Chapter 18

Simon chose his words with care, having realized in the past few minutes that he still needed to go slowly with this particular woman, that to do anything else would only drive her away. "I am asking you to accompany me to a party on Saturday rather than leaving me to spend the evening alone in a room full of strangers."

She shook her head. "You must know your host to have been invited in the first place."

"He is a business associate. Nothing more." Simon shrugged dismissively.

Sara smiled wryly. "There are sure to be dozens of beautiful women there, so I doubt you’ll remain alone for long—"

"And I would prefer to take my own beautiful woman," he interrupted firmly.

Her cheeks warmed. "I am not your—"

"Sara, please." Simon cut off her protest gruffly. "For business reasons I have to attend this party, and for personal reasons I would like you to accompany me."

When he put it like that… Every instinct of self-preservation Sara told her t