Leland Watson was as cunning as he was brilliant, and he never let her forget it. He was an acclaimed journalist, and well respected in the field, but Azure wouldn’t put anything past him. And the more she considered it, the more likely it was her boss in the tacky fedora and sports coat. After all, he’d asked—no, ordered—her to track down Harper and been the one to suggest they meet for cocktails at Table 13, too.
Azure peered over Harper’s shoulder. The stranger strode through the bar, and when he disappeared into the lounge and out of sight, she released a sigh of relief. Hopefully someone rich and famous had caught his eye. Either way, it was time to call it a night. She had a long day ahead of her, and now a brand-new interview with Harper to prepare for. It wasn’t time to sit pretty. It was time to go on the attack. And when she met with the famed attorney tomorrow night, that was exactly what she was going to do.
“See someone you know?” Harper asked, sliding several crisp bills into the leather billet. “Or are you trying to get a better look at Drake and his ten-man entourage?”
Azure dismissed his question with a wave of her hand. “Drake’s cute, but he’s way too young for me. Besides, I like my men the way I like my coffee. Strong and dark.”
Harper rocked with laughter. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You do that, Mr. Hamilton.”
“Call me Harper.”
“Only if you call me Azure.”
He nodded, leaned in so close she could smell his spicy, masculine cologne. “So, what do you do when you’re not working?”
“I’m always working. Aren’t you?”
Another hearty chuckle. “Yes, but I make time to hang out with my family, to watch my beloved Seventy-Sixers and I travel several times a year. You should see my passport. It looks like a dog’s chew toy!”
“I’m so jealous. I’ve never left the States, and all the travel I do is for work.”
“I’ll have to do something about that, then.”
Their eyes caught, and held, and Azure was so overcome by the intensity of Harper’s gaze and his heady scent that all she could do was stare at him.
“You should come with me to the Cabo San Lucas Music Festival. I go every year, and the concerts, cuisine and atmosphere are out of this world.” Harper added, “But don’t take my word for it, come and see for yourself.”
“My boss will never give me the time off.” Azure felt guilty for lying to Harper—again—but she didn’t feel comfortable sharing her business with him. She couldn’t afford to go to Cabo, or anywhere else for that matter. Not until she paid off her bills. But Harper had given her something to think about. A trip to the famed celebrity hot spot sounded divine, something worth planning once she straightened out her finances.
“Is there a special man in your life anxiously waiting for you to return home?”
Azure was caught off guard by the question, but she didn’t show it. “No, just my cats.”
“Your cats?”
“Yup, Darius and Lovehall.”
Harper thought for a moment, then released a deep, hearty chuckle. “You named your cats after the male character in Love Jones?”
“I sure did.”
“You must really like the movie.”
“Who doesn’t? It’s one of the greatest romantic movies of all time!”
“The movie came out when I was in high school, and my female classmates went wild for Larenz Tate. The editor of the school newspaper even devoted an issue to the movie.”
Azure couldn’t believe it. Harper remembered the column she’d done for the school newspaper? Who would have thought? He didn’t recognize her, but he remembered her article, and that made her feel proud. Although they’d never had any classes together or traveled in the same social circles, Harper had always greeted her when they’d passed each other in the halls. And once, when she’d been caught in a rainstorm, he’d been kind enough to share his umbrella with her.
Azure remembered that afternoon as if it were yesterday.
Outwardly, she’d remained calm as they’d stridden toward the tree-lined campus side by side, but inside Azure had been a maelstrom of emotion. Fear, excitement and sheer, unadulterated joy. They’d walked and talked, and although her legs had been shaking under her painfully tight school uniform, she’d held up her end of the conversation. After that, Harper Hamilton—the upperclassman voted most likely to one day be president—starred in all her teenage fantasies. Once he graduated and went off to law school, Azure never saw him again, but every time it rained, she wondered what had happened to the kind, great-looking guy who’d shared his umbrella with her.
Memories flooded her mind, and when Azure thought about the day she arrived at Bryn Mawr College, a smile warmed her face. Studying at the highly acclaimed women’s college was the best thing to ever happen to her. During her sophomore year, she’d shed some weight, traded her hideous, Coke-bottle-thick glasses for contacts and found her confidence, her voice. Azure made friends with her über-rich classmates and soon discovered that brains always trumped breeding. In the space of a year, she went from being a novice reporter to an editor of the school newspaper and ultimately editor in chief. After graduation, and a series of starts and stumbles, Eminence magazine hired her, and once she changed her first name to Azure her career took off like a meteorite.
Pride filled her. Life was good. Better than she could ever have imagined. She was sitting across from Harper Hamilton in the most exclusive restaurant in Philly, and he was flirting with her! Azure wanted to pinch herself. The attorney had it. Charisma, charm, that indescribable quality that drove women wild. He had it in spades, and there was something so powerful between them, something so crushing, her head was spinning.
“I hope what I’m about to say doesn’t offend you, Azure, but you look amazing in that dress. It’s sexy but tasteful and the emerald-green color is perfect for the season.”
Azure raised her eyebrows in a questioning slant. “Don’t tell me you’re a male fashionista,” she teased, unable to resist poking fun at him. “You’re a great dresser, but I pegged you more as a sports guy than a shop-till-you-drop one.”
“You’re right, I am, but my mom is a fashion designer and I’ve learned a thing or two from her over the years. We all have. My brothers, my cousins, even my dad, and he used to live in cheap, tacky polyester!”
Harper stood, slid up behind her and when he rested a hand on her lower back, her knees went weak—again. Damn it, why does that keep happening?
“Let me walk you to your car.”
“I’d like that,” she said, taking the hand he offered and easing carefully off her stool. I’m also dying to know if you’re a good kisser, but for now, the walk will do.
Chapter 3
Rittenhouse Square, a popular neighborhood named after the large, lush, tree-filled park in the center of the community, was overrun with residents taking advantage of the unusually warm October
