Todd cleared his throat and the mood was broken. “1 know you two are newlyweds and probably don’t want to keep your hands off each other, but we do have work to do.”

“Our relationship is only a business arrangement, Todd.”

Cole’s voice held a biting tone that hurt Darci worse than his actual words did. She knew what the terms of their agreement were, but she kept forgetting, kept letting her dreams get in the way of reality.

“Yeah, right. And I’m the good fairy.” Todd’s words were low, almost muttered to himself, but Darci caught them and wondered if there was something in Cole’s look besides desire, something she could hope to build her tomorrows on.

The intercom buzzed, pulling her thoughts once more away from Cole. She was getting tired of all the interruptions, yet they were the only things that were saving her from making a fool of herself. If they were alone in her condo right now, she might well be tempted to seduce Cole, to try to make him love her. Because with each passing moment, she wanted more from him— wanted him to stay in her life, to be by her side chrough whatever life chose to dish out.

The impossible dream.

The intercom buzzed again, and she forced herself to answer.

“Your mother’s on line two.”

Darci cringed, knowing that she wasn’t going to like the next few minutes. “You gentlemen go ahead with your plotting and scheming. I’ll just be a few minutes.”

The two men moved to the couch on the other side of the room, and Darci reluctantly picked up the telephone. Her mother’s voice sounded without any greeting.

“You’ll be expected for dinner at six. We have business matters to discuss.”

The words were a royal command, and Darci was expected to obey. A twinge of rebellion almost made Darci say no. She’d been counting on spending some time with Cole this evening, needing to be with him, to torture herself just a little more.

“Cole and I would be delighted to come.”

“The invitation was meant only for you, Darci.”

Darci recognized the tactic; divide and conquer had always been one of her mother’s favorite methods of control. Darci felt the tear of family loyalties again and once more was forced to choose her husband, even if he was only temporary family. “I’m sorry, I won’t be able to make it. Cole and I will be working late tonight.”

“So you’re choosing him over me again?”

Darci tried to push away the guilt her mother’s words generated; tried and failed. But Darci refused to play the game to the point of giving in to the demand. She could control that much, at least. “If that’s what you’re forcing me to do, yes, Mother, I guess I am.”