Romeo for Hire

by Ali Parker

  “Well, you’re about to see it.” Candice raised her eyebrows.

  We all hopped on the next train. Candice sat Paisley down on an empty seat and hovered in front of her, blocking her from the view of the other passengers.

  As I watched them, I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. It wasn’t often that I saw someone hover protectively over my daughter. Other than myself and Max, I never let anyone get close enough to Paisley to form any kind of bond.

  But as Candice and Paisley laughed together, cracking jokes and acting silly, I realized I couldn’t have stopped the bond from forming. Candice was destined to be in Paisley’s life. And in mine.

  We reached our stop, and Candice held Paisley’s hand as we climbed back up to the street.

  “Where is this place?” Paisley demanded impatiently. “We’ve been walking forever.”

  “Not far,” Candice promised. “One more block.”

  Paisley skipped ahead as we made our way down the sidewalk. Candice slid over beside me, leaning into me as I wrapped my arm around her back. Placing a soft kiss on her temple, I pulled her tighter and inhaled the sweet smell of her hair.

  A thousand memories from last night flooded my brain.

  We were back in my bed, the sheets tangled around us. Our bodies were covered in sweat, sparks of desire setting our skin on fire.

  “Mmm,” I groaned in her ear. “I want you.”

  “You just had me,” she said softly.

  “It wasn’t enough.”

  Candice sighed and turned her face to mine. We kissed, quickly pulling away to make sure Paisley was still with us.

  My little girl skipped a path just ahead of us. Candice smiled after her, lost in a daydream I didn’t know anything about.

  “You like hanging out with her, don’t you?” I asked, surprise coating my voice.

  “Of course.” Candice blinked. “How could I not?”

  We made it to the doughnut shop, and Candice pushed open the door. A blast of freezing air rushed over our faces. Paisley gasped and giggled, running inside and heading straight for the counter.

  We ordered our breakfast and found a table by the window. The shop was tiny, but we didn’t care.

  My mind drifted to the future as I watched Candice play with Paisley. They shared doughnuts, giggling about who had picked the better flavor. Candice’s smile never once left her face, and when it was time to leave, she looked like she didn’t want to.

  “I’ll see you soon,” she promised Paisley. “Have fun in school, okay?”

  “Okay!” Paisley wrapped her arms around Candice’s waist. “Have fun at work.”

  “Thanks.” Candice laughed. “I’ll try.”

  She turned to me, rising onto her toes. Her lips barely brushed against mine. When she pulled away, my chest felt heavy.

  “This weekend,” I blurted out.

  Candice blinked. “What?”

  “Spend it with us.” I touched Paisley’s head. “Come over tomorrow. We can hang out all day and have a movie night or something.”

  Smiling, Candice looked down at Paisley. “What do you think?” she asked. “Sound like a plan?”

  “Duh!”

  “Okay.” Candice nodded firmly. “Then, I’ll be there.”

  She kissed me again, her eyes lingering on my face before she turned away from us. Paisley and I watched her until she disappeared around the corner.

  Chapter 42

  Candice

  My afternoon meetings flew by in a blur. I barely took in anything my team had to say. My head was full of memories from last night.

  All I could see was Ryan hovering above me, his green eyes locked on my face. His lips had danced over my body, sending waves of need cascading to my toes. As my meetings dragged on, I tried to focus, but it was impossible.

  He was all I could think about, all I cared about. For the first time in my life, I didn’t want to think about Smart Cosmetics. I hated my office. I hated the conference room. I hated the very building in which it all stood.

  My meetings ended, and I slipped back to my office without a word.

  I had barely settled behind my desk when a sharp tap echoed through the room. Jerking my head up, I frowned. That wasn’t Kendra’s knock.

  “Come in,” I called.

  The door creaked open, and a familiar, kind face appeared in the doorway. Smiling, I jumped to my feet and hurried around the desk.

  “Bart!” I held my arms wide. He walked into them, his warm eyes twinkling.

