CHAPTER FOUR

      THE NOTE OF finality in Dean’s voice told Kristen the conversation was over. To seal the deal, his phone rang.

      Miffed that he always got his way, she turned her gaze to the window. New York City was a sort of blur as the limo sped down the street, then they stopped at a traffic light. Not only could she see the lights and tinsel, ornaments and pine branches that decorated streetlamps and buildings, but the city itself was huge and modern.

      She’d noticed that on her shopping trip that afternoon, but New York City was such a far cry from Grennady that it once again stole her breath. The crazy feeling that she was in over her head tried to sneak in and ruin her confidence, but she wouldn’t let it. She might not be experienced, but she was educated.

      And she had a goal to make Aasera’s wish a reality. She would have to be tough enough that one city or one guy’s opinion wouldn’t shake her. She also had to be able to face the princess and her husband on her own, to apologize to Alex for doing something he hadn’t wanted done.

      She straightened her shoulders, sat taller in the limo seat. She could not—would not—fail because she let her confidence waver. She could do this.

      When Dean finally hung up the phone, she didn’t care what had happened between him and Prince Alex. Taking responsibility for this trip and responsibility for contacting the one person Alex hadn’t wanted to be contacted was another step in her growth as a businessperson. Dean would probably call that lesson three, clean up your own messes.

      Rather than endure the oppressive silence or let him think she was brooding because he wouldn’t tell her why Alex hated him, she said, “The city’s already decorated for Christmas.”

      “Yes. We seem to start earlier every year.” He paused then said, “Have you never been to New York before?”

      She turned from the window to face him. His serious dark eyes caught hers. The now familiar tingle skipped along her skin as they studied each other.

      He was so gorgeous that it was hard to believe no woman had snapped him up. Of course his personality did leave a lot to be desired. He might be so handsome that she sometimes lost her breath when their eyes met. But he was a grouch. Her job tonight was to make him seem normal—maybe even likable. She had to remember that task and do it, not lose her breath or wish he was different.

      “I haven’t been very many places. Except for university, I’ve been a homebody.”

      “Yet you want to start a charity that would technically be global.”

      His tone wasn’t demeaning, more like curious, so she answered honestly. “This thing that I did with you,” she said, pointing from herself to him and then back again. “It was like the first step in getting myself out of my shell and into the real world.”

      “Ambitious.”

      She laughed, glad he was no longer grouchy, just his usual stiff and formal. “Most people wouldn’t think a flight to Paris would turn into a trip to New York. You’re giving me a crash course in how rich people operate.”

      “Glad I can be of service. I want to do as much for you as you’re doing for me. The more professional we keep this and the more equitable our deal, the easier it will be to manage.”

      “Lesson number four?”

      “No, that relates back to lesson two. Don’t mix business and pleasure.”

      “Right.”

      He frowned. “What was lesson three?”

      “Clean up your own messes. I figured it out myself. Your disagreement with Alex has no bearing on the fact that I went behind the backs of the royal family to meet with you. So I have to own up to it and apologize.”

      “Good point.” He peered over at her. “So we’re officially counting them now?”

      “The lessons?”

      He nodded.

      She laughed. “Sure. Why not?”

      “You do recognize that this evening is four or five hours of me introducing you to important people. Potential contacts. You’d do well to make a good first impression and remember names.”

      “I never have a problem making a good first impression.”

      He smiled a real smile. “I have no doubt about that.”

      Fissions of pleasure skipped up her spine. If he continued being nice like this, the physical thing she felt for him might morph into a total attraction. Especially since the way he kept gazing into her eyes told her he was attracted to her too.

      The limo stopped. The driver opened the door for them. Dean got out, and reached in to assist Kristen. The warmth of his fingers closing around hers caused her chest to freeze. Tingles rained down on her like snowflakes.

      He gave a soft tug that brought her out of the limo and almost into his arms. Their eyes met and held. They might not want to mix business with pleasure, but the electricity humming through her made her wonder what it would be like to be on a date with him for real.

      Crazy. Weird. Odd.

      Those things popped into her head first. He might be good-looking, but he was also a genius who spoke his mind, always thought he was right and always wanted his own way. Those traits didn’t make a good boyfriend—or date.

      She pulled back, as he pulled back. Almost as if they’d both taken those two seconds to ask the question, What if they acted on their attraction? and both decided against it.

      * * *

      Dean put his hand on her elbow and turned her toward the hotel. They walked into the stately lobby and were directed to the elevator that would take them to the ballroom several floors up. When the doors closed, he immediately took his hand off her elbow and stuffed it in his pocket.

      Those few seconds after he’d helped her out of the limo, when they’d stood face-to-face, a mere fraction of an inch apart, his whole body had tensed with wanting her, and he’d suddenly seen that his gut wasn’t telling him she was somehow important. It was telling him he was a lot more attracted to her than he’d thought. Not because her eyes were pretty or because she had a long sloping back that led to the most