“Talking to yourself is never good.” Dana came up and stood beside her. “What has you spitting and hissing?”

Lexi nodded toward the dance floor where the bleached blonde in a clinging, beaded dress had plastered herself against Cruz.

“I hate her,” Lexi grumbled. “Look at her body. Is it fair that one person gets all those curves and I get nothing?”

“She’s been surgically enhanced,” Dana told her. “Look. The boobs aren’t moving. And she’s going to be fat in another five years.”

“Really?” Lexi heard the hope in her voice. “She’s an ex-girlfriend. One of millions.”

“Why do you care? This is a business transaction, right?”

“I know. But it’s my engagement party. Having him hang on her is embarrassing.”

Her friend cleared her throat. “First, she’s doing the hanging, not him. Second, you’re not falling for him, are you?”

“No. Of course not. But I have a position in society to think about.”

Dana snorted. “Since when?”

“You know what I mean.”

“I’m not sure I do. For what it’s worth, he has had a lot of women but none of them have meant anything. He doesn’t keep them around for longer than a few weeks. No one gets close.”

Lexi stared at her friend. “Excuse me. You know this how?”

“I’ve been doing a little checking.” Dana didn’t bother looking chagrined or apologetic. “You’re my friend and now you’re fake engaged to some guy I know nothing about. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

Lexi’s tension faded. “Thank you,” she said. “I love that you have my back.”

“Someone has to. You’re way too trusting. Back to Cruz. He got in trouble a lot as a kid. The records are sealed but I asked around and found a couple of cops who remember him. It was basic juvenile stuff.”

“Let me guess,” Lexi said, remembering her conversation with Cruz. “He stole cars.”

“He only got caught once, but yeah. He stole cars. A few other minor things. Since turning eighteen, he’s been a model citizen. A successful model citizen. Everything he touches turns to gold.”

Just like her father, she thought. Cruz and Jed had more in common than made her comfortable.

“Like I said,” Dana continued. “No serious relationships, although he does have a type.”

Lexi didn’t understand. “A type of what?”

“Woman.” Dana looked pointedly at the dance floor.

Lexi followed her gaze to where Sabrina was talking intently. From her perspective Cruz looked bored, but maybe that was just wishful thinking on her part.

“I don’t get it,” she admitted.

Dana sighed. “Tall, blond, blue eyes. You, Lexi. You’re his type.”

“Oh.” Which meant what? Was that his interest in her? She fit the list?

“He’s dangerous,” Dana told her. “However civilized he looks on the outside, he’s not like anyone you’ve dated before. He’s certainly no Andrew.”

“A good thing,” Lexi murmured.

“I agree. Andrew hid the fact that he was a total bastard. Cruz likes the world to know up front. But that doesn’t make him any less dangerous. Just be careful.”

“It’s business,” Lexi told her. “I’m not getting involved.”

Her friend didn’t look convinced. “I’ll remind you of that in a couple of months and we’ll see if you still mean it.”

“CRUZ FOR YOU, line one.”

“Thanks,” Lexi said into the intercom on her desk in the spa, then forced herself to draw in a slow breath before picking up the phone.

“Good morning,” she said.

“Good morning.”

His voice was low and sexy and made her wish they saw each other first thing in the morning. But he was always gone before she made her way downstairs.

“I’ve been investigating the mysterious Garth Duncan,” he continued. “The man is private and he covers his tracks, so this is going to take some time. But I did find out one interesting thing.”

“Which is?”

“He owns a pet store. In Titanville.”

A pet store? A guy worth maybe billions? A ruthless entrepreneur with killer instincts who deliberately tried to ruin her business owned a pet store?

“Are you sure? Maybe it’s someone else with the same name.”

“That’s what I thought. But I followed the paper trail. It’s him. I thought you might want to check it out.”

“Absolutely. I’ll go by later today. Thanks, Cruz. I appreciate you following up on this.”

“No problem. See you tonight.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

The words popped out before she could stop them. They instantly made her blush. A least she was on the phone and he wouldn’t know. Still, talk about exposing herself.

There was a slight pause, then he said, “Me, too, querida,” in a voice that made her picture satin sheets and a naked man.

Wanting pooled low in her belly. She shifted in her seat, instant arousal making her uncomfortable.

“Okay then,” she said. “I should, ah, go check out the pet store. I’ll let you know what happens.”

