“Okay.” Her brow furrows, and I’m slightly relieved.

  She doesn’t seem to have talked with Raquel, and I’m glad the inner-office gossip mill isn’t running. That’s the last thing I need right now.

  I’ve just finished sorting through a million emails from yesterday when I hear the tap on my door. “Come in.”

  It opens, and I spin in my chair expecting to see Taron. When I see who it is, my stomach tightens. I lean back, narrowing my eyes.

  “Do you need something, Miss Morgan?” It’s not quite a snap, but close.

  “I’m sorry to disturb you…” Raquel’s voice is soft and high compared to mine. “I wanted to stop by before anybody got here. Except Dean, of course. And Sandra—oh, and I didn’t want you to think I’d said anything to Sandra because I didn’t…”

  She stops speaking and presses her lips together.

  She’s rambling.

  I study her a moment, quietly. She’s wearing a low-necked pink sweater and a matching cardigan with a fatigue-green skirt I’m sure shows off her legs.

  My gaze remains above her waist, on her pale blue eyes, which are round and worried. “What is it with you and cardigans?”

  It’s a low grumble, but her pale blue eyes widen. Her chin drops, and she fumble with her clothes… like she did in the elevator. Heat tries to rise below my belt, but I fight it.

  “Well, anyway, I… uh, just wanted to see if you needed anything. For Madagascar… or anything.”

  “You’re working with Taron on Abu Dhabi. See him when he gets here.” I return to my computer screen, done talking.

  She doesn’t leave, and I start to get irritated.

  Her throat clears. “About Sunday night—” My eyes cut up to her, and she stops abruptly.

  “We’ve said all we need to about that.” My tone is final.

  She blinks down and nods. “Okay. Sorry.” I watch as she pushes a lock of soft brown hair behind her ear then turns and goes to the door. It closes behind her with a quiet click, but the scent of coconut and ginger lingers in my office.

  I’m about to go for coffee when Sandra buzzes me. “Taron just got here.”

  It’s not what I asked her to do, and I feel my anger rising. “And Marley?”

  “Not yet. Sorry, boss.”

  If one more person says sorry to me.

  Continuing to my door, I snatch it open and stride down the corridor to Taron’s office. On the way, I notice Raquel in her glass box sorting through files. Jerry is standing near her grinning like a Cheshire cat, and she seems uncomfortable.

  Rumors from Saturday flicker through my mind, and my fists clench.

  Knocking as I open Taron’s door, I hesitate when I see him with one hand pressed against the wall. “You okay?”

  “Don’t bother knocking. Just come on in.” It’s pure sarcasm. No joke.

  “How close do you think we are on this Hastings and Key deal?”

  He glances up at me, and his green eyes are pained. “If Abu Dhabi comes in, Remi said they’ll do it.”

  “How close are you on that?”

  “Should have it in the bag today. We’re doing a little meet and greet this evening.”

  “Will you be able to make it?”

  “Raquel’s helping me.”

  My teeth press together, and I look out the door toward her office. Jerry’s still there, and she still looks uncomfortable. This is not why I wanted to see Taron, but I’m changing my agenda.

  “We’re sending Buckingham to LA. Effective now.”

  “Wait. We’re sending Jerry… Why?”

  I turn back to him, and Taron’s face is scrunched with pain? Confusion? I don’t give a fuck.

  “I want him there by tomorrow ready to work. It’s only 5 a.m. in LA now, right?”

  “I think it’s six.”

  “I’ll get Sandra to book him a flight. We’ll put him up at the Wilshire until he finds his own place. Tell him to clean out his desk.”

  Taron stops me before I walk out. “Any reason we’re sending him to LA so abruptly?”

  “We need someone there to scout new properties and see the locations in person.” I say it like it should be obvious. “I don’t want to waste any time. Pictures only give us so much information.”

  “Okay.” Taron exhales, lowering himself into his chair. “You got a time frame on this assignment?”

  “He’ll stay as long as we need him there.”

  Taron’s lips pucker and he nods, his eyes going to the desk in front of him.

