“You said goodbye.”
“You said you were leaving.”
“I changed my mind.”
A delivery boy came in with three dozen white roses and deposited them on her desk, leaving without a tip as Reynolds Industries maintained a “tip” account with every florist in the area. From the nonchalant way Evan tried not to look at the flowers, she knew immediately who had sent them. She read the card aloud for good measure. “‘Meet me at my hotel after work’. The roses are lovely, Evan, but I don’t respond to summonses.”
“Unless they’re from Michael?” he added immediately. “Not that I resent having my brother give my hook-up orders. Michael gives everyone orders. And everyone obeys.”
“Do you still have some crazy idea that I’m sleeping with your brother?”
“Actually, I’m pretty sure you haven’t been sleeping with any guy but me for a very long time.”
She looked at him, considering. “How about a woman? I’m surprised you didn’t think of that.”
He grinned. “Bring it on. I love three-ways.”
“I’m afraid that’s not to my particular taste, but I’m pleased to note how open-minded you are. What do you want, Evan?”
“What do you think?”
“I’m flattered by your interest. Really, I am.”
“Not what I was trying for.”
“But I’m not interested in anything long term.”
He said nothing for a second. Then, “Okay. If you say so. How about one more fuck for the road?”
Colleen Grady suddenly came back in, an older, well-dressed gentleman in tow. Oh bother! Who was this? She thought she had canceled all Mr. Reynolds’ appointments.
“Miss Prentiss, this is Mr. Jack Tottingham, an old friend of Mr. Damien Reynolds. He heard about Michael Reynolds and was wondering if the elder Mr. Reynolds was available for, er, consolation.”
Miss Grady had a lot to learn. Bringing anyone in for an unscheduled appointment with Michael Reynolds was unheard of. One with Damien Reynolds was unthinkable.
She gave Mr. Tottingham a cold stare, but unfortunately he was staring at her with what looked like amazement. Tottingham. Tottingham. It didn’t sound familiar. She frowned.
“I’m sorry, but Mr. Damien Reynolds is unavailable. If you’d like to leave your card—”
“Do you know you’re the spitting image, young lady, of Angelica Stavros?”
Chapter Three
Now that the moment had come, Andrea felt pretty calm about it. Actually hearing the name spoken in her presence, linked to her, didn’t even cause her to catch her breath. She doubted her complexion even reddened. Evan Reynolds was staring at her, of course, but he’d been staring at her since he got there. It had nothing to do with that long-forgotten name or this man whom she really did not recognize.
She smiled at him condescendingly. “You’d be surprised how often I get the line that I look just like someone.” She added in an aside to Evan, “Usually it’s when I’m seated on a barstool.”
“I’m surprised you ever relax enough to make it into a bar,” Evan quipped.
“Who’s Angelica Stavros?” Miss Grady asked and Andrea glowered at her.
“I’m afraid we’re really quite busy here, Mr., er, Tottingham, you said?”
“Angelica Stavros was a Greek heiress who died quite some time ago,” the older man explained.
“Are you Greek, Miss Prentiss? With your coloring, I wouldn’t guess that,” Evan said.
She gritted her teeth. “As a matter of fact, I’m not Greek.”
“Mrs. Stavros wasn’t either,” Mr. Tottingham threw in. “She was married to the Greek shipping magnate, Fredrico Stavros.”
“How fascinating.” She stood up, her ultimate signal for someone to leave. For good measure, she added in a clipped tone, “Miss Grady, please show this gentleman out.”
Just then, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Damien Reynolds, had the bad timing to make one of his increasingly infrequent trips to the office. Still tall and imposing with a full head of white hair, Damien Reynolds strode into the office with the gait of a man decades younger. As was always his way, he initially ignored everyone in the room with the exception of anyone to whom he was related by blood. Stopping short in front of his youngest son, he exclaimed, “Evan! My God, what a surprise. What are you doing here? Is everything all right?”
Andrea witnessed the relaxed Evan Reynolds stiffen a little in his father’s presence. “Fine, Dad. I stopped by to see Miss Prentiss.”
“You did? Why?”
Sometimes, for all his good breeding, social graces seemed to be lost on Damien Reynolds. Evan’s mouth quirked up on the side. “I was trying to get her to go out on a date with me.”