Lost Without You

by Yahrah St. John

  “Don’t you remember the emails, Daddy?” Courtney asked. “The ones from Shane?” She inclined her head in her brother’s direction across the table. “I think the exact quote was, ‘She’s a prim and proper know-it-all who thinks she’s better than me, but I’m ten times the chemist she could ever be.’”

  “I was right,” Shane replied. “I won best fragrance in our last year of school, and I am head of R&D of Adams Cosmetics. And she’s second in command over at L’Oréal Paris.”

  “Are you saying she’s not qualified, son?”

  Shane reached for his wineglass and took a sip. “No, she’s qualified.”

  “He just doesn’t want anyone looking over his shoulder,” Courtney responded.

  “I think you and your sister could learn a lesson in sharing,” Elizabeth Adams said from the opposite head of the table from her husband. “I recall Kayla had the same problem working with Ethan.”

  Byron huffed from his side of the table. “That wasn’t the same thing.” Although he and his son-in-law had come to a truce over the past few months, Byron had not forgotten how Ethan became a member of the family. His hostile takeover of Adams Cosmetics had nearly caused a rift in their tight-knit family. It was only when Byron realized Ethan truly loved his daughter Kayla that peace had come. It hadn’t hurt either that Ethan had given Kayla back enough shares to make them equal partners in Adams Cosmetics.

  “You’re right, it wasn’t the same thing, but the outcome can be. Ethan and Kayla are working great together at the helm of A.C. And you, Shane, could learn a lesson in humility. You can’t do it all,” Elizabeth said.

  “I know that, Mom.” Shane sighed wearily. For some reason, she could always get through to him. “I recognize that I’ve been working a lot of overtime, but you know as well as I do that’s who I am. I’m driven to make sure we get Adams Cosmetics out of the slump.”

  “And you will,” Elizabeth stated emphatically, reaching over the table and squeezing her son’s hand. “We’re just giving you some help.”

  “I just wish it wasn’t Gabrielle Burton.”

  “Perhaps she’s changed,” Courtney offered.

  Shane thought back to the bossy diva with the pencil in her perfectly coiffed updo, two-piece cardigan set and trousers leaning over his chemistry table. He doubted she’d changed at all.

  * * *

  Butterflies were jumping up and down in Gabrielle’s stomach as she waited in the hall to meet with Ethan Graham, his wife, Kayla, and Shane Adams on Friday morning. Although Ethan had pretty much guaranteed her the job, she was nervous about Shane having the final sign-off.

  It didn’t help that she was operating on very little sleep. She’d flown in the day before and arrived in the evening. Once she’d made it to her hotel room, she was wide awake because she was still on Paris time. Gabrielle could only hope that the smug, self-entitled playboy she once knew had mellowed as the years had gone by.

  * * *

  Shane sat at the head of the conference-room table, waiting for Gabrielle Burton’s arrival. His head was bent as he gave her resume one more cursory review, when a pair of shapely caramel legs came into his view.

  Slowly, his eyes made their way from the legs to the sensible gray knee-length skirt and matching long-sleeve jacket with a lavender scarf tied around her neck. What she was wearing was perfectly suitable for an interview, but heaven forbid the woman actually show a few curves. He liked a woman who wasn’t afraid to show off her God-given assets, and that definitely wasn’t Gabrielle Burton.

  But she had a natural beauty, which he supposed was why her nut-brown complexion was clear and her face was free of makeup. She wore her hair in a simple French twist. Oh, yes, this was exactly the woman he remembered.

  Ethan and Shane both rose from their seats, but Ethan was the first to speak. “Gabrielle, glad you could make it here for an in-person interview. I hope your flight was pleasant.”

  “Pleasant?” Gabrielle chuckled. “It was more than pleasant.” She’d never been in anything so divine. “You really didn’t have to send your private jet.”

  “It was my pleasure,” Ethan stated. He turned to his side. “This is my wife, Kayla Graham.”

  “Pleasure to meet you.” Gabrielle shook her hand. Kayla Adams was several inches taller than her, with flawless mocha skin, curly hair that nearly reached her shoulders and a clearly pregnant belly.

