“Autumn, you look amazing.”
“Wrong sister.” She rolled her eyes.
Ah, it was the gamer. “I may have gotten the name wrong but the compliment stands.”
“Thank you.” She motioned for him to come in. “Autumn should be ready in a few minutes. Can I get you anything to drink?”
“No, but can you answer a question?”
“That depends. If I like the question, I’ll give you an answer.” She came closer to him.
“OK.” Bo lost his train of thought as Summer stopped within a few inches of him.
“What’s the question?” She smoothed his tuxedo lapels and caressed his cheek.
“Uh.” Bo stammered. Damn she smelled good, like she’d been running in a field of lilacs all day.
“Did you shave?”
“I thought I’d ditch the serial killer vibe for tonight. And it was fitting for the occasion,” he murmured. “Do you like it?”
Summer straightened his bow tie. “There. Perfect.”
“Ahem.” Autumn stood in the doorway. “Bo, what do you think?”
Bo tore his gaze away from Summer. “You look absolutely stunning.”
“Summer, stop that.” Autumn wedged herself between them. “My sister will groom you within an inch of your life.”
“I was just making sure Bo passed the fifteen-point inspection test you have for all your dates.”
The phone rang. It was the doorman letting them know their transportation had arrived.
“Summer, is your date meeting you at the party?” Bo blurted out. “If he is, it’s very rude.”
“No, silly. We’re sharing you tonight,” Autumn replied.
Once the apartment was locked up, the ladies stood on either side of him and locked arms with him. He had a feeling it was going to be an interesting night.
* * *
As soon as they stepped out of the limo, the paparazzi honed in on Autumn, while Summer was able to slip by unnoticed. The frenzied attention continued inside, but this time Summer couldn’t escape. She began spouting orders to her assistant Tom while Autumn agreed to start mingling with the guests. They both gave him an apologetic look, but he assured them he’d be OK on his own. Bo grabbed some champagne from a passing server and wandered around the headquarters of NuWave. It was like being in a luxurious arcade. There were games and gadgets littered about the rooms. There were stars there from various sports like surfing, cross country racing, golf, and baseball.
The executive lunchroom was equipped with an ice cream parlor, and there were televisions in the restrooms. The Waverly sisters had certainly put a lot of hard work into building their company. He’d done an Internet search on them after their initial meeting and he was impressed. The company was valued at sixty million dollars after the rollout of their latest games, apps, and business software. In the near future, they were bound to skyrocket even further. No wonder Summer was wound so tightly all the time.
Bo did a quick scan of the room to see who was shadowing him tonight. Just as he thought, Kendrick was in the corner blending in with the crowd, wearing a tux and chatting up a lovely brunette. Regency agents traveled in pairs, so that meant someone else had eyes on him too. Being followed around by bodyguards didn’t bother him that much anymore. Sam made sure every member of the family was assigned a detail, and sometimes he recognized the faces. He missed looking up and seeing Sam’s familiar, comforting face on the job, but Kendrick was with them so much these days, he was becoming family too. He gave a slight nod to Kendrick and continued to look around. Bo stopped at the food table and dabbled on the massive spread, thinking of what he would’ve done differently if it were his party.
He enjoyed becoming a proficient cook and had even surprised his mom with a few dishes he’d made for her while visiting. His only disastrous party incident to date was Summer choking at his dining room table, and that was only partly his fault. Autumn’s quip almost did her own sister in, but if Summer hadn’t choked, he wouldn’t have been able to administer first aid. Of all the erotic fantasies he could have nightly, giving Heimlich to Summer was the most bizarre and tantalizing.
The joint speech the ladies made when they took the stage was inspiring. They certainly were a complementary pair in their business dealings. He looked for them after the champagne toast and found them talking to some slick-looking guy who kept smiling like a Cheshire cat at them. Bo could tell from their stiff body language that neither woman was happy to talk to him. He’d stumbled a few times and bumped into Autumn, and now the idiot had his hand on Summer’s shoulder. Bo didn’t know who this guy was, but it was time to go find out.
“There you are, ladies,” Bo said as he inserted himself into the group.
Autumn made the introduction. “Bo Jamison, I’d like you to meet renowned soccer player Dante Costas. He’s going to be endorsing our soccer game that’s releasing in a month.”
“Nice to meet you.” Bo gave him a painful handshake that made Dante twitch a little.
“I was just telling Summer I was invigorated by the workout she gave me last week.” Dante flashed a devilish smile.
“He’s referring to our match in the VR room. I held my own. Dante’s prone to spontaneous soccer games. I’m surprised he hasn’t kicked a ball into a punch bowl by now,” Summer quipped.
Bo’s jaw ticked. “There’s a time and place for everything, and I’m sure he knows this definitely isn’t the setting for such games.” He didn’t like the way Dante was looking at either of them.
“I promise not to do that,” Dante replied. “Tonight is all about pleasure. I can’t believe these two beautiful women are in the cutthroat world of software design. Surely you could put all that beauty to better use.”
“Beautiful and savvy business women,” Bo countered. “There’s nothing sexier than a woman who knows what she wants and has the drive to pursue it.”
