Kostas's Convenient Bride. Кейт Хьюит

      Maybe he wasn’t as ready to let go of their friendship as she was.

      Well, he was going to have to get over that little problem. He’d had a total of eight years, two of which included amazing sex, to figure out that they could be something more. What had the idiot done, though? He’d gone and hired a matchmaker, that was what!

      He’d decided to sell Kayla’s home! Her one place she felt safe.

      Well, she wasn’t putting up with that. He could go off and get married and have all the business challenges he wanted. Kayla might even come to the wedding, but they were done. Done as business partners. Done as best friends.

      Just done.

      When the bellhop asked what room to place her bag in, Kayla waved at the one on the left. She didn’t care. What did it matter? This room, no matter how swank, was no more sanctuary than her condo back in Portland. The only sanctuary she had was her office and lab back at KJ Software and she wasn’t going to lose that.

      Kayla grabbed her phone out of her bag and tossed it onto the table.

      To heck with staying here and waiting for Andreas to show up. She was going out.

      She looked down at herself. Right. First stop, the Garment District. Shopping cured a lot of frustration. At least it did when you had money, and ever since she’d started working for KJ Software, Kayla’s bank account had never been empty like back in the days when she’d been alone in the world without the company.

      She was in a small start-up designer’s boutique, trying on a dress that hugged her curves in a way that would require another layer. Maybe a jacket? A long vest? But it was her signature color. The perfect shade of melon in a ruched silk that made Kayla’s breasts look a cup size larger and her bottom look like it was padded.

      She turned to get another angle from the three-way mirror when a sound of masculine appreciation came from her left.

      “Very nice.”

      She spun to face a blond who looked vaguely familiar. “Thank you, but I think it needs a long vest.”

      “To hide that gorgeous body? I don’t think so.” Blue eyes tracked her with heated approval that managed to feel like a compliment and not something smarmy.

      Still, she rolled her eyes. “Are you trying to pick me up?”

      He laughed, the sound genuine and amused. “I haven’t noticed anyone giving you the attention you deserve.”

      “You’re saying you noticed I’m alone.”

      “Yes.”

      “A woman can shop alone.”

      “Could you please tell my sister that? She insists not.”

      A young woman who also looked familiar in that way people do who could be celebrity doppelgängers said, “You like shopping.”

      “In women’s clothing boutiques?” the flirtatious man demanded.

      The younger woman laughed. “Okay, maybe not so much. Anyway, Chantal is coming, so you’re off the hook. BTW, that dress looks killer. You’ve got to buy it.”

      Kayla looked back at the mirror. She did like the dress. She nodded. “I think I will.”

      Mr. Blue Eyes gave her another appreciative look. “Wear it tonight when we go out.”

      “You are trying to pick me up!” Kayla laughed, not at all offended.

      He was too charming and good-looking. Besides, his sister was there. Said sister exclaimed, “Oh, you’ve got to go out with him, everyone wants to be seen with Jacob.”

      “Why? Is he somebody famous?” Kayla joked.

      Jacob put a hand to his heart and staggered back, like he’d taken a shot. “I’m hurt. You don’t recognize me?”

      “You look familiar. Does that make you feel better?”

      His sister burst into gales of laughter. “Oh, this is fabulous. The one woman in New York who doesn’t know who you are.” She whipped out her phone. “Just wait until my followers hear about this.”

      Kayla frowned. “I’m starting to feel like I’m really missing something here.”

      “I’m the lead in...” He named a new and rising-in-popularity Broadway production. “And the brat doing the tweeting? She’s my twin, but she’s also a famous model. Just ask her.”

      The beautiful younger woman put her phone where Kayla could see the screen. “It’s true. See? I have over a million Twitter followers.”

      “I’m a software designer. I don’t get out much,” Kayla muttered.

      Both Jacob and his sister laughed, clearly more amused than offended.

      “So, you’ll let me show you my city?” Jacob asked persuasively.

      His supermodel sister grinned and winked. “Oh, do say yes. It’s been an age since he’s been out with anyone who wasn’t a total sycophant.”

      She didn’t want to go back to the hotel, where Andreas would be soon. “Maybe I will.”

      “Maybe we can start our evening early.” Jacob jumped onto Kayla’s tentative agreement.

      “I hate to break it to you, but I’m not done shopping.”

      “I make a great shopping buddy.” He smiled engagingly. “Just ask my sister.”

      “He really does,” said the woman, still very busy with her smartphone.

      And that was how Kayla found herself spending the next several hours in the very pleasant company of a Broadway star. It was kind of amazing. Other than a couple of people asking for Jacob’s autograph, people mostly left him alone. New Yorkers took his presence and even Kayla’s with him in stride.

      “Do you want to stop at your hotel and get ready to go out?” he asked solicitously later.

      No, she really didn’t, not and risk running into Andreas. Kayla’s backpack had everything she needed besides the clothes and shoes she’d bought while out shopping.

      “It might make more sense to get ready at your place so you could get ready at the same time,” she offered.

      “I like the way you think.”

      He put the arm not carrying packages for her around her shoulder. “Don’t take that as some kind of invitation.”

      “I wouldn’t dream of it.” The laughter in Jacob’s voice mocked her.

      But Kayla smiled anyway.

      Jacob lived in an older, secure building, not far from the theater district. Jacob came out of the bedroom dressed in designer jeans that showed off his manly assets in delicious ways and a white silk shirt.

      He approached Kayla, who had changed into the new dress in his tiny bathroom and applied makeup before pulling her tight curls into a messy bun on top of her head. Masculine approval glowed in his blue eyes. “You look amazing, Kayla.”

      “Thank you.”

      Jacob put his hands on her shoulders, intent unmistakable in his eyes.

      Pounding on his door startled them both. Jacob jumped back. “What the hell?”

      “Open the damn door,” Andreas bellowed from the other side.

      Kayla gasped. “Andreas.”

      More pounding. “I know you are in there, Kayla. Tarkent, open this door!”

      Jacob’s last name was Tarkent?

      “Do you know who that is?” Jacob asked.

      “My boss.”

      “Your boss?” Jacob asked.