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.He pulled her closer.“And I’m not going to make it easy for you to forget me.”He kissed her, slow and thorough with aching tenderness.Grace felt her heart dive straight to the bottom of her chest.“You don’t give an inch, do you?”“So I’m told.”“And you also like to bend the rules, I see.”“When it’s necessary, yes.Because I plan to win, Grace.I plan for us to win together.The way I see it, life is about being strong enough—maybe stubborn enough—to open a door and take a gift when it’s offered.Too often you don’t get a second chance,” he said fiercely.With a sigh she slanted her forehead against his.She could feel his heart pounding where their bodies met.“You make this sound so easy.But it’s not.I’m not spontaneous or casual.I think.I worry.My friends say, ‘I worry, therefore I am.’”“You think I don’t? You think this is casual for me? Honey, nobody said it was going to be easy or casual.” His voice was harsh.“Exactly the opposite.But what happens when I touch you is a gift, and right now a voice is telling me that we’re just getting started.Do you trust me enough to believe that?”“It’s life I don’t trust,” she whispered.“Things like this don’t happen to me.I live a sane, organized, predictable life.I like it that way,” she insisted breathlessly.“At least I thought I did.”Noah lifted her hand, studying their entwined fingers.“It’s good to be a little reckless.Sometimes you need to eat dessert first,” he whispered.Behind them dishes rattled in the kitchen.“Stay.Have breakfast.” His eyes were grave.“It would mean a lot to my mother.To all of us.Even you can be reckless for forty-five minutes, right?”Grace closed her eyes, feeling all her good intentions drift out the window.“Okay.But no playing dirty.Give me one week to sort things out.And while I do, hands off.”“It’s a deal.” He started to kiss her and then raised his palms in the air.“Your rules.For now, hands off.” His eyes darkened.“You have exactly one week.”THE BREAD WAS A MARVEL, rich and chewy with a golden crust.Tatiana glowed at Grace’s praise.Not surprisingly, the men finished off every chewy crumb within minutes.It was clear that Noah’s parents were curious about their developing relationship, but they were far too polite to ask questions.Their good-natured joking with Noah only made Grace realize what family meant and how much she would give up if she stuck to her plan.Before she had finished her first cup of tea, her cell phone alarm chimed loudly.She blanched.“Oh, no—I forgot my big appointment and I can’t be late.Not today.” She shot to her feet.“I—forgive me for being so rude.I really have to go.”Alex stood up.“I can drop you on my way to work.”“Thanks, Dad, but I have it.” Noah gulped down his coffee and followed Grace to the door.“I’m off today.”“Noah, I need to stop at home and change.Do my hair.Makeup.” She shrugged.“I can’t believe I forgot.” What kind of effect did the man have on her? She shouldn’t have stayed the night before, but the evening had been so wonderful.She shook her head in irritation.“This is definitely a panty hose day.I’ll be rushed so you don’t need to wait.”“Not a problem.I’ll take you wherever.” Noah grabbed his gloves—and a loaf of warm bread for the road.“Let’s move.You can give me directions in the car.”AS THEY DROVE, Grace told him where she was going.He blinked.“There? The White House? That’s your appointment?”“Right.Now you see why I can’t be late.”“Why didn’t you say anything?”“It’s not a done deal.The competition is major so I didn’t want to talk about it.”“Are you kidding? You’ll get it.” Noah drummed his fingers on the wheel.“But explain it again.What’s a digital, collaborative cookbook?”“The French cultural attaché will be there along with the head White House chef.This is the final interview,” Grace said tensely.“The project is to create a huge cooking reference offered for the English-speaking market.It will have full recipes, videos of cooking techniques, interviews with key chefs in France who have visited here.There will be history, travel advice, food-shopping tips.Everything! The White House Cooking Series.” She caught a breath.“This is so big, Noah.The biggest thing I’ve ever done.” Grace looked at her hands and saw that they were trembling.“And with the White House chef involved, we’ll have access to just about anyone.Look at me.I’m a wreck.How am I going to be any good? And I barely have an hour to get ready,” she rasped.“You’ll do it, honey.” Noah’s voice was utterly calm.“Practice your pitch on me while we drive.And don’t worry, I’ll get you there in time.” His mouth curved.“I know the back routes.”SHE FINISHED DRYING her hair while her cell phone and computer charged.Her best black suit steamed in the bathroom while the shower ran.As Noah made a pot of strong coffee, Grace added her final makeup.“Don’t I get to see the panty hose?” he murmured.“Lingerie would be nice, too.”“Out.” Laughing, Grace shooed him from the sunny bedroom of the apartment she was renting during her D.C.stay.She stepped into discreet black pumps and eyed her reflection in the mirror.Slowly, her confidence began to return.The White House Cooking Series was a huge project, but she had prepped for almost a year.She had researched all the major French cookbooks and followed every important French cooking blog.She had researched historic state dinners back to the American Revolution.She knew five of the seven chefs in France who would be interviewed for the project.The project would be a key cultural collaboration.She straightened the small strand of pearls at her neck and opened the door.Noah let out a low breath.“Nice before, but now you’re amazing.You look calm and smart and absolutely gorgeous.” He glanced at his watch.“Finish your coffee.I’ve got your computer at the door.It’s charged and packed.”“Thank you for this, Noah.” Just seeing him grin gave her a new wave of confidence.He held open the door.“Better move.”HE SPED HER DOWN BACK ALLEYS and across warehouse lots that Grace didn’t know existed.He cut through parks and around a university loading dock.They made it to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue with ten minutes to spare.Noah parked and held open her door, radiating pride.“Go knock them dead, honey.”CHAPTER TWELVEThree hours laterGRACE STOOD ON THE STREET corner.Dazed, she watched traffic stream past.Her hands shook.She took a hard breath, pulled out her cell phone and dialed Noah.He answered on the first ring.“All done?”She felt dizzy.Truck horns blasted and she tried to focus.“Grace? Talk to me.How did the meeting go?”She couldn’t answer, watching the unending snarl of traffic but not really seeing any of it.The interviews had been long and grueling, details upon details.They had probed her training, career background and personal goals, even her private life.She hadn’t realized exactly how high-profile this project was going to be.She rubbed her face, jittery from too many questions and too much coffee
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