The Love Game

by Regina Hart

  “I insist you take the rest of the afternoon off.” Foster looked at Xavier, Donovan and Tyler. “In fact, everyone go home. Our associates have the afternoon off. The rest of us should, too.”

  Donovan turned to Xavier. “Let’s go before he changes his mind.”

  “I’m waiting for you.” Xavier pulled his car keys from his pocket as he led the way to the parking garage.

  Foster offered Kayla his arm. “I’ll take you home.”

  Kayla cocked her head. “I hope so since you drove me here.”

  Tyler turned to Iris. “That leaves us. Should I take you to the office?”

  Iris shook her head. “I can work from home.”

  “Then I’ll take you home.” Tyler adjusted his stride to hers as they left the center’s ballroom.

  He wanted to offer her his arm the way his father had offered his arm to Kayla. But he’d been on shaky ground with her since the night she’d helped him with his speech. He watched her in his peripheral vision. Did she ever recall that night? Probably not. The realization bothered him. While she seemed unaffected by their intimacy, his palm still burned with the phantom feel of soft lace and warm woman.

  * * *

  Minutes later, Iris watched Tyler pay the parking attendant before merging his silver Honda Accord with the rest of the traffic on Front Street. When he’d picked her up from her town house that morning, Tyler had been anxious and preoccupied. Now that the launch had been a success, she’d expected the atmosphere in the four-door sedan to be more relaxed. Instead, Tyler seemed to be brooding. Was he worried about the external launch?

  Iris waited until Tyler had pulled up to a red traffic light. “We’ll send the wrap-up email Monday morning, then turn our complete attention to the external campaign.”

  If anything, Tyler’s expression became grimmer. “I still don’t think I’m the right person to do the media interviews or attend the industry conference.”

  “Foster’s convinced you are.” Iris’s left palm itched to cup his strong jaw. The memory of his mouth moving on her skin made her body burn. She tore her eyes from his profile and stared through the windshield. “We have a late flight to San Diego for the electronic games conference in June.”

  “I’ll drive us to the airport and leave my car in the lot.” The light turned green. Tyler eased into the intersection.

  “Thank you.” Iris watched pedestrians hurrying down Broad Street. Their hands were buried deep in their coats and their bodies were bent against the wind. It was late afternoon in early May but the air still had a bite.

  Although Foster had insisted they take the rest of the afternoon off, Iris spent their commute discussing media interviews and goals for the industry conference. Tyler’s contributions consisted of short answers and toneless hmms. Thirty minutes later, Tyler pulled onto her driveway and parked in front of her garage. He turned off the engine and released his seat belt.

  “Thank you for driving me home.” Iris looked at him warily. This morning, he’d circled his sedan to hold the passenger door for her. This afternoon, he just sat there.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Congratulations again on the successful internal launch.” Iris unbuckled her seat belt, preparing to climb from his car. “I’ll see you Monday.”

  “It’s been a month.” Tyler’s ebony eyes held her in place. “Do you ever even think about it?”

  Her lips parted. “The kiss?”

  Tyler’s gaze lowered briefly to her breasts before returning to her eyes. “It was more than a kiss.”

  An electric current arced between them. She couldn’t be the only one who felt it. It was a very different type of tension from the one that had plagued them that morning.

  “Yes, I’ve thought about it.” I’ve thought about that night and the way you made me feel more than I should.

  “Right now, I really wish I wasn’t your client.” Tyler glared at her garage door through the windshield.

  “But you are.”

  “Why does that mean that I can’t touch you? Or taste you?”

  Iris fought the sensual assault of his words. “I don’t have personal relationships with clients.”

  Tyler gave her a heated look. “Is that all I am to you, a client?”

  Iris arched an eyebrow. “Am I more than a vendor to you?”

  Tyler captured her left hand and held it to his chest under his jacket and above his heart. “A vendor’s never made me feel like this.”

