Turning back to the email she finished off the last few lines.
“Oh, Darian,” she said, fighting back a grin.
“She asked me to plan the damn wedding.”
“Well, she’s out of the country…”
“Please. You know my sister. Even if she were the next block over she couldn’t handle an organizational nightmare of this magnitude.”
He wasn’t wrong. Allison had met Darian’s flighty sister on a number of occasions. She’d once arranged to take her to lunch at one of San Francisco’s most sought after seafood restaurants, only to later learn she’d been stood up because Jenny skipped town to go on a road trip with some friends. The younger King was pretty much a blonde Anti-Darian and proud of it. Whereas the man before her had worked hard to make something of his life, Jenny had chosen to travel the world, working in whatever dive bar or retail shop she could find. Having a fiancé was probably the most stable thing she’d done in her adult life.
“She just dropped this on me,” he said. “Not even a phone call. Just a wedding date.”
Allison read through the email again, her eyes widening. “This is in less than a month.”
“Yes.”
“It takes longer than that to plan a wedding.”
“Yes.”
“What is she thinking?”
He snapped his fingers. “Exactly.”
Allison sat on the arm of one sofa. “So,” she said, looking up from the paper. “That just leaves one question. Are you going to do it?”
He turned to gaze out the window, no doubt taking in the spectacular view he’d earned for himself.
Allison stared at his profile, knowing even before he spoke what his decision would be. Darian King was many things, but first and foremost he was a devoted brother. He might go after business deals with a ruthlessness that sometimes took her breath away, but when it came to those he loved, no price was too high.
It was a frustratingly endearing quality.
“I can’t say no, can I?”
“Actually, you can,” she said, pushing to her feet and closing the distance between them. Even in her heels she only came up to his shoulder. Few men made her feel petite, even when they had a few inches on her, but Darian had always been different. Standing this close to him, a shiver of awareness shot through her that had no place in their professional relationship. “You could do what any sane person would do and tell your sister this is too much to ask.”
Crystal blue eyes flicked toward hers. She met his gaze, ignoring the way her stomach fluttered when he looked at her like that. As if he could see beyond her perfect secretary facade and valued the woman he saw underneath.
“But you won’t turn her down,” she said.
Those expressive eyes shuttered. “Because I’m a sucker,” he said, turning back to stare out the window.
She put a hand on his shoulder, trying not to think about how she enjoyed the contact. Curling her fingers around the soft material of his suit, she tugged on his arm to reclaim his attention. “Because you’re you.” He might drive her mad, but her desire to leave King Enterprises didn’t negate all the good qualities about him that had drawn her to him in the first place. There was a reason she’d spent years bending over backward for this man. He inspired a loyalty that went far beyond the regular professional bond.
“I don’t know the first thing about weddings,” he said.
She scoffed at that. “Good thing they invented Google.”
“Flowers, dresses, music. Rings— Do I have to buy the rings?” He looked a little green at the thought.
“I’m sure Jenny has taken care of that part.” Thinking twice about the flighty King she added, “But it can’t hurt to check.”
“We need to find people who can do this immediately.”
“I believe the word you are searching for is ‘wedding planners.’”
“Yes.” He sprung into motion, striding for his computer.
Allison’s hand dropped to her side, watching him go. When his mind was focused on a task, nothing could stop him.
She flexed her fingers, not that she’d wished to touch him longer.
“I need meetings with the best wedding planners in the city,” he said as she followed him to his desk.
“A month isn’t much time. The best are probably booked.”
The look he gave her was the one adults gave children when they’d done something adorable. She scowled in return.
“Get me the numbers, and I’ll get the appointments.”
She arched a brow. “Since when did wedding research fall under my job description?”
Turning away from the computer, a faint smile twisted his lips. “You’re my assistant, aren’t you, Ali? Assist me.”
She crossed her arms and waited.
Darian released a sigh. “Sorry.” Leaving the computer, he pushed to his feet and came toward her. “You know we’ve got the Sterling acquisition looming. A wedding is the last thing I need on my plate. I know nothing about that world.”
“And I do?”
“You know what I mean. You know about everything.” He reached out and cupped her upper arms. “I can’t do this without you. You know it. I know it.” He smiled down at her. “I need you.”
I’m giving you my notice. I’ve had it with requests that have nothing to do with my job description. The late night phone calls and the ridiculously early mornings. I’m a professional, not your servant. You can do this without me.
She opened her mouth to say it. Really she did. But staring up into his eyes, she found the words frozen in her throat.
Leave. You don’t owe this man anything. Take back control over your life. Leave Darian King behind.
The thought caused an invisible vise to clench around her chest.
“Say you’ll help me.”
How many times had he said that to her? How many times had she jumped at the chance to be whatever he needed? One last impossible task, she told herself. One more and I can leave with no regrets. He’ll be so grateful he’ll give me the reference I need. We both win. But for better or worse, this will be the end for us.
One more month and she could walk away with everything she wanted. There was only one choice.
“I’ll help you,” she promised.
And then I’ll leave you.
Chapter Two
“What were you thinking?” Darian demanded.
A feminine voice sighed over the speaker phone. “This is why I emailed you first. I figured you’d need time to come to terms with the idea.”
“Of planning your wedding.” He couldn’t believe the words were actually coming out of his mouth.
“You know how hard it is to organize things from across an ocean without seeing anything? Matt is on tour till the end of the month. I can’t leave him.”
“I’m not sure begging for gigs counts as being on tour.”
Jenny hissed into the phone. “You’re always so hard on him. This is the band’s big break. There are producers coming to the shows. We’ve been working toward this for years.”
“Why not wait till it’s over then plan the wedding?”