“Our relationship is different.”
Julian grinned. “You’re his favorite, no doubt.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is, and I don’t begrudge you,” Julian replied. “But you also have to do what’s right for you. So what if you don’t get Wynn’s business? It is not the end of the world. Starks Inc. isn’t the only fish in the sea. You’ve brought Curtis and all the Cougar players great deals. You do remarkable work. You can’t lose sight of what’s important.”
Giana smiled. “Thank you, Julian. It’s exactly what I needed to hear.”
Julian bowed. “Glad to be of service. Now—” he glanced toward the stairs “—if you don’t mind...”
Giana could take a hint. The newlyweds wanted to be alone. “Thank you for listening. You’re a good big brother.” She leaned toward him for a hug.
“I’m the best one, right?” Julian asked.
“Don’t push your luck,” she said with a laugh and quickly exited. Once inside her Mercedes-Benz Maybach, Giana considered Julian’s advice. She wasn’t sure she could let go of her desire to please their father. It was part of who she was, and she doubted it would change anytime soon. But she also couldn’t deny spending time with Wynn held a certain appeal.
Perhaps she should take a different approach. She’d been doing the chasing, constantly trying to get Wynn to consider a partnership with the Atlanta Cougars. It was time she let Wynn come to her.
* * *
Come Monday morning, Wynn knew what he had to do. Over the weekend, he’d been unable to stop thinking about Giana and how good she’d felt in his arms. Although he’d tried his best to ignore the attraction, his mind and body were not in agreement.
He’d already run his usual five miles and spent time in the sauna, but his mind wasn’t clear. After a couple of hours, Wynn called Sam into his office.
“Yes, Mr. Starks?”
“Get me Giana Lockett on the line.”
“Pardon?” Sam’s expression showed he was confused, since Wynn’s directive was to give the lovely marketer the cold shoulder.
“You heard me. I’d like to speak with her.”
“Of course, I’ll get right on it,” Sam said and exited his office.
Wynn turned to stare out at the Atlanta skyline. It had taken a lot to get to this fortieth-floor corner office. Starks Inc. was now among the top one hundred companies in Atlanta, but his life hadn’t always been this good.
His mind wandered back to a time when he’d had a happy family, a mother and a father. A wonderful life, a big home, but it had all been a lie. His mother had cheated and left his father, Jeffrey Starks, and Wynn for another man. She’d never looked back. It broke his father, and he’d struggled to recover not only emotionally, but financially as well.
During the divorce, his mother hadn’t wanted custody of Wynn. Instead, she’d sued for half of everything, arguing she was entitled to it after twelve years of marriage. And she’d won. The end result left Wynn and his father moving into a small one-bedroom apartment. Wynn would never forget those times or the look of abject misery he’d sometimes witness on his father’s face, though Jeffrey did his best to cover it up.
He’d never forgiven his mother for destroying their family, leaving them with nothing. That anger fueled Wynn to start Starks Inc. Many people, including his main competitor, Blaine Smith, thought he was crazy to attempt a start-up company on his own. He and Blaine had worked at Coca-Cola together right after college. When Wynn had discussed starting his own business one day focusing on sports drinks, Blaine had called it a pipe dream. But Wynn had goals and a vision.
“Ms. Lockett is on line one,” Sam’s voice rang out, interrupting Wynn’s thoughts.
“Thank you, Sam.”
Inhaling deeply, Wynn picked up the receiver. “Giana.”
“Mr. Starks.”
Wynn’s jaw tightened. “After everything we shared in the elevator, Giana, are we really using surnames?”
“Don’t you think it’s best?”
“No, I don’t. I think we should explore what’s between us, which is why I called. I’d like to take you to dinner.” He wanted to fully discover every part of the chocolate beauty’s body and refused to be dissuaded from his purpose. This was about scratching an itch, and once he did, he would move on.
“Like a date?”
Wynn laughed. “That’s usually what two people do who are attracted to each other.”
The other end of the line was silent. He didn’t know what he’d expected. That she would jump because he said he wanted to go out with her? If she wasn’t going to come to him willingly, he would have to dangle some bait. “Perhaps we could talk about the Atlanta Cougars and Starks Inc. working together.”
He heard her audible intake of breath. “You don’t play fair, Wynn. You’re no more interested in doing business with me than you were a few days ago. This is all about your ego taking a hit. The answer is no.”
“Giana, I know you felt it. How perfectly we fit together. And you know how I know? Because you came apart in my arms in the elevator.”
“Stop it, Wynn.”
“You don’t strike me as a coward. If anything, you’re like a fearless Amazon, as good as any man in battle.”
“I am,” she stated emphatically. “Because I’ve had to be.”
“Then we have something in common,” Wynn said. “Dine with me tonight at my place.” When she began to speak, he interrupted. “Don’t say no. Think about it. Think about how good you felt in the elevator. I promise you, Giana, it will be ten times better tonight.” Wynn hung up before she could turn him down again. His heart was beating wildly in his chest.
He wanted her to say yes. To answer the call they’d both felt in those stolen moments in the dark. Was she woman enough to accept the gauntlet he’d thrown down?
