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“You’re right,” said Evan, and Angelica shot him a look of amazement. But then his hand closed around hers with a reassuring squeeze. “Truth is, we’ve been thinking about getting back together.”
He raised her hand to his lips and gently kissed her knuckles. A familiar buzz of awareness traveled along her arm to her heart, and she had to struggle to mask her reaction.
“You have not,” said Conrad. “Nobody keeps a secret like that in this town.”
“We do,” said Evan, sounding completely convincing. “Look at her, Conrad. I’d have to be a blind fool to give her up.”
Conrad’s gaze took in every facet of Angelica’s appearance. She told herself to hold still and try to look like some kind of 1950s dream girl, the kind you forgave, took back and married, even when she messed up your life.
Conrad finished his drink, and Evan followed suit.
“You’ve got me there,” said Conrad.
“I think you’ve had enough to drink, sweetheart.” Evan lifted the glass from her hand and drank it himself.
Angelica focused on looking calm, serene and in love.
“I’ll be damned,” said Conrad, his expression relaxing for the first time since they’d arrived.
“I’m no fool,” said Evan.
“I guess you’re not. So, you’re telling me I don’t need to worry about wading into a scandal?”
“I’m assuring you this won’t blow up in your face.”
“What was that date again?”
“Last weekend of the month.”
“This month?”
“I realize it’s short notice. I told you about the fire at the Emerald?”
“We’d need extra staff and security,” said Conrad.
“We’ll take care of all the details,” Evan assured him.
Angelica held her breath.
Conrad nodded his head. “I’ll leave the details to you.”
“Thank you so much,” Angelica reflexively gushed, reaching out to shake Conrad’s hand with both of hers. “Kayla will be so excited.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Conrad gruffly brushed away the thanks and seemed to mentally withdraw.
“We’ve imposed on you long enough,” said Evan polishing off the last drink. “Thank you for this, sir. Is there a staff member we can contact?”
“Albert will bring you a business card.”
The butler, who had remained nearby, came forward to give the card to Evan.
“Goodnight, Conrad.” Evan tucked the card into his suit pocket and shook Conrad’s hand.
Conrad gave Angelica a parting smile. “I guess I’ll be seeing you again soon.”
“You will,” Angelica agreed. “I’ll look forward to it.”
Evan put his hand at the small of her back and guided her back through the great room toward the hallway. As soon as the front door was closed behind them, he leaned down to whisper. “You were amazing.”
“Are you okay?”
“How do you mean?”
“You drank six single malts.”
“Oh, that. Getting him a little drunk seemed like a good strategy, and I couldn’t very well throw you to the wolves.” Evan blew out a breath as they approached the car. “But I am a little woozy. I think you’d better drive.”
“No kidding.”
He walked her to the driver’s side door, extracting the keys. “Do you know how to drive a stick?”
“I can manage.”
“She’s peppy,” he warned.
Angelica’s back was to the car door, and she couldn’t help smiling at the warning. “I’ll be fine.”
Then he went silent, and she suddenly realized just how close to her he was standing. The warmth of his body swirled out to meet her skin. She picked up his familiar scent on the breeze. He smelled good, so good, and she felt herself sway involuntarily toward him. Her hormonal reaction to Evan hadn’t changed one bit.
That was bad.
“I mean it,” he said in a gravelly voice. “You did great in there.”
“So did you,” she told him sincerely.
He inched ever so slightly closer. “We make a good team—you and me.”
“You’re drunk, Evan.”
“Maybe a little.”
“Your judgment is impaired.”
“My judgment is perfect. You’re incredible, Angie. And I wanted you just as badly sober as I do now.”
Before she realized what was happening, his lips were on hers. Magic exploded inside her brain, colors flashing, music playing, the taste of Evan overwhelming her senses. The kiss went on for long minutes before he finally pulled back.
She was breathless, and not nearly as horrified as she ought to have been. She had to get it together here.
“That did not demonstrate good judgment, Evan,” she told him tartly, holding out her hand for the car keys.
He just grinned and dropped the keys into her palm. “Sure it did.”
* * *
The Lassiter Media building’s twenty-seventh floor patio, with its adjacent café, was normally open to all the company executives. But today, it was closed for Angelica’s private meeting with her brothers and cousin. Together, the four controlled the broader Lassiter conglomerate group.
