and her empty glass sat mockingly in front of her. Meanwhile, Grayson a

, rising from her chair. "I

me with you?"

ut. I'll be

er curves. Without her Joy Smith persona, she moved differently, with more confidence, her natur

nic, and two ma

didn't look towar

t a presence beside her, someone sliding onto the stool at her right. From her periphera

ender lo

voice she recognized instant

ng herself not to turn. Of all the bars in all the restaurants in New York, Grayson

the bartender, pulling out her credit

before he could take her c

dy's drinks

ldn't have. Not with her real hair down, no glasses, and in t

her voice pitched slightly higher t

.. the charm he switched on when he wanted something. It was nothing li

ween them, caught in the

ice," she finally said, taking the card back a

heir drinks, Grayson turned toward her.

own when I offer to buy a bea

ognize beauty if it presented financial reports to him

as you think you are," she replied

in-the red hair, the form-fitting dress, the confident posture. Th

hitting

he said, exte

who yo

again. "Have we met be

ion. It was almost comical how thoroughly her Joy Smith disguise worked. The man she a

he asked, her voice cool and steady. She glanced toward his table where the blonde wai

rossed his face. His j

, "but my engagement with Morgan is over." He gestured toward the

the bar, then stood, towering over her

turned and walked away, leaving her

Looked up at him with concern as he sat down. Now that Honey looked more carefully, sh

across the counter, breaking h

efully. Her cheeks burned with embarrassme

eaned forward eager

elping Honey distribute the drinks.

sing the encounter. "I just accused Gra

gie nearly choked o

h everything that's happening with Riley..." Honey shook her head. "

's not engaged anymore? When did that happen? Th

s table. He was now deep in conversation with his sister, his

's not with Morgan tonight," Maggi

then stopped herself. That's exactly what he'd been doing. "God, what

's not like you'll ever see him a

unsettled. She'd been so quick to judge him, to assume the worst. After Ril

int of honor for him," she mused. "I wond

gie suggested. "Would explain h

shing the encounter aside. "Let's talk