Harlequin Presents October 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Clare Connelly

Author:Clare Connelly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWO

Four months later

CALANDRA SURVEYED THE crowd gathered on the lawn of Adrian Cabrera’s Paris home, her fingers curled around her champagne flute like it was a lifeline. People moved in a sea of summer colors, mint-green gowns and pale blue dress shirts, as they sipped on champagne and snacked on mushroom tartlets.

To think, the crème de la crème of European society considered this an intimate gathering. She’d been a part of this crowd when she worked for Adrian, not to mention the first thirteen years of her life.

But that was the past. A problem demanded her immediate attention. She would prefer to be home in North Carolina curled up in bed with a book and a cup of tea, but her conscience demanded that she address it.

A quick conversation. Just a couple minutes, and then you can leave.

Slowly, she eased the death grip on her glass before she broke it. He had no reason to be upset. She had a plan and would take care of everything, just like she always did. Besides, how many times, during their verbal sparring at various Cabrera Wine events, had he said he was a no-strings kind of guy? He eschewed commitment of any kind.

When he’d walked her down to that cab, she’d seen him in the rearview mirror standing on the sidewalk, gazing after her. And in that moment, a terrifying emotion had taken root—want. Not the burning, physical attraction she’d experienced that night, but a desire for the safety she’d experienced curled up in his arms.

She’d given herself a stern talking-to about all the reasons why such an emotion was dangerous. It implied commitment, something Alejandro clearly wanted no part of. Commitment she didn’t want, either. Marriage had been crossed off her list long ago.

Even after she’d explained why she had no interest in getting him involved, her sister, Johanna, had encouraged her to reach out. After her younger sibling’s relentless guilt tripping, she’d finally tried getting in touch. First by email, then by phone. Her emails went unanswered, her calls stonewalled by a terribly efficient secretary.

So she’d resorted to crashing an engagement party for the boss she’d walked out on over three months ago. She wouldn’t have bothered if she hadn’t been in London, she told herself, and the ticket from London to Paris had been manageable on her limited budget. Her final round of interviews for an event planner position with an elite European fashion house had included a round-trip plane ticket. An indicator, Johanna had excitedly said, that interview or not, the job was hers.

The interview that had gone south when they’d asked if they could contact Adrian Cabrera for a reference if they offered her the job. Her fourth interview in six weeks. Another reason why coming to this party was a good idea. Perhaps, along with sharing her important news with Alejandro, she could also somehow finagle a recommendation from Adrian. She might not have left on the best of terms, but she’d done damned good work for him in the time she’d given to Cabrera Wines.

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