  “What?”

  He holds both hands up, and I start for the door, moderating my tone. “I’m going for coffee you want some?”

  “No, thanks.”

  “Watch out for Marley. We need to talk when he gets in.”

  “You got it.”

  Instead of coffee, I take a brisk walk around the building and smoke. I feel like a shark that stopped moving—my insides are tight. I’m more relaxed when I get back to my office, ready to run the numbers and see where we stand, when again, my office door opens without warning.

  This time, I stand when I see who it is, and my fists automatically clench.

  “What the fuck, Patton? LA? Today? I can’t just haul off and leave on a moment’s notice.” Jerry’s voice is loud. I’m a little surprised he actually has the balls to challenge me this way.

  “Then you can find another job.” My voice is calm, my gaze level.

  He steps back, doing a mock laugh and throwing out his hands. “Oh, it’s like that now. Go to LA or you’re fired? What is this? The motherfucking Apprentice?”

  “It’s my tech-based commercial property rental firm, and I need someone in the new markets finding prestige rentals and verifying they’re as good as we say they are. I’m sending you to LA on the company’s dime to fill an important role, and you’re standing in my office saying you won’t do your job.”

  His flat brown eyes narrow at me, and he tugs on his tie, doing a goose-neck in the process. “I’m not looking to fight with you, Fletcher, but I’m pretty established in Nashville. I’ve worked here five years.”

  I sit slowly in my chair, crossing my leather loafer over my knee. “It’s a temporary assignment. You could always come back.”

  The sound of footsteps outside my door draws our attention, and Raquel passes, her long brown hair swaying down her back, ending just above her perky little ass, and I catch a glimpse of those sexy legs.

  Jerry’s eyes shoot to me, and I blink away the momentary lapse into lust, focusing instead on my computer screen.

  He puts his hands on my desk, leaning closer. “You’re a real hypocrite, you know that?”

  My eyes cut up to him, and my jaw tightens. Now he’s looking to get punched. “You’d better make the right decision and get out of my office. Now.”

  He pushes his hands off the wood and backs to the door. “Sure, I’ll take your assignment. I’ll go to motherfuckin LA. But don’t think for one minute I don’t know the real reason you’re sending me there.”

  I don’t even rise from my seat. He’s out the door, and I lean back in my chair, pressing my fingers together in front of my lips, thinking.

  15

  Raquel

  Sandra has had her eye on me since I walked in this morning. I went to Target yesterday and did some clothes shopping with my credit card, and maybe now I’m the devil. I bought a few skirts. I keep remembering Patton’s eyes so dark and full of lust saying he loved my legs. A little shiver moves through me.

  “What happened after I left you?” Her voice is quiet, and I’m pretty sure I see annoyance in her expression.

  How much to tell her? “Not much. We chatted…”

  “And?”

  “We went to get hot chicken.” That’s true enough.

  “And?”

  “And what?” I look down at the few remaining folders on my table from Taron’s banker’s boxes. “I went home later and watched Ally McBeal. She really does get more annoying as the series progresses.”

  It’s a total yadda-yadda-yadda-leaving-out-all-the-good-parts dodge. I don’t dare look up at her or she’ll see how much I’m omitting.

  “I practically shoved you two together.” Her voice is exasperated, and she exhales a huge sigh, letting her arms drop. “You can lead a horse to water…”

  She’s out my door, headed back for her desk, and my shoulders drop. Patton said our work relationship wouldn’t change, but I didn’t expect him to be exactly like he was before. Hell, he might be even more antagonistic.

  When I left him Sunday night, I was so freaked out. All I could see was my future slipping away on one insanely hot, sex-filled weekend. I couldn’t let that happen. I had to protect myself.

  I’ve always been a fighter, and I’m a pretty strong person. He just might be a little stronger than I am…

  Seeing him in his office this morning, so sexy in that gray suit… His full lips, his glossy, dark hair. My fingers curled at the memory of touching him. Him touching me. Even with his dark eyes narrowed and that frown firmly in place, he’s irresistible.