  “Hello, Candice.” He hugged me tightly and then held me at arm’s length to look me over. “You look well. Are you well?”

  “I’m better than well.” I laughed and gestured for him to sit down. “What are you doing here? I didn’t see your name on my schedule for today.”

  Bart waved his hand casually through the air. “It wouldn’t be,” he said. “I know I should have called, but this was a spur of the moment thing. Gwen and I are just in town for a couple of days. We’re here to see some new show on Broadway. According to Gwen, it’s ‘revolutionary.’”

  “Aren’t they all?”

  Bart chuckled and sat back in the chair. He placed one ankle over the opposite knee and wrapped his fingers around his leg.

  I sat down in my own chair with a smile. It wasn’t often that Bartholomew Banks appeared in my office.

  “When was the last time we saw each other?” I asked. “Dad’s funeral?”

  “I think so.” Bart sighed. “Sad day.”

  “The worst,” I agreed.

  Silence fell over us. My father’s absence filled the room, but my smile remained on my face. Bart had been my father’s best friend. They’d started Smart Cosmetics together, and even now, decades later, Bart sat at the head of the board.

  He rarely made it to the city. Instead, he and his wife Gwen spent their time traveling between California and Europe.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” I said. “I’ve missed you.”

  “Oh, I’ve missed you too.” Bart beamed. “I couldn’t pass up the chance to visit with you. And tell you just how impressed I am by what you’ve done here.”

  “Impressed?”

  “Yes.” Bart chuckled and leaned forward. “Your father would be so proud of you, Candice. Not even he could have imagined the success you’ve created here. It’s inspiring, really. You’ve come a long way from the shy teenager I once knew.”

  “I don’t know that I was ever shy.”

  “Surly?” Bart offered.

  “Yes.” I tilted my head back with laughter. “That sounds about right.”

  Bart sighed and surveyed me. He looked older now, tired in a way only a lifetime of experiences could cause. Watching him, I felt guilty that I hadn’t stayed in touch. Despite him being the head of the board, Bart kept to himself. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t send an email every few weeks to check in.

  “How are James and Michelle?” I asked.

  “They’re perfect.” Bart nodded. “Michelle is pregnant with her third baby, and James just started his residency here in New York.”

  “Oh, he’s here?” I raised my eyebrows.

  “He is. You two should get together soon. He’d love to see you.”

  “I’ll call him.”

  Bart smiled, but a faraway look appeared in his eyes. I got the sudden impression that this wasn’t merely a social visit.

  Waiting for him to reveal his true intentions, I stayed silent. The silence stretched out around us, unbroken. Several seconds passed with Bart staring at me across my desk. I couldn’t take the tension for another second.

  “Okay, Bart.” I placed my hands on my desk and sucked in a sharp breath. “Spill it.”

  “You know me well.” Bart chuckled.

  “I do.” I nodded. “Which is why I know you aren’t just here to catch up. What’s going on?”

  Bart dropped his foot to the floor and sighed. Standing up, he buttoned his coat and moved slowly to the window. He peered out over the city, wr
inkles spider webbing away from his narrowed eyes.

  “I remember when your father bought this building.” He shook his head. “Feels like a lifetime ago.”

  “It was,” I said bluntly.

  Bart turned back to me. He clasped his hands together behind his back and crossed the space between us. Perching himself on the edge of my desk, he fixed me with a stare so like my father’s that my chest tightened with emotion.

  “There has been some concern among the board members,” he said slowly.

  I blinked. “Concern?”

  “Yes.” Bart cleared his throat. “The numbers are great. That’s not the issue.”

  “Then, what is?”

  My insides squirmed. Whatever it was, I knew it was serious if it had brought Bart to New York. His eyes, warm just seconds before, darkened.

  “The concern is about you,” he said simply.

  “Me?”

  “I won’t insult you by sugarcoating things,” he said. “I respect you, Candice, so I’m going to tell you outright.”