“I would be lying if I said I wouldn’t want to see Summer or Autumn in bikinis, sunning themselves on my yacht. They could easily marry celebrities; they have the looks for it. Toiling away in an office is the last thing they should be doing.”
Bo hauled off and decked Dante in the jaw so hard the soccer pro lost his balance and crashed into a passing waiter. Fancy clothes or not, Dante was in for a good old-fashioned Texas ass-whooping tonight. The soccer player’s manager and bodyguard were helping him up when and he was back on his feet, he lunged at Bo. Kendrick appeared out of thin air.
“Mr. Jamison, are you all right?” Kendrick restrained Dante with what he called his Texas lasso hold while his partner told his entourage to back off.
“Who the hell is this guy?” Dante struggled to get out of the bodyguard’s grasp.
Bo got in his face. “I’m the guy who’s going to knock your ass into next Sunday if you don’t apologize to these ladies.”
“That’s none of your business!”
“The hell it isn’t. You apologize for that sexist remark and trying to discount their business skills. You may be thinking of them inappropriately, but I assure you they are focusing on your ass as well and whether you can enhance the bottom line of this company. Ladies, if Dante doesn’t think he can work with you in a professional capacity, I can always get my good friends Seth Blake, the football player, and Tyler Blake, the race car driver, to collaborate on a game with your company.”
Dante’s eyes widened. “No! That won’t be necessary. Ladies, I apologize. What I said was completely out of line and I should show more respect for our business relationship.”
“And I’m sure it won’t happen again in the future.” Bo straightened his bow tie.
“Right.” Dante huffed.
The ladies looked like they were mulling it over. Autumn gave Summer a look and they both nodded in agreement.
“Apology accepted,” Summer replied.
Their assistant Tom joined the group. “Autumn, James Brody is ready for an interview, but I must forewarn you, he’s more interested in what just transpire
d.”
“I’m on spin control. Dante I’m going to tell that reporter that he just witnessed a big misunderstanding. I suggest you do the same unless you want a video of the CFO of Blake Enterprises punching your lights out to go viral.” Autumn pointed to the camera in the ceiling above them and went off with Tom.
After Bo assured Kendrick and his partner that everything was fine, he let go of the soccer star.
“I need a drink,” Dante mumbled.
“How about a coffee to help you get some clarity?” Summer quipped.
Kendrick shot Bo an amused look and insisted on escorting Dante over to the bar to help him sober up, leaving him and Summer alone.
Summer touched his hand. “Do you need some ice for your hand?”
Bo tore his gaze away from the Regency reps and returned his focus to her. “No, I’ll be all right. I know it doesn’t look like it, but I’ve been in a few scuffles in my time.”
“It’s nice to see chivalry isn’t dead.” She straightened his bow tie.
“I’m sorry if I overstepped, but that guy is a sexist jerk. No one has a right to undermine what you’re trying to achieve. On behalf of my gender, I apologize.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I meant what I said. Seth and Tyler are good friends of mine.”
“Thank you. That offer to work with a bigger sports star definitely changed Dante’s attitude.” She waggled her eyebrows.
“I thought it would. Not bad for an axe-wielding killer, eh?”
She scrunched her nose. “The friendly neighbor is always a psycho in the movies. I had to confirm you weren’t some scary killer. I may have misjudged you at first blush.” She chuckled.
“Speaking of.” He cupped her face and ran his thumb across the pink sheen spreading across her face.
Summer moved out of his grasp. “I’ve encountered idiots like Dante since we started this company. The nerve of people thinking it was ‘cute’ that we wanted to own a video game empire and that I was biding my time until I landed a rich man. I take my career very seriously and I don’t work twelve hour days so I can bait myself a husband that will take me away from all this.” She rolled her eyes.
“So beauty can be a curse?” he countered.
“You tell me. Being a handsome executive ever put a cramp in your business dealings? When Autumn announced that you were coming to the party, half the women in the office got out their man-catching nets,” she quipped.
Bo let out a hearty laugh. “No, as a matter-of-fact our CEO J.J. gets objectified, while I get to do my work in peace.”
Bo had been delightfully comfortable in the backdrop the last few years while J.J. was fawned over by the media. Now women had been taking notice of him in a big way. Teri-Lyn told him it wasn’t that they were noticing him more because of the subtle makeover, but that he was now more aware of their reaction to him.
“You don’t fool me for a minute. You fit right in with the handsome, rough-and-tumble Blakes. Funny, you didn’t strike me the brutish type. I would have put my money on a stern talking to and I got the fight of the century.” Summer bit her lip.
“What type of guy do you think I am exactly?” He folded his arms over his chest.
“A good one.” She gently put her hands on his arms and made him lower them back down. “Don’t do that. You’re going to wrinkle your nice tuxedo. I hope you know that you just scored major points with Autumn.”
He flashed her a devilish smile. “What about you?”
“You’re forgiven for the Brussels sprout that almost claimed my life.”
“That’s a start.”
“You want to get out of here?” She looked around. “I’ve done my obligatory seventy-eight minutes of face time, and Autumn has things under control.”
Bo scanned the room for Autumn. She was holding court in a crowd of people wearing media badges. Kendrick was working the room.
