“I mean it, Marsh. I want everything before the close of business today or you can clear out your desk,” he said, and slammed down the phone. Only then did he look up at her. “Kim, I—” He looked past her, and upon spying his sister, his scowl deepened. “I said I didn’t want to be disturbed.”
“I know, and I’m sorry for the interruption,” Kim began, knowing all too well that Tara couldn’t have come at a worse time. “But your sister needed to speak with you, and I thought maybe you could see her for a moment before you leave for your next appointment.”
“Mother was right about you, Kim. You really are a diplomat,” Tara said as she breezed past Kim and placed herself directly in front of Justin’s desk. Despite Tara’s refined demeanor and tone, Kim sensed the anger still simmering just beneath the surface. “The truth is that, short of tackling me, Kim did everything possible to keep me out of here.”
“And naturally you refused to take no for an answer,” Justin replied.
“Naturally. And considering it’s a skill I learned from you, big brother, I can assure you that I have no intention of taking no for an answer now.”
Kim held her breath as Justin and his sister squared off. While she’d always found the size of the Connelly family mind-boggling, it was the dynamics between the siblings that continued to fascinate her. Probably because her own family had consisted of just her and her mother—and now, only her. Suddenly feeling like an intruder, Kim said, “I’ll leave you two alone.”
“You might as well stay,” Justin replied before she’d taken a step toward the door. “This shouldn’t take long and there are several things you and I need to go over before I leave.” He glanced at his watch. “All right, Tara. I’ve got all of five minutes to spare. So why don’t you tell me what’s got you so fired up?”
“I’m fired up, brother dear, because you think you’ve weaseled your way out of being in the bachelor auction fund-raiser this weekend like you promised.”
Justin sighed. “It’s not a question of my weaseling out of anything. I simply can’t do it.”
“Why not? And don’t hand me that lame excuse that you gave Jennifer about some unexpected business problem that you need to take care of, because I’m not buying it.”
Kim held her breath as temper flashed in Justin’s hazel eyes.
“It’s not an excuse. It’s the truth,” Justin countered. “Whether you believe it or not is up to you.”
“Well, I don’t believe it,” Tara returned.
“Suit yourself,” Justin told her, and picked up a report from his desk. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got work to do.”
“I will not excuse you, Justin Connelly,” Tara said. She slapped the gloves clutched in her fist against her opposite palm like a whip. “And don’t you dare pull that ‘I’m too busy’ number on me. Have you forgotten how important this fund-raiser is? That the money is going to be used to help the families of slain police officers?”
Tara didn’t have to add “families like Jennifer’s,” Kim thought, because they all knew that until Jennifer’s recent marriage to Chance Connelly, the former social secretary and her young daughter had been one of those families. That Justin remembered, too, was evident from his somber expression.
“No, I haven’t forgotten,” Justin said firmly. “I’ve already apologized to Jennifer for pulling out at the last minute. But I have an important meeting in New York that afternoon, and it would be nearly impossible to get back in time.”
“Then change the meeting or go a day earlier or next week.”
“Don’t you think I would if I could?” He raked a hand through his hair. “I had a difficult enough time getting this meeting on Friday and it’s something that can’t wait. If you’re worried about the money my pulling out will cost, I’ve already assured Jennifer that I’ll be sending a generous contribution to make up for canceling.”
“And just how do you propose we make up for the money that we’ll lose in ticket sales when word gets out that Justin Connelly, voted one of Chicago’s most eligible bachelors and the key draw for the blasted event, has pulled out of the auction? Of course, that doesn’t even begin to take into account the amount of money that we might have been able to raise if your tush were on the auction block.”
Justin frowned at his sister. “You make me sound like a side of beef.”
Tara sat down on the corner of Justin’s desk. “In a manner of speaking, you are.”
“Thanks a lot.”
Tara shrugged. “Can I help it if there are women out there willing to pay big bucks for the chance to spend an evening with you? Face it, pal, you’re a hot commodity. Not only are you the brother of a king, but you’re also an heir to the Connelly fortune. You wouldn’t believe the number of women who actually think you’ve got a pretty face and sexy body. And judging by the comments I’ve heard, they’d all like nothing better than the chance to get you between the sheets.”
“For Pete’s sake, Tara! Will you knock it off?” Justin snapped, his face heating. Pushing away from his desk, he rose and walked over to the windows to stare out at the rain that had begun to fall.
“Well, if this isn’t a first. I do believe I’ve embarrassed you.”
He whirled around, shot her a withering glance. “Of course you’ve embarrassed me. And Kim, too,” he added. “Since when do you and your friends sit around discussing men as though they were…were…”
“Sex objects?” Tara offered.
Justin glared at her.
Tara laughed. “Oh, come on, Justin. Did you really think that was a privilege reserved only for men?”
“You’re my little sister!”
“I’m twenty-five years old, a widow and a mother,” Tara said, her voice suddenly serious. “Believe it or not, I do know a thing or two about sex.”
Justin groaned. “I don’t want to hear this,” he told her, and, returning to his desk, he snatched up the report in front of him. “I’ve got work to do. I’m truly sorry about the fund-raiser, but I promise I’ll send a sizable check.”
“What about the auction?”
He sighed again, put down the file. “Tara, I’ve already explained, there’s just no way I can make it,” Justin said, and there was no mistaking the regret in his voice at having to deny his sister’s request. “I’ll admit, I’ve never been wild about the idea of being in this auction. I only agreed to do it because Jennifer and Mother asked me to and I know it’s for a good cause. But as much as I hate letting them or you down, there is simply no way I can be in two places at once.”
Kim hadn’t been any keener on the idea of Justin spending a romantic evening with some beautiful socialite than he seemed to be, she admitted. And she had been relieved when he’d canceled. But now, witnessing Tara’s disappointment and Justin’s distress at being the cause of it, she couldn’t help but feel guilty. Before she could change her mind, Kim blurted out, “Actually, there is a way you can do both.”
Both sets of Connelly eyes turned to her. “How?” Tara asked.
Kim swallowed. “A couple of things would have to be worked out first, but it is possible.”
“What do you need?” Tara countered.
“First you and Jennifer would have to arrange it so that Justin would be the last bachelor to be bid on at the auction.”
“That’s