Once Forbidden, Twice Tempted

by Karen Booth

  “I’d love to hear more about what you used to do. I’m interested in all aspects of real estate.” Sandy took a seat next to Tara.

  All of this was giving Grant an idea. He needed a place to put Sandy and he needed a way to keep Tara preoccupied for at least part of the day. He had work to do and a lot of it. “Sandy, I apologize for springing this on you at the spur of the moment, but how would you feel about working for Ms. Sterling? As her admin? It seems like a logical step. You know the ins and outs of the various projects we’re working on right now. And you know everyone in the office and how things run.”

  “I’d be happy to work for Ms. Sterling. I’d love it, in fact.”

  That was one less organizational challenge Grant needed to face today. He was thankful for that. “Perfect.”

  Tara nodded, but seemed wary of having this new person foisted upon her. “Sandy, maybe you and I can brainstorm some changes to my office when you have a minute. If I’m going to be over in no-man’s land, I might as well make it look good.”

  “Sure thing, Ms. Sterling. Whatever you need.”

  Tara rose from her chair. “Okay, then.” She made her way for the door, following Sandy, but she stopped at Grant’s side. “On my way to the other end of the building now. I’ll call you when I get there. Should probably only take an hour.” She cocked an eyebrow at him.

  “Tara. It wasn’t personal. I made a choice, okay?” Except that it was personal. Everything between them would always be that way.

  “It feels a bit intentional. I’m not hurt. Just don’t want to let you off the hook too easy.”

  If only she knew that deep down, he wanted to be on her hook. He might already be on it. “Would it make you happier if you had my old office?”

  “It would. It would certainly send a better message to the rest of the company regarding my role.”

  Grant drew in a deep breath through his nose. “Okay. But let’s get maintenance in there to paint first. The walls are scuffed up. It should be nice.”

  “You get a little wild and crazy a few times in there, Grant?”

  “More like tired and frustrated. I might have kicked the wall once or twice, but only out of exasperation.”

  A crease formed between her eyes as she narrowed her sights on him. “I keep giving you opportunities to flirt with me and you aren’t taking the bait. Are you feeling okay?”

  I need you to give up this crazy idea of yours. “That’s for after work. You know that.” He regretted the words the instant they left his mouth. He should have said that he and Tara were done flirting, forever.

  “Okay. What are you doing tomorrow night?”

  Grant blinked so fast it nearly knocked one of his contact lenses out of his eye. “What?”

  “I have an invite to a party hosted by a friend of mine. Another real estate agent. It’s on the rooftop of the Sussex Building. It has an amazing view of the ballpark and there’s a game going on during the party.”

  “Why not take Miranda? Or Astrid? They’re your closest confidantes these days, aren’t they?”

  “But they’re not as much fun as you are.”

  Grant found it difficult to swallow. His mouth had gone incredibly dry.

  “Just say yes,” she continued. “It’ll be good for you. Get out. See some people. Maybe squeeze in some flirting?”

  He hated the way the heat rose in his cheeks. It was so damn predictable. “I like baseball.”

  Tara elbowed him in the ribs. “Oh, come on. You like me, too. I know you do.”

  Six

  The Sussex building was only a few blocks from Sterling Enterprises, so Tara and Grant walked over after work. The day had been unremarkable—Grant was always in meetings, which left Tara stumbling around in the dark trying to sort out the process for the Seaport Promenade pitch. Sandy had been an invaluable resource, dealing with the city directly and gathering the needed information.

  “How are you feeling about Seaport after your first two days?” Grant asked.

  “Good, so far. We need to meet with Clay as soon as Sandy and I are done pulling the basics together. We have six weeks before we need to present. Do you think that’s doable?”

  Grant opened the door when they reached the address for the party. “It’ll be tight, but I think we can make it work.”

  They presented their security passes and Tara pressed the button for the fifteenth floor. “Hold on a minute. You almost sound enthusiastic for this idea.”

