Marriage In Six Easy Lessons

With a wry smile, Lucas rose to his feet. “Of course. Happy to meet you, Ms. Soulé.”

“I am happy to meet you, too.” She handed April the sheet of paper and backed to the door. “I will see you later, April.”

After Lili blushed her way out of the office, Lucas chuckled. “Maybe we should put off our excursion. I wouldn’t want to disappoint the rest of your friends.”

April was really annoyed. Any notion that she may have misjudged Lucas vanished. The man was a prime example of a chauvinistic male with an ego to match. “I swear I had nothing to do with those visits. It has to be all your fault.”

“My fault?” Lucas looked affronted. “All I did was to show up here this morning. At your request, I might add.”

How could one man have such an innate male appeal and still wind up the author of such naive conclusions about relationships? April wondered. All the man seemed to know about women would fit into a thimble.

She was tempted to find Tom and tell him about Sullivan’s appearance at the Roxy, just to prove that Lucas Sullivan wasn’t the man he appeared to be. But then, if they’d attended Northwestern together, maybe Tom already knew the truth about Sullivan.

Nothing was going to keep the magazine article from creating a riot among its female readers, April was certain. The bigger problem, once the magazine hit the stands, was how to protect Sullivan from himself.

Chapter Four

Curious about April and the world she lived in, Lucas wandered around her office. Framed magazine covers hung on the walls. A plaque testifying that the magazine had taken honors in the field of journalism for the past three years occupied a prominent place. An award for the outstanding employee of the month bore April’s name.

Neat, small stacks of manuscripts waiting to be read covered a corner of April’s desk. A computer, monitor and a handy cup of black and red pencils the other.

To the casual eye, April might appear to be all business. To his trained senses, he knew she was more complex than that. Underneath her professional demeanor lurked a passionate woman, he was sure. He’d give a lot to see that passion.

He dug his hands into his pockets and paused to gaze down at the Chicago River and a passing cruise boat. He’d always taken the river for granted. Today, the river had possibilities. The idea of cruising through downtown Chicago with April, who wanted to show him a different world while he got to know her better, sounded interesting.