“Why are you so worried about this, Lace? We all know you can do it.” Lukas stared at me, wearing that perturbed older brother look that I’d grown to loathe.

“Maybe, but if I screw it up then it just puts more crap on Blake and that’s the last thing he needs right now.” Blake was counting on me and that on its own was rare because my older brother did everything himself. The fact that he wanted me to do this meant a lot and I didn’t want to let him down.

“So don’t screw it up.” Lukas leaned back in his chair, legs crossed at the ankles on one corner of his desk. “What’s the problem anyway?”

I let out a frustrated breath and slouched in my seat the way I did as a kid, when my mom was still around to care about such things. “The Shepherd siblings are delaying and I don’t know why or what to do about it.” It made me feel more out of my depth than all the months I’d spent poring over the paperwork for KBBM. Walker had probably had a dozen conversations with them and was close to making a deal behind my back.

Lukas stared at me, his blond hair, thick brows and light brown eyes were the masculine version of my own. “Find out why they’re stalling. Invite them to lunch and talk to them like they’re real people and not just an acquisition.”

“You think there could be a reason beyond invoking a bidding war between me and Walker?” Shit, I hadn’t even thought of that which only proved that I should stick to marketing and promotions and leave the wheeling and dealing to people like Blake and Walker.

“How would you feel about selling Peak Adventures, knowing how much work and sacrifice Mom and Dad put into it?”

I’d fight it with every ounce of power in me. Mom had sacrificed the most, ignoring her health to keep the house running while Dad built Peak Adventures to the success it was today. “Okay, point taken.” I scribbled a few notes on my tablet and lifted my gaze to meet Lukas’ serious one. “What now?”

“You and Walker, what’s going on?”

It was none of his damn business and he knew it. More importantly he knew I’d tell him so in lieu of an answer, so I crossed my arms and stared until the energy in the room grew uncomfortable. The truth was a week had passed since that wildly flirtatious lunch and he hadn’t called. I was disappointed and a tad hurt, but I knew it was for the best.

This deal with KBBM was too important and I couldn’t let anyone screw it up which meant I needed to keep him at a distance before he stole my panties, the deal and maybe even something I wasn’t willing to give up so easily. I convinced myself it was no big deal he hadn’t called because I’d heard enough Walker stories to know he’d probably met a woman on the street after lunch and still had her in his bed somewhere in the city. That was who Walker Titus was and I’d do well to remember that before he sucked me into his vortex and ruined my life. “What’s up with you and Talia?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said too quickly to be believable and I laughed. “Don’t you have some work to do? A deal to work out or something?”

“Both actually,” I told him as I stood and smoothed the red dress where it had bunched around my hips thanks to a few too many indulgent days over the past couple months. “Thanks for the advice, Lukas. Dinner tonight?”

“Can’t,” he grinned. “Plans.”

“Talia. Well it’s about damn time.” They pretended to hate each other but the truth was they were different in all the right ways. “Good luck and don’t screw it up.”

He grinned. “Yeah, thanks for that Lace.”

The conversation with my twin helped as they usually did because Lukas was the cool, logical one of us. I was the creative one who often led with my heart and more often than not, lived to regret it. But today I was focused on work, specifically on the work I’d been delegating while I dealt with KBBM. I checked in with my team and project leaders until I felt confident my department was running efficiently while I tended to this deal.

Just before I dialed Katelyn Shepherd, my phone buzzed on the desk. It was Walker. “Too late for that shit,” I grumbled and turned the screen face down. I would never be a man’s second choice again. More like again, again, since Walker wouldn’t be the first. I had a bad track record of guys who thought they could call me up when they were free, when work permitted, when they weren’t out with their buddies or my personal favorite, when they needed to trot out a well-connected woman as a dinner companion. Nope, been there, done that and got the scorch marks to remind me never to go back.

Fucking men. Useless except when it came to sex and spiders, and I’d learned how to deal with spiders on my own when I was nine and Lukas left one inside my favorite book.

With my resolve firmly in place, I pushed my cell phone away and picked up the office phone to call Talia because I was sure a baby and bridal shower were in our collective futures. “I can’t do it tonight, but let’s get together for lunch tomorrow and figure out dates, themes and details?”

I laughed. “Talia, you’re an organizational goddess.”

“Yeah,” she groaned. “Well someone has to do it.”

Her tone sounded weird but I was just getting to know Talia through my friendship with Poppy, so I didn’t want to pry. But tomorrow, over cocktails, I wouldn’t be so hesitant. “And right now it’s us, The Singles.”

Talia begged off and I turned back to work, signing off on commercials and ad space between digging into KBBM holdings as an idea took root in my brain. An alternative, or maybe just a much better idea. I didn’t know yet, but I would. Soon.

By the end of the day, I had a good handle on what I wanted to do and I called to invite the Shepherd siblings to a casual lunch that was officially on my calendar. I would take Lukas’ advice and see where it got me before I mentioned anything to Blake.

I was deep in thoughts of food, specifically what I would pick up for dinner, as I left the building, oblivious to my surroundings in my excitement about this new business idea. When I looked up I spotted a familiar face and tried like hell not to smile. “Walker.”

“You didn’t answer my calls,” he said easily, matching his relaxed posture by leaning against the limo, arms crossed over his chest and legs crossed at the ankles. He looked good. Sexy as hell, wanna bury my fingers in his hair, sexy.

“Some men might take the hint.”

He shrugged and pushed off the sleek black limo. “I’m not some, or most, men Lacey. You’ll see that soon enough.”

He was so fucking cocky. So arrogant and sure of his place in the world that I nearly resisted the urge to take him down a peg. Or two.

Nearly.

“I’m pretty sure I know exactly what I’ll see, Walker. You’re not as different as you like to think.” He was hot as hell and sexy as sin, but he was a bad bet for anything beyond a few hours of pleasure.

“Then I look forward to proving you wrong. Get in.” He pulled the back door open, ignoring the driver scrambling around the vehicle, nodding towards the door to urge me inside. “Get in,” he said again, this time his voice was deeper, more commanding.

God help me, but I got in. I totally fucking got inside.

With the devil.

I must be crazy.