As the tires of Gage Branson's car began to roll through Dallas, Arwen began to howl along with the radio. Gage wondered if it was a good idea to bring the dog on that business trip.

Of course, it wasn't a normal business trip, unless you counted showing up at your ex-girlfriend's office unannounced and uninvited.

And Arwen wasn't a normal dog. She was his best friend, and the one time he'd left her at a dog hotel, he'd refused to speak to her for a week.

Arwen and Gage shared a love of the open road, and Gage didn't mind the animal's company as he headed to Dallas to collect a long-standing debt from the CEO of Fyra Cosmetics.

GB Skin for Men, the company that had dramatically increased its profits thanks to him, was popular with men who spent time outdoors, including professional athletes, hikers, and even lumberjacks.

Gage had spent millions designing a new wound-healing product. He'd launched it the previous month and cornered the market. But now his ex-girlfriend's company was trying to steal his success with its own product.

I wasn't going to allow it.

Arwen's howls had become unbearable.

–Shut up, Arwen!

The dog tilted her head and looked at him.
"Well, whatever," Gage muttered and turned off the radio.

He continued driving until he reached the parking lot of Fyra Cosmetics headquarters.

"Very nice," he thought.

Before leaving Austin, I had searched the internet for photos of the building Cassandra Claremont had built with her partners, who were also her friends, but the internet didn't do justice to the modern, five-story steel and glass structure whose logo dominated the skyline.

"Stay here and don't play with the gearshift," he told Arwen. Cass had done very well for him, having been her mentor for eight months. She owed him a debt. And he would make her acknowledge it by reminding her of the time when she had no idea how to navigate the

shark-infested waters of the cosmetics industry.

If she was lucky, Cass would be curious enough to greet him right away. Gage hadn't wanted to warn her so as not to eliminate the element of surprise, since he was there to get hold of Cass's secret formula.

It was so secret that he probably wouldn't have known about it, since it hadn't been released yet. His sources had informed him that Fyra Laboratories had developed a miracle formula with healing properties to eliminate wrinkles and scars. They had insisted it was better than his own. And he wanted it.

And he wasn't going to ask her over the phone. They hadn't spoken in almost nine years. "Gage Branson, to what do I owe the honor of your visit?"

The hoarse female voice reached him from behind. He turned and froze.

–Cass?

–I think so. Or did I leave my face in the other wallet?

"No, you have it where I left it." It was beautiful and that of a fantastic woman. That elegant woman with stiletto heels, sunglasses, and an attractive

The woman in a suit didn't resemble the Cassandra of his memories. She didn't even have the same voice, although her demeanor was familiar. Her self-confidence was a large part of her appeal.

It was obvious he hadn't changed much since college, since I had recognized him from behind.

–Have you moved into the field of dog transport?
–You mean Arwen? No. She keeps me company while I'm driving. I came from Austin to see you. Surprise!