“Someone sure looks like the cat who ate the canary,” Courtney commented from across the table as Kayla passed the platter of duck breast with plum demi-glace that her chef had prepared. She had earlier tried unsuccessfully to get the scoop from the lady herself, but Gabrielle was being surprisingly quiet.
“What are you talking about, Courtney?” Shane inquired, taking the platter. He helped himself to a piece before passing it to Ethan.
“You!” She pointed to him. “Look at you. If it were possible for a man to glow, you would be. Did you get yourself some last night?”
“Courtney!” Their mother’s voice rang out from across the table. “That is not appropriate dinner conversation.”
Courtney shrugged. “I was just wondering where Shane escaped to after dinner last night is all.”
“Hmm… You were conspicuously absent after dinner,” Kayla teased. She noticed he’d disappeared after dessert, but then again, so had Gabrielle Burton. Had something happened between them? Kayla stared directly at Shane, but he refused to look at her and turned his eyes elsewhere.
“That’s my business, little sis,” Shane commented, reaching for the bottle of cabernet and pouring himself a generous glass.
Courtney threw up her hands. “All right, you’re no fun. I’ll leave you to your secrets.”
“Much obliged.”
“Who I want to talk about is that lovely creature Gabrielle Burton,” Byron Adams said from the head of the table. He’d been surprised when Ethan had offered up his seat earlier, deferring to him as the head of the family. He’d accepted the seat with a handshake. He was trying for the sake of his daughter and soon-to-be grandchild to forget how Ethan Graham had come to be a part of the family and remember that Ethan had once been like a surrogate son to him. “From what you’d told us about her, Shane, I’d thought she wasn’t going to be very attractive, but she was absolutely stunning, if you ask me.” Then Byron turned to his wife, “But of course, not as beautiful as you, my dear.”
A broad smile spread across Elizabeth’s face. “Of course not.”
“Really?” Shane asked. “I hadn’t noticed.”
Courtney coughed loudly and reached for her water glass. Her brother was a bold-faced liar and she knew it, but she wasn’t going to call him out in front of the family. Shane had been anything but unaffected by Gabby’s makeover.
“I, for one, sure did,” Ethan responded from the other side of the table, and all eyes turned to him. “It’s like a lightbulb went off in her head and she realized what a little makeup, a good haircut and the right dress can do. If you had seen her before, Byron, it’s a night-and-day difference.”
“Sometimes we women need to switch our style up,” Elizabeth offered, in an attempt to defend Gabby. “You know, keep you men interested and on your toes.”
“Mom…” Kayla blushed.
“C’mon, my dear,” her mother replied. “How else do you think your father and I keep the home fires burning after thirty-six years of marriage?”
Shane put his hands over his ears. “We don’t want to know, Mama.”
“All I can say is there are going to be a number of men at the office who will be standing up and taking notice,” Ethan said.
“And would one of them be you?” Kayla raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, no, baby.” Ethan reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “I only have eyes for you and my son in there.”
“I don’t think that would be wise for any of them,” Shane replied. He didn’t want any other man looking at Gabrielle, much less talking to her. But he couldn’t say that, so he said instead, “A workplace romance is ill-advised.”
“Is that so?” Courtney smirked from his side.
Shane rolled his eyes. Courtney clearly knew what had transpired between him and Gabrielle. He could see she was itching to say something, but was thankful she was showing restraint, which wasn’t her usual M.O.
“Actually, I’m glad you’re all here,” Ethan said. “I heard some disconcerting news that you might be interested to know.”
“What’s going on, babe?” Kayla inquired.
“I’ve heard rumors that Jax Cosmetics is launching their own fragrance.”
“Really?” Shane asked. And why was this the first time he was hearing about this?
“Of course.” Byron wiped his mouth and threw down his napkin. “That man wouldn’t know innovation if it slapped him in the face.”
“A fragrance line for a cosmetics company is not unheard of,” Ethan responded.
