Free Love Captures the Heart (Sully Point, Book 3) by Nicole Smith

yet, after all."
    "Well, I hope she is breaking her own rules and getting
involved. Maybe he's the one for her."
    "I don't know him well enough yet to say what he needs.
But I sense he has been a lonely man. You should have seen his face when he saw
the flowers and read the card yesterday. He was as delighted as a kid, and very
surprised, but mainly he was pleased."
    "And we know those were from her because I got that
confirmation call from the florist later in the day."
    "This should be interesting," Marla said, with a
twinkle in her eye.
    "Yes, very."
    * * * *
    Holly arranged to have dinner with Maggie Carter at her
favorite Italian restaurant. The place was not fancy and sported paper
placemats on old tables. But the food was scrumptious and the service terrific.
She ordered a bottle of wine right away. Once they got that poured, she began
to gently question Maggie about her life.
    It was clear that they young woman had become quite
disillusioned after six months in the city. Here she was going up against large
P.R. firms and she really didn't stand a chance. As she listened to Maggie
talk, Holly became more certain that the project could use her.
    "I want to talk to you about something we need for the
project. Someone, actually. We need you to work with us on the project."
    Maggie had a gamine look to her, with short light brown
curls in a naturally-appealing disarray and a heart-shaped face. Her big violet
eyes took in everything Holly was saying about the project.
    "Hold on, Holly, did Sam put you up to this? Is he
trying to take care of me?"
    "No, I came up with the idea last night at dinner with
Rob Tremaine and Jason Earlington, the architect. We were discussing the need
to control publicity both in Sully Point and here in the city. It would be
helpful to have someone who knows the family, however. I'm sure you can see
that as well."
    "Okay. In a week or so I'll be almost totally free of
obligations here, since my business has dwindled to nothing. I could focus on
the project full time if it needs it."
    They talked about the need to spend time in Sully Point and
Holly made sure Maggie knew she could stay at the Grainger house, but Maggie
said she'd stay with Sam, Anna, and her nephew. They were eating dessert when
Maggie brought up Jason.
    "So what's he really like?"
    "Excuse me?"
    "Mr. Earlington! I've seen his picture in the paper. Is
he as handsome as the photos?"
    Holly nodded. "Yes."
    "He seems so intriguing, so young to be so
accomplished. Talented, sexy, he has it all."
    "I guess it does seem like that."
    "But you never see a girlfriend with him in any of the
photos. Maybe he's gay."
    "No, definitely not."
    Maggie looked surprised. "How do you know?"
    "I--uh--I--from something he said in a meeting."
    "Oh. I wonder who his girlfriend is then, since she's
not in the celebrity news with him."
    "Could be anybody. Are you about done?"
    Maggie nodded. "Will I have access to him?"
    "Access?"
    "Yes, to set up interviews or a photo shoot. We'll want
to use his connection to the project."
    "Oh yes, I'm sure eventually we will. Why don't you
work on finishing up your current obligations, then call me and we'll go from
there."
    "Sounds great. Thanks so much for the opportunity,
Holly."
    "Sure, no problem."
    As she watched Maggie head for the subway, Holly thought
about her own access to Jason. It had only been a few nights but she already
was used to seeing him. Going home to an empty apartment now held no appeal.
    Sighing, she hailed a cab and got in. When the driver asked
for the address, she found Jason's apartment address slipping out of her mouth.
She started to correct that, and then leaned back against the seat. Why not? A
surprise was always good.
    * * * *
    Jason found concentrating on his dinner meeting difficult.
He'd realized halfway through that he wasn't interested in working for this
group, a consortium of three wealthy men. He was regretting missing out on an
evening with Holly just to meet with