  “Okay,” I said slowly. “Go ahead.”

  “Many members of the board are worried about your ability to commit.”

  My eyebrows knit together. My ability to commit?

  “I’m not sure I understand.” I kept my voice calm, professional. “I think I’ve shown nothing but commitment to this company.”

  “It’s not the company they’re worried about,” Bart said.

  I scoffed. “So, this is about my personal life?”

  My mother’s face swam in my mind. Everything inside of me screamed that this was her doing, that she was the reason for Bart’s spontaneous visit.

  “I know it doesn’t seem fair, but—”

  “Bart.” I held my hand up to silence him. “Let me ask you something. Would you be bringing this to my attention if I were a man?”

  His eyes darted to the floor and then back up to my face. It was a split second. If I had blinked, I would’ve missed it, but I didn’t. I saw a wall slam shut behind the eyes of a man who was like a second father to me.

  “This is ridiculous.” I stood up and turned away from him. Folding my arms, I stared through the window and tried to keep myself calm.

  “I’m sorry, Candice.” Bart’s voice was soft. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m only sharing this with you because I thought you might want to take action now before it’s too late.”

  “Too late?” I spun around, my arms falling to my sides. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  Bart shook his head quickly. “Nothing.”

  “No.” I stepped forward. “It meant something, Bart. Is the board planning to oust me?”

  “You know I would never let that happen.”

  Something akin to pain flashed across Bart’s face. My stomach ached with a stabbing pain that I tried to ignore.

  “My day was going so well,” I said under my breath.

  “I didn’t want to ruin it.”

  “Then, what did you want?” I demanded. “Why even come here? If you have no intention of letting them fire me, then why?”

  “Because I want to help you.”

  Bart pushed himself away from my desk. He held his hands out, his eyes open and warm once more. I shook my head and turned away from him. I couldn’t stand to look at him.

  “Help me how?” I asked, facing the window.

  “There are a couple of things that might help your image,” Bart said carefully. “A couple things that, if done properly, will avert the board’s attention.”

  Snorting, I glanced over my shoulder. I had a feeling I knew exactly what the first thing on his list might be.

  “If you were to bring a date to the anniversary banquet,” Bart said. I closed my eyes, hating myself for being right. “Then, that might prove to the board that you aren’t—”

  “Cold?” I asked softly. “Dead inside?”

  “No one said anything like that,” Bart assured me. “Everyone loves you, Candice. They just have doubts that you’ll be able to maintain a lifestyle conducive to running such a large company.”

  “I’ve done pretty well so far.”

  “You’ve done an incredible job,” Bart said. His feet padded against the floor. Before I could move, his hand fell onto my shoulder. “I wasn’t lying before. Candice, your father would be so proud of what you’ve built here.”

  Shaking his hand away, I rounded on him.

  “If that’s true, then I wouldn’t need a man by my side to do my job.”

  “And you don’t. It was just a thought.”

  “Well, thank you,” I spat. “But, I think you would do well to keep your thoughts to yourself from now on.”

  Anger flashed in Bart’s eyes. I cowered, but I refused to show it. My eyes widened as I squared my shoulders and readied myself for a fight.

  “I never wanted to upset you,” Bart said, a determined calm in his voice. “I only came as a courtesy. I apologize if that courtesy is not appreciated.”

  He turned to leave, walking briskly across the room. As I watched him, guilt weighed heavily on my chest. I sighed and hurried after him.

  “Bart,” I said. “Please, wait.”

  He stopped but didn’t turn. I knew he was offended by my outburst, and as much as I regretted its nastiness, I couldn’t regret its intent.

  “I know you care about me,” I said. “I’m sorry for getting so angry with you. You’re only trying to help.”

  Bart’s shoulders relaxed. He turned slowly on his heel. His eyes searched my face. Taking a step forward, he reached for my hand.

  “I believe in you,” he said simply. “But you may have to work to gain the confidence of everyone else.”