Byron ignored Ethan’s comment and jumped out of his seat. “You know why he’s doing this, don’t you?” He turned to his wife. “Andrew could never accept that I stole you away from him, and now instead of coming at me directly, he’s trying to copy us.”
“Well, you know the saying that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” Courtney interjected, attempting to lighten the mood. She knew of the animosity between her father and Andrew Jackson.
“Dad, don’t worry,” Shane replied calmly. “Andrew doesn’t have half the talent in his lab that we have at Adams Cosmetics.”
“Exactly!” Kayla pointed to her brother. “Jax Cosmetics has always come in second, hell, even third by consumers. They don’t stand a chance against Hypnotic or the new fragrance that Shane is developing.”
“I trust in the quality of your work, Shane,” Byron said, pacing the floor. “But I don’t trust that man! And the timing of this is suspect. He must be looking for a chink in our armor.”
“He won’t find it,” Shane said firmly. “I have a solid team of chemists behind me.” When they’d combined Graham International cosmetic division with Adam Cosmetics, his staff had doubled.
“And you’re sure they’re happy?” Ethan asked. “Because I wouldn’t put it past Andrew to try to steal one of them.”
Kayla shook her head. “Trust me, that’s not even possible. You know that Adams Cosmetics is a family company. It’s what you—” she pointed to her father “—what all of us—” she pointed to the family surrounding the table “—promote. He will not find a chink in our armor. But perhaps you should meet with everyone individually, Shane. You know, make sure they’re happy.”
“I trust my team,” Shane said testily. He couldn’t imagine any one of them going to work for Jax Cosmetics. Shane glanced around the room and noted several concerned looks. “But if it will appease you all, I will speak with them.”
“Good.” Byron sat back down to the table. His wife reached across the table and squeezed his hand and he smiled back. He was a very lucky man, and that’s why he knew they had to watch their backs. Andrew Jackson was not above pulling a fast one.
* * *
Gabrielle was on a natural high. Last night with Shane had been everything she’d anticipated and then some. They’d come together with a fiery passion at first and then he’d softened his lovemaking. Kissing, touching and tasting, nibbling every single part of her. Her skin still burned from where he’d touched her, and if she closed her eyes she could still feel his lips on hers. He’d completely put his stamp on her, and she was walking around in a daze.
Somehow she’d made it back to her hotel room to take another shower. Now she was lying on the bed with the Sunday paper, looking over the classifieds for apartments. Of course, Courtney had volunteered to have a friend she knew in real estate help her, but Gabrielle figured she’d look in the paper, as well. She was perusing the classifieds when her cell phone rang.
“Hey, stranger,” Mariah replied from the other end.
“Mariah.” A smile spread across Gabrielle’s face at hearing her friend’s voice. “It’s so good to hear from you.”
“Wish I could say the same thing. I haven’t heard from you in weeks,” Mariah chastised.
“I’m so sorry,” Gabrielle said, sitting up in her bed. “It’s been a little crazy around here.”
“Oh, yeah, how’s the new job going?”
“Wonderfully, if you can believe th
at.”
“Really?” Mariah was surprised, given the rivalry Gabrielle and Shane once shared. “I thought you and Shane were like oil and water.”
“Not anymore.”
There was silence for several seconds before Mariah said, “Did you hook up with Shane?”
Gabrielle was dying to talk to someone other than Courtney about Shane and couldn’t resist confessing. “Yes, and I have to tell you, it was well worth the wait!”
“Get out of here! When did this happen?”
“Last night, if you can believe that,” Gabrielle replied. “We spent the entire night and all of this morning in bed. This man was so incredible with his hands and tongue and…”
“Wow!” Mariah exclaimed. “It’s getting a little hot. You’ve got me fanning myself over here.”
“You’re telling me.” Gabrielle laughed and fell back onto the pillows. “It was pretty amazing, and I have his sister to thank for getting him to notice me.”
“How so?”
“I agreed to a makeover.”
“You?” Mariah said. “No way. I’ve always wanted to give you a makeover, but you’ve always been so adamant about being natural and true to yourself. What changed?”
