Lovely Dreams

by Danielle Stewart

  Layla’s voice teetered on desperate. “Tray sprang this on us. I think it was his intention. Try to catch us off our game so he could gracefully turn the position down when we look like a hot mess. I hate to do this to you after you’ve been working so hard to help me get up to speed. But I really need your help. Come to dinner?”

  “It’s no trouble at all,” Lauren lied, gulping back her emotions. She was exhausted. Wrung out. The idea of getting dressed and sitting through dinner with a man she’d never met was almost enough to sweep her feet out from under her. But duty called. She’d just gotten up off the floor, no time to get back down there now.

  “You are a life saver. I don’t know how we’d get on without you. I’ll have a car pick you up at eight. We’re eating at Le Parisian Teashop.”

  “Uh,” Lauren cleared her throat. “Are you sure?”

  “Bad idea? I knew it. Where should we eat? Save me from myself.”

  “It’s just that if he’s been eating in Paris for the last few years, he’ll likely find the food less than authentic here. I can call and get us a table at Divine. They always hold one or two tables for their best guests. It was Gloria’s go-to for last minute meetings when she needed to impress.”

  “What would I do without you?” Layla sighed with relief. “I promise to make this up to you.”

  “I owe you one anyway. The last date I sent you turned out to be a complete jackass. I believe a couple Irishmen had to toss him out of Gloria’s apartment.”

  “True.”

  “But look at you now. The right guy found his way to you. I can get through one night for a good cause.”

  “I hear good things about Tray. Maybe he’ll surprise you. And if it works out, he could be around a lot more.”

  Lauren laughed as she considered a date who might become her boss. There was never any shortage of awkwardness in her job. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  “You’re the best.” Layla’s excited voice brought a smile to Lauren’s face. As she tucked her phone away she stared one more moment out the window.

  Drawing in a deep breath, she knew it was time to go. No matter how long she stayed in this office, Gloria wouldn’t breeze back in. She wouldn’t sing show tunes with a silky scarf around her neck and a lipstick so bright you could land planes on the runway with it. She wouldn’t be back.

  Chapter 2

  Tray

  * * *

  “Business or pleasure?” the pilot of his jet had asked, and for the first time Tray didn’t have an answer. This trip wasn’t really for business or pleasure. Was there a third category? Waste of time.

  He was doing this as a favor. His mother was good friends with Gloria Kinross who’d recently and quite suddenly died. Apparently his presence in Boston was one of her last requests. He was to interview with Gloria’s niece, Layla Kinross for the job as second-in-command. He could do the first part—showing up—but not the second. There was no upside for him. Moving back to America. Taking a step back in his career. Having actual responsibilities again. Why would any sane person do that?

  He was running his own company. It required basically nothing. The equivalent of a self-cleaning oven. Which meant he could spend his time lounging on beaches and indulging in whatever he pleased. Beautiful women. Exotic food. Up all night. Sleep all day. Giving that up to be the COO of some retail department store empire was not going to happen.

  The best he could do was politely attend one dinner. He didn’t know Gloria well, but she was important to his mother. He could sit through a meal and send his condolences. Apologetically turn down the role. Then he could face his mother and go back to his life. His perfectly frivolous life.

  “Thank you so much for coming,” Layla said in a forced singsong voice as he approached the table. The restaurant was busy but quieter at their private table in the back corner. It was no surprise they had clout. Gloria was known far and wide for her business savvy and peculiar yet endearing personality. Layla would obviously be able to score a private table in an upscale restaurant as she took over for her late aunt. That was no surprise, but the other woman at the table was.

  “It’s my pleasure.” Tray exchanged cordial greetings with each of them, holding the beautiful stranger’s hand for a few extra beats as she forced a pleasant introduction. “You said your name is Lauren? It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Nice to meet you as well,” Lauren edged out nervously. He was not going to put her on the spot or bring up their earlier exchange in that dark, empty office. But he liked the look on her face while she wondered if he would.