  They stepped onto the elevator and rode up alone. “I don’t have to do the hard work. That’s all on you.”

  “Would you consider being there for the presentation to the city? It might help with our credibility.”

  Grant looked at the numbers light up as they reached each new floor. “I’ll think about it.”

  Tara decided not to push it, but this seemed like yet another example of Grant creating distance between them. It didn’t bode well for her future at Sterling, being an integral part of the team. She was going to have to keep pushing.

  They reached the top floor of the building and stepped out into the lavish party space. Tara had been to several wedding receptions and extravagant bashes there, and it was a jaw-dropping location for festivities. Inside the expansive lounge area, partygoers chattered away on chic black leather sofas, enjoyed drinks at high-top tables and nabbed passed appetizers from the waitstaff, all against the backdrop of a stunning city view provided by floor-to-ceiling windows. But the real showstopper was the outdoor area just off the main room, with a glitzy fireplace taking the edge off the nighttime chill in the air, and bar tables for two alongside the balcony’s unique glass railing.

  The panorama was spectacular—a view of the baseball stadium below, the green field all lit up and the muffled sounds of the game floating up to their high perch. They were surrounded by shorter buildings, and off in the distance, you could see the dark ripples of the bay and the soaring steel structure of the bridge to Coronado.

  Tara loved this city, just as Johnathon had, and she hoped that her role at Sterling could prove that point. She was eager to do more than drag Grant begrudgingly along with the idea of pursuing the Seaport Promenade project. She wanted to prove to him that it was worthwhile. It wasn’t folly. She had the vision. It might not bring the money rolling in right away, but it was important to be a part of the community and make a contribution that would pay off in the long term.

  The party was casual, but still a business affair, and Grant had dressed accordingly, in charcoal trousers and a pale blue dress shirt that really brought out his eyes. It wasn’t conjecture to say her date was the best-looking guy at the party. It was a fact. Of course, flirtation aside, this was no date. It was a chance for two colleagues and friends to spend some time together. She wanted Grant and her to be close again. It could only help when it came to work.

  After they made small talk with several agents Tara knew, Grant seemed antsy. “Can I get you something to drink?” he asked, gently placing his hand at the small of her back.

  It was nice to have the male attention, to have someone take care of her for once. She was usually so busy being independent. “Sure. I’ll take a beer. An IPA if they have it.”

  “It’s San Diego. I’m sure they’ll have one.”

  Grant wandered off, and Tara finished up her conversation, realizing just how glad she was to be making a shift in her career. All this talk of house showings and demanding clients was tiresome. She was happy she didn’t have to wake up tomorrow morning to that reality. When Grant returned with their beers, Tara wanted the chance to move on to something different. “You’ll have to excuse us. Grant and I want to check out the game.”

  They stepped out onto the balcony and into the slightly cooler night air. “It’s an amazing way to see a baseball game, huh?” Tara asked.

  Grant shook his head and leaned against the railin
g. Tara was not so brave. She loved the view, but hated heights, so she stood back from the edge. “We are not at a baseball game. We’re at a business function with a sport being played nearby. The players are like ants. You can’t follow the ball.”

  Tara was a bit disappointed. She’d hoped Grant would enjoy this outing and he clearly was not having fun. She’d wanted this to be a time for them to bond. “There’s free beer though. Hard to complain about that.”

  “I’m not complaining. I just find it funny that this group of people thinks we’re at a baseball game. This is for someone who doesn’t care about the sport, which is fine. But call it what it is.”

  “A schmoozefest?”

  He straightened and pointed his beer bottle at her, a slight smile breaking across his face. “Exactly.”

  Tara again surveyed the crowd of beautiful people, talking away about their jobs and their successes. No one mentioned their failures at an event like this, or even their struggles. It was all to put on a good face. Tara could see why Grant found it annoyingly empty.