  Gabrielle turned and braced herself for seeing Shane Adams again after nearly a decade. He was every bit as fine as he’d been back then, maybe more so. He towered over her at six feet with a short curly afro, creamy café-au-lait skin, hazel eyes and full, sexy lips. She could tell that a sculpted body lay underneath his Italian suit.

  “Gabby.” Shane nodded at her. “You’re looking well.”

  Gabrielle hadn’t expected such a friendly greeting, given they’d been rivals in school. “No one’s called me that for a long time.”

  “I hope you don’t mind me using your nickname. Gabrielle just seems so formal.” Shane smirked, knowing she hated it. In school, she’d said the nickname Gabby reminded her of some airhead name like Buffy, and she’d refused to answer to it.

  Gabrielle swallowed hard at having those sensuous eyes staring at her so intently. “Well, I do prefer Gabrielle.”

  “As you wish.” Shane watched her sit down and cross her legs all the while pulling down her skirt. It made Shane wonder what it was she was hiding underneath.

  “Well, we are happy to have someone of your caliber interested in Adams Cosmetics,” Kayla said, trying to ease the obvious tension between the two chemists. Courtney had reminded her that Shane and Gabrielle were not fans of each other.

  “Your resume is quite impressive,” Ethan stated.

  “Thank you,” Gabrielle said and smiled. “I believe in working hard to achieve one’s goals.”

  “After you graduated second in your class at perfumery school, you joined L’Oréal?” Shane jumped right into the fray.

  Gabrielle stared daggers at Shane. Trust him to remind her that he’d beaten her as valedictorian of their class. Had he called her Gabby to knock her off her game? “That’s correct. And I’ve enjoyed an immensely successful career there.”

  “Why don’t you tell me some of the projects you’ve worked on?” Shane asked. It was time to skip the pleasantries and get down to business. Find out exactly what Gabrielle Burton was made of.

  “Well, I’ve worked on numerous L’Oréal fragrances, and recently we’ve been working on some new skin-firming crèmes.”

  “Tell me more,” Shane urged.

  For the next hour, Shane grilled Gabrielle about her work in the lab. When he was done, he was impressed with her credentials, but he wasn’t about to tell her that, at least not yet. Gabrielle was competitive and would be eager to prove her worth.

  Kayla watched Shane and couldn’t believe how hard her brother was being on Gabrielle. She had never seen him behave this way toward a woman. Usually Shane was such a smooth talker that women melted around him like butter. Gabrielle seemed immune to Shane.

  “One final question,” Shane said. “Do you really feel confident working in cosmetics even though your primary focus was fragrance?”

  “I am a qualified chemist,” Gabrielle stated. She resented that Shane was implying otherwise. “And I am confident that I can work on cosmetics or fragrances.”

  “That’s good to know.” Shane’s gaze focused on Gabrielle. “Because this company means everything to me, and I will not settle for mediocrity.”

  “Wow!” Ethan looked down at his watch. “Look at the time. I have to get to another meeting. Ms. Burton, we’re delighted to have met you and will be making our final decision within the next few days. We’ll be in touch.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Graham.” Gabrielle rose from the table and shook his hand. “Mrs. Graham.” She snapped up her portfolio before turning to Shane. “Mr. Adams.” She called him by his formal name. “It was a pleasure to get reacquainted with yo
u, and I do so hope for the opportunity to work with you.”

  Shane smiled and nodded. He just bet she did.

  Once Gabrielle had gone, Kayla turned to Shane. “Was that really necessary?”

  “What?” Shane asked.

  “You cross-examined her as if she was on the witness stand,” Kayla responded. “You know as well as I do that Gabrielle Burton is more than qualified for this job.”

  “I had to be sure she wanted the position,” Shane replied. “And if she was willing to fight for it.”

  “And I assume you got your answer?” Ethan asked.

  “She will do.” Shane closed the folder holding her resume.

  “Then why don’t you tell her she got the position?”

  “We are not interviewing anyone else?” Shane asked, slapping down the folder on the table. “I should have known this was a done deal with you and Ethan, because you always have to have your way.”

