“The meeting with Mike went better than I expected. He pitched a fit, but when he saw I wasn’t going to change my mind he ran out of steam.”
“So, things are good?”
“I may do some consulting work for him. To appease him, I said I’d consider some advertising. Yep. All in all, things are good. He didn’t like the time line, but he has a few candidates in mind. He accepted my resignation and we’re moving forward.”
“That’s my girl. I can’t believe you're really moving here.” She could hear his sigh through the phone.
“You better believe it. You’ll have to put me up for a while.”
“Not a problem. Mi casa es su casa. At least you won’t have to worry about Robert.”
“How the heck he knew the moment I got here—”
“What?” Dennis bellowed across the line. Kelly immediately realized her mistake when several curse words followed.
“He found me. I handled it,” she said quickly.
“That son-of-a-bitch. I’m coming up there.”
“No. Will you wait a minute?”
“What did that bastard do? You better tell me the truth.”
“If you give me a chance, I will.” Kelly’s breathing accelerated. Trying to calm Dennis down was like running a marathon. “He must have been lurking around my favorite Starbucks.”
“The one down from your apartment? He’s been watching your apartment!”
“Dennis, my hearing is fine. You can tone it down a bit. I’m fine.” She spun her chair around, a nervous habit, and gazed at the lights coming off the other buildings. “He wanted to apologize.”
“Like hell he did.”
“Are you going to let me talk?” He remained quiet on the other end, so she continued. “He apologized. Said he made a mistake.”
“A big one,” Dennis interrupted again.
“He told me he’s getting a divorce. He figured if his wife knew about me, she’d drag it out and he wanted to keep me out of it.”
“The bastard should have kept away from you, period. What did you tell him?”
“I told him it was over. That I’ve moved on. I suggested he do the same.” She pinched the little bridge at the top of her nose, fatigue making its presence known.
“Good girl. How did he take the news?”
“He thought we were getting back together, but I set him straight.”
“Kelly, I don’t trust him. Do you have someone to take you home?”
“I don’t need anyone to take me home, Dennis. I come and go as I please, and have been doing so for years.”
“Still, I don’t like it. I think I should come up there while you’re packing up. Does he know you’re moving?”
“No, you shouldn’t, and no, I didn’t tell him. He can find out however he finds out. Now stop. I’m a big girl.”
“I don’t have to like it, but all right,” he gave in. “Just be careful.”
“Yes, sir. I’m really tired. I’m going home.”
“Call me when you get there.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake.”
“Humor me. Get your ass out of there and go home.”
“Man, you’re bossy.” She pushed the red circle to end the call. They gave each other crap, but she appreciated his concern.
Chapter 20
Growing up the rough way Craig had, it was a wonder he made it to adulthood. If he’d stayed the course, he could have self-destructed. Amelia Knight had saved him from himself.
He drove through the iron gates at his mother’s house, feeling a sense of contentment. The two-story structure held five bedrooms, as many baths, and several other unused rooms. While he’d spent his early years surviving elsewhere, this was the only home he’d really known. A woman who gave him the love he needed to turn his life around. A woman who’d sheltered him, cared for him, and fed his body, as well as his starving soul.
Amelia Knight. He didn’t want anything to do with her, yet she welcomed him and made him realize his life was going nowhere. Showed him that if he continued on the same path, he would end up in prison or even dead.
A young boy who’d survived as a man fending for himself, he thought he was tough. The woman was a stranger. Her words meant nothing to him. She never gave up. One day, she finally convinced him she wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was he. Her home became the safe haven he hadn’t known he needed.
Home.
Amelia. His mother. She loved him like he was her own.
He’d called her, so she was expecting him. He let himself in and immediately felt a rush of sentiment.
Home.
“Darling,” she greeted him, her eyes sparkling with pleasure. He swept her into a hug, the scent of her perfume bringing back fond childhood memories.
“Let me look at you,” she said as she stepped back, grasping his hands. “Well. You look like you’ve been taking care of yourself. Would you like coffee or iced tea?”
“Iced tea would be great.” While she poured the tea, he pulled out a stool from the counter island.
“Tell me what kept you on the East Coast. Howard had no idea.”
“Howard is the Vice President of Knight Industries. He is not my personal assistant.”
“She didn’t seem to know either.” Amelia placed his glass on the counter and took the upholstered barstool next to him.
“Thank you,” he said automatically. Amelia believed in manners, and she’d instilled them in him with a firm hand. Her raised eyebrow told him she waited for him to answer. He made a mental note to give his assistant a raise for proving her loyalty. “That’s why I like her,” he told Amelia. “She can keep a secret.”
“A secret? You have a secret?” Amelia might appear innocent in her questions, but the woman knew how to gleam information without appearing to do so.
The tea was cold and perfect. He quickly swallowed. “No, nothing like that. My assistant is excellent at her job. She can differentiate between company business and personal business. Why I was on the East Coast had no bearing on Howard running Knight Industries.”
