Arm Candy

He smiled at her. That goofy, love-struck grin that made her want to bitch-slap him silly. “How do you like it?”

“The suite is fabulous, but too extravagant. My God, it must cost a fortune.”

“Two fortunes.” He stepped closer, clearly expecting her to let him inside. “But you’re worth it.”

“Thank you,” she said, using the one technique that had merited any success. A simple response. No embellishment. Owen had some difficulty coming up with original thought.

“We need to talk about tomorrow.”

“We do?”

He nodded. She spied little drops of perspiration beading his forehead where his hairline used to be. At least he didn’t do the comb-over thing. That would have been the icing on the cake. As it was, he wasn’t bad-looking. Slightly pudgy, not too tall. She used to find him vaguely handsome, until he’d changed from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Horny Hyde. “Yeah, you know. The details.”

She gave him her most reassuring grin. “That’s why you hired me, Owen. To take care of the details. So you don’t have to worry in the least. The makeovers are going to be a smash, and so is the opening party. All you have to do is show up at Panorama at eight tomorrow night. Which reminds me, I have to go make a couple of calls—”

“Jess,” he said, planting his foot firmly in the door and using his shoulder to ease himself in. “I have some concerns about the party.”

She wanted to shove him right back outside, but thought better of it. This would all come to an end soon, and then she wouldn’t have to worry anymore. In the meantime, however, she wanted to maximize the distance between them, so she closed the door and walked over to the wet bar. “Soda?”

“No thanks,” he said, his glee at gaining entrance far too evident on his face.

“You have concerns?”

He immediately adopted an air of thoughtfulness as his gaze shifted to the bedroom door. “What’s our TV coverage on this thing?”

She’d told him before. Written him memos. But she said none of that. “Entertainment Tonight, E!, Access Hollywood, MTV, VH1, and three cable shows.”

He nodded. “Good, good. And what about celebrities? Are they all verified?”

“We’re sending twelve limos, but most of the crowd is arriving on its own.”

“Who, exactly?”

She bit back a sigh. “Julia Roberts, Keanu Reeves, Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr., Nicole Kidman, and oodles more. Should I ask Marla to come up with the list?”

“No,” he said too quickly. “That’s great. Just great.”

“But it won’t be just great if I can’t make the calls I need to, so…” She headed toward the door. He didn’t follow.

“I’m sure the calls can wait a few minutes.”

“No, Owen, they can’t.”

The expression on his face changed again. This time to lovelorn puppy. “Jess, can’t you see what a team we make? Isn’t it obvious?”

“Yes, absolutely. The next week will prove it. We’re going to make New Dawn a household name.”

He walked toward her, holding his hands out as if he meant to grasp her, which was simply out of the question. Only, he was blocking her easy exit. In order to get around him, she’d have to practically leap over the chaise. “That’s not the partnership I’m talking about.”

“There is no other partnership, Owen.”

“But there can be. Should be.”

“You have a partner already.”

He shook his head as he took those last steps, angling himself so that now she truly was caught. His right hand touched her forearm. “I don’t. Honestly. I’ve told you before. Ellen is a great mom—”

“I’ve got a partner, Owen.”

He stopped. Blinked. Kept his hand right where it was. “What?”

“A partner. A man. I have someone in my life.”

First, a flash of hurt, then confusion, quickly followed by doubt. “What are you talking about? You don’t date.”

“I don’t talk about dating.”

“You’re always at the office.”

“No, I’m not. I do have a life. Which is private. But there is someone, and it’s serious.”

Doubt became out-and-out disbelief. “Who?”

“You don’t know him.”

“What’s his name?”

“Not that it matters, but Dan.”

“Dan what?”

The annoyance factor was starting to shift into the furious factor. “Crawford.”

“Never heard of him.”

“Exactly.”

“How did you meet?”

“In school. Ages ago.”

“And he just showed up again?”

“That’s right. He showed up, and the old flames were rekindled.”

Owen finally removed his hand from her arm. “Where does he live?”

She stepped back, grabbed the door handle. “I don’t see why that’s important.”