like to take some pictures, get the lay of the land.”
Bad idea. He should wash his hands of the whole thing, but if he was the one to answer her questions and show her around, he controlled the information she got. Which meant he could skew things so she wouldn’t want to consider doing a TV show here. Then Dad couldn’t try this trick of his again.
For the next thirty minutes Vivvy continued to ask questions, and Nate continued to answer them. She continued to make little provocative movements—touching his knee, toying with her top button—and he continued to picture her naked.
Nate showed her around the airport and she made notes, all the while clicking around the cracked concrete and grass in high heels as though it was nothing. She took pictures and eventually some of his brain-draining lust faded.
“Will your grandfather and father be here tomorrow? I’ll need to meet everyone involved. Aren’t there an Annie and Ryan Harrington as well?”
“Annie is my mother and our part-time secretary. She usually works from home, but she’s up here on Wednesdays. Ryan’s my brother. He’s a lawyer in Kansas City.”
She nodded. “And your father and grandfather?”
Nate didn’t scowl, though that’s what he wanted to do. “Hard to say. We don’t keep strict schedules around here, Ms. Marsh. You’re around for a week, right?”
She nodded.
“You’ll meet them all eventually.”
She frowned at that and studied her notes. “I see. Well, I have a lot of work to do this evening. Thank you for your cooperation. If I come by tomorrow around eight will someone be here?”
“Ten would be better.”
She let out a sigh. “All right. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He moved toward the door with her, intent on walking her to her car. “Where are you staying?”
“A place called Ivy Vines. It looked like the best option.”
“The only option, anyway.”
“Not a ringing endorsement.”
“Never been inside, but it doesn’t have the best reputation.” In Demo, not the best reputation was the worst of the worst. Nate studied her just-so outfit and hair. “It’s certainly not LA-nice from the outside view.”
She waved it off. “You have no idea how many weird places I’ve been to, and how many less-than-accommodating places I’ve had to stay.”
“Why don’t you tell me about some of them?” He widened his smile, a smile that usually got him what he wanted with the opposite sex, at least for a little while. “Over dinner.”
Not his best pickup line, and the chance of some sexy, successful California woman hopping into bed with him was crazy slim. Especially when he had no interest in giving her what she wanted—a show. Why not take a shot, though? He worked too hard not to take an opportunity for fun when it presented itself.
Vivvy didn’t say no or shy away, she looked up at him thoughtfully. “Is there someplace decent to eat in Demo?”
“Decent.”
“All right. I should go back and work on my report. I could be done by seven.”
“I’ll be in the lobby at seven, then.”
She stood. He stood. He had the blinding urge to kiss her. Luckily she held out her hand for a professional shake. “I’ll see you soon, Nate.”
He held onto her hand longer than necessary, and squeezed. “Soon.”
She studied him, then her lips curved upward. “You’re going to be trouble, aren’t you?”
“I surely hope so.”
She laughed, a low, throaty laugh that had his gut clenching with blinding lust again. But she was already to her car. With one last wave, she slid in and drove away.
He might be trouble, but he had nothing on Vivvy Marsh.
Chapter Two
“It’s looking good. Promising. I have a business dinner with
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