Fortune's Proposal by Allison Leigh

about it.
    That at least was something they were both comfortable with. He teased her about being completely anal when it came to details around the office and she gave him heck about everything else.
    It was the constant in their relationship.
    And now, now he’d had to go and remember what he’d spent nearly four years trying to forget.
    That Deanna Gurney wasn’t just a stellar assistant.
    She was a desirable woman.
    And as far as everyone else in Red Rock was concerned, she was ostensibly his woman.
    It was ironic as anything in life could be that she was even more off-limits than she’d ever been, thanks to the agreement they’d struck.
    Not only could he still remember how it had felt to kiss her four years ago, but now he had the Technicolor image of her body indelibly etched in his head, and his skin still felt singed from the heat of her body in his arms.
    â€œWe’ll work things out,” he finally said.
    She was looking down at her hands, spread flat on her lap. “Promise?”
    â€œI do. Promise, that is.” He smiled crookedly when she looked at him and was glad to see the small one she gave him in return. “Drink your coffee if it’s not gone cold,” he urged. “I don’t know what Isabella puts in it, but it’s pretty good.”
    She pressed her lips together for a moment. “Okay.”
    â€œAnd I’ll go find something to do for thirty minutes. Is that enough time for you to finish dressing?”
    At that, her smile did widen. Wryly. “Five minutes would do.”
    In his experience, he hadn’t met a woman who could dress that quickly.
    Undress, sure.
    His gaze kept straying to the hollow at the base ofher throat. He’d never realized before just how sexy that spot was…
    â€œDrew?”
    He shook off the haze that encroached on him way too easily and reached behind him for the door. “Fifteen minutes, then. After I shower and change, we’ll probably have to head off for the church, but you can still grab some food from the kitchen while I’m getting ready. There was stuff left after I ate, and I know Isabella is looking forward to meeting you.”
    Which just had her looking worried all over again.
    â€œDon’t worry. There’re all gonna love you,” he assured. And before he could say anything else that would either worry her more or set them back on the sex track where they had no business running, he let himself out of the room and closed the door.
    The sooner they got through his father’s wedding and the next few days and they could get back to San Diego and some normalcy, the better.
    Â 
    â€œSo there’s the newly engaged!”
    The loud greeting was called across the expanse of lawn between the crowded parking lot and the church when they arrived nearly two hours later.
    Deanna felt Drew’s hand tighten around hers as they crossed the grass leading up to a lovely, old-fashioned-looking church. It was white with a tall steeple, and outside, the building was surrounded by an expanse of emerald-green lawn and lush greenery dotted with pink and red flowers. There were garlands of green and white wound around the railings of shallow steps leading up to the wooden double doors, which were bedecked with wreaths of even more flowers.
    And for the first time since the debacles of themorning, she was able to forget everything but that moment.
    Mostly.
    The feel of Drew’s hand wrapped around hers wouldn’t let her completely forget.
    Still, the sight of the church was like something out of a magazine. Or a fantasy. “It’s beautiful,” she breathed.
    â€œToo bad it’ll be the sight of Dad’s worst mistake,” Drew said in a low tone.
    â€œJudging by the happy looks I’m seeing on people’s faces, they don’t share your view,” Deanna pointed out, just as low. “Just promise me you won’t stand up and shoot off a flare gun