Unfinished Business

Excerpt. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. You. The word came out as an unfriendly accusation. Hello, Max.Rachel Lansing had been bracing herself for this meeting all day, and now that it had arrived, it was so much worse than shed imagined. Her heart stopped as the gunmetal gray of Max Cases gaze slammed into her with all the delicacy of a sledgehammer.She dug her fingernails into her palm as his broad shoulders loomed closer, blocking her view of the tastefully decorated lobby with its soothing navyandolive walls and stunning original art.Was it her imagination or did Max seem bigger, more commanding than the creative lover that haunted her memories? Or maybe his presence overwhelmed her because in a charcoal business suit and silver tie, he was less approachable than the naked fantasy man that frequented her dreams.Only the public nature of this reunion enabled her to subdue the flight impulse in her muscles. She rose from the comfortable couch in the reception area at a deliberate, unhurried pace. Keeping her body relaxed and her expression professional required a Herculean effort while her pulse jittered and her knees shook.Pull yourself together. He wont appreciate you melting into a puddle at his feet.Thank you for seeing me. She stuck out her hand in a bid to restore her professional standing and wasnt disappointed when Max ignored it. Her sweaty palm would betray her nerves to him.When he remained mute, Rachel plowed into the tense silence. How great that Andrea had her baby. And two weeks early. Sabrina told me she had a boy. I brought her this. She raised her left hand to show him the pink and blue bag dangling from her fingers. Shed bought the gift for his assistant weeks ago and was disappointed she wouldnt get to see Andreas expression when she opened it.What are you doing here?I was supposed to meet with Andrea.Youre with the employment agency?She whipped out a business card and extended it across the three feet that separated them. I own it. She made no attempt to disguise her pride at what shed accomplished.He rubbed his thumb over the lettering on the business card before glancing down. RachelLansing?My maiden name. She wasnt sure why she felt compelled to share this tidbit with him. It wasnt going to change how he felt about her now, was it?Youre divorced?She nodded. Four years.And now you run an employment agency here in Houston?Shed come a long way from the girl who was barely able to support herself and her sister on the tips she made waitressing in a beach restaurant in Gulf Shores, Alabama. And yet, how far had she come when no matter how well her business did, she never felt financially secure?I like the freedom of running my own business, she said, pushing aside the worry that drove her day and night. Its small, but growing.And it would grow faster once she moved into larger offices and hired more staff. She had the space all picked out. A prime location that wouldnt have lasted on the market more than a few days. Shed signed the lease yesterday, gambling that the commission shed get from placing a temporary assistant with Case Consolidated Holdings would give her the final amount she needed to move. Maybe then she could stop living day to day and start planning for the future. However, now that shed run into Max, that fee seemed in jeopardy, and just to be safe, shed better back out of the lease.If only Devon had been able to come here in her stead. A skilled employment specialist, he was her right hand. Unfortunately, his mother had gone to the hospital yesterday with severe abdominal pain and had been rushed into surgery to remove her gall bladder. Rachel had told Devon to stay with his mother as long as she needed him. For Rachel, family always came first.How many assistants have you placed here? Maxs piercing stare didnt waver from her face as he slid her business card into his breast pocket. The effect of so much icy hea