The Playboy's Office Romance

“MRS. FAIRCHILD, what a delightful surprise.”

Ilsa accepted Bryce’s welcome with a smile and allowed him to direct her to one of the chairs in front of his desk. “Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice,” she said. “I know you must have a very busy schedule.”

“Me?” He laughed and instead of going behind the desk to sit across from her, he took the chair beside her, leaning forward, his blue eyes reflecting his genuine delight at her visit. “I’m never too busy when a beautiful woman is involved.”

And that, in a nutshell, was the problem Ilsa was having in finding a suitable introduction of possibilities for Bryce. He loved women. All women, beautiful or otherwise. In the months she’d been studying him, bringing all her own substantial powers of observation and intuition to bear on the situation, she’d encountered no one woman who seemed to excite his passion. And he was, she felt, a man of deep passions, despite his life-is-a-picnic, bring-on-the-babes persona. The right woman was out there, Ilsa knew. It was just a matter of finding her, which, of course, was the problem and the reason for this trip. “You may not be so happy to see me when I tell you why I’m here,” she said with a teasing laugh. “I’ve come to persuade you to co-chair the Cinderella Ball with me.”

His smile teased her in return. “That’s less than two weeks away. Don’t tell me, you’re short a Prince Charming and my name came instantly to mind.”

Truer than she cared to admit. “Actually, Nels Sanger has been working with me on the event for several months, but you may have heard, he’s having heart surgery and I’m looking for someone to fill in for him.” She paused for effect, then gave his arm a figurative twist. “Your grandfather suggested I ask you.”

Mentioning Archer had the desired result. Bryce’s expression changed, subtly but obviously. It was difficult for the Braddock men to refuse any request by their grandfather. “Granddad, huh?” Bryce used his own affectionate name for Archer, his smile less enthusiastic than before, although still warm. “I don’t suppose he mentioned that he’s persuaded me to take Adam’s place on the Sea Change Town Council, or that he just remembered to tell me that the CEO of Braddock Industries has always sat on the Providence Community Foundation board.” He spread his hands in a charmingly helpless gesture. “My dance card is pretty full already.”

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