A Moment of Bliss by Heather McGovern Page B

hands, a couple of times, and knew their soft strength. He tried not to wonder about them beyond a handshake.
    â€œI like their music, but I wouldn’t say I’m a big fan of theirs either,” she said. “It’s just as well. That way we don’t have any distractions from planning.”
    No distractions. Right. “So, security for the weekend of the event. What else can we help with up front?”
    Madison wiggled her foot again. “Off the top of my head? Things I need to organize ASAP include a florist and a photographer. I have a photographer who can drive in for the event, so let’s pray he’s available. Jack said they have the music covered because two-thirds of the guests are musicians. That covers the most urgent items on the list. For everything else, I’ll need my portfolio, laptop, and something in my stomach.”
    He wanted to kick himself. He was acting like the mule-headed taskmaster his family accused him of being. Madison was only halfway into her coffee, it wasn’t even 8:00 a.m., and here he was, already bombarding her with business.
    Roark shook off his faux pas. “Of course. Work can wait until after breakfast.”
    â€œThe restaurant serves until ten,” Sophie suggested. “You guys could eat in there and go over anything else. I have no doubt Roark will keep us informed of our to-dos.”
    He waited for Madison’s answer. She looked at him, indecision shifting through her gaze until finally, “Breakfast sounds good. I need to grab my laptop and portfolio from upstairs.”
    â€œThen breakfast it is. I’ll take that.” He took the empty mug from her hands, their fingers brushing in a brief caress that warmed him faster than any coffee, and had Madison glancing away. Roark didn’t realize he’d stood as well, watching her go, until he turned to sit back down and found Devlin and Sophie grinning.
    â€œWhat?”
    They looked at each other.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI didn’t say a thing. Matter of fact, I have to make a phone call, so . . .” Dev got up to refill his cup before making a quick exit.
    As soon as he left, Roark stared holes into his sister. “What was that look about?”
    She smiled sweetly, unfolding her legs from beneath her. “Nothing.”
    â€œYou’re a bad liar. Always have been.”
    â€œWell, if you insist, Dev and I were silently confirming our shared thought.”
    As they so often did. His brother and sister could have entire conversations without ever saying a word. Trevor too. He was the only one left out of the Bradley brain-wave loop.
    â€œYou and Madison.” Sophie grinned. “There’s sparkizzle.”
    â€œThere’s what?”
    â€œYou know, spark and sizzle. Sparkizzle. When y’all look at each other. Then you start talking to each other, and only each other, like Dev and I aren’t sitting right there across from you.”
    â€œWe didn’t . . .” Roark let the sentence go. They’d done exactly that.
    â€œUh-huh. Sparkizzle.” Sophie got up and smacked him good-naturedly on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. We also silently confirmed that we think it’s a good thing.”
    No, not a good thing. He wasn’t going to deny his attraction, but the fact remained, he didn’t have time for any sparkizzle and he sure as hell didn’t need to be sparking and sizzling with their most valuable business partner to date.
    â€œThere’s no sparkizzle.” Roark stood, tucking his phone away. “We see eye to eye on how to handle business. That’s all. We’re both organized and . . .”
    â€œFrustrated overachievers? You know what they say is good for frustration?”
    â€œI’m walking away now.” He turned to do exactly that.
    â€œOkay, but I have to meet with the head of housekeeping, so you two can talk business over breakfast alone.”
    Roark