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much. All that.”
    He gave a low chuckle. “I don’t think so.”
    “Calista.” A voice that had haunted her captured her attention. “How are you?”
    She swung around to see Leo Grant, larger than life, staring down at her. She might have needed to pinch herself if not for the gorgeous brunette on his arm. She forced herlips into a smile, thinking he hadn’t waited long to replace her. “Fine, thank you.”
    “And your friend,” Leo said, his gaze assessing Robert. “We haven’t met.”
    “Robert Powell, this is Leo Grant,” she said, refusing to inquire about his escort. The men exchanged handshakes. “Oh, look, they’re starting the auction. I’m helping behind the scenes. I’ll see you afterward, Robert. Please excuse me,” she said and turned away.
    Upset, she balled her fists at her side and strode toward the side of the ballroom where the items for auction were displayed. Forcing any thought of Leo from her head, she focused on tagging the items with the winners’ names. After about forty-five minutes, the volunteer coordinator sent her for a break and she got a glass of water from the bar.
    On her way back, Leo stepped in front of her, his eyes dark with what looked like anger. “You didn’t waste any time, did you?” he asked.
    “I could say the same for you,” she retorted.
    “She’s the daughter of a friend I owed a favor,” he said. “Not that I should have to explain myself.”
    “How convenient that she’s drop-dead gorgeous. It must be a total chore to escort her.”
    He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. “I could almost believe you’re jealous.”
    “You would be wrong,” she told him and moved to step around him.
    He stopped her, his hand closing around her wrist like a handcuff. “Let’s take this discussion somewhere private,” he said and led her away from the crowd. He opened the door to an empty room, pulled her inside and closed the door behind him.
    “Who is this Robert? Is he important to you?” he demanded.
    Nervous, yet strangely thrilled to see him, she lifted her chin. “What’s it to you? You haven’t called me for two weeks.”
    “I’ve been out of the country.”
    She gave an indignant shrug. “I’m sure your cell phone has reception from everywhere in the world and maybe a few planets, too.”
    “Okay,” he said. “I didn’t want to call you. I wanted to give myself some time away from you. I didn’t want to do anything impulsive.”
    Her heart hammered in her chest.
    “You still haven’t answered my question about Robert. Do you have feelings for him?” he asked flatly.
    “No,” she said. “No more than I would a friend. He’s asked me out for months and I’ve turned him down.”
    “Then why did you agree to go out with him tonight?”
    She paused and looked away with a sigh. “I was moping,” she confessed.
    “Excuse me?” he said.
    She glanced back at him, peeved. “You heard me. I said I was moping. Because you haven’t called me,” she added reluctantly.
    His eyes glittered as he looked at her. “Okay, I’ve thought about it for the last two weeks and made a decision. We’ll get married.”
    Calista dropped her jaw in shock. “Excuse me?”
    “I said we’ll get married. I’d prefer just a living arrangement because of the legalities, but we can take care of that with a prenup.” He paused, studying her carefully. “Unless you’re adverse to a prenup.”
    Her thoughts still spinning as she tried to take it all in, she shook her head. “No, but—”
    “Were you planning on a large formal ceremony? I understand women spend their entire lives mentally planning their dream weddings,” he said as if the thought of it seemed insane to him.
    “I suppose some do. I’d always thought I would want something small,” she said. Calista had left fairy-tale wedding land shortly after her father’s death. Her primary focus had been on survival, not having a huge society wedding.
    “Good,” he said in approval.