  Against her palm, Iris felt his heartbeat. It was racing, just like hers. She searched his hot ebony eyes. She wanted to give in to him. “We can’t. We both have too much at stake to take that risk.”

  Still holding her palm to his chest, Tyler closed his eyes. “It’s going to be a long nine weeks.”

  Iris smiled. He was right. “Don’t think about that. Focus on your success, including Foster admitting he was wrong about the limo service.”

  Tyler opened his eyes. “Dad’s good about admitting when someone else has a good idea. He’s also good at reminding us when he’s been right. I’m sure he’ll remind me that contacting you had been his idea.”

  “Foster told you to ask me to bid on this project?” Iris had a sense of foreboding.

  “But it was my decision which vendor to retain.”

  “How did he hear about my company?” Iris slipped free of Tyler’s hold and leaned back on the passenger’s car seat. Something felt off. What am I missing?

  “I don’t know.” Tyler shrugged. “He said he knew your family but I didn’t ask how.”

  “I think I know.” Iris gritted her teeth. Rose.

  * * *

  Iris parked on Rose’s driveway and slammed out of her car Friday evening. She marched up the front steps of her sister’s two-story white-and-black home, then leaned on the doorbell. Rose yanked open her door. She was still wearing her business clothes, a smoke-gray skirt suit and a bloodred blouse.

  “What is wrong with you?” Her sister’s choice of words was like gasoline on a fire.

  “You are.” Iris was six years old again as she stormed the threshold, forcing Rose back into her house.

  Rose shoved Iris aside and slammed her front door shut. “Do you want to tell me why you’ve brought your temper tantrum into my home?”

  Iris turned to face her. Her hands were fisted at her sides. “You told Foster Anderson to hire me.”

  “Who?” Rose settled her hands on her hips.

  “Don’t play dumb.” Iris slashed her right hand in the air. “You know Foster Anderson owns Anderson Adventures.”

  Rose’s confusion cleared. “Ah. I’ve heard the name. I don’t know the man.”

  “You know him well enough to tell him to give me a job.” Iris’s voice rose.

  “No, I don’t. I’ve never spoken with him.”

  “You’re lying.”

  “Are you nuts?” Rose’s eyes widened.

  “You don’t believe I can get business on my own. So instead, you used your connections to convince Anderson Adventures to throw some work my way.”

  “I thought you said this was a big account.” Rose tilted her head.

  “It is.”

  “Then they did more than just throw some work your way.”

  “Are you proud of what you’ve done?” Iris narrowed her eyes. “I don’t need your pity efforts. I’m good enough to get my own work.”

  “What makes you think I know Foster Anderson personally?”

  Iris took a deep breath, trying to control her temper. “Tyler told me his father knows our family.”

  “I repeat.” Rose crossed her arms and gave Iris a cool stare. “What makes you think I know him?”

  “You’re the one who doesn’t believe I can succeed.” Iris glared at Rose. “Who els
e would go begging for work for me?”

  “I would.” Lily’s voice came from behind her.

  Iris spun in the direction of Rose’s living room. She stared at her middle sister in surprise. “I thought you believed in me.”

  “I do.” Lily stood in the threshold between Rose’s living room and the front entrance. “That’s why I gave Foster Anderson your business card and asked him to keep you in mind if his company needed a marketing consultant.”

  “I can get clients on my own.” Never in a million years would Iris have imagined Lily would betray her.

  All of her life, Lily had been there for her with words of encouragement. She’d supported Iris’s dream of working for a public relations firm in New York straight out of college when everyone else thought a smaller market like Columbus was a safer plan. Lily had also agreed with her decision to leave a good job in New York and return to Columbus when Iris had gotten homesick. And when Iris had quit her well-paying job seven months ago, Lily had defended Iris’s goal of opening her own marketing and public relations firm when Rose had told Iris to get a job with a pension plan.

