It took all Lana had to keep her composure.

“Is everything all right?”

Lana looked at her boss, Evan Marco, and choked on her tears. She swallowed hard and painfully as she looked from him to Vida, his newest love interest. Weeks ago, it had seemed as though she were making headway with him. Seven years of working with and backing Evan had not only taught her how to understand him, but also how to love him. They had almost kissed weeks ago during one of their late night working sessions. He had finally looked at her, but now she seemed invisible, again.

“Just fine, got it. I have the address somewhere.”

He frowned at her as she turned her attention to the desk drawer, but at that moment she just didn’t care. She couldn’t hide how she was feeling, even if she wanted to. Go away, she silently screamed. Go away because I want you closer. She watched him step forward into her peripheral vision.

“Let me go to my office and get it.”

“That’s really not necessary, you two go on and play, now.” She kept her tone light, though she couldn’t control her face. She managed to smile up at him, widening her mouth in the hopes it would brighten her eyes and conceal the tears welling up in them. She looked into his green eyes, which always seemed to know her moods. She took a deep breath, allowing the oxygen to lift her chest and chin, holding onto her pride. “Reservations for dinner, right?”

“And dancing after,” Vida almost sang, holding tighter to Evan’s arm.

“It’ll just take a minute.” Evan smoothly moved out of Vida’s hold as his eyes locked with Lana’s.

“Evan!”

“Just a minute.” The words grated through his teeth. He clearly didn’t like the situation, but there wasn’t much Lana could do about it.

Lana sighed heavily. She didn’t want to be alone with Vida. She would rather share space with a king cobra.

“You really thought you could get him, didn’t you?” Vida asked her once Evan had left. “That’s so cute.”

Lana didn’t look at the woman directly; her peripheral vision was more than enough. The tears she had been holding back hardened inside her throat, making it feel like she was choking on pebbles as she tried to swallow.

“He feels so sorry for you, you know,” Vida went on. “He just doesn’t see much in you.”

Lana stiffened. She had prided herself on improving what she could—her intelligence, her abilities, her character, even sometimes her hairdo—but she would never be like Vida. She would never look like a magazine cover, complete with long hair, salt water inserts in her chest, and cosmopolitan coyness. It had never bothered her much, but Vida mentioning it now made her feel self-conscious.

“Actually, I always thought he saw my great intelligence and powers of observation.” She tapped the keyboard harder.

Vida laughed.

“Oh, he does like that about you. You have no style, no sexual appeal…you’re the perfect assistant. He can get work done.” She leaned down and whispered, “He does like that pixie cut of yours. He says you look like Tinkerbell. But Peter Pan wanted a real woman, Lana. He wanted Wendy.”

“Yes, but Wendy had to go home so she could grow up.” She said the last two words a little harshly, but stayed focused on her screen. She caught Evan’s movement just out of her line of sight.

“Just set it down.”

“Lana—” Evan looked like he was going to apologize, but she wasn’t sure what for. Evidently, he wasn’t either. “We’ll talk tomorrow, okay?”

She gave a curt nod, unable to trust her voice. She knew she had upset him because she was upset, but she could usually adjust her attitude in her sleep, and there would be no need for them to talk about it the next day.

“Have a good weekend.” She didn't believe she would see him. Lately, Vida had been distracting him on Fridays.

“Lana—”

“Evan?” Vida’s tone held warning and inquiry.

Evan sighed, putting a hand on her shoulder.

“We will talk. Good night, Lana.”

She gave another nod and turned away to rummage through her desk drawer. She saw her tears drop and discolor the manila folders as she heard them walk away. Her eyes were like a windshield in a rainstorm—wet and distorted no matter how many times she wiped them. She took a cleansing breath, trying to compose herself, and opened her accessory drawer to find some gum to chew.

Her vision cleared slowly as she smacked and popped her gum so hard her jaw hurt a little. Her eyes settled upon a business card, and she replayed the memory of the day she had received it.

“Damn!” She swore under her breath as she dropped her portfolio. She began picking up the contents when a pair of strong, deeply tanned male hands began helping her. “Thank you, I’ve got it.”

“I don’t mind. I want to.”

The deep voice was almost a purr, and she peeked over her glasses to see the hottest man she had ever seen. A small smile tugged at the corners of his full mouth as they both rose to their full heights. He was well over six feet tall, muscular and broad shouldered. His eyes were also dark in color. He looked Mediterranean or Baltic, and completely sensual and exotic. Way out of her league was more like it.

She tried to clear her throat, but ended up swallowing hard.

“Uh, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” His eyes hadn’t left hers, and she felt her body tingle in awareness. Her breasts seemed to strain against her top, the tips aching as if the vest she wore over them was too heavy. “My name’s Adair. Yours?” He offered his hand.

She looked down at his extended hand, and felt wary. No man like this should be paying attention to her. Resigned to the idea of the stranger simply having good manners, she took his hand.

“Lana.”

“Lana.” His arched brows frowned slightly. “Your name means—”

“Distant place?” she gave a small laugh.

“No, it means beautiful.”

“I’ve heard that one, too.”

“I think the latter suits you,” he said softly. “You don’t seem all that distant to me.”

Her breath caught. Did he just compliment her? Was he flirting?

He chuckled softly.

“What are you doing this weekend?”

“Why?”

His small smile became a slight grin. “I own a club and I’d like you to come,” He reached in his pocket, apparently missing her disappointed sigh, and pulled out a card, “as my personal guest.”

“Oh.” She took the card he offered. “Oh, I don’t know—” Her breath caught yet again as his hand found hers. She read it aloud. “The Id?”

“You will come, won’t you?” He pressed. “I will be very disappointed if you don’t come. Promise me?”

“Promise you?”

“You seem like someone who never breaks a promise,” he said, his voice taking on an intimate tone. “You seem like someone who is bound by her word.”

“I am.”

“So?”

“I will come on Thursday.”

“If you like it, will you come Friday, too?”

She laughed nervously. The man was intense and intent on her. Why?

“Sure.”

“If you don’t come, I will find you.”

She laughed at that, but he only smiled as if he knew how to find her. It made her heart quicken.

“So, I’ll see you then.”

“I look forward to it.”

“Hey, Lana!”

She jumped and looked up to see the custodian pushing his cleaning cart.

“Hey, Owen.”

The older man looked over her shoulder.

“What’s that?”

“An invitation.”

“The Id?” he read. “That don’t sound right.”

“It doesn’t sound wrong,” she shrugged. “Natural, right?”

“Hurricanes are natural, too.”

Lana laughed at that.

“You sure you wanna go there?”

Lana sighed as she looked at the card. She had given her word. She wouldn’t mind seeing Adair again, either. In fact the thought of him stirred feelings within her that were absolutely delicious, unlike the pangs of longing and unrequited love that thoughts of Evan did.

“You only live once.”

“Yes, you do. Just be careful.” He sighed, gathering the trash from wastebaskets and putting it in the bigger can he had on wheels. “Good night, Lana.”

“Thanks, Owen. Guess I’d better get going,” she exhaled. “Good night.” She had to go home and get ready.