Marry Me, Kate. Judy Christenberry

Bare.

      “Are you married?” he asked.

      For the first time since she’d entered his office, she drew back. Only inches, but a definite retreat.

      “Why?”

      “I want to know.”

      She hesitated but finally answered, “No.”

      “I will listen to your pitch tonight. Write down your address,” he ordered, shoving a piece of paper and a pen across his desk, “and I’ll pick you up at eight. It’s formal.”

      “What’s formal?” she asked, her voice wary. She hadn’t picked up the pen yet, and he wondered just how strong her determination was. She might save him from his bizarre idea if she weakened.

      “I have to attend a reception this evening. It’s the only time I can give you. Take it or leave it.”

      She stared at him and he calmly waited for her decision. He’d always been a gambler. But he’d never taken such a personal risk before.

      She reached out for the pen and paper and wrote down an address. He took it from her and nodded as he folded it and put it into his top pocket. “Eight o’clock.” Without another word he returned to his perusal of the letter. Even as she walked to his office door, he’d lost himself in the new project he was working on.

      

      Will put his Jaguar in Park and pulled the piece of paper from his tux jacket pocket: 1205 Wornall Avenue. He slowly lifted his gaze to the monstrosity in front of him. The Lucky Charm Diner—an old trolley car, painted a pea green, though half the paint had peeled off, set at the edge of the small parking lot. The sign on top of it was covered with graffiti, making its name almost unreadable.

      She couldn’t live here. The woman he’d seen this morning, Kathryn O’Connor, in that elegant blue suit, couldn’t live in a diner. If she did, his plan would not only upset his mother, but it might also give her a heart attack.

      Maybe Miss O’Connor just wanted to meet him here. She hadn’t seemed the cautious type, though these days any woman should be. But couldn’t she find a classier place to meet?

      He shut off the engine and got out of the car. As he stood there, adjusting his gold cuff links, a rattletrap old pickup pulled into one of the many empty spaces. Without even a glance in his direction, two grizzled men in coveralls got out and entered the diner.

      With a shrug, Will followed them.

      He surveyed the small eatery, noting the faded tabletops, their green color matching the outside paint, the patched and uneven floor, the close quarters. Clearly a down-and-out café. Its name had certainly not been lucky for the owner.

      Clearing his throat, he waited for the only employee in sight, a frizzy-haired, middle-aged woman, to acknowledge him.

      “Just come on in and park yourself, honey. We’re not formal here.” Even as she greeted him, she was pouring coffee for the two men who had preceded him.

      “I’m looking for Miss Kathryn O’Connor,” he explained crisply, trying to hold back his distaste.

      The woman paused and giggled, her gaze sweeping over him. “Oh! You must be the gentleman she said would be coming. Kate!” she called in gargantuan tones. “He’s here.”

      Will barely stopped himself from shaking his head in amazement. He couldn’t have chosen a better place to shock his mother if he’d tried. The picture of her entering this establishment, in her fur and pearls, almost made him burst out laughing.

      The redhead appeared from a door to the side of the counter. The men drinking their coffee put down their cups and clapped and whistled, jerking Will from his thoughts.

      She was wearing a little black dress, cut low in front, displaying her charms, and slit to the thigh on one side. Sheer black nylons led his eyes to the high heels that only emphasized all those curves.

      His mouth suddenly dry, he cleared his throat again and muttered, “Good evening, Miss O’Connor.”

      Seemingly unaffected by his appearance, she replied, “Hello, Mr. Hardison. Are you ready?”

      “Hey, Kate, where you going, all duded up?” a member of their audience called out.

      Will frowned in his direction but waited for the woman to answer.

      “This is a business meeting, Larry.”

      “Whooeee! I think I’m going into business!” the man whooped as all the others laughed.

      Will’s soon-to-be date laughed along with the men, but he didn’t. “Miss O’Connor, this is a formal affair,” he said.

      “This is as dressy as I come, Mr. Hardison. I haven’t frequented formal occasions lately.”

      His gaze briefly roamed the diner before he said, “I can see.” He hadn’t intended his remark as a criticism but he saw the flash of anger in her green eyes.

      “If I’ll be too much of an embarrassment to you, we can have our meeting here and then you can proceed without me.”

      “Not at all, Miss O’Connor. After you.” He was looking a gift horse in the mouth. Why worry about her embarrassment if she didn’t? He’d never deliberately place any woman in such an awkward situation, but he’d warned her. It wasn’t his fault she wasn’t properly dressed.

      After they were settled in the Jaguar and on their way, he said, “The man in there called you Kate.”

      “Yes.”

      “Ah. Do you mind if I call you Kate?”

      She’d been staring straight ahead until now. Turning, she let one brow slip up in a fascinating manner. “Are we going to be informal, then?”

      There was a challenge in the husky tones that made his gut clench. He didn’t want to react to her, but her sexy apparel combined with her attractions would make any man sit up and take notice.

      “I thought it might be a good idea—since we’re going to be in each other’s company all night.”

      “All night?”

      Damn, she was making him sound like an adolescent boy, stumbling through his first date. “Too literal, Miss O’Connor. I of course meant all evening. Though when the evening ends will be your choice. I’m a gentleman.”

      “Don’t play word games with me, Mr. Hardison,” she returned, her voice smooth and enveloping. “Given my choice, we would’ve had our meeting in your office.”

      He breathed deeply and inhaled her perfume. His gaze swept up her leg, following the slit that teased him with a glimpse of a firm thigh.

      “Tell me about the project you think would be perfect for Hardison Industries’s entrepreneurial program.” If he didn’t change the subject and stop thinking about how the evening might end, he was going to embarrass himself.

      “Can’t you guess?”

      Such a strange answer brought his gaze back to her. “I beg your pardon?”

      “The light’s turned green,” she murmured just as the car behind him sounded its horn.

      Embarrassed, he stomped on the accelerator and the tires squealed as he roared through the intersection. Feeling like a teenager, he tried to bring himself under control.

      “What did you mean?” he finally asked.

      “You’ve already seen my project.”

      He frowned. He really wasn’t interested in discussing business right now. His plans were more important. All he’d hoped to do was distract his mind from the urges that were overtaking him every time he looked at her. But now she’d caught his attention.

      “I don’t know what you’re talking about. All I’ve seen is you.”

      “Not