Chapter 18
VAL
“Ms. Connor, I like what I’m hearing. I’ve been keeping an eye on your company for a few years, and I believe your products are a great fit for our clients.” Davis spoke in a low, even voice.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
I smiled politely, even though I was doing an inner dance.
I’d worked for years to get his attention.
He was the founder of one of the biggest perfume-only chains in California that sold high-end fragrances.
I hadn’t believed my luck when he’d called to set up a meeting.
I’d met him for lunch at one of my favorite restaurants near my office, and I couldn’t help sweeping my gaze across the terrace, hoping to catch a glimpse of Carter.
He said he’d eat here with a group. I’d met my lawyer on Tuesday evening last week, so we hadn’t gone out on a date yet…
but we had tentative plans for tonight. And we’d had lunch together every day for the past week and a half.
“It’s mid-November, so we won’t catch the Christmas rush, but in the new year we could start by featuring one of your trademark lines like the Dreamsetter, and after we see how it performs, we could potentially talk about an exclusive line like the one you have for Sephora.”
“You know about it?”
“A man like me doesn’t come to a meeting without doing his due diligence. You have a fresh perspective. Not corporate, nor artisan. You’re somewhere in between, and that’s what we’re looking for.”
“You did feature a few artisan lines though.”
“We tried that route, even though I was against it from the beginning. Artisans have the craft in mind first and foremost, not the consumer, and that is reflected in sales. But you, Ms. Connor, have found your niche and you did very well for yourself.”
Davis smiled shrewdly from under his bushy, pearl-white mustache. Being complimented by a business legend like him was high praise indeed.
“Would you like to go by my office afterward? I could show you some of our current top-secret projects.”
“Thank you for the offer, but I’m heading straight to LAX from here. However, I’m going to put you in touch with my grandson. He handles the field work, so to speak. I’m sure you two will hit it off.”
“Sure.”
We chitchatted about the latest trends in fragrances, which were likely to last and which would be summer fads. We were halfway through our lunch when I saw Carter walk in with a large group. He winked at me before choosing to sit in a chair from which he had a direct view of me.
I winked back as discreetly as possible, then focused on Davis, continuing our conversation.
I felt Carter looking at me, though. Out of the corner of my eye, I spied on him from time to time, and every single time, he met my gaze.
Did the man not care that the others at the table could notice?
Evidently not. I felt very flattered by that…
but all those scorching-hot gazes he was sending me were messing with my focus.
I trained my attention on my future business partner, who was now telling me all about his grandson and how he’d groomed him to take over when he retired because his son had no interest.
I was doing so well, concentrating on our small talk, ignoring those scorching-hot looks a certain someone was sending me. But then my phone pinged with an incoming message. I had it on the table, out of habit, and saw the message.
Carter: I’ve missed you.
It was bad form to answer, so I tried to ignore it, but something fluttered in my belly. A second message arrived a few minutes later.
Carter: You’re a knockout in those clothes. I can’t wait to take them off you.
The flutters migrated south. I pressed my thighs together on reflex. Oh, Carter. Where were his manners now? Seducing me when I was in the middle of a business lunch.
I discreetly pushed the phone away and even more discreetly sent Carter a glare across the restaurant. The joke was on me when a few minutes later, the screen of my phone lit up with another message. I couldn’t see it, and I was dying to know what it said.
I clasped my hands together to keep myself from reaching the phone. When lunch ended, Davis asked for the bill.
“It’s my treat,” I said.
“Oh, no, no, no. When an old man like me goes out with a young lady, he never lets her pay.”
“I insist. I was the one who wanted to meet at a restaurant.”
He chuckled. “Fiery. I can’t wait for my grandson to meet you. He’s quite a fiery personality himself.”
I squinted my eyes. Was he trying to set us up?
“You’d make a great pair.”
Oh my God, he was. I laughed at his brazen attitude but wasn’t surprised. Davis was known for doing things his way and not caring one bit about business protocol.
We shook hands as we stood up, and I glanced at the screen of my smartphone before slipping it into my purse.
Carter: Meet me inside the restaurant after you’re done.
I lifted my gaze just enough to see Carter rise from his chair and leave the terrace, heading into the building.