“Everything changed when Shane kissed me one night after work, but then apologized for it. It made me think I wasn’t good enough for him, so I decided to change a few things. I cut my hair.”
“Not your beautiful curls?”
“Oh, yes,” Gabrielle responded. “I donated them to Locks of Love, put on some makeup and bought an entirely new wardrobe. That’s when Shane had no choice but to notice me. He even got jealous when he saw me with another man.”
“I’m so glad you finally let loose, girlfriend. That was long overdue. Are you guys going to continue seeing each other?”
Gabrielle shrugged. “Haven’t decided yet.”
“I say go for it!” Mariah said. “With a man that fine, you can’t go wrong.”
Gabrielle chuckled. Trust Mariah to keep it real and say exactly how she felt. “I know. I just have to think it through.”
“Don’t take too long,” Mariah replied. “Otherwise someone else might come in there and snatch him up.”
After Gabrielle hung up, she realized Mariah was right. Shane Adams was one of Atlanta’s most eligible bachelors and wouldn’t be single for long. She was going to have to decide. And soon.
* * *
Gabrielle didn’t run into Shane until late Monday morning. She’d sat in bed the night before, wondering how they would act working together in such a confined space for long periods. But she shouldn’t have worried, because Shane came in all businesslike, as if they hadn’t spent the better part of Sunday morning wrapped up in each other’s arms.
“Good morning, Gabrielle,” Shane said as he nodded at her when he entered the room.
“Morning.” Gabrielle didn’t look up from the test tubes she was testing. She couldn’t, because if she did, she thought everyone in the lab would be able to see her blush and know that they had been intimate.
Several coworkers had complimented her on her new look, and she noticed a few of the male chemists who had never paid an ounce of attention admiring her new form-flattering wrap dress that showed a long expanse of leg.
Shane noticed Gabrielle as soon as he walked in. He was trying hard to be impartial, but it was difficult. She was wearing a body-hugging dress and the material clung to her tight behind. A behind he remembered all too well.
Gabrielle had barely hazarded a glance up at him when he spoke. Was she regretting the night they’d shared? Although he hadn’t meant for it to happen, he hadn’t regretted it. And the more he thought about it, if they were discreet, he didn’t see any reason for them not to continue seeing each other, as long as Gabby understood that the relationship would last for a few months and no more. He didn’t do commitment longer than that. For some reason, he didn’t seem to be wired that way.
He saw his parents’ marriage and knew it was possible, but the kind of love they shared was one in a million. He doubted there was a woman alive who could keep him intrigued for a lifetime.
Shane shook his head to clear his mind, because he needed to focus. He needed to speak with all the chemists in the lab and ensure everyone was satisfied. Content. And ensure that Andrew Jackson would not find a defector in the bunch.
And that’s exactly what he did for the remainder of the day. At first, his staff had thought they’d done something wrong when they were called into his office one by one. But eventually they all relaxed and assured Shane that they loved their job at AC, because their input was valued and the benefits were exceptional.
Shane made sure that Gabrielle was his last interview near the end of the day. She’d worked professionally, yet quietly, throughout the course of the day. A few times, he’d caught her staring at him and he was sure she was remembering exactly what he did, the sweet sensation of their bodies joined as one. He wondered if she was eager to repeat it or if she’d decided that one night with him was enough.
One night wasn’t enough for Shane. He wanted Gabby back in his bed. He wanted to see her look at him again as if he was the only man in the world for her. He wanted to feel her cuddled next to him in the crook of his arm. He wanted to hear the whimpering noises she made when his fingers were inside her and she came and see the arousal cross her face as he thrust inside her.
“You wanted to see me?” Gabrielle asked. It was the end of the day and Gabrielle had been on pins and needles. Everyone else had been called into Shane’s office except her. The blinds to his windows had been shut for absolute privacy all day. Was this a bad omen?
“Come in.” Shane waved her inside his office, which was located behind the laboratory. “Close the door.”
