2. James
JAMES
James looked down at Lauren. She was looking up at him with the mix of defensiveness and spark he’d come to expect from her.
Her blue eyes and freckles gave her a sweet, innocent look, but he knew by now that she was much more than that.
She was a force to be reckoned with and a real thorn in his side.
It had been all too easy to dismiss Lauren when they’d first met.
She’d been just another inexperienced outsider hoping to make it in San Valentino’s competitive market, while James had been born for this.
Since then, though, she’d proven again and again that she never gave up.
He’d barely start putting together a presentation for a new client when he’d find out that her company was doing the same.
And every now and then, he’d lose an existing client to her, too.
Lauren had none of the background that James had learned successful PR professionals needed.
She had no legacy. She didn’t control her company the way James did.
She had no family money. She had no status.
And yet, she was brilliant, fearless, and unintimidated by James — or anyone else.
He enjoyed their rivalry almost as much as it frustrated him.
“So, what are you going for next?” Lauren asked now.
James chuckled. “I shouldn’t tell you.”
“I’m sure I already know.” She grinned. “Let me guess… you’re trying to snag Omial?”
James blinked. “How do you know? I only found out about their new contract yesterday.”
“I have my ways.” Lauren tossed a blond curl off her shoulder. “You might as well give up now. I’ve known about the contract for a few weeks already.”
“I happen to know that they’re looking for a company where they can have a dedicated staff,” James pointed out. “How many people work at Sunflower now? Three?”
Lauren’s bright expression slipped for a fraction of a second. If James hadn’t been watching closely, he probably wouldn’t have noticed, but there was definitely a hint of nerves beneath her bravado.
“Maybe you have a better chance than—” he began, but Lauren held up a hand. Her usual calm confidence returned as quickly as it had disappeared. Maybe James had imagined the nerves.
“How about a friendly wager?” she asked.
“Friendly? Are we able to do anything in a ‘friendly’ way?” James joked.
“A civil wager, then.” Lauren scanned the room. “Whoever can come out of the night with the biggest lead wins.”
“Why not,” James agreed. The competition would make a boring evening of work into something much more entertaining.
Logically, he knew he shouldn’t take any bet with Lauren; he should focus on gathering good information to secure his company’s position.
He didn’t care about logic right now, though. “How much should we bet?”
“No money,” Lauren said. “We’ll bet something far more important: our pride.”
James chuckled. “My pride doesn’t rely on getting leads from drunk businessmen.”
“No, but I’m pretty sure it does rely on beating me.” Lauren grinned. “Unless you’re too chicken.”
“Never.” James paused. “Let’s set some ground rules.”
“Of course.”
“The biggest lead depends on the size of the company,” James began. “We can talk to the same people, but not at the same time. At the end of the night, we’ll compare people, companies, and contracts to see who has the best lead.”
“Leads from before tonight don’t count,” Lauren added. “Even if you confirm them here. No existing clients.”
“That puts me at an unfair disadvantage,” James pointed out. “I have a lot more existing clients than you do.”
“So, your success is a weakness now,” Lauren said. “Too bad. Those are the rules.”
“Fine.”
“May the best woman win,” Lauren said. She held out her hand, and James took it. Her hand was small and warm inside his, and her palm was smooth. Her handshake was firm, and she met his eyes — everything James’s father had told him to do when he learned to shake hands at the age of seven.
“May the best man win, you mean,” James said. “Since we both know how this is going to end.”
“Has anyone ever mentioned that you’re too arrogant for your own good?”
“Shockingly, no. They’re always too busy being impressed with how I get things done.”
They squeezed each other’s hands once more, then let go. James’s palm was warm where they’d touched.
Lauren turned and made a beeline for a man with wire-rimmed glasses and a glass of champagne in his hand. James vaguely recognized him as the CFO of a San Valentino-based tech company.
For a moment, he just watched Lauren. She sidled up to the man, and within a minute, she had him laughing about something. She looked… well. Competent. Beautiful.
That was the other problem with Lauren, beyond the fact that she stole his clients and played up the rivalry between them.
She was gorgeous. Funny. Brilliant. In another universe, James might have asked for her number.
He might have taken her out for drinks and asked her about her life, her family, her dreams.
But that universe wasn’t this one. Even if their companies weren’t locked in competition, he wouldn’t have asked her out.
Pembrook PR wasn’t just the most important thing in James’s life; it was the only thing.
It didn’t leave room for serious dating.
It didn’t even leave room for lasting friendships.
With that in mind, James turned away from Lauren and waded into the crowd. Many of the people here were his existing clients, so he steered away from them. Instead, he found a friend from college with whom he hadn’t worked yet.
“Diego!” He waved to his friend, who turned with a broad smile.
“James. How are you?”
“Very well.” James clapped the other man on the shoulder.
“It’s been a while,” Diego continued. “A year at least, even though we live in the same town.”
James winced internally. This was a vivid example of the fact that he had no time in his life for relationships, even platonic ones. “Sorry, man. Work’s been crazy. How have you been?”
“Wonderful.” Diego beamed. “Esperanza is pregnant.” Esperanza was Diego’s wife of five years.
“Really?” James’s jaw dropped. “Congratulations! When’s she due?”
“In April.”
“Wow. I can’t believe you’re going to be a father.”
“Me neither, sometimes. And you, man?” Diego asked. “Any serious relationships?”
“No, no.” James smiled. “That’s not for me.”
“Hey, don’t say that. You’re only thirty-four. You’ve got time.”
But James didn’t have time. He wasn’t sure how Diego did. A wife and kids required time and commitment, and James only had enough time and commitment for work.
“Maybe,” he said. “How’s work going? Is Valiant still doing well?”
Valiant was Diego’s company. It was a bespoke brewing company that made unique alcohols for discerning clients. Diego had inherited it from his father, who’d inherited it from his father in the typical way of San Valentino’s companies.
“It is indeed. I’m taking a step back now, of course, to spend more time with my family, but my team’s doing a great job.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Are you in need of any PR support?” James asked.
“It’s always business with you, man,” Diego said. His tone was teasing, but James detected more than a little seriousness behind the words.
“Not at all. I just want to help you, if I can.”
“I’ll pass that on to my team.” Diego glanced at his watch. “It was nice to see you, but I’d better go. Esperanza is waiting for me at home so we can watch our favorite show.”
“Right.” It was hard for James to imagine running home from an important networking event to sit on the couch and watch a show, but he’d try not to judge. “Nice to see you, too.”
Diego left, and James turned to look for his next target.
As he swept his gaze across the room, he caught sight of Lauren, now standing beside a woman around her age.
Both were laughing about something. How did she always manage to make people laugh so easily?
James struggled with that kind of thing, usually relying on his business acumen instead of his sense of humor to land clients.
Lauren’s eyes glowed with mirth, and as she straightened up, she caught his eye and winked. James turned away quickly.
He was just keeping an eye on her to keep track of their wager. Yet as the evening wore on, he kept sneaking glance after glance at his gorgeous rival. He was keeping closer track of her than was strictly necessary, but James always went above and beyond.
Always.