After bidding Davis goodbye, I followed Carter inside. My heart was thundering in my chest, as if I was about to do something illicit.
Even though it was pleasantly cool inside, the restaurant was empty, since all patrons had chosen to eat on the terrace.
I felt Carter’s presence before even noticing him.
I knew he was watching me before I turned on my heels and spotted him in the far corner, in a nook of sorts.
He smiled at me, and I swear, I felt a zing everywhere on my skin.
I headed right to him, attempting to sound stern.
“You can’t do this.”
“What?”
“Distract me like this during business hours.”
He lifted one corner of his mouth. “You were having lunch.”
“A business lunch.”
“Come here.”
Before I could even reply, he tugged me by the waist, bringing me close. His mouth came down on mine the next second. He licked my lower lip before biting it slightly. I felt the touch straight on the tips of my breasts and pressed myself against him as he deepened the kiss.
“We’re in a restaurant,” I whispered afterward. “Did you forget your manners?”
“You make me forget even my damn name, Val.” He spoke against my lips, twirling strands of hair between his fingers. “I wasn’t joking when I said I missed you.”
“So that was why you were sending me hot texts during my business meal? Because you missed me?”
“Wasn’t the only reason. Wanted to remind you that I wasn’t far away, in case old Davis was too charming.”
“Don’t worry. He was just complimenting my business skills.”
“You’re going to work together?”
“Looks like it. He was even talking about the possibility of an exclusive line.”
“That’s great, babe. I’m happy for you. Will you be working directly with him?”
“No, he mentioned that he’s grooming his grandson to take over.” On a chuckle, I added, “I think he’s hoping we’ll hit it off. Said we’d make a good pair.”
Carter’s smile fell. His jaw tightened, and he looked at me strangely, then cast his gaze away.
“And what about you?” he asked eventually.
I was confused.
“What about me?”
“Are you hoping you’ll hit it off?”
“Well, I certainly hope he’ll be as impressed as his grandfather.”
“I didn’t mean in the boardroom.”
I furrowed my brow. “I don’t understand.”
“Do you want to go out with him?” I’d never heard him sound so strained.
“What? No, of course not.” My stomach knotted, wondering where exactly this conversation was going. We hadn’t explicitly set boundaries, but I had to know exactly where we stood… I couldn’t make the mistake of assuming again.
He cupped one side of my face, tilting my head back, running his thumb over my lower lip. “I don’t want you to go out with anyone else.”
I let out a breath of relief. “I won’t. I ditched the guy who was supposed to be my date for the charity event because I discovered he hadn’t wanted us to be exclusive but didn’t bother to tell me.”
“I’m sorry.” Carter pulled back a notch, taking my hands in his and kissing each cheek before looking back up at me.
He smiled lazily, feathering his lips over mine. “But I want to make one thing clear, Val. You’re the only woman I even think about.”
I didn’t think he knew how much those words meant to me. They made me feel valued and important, not like an afterthought. He smiled, bringing our interlaced hands up to the sides of my face. Next thing I knew, he kissed me so heatedly that I nearly climbed him right there in the restaurant.
“Carter, what if someone comes in?” I admonished.
“They’ll look the other way.”
“Isn’t your party waiting for you outside?”
“I don’t really give a fuck.” He spoke in a raw voice. “Blow off the rest of your day.”
“I can’t. You can’t.”
“Try me.” He rained kisses on my cheek, moving to my ear. “I want to prove to you how much you’ve been on my mind. To show you exactly what I want to do to you.”
Oh, God. I was so close to saying yes and forgetting everything on my to-do list. But I somehow managed to gather my wits.
“Nope. You, sir, have distracted me enough today. Go back to work and stop corrupting me.”
“I’ll see you at six, then.”
We hadn’t made any plans beyond catching up, so I tilted my head, deciding to play with him. “I have a meeting starting late in the afternoon, so I need a rain check.”
“Are you fucking with me?” The words came out on a growl, which made me giggle. “You are.”
“Yes, yes, I am. About the rain check. I do have a meeting late in the afternoon.”
He trained that scorching hot gaze on me.
“Don’t let it go overtime too much, or I’m going to barge in and throw you over my shoulder before it’s over.”