He took the box from her. “What’s wrong with being early?”

“It’s a rare phenomenon, that’s all. In fact, you’re usually late enough that someone has to page you out of some woman’s bed to get your ass in here.”

“Well, good day to you, too.”

Eyes unhappy, she shrugged.

“What, don’t have the phone number of that woman you want me to call?” he teased when she failed to continue with her usual pestering. “No blind dates for me?”

When she only sent him a halfhearted smile, he stopped. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing.”

He looked at her closed, miserable face. “It’s something.”

She shrugged, and walked ahead of him into the kitchen, setting her briefcase down on the black granite counter and taking the box from him.

“Pru.”

Another shrug. Woman-speak for Drag it out of me, please.

He again took the box and set it next to her briefcase. “Where did you and Caya end up last night?”

“Erotique. We met up with some of her friends from before.”

Before was any time before Caya had come to live with Pru. Pru liked it when the world revolved around her.

“Then we went down to Exhibit A,” she said.

Jacob arched a brow, signaling his surprise that Pru would want to take Caya there, the place in Hush that was undoubtedly the most uninhibited, wild and adventurous. Possibly in all of Manhattan. “Did you tell her how you feel?”

“About what, that I don’t like her wild friends? That I don’t like how much she goes out? That I especially don’t like the way she tries to lose her problems in casual sex?”

“No,” Jacob said. “That you want her for yourself.”

“Of course I didn’t tell her that. It’s going to ruin the friendship.”

“No, it’s not.”

“This can’t be happening to me,” Pru said softly, pacing the room. “Love sucks, remember?”

“Hey, I didn’t say anything about love.”

“Oh, my God.” Pru stopped and covered her face. “Oh, my God. I love her.”

Shaken now, Jacob stared at her. “Okay, let’s not get carried away.”

“No, it’s true. I love her.” Stricken, Pru dropped her hands, then whirled on her heel.

“Where are you going?”

“To think. To obsess. To have my nails done before I chew them all to the quick.”

“Pru-”

“Don’t talk to me right now.”

Suited him just fine. He didn’t like talking anyway. What the hell was wrong with him, trying to help?

Or spending so much time thinking about Em when he had plenty of other women in his life to screw it up?

When he could no longer hear Pru’s heels clicking angrily away, he leaned back against the counter and poured himself a mug of Maddie’s finest from the thermos. Sipping the brew, he reread Em’s note.

Twice.

When he caught himself reading it a fourth time, he crumpled it up again and tossed it in the trash. And reminded himself he never looked back, not ever.

EM, LIZA AND ERIC were having an emergency meeting. Because she’d screwed up. The thought made her wince, because it was true, she’d blown it. She’d lost herself in Jacob and had forgotten the goal. Now he felt used, and she couldn’t blame him.

They were having the meeting by the pool, which was on the glass-covered roof. The area had scattered wrought-iron benches and freestanding fountains, and was warmed with tall gas-powered heaters designed like lanterns. All this was surrounded by lush greenery and wildly colorful blooms, despite the fact that in the real world, it was February in New York. The incredible beauty had a calming effect on Em’s frazzled nerves. The pool itself was Olympic-size, with a large hot tub next to it, and a fully stocked bar for their drinking pleasure.

She lay on the cushiest white lounge chair she’d ever enjoyed, in a bathing suit. From here they were going to move their meeting into the spa. Liza had insisted, claiming they were far too busy back in Los Angeles for such foolishness, and that they should experience the full scope of what New York had to offer.

Especially now that it looked as if they were all headed toward the unemployment line.

Liza had booked them all for a variety of spa luxuries, a few of which Em had never even heard of. It seemed surreal, lying here, sunning as if they were lizards on a rock, being served their every wish by attentive, professional personnel.

While guilt and regret fought for space in her belly.

Liza had a drink in her hand, a pretty-colored something with an umbrella sticking out of it. Eric was facedown on his lounge and had a lovely attendant rubbing lotion onto his shoulders.

Every time he moaned his pleasure, Liza took a long sip of her drink.

Em leaned close to Liza. “You could just tell him he’s getting to you,” she whispered.

“Are you kidding?” she whispered back, adjusting her bikini top so that her breasts were plumped up and practically falling out. “Never give a guy the upper hand. Besides, I’ve got him just where I want him.”

