The Husband Sweepstake. Leigh Michaels

only been six months since Kate died.”

      “Which means it’s past time for him to come out of his shell—at least far enough to be sociable. You’d be asking him to take you to dinner, Erika, not meet you at the altar. Right?”

      Erika wanted to bang her head on the desk. Not you, too, Kelly.

      “Anyway, if you’re so sure he’ll say no, then it’s a perfect opportunity to call him. You can get a feel for where he’s standing without actually asking whether he’s made a decision on selling the business. And that way you won’t be stuck with him for a whole evening, either.”

      “Maybe I’ll just take you instead,” Erika threatened. “Why should going to an event like this have to look like a date, anyway?”

      “Sorry, but I’m already committed. I volunteered to work at one of the publisher’s booths—it’s a great way to meet people.” She reached for the telephone.

      Startled, Erika saw that though it hadn’t rung, a light was blinking. Line three—her private line. The number she’d given Felix La Croix. Her heartbeat speeded up.

      “Ms. Forrester’s office,” Kelly said. “No, Mr. La Croix, this is her personal assistant. I’ll put you straight through.” She pushed the hold button and handed the phone to Erika. “Want me to go away?”

      Erika shook her head and cleared her throat. “Hello, Felix. I’m sorry we couldn’t manage lunch the other day. Perhaps sometime this week?”

      He didn’t bother to answer. “I was just chased down by a reporter from the Sentinel.”

      “I’m sorry to hear that.” Not surprised, but definitely sorry.

      “She seemed to think that you and I have some sort of understanding.”

      Erika allowed a smile to creep into her voice. “I was hoping to hear that myself. About the sale, I mean.”

      “That’s not the sort of understanding she meant. She hinted that the Sentinel is ready to run a story that we’re planning a wedding.”

      That’s even worse than I expected. “So if they do, they’ll embarrass themselves,” she said. “It wouldn’t be the first time they’ve been wrong, and it won’t be the last.”

      Felix’s voice was firm. “I will not stand for speculation in the public press about my personal life, or gossip that reflects badly on my wife. I’m calling to tell you that I’m starting negotiations with one of your competitors.”

      Erika’s throat tightened till she could hardly breathe. “Felix, you told me you didn’t want to sell Kate’s company to one of the giants. That was why you were willing to talk to me in the first place.”

      “Well, conditions change, don’t they? I don’t see that I have much choice. Unless you can do something to stop this gossip, I will put an end to it by selling the business—to anyone besides you.”

      Erika swallowed hard. “Give me a few days, Felix. Let me see what I can do.”

      He didn’t answer for a while, and when he did there was a grudging note in his voice. “It’s almost the weekend,” he said. “All right. I’ll hold off till Monday.” The telephone banged in her ear.

      Big of him to give me a whole weekend. Erika sat frozen.

      “That didn’t seem to go at all well,” Kelly mused.

      Erika put the phone down and pushed her chair back. “I think I’ll go home early, Kelly.”

      “What about your appointment with the attorneys?”

      “Tell them what happened, and cancel the meeting.”

      She was almost at the door when Kelly said plaintively, “If you want me to explain it, then don’t you think you’d better tell me what happened?”

      Maybe it was time to just let it go, Erika thought. The few days that Felix had agreed to wait wouldn’t make much difference. Perhaps it would be best for her to accept that the deal was not going to go through and turn her attention to something else.

      You should have known you couldn’t make it work, her father’s voice taunted in the back of her mind.

      Erika smothered the voice of doubt. She was right about Kate La Croix’s products, and she knew it. This was the perfect combination—for Felix La Croix as well as for Ladylove. Why he couldn’t see that was beyond her, but obviously he couldn’t—so if the deal was to be saved, it would be up to her.

      Unless you can do something to stop this gossip…

      Well, there was something she could do, Erika told herself. She could undercut the Sentinel by making her own announcement first. If she announced her engagement before the Sentinel could run its story about her and Felix…

      The plan was simple enough in principle. It was the details which weren’t so easily settled. What was it Amos had said? “Who on earth are you thinking about marrying? If you can’t even get a date for a Saturday night banquet—”

      There were plenty of possibilities, she told herself. Not the delivery boy from the Chinese restaurant, of course. But the ad manager…the marketing director…the lawyer…

      Her brain seemed to grind to a halt. The truth was, she couldn’t even imagine herself telling any of them about this scheme, much less asking for their cooperation.

      She did have to give Amos darling some credit, she admitted. Even though he’d thought the idea was insane, he’d at least listened to her. He’d been helpful at sorting out her thinking once, and maybe he could do that again.

      With hope once more rising in her heart, she headed for home.

      Amos was in the office when she came in. He was holding the phone between his shoulder and his ear, but he was obviously on hold, because he was sorting notes and reminders on the ever-present clipboard.

      “I need to talk to you,” Erika announced.

      “Take a number. You’re about twenty-fifth on the list at the moment.”

      “I’ll wait.” She took off her coat, and was startled when Stephen stepped up to take it from her. “I didn’t realize you were here, Stephen.”

      “I just came in,” Stephen said. “But before I get started on the list, I’ll be happy to take care of your needs, Ms. Forrester.”

      Erika regarded him thoughtfully. “No, that’s all right. Amos has been teaching me to share and take turns, so I’ll wait for him to be free.”

      “Not you, too,” Amos muttered.

      “What’s the matter?” Erika settled into the wing chair. “Is the job more demanding than you expected it to be? You know, I’ve been thinking that you looked a little more frazzled every time I’ve seen you lately.”

      Amos shot her a look that should have made her skin sizzle. “You sound pleased with yourself. You know, I wouldn’t put it past you to be getting all the women in the complex to call me every twenty minutes.”

      “Why would I do that?” Erika asked reasonably. “It just puts me further down your list. Have you had a lunch break yet?”

      “Why?” Amos sounded suspicious.

      “Because I’ll buy. I owe you from the other day when you shared your lunch and I forgot to even say thanks.”

      “And also because that way you can jump to the head of the line.”

      “Guilty,” she admitted.

      “I’ll take over,” Stephen said, and reached for the telephone. “Go.”

      Amos stood up, looking reluctant.

      Erika reached for her coat. “How’s the book going?”

      “You