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talk with her mother. Her mother had told her something she should have been toldyears ago. A severe case of childhood mumps had left Netherland sterile. After telling Erik about it, he had begun acting as if her inability to conceive were some sort of disease. Soon after that, their storybook marriage began falling apart and eventually ended in a divorce. That had been nearly eleven years ago. Over the years she’d heard that Erik had remarried and had four kids, which hadn’t surprised her. He’d always talked about having a large family someday.
    Netherland was happy for him. Since then she had accepted the fact that she would never be anyone’s mom unless she adopted a child. She was okay with that and hoped whatever man she eventually married would be okay with it, as well.
    “Are you going to warn Ashton about Angela, Nettie?”
    Netherland lifted a chin. “Why should I?”
    “Because once she hears he’s in the auction she’ll save every penny she can get her hands on for him. What woman wouldn’t?”
    “I won’t.”
    “Only because of your hang-up about military men.”
    Netherland looked at her friend. “What about you, Rainey? Are you going to bid for him?”
    Rainey gave Netherland a smirky smile. “It would serve you right if I did. But at the moment, I have my sight on someone else.”
    “Who?”
    “The elusive Alexander Maxwell.”

Chapter 4
    A shton’s gaze drifted around the restaurant for the umpteenth time since arriving more than an hour ago. He had yet to see Netherland. He had eaten his meal with his senses on full alert, but she hadn’t made an appearance. He couldn’t help wondering if perhaps she was avoiding him.
    “Is there anything else I can get you, sir?” asked a hostess who came up to the table.
    He smiled and leaned back in his chair studying her name tag. “What you can do, Rainey, is tell me where Netherland is tonight.”
    The woman glanced around the room before bringing her gaze back to his face. “She must be in her office working.”
    Ashton nodded. “And where’s her office?”
    The woman seemed reluctant to tell him at first, then studied him intently before finally inclining her head toward an archway. “At the very end of that hall.”
    “Thanks.”
    “Don’t mention it.”
    Smiling, Ashton grabbed the wine bottle off the table in front of him, along with two wineglasses. Standing, he headed in the direction the hostess had given him. He knocked when he came to the closed door.
    “Yes, come in.”
    And there she was, sitting behind her desk looking so beautiful it nearly took his breath away. He could tell from her expression that he was the last person she had expected to see. Her surprise quickly transformed into a frown.
    “Ashton? What are you doing here?”
    He came into the room and closed the door behind him, locking it. He leaned against it for a moment before slowly walking over to her desk, his gaze not once leaving hers. Her brow lifted when he placed the bottle of wine and the two wineglasses in front of her.
    “Since you won’t go out with me, Netherland, I’ve decided to stay in with you.”
    Netherland pulled in a long, slow breath. The room had become silent. For some reason she could no longer hear the music that had been playing moments ago. Nor could she hear the clinking of thedishes and silverware from the kitchen that was located on the other side of the wall.
    She took another deep breath, telling herself firmly that she would not let Ashton get to her. Too late, her body silently chanted. He’s already gotten next to you. Raw, primitive heat coursed through her body as he continued to look at her, making her heart pound and her blood race. And then, as if on cue, there was that heat settling between her legs again, this time making her thighs tremble.
    To gain some semblance of control, she forced her gaze from his to focus on the wine bottle and wineglasses in front of her. “I have too much work to do, Ashton.”
    “Do