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Napoleon complexes.” He shot her another nasty look before he turned and strode off.
    Cassie started to apologize for her brother’s rude behavior when Amy grabbed her arm and pulled her down the hallway to a bathroom. Once inside, she closed the door and turned on Cassie like a rabid dog.
    “So?”
    “So what?”
    “So who is this guy? There’s no way he’s an escort.”
    Cassie moved to the cushioned vanity bench and satdown. Her feet were killing her. She tugged at the straps of the high heels. “What kind of torture devices are these?”
    “Cassie!”
    “Fine!” She knew Amy wouldn’t leave her alone until she had the entire story. She dropped the shoe to the floor and rubbed her abused toes. “He’s from the agency, but I think he’s more gigolo than escort. He drives a Land Rover.”
    “You’re kidding me.”
    “Nope.”
    Amy straightened the towels on the rack before moving to the sink, where she rearranged the white roses in a vase. “So what’s his name?”
    “James.”
    “James what?”
    The other shoe slipped to the floor, and Cassie sighed in relief. “I don’t know; nor do I care. He’s just another employee.” It really wasn’t the truth. He may have started out as just an employee, but after listening to his strong, deep voice, smelling his subtle, spicy scent, and feeling his soft, warm touch, he was fast approaching a status of definite interest. Sexual interest, but interest just the same.
    She looked up to see Amy studying her in the mirror.
    “You have the condoms I gave you?”
    “Real funny, Amy.”
    She didn’t laugh. “It might’ve been funny to begin with, but after seeing your date for the evening, I think you’ll be happy you have them.”
    Cassie slipped her shoes back on. “Whatever.”
    “I’m serious. If you’re ever going to do something totally irresponsible, it should be with that guy.”
    “Well, I’m not going to do anything totally irresponsible.” She stood, and cringed at her sore toes. “So did you set up a meeting with Sutton?”
    “No. Didn’t you get the message I left on your cell?” She removed a tube of lipstick from her purse and took off the cap. “Here, put some of this on.”
    Knowing that Amy wouldn’t relent, Cassie took the lipstick. “I left my cell phone at the office.”
    Amy stared at her. “You never leave your cell phone. This guy must have ruffled your feathers pretty good.”
    “Not at all.” Cassie applied the bright red lipstick. When she was finished, she handed it back to Amy. “As I said before, the man is just another employee.”
    “Well, that’s probably for the best.” Amy put the lipstick back in her purse. “I just saw Aunt Wheezie leading him to the greenhouse.”
    “Did she have a bottle?”
    “Two.”
    Great. Cassie turned to the door. There went her date for the evening. The last escort Aunt Wheezie had commandeered had been carried out feet first.

Chapter Four

    James sat at a table in the greenhouse and watched the woman across from him down another shot of Scotch whiskey. He couldn’t help but wonder if this would be the one that knocked her out cold. Instead, Louise McPherson blotted her mouth with her handkerchief and sat back in her chair as if she’d just taken a sip of afternoon tea.
    “So what did you say you do, Jimmy?”
    Stalling, he took a deep drink of the beer that he’d planned on giving Cassandra before this wily woman had abducted him. He didn’t know exactly how much to tell Cassie’s aunt, especially when Cassandra had given strict orders to say as little as possible. But he couldn’t see the harm in telling her a few things. Even if it was more than her niece knew.
    “Construction.”
    Aunt Louise’s eyes twinkled, eyes that were the exactshade of green as her great-niece’s. It was an intriguing mixture of deep jade and sparkling emerald. “So you like construction, do you? Don’t know a thing about the business myself. I let my nephews handle all that while I