Harrison waited until the little flurry had calmed down and Brittany had poured the tea.

He took a sip and nodded his appreciation. “I am sorry our visit in Dubai didn’t go as I had planned.”

Brittany’s cup rattled against the saucer.

He peered closely at her expression and realized she was nervous about something.

He had a horrible thought. Was she expecting him to propose here and now?

“Harrison.” She set down her cup.

What could he do?

What could he say?

He didn’t want to hurt her.

“There’s something I need to discuss with you,” she continued.

He set down his own cup and leaned forward, relieved to have her keep talking a little while longer. “Please,” he invited.

“This is difficult,” she said, smoothing her hair back from her face.

Then she rose, and Harrison quickly rose with her.

She crossed the room and shut the parlor door. Then she turned to face him. “I’ve always thought we were perfect for each other.”

Harrison didn’t know what to say to that, but his worst fear seemed to be coming true. He truly didn’t want to break Brittany’s heart. She was a lovely woman.

“We have so much in common,” she continued. “Music, art, religion, politics. And we have so many mutual friends.”

He needed to shut this conversation down before she said something that would later prove embarrassing. “I understand how you might-”

She held up a hand to stop him. “I’m sorry. Please. I need to say it all.”

Harrison nodded. He had no choice.

“And you and I, far more than most people, understand there’s still value in uniting families. A title is important. It’s important socially, and it gives children so many advantages in life.”

“Brittany, I-”

“I can’t marry you, Harrison.”

Harrison could swear that his jaw dropped open. He was completely speechless.

“I know it’s a foolish decision on my part.”

Not foolish at all. She didn’t want to marry him? Had he heard that right?

“Problem is-” she walked back to her chair and dropped down into it “-I’m in love with someone else.”

It was Harrison’s turn to drop into his chair. He stared at her, speechless with surprise.

She gave a little laugh. “He’s a commoner. He’s an American. He’s brash and outspoken and opinionated. And he’s not the least bit intimidated by my title or my family or pretty much anything for that matter.”

She took a breath. “For the first time in my life, I’ve found someone for whom it’s worth defying both my family and convention. Father will rage, as you can imagine.”

Harrison could well imagine. “Do you need my help?” he asked her.

She gave him a curious look.

“With your father. I’d be happy to talk to him if you think it would help.”

“You’re not angry?”

Harrison gave her a smile. “How could I be angry?” He reached out and took both of her hands. “It sounds like you’re going to be happy.”

Her eyes shimmered, and she blinked rapidly. “Maybe.”

“Are you ready to tell me who he is?”

She shook her head. “Not yet. He doesn’t…” She glanced away. “He still thinks I’m marrying you.”

Harrison smiled at the irony. “I know how that can go.”

“I hope we can still be friends.” Her voice shook ever so slightly. And no wonder. She was about to embark on a course of action that would rattle the foundations of her family and ripple out into society across London.

“Absolutely,” he answered her question. He came to his feet, drawing her up with him, and pulling her into a gentle hug. “I wish you nothing but happiness,” he told her. “And I’m here for you in whatever you need. If you need to get out of London for a while. If you need anything financially. And, please, bring him to meet me as soon as you can?”

Brittany gave a strange, little laugh, and it did Harrison’s heart good.

He drew back and gave her hand another squeeze. “Well done, Brittany. I’m very proud of you.”

And he was.

He was also a little disappointed in himself. Brittany was heading out on a very big limb for her love, whereas he’d given up Julia without the slightest of fights.

Back at his London flat, Harrison stared out the window across the black water of the Thames. He’d picked up the phone to call Julia a dozen times. But he had to find the right words. He knew he only had one shot at this, and he wasn’t about to blow it.

A knock sounded on his door, and he crossed the floor to find Alex on the porch.

“What on earth are you doing in London?” Last time Harrison had checked, Alex was still holding down the fort in Dubai.

“I have to talk to you,” Alex responded, marching into the square foyer and removing his coat, tossing it on a wall hook.

“It seems to be an epidemic today,” Harrison commented as he led the way into the living room. He took his favorite Windsor chair, while Alex walked to the big, bay window and stared out.

Harrison wondered if something was wrong on the pipeline deal. Funny, he couldn’t bring himself to care about a financial loss right now.

After a moment, Alex turned. He reached into the breast pocket of his suit and extracted a white envelope. “I’m handing you my resignation.”

Harrison couldn’t have been more stunned if Alex had pulled out a gun and demanded the silver. “You’re what?”

“I’m resigning.”

Harrison scrambled to make sense of the words. How had this happened? Why hadn’t he seen it coming?

Alex took five swift steps across the room and dropped the letter on the lamp table beside Harrison.

Harrison didn’t even look at the envelope. “Have you lost your mind?”

Alex shook his head. “I’ve done something that makes me unfit as your employee.”

“Is it serious? Can we solve it? Was it illegal?”

Alex took a very deep breath. “I slept with Brittany.”

Harrison’s jaw definitely fell open this time.

“I’m in love with her, Harrison. And, fair warning, I’m going to fight you for her.”

Harrison came to his feet, struggling to keep his expression serious. An American, Brittany had said. Brash and fearless, who didn’t care what her family or anybody else thought.

“You mean fisticuffs?” he asked Alex. “Pistols at dawn? How exactly are we going to fight?”

“Are you smiling? Why aren’t you going for my throat? I just told you I slept with your fiancée.”