  “That’s not true.” Kayla leaped to defend her husband.

  “Shane, you know this was merely a formality to get your stamp of approval, which she has. You yourself said she’s qualified for the position. So go give her the good news, as she will be your employee.” Ethan rose from his chair because the discussion was over. “Kayla and I have other plans. My dear…” He turned to help his pregnant wife out of the seat. “Let us know a start date,” Ethan said over his shoulder on their way out.

  Shane wrung his hands as he rode the hotel elevator up to Gabrielle Burton’s room. He could wring his brother-in-law’s neck for forcing him to have Gabrielle in his crosshairs every day. Gabrielle was competent and focused, but she was also very much by the numbers, and sometimes when it came to creating fragrances, an element of whimsy was required. He doubted Gabrielle had ever had a whimsical moment in her entire structured life.

  He could have delivered the news over the telephone, but Shane preferred to take his hits like a man. Even more than that, he needed to make a few things clear to Gabrielle before she accepted the position. He didn’t want there to be any misunderstandings in the future.

  He arrived at her hotel room shortly after 6:00 p.m., after he’d learned from Kayla’s assistant, Myra, where Gabrielle was staying. He knocked several times and was just about to leave when Gabrielle finally opened the door.

  He must have awakened her, because for the first time he could remember, Gabrielle looked disheveled. Her normally perfect updo hung haphazardly over her shoulders, and the silk blouse she must have worn earlier underneath the hideous gray jacket was wrinkled. But her liquid brown eyes shone brightly, and that appealed to him.

  “Shane!” Gabrielle immediately closed the door and leaned back to check herself in the foyer mirror.

  “Ohmigod, I look a fright,” Gabrielle said aloud. “Uh…I’ll be right with you,” she yelled through the door and rushed to the bathroom to find her brush and repair the damage from her afternoon nap. She was still getting accustomed to the time change and must have fallen asleep.

  On the other side of the door, Shane chuckled. Gabrielle Burton not perfectly in control at all times? Heaven forbid!

  When she was satisfied with the results of her impromptu hair fix and quick lip-gloss application, Gabrielle opened the door. She found Shane leaning against a pillar, looking as cool and handsome as he pleased. His hazel eyes were lit from within with a golden glow.

  “Sorry for the delay. Please do come in,” Gabrielle said formally.

  “If now isn’t a good time I can always come back,” Shane said, smiling as he stood up straight.

  “No…no, now is fine.” Gabrielle motioned for him to come inside. “My apologies… I took a nap. I’m still trying to get on East Coast time.”

  Once inside the hotel room, Shane’s male energy dominated the small living area, and she found it disconcerting. She watched him assess the suite before turning his eyes back on her.

  He had a way of sizing her up that Gabrielle wasn’t quite sure what to make of. “So, to what do I owe the honor of your visit?” Gabrielle folded her arms across her chest as a defense. “I’m sure it’s not to catch up on old times.”

  Shane’s eyes pierced hers. “And if it were?”

  “Well, we were never really friends in perfumery school, now were we?” she muttered hastily.

  “So we were enemies?”

  Color flushed Gabrielle’s cheeks. “I…I wouldn’t say enemies, that’s quite indelicate. I would say more like rivals.”

  “Hmm…” Shane mulled her comment over in his head. “And do you think you can work under me, your former rival?” He doubted she wanted to be under him for any reason.

  “If that’s what the job entails, but I had more hoped it would be a collaborative effort, given my background and experience.”

  At this, Shane’s face turned as hard as stone. “Make no mistake, I run the lab.”

  Gabrielle sucked in a deep breath, as she’d obviously hit a nerve. She didn’t want ego to get in the way of her getting this position, so she said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to infer otherwise. I just assumed we would work very closely on projects together, but ultimately you would have the final say.”

  “That’s correct,” Shane said coldly. “An Adams will always run Adams Cosmetics. If you are clear with those terms, then the job is yours.”

