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sorry, but I can’t meet you tonight after all. Not because I want to back out on our plans, but because Rafe and Brooke just asked me to have dinner with them. With the wedding coming up so soon, and they’re so rarely in town, I couldn’t say no.”
    “I’m glad you said yes. I’ll be there, too.”
    “You will?”
    “Rafe said they want to have dinner together so that the four of us can talk more about the gazebo plans.”
    “They do?”
    “I’m pretty sure they’re trying to set us up.”
    “They are?”
    Kerry was always eloquent and poised. The fact that she was barely able to string words together right then meant that she was surprised and more than a little flustered.
    “My entire family is hell-bent on marrying me off.” Adam glanced over to his brother, on the phone with his fiancée, almost certain that Rafe and Brooke were working on taking their scheming up a level now that they knew both Kerry and Adam would be at dinner. “If I had to guess, I’d say they’ve decided you’d be a perfect addition to the family.”
    Her horrified silence said more than words ever could. Finally, she said, “You’re joking, aren’t you?”
    “I’m sure Brooke will be calling you back any minute now to let you know that I’m coming, too. And if you listen real close, you’ll hear the sound of gleeful matchmaking behind every word.” Literally five seconds later, he heard the familiar click on the line that meant Kerry was getting another call.
    “That’s her now,” Kerry confirmed.
    “I’ll see you tonight. Both during—and after—dinner.”
    “After?” Her earlier horror quickly turned to breathlessness. “You still want to meet after dinner?”
    He could hear every one of the second thoughts she’d been having in her question. “I do, but that decision is still entirely up to you.”
    Because even though he’d never wanted a night more, he wouldn’t let himself push her into anything she didn’t want to do—he’d never forgive himself for taking something she wasn’t ready to give.
    He expected her to hang up to take Brooke’s call, but she surprised him by saying instead, “I told you I wouldn’t back out.”
    That should have been good enough for him. Any other fool would have taken her promise and run with it. But Adam wanted more from Kerry tonight than a promise to show up.
    “I don’t want you to meet me upstairs in the hotel suite after dinner because you gave your word. I want you to meet me because—”
    “I want it.” He could hear her breath catch slightly before she added, “And I want you .”

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    “Rafe, Brooke, it’s lovely to see both of you!”
    Kerry didn’t hug all of her clients—her mother had been adamant that it wasn’t professional behavior—but she’d always been so comfortable with Rafe and Brooke that moving beyond handshakes had happened quickly.
    “You’re always so gorgeous,” Brooke said as she admired Kerry’s wrap dress.
    “So are you,” Kerry said, wishing, not for the first time, that she had even a tenth of Brooke’s curves.
    “Thank you so much for meeting us on such short notice. I hope you like this restaurant. Adam chose it, and he’s usually spot-on when it comes to good food.”
    Tonight they would be dining at the five-star restaurant in the hotel where Adam had reserved the penthouse suite for the night. Which meant that the whole time they were having dinner with his brother and future sister-in-law, Kerry wouldn’t be able to forget that they’d be taking the elevator up a little while later.
    Her brain came to an abrupt halt as her entire body suddenly came alive at the sight of Adam moving across the hotel lobby straight toward them. Her pale Irish skin meant she’d long ago had to learn how to keep her blushing to a minimum. But tonight, her self-control was just shaky enough that she felt the heat Adam always made her feel move across her cheeks.
    “Kerry. It’s good to see you again.”
    How