“Your stop is the next one,” he offered, and she nodded. “So what’s your name?”

“Regan.”

“You’re native to Tennessee, aren’t you? Your accent gives you away.”

“I was born in Memphis. I spent most of my life in Nashville though. I did a stint in Los Angeles and then lived in Maui for the last two years. I missed home though.” The more she tried to suppress her nerves, the more she talked.

“Los Angeles? Tried your hand at Hollywood?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I worked for a prominent lawyer who had some big-name clients. But I wasn’t seeking fame and fortune.”

“Well, Ms. Executive Assistant, I’m glad you came home or this would have been a very boring ride this morning.” The bus stopped, and most of the people began to move to the door. “This is your stop.”

She finally stood and turned to exit with the crowd without looking back.

The man caught her hand and held it. Her very core shook, and her first instinct was to rip her hand away. But she needed to move on and not be so damn afraid of every man that gave her attention.

“Would you have lunch with me?” he asked.

“What?” She looked back at people climbing on. If she didn’t exit the bus now, she’d miss her stop. “Oh, I don’t think so.”

“Meet me at the hot dog stand at noon just on the north corner of your building,” he said with a wink and a nod.

She couldn’t think to speak. She nodded as she hurried off the bus.

The rain had subsided for the time being. Regan had almost dried off as she sat on the handsome man’s lap. The smell of his cologne lingered on her coat. She closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of him.

She stopped as she neared the door and turned to see the bus drive away. He was watching her from the window, and he waved. It occurred to her she didn’t even know his name.

She looked down at her hands. They were shaking.

Get over it. Move on. Not everyone wanted to hurt her. Not every man was evil with ulterior motives. No, some were just nice men who wanted to take you to lunch.

Well, it wasn’t like he’d asked her to stay at a hotel. He’d offered to buy her a hot dog. Really, it was harmless. And he’d assume she was too busy with her new job if she just didn’t show up.

But she wanted to.

Well, there was no better time to move on with her life, and no better way to get to know the man on whose lap you’d ridden to work than over a hot dog.

A tingle of hope shot through her. She needed to start taking back her life the way she wanted it. No more mistakes. No more regrets. It was her life now, and she was going to enjoy it.

Mary Ellen Rothchild, the very pregnant assistant to Zachary Benson, was waiting for her as she exited the elevator. “There you are. I was worried.” She held her hand out.

Regan took her hand, giving it a firm, professional shake. “Car trouble. I had to ride the bus.”

Mary Ellen crinkled her nose and let out a grunt. “I hate the bus.”

“So do I,” she confessed as Mary Ellen led her through the office toward the break room. “But this morning wasn’t too bad. It was wet and crowded, and there was this really mean old lady.” She laughed, and Mary Ellen glanced at her. “When the bus jerked, I fell and landed right in some guy’s lap.”

“How did that go?” She raised her eyebrows playfully.

“I have a lunch date with him at noon on the corner.” Well there, she’d committed to it. And suddenly her stomach gurgled and she knew it wasn’t as much from hunger as it was from excitement for the chance to have a normal moment with a man. A stranger.

Mary Ellen showed her to her locker, where she could hang her coat and secure her purse. She introduced her to a few people and headed to her new office. Her new corner of the world. Her new beginning.

“This is your office,” Mary Ellen said as they entered a small office away from the cubicles in the main area. “Mr. Benson’s office is right through here.” Mary Ellen walked into the other, larger office behind hers. “This way he can still have you near, but be shut off from the rest of the floor. His private conference room is right through there.” She pointed to the adjoining room. Both had full walls of windows that looked out over the river that ran through downtown Nashville.

Mary Ellen walked her into Zachary’s office. “He likes coffee in his own pot.” She filled the pot with water and poured it into the coffeemaker on the counter. “He likes it strong. So four scoops and set it to strong brew.” She stuck out her tongue as if she could taste it. “Later in the day check on it. The man cannot remember to turn it off.” She started the machine.

She dusted off her hands and looked around the office. “His bathroom is private. This is important. He often showers here and sleeps on the Murphy bed.” She pointed to a set of doors in the wall. “That is a secret only you and I know, but you have to know it so you don’t startle him or yourself. He never brings anyone up with him, so no worries there,” she added with a wink. “He does have a private entry from the parking garage, so you always, always, always want to knock before entering. Again not to startle him or you.”

A man who would be forgetful of his coffee and sleep and shower in his office could not have much of a social life. Perhaps Mary Ellen was his only source of companionship. He would be in short supply of that from Regan. Mary Ellen did say he was a hottie, but she just couldn’t picture it. “From the sounds of it, having him scare you has been a problem in the past?”

“When he first took over this office, I’ll admit I walked in a few times and screamed out loud. Even last week I thought I’d go into labor, he’d startled me so badly.” She snorted a laugh and rubbed her oversized stomach. “I’ve never caught him in an awkward situation, but to think you’re alone and to find him sitting on the couch is a bit of a shock.”

“I can imagine.” The image of a balding, middle-aged man sprawled out on the couch with his feet up on the coffee table filled her head.

Mary Ellen walked toward his imposing cherrywood desk situated in the corner of the room. “He likes his newspapers on his desk when he comes in. Wall Street Journal on top, USA Today under that, and then the local papers. He’ll want twenty minutes after he comes in to get settled, and then you can come in with any messages or business for him to attend to.”