As it had been for him and Jed growing up. They’d become experts at evading questions about their mom. They’d give just enough information to satisfy teachers who asked where they’d been for days on end when she’d pull them out of school to fly to Europe at a moment’s notice because she felt the need to escape.

“So Dad took over the business because Granddad forced it on him. And now he’s doing the same to me.”

“Are you positive about that?”

“Well, he told me that if Jed or I don’t take over the chairman’s seat on the board, he’s going to sell. That kind of feels like he’s forcing the issue to me.”

“And do you want the job?”

“It’s more complicated than that, Nana. You know that.”

“Is it?”

Beatrice’s seemingly simple question made the roiling thoughts in his head slow. She definitely had something she wanted him to hear but obviously wanted him to come to it on his own.

“Are you trying to tell me there’s an easy answer to all of this? Because if there is, I haven’t come up with it.”

“Then maybe you’re overthinking the problem.”

His gaze sharpened on his grandmother’s amused blue eyes as an idea occurred to him. “Thanks for the drink, Nana, but I have to go. I have a little research to do before tomorrow.”

He rose, kissed her cheek again, and headed for the door, still carrying his drink. He had a feeling he’d need it.

“Something special going on tomorrow?” his grandmother asked. “Or should I say, someone special?”

Hand on the doorknob, he turned, hiding a smile at the knowing tone of her voice. “You could say that.”

“Why don’t you bring Kate for brunch with me Sunday morning? Not too early, of course. I’d love to see her again, get to know her a little better. After all, she did find my ring.”

And Tyler knew exactly where his grandmother was going with this. “Nana—”

“No, no. Don’t say anything. Off you go. You have work to do. And I . . . Well, I think I’ll go shopping. One can never have too many purses.”

* * *

“Kate, hi. This is Dinah Malinowski. I wonder if you have a few minutes to talk.”

It took a second for the name to register when Kate answered her phone Friday afternoon, but her heart had already begun to pound.

Setting aside the dress she was taking in, she stood and headed for the bathroom. “Prof—Dinah, how are you?”

The laughter in her ear made her smile as Kate shut herself in the bathroom. “I’m fine. Especially since I hope we’ll be working together. You’re talking to the new costume designer of the off-Broadway Downstairs Playhouse, and I’ve got the perfect job for you.”

Kate’s mouth opened but all that emerged was “Oh, my God.”

After Dinah finished laughing, she started to talk about the theater and the job while Kate’s head spun.

“I know it’s a lot to take in immediately, but I’d like you to come up to the city so you can get a feel for the job and make a decision. Would sometime next week be okay?”

It would take some finagling with Joe but . . . “Of course. I should be able to carve out some time in the middle of next week. Dinah, I can’t thank you enough.”

“Oh, don’t thank me yet. You might not want the job after you see what it entails. But after we talked last week, I knew you were the right person for this spot.”

Kate spent the rest of the day in a fog. Luckily, she didn’t screw up anyone’s clothing, but Joe had that look in his eye. The one that said he knew something was up.

Between Joe’s constant attention and the fact that she couldn’t wait to see Tyler tomorrow, the day couldn’t pass fast enough.

Of course, tomorrow she’d also be seeing Greg. And he’d be seeing a hell of a lot of her.

Which made her nervous. And horny.

God, was she horny.

And wet.

Damn it, she needed to stop letting her mind go there.

She forced herself to work Friday night until she couldn’t keep her eyes open and paid for it Saturday morning when she had to get up at seven to be at her nine o’clock meeting with a potential client, who wasn’t just a potential two hours later. Kate had a down payment check in her hand and a rough sketch of an idea to get started.

By the time she got home and decided on what to wear and what to pack, it was close to one. At this rate, she wouldn’t get to Haven until four.

By that time, she might spontaneously combust.

It was after five when she parked in the garage, and her agitation level had spiked somewhere on the Schuylkill Expressway between the bumper-to-bumper traffic and the three accidents.

Combine that with high-octane lust, and she was a needy mass of nerves when she finally knocked on the door to his apartment.