Gabrielle inhaled sharply before closing the door behind her. “Is there a problem?” she asked, standing nervously at the door. She shifted back and forth uncomfortably on her heels.
“The only problem is this.” Shane swiftly jumped up from his seat, closed the distance between them and dipped his head so his lips could find hers.
Gabrielle pulled away. “Shane… We’re in the office.” She glanced at the door. “What if someone walked in and saw us?”
Shane sighed. She was right of course, but he hadn’t been able to help himself. The way she’d been nervously standing there had been the Gabby of old and not the seductress he’d seen at the Adams estate. He wasn’t sure which he preferred. Maybe it was both, because then he didn’t know what to expect. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I’ve been wanting to do that all day.”
Gabrielle smiled. Well, at least she knew Shane was still thinking of her and the composed facade he’d presented all day had been for show.
“Have you given any more thought to my proposal?” Shane asked.
“Is that why you called me in here?”
Shane sighed. Gabby obviously wasn’t ready to tell him her decision. “Actually, it wasn’t.” Reluctantly, he returned to his desk and plopped down in his chair. He would have to abide by the book at work. “Please have a seat.” He motioned for her to sit in the chair opposite his desk.
“Is something wrong? Are you unhappy with my performance?” Gabrielle inquired. “I mean, you’ve called everyone into your office today.”
Shane shook his head. “Quite the opposite. You’re all doing phenomenal work. I just want to make sure everyone is happy, and if they’re not I want to rectify it. We have a great team here and I wouldn’t want to lose anyone.”
Gabrielle listened to what Shane wasn’t saying and immediately understood. “Are you concerned that someone might leave and go to a competitor?”
“Why would you think that?”
“C’mon, Shane. I worked for L’Oréal. Chemists were stolen all the time by competitors.”
Shane nodded. “That doesn’t happen here at AC. We run a tight ship. Everyone in that room—” Shane pointed to the door “—has been a part of the AC family for five years
or more. We believe in rewarding talent and compensating accordingly.”
Gabrielle smiled. “I know, which is why I came here. But even you must realize that nothing is ever guaranteed.”
Shane frowned. “Have you been approached?”
Immediately, Gabrielle’s stomach sunk. Yes, she had, but she could never tell Shane that, or why for that matter. He would never understand the debt of gratitude her family owed to Jax Cosmetics. “No,” she answered instead. “And if I were, I’m happy here.”
“Even being second in command?” Shane pressed.
Gabrielle thought back to his comment on day one. “Yes, even if I’m second in command.”
Shane released a cautious sigh. “Glad to hear it. I think you’re a talented chemist, Gabby.”
“You do?”
“Yes, I mean it. This has nothing to do with our personal relationship, wherever that may lead.” He stared into her eyes, desperate for her to believe him. He respected her a great deal and she needed to know that.
“Thank you.” Gabrielle smiled back. “Well, I have to go.”
“How about dinner?” Shane asked.
“I have plans,” Gabrielle replied. “Maybe one day next week.” And with that comment, Gabrielle reluctantly headed for the door. Once she was out of Shane’s office, Gabrielle wanted to kick herself. She would love nothing more than to have dinner with Shane, but she remembered Courtney’s advice about her brother liking a challenge. She wasn’t going to make it easy for him, especially since she wasn’t even sure where she wanted things to go.
Chapter 7
As Gabrielle waited for Andrew Jackson at a small diner in Marietta on Saturday morning, she knew how she needed to handle her father’s request. She’d chosen the location because she couldn’t afford for anyone to see the two of them together. Although she had nothing to be ashamed of, she didn’t want anyone to misinterpret the meeting.
She’d agonized over it, but knew she’d made the right decision. She couldn’t and she wouldn’t betray Shane or the Adams family, not after everything they’d done for her. Ethan and Kayla had brought her back to the States and given her a great opportunity at Adams Cosmetics. Courtney had single-handedly transformed her life, and now she was embarking on a possible relationship with Shane Adams, the one man she’d always secretly dreamed of. She couldn’t risk it, not even for her family.
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