His office phone buzzed. He pushed the button. “Yes.”

“There’s someone to see you. Her name is Unity Leandre. Should I tell her you’re busy?”

Unity was here? His first reaction was a rush of anticipation, followed by the more rational question of why. It had been over a week since she’d told him to get lost.

No matter how much he might be interested, she obviously wasn’t. Only a fool would see her again, and he was never foolish. There were dozens of warning signs he needed to pay attention to. He would tell her—

“Send her in,” he said, then mentally slapped himself. Really? Send her in? Because that was such a good idea?

His door opened. He rose as she walked into his office.

She looked different and it took him a second to figure out what had changed. Her clothes, he thought. He’d only ever seen her in jeans or cargo pants, with a bare face and straight hair either hanging loose or pulled back in a braid. Today she had on a sleeveless dress that buttoned up the front. Her hair hung in soft curls and he was pretty sure she was wearing makeup.

“Hi,” she said, looking both scared and resolved. “I appreciate you letting me see you. I wasn’t sure you would.”

Looking at her made him weak, and hearing her voice nearly brought him to his knees. Why her? Why not that woman from the political luncheon or any of the other women he’d tried dating recently? Why did it have to be her? Chemistry? Was his mother trying to teach him a lesson from the great beyond? Was he just unlucky in love?

She shifted her small handbag from one hand to the other. “Your office is really nice. I got a bit confused when I got to downtown Bellevue. There are so many high-rises.” She managed a quick smile. “It’s nothing like Willowbrook.”

“That’s true. Where did you park?”

“In the garage.” Her smile turned more genuine. “I’m not totally sure I’ll be able to find my car again.”

“You mean your van?”

She looked away, then back at him. “I have Ellen’s Subaru.”

“Give me the parking ticket. I can validate it for you.”

He swore silently. This was the most inane conversation he’d ever had. Validate her parking? What was that? He should be asking why she was here, or telling her to get out.

Unity opened her mouth, closed it, then half turned away. When she looked back at him, her eyes were filled with tears.

“Do you want to go out with me?”

He literally took a step back. No way he’d seen that question coming. Before he could figure out how to answer, she continued.