Her carefully constructed defenses shattered when he leaned across the desk and touched his lips to hers. It was little more than a whisper of sensation, but she felt it all the way to the foundations of her soul.

“At least we won’t have to change the monogram on the towels. You’re simply changing your name from Bradley to Blackmore. Convenient, huh?”

He stepped away as if totally unaffected by the kiss. He pulled out a business card and laid it on her desk. “You need to stop at this clinic before lunch for the blood test. They promised to have the results for me to pick up on the way to the courthouse.”

She stared at the card, not reaching out to touch it.

Cole turned to leave. Hesitating with his hand on the doorknob, he stared at her. “You will be there, won’t you?” For the first time, his own doubts and fears peeked through the tough cowboy veneer.

“I said I would. We both know why we’re doing this and that it has to be done. Don’t worry, I won’t be late for my own wedding.”

He tipped his hat and left the room without another word.

Darci sat very still, staring vaguely at the closed door. She was in big trouble. Because she was far from immune to Cole’s special brand of cowboy charm. In fact, she suspected she could become very addicted to it. And that meant she was setting herself up for another heartbreak. One she just might not survive.

Darci sent Alex to her lawyer’s office with the contract and a note saying she needed an immediate response, then she tried to forget about it and get back to work.

But she was so distracted during the meeting with her personnel manager she was finally forced to delay the discussion for another day. When she returned to her office, she asked Alex to cancel any other appointments, claiming a headache.

“Darci?”

She stopped just before going into her office and turned. Alex stood and moved toward her uncertainly.

“I know we’ve always made it a point to keep our relationship strictly professional, but I can’t help but worry about you. Is everything all right?”

She had the urge to laugh, but knew it would have a hysterical edge to it. “Everything is as all right as it can be, Alex. Thank you for caring.”

“The man who was here this morning, your husband, does he have free access to your office?”

Darci squeezed her eyes closed, trying to hide from what needed to be said. “He’s not my husband until five o’clock this afternoon, Alex. And yes, he’s to have free access to my office.”