Em eyed Eric, who was still very much enjoying his massage. “If you say so.”

“Oh, forget him,” Liza said with a sniff, but she flipped over, revealing her thong bikini bottoms. Or more to the point, her extremely perfect yoga-tightened butt.

From Eric’s chair came a choking sound. When they looked over at him, he turned his head away.

Liza sent Em a smile. “See? Right where I want him.”

Em shook her head.

“So tell me again why we sent coffee to a man who could probably get any coffee in the city that he wanted, especially from his own hotel?”

Em sat back against the cushy lounge chair and sighed. “Because I’m trying to apologize to him.”

“Because why?”

“Because he deserves it. I should have told him sooner, Liza.”

“Really? When, exactly? When he was kissing you in the elevator?”

“Yes, well, certainly by that second kiss.”

Liza’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head.

Even Eric sat up for this one.

“Second kiss?” they both asked together.

Em rolled her eyes. “Look, this isn’t exactly the time to discuss how many kisses there were.”

“When exactly would be a good time then?” Liza asked. “The next time I find you two having wild monkey sex in your room?”

“We were not having wild monkey sex,” Em said with exaggerated patience.

“What about regular sex?” Eric asked hopefully. “Because you could tell us about that.”

Liza shoved him back to his lounge. “Perv.”

“I’m just saying she should get it off her chest,” he said innocently. “That’s all.”

“There’s nothing to get off my chest,” Em assured the both of them. “And we’re here to talk about the real issue, that being the chef for the show.”

“Or the lack thereof,” Liza pointed out.

“Yes, thank you, Liza. Or the lack thereof. A situation that needs to be fixed, immediately. I’m going to find a way to talk to Jacob. I’m not giving up there, but…” Em’s stomach clutched yet again. She felt funny opening her briefcase and pulling out a pad of paper in her bikini, but desperate times…“Any thoughts just in case?”

“Hire me,” Eric said.

Liza laughed.

Eric turned his face toward the sun, his expression unreadable. “Well, if that’s so funny, audition for other chefs.” He sprawled facedown on his lounge again, stretching his long, lean body as he sunned. “Right here at Hush.”

Liza and Em looked at each other in shocked surprise. “You know,” Liza said, “once in a while he actually has a few productive thoughts.”

“I’ve got a few more,” Eric assured her with a naughty tone in his voice. “Want to hear them?”

“No,” Liza said.

Eric shrugged and lay back down, facing away from them.

This left Liza free to openly study his slicked-up, smooth back and butt, with such an expression of longing it hurt to look at her.

“Tell him you want him,” Em mouthed.

Pride blaring from her gaze, Liza shook her head.

Em sighed and began to make her list. “We’ll need to book a conference room.”

“And get the word of the auditions out,” Liza added.

“I can do that.” Eric mumbled this into his lounge pillow. “I’ve got agents I can call. Don’t worry, I’ll get you a decent showing.”

It had to be done, Em thought as Eric and Liza continued to come up with good ideas. They had to have a viable backup if Jacob truly wasn’t interested. She could do that, find someone else with the charisma and talent she needed. Because she couldn’t lose sight of the real issue-this was her last chance. If she screwed this up, by this time next month she’d be standing behind a counter in a silly hat, asking customers if they wanted red or green sauce with their tacos.

“Excuse me,” came a low, soothing female voice. “We’re ready for you in the spa.”

Eric and Liza jumped up eagerly. Em wrapped herself in one of Hush’s thick towels and followed the woman through the gorgeous garden that someone worked very hard on. The moment they entered the spa, Em let out a deep, tense breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding.

She could smell a myriad of special scents, mostly lavender, and the walls glowed with a gentle light that was nearly as soothing as the scent. In the reception area there was a wall of cascading water that both looked and sounded incredibly appealing. It was so beautiful in here it made her ache, and the quiet surrounded her, a calming balm on her shaky spirit.

They were each led into separate rooms. Em’s had a freestanding waterfall similar to the one in her room. There was incense burning, and the soft sounds of a jungle coming from speakers she couldn’t see. An attendant told her about an Indo-Asian hot oil treatment. “A delight to the senses,” she promised in a soft, quiet voice that went with the atmosphere. “When you’re ready, remove your suit, stretch out on the massage table and just concentrate on relaxing.”