  “So,” Tray began as he settled into his seat. “I’m sorry I sprang this on you suddenly. I have other business in Boston and I thought I’d make the most of it.”

  Pleasantries were offered but Tray only barely heard them. The moment he saw Lauren give a gentle tip of her chin, his body buzzed with distraction. His eyes traced her perfectly pouted lips. The long lashes that framed her eyes. The way her sexy arms folded neatly in her lap. She was captivating, dressed beautifully for dinner, and the small secret they shared only tantalized him more.

  “We’re glad it worked out,” Kenan said brightly. “We’re always up for a last-minute dinner with good company.”

  “My mother speaks highly of your late aunt, Gloria. I’m very sorry to hear about her passing. I only met her a few times, but I enjoyed her very much. The stories I’ve heard always made her sound larger than life.”

  Everyone’s eyes turned down and a silence enveloped the table. He’d misread the situation. Grief still gripped them all tightly.

  Obviously, that was why Lauren was sitting alone in the office crying. He’d been an ass. Ironically, it was Lauren who broke the awkwardness by tilting her head up a little at him and smiling warmly. Maybe there was something to be said for having a secret between them.

  “The stories are all true. Gloria certainly was one of a kind. It’s been a great loss. Tell your mother thank you for her kind words. I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of meeting your mother.”

  Tray wasn’t here to share his life story. But his mother was always a sore spot for him. Hard to explain to people, so he usually felt compelled to try. “My mother is a bit of recluse. She loves her place in Paris and the one in Italy she visits occasionally. She prefers to stay out of the limelight. Away from business and politics. She travels between those two spots with a few good friends, Gloria being one of them. They knew each other since they were girls. But by the time I came around, Gloria was so busy that their time together was always spent alone in Italy. Girls trips.”

  Lauren raised a delicate hand to her heart. “I can picture Gloria as a young girl. Probably raising hell. I’d like to hear your mother’s stories someday.”

  “Yes,” Layla agreed, nodding her head and touching Lauren’s hand gratefully. “Tray, we’ve heard quite a bit about you as well. Gloria seemed to think you’d be a strong addition to Kinross Inc. You should see the insistent letter she left for me.”

  He let out a little chuckle as he selected a wine he’d like. “My mother views me as most mothers view their children. Better than I actually am.” Tray watched Lauren’s face wince then recover. Some tiny pain she must be holding back. He felt pulled to explore it but beat the thought back. He had one job here: don’t take the job. Getting sucked into the orbit of a hurting woman would only delay getting back to having his feet in the sand and a drink in his hand.

  Kenan spoke up in his heavy Irish accent. “You’ve come all this way. Gloria wouldn’t waste your time or ours. Your mother being your biggest fan wouldn’t be enough reason for her to think so highly of you. There must be plenty of merit.”

  Layla smiled at Kenan the way only two people in love can. “I agree with Kenan. Gloria always had a reason for things. There has to be significant motivation behind why she wanted you here.”

  Tray shrugged. “Well, I can’t say for sure. But we might as well enjoy a meal and talk it all over.”

  Tray fe
lt a pang of guilt. Nothing would sway him. He wasn’t taking the job.

  “I think you’ll enjoy the food,” Lauren said, running her slender sexy finger down the menu. When Kenan and Layla chatted about which salad they wanted, Tray leaned in.

  “I like your smile better than your tears. The lighting in here is better too.”

  She cleared her throat nervously as her eyes shot over to Layla to make sure she hadn’t heard. “You’ll like the salmon.”

  “I won’t say a thing about earlier. It’ll be our secret.”

  Her back was stiff as she nodded slightly.

  Tray nodded back as he refocused on the menu. “I’ve heard good things about this place. Highly rated in Boston. It’s been years since I’ve been back. We lived about ten miles west of here.”

  Kenan raised a brow. “Are you from here?”

  “Technically, I’m from nowhere.” Tray laughed again. He tasted his wine and indicated his approval to the waiter. “I’m a military brat. Heavy on the brat part. For the first part of my life, I grew up all over the world. But we were here for a year, maybe a year and a half. I always liked Boston.”