“She’s not my fiancée.”

“Technical point. You’re going to marry her.” He paused. “For Christ’s sake, why are you smiling?”

“Because,” said Harrison, deciding to put Alex out of his misery, “Brittany just finished telling me she was in love with another man. And three days ago, I married Julia to get her out of the country.”

Alex’s expression hardened. His eyes crackled with hostility, and his skin tone turned ruddy. “What other man?”

“Relax,” said Harrison, finding it intriguing that Alex didn’t even react to the Julia story. “Brittany wouldn’t give me a name. But I’m guessing it’s you.”

Alex drew sharply back.

“She said he was a brash, outspoken American who didn’t give a damn about her title. Oh, and I asked her if she’d introduce me to him. I guess that explains why she laughed. She also said he still thought she was marrying me. But she’s not. She broke it off with me an hour ago.”

It took less than a second for Alex to react.

He turned for the door, and Harrison quickly handed him his coat, since he didn’t look as if he was about to slow down for anything.

As the door slammed shut, Harrison dropped back down in his chair. Brittany was giving everything up for Alex. And Alex was willing to slay dragons for her.

What was Harrison willing to do to have Julia?

Simple. Anything and everything.

Sipping a second cup of tea in the parlor, Brittany knew she should feel terrible. She should feel nervous and regretful, even fearful of her father’s reaction. But she couldn’t help it, she felt happy, even light. She felt freer than she could ever remember. There wasn’t an ounce of guilt in her at the moment.

“Lady Brittany?” came the butler’s voice through the open double doors.

She glanced up.

“A Mr. Lindley is-”

Before the introduction was even complete, Alex was striding through the door.

“Alex.” She popped up from her seat, unable to keep a smile from bursting out. Alex was here. He was in London.

“Sir,” admonished the butler.

“It’s fine, Reginald,” Brittany put in. “Please close the door.”

To his credit, Alex waited until the door was shut before speaking.

“He’s the first thing to go,” Alex growled.

“What are you talking about?” She was still grinning.

Alex advanced on her. “Harrison just told me you’re in love with an American.”

“I am,” she admitted, a rush of excitement and anticipation hitting her system.

Alex halted directly in front of her. “And he says you’re not marrying him.”

“I’m not,” she agreed.

“Then, I’m here to ask if you’re open to offers.”

“I am. You’ve got an offer to make?”

“Marry me. Thumb your nose at your family. And you’ll spend every night of your life in ecstasy.”

Her grin widened even farther. “That’s a bold offer.”

He grinned right back at her. “I’m a bold man.”

“My father may challenge you to a duel.”

“Tell him I used to kill people professionally and blow things up recreationally. Maybe he’ll change his mind.”

“I doubt it.”

“Then how do you feel about eloping?”

“I’m afraid we’re going to have to stay here and face the music.”

“Well, I’m not killing your father, and I’m sure not letting him kill me.”

“Then we should probably talk to my mother. She’s more reasonable, and she’s used to calming him down.”

Alex was silent for a moment. “Is that a yes, Brittany?”

She slowly nodded.

Alex was the brass ring of happiness. She was marrying him, and nothing was going to stop her. She’d finally found something in her life worth defying her father for.

Alex sobered. He cupped her face and kissed her gently on the mouth. “I don’t even have a ring.”

“You don’t need a ring.”

“We’re buying one tomorrow. Something huge and ostentatious so your father doesn’t think I’m destitute. I’m not destitute, Brittany. I’m not Harrison, but I’m quite wealthy.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does. A little. I want you to know you’ll have everything you need.”

She kissed him again, wrapping her arms around him to hold him close. “I already have everything I need.”

Buying a Dalmatian puppy was just the shot in the arm Julia needed. As she watched Herman scamper across the floor of her condo, slipping to a stop, then valiantly trying to get his little puppy jaws around a blue-and-red-striped ball, she smiled for the first time in two days.

She was still feeling lonely and maudlin whenever she let herself think about Harrison, but Herman was showing her there was light at the end of the tunnel. The puppy books, the gear, the house training and the walks by the river gave her a focus for her life.

She wouldn’t be able to travel as much now that she had him, but she’d decided to scale back on her work for Equine Earth, and start working freelance on the kinds of investigative stories she’d always wanted to undertake. Life was too short to stay in the lifestyle section.

A knock came on her door.

With a quick check to make sure Herman was occupied and wouldn’t dart out, she pulled it open.

She gave her head a shake and blinked to clear her eyes, certain she must be hallucinating Harrison with a Dalmatian puppy in his arms.

“Meet Herman,” came the voice that had haunted her dreams.

Behind her, Herman barked and jumped at her calves.

“Uh-oh,” said Harrison.

Julia scooped up the puppy, and she couldn’t help but smile. “This is Herman.”

The two puppies barked at one another, desperately trying to get down to play on the floor.

“Come on in,” Julia said to Harrison, standing aside, then closing the door behind him before they released the puppies.

They barked and wrestled and chased their way across the living-room floor. Julia kept her back to Harrison as she watched the puppies play, using the distraction to try to come to terms with his arrival. What was he doing here? What did he want?

After a couple of minutes, his big hands closed over her shoulders. “Hello, Julia.”

She struggled to keep the emotion out of her voice. “Hello, Harrison.”

“How have you been?”

She shrugged. Fine didn’t quite describe it, but she was surviving. “Did you have business in Lexington?”

“No business.”