Fifteen minutes later she stood in front of the Titanville Pet Palace. The big windows were decorated with bright flowers and curly lettering. Lexi stepped inside.

The large space was well lit and smelled fresh. There were shelves filled with food and supplies. She heard the sound of puppies barking and birds calling. A teenager at the front counter looked up from a text book.

“Hi,” she said with a smile. “Can I help you?”

“I’m, um, just looking.”

“Okay. If you have any questions just ask me or Kathy. She knows everything.”

“Thanks.”

Lexi went down the first aisle. She had no idea what she was looking for or why she’d come. It wasn’t as if Garth Duncan would be lurking around a corner, and she doubted he would store corporate secrets on a shelf next to the rabbit chow. So what was the point?

Still, she was here. She could look around.

She studied a large cage filled with small birds.

“I don’t think so.”

The voice was light and soft. Lexi turned and found a woman standing next to her.

“You’re not a bird person. Or a reptile one.” The woman smiled. “I’m not either, but the boys like them and it’s not their fault they’re a little scary. Not the turtles. Turtles are lovely. But snakes? No. Although we have an understanding. The snakes like me. And lizards. Lizards are good.”

The woman was of average height. Maybe in her fifties, with short brown hair and beautiful green eyes. There was something about her, something Lexi couldn’t put her finger on.

“I’m Kathy,” the woman said. “I take care of the animals. Some of them are for sale, but I’m very careful about who takes them home. We have to talk first.”

It was her speech, Lexi thought. It was cautious and deliberate. As if she thought about each word before saying it. She moved easily enough, so Lexi doubted she’d had a stroke. Maybe she was challenged in some way.

“I’m not looking for a pet,” Lexi said.

“Of course you are.” Kathy tilted her head. “But what? Let me think for a moment.”

“All right.”

Lexi wasn’t sure what to do. She really didn’t want to buy an animal. So much for her snooping skills.

“Something soft,” Kathy murmured, looking at her. “Something you can cuddle.” Her eyes brightened as she smiled. “I know. A kitten.”

“I’m not really a cat person.”

“Sure you are. Come on.”

Kathy moved toward the rear of the store. Lexi trailed along. Fine. She would hold the kitten, then politely say no. How hard could that be?

There were three kittens playing together in a big cage. Kathy studied them, then picked out the marmalade-colored one. “Here,” she said, handing it to Lexi. “This is the one.”

Lexi glanced down at her black sweater and sighed. She took the kitten.

It was small and warm, with dark green eyes. The second her hands closed around its small body, she felt the tiny bones, the warm fur and the steady beat of a determined little heart. Not knowing what else to do, she settled the animal against her chest. It curled up in her hands and began to purr.

She could hear the sound as well as feel it. The kitten kneaded her palm, sharp claws lightly digging into her skin. The whole thing should have been annoying, but it wasn’t. It was…nice.

“You’ll need a litter box and litter,” Kathy said. “A water dish, food dish, food and a few toys.”

“I’m not getting the kitten.” Although it was cute.

“It’s a boy,” Kathy said as she began to collect the items. “Get him neutered when he’s six to eight months old. He had his first round of shots. You’ll need to get him the rest.” She added a book on cat care to the growing pile.

“I’m really not in a position to take care of an animal right now.” What on earth would she do with a tiny kitten in Cruz’s big house? “I’m gone all day, working.”

Kathy smiled. “You’ll be home with your babies soon enough.”

Lexi coughed. Babies? “I’m not pregnant.”

“Not yet.”

Meaning she would be soon? She thought about the birth control pills she took every morning. “I don’t think so.”

Kathy ignored her. She put kitten chow next to canned food and added a few toys. Lexi followed her to the cash register.

“This isn’t a good idea,” she said.

Kathy nodded. “I know, but it will be.” She stroked the kitten. “I’ll miss you, but you’re going to be very happy.” The last thing she put on the counter was a small pet carrier. Then she walked to the rear of the store and disappeared.

Lexi turned to the teen at the register. “Okay, this is weird.”

The girl laughed. “I know, but it happens all the time. People come in here and Kathy tells them which pet they need. The thing is, she’s nearly always right. Everyone loves her.”

The kitten had fallen asleep. Lexi knew the smart thing would be to give it back, only she couldn’t seem to do it. Fine. She would take it to work and give it to someone there. Everyone adored kittens. How hard could it be to find this one a home?