Free The Billionaire Date by Leigh Michaels Page B

“So I’m going to help in every way I can.”
    â€œAnd commit a little sabotage on the side?”
    â€œYou’re a suspicious sort, aren’t you, Deevers?”
    â€œYou can’t deny you’d like to see me lose.”
    He paused as if to consider the question. “Well, there would be certain benefits to me—”
    Kit felt her face begin to warm. I will not dignify that crazy statement of his by commenting on it again, she told herself.
    â€œBut I suppose it would be selfish of me to put my personal preferences ahead of the greater good.” He nodded, as if he’d convinced himself of something critical. “So I’ll pitch in and do my best.”
    Right , Kit thought. Like I’m going to believe him . “I’ll have to think about what you might be able to do,” she said mildly. “Later, of course, when we have the program in order, you can make copies and fold and staple them. But for now—oh, I have it. I’ll start you calling the list of grocers to ask if they’ll donate snacks. That’ll take a couple of days, at least, so come on up, and I’ll find you a phone and the yellow pages and get you started.”
    It was the first time she’d ever seen him come close to losing his composure, and Kit had to exert all her self-control to keep her face straight.
    Jarrett glanced at the gold Rolex on his wrist. “I’m afraid you misunderstood, Kit.”
    She feigned shock. “You didn’t plan to plunge in right this minute?”
    â€œI think I’ve mentioned next year’s lingerie collections? I just realized I’m late for a meeting with my design team.”
    â€œWhy am I not surprised?” Kit murmured. “Well, whenever you have a few minutes to volunteer, I’ll be happy to see you. There’ll be plenty of work for you.”
    That , she thought with satisfaction, should keep him out of my hair for a day or two at least.
    â€œAnd just think,” she said mildly. “It’ll be a much greater satisfaction for you if you’ve given me every opportunity and all the help you can—and I blow it and fail anyway.”
    He grinned. “Exactly. You know, I am impressed by how clearly you see things, Kit.” With a little bow, he pulled open the massive front door and was gone.
    Kit took the stairs two at a time and shut the door of her office firmly behind her. She crossed the room in three strides and tugged two sharp-pointed darts from the big corkboard where she’d posted last month’s Milady Lingerie ad.
    Her first throw was slightly off, landing in Jarrett’s left nostril. The second hit dead center, right between his eyes.
    How clearly she saw things—indeed.
    Unfortunately, the thing that was clearest to Kit was that the situation was only going to get worse.
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    The evening newspapers were even more wildly speculative about the Dream Dates Auction than the morning ones had been. Though Kit had long known that Jarrett was news in any context at all, she was stunned at the quick turn the talk had taken.
    One of the society columnists had gone so far as to start calling Chicago’s prominent bachelors to see who was involved. Most of them, to Kit’s relief, had refused to answer either way instead of denying all knowledge of the auction. It seemed, Kit thought, as if they were waiting to see whether the Dream Dates affair was going to be the stylish event of the year or some crazy plan that no one with sense would take part in. It was obvious she’d have to move fast. She had to have something dramatic to announce, and soon—or the no comments would change into denials, and that would be death to the whole plan.
    Susannah poked her head into Kit’s office at the end of the day and caught her rereading the society column. “Maybe you should send that columnist a thank-you note for making out your list for you.”
    Kit didn’t