Mason laughed with her. “You know how I worry about you.”
“I’m not the one who goes around getting kidnapped,” she teased, reminding him of the time she’d had to call upon her newly discovered brothers to help find him in Thailand. She continued, “I’ll be fine. You’re just as bad as my brothers.”
Her husband grinned as he thought about his new in-laws. Phaedra had only recently come to know her four brothers, John, Matthew, Mark and Luke Stallion. Doing business with the family had been the catalyst that had opened the doors to his relationship with their baby sister. He would be forever grateful. “We’ll, I’m glad he’ll be there with you. Just stay in touch with me, please.”
“You know I will,” she said, making kissing noises through the receiver. “I love you!”
Mason laughed softly. “I love you, too, baby! I’ll call you after my meeting, okay?”
“I can’t wait,” Phaedra said.
Disconnecting the call, Mason stood with a wide grin on his face. He tossed a glance over at Darryl, who was rolling his dark eyes. “Live and learn, Darryl. My woman never tried to shoot me,” he said smugly.
“Asia wasn’t my woman,” Darryl said sarcastically.
Their bantering continued as they made their way to the upper suites that Mason had rented for temporary office space. As they stepped over the threshold, the doors closing behind them, both men shifted headfirst into business mode.
Chapter 2
“Boudreaux Towers is a multilevel office complex the likes of which has never been seen in New Orleans, Louisiana.” The comment came from Kenneth Charles, renowned architect and owner of the design firm Charles & Charles Architecture. “This will be a magnificent partnership for us.” He and his daughter were riding in the company limo to their meeting. He lifted his gaze from the iPad he was making notes on to stare in her direction.
Camryn Charles eyed her father back. “And we’ll be working directly with Mason?” she asked.
Her father nodded. “I don’t know if you’re aware or not but he sold off his hotel business. This is a new venture for him and I’m honored that he wants us to design the building. He has a brother that will be working on this project, as well. I haven’t had the opportunity to meet him yet.” Kenneth paused as he leaned forward in his seat, passing a prospectus to his daughter. “And this is going to be a great opportunity for you, as well, Camryn. I’ve given it a lot of thought and I want you to take the lead on this project. Mason and I have agreed that you should head the design team.”
Camryn’s eyes widened as she took the documents from her father’s hand. “Really?”
The man’s salt-and-pepper head moved up and down. “You’re making a solid name for yourself in the industry, independent of me and the business. It’s been impressive, and I think if you design the newest skyscraper in downtown New Orleans, it will take both you and the business to a whole new level.”
The young woman smiled warmly. “I appreciate the confidence, Father,” she said, flipping through the documents in her lap.
Camryn fought to contain the excitement that sizzled in the pit of her stomach. Although she’d been eager to work on a new project with her father, to have him hand her the reins of one of the company’s biggest contracts was a big deal for the both of them. Determined to prove herself worthy of his trust, Camryn couldn’t wait to get started.
As their driver stopped the car in front of the Roosevelt Hotel and moved to open the door for them, she turned to her father. “How much creative control do I have?” she asked.
The man eyed her teasingly. “How much do you want?”
She grinned. “Why doesn’t that sound promising, Father?”
He chuckled warmly. “As far as I’m concerned, Camryn, you have full and total creative control. However,” he concluded, tossing her a wink of his eye, “you’ll have to negotiate the specifics of that with our client.”
“I hope our client is an old softy like you, then!”
Her father laughed. “There’s nothing soft about your old man, Camryn Charles. Not one single thing.”
Camryn laughed with him. “So there’s hope for Mr. Boudreaux, is that what you’re saying?”
Kenneth grinned. “For some reason, I think the Boudreaux family is in for more than they bargained for.”
* * *
The two men sat at the large conference table as Mason detailed the budget for his new multimillion-dollar building. Darryl listened intently, digesting the details like a good meal. He’d been inundated with information since he arrived, his brother’s excitement fueling his own. Adding to that exhilaration was discovering that Mason had hired Kenneth Charles to work on the architectural design.
Kenneth Charles was one of his idols, having won numerous awards for his work. He was considered an architectural genius amongst his peers, and Darryl was excited about the prospect of working with the legend. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the conference room door, the entrance swinging open easily.
Both Darryl and Mason came to their feet as Kenneth Charles made an entrance. “Mason, how are you?” the man said, extending a large hand as the two old friends greeted each other warmly.
“It’s good to see you, Kenneth.” He gestured behind him. “Let me introduce you to my brother. Darryl Boudreaux, this is Kenneth Charles. Kenneth, my brother Darryl.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, sir,” Darryl said, his eyes wide with awe.
“Your brother speaks quite highly of you, Darryl. I understand from Mason that you are quite talented in your own right. Is that true, son?” Kenneth asked.
Darryl shrugged ever so slightly. “I think my brother is a bit biased, sir.”
“Family usually is. Trust me when I tell you that the work I’ve done isn’t all that impressive, either. However, to hear my daughter tell it, you’d think I’d built stairwells past the moon and straight to heaven.”
A soft voice echoed from the entrance behind them. “Actually, Father, I tell people you’ve built stairwells past heaven and into the stratosphere.”