  “Why?” I asked, defeated. “Why can’t my success speak for itself? Why do I need a man by my side to validate my position here?”

  Bart sighed sadly. “I don’t know,” he said. “But would it really be so terrible?”

  “Yeah,” I snorted. “It would be.”

  “Your mother said you’re seeing someone.” Bart squeezed my hand. “When I talked to her last week, she mentioned a man. Ryan?”

  “That’s—” I hesitated. “That’s complicated.”

  “Well.” Bart dropped my hand. “Do you like him? Do you feel something for him?”

  I was afraid my answer might get back to Mom, so I didn’t give it. I simply held Bart’s gaze and trusted him to see the truth.

  “If you do,” he finally said, “then maybe bringing him to the banquet would be a blessing, not a curse.”

  With that, Bart winked and turned toward the door. He slipped into the hallway, glancing back at me warmly before he pulled the door closed behind him.

  I stayed frozen in the center of my office, my eyes focused on the closed door before me. Bart was gone, but his message still hung over my head like a black cloud of despair. When I could move again, I slowly walked back to my desk and sank into my chair.

  The idea of taking Ryan to the banquet made me smile. Then, that smile faded.

  How could I be a strong businesswoman if I caved to the misogynistic ideals of the board? If I rolled over without a fight? If I simply accepted the insulting terms they were placing in front of me, no matter how strongly I disagreed?

  My head hit my hands. I pressed my fingers against my forehead and prayed for an answer to all my problems.

  Chapter 43

  Ryan

  Candice arrived at my place early Saturday morning. I had the picnic basket packed, Paisley was ready to go, and my wallet was tucked safely in my back pocket. When I opened the door to see Candice’s face, I grinned and ushered her back outside.

  Paisley followed close behind, skipping around us excitedly.

  “Where are we going?” Candice asked.

  “I was thinking a picnic on Ellis Island,” I said simply.

  “Ellis Island?” Candice frowned.

  I shrugged. “Yeah,” I said. “Paisley’s never been to the Statue of Liberty.”

>   “Never!” Paisley squealed.

  Candice chuckled and reached for Paisley’s hand. We walked to my car and climbed inside. Driving across the city took so long that Paisley’s eyes began to close in the back seat. I glanced at her in the rearview mirror, smiling to myself.

  “You look happy,” Candice said softly.

  She reached her hand over and touched my cheek. My eyes fluttered closed at her touch. I leaned into her, pressing my cheek against her palm.

  “I am,” I said simply.

  Candice smiled and settled back into the seat. She stared out the window as I wove through traffic, taking us closer to the tour boat.

  When we made it, I pulled Paisley from the back seat and carried her across the street. Candice took the picnic basket from me as we stepped on the boat and settled into a row of seats.

  Paisley shot up with a jerk. Her eyes roamed around, taking in the water around us. Squinting in the distance, she looked at the Statue of Liberty and tried to make out every detail. It was huge, even from the boat, but Paisley couldn’t wait to get up close.

  “We’ll be there soon,” I promised.

  Wrapping my arm around Candice, I settled in for the tour.

  We listened as the tour guide talked all about the statue’s history. He told us the statue stood as a strong woman, standing tall for freedom. Candice’s face fell at his words. She glanced up at the statue, her mind a million miles away.

  I squeezed her shoulders, but she didn’t feel it. Whatever had suddenly occupied her mind was too strong to fight. I kissed her temple and waited for her attention to come back. It didn’t until the boat docked on the island, and it was time to climb off.

  Paisley yanked my arm forward, pulling me as hard as she could. She stared up at the statue, awe and wonder dancing across her face.

  “Is she really a girl?” Paisley asked. “Like, a real girl?”

  “What do you mean?” I asked with a laugh.

  “I mean, did the statue maker use a real girl for, like, a model?”

  “Hmm.” I shook my head. “I don’t know. Candice?”

  Candice blinked and whipped her head around. The same faraway look was in her eyes, but she smiled down at Paisley all the same.