“You’re sure?” he forced himself to ask.
“Stop asking me that or I’ll go proposition another man.”
Humor surged through him. “If you want out at any time, just say the word. We do this only as long as we’re both happy.”
“Agreed. Now go get us John’s account.”
This time when she stepped away, he let her go.
He watched her walk away, his arms feeling empty without her. But it wouldn’t be long before he could touch her again. Already his mind was racing with plans to see her.
Who would have thought his prim assistant would turn out to be all he could think about?
But even as he sat at his desk and pulled up the briefing notes on his meeting, the memory of Ali stretched out under him was never far from his mind.
Nor was the question of just how quickly he could get her there again.
Chapter Eight
“It sounds like you guys have made a lot of progress.”
“Yes, but you know what would make this process easier? You.”
Jenny’s laughter drifted from his cell. Darian switched it to speaker phone as he rummaged through the fridge. There was still half a roasted chicken in there somewhere. Made by Suzie. He’d learned his lesson about cooking.
“We booked our flight. Should be in two weeks before the wedding.”
“Ali and I have an appointment on Wednesday to drive back out to the vineyard and test the catering food. Any preferences you’d like me to request? Assuming we go with them?”
“You’ve got better taste than me, big bro. As long as there’s champagne and cake I’ll be good.”
“All right then once we lock in the food, I think we’ll be in great shape. You’re handling the rings and clothes, right?”
“Yep. All covered. The wonderful world of online ordering. I’ll be back in town in time for my dress fitting before the big day.”
“Perfect. Then we’re all set.”
“Actually, there’s one more thing I wanted to ask you.”
He set down his plate and moved back to the phone. “What more do you need from me?” he asked, picking up his cell. “Keys to a town house? A Rolls Royce wedding gift? A spare kidney?”
“Matt and I were talking about the ceremony. His parents will be there, of course, but obviously with daddy gone I’ve got no one to walk me down the aisle. I was hoping you’d fill in.”
Darian stopped walking, his sister’s soft voice sending daggers into his heart. “Of course,” he said. He was a poor substitute for their parents, but if there was any way he could help fill that loss on his sister’s wedding day, then he’d do it.
She let out a puff of breath. “Fantastic. I just know this will be the perfect day.”
“Everything will be ready,” he promised her. No matter what he had to do, this wedding would be seamless.
“I know it will. Thanks again for doing all this. You are a total life saver.”
“Without Ali we’d both be screwed.”
“I’ll make sure to bring her an awesome thank you gift from France. I knew she’d come through. She’d move mountains for you.”
A smile tipped his lips. “I’ll pass that on.”
“Geez, don’t. That chick is serious. I don’t want to get on her bad side.”
Serious. He frowned. Yes, she could be when there was a task that needed to be done. But she was also generous, funny, brilliant.
Sexy.
“Okay, I’ve got to run. I’ll check in after your catering tasting. See how you think they rate.”
“Good night, Kit.”
“Night night.”
The call disconnected, and he tossed his phone back on the counter. Grabbing the chicken, he sawed off a drumstick then put it on his plate. He headed back to the fridge for accompaniments and paused.
He hadn’t had a chance to check in with Allison before she’d left today. Jenny’s call was as good an excuse as any.
Reaching for the phone, he tapped her number.
“This better not be work related,” she said when she picked up. “I’m officially off the clock.”
He leaned back against the counter, a smile curving his lips the second he heard her voice.
“Just heard from Jenny. She asked me to walk her down the aisle.”
“That’s a lovely idea.”
“You think I’m up for it, hmm?”
“Walk in a straight line? Well, I’ve seen you achieve harder tasks.”
A sound reached his ears that for a moment he couldn’t identify. When he did his cock went rock hard.
“Are you in the bath?”
The splashing stopped. “I’m relaxing.”
“With your phone.”