Skirting The Issue. HEATHER MACALLISTER

froze off each word.

      Very quietly, very firmly Josh responded, “Harvey Wannerstein is dishonorable.” It was an old-fashioned word that shouldn’t be old-fashioned, to Josh’s way of thinking.

      She blinked. “So you’ve intimated.”

      “And I am not.”

      Sam rolled her eyes. “Oh, for—”

      “I’m not.” He held her gaze—once she stopped rolling her eyes.

      “No, you’re tricky and slick and underhanded and devious—”

      “That’s shrewd, suave, discreet and clever, but above all, when I give my word, I keep it. So don’t think dealing with him is anything like dealing with me.”

      They stood there in the deserted hallway staring at each other and as far as Josh was concerned, they’d stay there all day if that’s what it took. Normally he didn’t care what the competition thought of him, but Sam was different. He’d rather she hated him than look at him with contempt.

      As she studied him, he was having a couple of second thoughts concerning some of his more creative deals and how they might appear to someone as straitlaced as Sam, when she took a step forward and cuffed him on the shoulder.

      “I believe you, you big jerk.”

      He grinned with a lot more relief than he wanted to admit. “Now don’t go all mushy on me.”

      “Not a chance.”

      What a woman. He fought an intense urge to haul her to him and lay one on her. It would be worth the inevitable smack to his jaw. He could manage quite a kiss in the few seconds that surprise would hold her still.

      But he didn’t kiss her. “Remember what I said about Wannerstein.”

      “Yeah. Thanks.”

      They walked, side by side, to the Riviera Ballroom. Sam went to the house phone sitting on a sofa table next to the wall. As she spoke into it, Josh opened the ballroom doors.

      The place was impressively huge. The thought of it filled with industry professionals who were there to hear him share his knowledge gave Josh an immense feeling of satisfaction. He’d worked hard and now he was being acknowledged as the best.

      “If you’ve started a company, then where is it? Your sisters have an office at a law firm. I can go there.”

      “People don’t come to me. I go to them.”

      “You actually expect people to pay to hear what you have to say? This sounds like one of your father’s slick schemes.”