her throat, she said, “I apologize. What I meant to say was I have work to do. I should show you out.”
Not bothering to wait for his response, she took off toward the door. Hannah’s warning—a sharp gasp—came a fraction too late. Willow realized the mistake she’d made.
“Huh. Damn, you are good with your hands.”
Lauder said it as if he’d discussed her abilities with someone. Again, straightening her spine, because that’s what a lady in—Oh, hell. Who was she kidding? She wasn’t in control. Hadn’t been since Lauder crashed into her world again. The best she could do was to pretend his presence had no effect on her.
Backtracking to join real Lauder staring at clay Lauder, she said, “I can explain that.”
“Oh, this should be good,” Hannah said just loud enough for Willow to hear.
Lauder lifted one of his large hands. For a brief second, a memory of how his hands used to explore her body—slowly, cautiously, thoroughly—played in her head. Stop it, she warned her defiant brain.
“No need. Obviously, you think I’m nice to look at, too,” Lauder said.
Willow barked a laugh. “Don’t flatter yourself. There’s a perfectly good explanation for this.”
Lauder folded his arms across his chest, causing his biceps to mushroom against the steel blue shirt he wore. The sight was like a magnet, and her eyes were drawn to it. At seventeen, his arms hadn’t been puny, but they hadn’t been sculpted like this, either. Clearly, he spent a lot of time in the gym.
“Okay. So...” Lauder said.
“So, what?” she said absently.
“So, what is the explanation?”
Willow released a nervous chuckle, sobered, then laughed. “I’m a forensic sculptor. This is what I do. I sculpt people.”
“Oh, I get that. But why did you sculpt me?”
Stay cool. You’ve got this. Don’t let him shake you. Play it cool. “Oh, you...you thought that was you?” Okay, so playing dumb was probably not the best strategy.
Lauder narrowed his eyes at her, then slid them to the clay, then back to her. “That’s not me?”
“No.”
He chuckled a sound so smooth and sexy, it caressed her skin, causing fine bumps to prickle her skin.
“That’s not me?” he asked a second time.
“I said no.”
Lauder nodded once. “Huh.” A second later, he glanced in Hannah’s direction. “Excuse me? Can you come over and help me out a second?”
What was he up to? Hannah joined them in front of the sculpture, visibly just as confused as Willow was.
“Lauder Tolson, by the way.” He offered Hannah his hand.
Another toothy smile spread across Hannah’s face. “Oh, I know who you are. Hannah Burrows. Nice to meet you.”
“Same here. So, Hannah, does this excellent work of art resemble me?”
Willow held her breath as Hannah scrutinized real Lauder, then the clay version. She tilted her head to the right, then to the left. A second later, she pressed her index finger into her chin.
“There is a strong resemblance. Especially here in the jaw region.” She used her finger to point out the area. “But I don’t think it looks exactly like you. If you hold your head just right, I guess it could pass for your distant cousin.”
Lauder burst into laughter. “My distant cousin?” He laughed some more. “Okay, I get it. Some kind of woman-code thing going on.”
Willow smirked. Hannah was definitely rehired. Eyeing Lauder, she said, “Now that we have that mystery solved, I’m guessing we can move forward.” Finally getting her apron unknotted, she tossed it over clay Lauder. “I’ll toss it in the garbage later.”
Lauder unapologetically checked her out. His scrutiny diminished some of the confidence Hannah’s flawless performance had given her.
Finding her eyes again, Lauder flashed one of those lopsided smiles he’d clearly perfected over the years. “Will you have dinner with me tonight?”
“Yes,” Hannah said, answering for Willow. “Um, I’ll be over...yeah.” A second later, she was gone.
“So? Dinner?” Lauder said.
“No.”
“No. Wow.” He massaged his jaw as if she’d slapped him. “Just like that? You sure you don’t need a few minutes to pretend to consider it?”
“There’s nothing to consider. You asked me a question, I gave you an answer.”
“The wrong answer.”
“In your opinion.”
“Reconsider.”
“I have plans tonight.”
“A date?”
“None of your business.”
“How about tomorrow night? Or the night after?”
Why did he seem so determined? And was she actually contemplating a yes in her head? Clearly, his delicious scent had made her delirious. “I’m busy for the foreseeable future.” She shrugged. “Work. I’m sure you know how it is.”
Lauder studied her for a long moment. “Well, if you’re busy, you’re busy.” He flashed a half smile, then turned toward Hannah. “It was nice meeting you, Hannah.”
“Same here. And you have my vote. Edmondson is a joke.”
“I agree. Thanks for the vote. I appreciate that.”
Willow rolled her eyes at the unnecessary charm Lauder dripped all over the place. Just leave already.
“I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, Willow.” He started away, but stopped. “Oh. Here’s my business card. Just in case you change your mind.”
Willow took the wedge with a smile, then watched Lauder glide away like a sexy jaguar. Damn, he should really come with a warning label. Hannah came to stand next to her and shook her head. “What?”
“I can’t believe you lied to that fine, fine specimen of a man like that.”
“I didn’t lie. I am busy. With work...and other stuff.”
“You should have asked him to escort you to the A Hope for Home fund-raiser. With that sexy beast on your arm, every eye in the place would be on you.”
“I don’t want every eye