  All those emotions flooded my veins, and I couldn’t remember why I went in there. I couldn’t remember why I left Sunday night.

  I said I could resist him.

  I was totally wrong.

  “Hey, you ready to talk about Abu Dhabi?” Taron jumps me out of my reflections.

  “Oh, hey. Sure!”

  “Let’s chat in the conference room.”

  I’m out of my chair, shaking off my lustful thoughts and following him down the corridor, when I hear a noise behind me. It sounds like slamming. Looking around, I see Jerry with boxes, packing up his office. I’m not sure whether to do a little dance or be concerned.

  Taron continues into the conference room like nothing is going on, and I look back as I close the door behind me.

  “What happened with Jerry?” I look up at him, but his eyes are fixed on a spread of papers on the table.

  “Oh, he’s going to LA.”

  “He doesn’t seem very happy about it.”

  “What?” Taron looks up at me. “I don’t know why. I’ve heard LA is a fun town, and we’re paying for the whole thing.”

  I’m so confused. “Did he know he was going?”

  Is that why he was hitting on me? Was he trying his luck because he knew he was leaving? Not that it makes it any better…

  “Patton decided we needed someone out there this morning. He’s the logical choice.”

  My eyes narrow, and I look at the wall that separates this room from the devil’s office. Patton decided this morning to send Jerry to LA?

  “How long will he be there?”

  Taron looks at me curiously. “You sure seem very interested. Are you and Jerry—”

  “No!” I say it too loud and too fast. “Not at all. I’m just surprised is all. I mean, the two of you hired me, so I thought it was because you’d be around for a while. I have no interest in Jerry. None whatsoever.”

  Stop talking, Rocky.

  Clearing my throat, I press my lips together and smile, blinking innocently.

  He shakes his head and laughs, turning back to the sheets on the table. “Okay, here’s what we’ve got…”

  We work through lunch preparing for the meeting this afternoon. I hop online and order platters of stuffed vine leaves or dolmas, lamb Kibbeh or meatballs, pita and hummus, dates, and coffee. It’s all coming from the Lebanese restaurant, and I’m hoping for the best, being in Nashville.

  Taron said our goal is to make them feel welcome, like we’re accommodating and elegant so they’ll want to commit. I don’t remind him my major was international studies.

  Looking down, I decide my outfit is fine. Patton insulted my cardigan again, which is ridiculous. I just bought this silly thing. It’s very stylish and modest. For a moment, I wonder if that’s why he hates it.

  We’re all set when I look up and see Marley strolling in the office, and my breath catches. Oh, shit. We can’t afford a repeat of Madagascar. I have no idea what I can make up at this point to cover him.

  Our eyes meet through the glass walls of the conference room, and he gives me a little wave. I’m struck by how resigned his expression seems. I don’t know this man, but he seems so haunted.

  Less than a minute passes, and he returns, this time with Taron behind him. The door opens, and Patton enters as well. I swallow my sudden attack of nerves and manage a smile.

  Taron is the first to speak. “Raquel, you’ve met Martin Randall.”

  “Hello.” I wouldn’t say we’ve met, but I don’t bother getting into that. I will not ramble.

  Patton’s take-charge voice is next. “Marley’s handling our social media accounts and marketing.”

  “Okay.” My voice is quiet, waiting.

  “I thought it would be a good idea if you all know how to do this in case I’m not around for some reason.” Marley pulls a chair out from the conference table and wakes the giant monitor with the iPad Pro.

  He’s actually very good at what he does. Two minutes into his talk, I grab a sheet of paper off the back table and hastily start making notes. He walks us through every account, shows us how to update our info, upload photos, set up ads, create audiences, target audiences, then measure the results and make changes. He shows us how to add our contact information to posts and how to check and respond to messages.

  “That’s pretty much it. If you got that, the rest is a piece of cake.” He turns to face us, and his eyes land on me and linger.

  Patton inhales and starts for the door. “I hope you two got all that.”

  I look at Taron, who gives me a tight smile. “People think his job’s so easy.”

