Chapter Ten
Oakley hadn’t quite believed it could be true when someone said, “She took my breath away.” That was until he’d seen Rachel walk out wearing that red dress and found himself unable to breathe, much less find a way to make a coherent sentence.
She’d been the sexiest, most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
The color flattered her skin tone. The style enhanced her figure rather than exposing it, creating a mystery he wanted to unravel and explore.
When he’d accidentally grazed her neck as he’d zipped her dress, it was like he’d touched an electric current—the zing had been so palpable.
He didn’t care what amount she’d put on the company credit card—every penny had been worth it, seeing her in that gorgeous dress. She made his heart race.
The elevator doors opened and he stepped out onto the ballroom level.
Guests had started arriving at the cocktail party, which was an invite-only event that officially kicked off the weekend.
He greeted the Fortune Rodeo Corporation employees staffing the check-in table before entering the ballroom.
He spotted Rachel immediately. She was hard to miss—a bright speck of red in a sea of mostly black or dark blue.
She was standing with Hannah, his Vice President of Public Relations and social media dynamo.
Both turned in his direction as he approached.
“Looks like it’s going to be another successful event,” Hannah murmured. “I was telling Rachel that we’ve sold out tickets for Friday and Saturday nights. I’ve had celebrity assistants calling me all day to secure a spot. Don’t worry, I found them some.”
“That’s fantastic.” Oakley watched as more people flowed into the ballroom.
Owing to the nature of the competitions starting the next morning, most of the rodeo cowboys in attendance wouldn’t drink much alcohol tonight.
The bar tab would be far higher for Sunday’s awards dinner and gala when the competitors let loose.
Tonight was mostly about mingling—agents, managers, judges, participants, stock owners and wranglers.
The event would end with the drawing of the names matching each contestant to his first round animal.
The event was mostly ceremonial, as the rest of the weekend’s draws would be sent out electronically.
“I’m going to steal Rachel away if you don’t mind,” Oakley told Hannah.
“I want her to meet some of the other VPs and managers.” He guided his admin toward a group of people.
He found himself impressed as the introductions went on.
Rachel knew how to handle herself in social situations, and she was excellent at making small talk, including drawing even the most introverted into warm and meaningful conversations.
Unable to stay by her side the entire night, he remained aware of where she was throughout.
The cocktail party had heavy appetizers that could serve as dinner, but after the draw, most guests would leave to find something more substantial before retiring for the night.
On Friday and Saturday, the public part of the showcase started at noon and went late into the evening, or until the last event ended. Sunday featured the final rounds.
“How’s it going?” Oakley asked when he finally got another chance to speak with Rachel. Her enthusiasm was contagious.
“I’ve learned so much. I have a much better appreciation for all you do and how your company works. Everyone is so nice, and I’ve enjoyed meeting them. Speaking of, here comes Clark. He said I should call him that.”
“And you should.” Oakley turned to face his second-in-command. After saying hello, Rachel slipped away. Both men watched her go.
“Now that I’ve met her, I can see what the fuss is about,” Clark observed. Oakley didn’t like the speculative gleam he saw in his best friend’s eyes.
“So what? I made a fuss. Big deal. She’s worked hard and deserves to be recognized and introduced to people.”
“Nice attempt at a save, but what I meant is that I can tell that you’re into her and I can understand why.” Clark had the gall to grin.
Oakley and Clark had been friends since their senior year of high school and all through college.
When Oakley started his company, he knew he had to have Clark at his side.
The two men had known each other long enough that Clark could see right through any of Oakley’s attempts to deny his growing feelings for Rachel.
Across the way, Rachel began talking to one of the young rodeo champions and he felt a flicker of jealousy. “Is it obvious?”
“Only to me and only because I know you so well.” Clark followed Oakley’s gaze. “And you shouldn’t worry about Rachel. She can hold her own with Cody Fallsworth.” Clark reached his arm out and gathered the woman who approached to his side. She snuggled to him.
“What’s only to you?” Clark’s wife, Olivia, asked as she settled in. “I caught part of that conversation.”
“Oakley is smitten with his admin,” Clark told her. “He’s jealous of Cody Fallsworth.”
“Rachel? Really?” Olivia didn’t appear too shocked.