Darryl turned toward the entrance and stared. There was no missing the familial resemblance between Mr. Charles and the young woman entering the room. Without realizing it, Darryl found himself holding his breath. The stunning beauty had commanded his full and undivided attention.
She shared her father’s warm chocolate complexion and large dark eyes. He assumed that the full lips and pouty mouth that begged to be kissed had been inherited from her mother. In the tailored navy skirt and ruffled white blouse she wore, there was no denying the woman had a figure that could make even a strong man beg for her attention. She was curvaceous with a full bustline, whisper-thin waist and pleasingly thick hips. As he stared, Darryl suddenly felt weak, his legs feeling like jelly. He had to fight to shake the unnerving sensation. He took a deep breath and held it.
Mason laughed. “That’s right! Give credit where credit is due!” he said as he moved to wrap the young woman in a quick hug. “How are you, Camryn? It’s good to see you again.”
“I’m doing very well, Mason. It’s good to see you again, too. And congratulations! Father tells me you recently got married!”
“Yes, I did.” Mason grinned. “I hope to introduce you and your father to Phaedra in the very near future.”
The young woman smiled sweetly. “I can’t wait to meet her. It looks like marriage is serving you well.”
“It definitely is!” Mason said, nodding his agreement.
“Camryn, come say hello,” her father interrupted. “Darryl, this is my daughter, Camryn. Cam, this is Mason’s brother Darryl Boudreaux.”
The young woman tilted her head in greeting. There was no missing the good-looking man who’d caught her eye when she’d entered the room. Darryl Boudreaux was quite the male specimen. Standing
tall and lean in a black silk suit, white shirt and red necktie, he had distinctive features that hinted at an African-Asian ancestry. He boasted slightly angular eyes, a thin nose, a high cheek line and full, pillow-soft lips. His complexion was a rich, deep umber and Camryn felt her heart quicken a beat or two as she met his intense gaze. “Mr. Boudreaux, it’s my pleasure.”
Still in awe, Darryl stared, his eyes wide, his mouth agape. “You’re Cam Charles?” he questioned as he took her extended hand, her palm gliding like silk against his.
The beautiful woman laughed lightly. “Is that a problem?”
Darryl shook his head, cutting an eye in Mason’s direction. “No, I just wasn’t expecting—”
Mason laughed heartily as he interrupted. “Sorry about that. I think my brother thought you were a man.”
Camryn nodded ever so slightly. “That happens often, but I’m very much a woman,” she said with a soft chuckle that made Darryl smile. She pulled her hand from his, acutely aware of the hold he had on her fingers. The two were still studying each other intently.
Darryl finally shook the daze that had consumed him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Charles,” he said.
“Please, call me Camryn,” she said, “or Cam.”
Darryl nodded as he pulled a chair out for Camryn and gestured for her father to take a seat. He caught his brother’s eye and nodded. “Shall we get down to business?”
Hours later, Darryl pulled at the necktie around his neck. Like his brother and Kenneth Charles, he’d tossed his suit jacket aside some time ago. The back-and-forth banter between the two companies was beginning to take its toll on all of them.
“I don’t agree,” Darryl was saying. “You have to keep the safety factor first and foremost in the design.”
“I’m fully aware of that,” Camryn responded, clearly perturbed by his insinuations. “However, the aesthetic value of the building and how it will complement the landscape is equally as important.”
Darryl shrugged his broad shoulders as he tossed his ink pen to the tabletop. He took a deep breath, totally annoyed that Camryn Charles was challenging him.
“I’m sorry, but what actually will your role be in this project?” Camryn suddenly asked. She was staring directly at Darryl, the two having already butted heads over more than that one issue.
Standing, Darryl leaned over the table, his weight resting on his arms. “Pro-ject man-a-ger,” he replied, uttering each syllable distinctly. “It’s my responsibility to see that this project comes in well within budget, to our exact specifications. I will be accountable for every single detail, including the specifics of the final design.”
Camryn rolled her eyes. It hadn’t taken long for her to realize that Darryl Boudreaux was going to be a royal pain in her well-rounded behind. The man had criticized, critiqued and questioned every suggestion and comment that she’d had. With the way he’d been hammering her, you would have thought that she’d had no previous experience in the design and building industry. Clearly, the man didn’t have a clue and she didn’t appreciate him being so confrontational. She also didn’t have a problem letting him know how she felt.
Camryn came to her feet, as well, crossing her arms over her chest as she met his gaze evenly. Annoyance tapped the toe of her leather pump. “And tell me again what makes you qualified for the job, because from my perspective our firm is more than capable of meeting your brother’s wish list without outside supervision.”
Darryl bristled. “Perhaps, but my brother would be unwise to not have a system of checks and balances. You don’t build a multimillion-dollar office complex by putting all your eggs in one basket. And as far as my qualifications go, I have a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and I’m a licensed building contractor. My forte is my penchant for details. All aspects of the details. So I am more than capable of overseeing this project and you.”
Both Mason and Kenneth leaned back in their seats, obviously amused by the standoff. Mason chuckled softly. “I think this is a good time to call it a day,” he said calmly. He cut his eye toward Kenneth. “We can pick this back up tomorrow, same time.”
