April 1st, Chicago

"YOU DARE ME to what?" Jack Hunter downed a finger of twenty-year-old scotch in one gulp, then refilled his glass.

"How much trouble can it be to romance a beautiful green-eyed woman for ten days?"

"You're biased because you grew up with her."

"Am not." Adam denied the obvious truth and considered how best to tempt his partner. "She's gorgeous. Face like an angel. Long legs. Tiny waist. Built."

"I don't care if she's Venus De Milo, Marilyn Monroe and Helen of Troy all rolled into one. I wouldn't pretend to be Clare Blessings' fiancé if God himself asked me."

"Be reasonable, Jack. We owe Clare Blessings big time." Adam closed the study door on the celebration in the next room.

"Since when is it reasonable to ask a stranger to act as your faux-fiancé?"

"She arranged that start-up loan for us, through her grandmother. Without Clare's help, we never would have gotten AFD Inc. off the ground."

"Debt or no debt, the entire idea is ludicrous. When the woman involved is Clare Blessings, the idea is insane."

"Don't be so judgmental. You've never even met Clare. How you managed to avoid her annual visits to Chicago, I don't know."

"Some people work for a living." Jack stalked the room. "And, I don't have to meet her. From all the horror stories you've told me, I know more than I want to know about 'Devil May Clare.'

"You're being unfair, Jack." Adam relaxed onto the leather couch, sipping from his glass.

"Am I? Tell me, who convinced you to jump from that oak tree in your father's front yard when you were ten?"

"Clare."

"And haven't you been afraid of heights ever since?"

Adam had the grace to look embarrassed. "I solved that problem when I climbed that mountain for your 1996 challenge."

"Isn't Blessings the person who hot-wired her family's Jag when she was sixteen?"

"She wanted to drive it, and her grandmother wouldn't let her."

"If I recall the story correctly," Jack countered, "the Jag was totaled in an impromptu drag race, and Clare spent several weeks in the hospital."

"So she's a bit of a rebel." Adam swung his feet to the floor, braced one elbow on each knee, and cradled his drink in his hands. "You would be too, if you had Grannie 'the General' Blessings for a guardian."

Jack snorted.

"Of course, you might not understand that anymore. In the year since you won the CEO's chair from me, you've become obsessed with work."

Jack dropped into a chair opposite Adam, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You can't fault me for being thorough."

Adam raised an eyebrow.

Jack glanced away. "I suppose you're trying to tell me that I've been working too hard again."

"Since you figured it out, I won't tell you."

"Dammit Adam, don't ask this of me."

"I'm not asking. Clare took care of that. I'm making this my official birthday challenge."

"Now that's really out of line. You can't possibly want to bet the CEO's chair of AFD Inc. on something this ridiculous."

Adam's eyes gleamed. "Oh, yes I can. I need to pay you back for that dirty trick you pulled as a challenge last year."

"I'll remind you that my so-called dirty trick led you to the woman you love and married."

"Yeah, but that's not what you intended. You intended to make my life hell. Until Rue and I worked things out, you succeeded. Well buddy, it's time I returned the favor. As the minority partner, I can name any dare I want, and you have to take it."

Jack groaned, rolling his eyes toward the ceiling.

Adam smiled. His friend was cornered. "You can always turn the challenge down and hand over the CEO's chair right now."

"I won't do that, and you know it. I have to accept the challenge. It's in our corporate agreement. But why does the woman have to be Clare Blessings?" Jack slumped and let his chin fall to his chest, then frowned up at Adam. "She's a walking danger zone, for crying out loud."

"You exaggerate the case."

"Do I? You told me yourself, she scuba dives, sky dives, spelunks, has won two national skateboard championships, qualified for the national roller hockey team, and is expert in four different weapons."

Adam winced as the list of Clare's accomplishments piled up.

Jack continued to rant. "If she's anything like the physical description you gave me, she gives new meaning to the term bombshell."

Adam thumped his glass onto the coffee table. "What's the matter, Jack? Afraid she's too much woman for you? Afraid to take a little risk?"

"I can handle a risk with the best of them, and you know that what I feel for women isn't fear."

"So what's the problem with pretending to be Clare's fiancé for ten days?"

"She knows I'm just pretending?"

"Clare assures me that she has no desire for a permanent relationship."

"Then why is she doing this?"

"Clare was rather vague about that. She's very proud and doesn't like to share her troubles. But she implied that she wants to make peace with her grandmother and believes that an engagement, even a short one, might help."

"You're kidding."

"No, but does why really matter? It's only for ten days, and you can use the time off."

Jack gave Adam a long look, then shrugged. "Okay, I'll do it."

Adam sprang from the sofa and clapped Jack on the back. "Thanks, buddy. You won't regret it. I promise you."

"I have a feeling I'll very much regret it. Just tell me one thing."

"Sure."

"Why me?"

"For four reasons. First of all, Clare asked for our help and we owe her. Second, since I'm married, I can't do it. Third, I trust you not to hurt Clare. And last, you've been working too hard. You haven't had a vacation in two years. You need to relax and have fun, and no one knows how to do that better than Clare Blessings."

"If you say so." Jack tossed back the rest of his drink. "When do I leave?"

"Tomorrow."

Jack leapt from his chair. "Tomorrow! But--"

"No buts. I had your secretary clear your calendar. I'm not giving you a chance to create some sort of business emergency. Besides, Clare's got a deadline to meet."

"Exactly what does that mean?"

"I think I'll let her explain."

"And when will she do that?"

"If I know Clare, she'll choose her own time. You're meeting her at a hotel on a small island in the Caribbean, where Grannie's hosting the Blessings family reunion."

"Great." Jack thrust his hands through his carefully combed black hair. "Ten days of giddy, closely related strangers. I'm surprised that her grandmother could get the ClareDevil to take on something so tame."

"I'm sure she has her reasons." Adam rose. "C'mon, let's rejoin the party. I want to find my wife."

Copyright © 2001 by Sue Charnley