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“Ouch.” He had the grace to look abashed. “I stepped right into that comment, and I suppose I deserved it.”
She raised her eyebrows and said nothing.
“The town house belongs to me,” Hawk went on unperturbed, “but Lucy has had the run of it since I haven’t been in regular residence until recently. And though I’m based in New York, rather than London, for business at the moment, I expect that my corporate dealings will still mean I’m not much at home.”
Pia knew all about Hawk’s hedge fund, of course. She’d read about it online. The success of his company over the past three years had raised his reputation to that of a first-class financier.
Darn. He must have women throwing themselves at him.
Not that she was interested, of course.
Pia wondered why Hawk was at home now, actually. The thought had occurred to her earlier, too—the minute he’d walked into the parlor. It could only be that he’d chosen to come into her meeting with Lucy, possibly betting that once she said yes to his sister, it would be best to reveal his connection to Lucy sooner rather than later.
Hawk arched an eyebrow. “And so…?”
Pia regarded him.
“I make you nervous, don’t I?”
“N-naturally. I have a fear of snakes.”
He grinned, unabashed.
“The endearing hiccup in your speech tells me everything I need to know about how much I affect you,” he said, his voice smooth as silk and
doubly seductive.
Pia felt a shiver of awareness chase down her spine for a moment, but then Hawk’s face changed to one as innocuous as a Boy Scout’s.
“Of course,” he went on solemnly, “we’ll say no more on that topic. I plan to be on my best behavior from now on.”
“Promise? Really?” she parried.
Before Hawk could reply, the library door opened. Lucy stuck her head inside, and then walked in when it was clear that she’d found them.
“Ah, there you are,” Lucy said. “I was wondering if you’d run off, Pia.”
“Nothing so drastic,” Hawk responded mildly. “Pia and I were just discussing the terms of her employment.”
Lucy looked at Pia with some surprise, and then clasped her hands together in delight. “You’ve agreed? Splendid!”
“I—”
“The hot water has gotten cold, but I’ll order another pot for tea,” Lucy said. “Shall we all return to the parlor?”
“Yes, let’s,” Hawk responded, his lips twitching.
As Pia followed Lucy from the room, and Hawk fell into step behind her, she was left to wonder if all the Carsdales had the gift of polite and subtle railroading.
For despite everything, she was finding herself agreeing to be Lucy’s bridal consultant.
When Hawk emerged from the elevator, he had no trouble locating Pia’s place. She’d opened her front door and was standing in the entrance to her apartment.
She looked fresh as a daisy in a yellow-print knit dress that displayed her lithe, compact body to perfection. The cleavage visible at the V-neck was just enough to give a man interesting thoughts.
He wondered whether he would always experience a quick jolt of sexual awareness when he saw her.
“How did you find me?” she asked without preamble.