He thought so, but only time would tell.
* * *
Giana placed the phone back in the cradle. She wanted to go to dinner with Wynn, the man, but it wouldn’t get her anywhere with Wynn, the business owner. She couldn’t fathom why he refused to work with her.
Nico had given her a full dossier on Wynn, but Giana had only been interested in the parts related to Starks Inc. Perhaps she was going about this the wrong way. Perhaps she needed to delve deeper to understand what lay at the root of his continued avoidance of her and the Atlanta Cougars as a business partner.
She unlocked the drawer at her desk and withdrew Nico’s file on Wynn. This time she read it through and was surprised by what she found. She had already known about his parents’ divorce and his father losing everything, because Wynn had spoken about it during a rare interview. It’s what caused Wynn to pull himself up by his bootstraps and become a success.
It was also of interest that Wynn had been married before to Christine Davis, a wealthy socialite. Giana knew of her because they traveled in the same circles, but they hadn’t formally met. According to the report, she and Wynn had an acrimonious divorce. She’d sued him for half of Starks Inc., even though he’d started the company prior to their marriage and they had a prenup. The judge had ruled in Wynn’s favor due to the ironclad prenup. But the whole thing had been particularly traumatic because Wynn had been in the process of taking his company public when Christine sued him.
Was Wynn’s aversion to Giana because of Christine? Because they both came from wealthy backgrounds, while his family had lost everything? The clues certainly pointed in that direction. At least, now she knew and could be armed going into battle. All she had to do was figure out a plan to show Wynn she wasn’t like Christine.
Did that mean she was going to the dinner tonight?
Absolutely.
She was ready to play.
* * *
Wynn walked down the hall to the kitchen and was pleased with the inviting ambience. The lighting
was low, and soft music echoed through the surround speakers. It was the mood he wanted for the evening. Wynn wanted Giana’s guard down so they could get to know each other.
He’d donned a small apron and was even cooking for her himself. He’d given Sam a very specific grocery list and now found all the ingredients laid out on the large granite kitchen island. He planned on feeding Giana a sumptuous grilled marinated steak with his famous lyonnaise potatoes and asparagus. He would pair it with a cabernet and also serve a spring salad with a blood orange vinaigrette.
Once, he’d enjoyed cooking for Christine. It had been nothing for him to whip something up for dinner, but that had been a long time ago. Now he rarely occupied the kitchen except to make a quick smoothie, eat the takeout he’d brought home or heat up a plate left by a private chef he sometimes used. He’d thought about using him tonight but decided against it.
He was looking forward to showing off his culinary skills, and he had all the best at his fingertips with a stainless steel Sub-Zero refrigerator and gas range.
He poured himself a bourbon and set about getting everything prepared. He was done with prep when the doorbell rang.
Giana.
After washing his hands, he rushed to the front door and opened it. Giana was on the opposite side, looking gorgeous in a flowing black-and-fuchsia-print dress with puffed sleeves and a shawl wrapped around her shoulders. She looked elegant and sexy, but Wynn was thinking of all the ways he planned to get her out of the outfit.
He must have been staring, because she asked, “Can I come in? It’s cold out.”
“Of course.” He motioned her inside and closed the door. Did she know she was entering the lion’s den? Because before the night was over, he intended to devour every delectable inch of her.
Six
“I love your home,” Giana said as she entered. It had been a relatively short drive since Wynn lived only a few miles from her parents in Tuxedo Park. She’d expected a grandiose old-school mansion. But when she’d pulled her Mercedes-Maybach into the driveway and punched in the code he’d given her, the wrought-iron gates swung open to reveal a modern masterpiece.
“Thank you.” Wynn was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. The casual look suited him, even though he filled out a tuxedo quite nicely.
“I brought you this.” She held out a bottle of expensive wine her butler had assured her would pair well with any meal.
“That wasn’t necessary, but thank you. Come. I’ll give you the five-second tour.”
Giana looked around the grand foyer with its vast ceiling and followed Wynn into the great room.
The home had a flowing floor plan with the great room leading to the family room and a massive kitchen. Everything was light and bright, exactly what Giana would like. She loved the floor-to-ceiling cabinets, waterfall countertops and dark, rich custom wood cabinetry. Wynn had shown attention to detail, because the home had elegant moldings, a stone fireplace and large glass panel doors that were open to reveal an outdoor living area and lagoon-style pool and spa.
“Quite impressive,” Giana said when they returned to the kitchen from the terrace.
“I liked the open concept,” Wynn said and headed to the grill on the stove.
“What are you cooking tonight?” she asked, crossing to peek over his shoulder. When she did, she got a tantalizing whiff of soap and a hint of spice. He turned around so quickly that Giana lost her footing, but Wynn caught her. Their eyes connected, and Giana was captivated.
“Uh, thanks.” She didn’t step away. Instead she allowed Wynn to hold her tighter. When he wrapped his hands around her waist to hold her close, she reciprocated.