She waited impatiently for him to open the door and, when he did, she nearly melted into a pile of goo at his feet.

He wore a pair of black slacks that looked custom made and a white button-down shirt that should’ve screamed conservative but made her want to rip the buttons off, one by one. With her teeth.

Her first clue that he was distracted came from the quick kiss he gave her before waving her through the door. The next was when he told her he needed time to finish what he was doing.

“Make yourself at home. This won’t take me more than a few minutes, I swear.”

When he’d disappeared into his office, she took her overnighter to the bedroom. And started to undress.

She’d brought new lingerie. Something she’d designed specifically for him, although she hadn’t known it at the time. She’d designed it right after they’d met, when she’d still been engaged to Arnie but had known it wasn’t going to work out between them.

She’d gotten the idea from one of Annabelle’s paintings, and she’d thought it would fit tonight’s mood perfectly.

And fit her mood, as well.

She was just pulling on the matching satin chemise when she heard motion behind her.

“Shit, I’m sorry, Kate. I was looking for Tyler.”

Greg.

She froze for a second before making sure the chemise was straight. Then she turned to face the man who was going to watch while she and Tyler made love tonight.

Instead of embarrassment painting her cheeks red, she felt excitement.

But if he’d been leering at her, she would have stomped across the room and slapped his face. Which was stupid, all things considered.

God, it all should’ve made her crazy. Instead, she wanted this man to get so hot and bothered while she and Tyler made love that he had to join them. Had to have her.

But he wasn’t even looking at her.

In fact, he’d turned his back to her, though he didn’t move out of the doorway.

“When did you get here?” he asked, his tone steady. As if he didn’t know or care what was going to happen later.

And maybe he didn’t. Maybe this was just another night to him.

Maybe—

She shook her head and took a deep breath. “Just a few minutes ago. Traffic was worse than I expected. You can turn around now. I pretty much covered everything vital.”

When he turned, his gaze met hers and his grin . . . God, the man had a smile that made his broad features light up.

“Honey, I wouldn’t consider your legs nonvital. They’re damn near pretty enough on their own to make me throw myself at your feet. And at my age, that’s saying something.”

Torn between so many conflicting emotions, she fell back on the tried and true: sarcasm.

Crossing her arms under her breasts, she raised an eyebrow at him. “Please, you’re what . . . thirty-five? That’s not old in my book. And you, Mr. Bigshot Hollywood Producer, are you trying to tell me your casting couch is ever empty?”

Mimicking her by crossing his arms, and drawing her attention to his broad chest, Greg leaned one shoulder against the doorjamb, that grin getting more wicked by the second.

And making it harder for her to breathe.

“I’m thirty-six. And would you like to test my casting couch?”

God, did she? What—

Tyler appeared in the doorway next to Greg, entering the room and stealing all the air. At this rate, she’d be dizzy in seconds.

“Ignore him, Kate. Greg pretends to be an ass but it’s usually an act.”

As her gaze met Tyler’s, she realized his laser-sharp focus had returned. And landed squarely on her.

As if he’d shut out every other distraction and she was the only thing in his life worth having at the moment.

It literally took her breath away to have him stare at her like that. Only when her lungs began to ache did she draw in air.

Tyler’s half grin had a definite edge to it as he stopped in front of her, blocking out everything but him.

“I see you took my advice and made yourself comfortable.” He reached out and let his fingers play over the wide strips of black lace that held up the bodice. She’d used the lace as decoration around the top of the chemise, at the hem and up the side split. “I think I recognize this.”

She’d wondered if he would. It was the same lace he’d used to tie her to her bed.

That dull flush of color spread across his cheekbones and she knew if she looked down, his erection would be tenting the front of his pants.

“It’s a new design.” She took a step back and did a slow turn. “I got the idea from one of Annabelle’s paintings.”

“It does look Victorian, but it also reminds me of something from the twenties. I like it.”

“I’m glad.”

“And it looks easy to get off.”

That made her blush. She had no idea why, considering she’d been thinking about stripping in front of his friend.