  “I recognize the value in seeing and being seen,” Grant continued. “But it always feels so phony to me. Johnathon was better at this than I am. I don’t enjoy playing the game. I’d much prefer to simply do the work.”

  “Is that why you don’t want to pursue Seaport?” she asked. “Too many politics to play?”

  “In part, yes. And the person who played the politics before us left behind a steep uphill climb.”

  Grant had given Tara even more to think about, but then she got distracted by a glimpse of a man over at the bar. She didn’t want to stare, but she couldn’t help it. Needing confirmation, she grabbed Grant’s arm and popped up onto her tiptoes, whispering into his ear. “Am I crazy or is that Johnathon’s brother Andrew over there?” Not wanting to be too obvious, she grasped his other hand so she was facing him. “Right over my shoulder. Ordering a drink.”

  Grant scoped out the scene, then dropped his sights to Tara. His eyes were intense. Nearly blazing. “What in the hell is he doing in San Diego? He couldn’t come to his own brother’s funeral two weeks ago, but he could come down here for a party or a baseball game?” Grant rarely had a reaction that heated. Tara couldn’t ignore how much more attracted she was to him when he was being this way.

  “This is not a baseball game. You were very clear about that.”

  Grant finished his beer and clunked the bottle down on a nearby table. “This is weird, Tara. And I don’t like it.”

  “Yeah. Me neither.” Tara rolled her head to one side and glanced back at Andrew. He looked so much like Johnathon, it was uncanny. Same handsome features, same head of thick brown hair. Tara hadn’t laid eyes on Andrew since her own wedding, back when he and Johnathon were still on speaking terms. Soon after, Sterling Enterprises was launched. Johnathon offered Andrew a job, but that inexplicably created a deep rift between the brothers. Johnathon was only trying to help after Andrew’s first attempt at his own development firm had failed. The brothers stopped speaking to each other, and Andrew moved to Seattle because of it, starting a second company in a market where he wouldn’t have to compete against Johnathon. “Should we go talk to him?”

  “And say what? Tell him he’s a jerk for not attending his own brother’s funeral? I want nothing to do with that guy. At all.” Grant turned his head, tracking Andrew across the room.

  Tara looked back again. Andrew was winding his way through the crowd, away from them. “Is he leaving?”

  “I hope so.”

  Tara didn’t want to let this opportunity go. It wasn’t right that Andrew hadn’t been at Johnathon’s funeral. And she knew Grant felt that way, too. “Come on. We can’t let this go. We need to talk to him.” She grabbed Grant’s hand and led him across the room, weaving past the other guests, some of whom were trying to stop her to talk.

  “Every time you lead me somewhere, something bad happens. Case in point, the other night out on your balcony.”

  “Shush. This has to be done.” With one last tug on Grant’s hand, they emerged from the crowd and out into the elevator vestibule. Andrew was standing there, checking his phone. “Andrew,” she said, clearly.

  He looked up, shock coloring his face. “Tara. Grant. This is a surprise.”

  Before Tara had a chance to respond, Grant dropped her hand and confronted Andrew. “That’s bull and you know it. You had to have seen us inside. Is that why you’re leaving?”

  Andrew fumbled with his phone and slid it into his back pocket. He seemed nothing short of nervous. Good. Let him be put on the spot. “I didn’t see you. And I was only here for a moment. I had a friend who was here, but this isn’t really my scene.”

  “You didn’t come to the funeral.” Grant took a solid step forward, nearly encroaching on Andrew’s personal space. “You told me you would try to make it.”

  Andrew jabbed the elevator button several times, as if that would make it appear faster. “I was busy. Something came up.”

  “Okay,” Grant said, sounding nothing short of skeptical. “Why come to town now?”

  “Business.”

  “Anything I need to know about? This isn’t exactly your corner of the world.”

  Andrew slid Grant an unkind look. “Just a partnership. I didn’t come to town to step on your toes if that’s what you think.”

  “And yet you still couldn’t make the funeral.”