“What do you have in mind?”
“Now we go to the real party in my private office. You can tell your security detail I’m not kidnapping you.” She winked.
“How did you know?”
“Sam from Regency dropped by to give us a courtesy notification that a Blake Enterprises executive would be attending the party and they wanted to insert a few people in posed as party goers. I was very impressed.”
Bo nodded. “You should consider using them. I can personally attest to their dedication to protection, discretion, and professionalism.”
“I liked that I couldn’t pick them out of the crowd until that guy tried to turn Dante into a pretzel.” She laughed.
“I’m all yours. Where are we off to?” He held out his arm for her to grasp.
“Just one thing. We’re going to have to get you out of that tux.”
“Will this involve a walk of shame later on in the evening?”
“Follow me.” She grinned.
* * *
Summer thought the party was going exceptionally well, especially after Dante had his arrogant ass handed to him. Not that she couldn’t have handled him herself, she thought it was sweet of Bo to come to their defense. She’d been dealing with men like that for the longest time, and Dante’s attempts to make her feel grateful that he’d decided to work with them fell flat.
Being around Bo felt familiar and comforting. She didn’t have to keep her guard up for anything nefarious because he was a stand-up guy. He looked downright sinful in his tuxedo, his good looks magnified by the elegant clothing, and his clean-shaven face was even more handsome now that he wasn’t hiding it behind a beard.
She took Bo’s hand and headed for her sanctuary: a game room designed specifically for her. This was her quiet place where she enjoyed testing her skills so she could stay a step ahead of the competition.
“Welcome to my world.” She hit a button and two panels opened up on the wall to reveal a massive big screen television and a console that rose up from the floor.
Bo whistled. “Holy cow.”
“Every game currently in our catalog and in the conception stage is loaded into this console.” She pulled her hair back into a makeshift bun and took off her shoes. “Do you play games?”
“I prefer to be direct.”
Summer smiled. “Do you play video games?”
“I don’t look like I know how to play?” He raised an eyebrow.
“No, you have this subtle geek vibe going on and you have a lot of cool toys in your apartment, but I didn’t want to assume.”
“Well, you are correct. I can proudly say I’m third in the tournament we have going at the ranch. Seth’s football game is addictive.”
“I hate to give kudos to the competition, but I love the graphics on that game.” She handed him a headset. “You pick.”
“Let’s see.”
Summer watched as Bo continued to hit the cursor on the screen. After five minutes she started getting a little antsy. He settled on Street Dreams, a racing game, which was no surprise.
“Just because you know a pro racer doesn’t mean you have the advantage,” she huffed.
“OK, Waverly. You’re about to get schooled in the art of racing. I have to warn you, I can get pretty competitive. I ordered an arcade-style racing game to practice on so I could beat Tyler, the reigning champ on the game we have at the ranch. It’s the best five grand I ever spent.”
“I thought I was bad.” She shook her head. “Pick a name speed demon.”
Summer rolled her eyes when he typed in the user name Hot CFO 69.
He winked at her. “Let’s get this party started.”
“First.” She walked up to him and slid the tuxedo jacket off his arms. He smelled good; she detected a hint of sandalwood. It was earthy and intoxicating. “Let’s get you out of this.”
“You have a thing about things being in their proper place,” Bo mumbled as he flexed to get out of the jacket.
“Kind of.” She smiled. “I like things neat and in order. It drives my family crazy, but it helps me relax.”
“So.”
Bo pulled on his bow tie until it unraveled. “This won’t mess with your concentration, will it?”
“I don’t care if you strip down naked and cover yourself with honey; my mind is a steel trap when it comes to winning.” She put on her headset and pressed play.
She got off to a good start and left Bo in the dust. She got into to it and was trash-talking him, then glanced over when she didn’t see his car in her rear view mirror. She looked on the right side of the screen to see Bo was still at the starting line.
“Hey, I can’t have decent bragging rights if you don’t get in the game.” She pouted.
Bo gave her a boyish smile. “I’m still thinking about the honey.”
* * *
Autumn didn’t expect that by the time she was free to flirt that Bo would be missing. She asked around and it was Tom that informed her that he’d gone off somewhere with Summer. That meant he was in her sister’s private game room. Of all the things to do with a hot man, getting him to play videos games should have been last on the list. Still, a leopard didn’t change its spots, and Summer was still the uber geek she’d been all her life. Autumn wanted to show her appreciation for Bo putting Dante in his place. He’d made several apologies after he’d sobered up. She didn’t think he was sincere, but he’d been put in his place in a very public arena. She informed him that one more misstep and she’d get their lawyers to dissolve that contract and look for another soccer star. He’d agreed that there would be no more funny business.
Autumn snagged a bottle of champagne and two flutes and climbed the steps, certain she was about to rescue Bo. She opened the door to find Summer and Bo playing one of their virtual dancing games. She could tell they were on level eight. They were both sweating, trying to keep up with the music, but more importantly they looked like they were having a good time. She put the bottle and glasses down on the table and joined them. So much for seduction tonight.
Executive Desires (The Blake Boys Book 10) Page 5