  “I didn’t.”

  “Send us a copy of that.” He motions to my sheet of chicken scratch and I nod. “I’ll type it up.”

  “I have a doc I’ll send you all.” Marley leans back in his chair as Taron follows Patton out the door.

  “Thanks for the crash course.” I smile, not sure what to say to this guy. He’s a total mystery.

  “You’re Renée’s sister?”

  “Um… yeah.” My insides tighten, and I study his face, remembering how Renée asked about him.

  His eyes cut away, and he taps on the keyboard, shutting down all the apps. “Do you talk to her much?”

  “Almost every day, why?”

  He gives me what can only be described as a sad smile. “If she ever asks, tell her I said hi.”

  Swallowing the knot in my throat, I want to ask him how he knows her. I want to ask him if he knows why she left. I feel like one of those archaeologists who’s just uncovered the fingernail of an ancient dinosaur skeleton.

  “Were you friends?”

  His jaw moves, and I watch as this handsome, deeply troubled man searches for an answer. “I think so.” He clears his throat. “I’m sorry… she left. I hope she’s doing well.”

  “She’s just down in Savannah. I think she’s really happy there.”

  He nods and heads for the door, leaving me with a million questions.

  16

  Patton

  Three hours of schmoozing, answering questions, shaking hands, and Abu Dhabi is in the bag. I’m feeling pretty good right now—ready to go back to Stephen Hastings and slide his UAE requirement under his cynical nose. It would only be sweeter if we didn’t need him.

  “Did you get anything to eat?” Taron has the contracts in hand, and Raquel is boxing up the few items of food left.

  He ate most of the appetizers with our guests, who arrived in an entourage of three CEOs and several bodyguards. Raquel and I were the only ones not eating. I was biding my time, waiting to see if this deal was going to happen. Raquel was running around making sure no one’s cups or plates were empty.

  “I’ll get something at home.” She looks tired, and I have a thought as Taron passes me the contracts to put in the safe.

  “You never got that hot chicken you wanted.” I guess my satisfaction is clear in my voice. She looks up at me as if I startled her. It’s also the first time I’ve spoken to her since this morning, when I might have been a bit irritable. “Prince’s is open until ten if you want to go.”

  She doesn’t answer right away, closing the box of grape leaves slowly. “I don’t really like grape leaves. Too vinegary.”

  “Great work, guys.” Taron slaps me a high five on the way to the door. “I’m heading home. I’ll touch base with Remi first thing tomorrow. We’re in.”

  I can’t hold back a smile. Our high five turns into a hand clasp, and I give his shoulder a squeeze to boot. “Good work on this one.”

  He heads out, and I look over at Raquel, who’s lingering over the leftovers. After the way she ran out on me, I’m not planning to ask her twice, but I’m feeling good enough to give her one more chance. “My car’s out front if you want to go.”

  “Okay.” She blinks up at me as if suddenly deciding. Still, I can’t read her. If she started rambling, maybe I’d know, but she seems to have locked that down.

  She puts the few leftovers in the breakroom fridge and collects her things while I secure the contracts in the safe in my office. Then we head down, quiet in the elevator. I remember our first kiss and my eyes go to her glossy lips. I don’t move, and her eyes stay fixed on the doors.

  It takes less than five minutes for us to be in my car, headed southwest to SoBro. Raquel sits quietly beside me with her hands in her lap. Her skirt is just above her knees, and my eyes drift to them under the passing streetlights.

  “I had no idea Jerry was going to LA today.” She blurts out the words, breaking the silence. Her tone almost seems challenging.

  It’s not a question, so I don’t respond, downshifting to third. We’re almost there, and I’m looking for a place to park my BMW in the light.

  “I feel like he would’ve told me if he knew.” She’s still taunting me with this Jerry thing.

  I find a spot and guide us into it. “I didn’t know you had that kind of relationship with him.”

  “We didn’t have any kind of relationship.” Her voice goes high like she’s offended. I can work with this. “I just thought something like that would’ve been a big deal. Moving across the country—”