ially at the office. But it wasn't without

he knew it. The last thing he needed was people thinking he was soft or

Maybe a lit

ianca asked carefully. "Yo

and glanced at her. "I don't th

r cheeks instantly flushe

ay that? Out loud? W

re w

shouldn't be

rrently having. What the hell am I doing? she thought. I said yes to this

practical solution yesterday, but now... i

n her head whispered.

*

up to its name, Paradise. Not the heaven above kind, but the on earth kind. Loud music, d

ide. His gaze scanned the crowd, searching

e spot

ms like a maniac. With his long strid

ak greeted him with a hug

od up too.

tely picking up something off. "Wh

ly, was that a mustache? A patchy, uneven one at that. This wasn't the Rafael Whitm

ir. "Just a minor issue, Ad," he said, co

eyebrow. Sure. Mi

itmore Corp. The man worshipped by interns and feared by board

stare, then sighed an

of them, he was the calmest, most put together one. For him to show up looking like this.

w," Adrian said, his voice steady.

eement. "Exactly.

m a weak smile.

etween them, slightly h

was allergic

we're in Paradise. This is not a group therapy session. Look around, every woman here is l

ff into the crowd, leaving Adrian and Rafael

t over to a group of women who were deep in conversation and laug

exact opposite. Loud, energetic, and at times, acted like a literal

stabilizing their companies domestically, Zak had already helped his family expand internationally. Branches in neighbor

very gaze thrown their way. The hungry stares from women... and the not

ne in the corner, sipping her drink with an air of mystery. She was pretty. V

ea

very different kind of woman. One who wore thick glasses, looked per

iou

. It shouldn't h

to admit. The nerve of her. He blamed the glasses. That had to be it

elf. Why?" Rafael's voice

vaguely. Then, changing the subject, he

uh

empty glass in his hand. "You've been star

already did. She

a girl. It had to be. That explained the

e if she's got you looking

ips. But Adrian caught the hint of sadness in his eyes.

ave to. He could see it in his fri

rned, looking

matically, plopping back down with his drink.

full report of his "hunt." Something about a mo

at their table. Short bob haircut, confident

she

immediately. "Hi

he said, her vo

r there is Raf," he replied, ges

toe. Tight black mini dress, curves in all the right places. The kind of woman

t

ad at

t wo

*