At her request, they’d agreed to coordinate trips to L.A. Chance and Sage were in from Wyoming, where Chance ran the family’s Big Blue ranch and Sage took care of his own business interests. Dylan managed the Lassiter Grill Group.
They were at a dining table beside the fountain as Dylan popped the cork on a bottle of Chateau Montegro, a signature wine of Lassiter Grill. Chance was telling Sage about the adventures of a couple of the ranch cowboys.
Feeling like she needed to clear the air, Angelica broke into the lighthearted story. “Before we go any further, can you please let me apologize?”
They all looked at her, falling silent.
“This isn’t a celebration,” she reminded Dylan.
She forced herself to look at each of them in turn, Chance with his strong face and ranch-weathered complexion, Dylan with his ready smile and compassionate eyes, Sage with his closed expression and tight rein on his feelings.
“Please let me get this out. I am so profoundly and incredibly sorry for putting you all through this.”
Dylan was quick to speak up. “It isn’t your fault.”
“But it is.” She wasn’t going to back away from this.
“You got the short end of the stick,” said Chance. “The will took us all by surprise. I can’t honestly say what I would have done if I’d been shafted like that.”
“You’d have walked away,” Angelica told her cousin with conviction. She glanced at her brothers as well. “All of you. If J.D. had left you out of his will, you’d have accepted it and walked away.”
Sage spoke up. “That’s because we wouldn’t have been surprised. His relationship with us was a lot more strained than his relationship with you.”
“You mean he spoiled me.” She was determined to be completely honest here.
“He loved you,” said Dylan. “He loved you and you expected, you knew, you always knew above everything else that he’d take care of you. And he didn’t. Or it looked like he didn’t.”
“Ultimately, it was his choice,” said Angelica. “It was his money, his companies. He was free to leave them to whomever he pleased.” She swallowed a catch in her throat. “I should have accepted his decision right away.”
Sage reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t beat yourself up, little sister.”
The unexpected endearment made her tear up. Sage wasn’t one to demonstrate emotion. “I’m so sorry,” she managed.
“Okay,” said Dylan, raising the bottle of Chateau Montegro. “You’re sorry. It’s done. We accept your apology.”
Both Sage and Chance nodded with conviction.
“We’re family,” said Chance. “It’s up to us to stick together now.”
The obvious love in their expressions made the weight slowly lift from Angelica’s shoulders. Her tears dried, and she managed a weak smile.
Dylan began pouring the wine.
“I don’t know why he even left me the twenty-five percent of Lassiter Media,” Sage said to Angelica. “I’m busy running Spence Enterprises. I’ll sign the shares over to you anytime you want.”
She shook her head. “No, you won’t. I’m through second-guessing our father. You’re a significant shareholder in Lassiter Media, and you’re staying that way. If I had to guess, I’d say he wanted to make sure you felt like part of this family. Besides, I want to be able to come to you for advice.”
Sage grinned. “You don’t need any of my advice on Lassiter Media. Evan’s the one who—” He abruptly stopped himself, looking apologetic.
“You’re allowed to say his name,” said Angelica.
“Have you spoken to him? I mean, since the day you took over?” asked Dylan, handing her a glass of the red wine.
“I have,” she confirmed. “We talked yesterday.”
All three men looked surprised by the news. They waited for her to elaborate.
“We’re standing up for Kayla and Matt,” she explained. “They’re getting married at the end of the month.”
There was a further beat of silence all around. All three men looked decidedly worried.
“It’s fine,” she assured them.
“How can it be fine?” asked Dylan.
She waved away their concern. “We’re friends—” She stopped herself, realizing that lying to her family was ridiculous. “Okay, we’re not friends. We’ve hurt each other in too many ways to ever even contemplate forgiveness. But we can pretend to be friends—we have to pretend to be friends—for Kayla and Matt’s sake.”
“You want us to talk to him?” asked Sage.
Angelica fought a bubble of laughter. “And say what?”
“If he steps out of line,” growled Chance.
“Stop it,” she ordered. “You guys like Evan. You’ve always liked Evan.” She straightened the silverware in front of her, telling herself it was vital to keep the honesty flowing. “There were times when you liked him better than you liked me.”