She craned her neck so she could see Rachel and Cody, who were now deep in an animated conversation.
Oakley’s jealousy spiked, and he tamped it down.
He had no claim over Rachel or her time.
She was her own woman and could talk to whomever she wished, including rodeo’s biggest star, whose inordinate amount of male interest was obvious.
Damn that dress and its magical powers. She’d already bewitched Oakley—did he have to fight every man in the room for her attentions?
“I haven’t yet met Rachel,” Olivia said. “I love that red dress she’s got on. She’s really pretty. You could do a lot worse, Oakley.”
“He already has,” Clark reminded both of them.
“Enough. Rachel and I are professional work colleagues. You know better than anyone the rules and pitfalls of interoffice relationships.”
Olivia grinned. “Yes, you declare it with HR like we did. Then you fall in love and get married and have two kids and a dog.” Olivia pressed her hand gently against Clark’s chest so she could give him a kiss on the lips.
As she used her thumb to wipe away the smudge of lipstick, Oakley found himself envious.
Clark had been married for five years now.
Oakley had thought that he and his wife would keep pace with his friends.
They’d both have their kids around the same time and do all the things couples did with their couple friends.
But fate, it seemed, had other plans.
“You two worked in different departments, so you had to make an effort to see each other,” he pointed out.
“Rachel and I work in a small, two-person office. We are in constant contact daily. I walk right by her desk on the way to mine. If things go wrong, how awkward would that be? I can’t risk destroying our professional relationship because of some attraction or chemistry.
” He knew Rachel agreed with him. She’d been the one to say it couldn’t be more.
Her headshake signaled Olivia’s disagreement. “You set the ground rules early. If you feel she could be more than that initial chemistry, that your relationship could be far deeper, then it might be worth the risk. It might even be easier, as you’re out of the prying eyes of the Dallas office.”
“She doesn’t want that,” Oakley protested. “She’s said as much.”
Both Clark’s and his wife’s eyes narrowed before they exchanged a glance with each other. “What happened?” Olivia asked.
“Who said anything happened?” Oakley said.
“You forget we know you,” Clark said. “Spill.”
Oakley shifted his weight. “We’ve had a couple of moments, and then there was this time we kissed…”
“Oakley!” Olivia gave him a whack on the arm.
“Ow,” he said as he rubbed his coat sleeve.
Olivia was undaunted. “That’s for not telling us first thing. We’re your best friends. If you’re in love with someone, you should be divulging these things ASAP.”
“Who said anything about love?” And why did thinking about love in the context of Rachel not give him pause? Ensuring they couldn’t be overheard, he leaned toward the couple and filled them in on the pertinent details. “So that’s where things stand between us.”
Olivia shook her head. “I don’t know whether to admire her or throttle you both. It’s so clear you adore her. You said she has a child?”
“Allie. She’s the cutest thing ever. She’s almost ten months.” Oakley smiled at the memory of holding her.
“You’ve got it bad, pal.” Clark clapped his hand on Oakley’s shoulder. “This tells me she just might be the one.”
“Let’s all do dinner,” Olivia suggested. “In fact, I’ll arrange it.”
Oakley interrupted before Olivia had him down the church aisle.
“No, no. If you try to sing my praises, she’ll go running for the hills.
If things are going to happen, they’ll be on our terms. Whatever we decide.
” Oakley found himself wanting things to happen and frustrated he couldn’t push forward like he normally did.
He desired the one woman who didn’t return his emerging feelings, and her not doing so wasn’t some game she was playing in an attempt to be coy.
She had legitimate reasons—one of those her need for a paycheck.
Olivia pouted as she accepted Oakley’s answer. “Fine. But we are going to hang out. This is my fun weekend away from the kids. Girls will be girls.” She arched her eyebrows, trailed her fingers over her husband’s shoulders and walked away.
“Great, she’s up to something,” Oakley muttered.
Clark chuckled, his love for his wife clear. Since she was in dark blue, Olivia disappeared into the remaining crowd. “She’s a force of nature.”
“And you married her,” Oakley teased. He’d stood by Clark’s side as his best man when he got married. His friend had found his soulmate, so some liberties could be taken.
“That I did, and I have no regrets. Not a one, including when she complains I forgot to put the toilet seat down.”