Excerpt 1
“You weren’t my first kiss,” he whispered. “But you were the last kiss that took my breath away. The only one that did that, for what it’s worth. Being with you made me want things. Things I never expected. Things I haven’t felt or wanted with anyone since.”

 

Excerpt 2
“I’m all in,” he repeated softly, his breath teasing the skin near her ear. “You can count on me, London.”

Could she? 

It wasn’t like she had a choice. Besides, Bennie said Trey’s reputation with advertisers was nothing but professional. 

“I’d like it if we could get through this without every moment in each other’s presence being a battle,” he added.

Well damn if he wasn’t being the mature one. 

She was the one being ridiculous by reading too much into everything he said and did, that’s all. If he could approach the situation like a grown up, then so could she. After all, she wasn’t that naïve eighteen-year-old any longer. No way was she falling for Trey Van Horn again. If he could keep things light and businesslike, she would put on her big girl panties and do the same. 

But not if he kept touching her. It was impossible for her to think with his body so close to hers. She hurriedly untangled her fingers from his and put some distance between them. 

“I’d like that as well.” Too bad her voice didn’t sound as steady and committed to the new plan as she’d like. She managed a smile that she hoped looked more assured than she felt. “I’m looking forward to making this campaign a success.”

He returned her smile with one of his own. Only his bordered on sly, as if he knew what the words were costing her. 

“Me, too.” He opened her office door and gestured for her to exit first.

 

Excerpt 3
“You think you can ride back into my life without a word in ten freaking years, like you’re some. . . some damn White Knight or something and whoosh—” she flailed her arms “—you make everything better. Well, it’s not better. It’s making me crazy.” She slapped her palm against his chest. “I don’t want you rescuing me. I don’t want your help with my job or my brother. I—” Another slap to his pecs. 

“Don’t.”

 Slap. 

“Want.” 

Slap. 

“You!”

Without even realizing it, she’d somehow managed to close the gap between them so that their bodies were practically touching.

“I don’t want you,” she whispered.

Her argument might have carried a lot more weight had she not immediately begun kissing him.

 

Excerpt 4“I need the loo. Hold her a minute.”

Before Trey could even voice a protest, Fletcher placed his young daughter in his arms.

“Don’t drop her,” the kicker growled before disappearing down the hall. 

What the hell? 

Trey had never handled a baby before. He’d never even been around one. How was he supposed to hold her?

The baby let out a little squeak when Trey gripped her like a football. He quickly relaxed his fingers and her rosy lips moved from a pout to a little “o” of surprise. Any second now, she was going to let her displeasure with him be known to the entire diner. 

Dammit. How long would take the Highlander to take a leak?

Holding her wasn’t quite the same as holding a football, he realized. For one, the little imp was squirmy. She gave Trey a drunken smile while thrusting her arms and legs out like a little starfish. His shoulders relaxed ever so slightly when she gurgled a happy sound.

A startled gasp had him looking away from the baby currently casting a spell on him. Only to collide with the first pair of female eyes to ever wrap him up in a spell. For the second time in as many days, London Headley was close enough to touch. 

# # #

This can NOT be happening.

London’s feet seemed to be frozen to the floor. A few feet away from where she was supposed to launch her new career, Trey Van Horn was holding, of all things, a baby. The kaleidoscope of butterflies fluttering in stomach ahead of her pitch-meeting abruptly stilled. 

Probably because she was no longer breathing.  

Trey Van Horn was holding A BABY for crying out loud! 

And he was looking at the infant as if she hung the moon. His face was relaxed into the easy grin she’d fallen for at first glance that long ago summer. It still had the power to melt a piece of her heart. The lucky baby gazed back at him with worship in her eyes.

I can totally relate, sister.

The scene was so unexpected, it was impossible for London to stop a gasp from escaping. Trey’s head snapped up. His eyes filling with frosty annoyance. Almost as if she was stalking him.

She didn’t have time for this. Evan Slater and the team from Nolan and Hemphill were waiting with Seth Gunther. Bennie was already shaking hands with everyone at the table. London forced her feet to move in their direction.

The scouting reports on Trey Van Horn’s quickness were not exaggerated, however. He blocked her path before she could take two steps. He’d only moved a few feet, but he was breathing as though he’d just run the length of a football field. 

“What are you doing here?” he demanded.

Excuse me?

“Last time I checked this place was owned by one of my clients. Clearly, he isn’t discriminating about who he lets through the front door.”

Take that, you egotistical ass.

The baby chose that moment to reach out and grab hold of the long silver chain London had paired with her navy sleeveless sheath dress. Her mom called it her power dress. She was suddenly proud of how it made her look professional, yet feminine. Especially given the way Trey’s gaze lingered on her chest. 

London had no choice but to move a step closer to him when the baby tugged the necklace into her mouth and began gumming it. 

“I meant why are you in Milwaukee?”

The baby flinched at Trey’s hard tone. 

He lowered his voice. “Why aren’t you in L.A. filming movies? Or was that just a lie, too?”

A lie, too? 

What was he talking about? Before she could demand an explanation, a large hand reached between them. London didn’t dare move as long fingers gently extracted the chain from the baby’s mouth.

“Pardon me, lass,” the man said. “I’ll just take what’s mine, Van Horn.”

The baby issued a warning wail before the man cooed to her. “Hush, sweet Lily. Daddy will buy you a chain of your own.”

London blew out a calming breath before forcing her lips into a bright smile. “It was nice to see you again, Trey,” she lied. The sooner she could get away from him, the better it would be for her equilibrium. “If you’ll excuse me, I have people waiting for me.”

She went to take a step, but his palm against her bare arm stopped her forward progress. 

And very nearly her heart. 

The skin tingled beneath his fingers. 

She swallowed roughly. “What do you want from me?”

“Answers.”

Well, so did she. But this wasn’t the time or place. Besides being years too late. She’d waited for him that night. All night. He was the one who had to answer for his behavior. She didn’t owe Trey Van Horn anything. 

“People are watching us,” she said quietly. “I’ve got an important client waiting. I’d really appreciate it if you’d just walk away. We both know how good you are at that.”