“Never,” said Dylan.
“It’s fine,” she assured them again. “It’s going to be just fine.” Her voice went softer. “But, thank you. Thank you for caring, and thank you for supporting me.”
Dylan raised his glass, and they all followed suit. “This is long overdue. To J.D.”
“To J.D.,” they echoed.
“To Dad,” Angelica whispered, her heart beginning to heal as she took a first sip.
Three
“Why are you even still here?” Evan asked Deke as they slowed to a walk on the beach pathway north of the Santa Monica Pier.
“I’m helping,” Deke answered through labored breaths. He angled his way through the colorful afternoon crowd of tourists, buskers and rollerbladers, going toward the slushy kiosk. They’d ended their jog a couple of blocks from Evan’s building.
“You’re not helping at all.” Evan followed along without complaint because he was incredibly thirsty.
“I got a hot lead this morning.”
“I got a hot lead this morning. You just answered my phone.”
“I provided excellent service. Two large lemon mangos,” Deke said to the kiosk clerk.
“How do you know I want lemon mango?”
“You want something else?”
“I don’t care.” As long as it was cold and wet, Evan would be happy.
Deke handed a twenty to the clerk. “Then why are you griping?”
“I want a little control over my life.”
“You want a little control over Angelica Lassiter.”
“Say what?” How had Angie gotten into the conversation?
“You’re sexually frustrated, and you’re taking it out on me.”
The clerk smirked as he handed Deke his change.
“I’m not sexually frustrated,” Evan said in a loud voice, as much for the clerk’s benefit as anything else. His lack of a sex life was purely by choice.
“You want Angelica. You can’t have her. So you’re pissy.”
“Hey, I kissed her. Just last night. And she kissed me back.”
The clerk had turned away to operate the slushy machine, which was chugging out the lemon mango, so Evan couldn’t tell if he’d heard the brag.
“The hell you say,” said Deke.
“I say.”
“Where’d you kiss her?”
“Conrad Norville’s.”
“Is that above or below the waist?”
“Ha, ha.”
“So, what does that mean?” Deke asked, going serious again.
Evan shrugged, already regretting having shared the information. “I don’t know,” he admitted.
It meant nothing. He was a fool to have mentioned it. He’d all but forced that kiss on Angie. Her return kiss had been reflexive, an obvious result of shock and surprise. It might have been fantastic, but she hadn’t meant it. Afterward, she’d been nothing but annoyed.
The clerk slid the slushy drinks across the counter, and they each took one.
“When are you seeing her again?” asked Deke as they turned away.
“In an hour. The Emerald Wave faxed Matt and Kayla’s plans for the wedding so we could pick up the ball. We’ll need to contact the florist, the bakery, the musicians. And we need to check out a new caterer.”
“Does Matt know about the fire?”
“He does now. I finally got a text from him this morning. But it looks like they’ll be a couple more days getting back.” Evan plopped down on a bench facing the ocean and took a long, satisfying drink.
Deke sat down next to him. “You’re not meeting her at Lassiter Media, are you?”
“Good grief, no,” said Evan. The Lassiter Media building was the last place on earth he wanted to be.
“You want company?”
Evan’s first reaction was to grin. “You think I need protection from Angie?”
“More like she needs protection from you.”
“It’s all under control.”
Evan had everything in perspective. He just needed to keep his emotional reaction to Angie separate from his intellectual understanding of the situation. And he could do that.
Her lack of trust in him had destroyed any chance they had as a couple. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t attractive. She was just as gorgeous and sexy as she’d ever been. And the fact that he could picture her naked in such vivid and astonishing detail was to be completely expected.
But he could handle it. He had no choice but to handle it.
“You just told me you kissed her,” said Deke.
“It was nothing.”
“Kissing your ex-fiancée is not nothing.”
“It was a slipup. She was standing there. I was standing there...” Evan struggled to keep his mind from going back to that incredible moment.
“And if she’s ‘standing there’ again today?”
“She won’t be.”
Deke gave a choked laugh.
“You know what I mean.” Evan took another drink.
The sun was hot on his sweat-damp head, burning along the back of his neck. The shrieks of children on the sand swirled around him, while the moist, salt air sat heavily in his lungs.