Kenneth nodded. “I agree. But I’m also thinking that it would probably be a very good idea for Camryn and Darryl to get to know each other better, especially since they’re going to be working so closely together.” He picked up his iPad and typed into the keypad. “Do you eat seafood, Darryl?” he inquired. His gaze never left his device. “And sit down, Camryn!” Kenneth commanded.
“Yes, sir,” Darryl answered, still squared off against the man’s daughter.
Camryn huffed as she finally dropped back into her seat. Darryl followed, each still eyeing the other warily.
Kenneth continued. “Camryn loves seafood. My secretary will make reservations for you two for dinner. You don’t have anything planned, do you, Darryl?” he said, finally lifting his eyes to look at the young man.
Mason interjected. “No, sir. Darryl has no plans whatsoever. He’s here to work, no matter what that might entail. Isn’t that right, Darryl?” he said, answering on his brother’s behalf.
“Good,” Kenneth said, nodding his head. “Camryn is free, as well.”
“Father!”
He ignored his daughter’s treaty, dropping his gaze back to his electronic device. “You two kids have seven o’clock dinner reservations at The Bourbon House. Take the time to ask whatever you need to ask each other so that we can finalize the details of this project when we meet tomorrow. Is that clear, Cam?” he said firmly.
“Yes, sir,” she said through gritted teeth.
Mason smiled. “You, too, little brother,” he said, tossing Darryl a quick wink. “Work it out!”
Darryl’s eyes narrowed into thin slits as he shot his brother a look. Mason seemed to be enjoying the discomfort he was causing him, a glint of mischief shimmering in the look he threw back. Biting his tongue, Darryl glanced over at Camryn. She was looking at him closely. As he nodded his head, he couldn’t help but think that working it out might be a whole lot easier if the woman wasn’t so damn intoxicating.
Chapter 3
Darryl was still heated when he and Mason arrived back at their family home. His brother had found the whole situation amusing, which had irritated him even more. He was grateful that neither of his parents was home, just imagining the feedback that would have come if Mason had had the opportunity to fill them in on what had happened between him and that woman.
Camryn Charles had worked his nerves and having her father and his brother manipulating the situation didn’t help. He slammed his bedroom door closed and threw his body across the twin bed. He was further irritated that he now had to spend the evening with her, because after his experience with Asia, spending the evening with any woman was not high on his priority list.
From start to finish Asia Landry had made life difficult at best, their entire relationship being one firestorm after another. Jealousy fueled Asia’s spirit more times than not. The first time Darryl had been introduced to the green-eyed monster, she’d keyed his car, leaving the vehicle looking like an Etch A Sketch gone horribly wrong. Apparently being too friendly with a sales clerk had been his crime. He should have cut his ties with Asia then but after her tearful apology he’d welcomed her back into his arms.
Asia hacking his personal email “to confirm that he was cheating” had been the last straw. Her threatening his life had cemented his conviction. He was done and finished. Darryl refused to be with a woman who clearly didn’t trust him. And he refused to be with a woman he couldn’t trust to deal with her frustrations and anger as though she had some God-given sense. Thinking about everything he’d gone through with Asia tightened a knot in the pit of his stomach. Asia had burned him. Bad. And now, thanks to Asia, Darryl was adamant that no other woman would stand an ice cube’s chance of getting under his skin. Not even one as enticing
as Camryn Charles.
* * *
Camryn arrived early for her dinner with Darryl Boudreaux. She’d contemplated not showing at all but had figured a few uncomfortable hours with Darryl was far better than dealing with her father’s wrath at their meeting tomorrow. She allowed the restaurant’s hostess to guide her to their reserved table.
As she settled down into her seat, she was suddenly nervous about their dinner. There was something about Darryl Boudreaux that she found equally irritating and intriguing. Good looks aside, the man’s confidence bordered on arrogance. Clearly, his engineering skills and construction background made him an ideal partner for the project. But he had a serious control problem and she had an issue with him questioning her abilities. He was obviously going to be problematic and Camryn hadn’t expected to work quite so hard.
She took a quick sip of water from the crystal glass that rested on the table in front of her. Glancing around the restaurant, she couldn’t help but notice the many couples who were more intent on each other than on their meals. Camryn suddenly couldn’t remember the last time she and a man had sat together so totally and completely focused on each other.
She saw Darryl before he saw her. As he eased into the restaurant, he paused to take in his surroundings. It was evident from the expression on his face that he had about as much desire to be there as she did. For a brief moment it looked as if he might turn tail and run but he didn’t. Instead he appeared to search her out with his eyes.
He had beautiful eyes, Camryn thought. She hated admitting that his dark, seductive orbs made her weak in the knees. If she was honest, being in his presence was like walking through fire. He made heat radiate out of every one of her pores until she was completely drained. But there was also something soft-spoken and gentle about his spirit, like a welcome, cool sweet breeze even when he was being a thorn in her right cheek. But it remained to be seen if they could come to an understanding and work together in harmony. Her full lips lifted to a warm smile as he finally approached the table, his own expression softening considerably.
Truly Yours Page 2