  Lily stepped forward. “Iris, you were furious when that young man at your previous job used his connections to get the promotion you’d been working toward. But networking is how you get ahead in business.”

  “Lil’s right.” Rose moved to stand beside Lily. “It’s not what you know. It’s who you know. You should have learned that lesson well from your last job.”

  “But I don’t want to get ahead that way.” Iris sighed with frustration. “I want to build my reputation on my abilities.”

  “Don’t be naive, Pollyanna.” Rose grunted. “Take off the pink shades and see the world the way it is.”

  “That’s not helpful, Rose.” Lily turned back to Iris. “You’ve proven you can do both. I didn’t get you the Anderson Adventures account. All I did was give Foster Anderson your name. You did the work.”

  Iris sighed. “I wish you’d told me what you were doing.”

  “You’d have tried to talk her out of it.” Rose tilted her head. “It seems to me based on your reaction to what Lily did, you’re the one who doesn’t have confidence in your abilities, not us.”

  Iris gaped at Rose. “That’s not true.”

  Rose crossed her arms. “Then why are you so upset that Lily gave you a reference? You don’t have to do everything yourself.”

  Maybe Rose and Lily were right. She was making a scene because of her own insecurities. After all, Lily did what she’d always done: supported Iris’s dreams.

  “I’m sorry.” Iris reached out and took Lily’s hand. “I appreciate what you did.”

  Lily shook her head. “I was only trying to help, Iris.”

  “I know.” Iris sighed. Self-doubt was a vicious thing and a lot harder to conquer than she would’ve thought. “I want to prove that I can succeed with my own agency. But Rosie’s right. I don’t have to do it all myself. I shouldn’t have reacted so poorly.”

  “Don’t worry about it. No hard feelings.” Lily smiled, giving Iris a quick hug before stepping back. “And I have complete faith in you, Iris. You should know that by now. Your agency will be a great success. You’ll see.” Lily glanced at Rose. “You’ll both see. And then I’ll say, ‘I told you so.’”

  Chapter 9

  At Anderson Adventures Thursday morning, a little more than two weeks before the industry convention, Iris turned the corner on her way back to her office. She came to an abrupt stop. Lauren appeared to be waiting for her outside the locked room.

  Several company associates had given Iris their opinion of Xavier’s girlfriend of four months. They agreed she was beautiful. Tall and slender, Lauren wore her professional polish with an ease Iris struggled for every day. But no one seemed to like the woman, including Xavier’s mother.

  “There you are.” Lauren greeted her with a cool smile. Her sleek cap of dark brown hair framed her thin face.

  “Are you waiting for me?” Iris couldn’t think of a single reason why.

  “I heard the internal launch went well.” Lauren’s ice-blue linen skirt suit fit her as though custom-made. Her matching sapphire jewelry—earrings, necklace and bracelets—looked expensive.

  “Yes, it did.” The event had occurred almost two weeks ago. Why was Lauren bringing it up now?

  “Ty must be pleased.” Lauren stepped away from Iris’s locked office door and faced her.

  “We all are.” The energy and excitement the launch had generated still pulsed throughout the company. They were feeding Tyler’s confidence, as well as her own.

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to attend.” Lauren settled her hands on her slim hips. “But Ty insisted the launch was for employees only.”

  “Associates, and yes, it was.” She still wasn’t clear on the reason Lauren had sought her out, but she had the feeling it wasn’t to congratulate her.

  “Was that your decision?”

  Was she kidding? “I’m an outside consultant. I don’t make decisions for the company.” Why was Lauren questioning her about the launch? Shouldn’t she be speaking with Xavier or Tyler?

  “Then it was Ty’s decision.” Lauren drummed her well-manicured fingertips on her hip bones. Her nails were coated with black polish.

  “The executive team approved it. That includes Foster, Kayla, Xavier, Van and, yes, Ty.”

  “I know who the executives are, sweetie.” Lauren’s smile didn’t make it to her brown eyes.