“I’m coming with you,” Deke announced. “And afterward we’re hitting a club or two and dancing with some new, hot women.”
Evan was about to refuse. But he realized Deke was right. He had to nip this in the bud. Angie was his past, not his future. Once they were done with Matt and Kayla’s wedding, they were going their separate ways. Letting himself fantasize about her would only delay his recovery.
“Fine,” he agreed. “Suit yourself.”
* * *
“Thanks for helping out with this,” Angelica said to Tiffany as she drove her ice-blue sports car into the parking lot of the Terrace Bistro where she and Evan had agreed to meet.
“Why are you thanking me?” Tiffany asked. “It’s my job. Kayla needs me. Besides, there’s no way I’m letting you face Evan alone.”
“I faced him alone last night,” Angelica pointed out.
Not that she was looking forward to doing it again. Their kiss last night had completely rattled her. It should have felt awkward. It should have felt strange. She should have recoiled from the feel of his hands and the taste of his lips.
But it had felt familiar. It had felt like coming home.
“You okay, Angie?” Tiffany reached out to touch her arm.
“I’m perfectly fine.” Angelica shut off the ignition and set the car’s emergency brake. Then a wave of anxiety hit her, and she latched her hands on to the steering wheel, gripping hard for a second.
“Angie?”
“I’m over him.” She released her grip on the steering wheel. “And he’s definitely over me. Let’s go.”
“He kissed you, didn’t he?” Tiffany had already heard the entire story.
“That was an... I don’t know what that was. But it wasn’t a regular kiss. He was making some kind of debating point or maybe a power play, or he was mocking me.”
“Well, I’m here for you if he tries anything over dinner.”
“Thank you,” Angelica told her sincerely. “He won’t. And I don’t care one way or the other. He’s just another guy to me.”
“If you say so.” Tiffany sounded doubtful.
“I say so,” Angelica responded with conviction. She pocketed her keys and opened the car door.
The two women made their way across the parking lot to the non-descript, little café. Inside, Angelica spotted Evan at a corner table. The second his gaze met hers, her stomach fluttered with anticipation, and all her hopes of pretending he was just another guy flew out the window. This was Evan. He was never going to be just another guy.
A moment later, she realized he wasn’t alone.
“Who’s that?” Tiffany whispered from behind her.
“Deke?” Angelica asked the question out loud, quickening her steps. She had only met Evan’s college friend Deke a few times, but she’d always liked him. He was slightly shorter than Evan and had dark hair. He was very handsome, and one of the smartest people Angelica had ever met.
He came to his feet, giving her a broad smile. “Angelica.” He pulled her into a brief hug that felt entirely natural.
“What are you doing in L.A.?” she asked.
He shrugged. “I got a little restless.” His gaze went past her to abruptly stop on Tiffany.
Angelica quickly introduced them. “This is Tiffany. She’s Kayla’s other bridesmaid.”
Deke held out his hand to greet Tiffany, and Angelica quickly stepped out of the way. She realized too late that the action put her in position to sit next to Evan on the bench seat of the booth. Doing anything to switch back would look ridiculously awkward. Besides, Deke was already motioning Tiffany in next to him.
Resigned, Angelica sat down.
“I see you brought reinforcements,” Evan noted in an undertone.
“As did you.” She settled her purse on the bench seat as a barrier between them.
“Deke’s staying with me for a few days.”
“In Pasadena?”
“I sold the house in Pasadena.”
The words took her by surprise, and she automatically glanced at him. “You did? When? Why?”
“Last week.”
“But, you loved that house.”
“At the moment, I need the money more than I need a big house.”
“But you have—”
“I am not using his money, Angie.”
“You’d take a loss on principle?”
“I didn’t take a loss. But, yes, I’d take a loss on principle.”
“What’s that supposed to mean,” she hissed under her breath as Tiffany and Deke got settled.
Evan handed her a printout on Emerald Wave stationery. “It means, unlike certain other people, I stick to my principles even when it’s inconvenient.”
“I stuck to my principles.” Which were, at least in part, to ensure the health and security of Lassiter Media.
“Principles like respecting your father?” he drawled.
“Evan,” Tiffany put in smoothly from across the table. “You should shut up now.”
