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ignore it.
    â€œIf there is a time slot, I’m sure we will accommodate you.”
    â€œActually it would only take a little over an hour to drive out there. You’re in Sag Harbor?”
    â€œYou’ve done your homework.”
    â€œI like to know who I’m getting in bed with…so to speak.”
    Melanie’s body flushed. “Hold on a moment.” She placed the call on hold and pressed the button for the main office. Veronica picked up.
    â€œHey Aunt Mel, what’s up?”
    â€œI have Raford Lawson on the line. He wants an appointment as soon as possible. He’s leaving to go out of town tomorrow afternoon.”
    â€œLet me check with Jess.”
    Melanie tapped her manicured nails against the table while she waited.
    â€œWe can see him this evening if he’s really insistent or first thing tomorrow at nine.”
    â€œThanks. I’ll get right back to you.”
    She took Raford off hold. “Tonight at seven or tomorrow morning at nine. Your choice.”
    â€œThe sooner the better. I’ll see you shortly.” He hung up without saying goodbye, a testament to his arrogance.
    Slowly Melanie hung up the receiver. Her gut told her that Raford Lawson was going to be a handful of trouble. And she was just the one to put him in his place, even if he was a senator's son.

Chapter 4
    M elanie called an impromptu meeting with the team after she got off the phone with Raford. They all sat around the conference table and waited for Melanie to bring them up to speed.
    â€œAs you all know, Raford Lawson will be here this evening. From the brief conversations I’ve had with him, he’ll be a challenge for lack of a better word. And not because he is unmatchable, but because he seems to believe that this is all a game and he’s doing this to appease his father.”
    â€œWe can say no based on his interview,” Veronica said.
    â€œI don’t think Senator Lawson is someone we wantto offend. After all, Grandma Harte found him his wife.”
    They all hummed in agreement.
    â€œHow bad can he be?” Jessica asked.
    Melanie didn’t want to let on that Rafe had all but tried to openly seduce her. She could handle him without involving them. And she didn’t want her assessment to interfere with their evaluation.
    â€œLet’s just say that his reputation as a consummate flirt and certified playboy may very well be warranted. However, that won’t keep us from doing the best job possible for our paying clients. Besides, I’d love to be able to say TPS made the match for playboy Lawson.” She folded her arms and grinned.
    â€œFrom the little I’ve turned up on him so far, his string of broken hearts is long and illustrious,” Veronica said. “He’s been tied to damn near everyone but the Queen of England.”
    They all shared a laugh.
    â€œBusy man,” Vincent said absently, returning his attention to his computer screen, which detailed the current expenditures and income. “We’re really in solid shape,” he added. “If Mr. Lawson did become the ‘exception,’ his loss wouldn’t cause a blip on my screen.” He tapped the screen with his index finger and glanced at all of them with a self-satisfied smile. “Besides, the investments that I’ve made on our behalf throughout the years have made each ofus contemptuously wealthy. We only took a minor hit with the economic meltdown. We’re in good shape.”
    Melanie winked at her nephew. She turned her attention to Veronica. “We’ll want to get both of the profiles done as soon as possible. Unfortunately for us, both of our clients have very erratic schedules.”
    â€œI understand. It’s my top priority. I’ve entered all of Mr. Montgomery’s info into the databank. Then I’ll flip it to the personality software program. I should have a pretty good picture rather