Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Grayson
My meeting ran longer than I thought it would. I stopped by Harper’s office and found her sitting behind her desk, staring at her computer.
“Well? How are things going so far?”
“Great.” She smiled. “How was your meeting?”
“It was long but good. That’s why I stopped by.” I glanced at my watch. “I’m starving. Have you had lunch yet?”
“No. Not yet.”
“Then grab your purse, and let’s go.” I grinned. “You need to feed that baby. We can talk business over lunch. There’s a diner a couple of blocks over that have the best Rueben sandwiches.”
“Sounds good.” A smile crossed her lips as she grabbed her purse, and we headed out of the office.
We were seated at a booth and looking over the menu when Harley, the perky redhead, approached the table with a flirty grin across her lips.
“Hey, Grayson. Long time no see.”
“Hello, Harley. My secretary has been picking up my orders. Busy times at the office.”
“It’s good to see you. Still looking as handsome as ever. What can I start you off with?”
“Harper?”
“Just water for me.”
“And for meas well. I think we’re ready to order. I’ll have the Rueben sandwich.”
“And I’ll have the same.” She smiled as she closed the menu and handed it to her.
“Two Reubens coming right up.”
Harper stared at me the moment Harley walked away.
“Looking as handsome as ever?”
“She loves to flirt. What can I say?” I smirked. “There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
“Okay. I’m listening.”
“The meeting I was in earlier had to do with a piece of property I purchased. We’re bulldozing the building that’s already there and building brand-new high-rise apartments. I want you to design the building.”
“Me?” She pointed to herself. “You want me to design the building?”
“Yes. Now I know graphic design is your thing, but from what I saw in the back of your portfolio, you’re a damn good architect too.”
“You’re not giving me a choice, are you?”
“No.”
“Then I’m excited to get started on my first project.” She smiled.
Her smile was infectious, and one couldn’t help but smile back at her. I noticed it in the office, and I noticed it when we were out.
Harley walked over with two plates in her hand.
“For you,” she spoke as she set down Harper’s plate first. “And for you, handsome.” She winked at me.
“Thanks, doll.” I flirtatiously smiled at her.
Harper picked up her sandwich and bit into it.
“Oh, my God! You weren’t kidding. This is amazing.”
“I told you. One of the best Reubens in New York City.”
I sat across from her and watched as she enjoyed her sandwich. She had a glow—an inner peace that I could feel radiating from her. The more time I spent with her, the more I wanted to fuck her. To feel the warmth of her all over my cock. I could only imagine what it felt like to be buried deep inside her. Skin to skin. No condom was needed since she was already pregnant. No worries, no care. She had a piece of sauerkraut hanging from the corner of her mouth, so I reached across the table and softly wiped it away with my thumb.
“You had a piece of sauerkraut.”
She picked up her napkin and wiped her mouth as her pink-colored cheeks became more prominent. She was blushing, and it was cute.
“Thank you.”
I smiled at her as I picked up my sandwich and finished it.
As soon as we arrived back at the office, my phone rang. Pulling it from my pocket, I saw my grandfather was calling.
“Grandfather, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I’m leaving for Santa Barbara tomorrow, and I was hoping we could have dinner tonight.”
“Of course. Where?”
“Daniel at seven o’clock.”
“I’ll be there.”
Ending the call, I sighed as I placed my phone in my pocket. Tonight would be the perfect night to tell him about Harper so he could get that ridiculous notion out of his head about handing the company over to Alfie.
I stayed at the office until it was time to leave to meet my grandfather. Climbing out of the Escalade, I told Damon I’d catch a cab home and that he could leave for the night.
“Enjoy your dinner, Grayson.”
“With any luck, it’ll be the best dinner of my life.” I grinned as I shut the door.
Walking inside the restaurant, the hostess walked me over to where my grandfather sat.
“Hello, Grayson.” He nodded.
“Hello, Grandfather.”
“Good evening, Mr. Rhodes. May I start you off with a drink?”
“Yes, Carlos, I’ll have a bourbon. Make it a double.”
“Long day?” my grandfather asked as he sipped his scotch.
“It was. The deal is closed on the Park Avenue property. We bulldoze the building next week.”
“Excellent. And the plans for the new high-rise are ready?”
“Not yet. But they are being worked on.”
“I haven’t been hearing anything about you lately. Have you been behaving yourself?”
“Actually,” I smiled as Carlos set down my drink, “I’ve met someone.”
He sat there and steadily narrowed his eye at me like he always did when he needed to decide if he believed me or not.
“Interesting and quite quickly, may I add. Remember what I told you, Grayson, about trying to pull a fast one on me.”
“I can promise you that I didn’t meet her because of what you told me. I actually met her standing in line at Starbucks. Her name is Harper Holland. We got to talking, and it just so happened that she was looking for a job. She’s a graphic design artist, and we needed one.”
“I don’t recall needing another graphic artist.” His brow furrowed.
“We did. I brought her in for an interview, and not only is she good with graphic arts, but she’s also a phenomenal architectural designer. You should have seen the buildings and houses she designed.”
“I see. Are the two of you seeing each other?”
“I’ve taken her to lunch and dinner, and I’m hoping to see a lot more of her. There’s something about her, Grandfather.” I smiled. “I can’t explain it. I feel different when I’m around her, and I want to know everything about her.”
“I want to meet the woman who has captured my grandson’s heart.” He finished off his drink.
“You will as soon as you get back from your trip. We’ll go to dinner.
“You do know, Grayson, that it’s not wise to mix business with pleasure.”
“I know, but this can’t be helped. I really like this woman. For the first time in a long time, I want to spend my time with someone.”
“Does this Harper feel the same way about you?”
“I think she does.” The corners of my mouth curved upward. “She’s the one I’m having design the high rise.”
“Why? We have a company who designs our buildings.”
“Why not? She’s good, and we can save time and money by doing it in-house.”
Carlos walked over, and before he could set my grandfather’s drink down, he took it from his hand and held it up.
“Here’s to the start of a beautiful relationship.” He winked, and I tipped my glass to his.
Once dinner was over, and we said our goodbyes, I climbed into the back of a cab and headed home. Convincing my grandfather thatI was interested in Harper was easy. But then again, I was always good at convincing him of things. Once I had Harper Holland in the palm of my hand, things would be a lot easier. I wouldn’t have to try so hard or feel the need to see her all the time. But for now, I needed to do everything I could to get her to fall in love with me.