Deke gave a muted chuckle.
A waiter appeared at the table. “Good evening.”
Angelica gratefully switched her attention to the man.
“Our most popular themes are Mediterranean, southwest and continental.” The man handed around some sheets of paper. “I’ll give you a few minutes to discuss it, and then I’d be happy to talk about wine pairings for your choices.”
Angelica shot Tiffany a confused glance. They had to agree on a theme? What kind of a restaurant was this? Why couldn’t they just order from the menu?
“Thank you,” said Evan. “We’ll let you know what we decide.”
“Have you been here before?” Angelica asked him as the waiter stepped away.
“Never.” He arranged three sheets of paper in front of him. “But our options were limited at this late date.”
“It’s a Wednesday.” How busy could Malibu restaurants be? It was only five-thirty in the evening.
He gave her a confused look. “I mean our catering options for the wedding.”
She blinked. Then she glanced down at the papers in front of them. They listed price points per guest and per platter.
“These are catering menus,” she observed.
“Can’t get one past you.”
“I thought we were here for dinner. I thought you were bringing the Emerald Wave information for us to discuss.”
“I am. I did. But we’re also sampling the caterer’s menu.”
Tiffany jumped in. “That sounds like fun.”
“I’m game,” said Deke. “Not to brag, but I excel at eating.”
Tiffany smiled as she gave Deke a sidelong glance.
“You could have told me,” Angelica, embarrassed by her own confusion, said to Evan.
“I thought I did tell you when we talked on the phone. Maybe you just didn’t listen. Mediterranean, southwest or continental.”
Angelica didn’t exactly believe him, but she let it go, scanning the catering menus.
“Continental has my vote,” said Tiffany.
“I’d be happier if we knew what Kayla wanted.”
“I finally got a voice mail from Matt in response to my text,” said Evan. “He says thanks. He trusts our judgment. And they’ll appreciate anything we can do before they get back. The connection was pretty bad, because I think he said something about the moat being flooded.”
“The moat?”
“The only logical explanation I could come up with is that the retreat is at a castle somewhere. I know there’s a pretty big storm off the North Sea. The upshot is they won’t be able to get home for a few more days. We’re on our own.”
“I agree with Tiffany,” said Deke.
Evan glanced up. “Of course you agree with Tiffany. You’re flirting with Tiffany.” He looked pointedly at her. “Watch out for this guy.”
She grinned.
“Southwest is a bit overdone lately,” Angelica noted. And the décor at Conrad’s mansion definitely lent itself to something a little highbrow.
“Matt’s not a huge fan of Mediterranean,” Evan put in. “Does that settle it?”
“Sure,” said Angelica. “Let’s go with continental.”
“So, old world wines?”
“Bite your tongue,” said Angelica. “California wines, for sure.”
Evan smiled without looking at her. He knew full well the Lassiter family had many close friends in the wine business in Napa Valley.
“Are you trying to pick a fight with her?” Deke asked him.
Evan seemed to be doing his best to look offended. “I can’t make a joke?”
Tiffany put up her hand to signal the waiter. “This seems like a great time to get the wine tasting underway.”
“I like the way you think,” Deke muttered.
After some consultation with the waiter, they chose several wines to taste along with a selection of appetizers, entrees and desserts from the continental menu.
Despite the rather humble surroundings of the restaurant, the food turned out to be delicious.
Angelica bit into a warm brie and smoked trout appetizer, enfolded in phyllo pastry and garnished with a light herb paste.
“Oh,” she groaned, setting the remainder of the morsel down on her plate to savor the mouthful. “This is the best one yet.”
“Try the shrimp,” said Tiffany. “Oh, man. I’m getting stuffed, but I just can’t stop.”
“I need some real food,” said Evan.
“Get them to bring you the duck or the lamb,” Angelica suggested. “But I think I’m going to have to trust you on how those taste. I couldn’t possibly eat anymore.”
“You’d actually trust me on something?” asked Evan, a lilt to his tone.
She turned to rebuke him for the sarcasm, but then she caught the sparkle in his eyes. She realized she had to stop being so touchy. He’d always had a dry sense of humor. She used to enjoy it.
“So long as you don’t try to steal what’s rightfully mine,” she countered.