  “Look, it’s not like Johnathon would’ve known I was there. Funerals are for the living and nobody at that funeral cares whether or not I show up.”

  “I cared. I cared a lot. You weren’t there for your brother. It’s not right.” Grant’s voice was resolute. For someone who wanted nothing to do with Andrew, he was having no problem speaking his mind to him.

  “It wasn’t nice, Andrew,” Tara said. “Johnathon was always there for you.”

  Andrew shook his head. “Not always.” The elevator door slid open and he quickly stepped inside.

  Grant lunged to hold it open. “Johnathon’s wife, Miranda, is pregnant. You’re going to be an uncle.”

  It was Andrew’s turn to step in the way of the door and keep it from closing. “Wait. What?”

  “It’s true,” Tara said, wanting to take part in this, although she wasn’t entirely sure why Grant would choose to divulge this piece of information. It was still early in Miranda’s pregnancy. Did she want everyone to know about it?

  Andrew blew out a deep breath. “Well, give her my best.”

  “Or you could call and tell her yourself, then apologize for missing Johnathon’s service,” Grant said.

  “I’m heading to the airport right now and flying home to Seattle. I’ll call her soon.”

  “Just don’t be a jerk, okay? She’s been through a lot.” Grant stepped back.

  Andrew did the same. The elevator doors whooshed shut. And he was gone.

  “Wow. That was weird,” Tara said.

  “It was infuriating—that’s what that was.” Grant wandered over to a small window and pounded the side of his fist against the frame. She loved seeing this side of him—fiery and passionate. She wished he’d be like this more often. “You know, I had plenty of problems with Johnathon, but he was nothing short of an amazing person. Andrew was his only family on this earth, and he couldn’t show up when it mattered? It’s pathetic.” He turned back to Tara and she could see the fire in his eyes again. She understood what a confluence of emotions Johnathon brought up, and she admired that Grant wasn’t afraid to show it. He was being brave in ways she wasn’t always able to be.

  “I’m sorry that happened. It was my idea to talk to him. I should’ve just let him leave.”

  Grant shook his head and reached out for Tara’s arm, dragging his fingers down the back of it until he reached her hand. “No. It was a good thing.” His voice was quieter now. “I needed to say those things to him and A
ndrew needed to hear them, even if he didn’t know it. You push me, Tara, and that’s a good thing.”

  His statement brought a smile to her face, but it also sent goose bumps racing over the surface of her skin. The idea of her and Grant as a team wasn’t hopeless. She knew they could work together well. She just needed to prove it to him. “Does that mean I can push you on the Seaport Promenade?”

  A breathy laugh escaped his lips and he raked his hands through his hair. At that moment, Tara fought an intense urge to kiss him, or at the very least, take the chance to run her own fingers into the dark mop atop his head. “It might take a lot of pushing.”

  “I’m up to the task.”

  Grant pressed the button to call the elevator back to their floor. “Let’s get out of here. I don’t need any more free beer or fake conversation.”

  “What did you have in mind?” Tara was thinking that a drive to her place might be in order. They could open a bottle of wine. She could try to press him some more on the Seaport project.

  “Let’s walk over to the ballpark, buy some tickets and watch the rest of the game. From actual seats. Not a luxury box.”

  “It’s got to be the fourth inning, at least.”

  “So? Still plenty of baseball to be played.”

  “Neither of us is dressed for it.” She looked down at her clothes. She was wearing heels, a black skirt and a silver silk blouse. Not exactly the right attire for a sporting event.

  The elevator dinged. “Something tells me they’ll still take our money.”

  * * *

  With a beer in his hand and Tara at his side, Grant was having the most fun he’d had in...well, he couldn’t remember a time he’d had more fun. “This was one of my best ideas, ever.”

  Tara popped some popcorn into her mouth, then licked the salt from her fingers. “We can definitely see a lot better. I’m just not sure it was worth it to drop five hundred bucks on seats right behind home plate when we aren’t even going to see the whole game.”