  “That’s a good thing,” Layla said, looking hopeful.

  Shit.

  This was an orchestrated show for his mother’s sake. He didn’t want to lead them on.

  Layla kept her warm smile as she continued. “And you run your own company in Paris?”

  “It’s technically run from Paris, but I can work from anywhere. It’s a global acquisitions firm. Mostly dealing with the purchase of small textile mills. I have a team that streamlines their processes, updates their equipment, rebrands, and then gives them a fighting chance at staying in business in this difficult market. Strength in numbers type deal.”

  “That’s clever,” Lauren said with a smile. She seemed to be warming to him. Maybe he was less peacock to her now. Much different than their earlier verbal sparring match. Or perhaps she was acting. Being kind only because she knew who he really was.

  Her hand rested on his forearm as she beamed with delight, and he was certain she was laying it on thick. “That’s a fascinating business model. People like to think textile is a dead industry, but it’s not. We will always be enamored with fashion and fabrics. But if you can unite many of these small operations, they stand a better chance of surviving. I like that.”

  No matter how contrived her admiration was, he still leaned in like a ship toward a siren’s song. “Thanks. I thought of it while sitting on a beach in Belize. My mother’s parents were very wealthy, and upon their death we all ended up with quite the inheritance. I’d like to say I’m a self-made man, but honestly I just threw money at this and it worked.” He was trying to diminish his own worth, hoping they’d move on from the idea he could be an asset. It wasn’t too far from the truth. Business had come fairly easily for him. Doors had opened and opportunities had fallen in his lap. That was the way it was for his family. In truth, his company could likely double in size and his wealth with it. But he had his inheritance. Enough for ten lifetimes. He’d started the business so his mother wouldn’t worry about his lifestyle. It was much harder to nag a successful businessman.

  Lauren’s leg accidently brushed his as she pulled her seat in a little closer. She quietly apologized then set her eyes on him as she spoke. “Can I be forward?” she asked, placing her napkin gingerly into her lap. She waited for a tiny excited nod from Layla then asked him her question. “Why do you think Gloria was so insistent you come here? She didn’t do anything without a reason. A good reason. If you had to guess, a shot in the dark, what would you think it was?”

  Tray had expected to be peppered with all sorts of questions about his work history, but this one caught him off guard. Just as beautiful Lauren had. “I honestly don’t know. Like I said, I’d only met her a few times. I can’t imagine why she’d insist I come and interview. Clearly Kinross Inc. is in good hands. I’m sure I couldn’t improve on anything you are already doing.”

  Layla looked appreciative. “We have a lot of work to do. And not having a COO is making investors nervous. The stock was rattled a bit when I took over but it’s climbing back up. I do feel confident I can lead the company to continued success, but I also know that’s never a one-person job.”

  “I have a theory,” Lauren began. “There was nothing more important to Gloria than loyalty and trust. For a long time, the person who held the COO job didn’t have those qualities. She made do with him because it was the best thing for the business for a while. If she thought you were right for this job it was because, for some reason, she trusted you.”

  “Without knowing me?” He sipped his wine and raised a brow. “That seems reckless.”

  “She had her ways of knowing things.” Lauren grinned. Her smile was dazzling and he nearly smiled back. But this was not the time to warm up to them. It was time to get their entrées and chat about something else. Let them know this wasn’t going anywhere.

  “That’s very flattering. But, I feel like full disclosure is proper right now. I’m not looking for a new job. I’m not looking to move back to the States.”

  Layla looked at Kenan and sighed. “We tried. I wasn’t sure what this was all about either. Gloria was a mystery in a lot of ways. I’m sorry you had to come all this way just to turn us down.”

  “My mother insisted I see you in person. But I had a little business here in the city so I just parlayed it into a quick a trip. It’s no trouble at all. I do hope you find someone who can fill the position soon.”

  The rest of the meal went on pleasantly. Less formal and filled with stories of Gloria that had them all laughing. No matter how much he insisted, Layla picked up the bill.

