Barbara Dunlop - Reunited with the Lassiter Bride

“I’d tell you at LBS we have always created our own programming.”

“And if I reminded you that I have something you seem to want?”

She paused. “I couldn’t offer you quid pro quo, but I can tell you I’ll get your idea in front of an acquiring executive, and we’ll take a look at it.”

“But no promises?”

“We’ll give it full and fair consideration.” She was sincere in that. Just because they’d never commissioned a third-party program for LBS didn’t mean they never would.

“And your brothers?” Conrad took a healthy swallow of his new drink. “Are they aware that the scandal is over?”

“They are. They’re each involved in the corporation in different ways.”

“But not on the media side?”

“Not on a day-to-day basis,” said Angelica. “But the family it united.” It was a bit of a stretch. There were certainly some fences left to mend, but Angelica was confident her brothers wouldn’t say anything publicly that would disparage her father or the family.

“And Jack Reed?” Conrad asked, giving yet another nod to the butler.

Angelica hadn’t even touched her second drink. Luckily, while Conrad momentarily turned away, Evan once again deftly switched glasses with her, drinking it himself.

“Jack is completely out of the picture,” she said. “There was some confusion about his role at first, but he was also acting on my father’s wishes.”

Conrad arched a bushy brow. “Your father wanted his company to be taken over and split apart?”

The butler returned, and they all exchanged their empty glasses for fresh drinks.

“My father,” Angelica admitted with frank honesty, “set it up to test how I would react if that became a possibility.”

Conrad cracked a grin. “A wily old coot, was he?”

“I would say so.”

Evan joined in. “Everyone passed the test with flying colors. The family pulled together, and Lassiter Media is going to thrive.”

“They didn’t pull together right away,” Conrad noted.

Evan gave a shrug and took a hearty swallow of what was now his fifth glass of scotch. “Nobody does the right thing right away.”

Conrad gave a wheezing laugh at that.

“First we look at the angles,” Evan continued. “Then we decide what we want. Then we decide what’s best. But the last decision is the only one that counts.”

Angelica forced herself to take a sip of her drink. She wished the glass contained a liquor she enjoyed. She needed something to counteract her burgeoning appreciation of Evan. He sounded quite sincere in his defense of her behavior.

“And what about you two?” Conrad asked, glancing from one to the other.

“We’re friends now,” Evan offered simply.

“No, you’re not,” Conrad countered with conviction, his bushy brows coming together, creasing his forehead.

Angelica stilled, worried they were caught.

“In a relationship like yours,” he continued, “you either love each other or you hate each other. There’s nothing in between.”

“You can’t believe what you read in the tabloids,” said Evan.

“It’s not what I read. It’s what I see. Picture after picture tells me you two had it bad.” His wrinkled hand gestured back and forth between the two of them. “I’m no fool. You’re makin’ nice now, but it’ll go off the rails in the blink of an eye. The story will hit the tabloids, and this wedding and my mansion will be smack dab in the middle of a scandal.”

“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.