And when his laughter joined with hers, it was the sweetest sound Tatiana had ever heard.

She’d seen him smile several times during each workday, usually when one of his family members called. Clearly, they were all thrilled that he was back home. And though she knew firsthand just how crowded his schedule was, she’d also heard for herself how patient he’d been on the phone with his cousin Gabe’s eight-year-old daughter when she’d asked him some questions for a project she was doing about the Sullivan family tree.

Maybe it was the lack of sleep that had her suddenly throwing her inhibitions to the wind, or maybe it was just how good it felt to laugh with him, but she suddenly needed him to know, “You have the most wonderful smile, the most infectious laugh. I could listen to it all day.”

For a moment, she could have sworn he was going to close the rest of the distance between them and give in to what had been growing more inevitable with every second they were together. But instead, he abruptly looked away from her and frowned. Taking one step back, and then another and another, until he was nearly at his desk, she thought it looked like he was smelling something that bothered him.

By the time the unmistakable scent of Chanel No. 5 hit Tatiana, she realized Ian’s ex-wife was standing in the doorway.

Chelsea Adrienne was even more stunning in person that she’d been in her pictures online...and clearly didn’t notice that Tatiana was in the room as she swept toward Ian in a very expensive couture dress.

Bethany was only a couple of steps behind her.

“Ian, I’m sorry, I tried to tell Ms. Adrienne that you were busy—”

“It’s all right, Bethany.”

His assistant shot Tatiana a worried look before leaving the office and closing the door behind her with a soft click.

“To what do I owe this pleasure, Chelsea?”

Just moments ago he’d been full of so much warmth and humor. Now, both were gone as he regarded his ex-wife the way one did an animal that might strike at any second.

“You closed the deal with Amando’s two weeks ago.”

“And now you’ve come to offer your congratulations?” His voice was so carefully modulated that although Tatiana thought it might be sarcasm, she wasn’t quite sure.

“You began those negotiations when we were married. In fact, I was the reason you even knew about the Italian shoemaker in the first place when you saw how many pairs I had in my closet.” She posed as though she’d reached the end of a runway before telling him, “I want my share of the deal.”

Tatiana had watched Ian carefully for the past couple of days, and while it had been impossible not to see the walls he put up around himself, she’d never seen his gaze turn this cold. But there was something else there, too, something worse even than the coolness.

Something that looked to Tatiana like guilt.

Still, when he moved behind his desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a checkbook, Tatiana nearly gasped in surprise.

“Here.” He gave Chelsea the check, then pushed away from his desk. “My next meeting is about to begin. I’ll walk you out.”

His ex glanced at the check to make sure the figure he’d written on it suited her, then opened her Chanel purse and dropped it in without so much as a thank-you. But though she’d gotten what she’d come for, she didn’t follow Ian to the door. Instead, she shifted into yet another predatory pose. “I hear you’re the bachelor everyone wants to catch now that you’re back in Seattle.” She laughed, a floating sound that grated on Tatiana’s nerves despite how light and airy it was clearly supposed to be. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell any of them what being with you is really like.”

Tatiana couldn’t stand it anymore. She tried never to play off her star power unless she absolutely needed to. But right here, right now in Ian’s office as his bitchy ex-wife tried to hurt him, she was extremely glad to be one of the best-known actresses in the world.

Unfortunately, she was wearing a rose-colored cashmere sweater and black slacks rather than the kind of fashion-forward outfit that could compete with what Chelsea was wearing. Fortunately, however, after years of transforming herself on a daily basis in front of the cameras, Tatiana knew better than nearly anyone else how to turn simple into spectacular.

“Ian,” she said in a soft voice, “I’d love an introduction.”

Tatiana purposely remained sitting on the couch while Chelsea spun around to face her. Once Tatiana knew she had the other woman’s full attention, she made certain her every movement as she rose gracefully was so easy and so confident that it was perfectly clear she wasn’t trying to compete with Chelsea on any front—beauty, sensuality, or personality.

Tatiana had quickly learned in Hollywood that only an insecure woman needed to compete. The truly successful, truly confident women always forged their own paths, and didn’t give a fig what anyone thought about them or their choices, fashion or otherwise.

“Tatiana,” Ian said in a tense voice, “this is Chelsea, my ex-wife.” Tatiana could see that he was worried about what was about to go down between the two women in his office, and she wished she could reassure him.

But right now she had to hold focus on avenging him.

Ian might not be hers, but five minutes ago she’d been certain they were at least on their way to becoming friends. And she refused to tolerate anyone speaking to one of her friends the way his ex-wife just had.

Tatiana forced herself to take a couple of steps toward the horrible woman. “Hello,” she said, holding out her hand in such a friendly way that there was no way his ex could have refused to shake it. Since there was no better way to let the very competitive woman know she wasn’t a threat than by giving her an honest compliment, Tatiana said, “Your dress is beautiful.”

“It is, isn’t it? It’s always such a thrill to wear a one-of-a-kind Christianna original.”

Tatiana could have spectacularly one-upped Chelsea by informing her that she had just been asked to become the face of Christianna’s couture design house in Europe. But she wasn’t here to compete for the crown of Queen Bee. She was here to put the other woman in her place as quickly as possible so that she’d leave Ian alone.

Then again...thinking about Ian’s check burning a hole in Chelsea’s purse helped Tatiana decide that sometimes it might not only be okay to stoop a little low, but it might be downright necessary.

“I’ll be sure to let Christianna know you’re pleased with her designs when I see her in Paris in a couple of weeks for my Golden Globes fitting.”

Tatiana might have laughed at the jealous fury that leaped into the woman’s eyes were she not still so furious about the way Chelsea had marched in and demanded money from Ian.

Money he’d given her without a fight...

“You’re so much curvier than you seemed to be in your last film,” Chelsea said in a voice so sweet it practically gave Tatiana a sugar rush. “I hope your fitting goes well.”

This time, Tatiana couldn’t stop her laughter from bubbling up and out. She’d met plenty of competitive actresses in the past ten years, but Ian’s ex trumped them all. “Casting directors usually just jump past curvy and go straight for the word fat.” But she’d already easily shrugged off the insult. “I know Kate Moss said nothing tastes better than being thin, but I’m pretty sure she’d change her mind if she ever tasted the chocolate truffles we had for dessert at Ian’s parents’ house on Friday night.”

“You’re not fat,” Ian growled as he moved between them. Turning his scowl on his ex, he said, “You got what you came for, Chelsea.”

“I know,” Chelsea said, holding up her hands as if he was the one on the wrong foot, rather than she. “You’re ready for me to leave so that you can get back to business. Believe me, I remember what it was like being married to you. Business always came first then, and clearly it still does.” His ex gave Tatiana a pitying glance. “I don’t know how the two of you met...”