Chapter 2
2
William
I slide my game face on as I venture through the crowd toward tonight’s target.
Rose Petal.
I was in disbelief when I heard it for the first time two days ago, but that is indeed the woman’s legal name.
Miss Petal and her crew have taken up residence in the middle of the ballroom.
They’re shaking their asses and flipping their hair in a desperate attempt to garner the attention of one of the many millionaires haunting this place tonight.
Present company excluded, of course.
My financial holdings land me squarely in the millionaire’s club, but I’m only in attendance to do right by one of my clients.
His sights are set on Miss Petal. I’m here for research purposes only.
Rose fastens her baby blues on me as I approach.
“Well, hello there, stranger,” she singsongs as her three friends turn to look at me.
The brunette in the group gives me a quick once-over before she turns away.
Ouch.
The redhead in the tight green dress standing next to Rose licks her bottom lip. That’s a sure signal that she likes what she sees. The wide grin on her face tells me she’d be willing to head up to a hotel room with me, but again, I’m not here for pleasure. Tonight, I’m all business.
The blonde standing next to Rose could be her twin, save for the fact that she’s got a few years on Miss Petal.
There’s a good chance I’m looking at Mrs. Petal. I resist the urge to ask for her first name.
“You’re the best-looking fella in here,” the older version of Rose chimes in. “Are you about to ask my daughter for a dance?”
Since there’s no music, that’s a hard no.
I smile at the woman. “No band tonight, I’m afraid.”
“This party is boring.” Rose sighs. “We can leave anytime, Mom.”
Her mother shoos that idea away with a swat of her hand in the air. “We’re staying. I want you to meet someone.”
Since the someone who hired me isn’t in attendance, I need to keep Rose out of every other man’s arms until he makes his move.
“You’re not mother and daughter, are you?”
Compliments should always be grounded in truth, and if you twist them into a question, you’ll get an extra point for creativity.
Rose and her mother both smile.
“We are,” they say in unison.
I step back, dart my hand to my chin, and study them. They’re pretty women. Each took their time getting ready tonight. I can tell by the sharp precision of their eyeliner and the diamonds threaded on gold chains around their necks.
They really do look more like sisters with a wide age gap than mother and daughter.
I play around with that sentiment in my mind before I decide not to share it.
The redhead standing next to them has now thrown her attention to one of the servers.
He’s young enough to appreciate beauty but not yet old enough to realize you don’t fuck the guests when you’re working for the best catering company in Manhattan.
I toss him a warning look, but he’s too smitten to look at anyone other than the woman who is now winking at him as she glides the tip of her tongue over her bottom lip.
That’s enough to cause the tray in his hand to sway and his hardening dick to cause a noticeable bulge in his pants.
I look away because I don’t stare when I pass the aftermath of a car accident, and this is a disaster waiting to happen.
As if on cue, the tray crashes to the floor, sending shards of glass flying in every direction.
I move in front of the Petals to shield them because I’m a gentleman and my client would give me hell for not protecting the woman he’s crushing hard on.
Speaking of hard-ons, this is what happens when a man lets his dick take the wheel. The server at the center of all the unwanted attention sprints toward the nearest exit.
People rush around us. Muted curses fill the air, and the host for the evening trudges across the ballroom to check for damage.
Mama Petal squeezes my forearm. Her eyes light up because I’m a solid guy. I work out enough times a week that I can take off my shirt in front of anyone without reservation.
“What can we possibly do to thank you for saving us?” Mrs. Petal smiles.
This isn’t how I planned on getting time alone with Rose, but I’ll take it. I’ll bring her mother along for the ride, too, because she’s a good soul.
I can tell.
“You’ll allow me the pleasure of buying you each a drink,” I say, even though it’s an open bar, so all beverages are compliments of our host.
Rose poorly fakes a yawn. “I have to be up early tomorrow.”
I didn’t dig this tux out of the back of my closet to be shut down this easily. I try a new approach. “One quick drink to discuss our shared interest in the arts.”
“I’m married.” Mrs. Petal waves her left hand in front of my face. The huge ass diamond on her ring finger is blindingly bright. “In case you were trying to score tonight, the answer is a no from me.”
“Mom!” Rose’s mouth falls open. “I don’t think he’s interested in you that way.”
I’d offer an affirmative nod to back her up, but why burst her mom’s bubble?
“Consider it a drink among new friends,” I clarify.
Rose smiles softly. “We’d like that.”
“Shall we?” Mrs. Petal extends an arm. “Let me lead the way, kind sir.”
“I’m Rose, and this is my mom, Dana,” Rose says as she takes hold of my other arm. “What’s your name?”
“William,” I offer with a smile.
“Come with us, Will.” Dana winks. “The Petal girls want to thank you with an apple martini.”
My name is William, and I’ve never had an apple martini that I liked.
I keep that to myself because all I need is thirty minutes to get to know Rose, so I have something to share with my client when I meet up with him tomorrow afternoon.
“He looks more like a bourbon guy,” Rose states as we cross the ballroom headed to the bar.
I toss her a smile that showcases the dimple on my chin. “That’s more my speed.”
“I thought so.” She leans closer and lowers her voice. “I’ve had a crush on a guy for months. You remind me of him. He loves bourbon.”
I stop mid-step and turn my attention to her. Mrs. Petal keeps on course toward the bar, calling back to say that she’ll order our drinks.
The crush is a bump in the road I didn’t see coming, but I can work around it.
Thinking fast on my feet has made me the best in the business. I didn’t become Manhattan’s premier dating coach by dropping the ball.
“A crush?” The corners of my lips lift in a grin. “Is he here tonight?”
Rose huffs out a laugh. “I wish. This is not his scene.”
I need to cast out another lure if I’m going to catch this guy’s name. “What’s his scene?”
“Asger loves antique shopping and mini-golf.”
Slam fucking dunk.
My job just became a hell of a lot easier since the man who hired me to help him win the attention of Rose Petal is Asger Hassing.
After meeting at a bowling tournament, they discovered they work for the same corporation headquartered in Queens.
Technically, Asger owns the business, and Rose runs account receivables, but by this time next year, there should be a ring on the finger of the lovely Miss Petal and a permanent smile on her husband-to-be’s face.
“You’re so much like him,” Rose blurts out.
I want to ask how she came to that conclusion since we’re far from twins. Asger’s got a full decade on me, and he’s sporting an impressive baldhead and beard look. Just last night at dinner, he complained that he had gained fifteen pounds around his midsection since he celebrated his forty-second birthday eight months ago.
I pat my rock-hard abs before running my hand through my thick brown hair. “Asger’s a lucky guy.”
“He doesn’t know I like him.” Her cheeks blush pink. “I get tongue-tied whenever I’m around him.”
“My money is on the fact that Asger feels the same way about you.”
Rose doubles over in laughter. “Yeah, right. That would be my dream come true.”
Tomorrow, I’ll make this woman’s dream come true when I tell Asger to make a move. Tonight, I’ll enjoy a glass of bourbon before I head home.