in and meet Lucas Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan is the author of the article I told you about yesterday. Lucas, I’d like you to meet Rita Rosales. Rita is our research librarian.”
Undeterred by April’s hint to make her visit short, Rita sashayed into the office. “I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Sullivan. Although, to be honest, I can’t say I agree with your article. I’d say that there’s a lot more important going on between the sexes than just a woman feeding a man’s ego.”
Lucas wasn’t surprised at the mini critique. Any friend of April’s was bound to disagree with him. As for Rita, she fit right in at this admittedly eclectic publication.
“I’m not surprised to hear that,” he answered wryly. “Just as I won’t be surprised to learn you’re about to enlighten me.”
“Rita, don’t you dare!” April broke in before Rita could launch into her theory that the basis for male-female relationships was purely sexual attraction. Or, as Rita often said in plain terms, good old-fashioned sex.
Undeterred, Rita grinned at Lucas. “You sure don’t look like the man who came up with that old-fashioned set of rules April showed me.”
“‘The Mating Game’ article is not just a set of rules,” Lucas corrected her automatically before he realized he’d just been given a compliment. “I’m not?”
“No. I figured you would either be elderly or a stuffed shirt. As for being old, you’re obviously not. As for stuffy…” Her voice trailed off as her gaze swept Lucas. “You’ve sure got what it takes to get a gal’s attention. Maybe there’s hope for you yet.” She winked at April. “Don’t give up, April. With a little work, I think you can wake up your Mr. Sullivan.”
Rita’s unsolicited assessment of Sullivan’s attractions might be embarrassing, but it was dead on. April grabbed Rita by the arm and urged her to the door before her friend mentioned her visit to the Roxy. “The next time you have something important to tell me, please use the telephone.” Under her breath, she added, “I’ll be up to see you later.”
“Sure, now that I’ve met your Mr. Sullivan, I think it can wait. Just remember what I told you.” Rita grinned at him over her shoulder. “See you later.”
Lucas settled back into his chair. At the rate they’d been interrupted, there wouldn’t be enough hours left in the day for April to take him out and try to humanize him. “Interesting woman,” he commented. “I wouldn’t mind hearing her explain her version of how a man chooses the woman he’d like to spend the rest of his life with.”
“You don’t want to know,” April said, unable to imagine Rita’s raw sex talk without laughing. She pushed a few errant strands of hair away from her eyes. “Rita tends to be frank, but I assure you that it’s all talk. As for what she actually thinks on the subject, I’m not sure you’d want to hear that, either.”
Lucas smiled. “Why not? I heard the birds-and-bees talk when I was ten. I’ve even managed to teach a few classes on marriage and the family without blushing.”
“I wish it were that simple,” April muttered as heat rose to her throat. “I don’t know about you, but I’m afraid I’m not up to an X-rated conversation.”
A roguish grin spread over Lucas’s face. His brown eyes turned a deeper brown. “Try me.”
Mutely, April stared at the man whom only twenty-four hours ago she’d labeled as a stuffy academic. Now that she’d glimpsed the other side of him, she was afraid that the last thing she would be able to manage was a frank discussion of sexual attraction.
Something was definitely wrong here.
The heat continued its upward journey into her cheeks. “It’s not exactly a professional topic for us to discuss. I’m your editor, not your biology teacher.”
“Too bad.” Lucas formed his features into an exaggerated display of regret. “You would have been great.”
April managed a weak smile.
“So,” he said next, “unless you’re expecting more visitors, shall we get on with this show of yours before someone else drops in?”
As he spoke, there was gentle knock at the door.
“April? I’m sorry to interrupt you when you’re busy, but you left a page of the manuscript in the cafeteria.”
Lili? Lili, the friend who had declined to become involved in humanizing Lucas Sullivan yet couldn’t resist meeting him?
April glanced at the printed page Lili offered. A quick glance told her that Sullivan’s fame had spread so throughout the building that even the prim-and-proper Lili couldn’t ignore it.
Resigned to the inevitable, April made the introductions. “Lili works in the art department as a graphic artist, Lucas. She’s also a very good friend of mine. Please try to remember that we all try to be professional around here.”
With a wry smile, Lucas rose to his feet. “Of course. Happy to meet you, Ms. Soulé.”
“I am happy to meet you, too.” She handed April the sheet of paper and backed to the door. “I will see you later, April.”
After Lili blushed her way out of the office, Lucas chuckled. “Maybe we should put off our excursion. I wouldn’t want to disappoint the rest of your friends.”
April was really annoyed. Any notion that she may have misjudged Lucas vanished. The man was a prime example of a chauvinistic male with an ego to match. “I swear I had nothing to do with those visits. It has to be all your fault.”
“My fault?” Lucas looked affronted. “All I did was to show up here this morning. At your request, I might add.”
How could one man have such an innate male appeal and still wind up the author of such naive conclusions about relationships? April wondered. All the man seemed to know about women would fit into a thimble.
She was tempted to find Tom and tell him about Sullivan’s appearance at the Roxy, just to prove that Lucas Sullivan wasn’t the man he appeared to be. But then, if they’d attended Northwestern together, maybe Tom already knew the truth about Sullivan.
Nothing was going to keep the magazine article from creating a riot among its female readers, April was certain. The bigger problem, once the magazine hit the stands, was how to protect Sullivan from himself.
Chapter Four
Curious about April and the world she lived in, Lucas wandered around her office. Framed magazine covers hung on the walls. A plaque testifying that the magazine had taken honors in the field of journalism for the past three years occupied a prominent place. An award for the outstanding employee of the month bore April’s name.
Neat, small stacks of manuscripts waiting to be read covered a corner of April’s desk. A computer, monitor and a handy cup of black and red pencils the other.
To the casual eye, April might appear to be all business. To his trained senses, he knew she was more complex than that. Underneath her professional demeanor lurked a passionate woman, he was sure. He’d give a lot to see that passion.
He dug his hands into his pockets and paused to gaze down at the Chicago River and a passing cruise boat. He’d always taken the river for granted. Today, the river had possibilities. The idea of cruising through downtown Chicago with April, who wanted to show him a different world while he got to know her better, sounded interesting.
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