“All right. You’ve put me truly in my place. As a—”
Craig covered her hand with tenderness. “No. I have not. You don’t need to contact Howard if you want to know what I’m doing.”
“It’s just that I expected you weeks ago. I didn’t know until you called that your delay was personal.”
Craig had to smile at Amelia’s fidgeting. She was bursting with curiosity. He deliberately diverted the conversation.
“It’s good to be home.” She was having none of it.
“Are you going to tell me about this girl you met in Charlotte?”
“No beating around the bush for you.”
“That’s right.” She leveled him with a glare he was all too familiar with. “You said you’d tell me when you got home. You’re home.”
“Yes ma’am.” Excitement bubbled at the thought of Kelly. He couldn’t keep the grin from curving his lips.
“Even if you hadn’t mentioned her on the phone, I would know. Amelia cupped the side of his face. “Your eyes are shining. You’ve had a tilt to your lips since you walked through that door.”
“I’m always happy to see you.”
“You’ve got an extra sparkle there,” she said while studying his face. “You do seem happy. Is this girl someone special?”
He heard the hope in his mom’s voice, and his heart swelled with the emotion. It always did when he thought of Kelly. Her face burned bright in his mind. He could almost reach out and touch her.
“She’s pretty special,” he answered.
“She must be to give you that glow.”
“You’re imagining things.” It was true, though, that inside he radiated wi
th happiness. Maybe he did glow.
“I’m happy for you. What’s her name?” Amelia took a sip of her tea.
“Kelly Buchanan. I’ve never met anyone like her.” And he had not been able to think of anything but her since.
“Kelly. Sounds pretty.”
“She’s beautiful. Inside and out.” He hoped his mother believed him. The words were truer than their meaning. Kelly was the most beautiful woman he’d ever known. Every action was delivered with kindness and caring. He couldn’t imagine anyone not falling in love with her. He thanked his lucky stars that she’d fallen for him.
“Might make things a little complicated for Jacelyn.”
His shoulders tensed. “Why would you mention her?”
The shrug Amelia gave was not as innocent as she tried to make it. “Her intentions are pretty clear. The girl doesn’t hide her interest in you.”
“Her objectives are not mine.” He brushed the idea away like he was swatting a fly.
“As soon as she finds out you’re in San Francisco, I’m sure she’ll be contacting you. You won’t be able to avoid her since you have business dealings with her father.”
“Business relationships are separate from personal relationships.”
“Tell that to a father who loves his spoiled daughter,” Amelia mumbled.
“I will,” Craig said, with a more forceful tone than he normally used. He immediately regretted his outburst.
“It will take her a while to get over your rejection. I doubt anyone has ever said no to the girl.”
“Her father certainly hasn’t. The company does not need Harrington’s association. You understand me well enough to know I will allow no one to dictate to me, nor allow any leverage over the company. Honesty and integrity will prevail, even if I run the company into the ground.”
“Which will never happen, of course. You’ve tripled your holdings since taking over.”
“I’m not worried about money. I care for the people who work for us.”
“Darling.” She patted his hand. “The company is yours. I’m only a shareholder. You’ve turned it into a gold mine, and I’m proud of you. I do thank you for keeping me up to date.”
“You’re more than a shareholder and you know it.” Amelia was not one to sit idly by. She kept her finger in the cogwheel. What one might call spies, she called loyal friends. He had no problem with anything they told her or did for her. The original company had belonged to her husband, who died before Craig entered the picture. Amelia sat at the helm for years. A savvy businesswoman, and a caring one. How had he gotten so lucky?
She waved a hand. “It’s only a small conglomerate compared to the others you own.”
“I wish I didn’t have to travel so much, but if not for that, I wouldn’t have met Kelly.”
“Kelly lives on the other side of the globe. Are your feelings serious enough for you to pursue long distance?”
He’d done some thinking on his flight to San Francisco. Returning to his business life without a certain sexy blond, he had to face a few factors. He’d fallen in love. He was ready to settle down. He had to juggle some things to make a new life outside of his busy world. A new life with Kelly. One thing for sure, he had no intention of living without her.
He loved San Francisco, but he loved Kelly more. Where they lived did not matter, as long as he had her by his side. He’d move to Charlotte, to Richmond, to the moon if she preferred it.
“Most definitely,” he answered with assurance.
“You must tell me all about her. How about meatloaf for dinner?”
“Sounds great.”
~ ~ ~
Craig stared at the stern man sitting at the other end of a long mahogany table in the executive meeting room. Harrington must have gotten word of Craig’s return immediately, the man had updated information. Craig wouldn’t be surprised if there were loose lips in this building. Harrington seemed to know more than he should on several issues. Craig supposed Jacelyn had been a part of that. After all, he had dated the man’s daughter.
Craig had never mixed business with pleasure. Their relationship had lasted no longer than the time it took him to discover her true intentions.
