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After James and Holly left for their honeymoon on Saturday evening, Allyson found the courage to say goodbye to her family. They wanted to talk more about Dane, but she waved them off. There was nothing to talk about.
She and Dane decided to leave Greenville a day early; she knew it was for the best. One more night sharing a room with him was going to lead to nothing but trouble. Delicious, sexy trouble neither of them could afford.
They drove back to New York in silence, and he dropped her off at her apartment. After saying their goodbyes he drove off, stone-faced. She told herself again that it was for the best.
Sunday came, and she dreaded Monday like never before. Dreaded having to face Dane after sleeping with him. She’d been a nervous wreck around him when she had a crush. How on earth was she going to stand it now that her crush had developed into something much deeper?
On Monday morning, she put on the most conservative outfit she owned. No tight blouse. No pencil skirt. A basic black pantsuit. Something sensible to remind her that the boss was off-limits.
She stepped into Prescott Global headquarters and headed for the elevator. The doors opened.
Dane was standing alone inside.
Her heart rose and fell. Giddiness at seeing him again made her dizzy. The dread of having to face him now made her legs shake. So many confusing emotions swirled in her mind.
The doors started to close, and he stuck out his arm to hold the door open for her. “Going up?”
All she could do was nod as she stepped in beside him. The door closed. His presence overwhelmed her senses. The delicious masculine scent of his cologne sent a tingle through her. He looked gorgeous and perfect in that expensive Italian suit. Standing next to him in her boring pantsuit, she felt like a frump.
“How was your weekend, Ms. Smith?” he asked like he always did.
Tears pricked the back of her eyes. He really was going through with this. Wasn’t even going to acknowledge the time they had spent together. It was what she needed him to do. What they both needed to do to keep the company afloat. To keep her job secure.
Still, his question felt like a shard of glass in her heart. “It was wonderful, Mr. Prescott. My brother got married.”
“That’s terrific,” he said with a warm smile.
She bit her lip to keep the tears from falling in front of him. Just a few more moments and she could flee to the bathroom to have a quick cry.
The elevator stopped at their floor and the doors opened. They stepped out together.
Some of the staff had crowded around Dane’s office. The crowd rushed them. Allyson blinked, bewildered. What on earth was going on?
“Congratulations!” Olivia from the accounts department exclaimed. “You two are so cute together.”
“You’re not going on a honeymoon?” Frank from the water sports division demanded.
“What?” Allyson stared.
“You’re already in the papers,” Olivia squealed, and held up one of the local gossip rags.
Allyson grabbed the newspaper from Olivia and stared at one of the photos. There she was. With Dane. Leaning over a balcony at the Greenville Lodge. He was dressed in a dark suit. She was in a body-hugging wedding gown. Holly’s wedding gown.
Oh, shit.
Shit. Shit. Shit!
The headline screamed: Prescott Global Scion Weds Personal Assistant at Lavish Wedding Ceremony.
She felt faint. Where was Dane? Allyson tried to push her way through the crowd and her legs buckled. She stumbled and fell forward but a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist, stopping her from hitting the floor. Heart pounding she looked up, immediately lost in sexy, bright blue eyes. Dane.
Somehow, he’d appeared out of nowhere and caught her.