  “I still hope you sleep on the job offer.” Layla shook his hand firmly and then looped her arm into Kenan’s as they moved toward their waiting car. “Lauren, can we give you lift home?”

  “I’ve got a stop to make,” Lauren said, waving them off. “Have a good night.” Her arm brushed Tray’s as she turned toward the street, and he took in a breath of her sweet perfume.

  “You’re walking?” Tray asked, gesturing for his driver to wait. “I have a car. Let me drop you.”

  “I don’t get into cars with strangers.”

  “We’re hardly strangers. We’ve met twice. We know people in common. And remember, most importantly, Gloria liked me.”

  “She did have a brain tumor impairing her neurological function.”

  “You think that was it?”

  “No,” Lauren admitted. “She thought you were competent. But there are competent jerks.” She batted her lashes as she checked her watch.

  “You’d rather walk around the city at night alone?”

  “It’s only a couple blocks.” She extended her hand and waited for him to shake it and reluctantly he did. The goodbye to Lauren was coming too soon. He’d been a sucker for tears his whole life. He found it hard to walk away from a woman with sad eyes. He always felt compelled to do something to help. It was cheesy, but it was his cross to bear. Lauren was in need of a laugh, and he wanted to be the one to provide it. Or maybe she needed the thrill of pleasure. Something else he was eager to provide. Her voice was breathy as she stared down at her shoes. “I wish this would have worked out. Gloria is rarely wrong.” Her eyes darted away. “Was rarely wrong. I’m not accustomed to using past tense yet.”

  “I can imagine. You two were close?”

  “She was my boss for a long time.”

  “It seems like more than that. All those stories you were telling. They seemed very personal. Special.”

  “I cared for her very much.” She shook her head, looking like she was trying to dislodge a memory. “Anyway, it was nice meeting you.”

  “Is this somewhere you usually walk alone?” He caught her elbow gently as she turned to go. “I don’t want to leave you out here.”

  “I know this area very well. I’m fine.”

  “I wouldn’t mind an after-dinner stroll if you could
stand the company. I’ll be honest, I’m wracking my brain trying to figure out why Gloria was so insistent about me coming. She had to know I wouldn’t want the job. If anyone would know more, it would be you.”

  She gestured with her chin in the direction she planned to walk and whether she meant it or not, he took that as an invitation to join. “I don’t know any more than Layla and Kenan do. I only know that if she suggested it, it’s what she wanted.”

  “Would it be good for Kinross or good for me?”

  “She was big on business deals being mutually beneficial.” Lauren tucked her long curly hair behind her ear. It had been up when he saw her in the office. Now it flowed wildly around her face. “I know Kenan and Layla appreciate you coming all the way from Paris. If I was there it would be hard to get me to leave to come to Boston.”

  “I was actually on an island in the Caribbean. But I do love Paris. Have you ever been?”

  “No. I’ve never been. My mother lives there though.”

  “Really? And you don’t visit?” When her face dropped Tray realized he stepped over it. Again. Crossed the line. “Sorry. That was a stupid question.”

  “No it’s all right. She and my father divorced when I was young. It was messy and I had to pick sides. I didn’t pick hers. So we don’t keep in touch. We haven’t for a very long time.”

  “Maybe it’s a good thing. I talk to my mom and she makes me fly here to interview for a job I don’t want.”

  Her face rebounded to a smile. “Gloria was like that for me. She orchestrated all sorts of dates and opportunities she thought I should take. She meddled like a mother.”

  “And now she’s gone. I can’t imagine what that’s like.”

  “Yeah. I’ll have to start planning my own life, I guess.” Her slender shoulders shrugged.

  “You ever think of visiting your mom? Looking her up? Paris is simply magical this time of year. I could tell you some spots to check out. None of the tourist traps.”

  “I never used to consider visiting. Now I’m not sure what I’m feeling. Gloria always wanted me to. I never felt like I needed anything from my mother. Now I’m questioning that.”