The fourth book in the Buchanans series, 2007

"Let me make this easy for you," the man in the expensively tailored suit told Dani Buchanan. "You don't get to speak to the senator until you tell me why you're here."

"Amazingly enough, that information doesn't make things easier," Dani Buchanan murmured, feeling equally scared and excited which made for a very queasy stomach. She'd already talked her way through a receptionist and two assistants. She could actually see Mark Canfield's door at the end of the corridor. But standing between her and a long warehouse hallway was a big, determined-looking guy.

She thought about pushing past him, but he was pretty tall and she wasn't. Not to mention the fact that she'd actually worn a dress and high heels-neither of which were normal for her. The dress was no big deal, but the heels were killing her. She could handle the pain in the balls of her feet and the slight pulling in her arches, but how did anyone stay balanced on these things? If she moved at anything faster than a stroll, she was in danger of snapping an ankle.

"You can trust me," the man said. "I'm a lawyer."

He actually made the statement with a straight face.

Dani laughed. "A profession designed to inspire trust? I don't think so."

His lips twitched, as if he were holding in a smile. A good sign, she thought. Maybe she could charm her way past this guy. Not that she'd ever been especially good at charming men, but she didn't have much of a choice. She was going to have to fake it.

She drew in a breath and tossed her head. Of course her hair was cut short, which meant there was no flip over her shoulder. Which left Dani completely out of charming-men-type tricks. Good thing she'd sworn off dating for the rest of her life.