That fear was what led her to her plan. Today’s plan. A glorious plan, she hoped. Though she had the feeling Blake might not see it that way.

No time to doubt herself. According to her Google Maps app, they were almost there.

She nodded to Darrin. “Left here.”

His muscular, tattooed arm flipped the turn signal on. For a guy who perpetually looked like he was on his way to meet Sid Vicious for a bender, Darrin was a surprisingly careful driver.

“I’ve been worried about her, too, of course.” His tone grew serious. “Having to cut her hours on top of everything else made me feel like a complete asshole.”

“Oh, no. We all know music is a precarious business. There are ebbs and flows in the work. You have to keep the studio open. She’d rather have a part-time job than no job at all. Seriously, D, she understands.” He smiled, but hardly looked convinced. “Really. I’m hoping a little less time playing songs for other people will give her a chance to work on some songs of her own. I don’t think she’s done much writing since Lance.”

“I don’t think Lacy has done any writing since Lance. Much as I agree with her that you are out of your mind half the time”—he shot a look toward her lap—“I have to say, the fact that she’s worrying about you is an improvement. For a while it was all I could do to get her to show up to work with her hair brushed. She’s starting to get involved with the world again and not just go through the motions.”

Andy sighed. Darrin was more than a boss to Lacy; he was a good friend. When Lance died, Andy froze. She didn’t know what to do or say, and Lacy pretended none of it was necessary. If Darrin hadn’t stepped in, Andy knew there was a chance she could have lost her sister as well. She’d owe the guy for the rest of her life for that. Which was why she let the crack about being out of her mind slide.

“This is it.” She pointed him into a winding drive.

“This place? It’s a mansion. Shit, girl.” He craned to see through the windshield.

“Did I mention my boss owns the company?”

“Does he have any use for sound recording?” Darrin was still staring openmouthed. Personally, after seeing the coldness of the place, she’d reserve the dropped jaw for its owner.

“Not likely.” She put her hand on the door handle. “Okay, I need to go in there first and talk to him. I’ll be back in twenty minutes. Wait here, please.”

“Jesus H, are you kidding me? This was not part of the plan.”

“I know, I know, but I can’t just walk in there with this. I need to prep the situation. Please, give me just twenty.” Puppy eyes, engage. “I’ll make it up to you. Lacy will work half a shift for free.”

“Don’t make deals you can’t keep, you little brat. Your sister is going to kill you.” He looked sort of delighted at the thought, and Andy knew she had him.

“So you’ll stay?”

“I’m leaving if you aren’t back in fifteen. Your time starts now.”

“Fine. And thank you, Darrin.” Puppy eyes for the win.

“Hey, don’t be trying that feminine wiles stuff on me. It won’t work. I’m doing this because I’m a friend, is all.”

Andy rang the doorbell and was again greeted by Ellen, the housekeeper. “Good morning, Drea. Nice to see you. Mr. Donovan didn’t say you were coming by today.”

Uh-oh. He’d forgotten. Maybe the situation needed more prepping than Andy had hoped.

Then she thought about the time limit Darrin had given her and the present she had waiting in his van. Perhaps this would be one of those occasions that baptism by fire was the appropriate route.

But first, the housekeeper. “Yes. I have some files for Blake. And something else. Could you hold the door open for me a moment?”

Without waiting for Ellen’s response, Andy handed her the stack of folders she’d been carrying and ran back to the van to retrieve her gift. With a wave, she signaled Darrin could leave and returned to the house.

Andy set the surprise on the floor and motioned for Ellen to shut the door behind them.

Ellen then raised an eyebrow skeptically at the gift. “Good luck,” she said.

“Do you think it’s a bad idea?” It was too late now to change her mind even if it was.

“Not at all. I think it’s an excellent idea.” Ellen smiled encouragingly as she handed the files back to Andy. “But I’m still saying good luck.”

“Thanks.” Andy tucked the files under her arm and headed for the stairs. Luck wasn’t what she needed. She needed a goddamn miracle.

*   *   *

Blake sat at his desk, trying to remember what it was he’d forgotten. He knew it wasn’t a conference call. His secretary would have alerted him if he’d missed something like that. His phone was charged—wasn’t that. Rolling his neck around, he decided the niggle would come to him eventually. In the meantime, it was Saturday. Maybe a long jog outdoors instead of the usual prework treadmill session?

As he rose from his desk to change into gym shorts, a noise came from downstairs. He jumped a mile. Who the hell?

Then, with a rush, he recalled Andrea. Considering he’d completely forgotten about her, the sudden thrill that rolled through his body at the realization she was here took him by surprise. Especially when he realized she’d been the cause of the niggle.

And yet nothing could possibly prepare him for the surprise that came tumbling through his door instead of the woman he expected. A waddling, clumsy, chubby little thing. It was horrifying. It was hideous.

It was a fucking puppy.

“It’s a puppy!” Drea exclaimed the obvious, bursting through behind the creature with a Cheshire-cat grin on her face, her arms stacked with files. “Isn’t he the cutest thing?”

“He’s disgusting.” Though, really, it was kind of cute, in an odd way. “Why is it sniffing me? These shoes were rather pricy and I don’t want them drooled on.”

“It’s just a little puppy slobber. It won’t hurt anything.” Drea’s face was softer than he’d ever seen it, her eyes warm. Because of a four-legged creature?

Perhaps there was benefit to having an animal around.

But then … “Is it—is it peeing? On my desk?” Blake’s moment of consideration returned to alarm. What was happening to his fortress of solitude?

Drea dropped the files on his desk and bent to pet the thing. “Oh, little sweetie! I should have let you go while we were outside. Silly me.” She peered up at Blake. “It’s only a little puppy piddle. Wipes right up.”

Puppy slobber and puppy piddle were not phrases that made the fact that animal bodily fluids were being emitted around his office any cuter. The distracting view of Drea’s cleavage that her crouched-down position gave him didn’t make the situation any better, either.

Well, maybe it helped a little.

But then she stood and reached to the hook behind him. “Can I use this?”

“Wait, that’s my suit jacket, don’t—” It was too late, as a thousand dollars’ worth of Ralph Lauren’s finest gently absorbed the puppy piddle.

“Isn’t he sweet?” Andrea was flushed, holding the furball to her chest and appearing to be utterly charmed by the filthy little thing.

“Sweet is hardly the word I would use to describe it.” Nuisance was more appropriate. A maker of messes. Perhaps, a little charming, but not, well … “What is it?”

She lifted her mouth from where she’d had it nuzzled in the pet’s body. “It’s a corgi, can’t you tell? Look at those big fox-ears! He doesn’t have a tail. Good grief, do you know nothing? Come on, pet him. He’s so soft.”

Before he had a chance to protest, she’d taken his hand and placed it on top of the ball of fluff. The soft texture of the animal was pleasant under his fingers, but nothing compared with the delightful shock that traveled down his body at the feel of Andrea’s skin on his.

Her gaze drifted up to his and the spark he found there shot an arrow of warmth to his chest.