“Don’t you dare pull another trick like you did last night,” Portia said the minute Annabelle’s running shoes hit the porch steps. She oozed the brittle sort of beauty that always made Annabelle feel dumpy, but especially this morning in her baggy shorts and a sweaty orange T-shirt that said BILL’S HEATING AND

COOLING.

“Good morning to you, too.” Annabelle pulled the key from her shorts pocket, unlocked the door, and stepped aside to let Powers enter.

Portia took in the reception area and Annabelle’s office with a single disdainful glance. “Do not ever…ever…take it upon yourself to get rid of one of my candidates before Heath has had a chance to meet her.”

Annabelle closed the door. “You sent a bad candidate.”

Powers pointed one manicured finger in the direction of Annabelle’s sweat-beaded forehead. “That was for him to decide, not you.”

Annabelle ignored the fingernail pistol. “I’m sure you know how he feels about wasting time.”

Portia threw up her hand. “Can you really be this incompetent? Claudia Reeshman is the top model in Chicago. She’s beautiful. She’s intelligent. There are a million men who’d like a shot at her.”

“That may be true, but she seems to have some serious emotional problems.” A fairly obvious drug habit topped the list, although Annabelle wouldn’t make any accusations she couldn’t prove. “She started crying before her first drink arrived.”

“Everyone has a bad day now and then.” Powers draped a hand on her hip, a feminine pose, but she made it look as aggressive as a karate chop. “I’ve worked all month trying to talk her into meeting Heath. I finally get her to agree, and what do you do? You decide he’s not going to like her, and you send her home.”

“Claudia was going through more than a bad day,” Annabelle countered. “She’s an emotional train wreck.”

“I don’t care if she was rolling on the floor barking like a dog. What you did was stupid and underhanded.”

Annabelle had dealt with strong personalities all her life, and she wasn’t going to back down from this one, even with sweat dripping in her eyes and BILL’S HEATING AND COOLING sticking to her chest. “Heath’s been clear about what he expects.”

“I’d say the sexiest, most sought after woman in Chicago exceeds his expectations.”

“He wants more than beauty in a wife.”

“Oh, please. When it comes to men like Heath, cup size wins over IQ any time.”

They were getting nowhere, so Annabelle did her best to sound professional instead of pissed off. “This whole process would be easier for both of us if we could work together.”

Portia looked as if Annabelle had offered her a big bag of fatty junk food. “I have strict qualifications for my trainees, Ms. Granger. You don’t fit any of them.”

“Now that’s just bitchy.” Annabelle stalked to the door. “From now on, take your grievances right to Heath.”

“Oh, believe me, I will. And I can’t wait to hear what he has to say about this one.”