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deal.
    Half a million dollars for the foundation, and Julie’s wish granted.
    And a date with one of People magazine’s Most Eligible Bachelors. Several dates, actually. A few months worth of dates.
    She felt a little dizzy. “Okay, then.” She took another breath. “I’m sure you’ve got better things to do than sit here with me all night.” She took out her wallet and tucked his check carefully inside. Her hands shook a little. “When can I deposit this?” she asked. “Do youwant me to wait until after I’ve honored my side of the bargain?”
    He shook his head. “No, I trust you. You’re a woman of character, remember?”
    He was actually smiling a little, and she smiled back reluctantly. “I’ll let Julie know you’ll be coming by on Saturday.”
    If he’d been anyone but a powerful CEO, she would have said a look of panic came into his eyes. “I assumed you’d be there, too. Won’t you be there?”
    He was probably one of those single men who weren’t comfortable around kids. Was that the reason he’d been so reluctant to do this?
    She sighed. “I can be there if you want. Two o’clock, at the hospital?”
    Some of the tension went out of his expression. “Yes, fine. And we’ll go to dinner that night.”
    It was Allison’s turn to feel a pang of anxiety.
    â€œNow, can I drop you somewhere?”
    He rose to his feet and offered her a hand. Allison extended her own, a little hesitantly, and it was enveloped in a strong, warm grip as he helped her up. She took a step back as she pulled her hand away, tingles radiating from her palm and blood rushing to her cheeks.
    â€œI’m all set. But thanks.”
    He was just a foot or so away. She had to tilt her head back to look at him.
    She backed away another step. “Well…good night.”
    Her heart racing, she turned away, moving quickly through the crowd to get to the door. She pushed it open and stood outside for a moment, taking in a big gulp of cool evening air.
    She’d made a deal with Rick Hunter. A straightforward business arrangement, as he called it.
    Sure it was straightforward—to him. As for her…well, straightforward wasn’t the word she’d use to describe her mental state at the moment.
    She took another breath. This was for her foundation. She needed to think about the families she could help with Rick’s money—not Rick himself, with his black hair and intense green eyes and well-muscled body.
    She wouldn’t think about his coldness, either…or the few times something else had broken through, just for a moment.
    He thought she wasn’t attracted to him.
    She prayed he’d still believe that when their deal expired. Because she didn’t like him, and she didn’t want to be attracted to him.
    And she definitely didn’t want him to know that she was.

Chapter Three
    R ick had convinced himself it wouldn’t be so bad. An hour, maybe two at the most.
    But right now, staring up at the marble facade of James Memorial Hospital, he couldn’t make his feet take the steps that would lead him inside that building. “Rick?”
    He turned, and Allison was there beside him.
    She looked like a breath of fresh air in a long-sleeved cotton blouse, pale yellow with lavender stripes. Faded jeans showed off her slender legs. Her silky short hair was the perfect frame for her face, with her wide cheekbones and pointed chin and serious blue eyes. In the April sunlight, strands of gold made the chestnut brown shimmer. He wondered why he’d always preferred long hair on women.
    â€œHello,” he said.
    Allison was frowning. “Are you all right? You look like you’re feeling sick. Should we reschedule?”
    He shook his head. He was damned if he was going to give in to weakness like this—especially in front of Allison. “I’m fine,” he lied.