She lifted her face to his and they both leaned in at the exact same moment for a kiss. His mouth grazed hers, weaving magic. Her lips opened under his, and he accepted the invitation, his tongue quickly seeking entry and fusing them closer together. Giana’s breathing became shallow, her breaths mingling with his, but just as quickly as it began, it was over and Wynn was releasing her.
“You shouldn’t have done that.” Her voice was shaky as she retreated to a safe distance on the other side of the island.
“I would have liked to do a whole lot more, but I promised you dinner and to hear your pitch. And I’m nothing if not a man of my word.” He reached for the bottle of wine she’d brought. “Would you like a glass?”
Giana nodded. She needed something to help relax her, because she was as tight as a bow. Kissing Wynn was a mistake. She’d told herself she would keep dinner tonight professional, but after only a few minutes in his company they were lip-locked. It didn’t bode well for her plan to pitch him a deal with the Cougars. Would he even be willing to listen? Or was this just an elaborate ploy to get her into his bed?
Wynn opened the bottle with ease and then reached for two glasses on the island and poured wine into each one. “For the lady.” He offered her the wine and raised his glass. “Salut!”
“Salut!” She greedily accepted and took a long luxurious sip. Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself, as she’d done on the drive over, she wouldn’t let him seduce her. “You never answered my question. What are you making?” She hadn’t seen what was on the stove because she’d been too caught up in his scent. “Or did you have a chef whip something up?”
Wynn smiled when he looked at her. “Although I have a private chef at my disposal, I wanted to make you dinner myself tonight. We’re having a grilled steak with my special blend of seasonings accompanied by lyonnaise potatoes and asparagus with hollandaise.”
“The potatoes and asparagus sound great, but I’m going to have to pass on the steak.”
Wynn frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I’m a pescatarian.”
“Pescatarian?” On Wynn’s lips, the word sounded like a filthy curse.
“I won’t apologize for not eating meat,” Giana stated with a frown. “Perhaps you should have done your homework and found out what I like. Or how about this? Asked me.”
His dark eyes glittered from across the room, but Giana wasn’t backing down. “Let me see what’s in the fridge,” he said. “I can probably whip up some scallops for you.”
Giana offered a smile. “That would be lovely. Thank you.”
An hour later, Giana was stuffed. They’d sat in the dining room, where Wynn served dish after dish. First was a delicious salad with a vinaigrette dressing, followed by seared scallops, potatoes and asparagus with hollandaise for her. Wynn wolfed down an enormous steak along with the potatoes and a heaping mound of asparagus. She wondered where he put it all.
He’d created a romantic setting complete with candles, crystal flutes and a bouquet of red roses, but Wynn needn’t have bothered. Giana didn’t intend on going to bed with him.
“My hat’s off to the chef. When did you learn to cook?”
“After my mom walked out on my father and me,” Wynn stated matter-of-factly. “My father was a terrible cook, and I figured if I didn’t want to starve, I was going to have to learn to fend for myself.”
“Sounds like you’re still upset with your mother,” Giana replied, watching him as the candlelight played over his features. “Do you talk to her?”
“No.”
His one-word answer told Giana that he wasn’t going to brook further discussion on the topic. “And your father? He must be very proud of everything you’ve accomplished.”
“He is. Jeffrey Starks is one of the reasons I’ve worked so hard. I want to give him back half of what he gave me.”
Giana smiled. “I feel the same way about my dad. I know everyone sees his tough exterior, but he’s not that way with me. He’s got a soft spot.”
“Because you’re a daddy’s girl.”
“Through and through.” She smiled unabashedly. “I don’t deny it. But it has made me have to work harder.”
“How so?”
“Daddy puts me on a pedestal. I think he wants me to be more like my mother, but I’m not. I’m more like him. It killed him when I told him I wasn’t interested in a finishing school but wanted to go to college for a business degree like my oldest brother, Roman.”
“He wanted you to be a wife and mother?”
Giana nodded. “I was an excellent student and with my scores easily got into Princeton, but my father wanted me to be a stay at home wife and mother. And when I got back from college, it was even harder. There aren’t a lot of women working for professional football teams like the Cougars.”
“But you’ve persevered?”
“Yes. I’ve had to prove myself to men who think I have no place at the table, but their skepticism only makes me work harder. Though I must say seeing my brothers get married this year has made think about a family someday. What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Don’t act dense, Wynn. Do you want a family?”
* * *
“Maybe.” Wynn shrugged. “I was married once, and it ended badly. So, it’s kind of turned me sour on marriage. But I did want children.”
“Past tense?”
“If the right woman came along, I could want them again.”
“Did you love her?” Giana asked. At Wynn’s frown, she added, “Your ex-wife?”
“I thought I did, but I realized later it was lust, nothing more. I didn’t really know her, and we certainly didn’t share core values. And that’s important.”
“I agree. Core values are what distinguish the Atlanta Cougars from a lot of other franchises.”
Wynn leaned back in his chair and grinned at her. “I should have known you weren’t going to give up on work, Giana.” He rose from his chair and took their empty plates into the kitchen.
Holiday Playbook--A Christmas workplace romance Page 4