  A smile spread across Gabrielle’s face. The news was music to her ears. She was ready to come home. “Thank you so much.” She offered her hand to Shane. He stared at her small, delicate hand for several moments, as if he wasn’t quite sure what he’d signed up for, before he finally shook it.

  A strange electric sensation pulsed ever so briefly between them at the touch of their palms, but then it was over just as quickly as it had begun, making Gabrielle think she’d imagined the connection.

  “Welcome aboard, Gabby Burton,” Shane returned. He offered her a forgiving smile with no trace of his former animosity.

  “Will I see you bright and early on Monday at the lab?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Chapter 2

  Gabrielle dressed with care on Monday morning as she prepared for her first day at Adams Cosmetics. She pulled her hair into an unsophisticated ponytail and donned a charcoal designer pantsuit. Because the science lab was a male-dominated place, Gabrielle wanted Shane to view her as a serious chemist. If she showed more skin or dressed to gain their attention, they might view her as inferior. But Gabrielle was determined to command Shane’s respect.

  She had a few last-minute jitters, but it wasn’t because of her laboratory experience. She was more comfortable there than anyplace else. She was just anxious because Shane Adams had already made it clear that the lab was his domain and that he was merely tolerating her presence, much like a child who should be seen and not heard.

  It didn’t help that he was sinfully gorgeous. She’d acted as if she hadn’t noticed with Mariah, but the truth of the matter was that she’d always known Shane Adams was attractive. It was hard not to notice him. He oozed masculinity from his every pore. Add the sexy eyes and a body for lovemaking, and any woman would be powerless to resist his charm. Except her.

  Why? Because even though he was attractive, he was still the arrogant, cocky ladies’ man she remembered from school. Back then, Shane had to have a woman on his arm, and even though he didn’t go through women once a week as some playboys would, after several months he always seemed to tire of them, and it was on to the next.

  What surprised Gabrielle the most was that after it was over, the women never spoke ill of Shane. They always praised him for respecting them and treating them well. They even said he was the most romantic man they’d ever met. How could they be so naive? Why would they date a man knowing he offered them nothing but a temporary good time? Once he’d gotten what he wanted and had his fill, the door revolved and another woman was in play.

  It boggled Gabrielle’s mind, and so as she walked into the laboratory that morning, she resolved that despite Shane’s good looks and o
bvious charm, she would not be taken in by him.

  Gabrielle tore through the double doors of the laboratory with gusto and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Shane leaning over the counter smelling several vials. From her vantage point, she could see he had a well-defined behind. Resisting his charm was going to be easier said than done.

  “So glad you could make it, Ms. Burton,” Shane said, standing upright.

  Gabrielle glanced down at her watch. Was she late? He did say 8:00 a.m.? “Did I miss something?” But when she looked around, she saw that several employees were already milling about in lab coats.

  “No,” Shane replied, walking over to the other vials he’d been working on. “But if you want to hang with this crew, you’re going to have to get here earlier, my dear.”

  Gabrielle rolled her eyes upward. She hated the condescending tone in Shane’s voice, but it was her first day and she didn’t want to get on his bad side. “I will be sure to remember that.” She walked closer to him until they were nearly inches apart. Being this close to Shane allowed her to smell his aftershave, which was sharp and kind of spicy. It tantalized her senses and sent shivers up and down her spine. “What are you working on?”

  Shane’s body instantly became alert at Gabrielle’s nearness, and he stiffened. “I’m working on a couple of different scents that might work for the new fragrance.”

  “Really.” Gabrielle walked around the counter and went to several vials containing essential oils and perfumer’s alcohol. “Hmm…not bad,” she said.

  “I don’t recall asking for your opinion,” Shane replied to her lackluster response.

  “And I wasn’t giving you one,” Gabrielle responded in turn. “I was merely commenting aloud.” She grasped a sheet of perfume paper and dipped it into one of the vials. She brought the paper to her nose and inhaled deeply. After several moments she smelled it again and was silent before saying, “Seems like you’re going for more of a citrus scent. Have you considered adding some spearmint?”

  Shane’s forehead bunched into a frown. “No, I hadn’t thought of that.” And he hated that she had a point, as it would complement the current potion in the vial.