by Haley Oliver
"Mr. Sway," Jane greets with playfully falsified formality.
"Miss Fox," Daniel returns in kind. "Keeping my brother out of trouble?"
"Unfortunately so." Jane nods indicatively to the girl beside her. "Friends, countrymen, coworkers, lend me your ears. It's my distinct pleasure to introduce you to Cat Valentina, Sway International's latest acquisition."
I had heard about Cat in advance. She is Nathaniel Sway's recent hire. Apparently, she had given a stellar interview while the rest of them were away in Tahiti and had blown every other candidate out of the water.
Up close, I admire Cat's ash-blond hair, kept neat and trim in a straight bob that perfectly accentuates her heart-shaped face. Her mouth is a smaller heart right in the middle of her perfect dimpled chin.
Uh-oh, I think. Is it my imagination, or is Nathaniel Sway in trouble here? "It's a pleasure to meet you, Cat." I accept the girl's small, slim hand in my own. The petite blonde responds with an unexpectedly impressive handshake. Uh-oh, I think again. Definitely has his hands full. How bookish Nathaniel Sway will deal with the appearance of this professional pixie remains to be seen.
"Oh! Ice cream!" Jane tows Cat along after her toward the vendor and the new girl gamely follows. Henry shoots a questioning look back at his father, and Daniel gives a nod of assent. Henry runs after the two women to get in on the action. Jane opens her arm to pull him in against her as they go.
"He's going to be okay," I say as Daniel pulls me in against him similarly. "He's got so much love in his life."
"Are you talking about Henry?"
"Maybe." I lean against Daniel as he nuzzles me. Then, possessed by a wicked impulse, I grab his tie and pull him in. The surprised curve of his warm lips presses firmly against my smile. But Daniel has his own black-hearted designs. He turns into me and yanks me in by my waist, his left hand caressing the curve of my cheek with complete license as he takes charge of the kiss, delving and deepening it. I sigh into him and relax completely in his arms.
"I love you," Daniel whispers against me. He cups my face and stares deeply into my eyes. I feel the familiar flush creep up my neck, beckoned back to life by his touch.
"I love you." I speak his own words back to them, making them wholly my own.
"Do you think my brother is going to survive his new secretary?" Daniel poses the question directly into my hairline.
I laugh at the absurd turn of our conversation and shove at him, but he keeps me firmly tucked against him. "How should I know?"
"Oh, you know," he accuses me in a low voice that sounds eerily and purposefully like his brother, Gabe's. "You secretaries have your tactics."
"We certainly do," I agree. "Winning tactics."
"You think you've won me so easily?" Daniel pulls away of his own accord and fixes me with an astonished look. I laugh again, unable to keep up the pretense, but he carries on. "The only way to win my heart is to jump out of an airplane at two thousand feet."
"Oh, okay," I assure him. "I'll be sure to pencil that in."
"You be sure to do that."
Little does Daniel know I fully intend to fill his schedule. I've already got a dinner date planned for this evening... one that will include Henry, and plenty of ice cream.
Arm-in-arm, we walk up the hill after the others, trailing after the little boy and his ball.
NEXT IN THIS SERIES…