For the first hour, his top directors discussed the business proceedings during his absence. Then, they moved forward to the joint venture with Harrington and things that could cause delays. Harrington’s opinion clashed with the already specified plan, and he voiced his objection sternly.
“I’m not throwing millions of dollars down a rabbit hole. I want you on this project, not Spence Colburn.”
Outwardly, Craig remained calm. Inwardly, he seethed. His jaw twitched. Every muscle in his body tensed with the urge to throttle the overbearing man. Who did Harrington think he was, making demands? He’d just insulted one of Craig’s employees. An affiliate with an essential role in Craig’s corporation, not to mention his outstanding performance. From his peripheral vision, Craig could see the simmering anger on Spence’s face. Craig kept his gaze focused on Harrington and willed his body to relax.
“That is not the plan. Spencer is more than capable. I will be out of California during the—”
“You should be here,” Harrington interrupted.
Silence filled the room, deafening as a gun blast. Without looking, Craig knew each man sat at the table in silence, waiting for an explosion after Harrington’s ballsy remark. Not only had a guest heatedly interrupted the highest-ranking member in the room, but he’d dared to issue a command of sorts. Craig would bet there wasn’t a man in the room who wasn’t grateful he was not on the receiving end of Craig’s ire. He leveled his incensed stare on Harrington.
“I own the company. I can operate from anywhere in the world.” Craig saw no need to reprimand the man further. He’d made his point clear, and his simple declaration reminded every man in the room exactly who was in charge.
By the flush on Harrington’s face, the foolish man realized he’d overstepped his bounds. And Harrington was no fool.
“Gentlemen,” Craig continued after a lengthy silence, his voice controlled with self-assurance, “there is no cause for agitation. This is a business deal like any other. The only difference being Mr. Harrington’s money.” Craig used the man’s title, again addressing him as of little importance. Harrington may be a well-known name in San Francisco, but Craig had little patience for egos and dominating men in his board room. Harrington could invest or not. The choice was his.
“My decision on operations and management stands.”
Only because Craig knew Spence’s habits, he recognized the guy’s unease. Of course, the tension in his shoulders could be from fury instead of stress. If he’d thought Spence couldn’t handle the task, he would not have suggested him for the job.
The throb of a headache pulsed, but Craig refrained from rubbing his temple. Any sign of stress could weaken his show of strength. He wished this meeting was over. He couldn’t wait to get back to Kelly.
“Spence. You have anything to add?”
“I have a list of names to form a new committee for your approval. John Stilwell will be in charge of advertising.”
“Sex sells,” Coffman blurted from his side of the table.
“We’re not selling sex,” Craig disputed.
Hell. What had happened to his associates in his absence? It was clear he needed to take a look at the chain of command and see if he needed to restructure.
“Women dressed in sexy clothes will catch notice.”
“What kind of notice?” Thank God, Pierce agreed with him.
“Or women dressed in barely nothing at all.” Another member voiced his opinion.
“What about the women viewers?” Davies jumped into the fray. “Do you want to parade bare man bodies—”
Craig stood. �
�If you can’t work this out, I’ll hire someone who can. You know my values, and I don’t have time to waste on arguments.”
Several men stared open mouthed, while a discreet cough erupted from one or two others.
“Two days, Gentlemen. That will be all.”
The associates gathered their belongings and cleared the room. Harrington remained behind. Craig waited with perseverance. He’d had enough arguing for one afternoon.
“If I may speak with you, Craig,” Harrington said as he approached.
“Of course.” Craig remained standing.
“I apologize if I spoke out of turn. Sometimes I get carried away in a board room.”
“No apology necessary. As I said, Spence is a talented and accomplished colleague. I do quite a bit of traveling and trust him completely to handle any matter that might arise.”
“Of course, of course. In the spirit of our collaboration, and our friendship, I’d like to invite you to dinner this evening. Perhaps we can discuss the matter further. Or not. We can simply share a meal.”
Friendship? They weren’t exactly friends. Business acquaintances. Taking his daughter to a few functions did not declare them friends. Harrington was a man to keep his eye on. Craig wondered what the man was up to.
“Very well. I am free this evening.”
The idea flitted through his mind that Jacelyn would more than likely be in attendance. It was sure to be unpleasant. Might as well get it over with. The sooner he made plans for his new life, the quicker he could return to Kelly.
God, he missed her.
~ ~ ~
Craig took a sip of his water, thinking what he needed was a good shot of Scotch. The evening had gone as he’d assumed. Harrington had brought his daughter, and right after the meal, conveniently acquired a sudden excuse to escape, leaving Jacelyn in Craig’s care.
He glanced at the woman across from him. Jacelyn gave the impression of perfection. Her clothes and actions brandished money, making the observer completely aware she came from wealth. And her body, even though too thin for his taste, would match any model on a clothing designers’ runway.
Instant Enticement Page 25