  “Of course you do.” Iris glanced around the hallway. She wasn’t comfortable having this conversation with Lauren out in the open. But to escort the other woman into her office would imply she was encouraging Lauren’s confidences.

  She wasn’t.

  Lauren continued. “I understand that the external launch starts in two weeks.”

  “You know a lot about the project launches.”

  Lauren gave her a cat-who-ate-the-canary smile. “Xavier confides in me.”

  “Then I can’t tell you anything you don’t already know.” Iris circled Xavier’s girlfriend to get to her office. As she drew closer, she caught the scent of Lauren’s perfume. Like its wearer, it lacked subtlety.

  “Actually, there’s something you can tell me.” Lauren’s voice followed Iris.

  “What is it?” With great reluctance, Iris faced Lauren again.

  “Will the conference be a success?”

  I hope so. “Everything is ready. We have our media talking points, presentations and demonstrations.”

  “You didn’t answer my question.” Lauren gave Iris a cool smile. “Will the conference be a success?”

  “Yes, it will.” Iris sent up a prayer.

  “Which means Ty will get his way and become the next CEO of Anderson Adventures.” Lauren’s voice dripped with disgust.

  “My focus is on launching the game successfully. I’m not concerned with who runs the company.”

  “I am.” Lauren dropped her hands from her hips. “Ty was groomed to ascend to the throne but Xavier would be a much better leader for the company.”

  Why was Lauren involving her in this discussion? “Neither of us is in a position to weigh in on that decision.”

  “Do you believe Ty’s ready to lead Anderson Adventures?” Lauren’s dark eyes pinned her.

  “Lauren, I don’t know what you’re after but I don’t want any part of it.” With that, Iris swiped her security badge through the reader on the conference room door and escaped into her office. The door locked behind her, leaving Lauren in the hallway.

  What was that about?

  Iris crossed to the glass table and sat in front of her laptop. She tapped the space bar to reawaken her computer. The monitor returned to her Microsoft Outlook screen.

  Darn it! I forgot to lock my
computer. Again.

  Tyler had made her promise to follow their security procedures. Well, at least she’d remembered to close the office’s security door when she’d gone to the restroom. But now that she thought about it, she didn’t remember using her email before she’d left the room.

  * * *

  Two weeks later, Tyler rode a crowded elevator with Iris in the host hotel of the Electronic Gaming Convention in San Diego. Iris’s citrus-and-vanilla scent surrounded him. He was spending four days in a fancy hotel with a beautiful woman he couldn’t touch, doing his least favorite thing: promotion. Fate could be cruel.

  The elevator opened on the sixth floor. Several passengers disembarked, including Iris. Tyler followed her.

  “Your suite’s on the twelfth floor.” She hesitated, seeming surprised to find him with her.

  “I know.” Tyler scanned the hallway for the signs that would direct them to Iris’s room. “I’m going to escort you to your room.”

  “You don’t need to do that.”

  “Yes, I do.” It was more than manners. He felt protective of her.

  “All right. But good luck getting an elevator to your floor.” Iris pulled her wheeled suitcase behind her. “They’re all going to be as crowded as the one we just left.”

  Tyler followed her, pulling his own suitcase. “I don’t understand why you booked me on a separate floor. I would’ve been fine in one of these rooms.”

  “You need a suite. Or would you be comfortable with reporters sitting on your bed while they interview you?”

  Tyler shrugged. “I guess it would depend on the reporter.”

  “A little adolescent flashback?” Iris shook her head with a smile. “After we unpack, we’ll review your schedule and talking points for tomorrow’s presentation.”

  Tyler glanced at his Movado wristwatch. It was six o’clock in the evening in San Diego, nine o’clock at night back home in Columbus. He was starving.

  “I know you’re in charge but I’d rather eat first.” Tyler stopped in front of Iris’s room.

  “All right. We can order room service and make it a working dinner.” She swiped her key card through the reader on her hotel door.