Rhett threw him a heated glare over his shoulder and stomped the rest of the way into his office. Garrett trailed in behind and winked at Rhett’s wide-eyed secretary, Marcy, on the way past. He motioned for her to close her gaping mouth.
Overnight, his boss had morphed into a volatile personality, and Garrett couldn’t be happier. Lord, he loved being right about something, especially when Rhett was wrong about the same something, which rarely if ever happened.
Garrett sauntered into the private office, careful to keep his best bland expression glued to his face. At least, he hoped he did. He was going to need bland, for in the next few minutes, he intended to poke this very mad bear into action. Garrett wasn’t nearly satisfied that Rhett had taken to growling whenever Lily was near. He wanted Rhett to make some kind of move before Lily gave up and disappeared from his life.
“You wanted to see me?” he asked quietly.
“Out with it!” Rhett snapped.
Garrett tried for wide-eyed innocence. “Out with what?”
“Don’t you give me that look. You’re guilty as hell, and this has you plastered all over it.”
Rhett threw his briefcase and jacket down in his desk chair. His briefcase bounced once and dropped with a thud to the floor. Instead of picking the case up, Rhett yanked his tie loose and spun around to face Garrett.
“Guilty of what?” Garrett extended his palms in submission and tried hard not to smile. He couldn’t ever remember seeing Rhett quite this mad.
“She’s back,” Rhett snarled. “Why?”
“Who’s back?”
Rhett narrowed his eyes in a deadly glare.
“Ohhh,” he said, as though suddenly understanding. “You mean Lily.”
“Of course, I mean Lily.”
“You said you were over her and didn’t care about her.”
“That’s right. I am.”
“So, why are you getting mad because she’s here?” Garrett raised his brows and waited.
“Don’t play dumb, dammit! I spilled my guts to you at the house that night. She lied to me, and I don’t want to see her.”
“Could have fooled me. You didn’t have any trouble rescuing her.”
Rhett’s icy gaze should have formed icicles on Garrett’s nose. “You better not be meddling,” he snarled.
“Are you kidding me?” Garrett exclaimed. “What do I look like, some Yenta?”
“You don’t want me to answer that, do you? Because I think you’re up to something.”
“I resent that,” he shot back with the perfect amount of righteous indignation. “I’m your chosen landscape-architect-slash-developer with a nose for the best plant stock, and Bloom & Grow has the best damn plant stock. I want the best, so naturally I will use them on my jobs. If you don’t want me using Bloom & Grow, you just say the word, and I’ll cut them loose. And you—” Garrett pointed an imperious finger. “—will no longer have the best for your projects.”
He felt gratified to watch Rhett deflate. He had just played the master like a Stradivarius violin.
Rhett stared solemnly, and Garrett gave him a few moments, then asked, “Well? What’s it going to be?”
Still Rhett stared.
Garrett waited. Had he miscalculated?
“Fine! Use them. I don’t care.”
“That it?”
“No more interior plants,” Rhett ordered. “I don’t want to see her delivering any more. Do you understand me?”
“Sure. Fine. I understand,” Garrett huffed. “Geez, if you two are over, what does it matter if you see her or not? Why should you care? And what about the annual Spring Fling barbecue for your employees and clients? That’s coming up this weekend.”
“What about it?” Rhett narrowed his eyes.
“You said you wanted me to doll up the house. You threw away the plants Delia bought, so now you don’t have any.”
“Outside plants,” Rhett snapped. “I meant flowers. It’s a barbecue, and everyone will be outside. Plant whatever you want, but make it flowers.” He jerked his briefcase off the floor and plunked it down on his desk, then aimed an index finger at Garrett. “No more interior plants. Nothing but annuals at my house for the barbecue and don’t try to pull anything. Got it?”
“Sure thing. Only annuals.”
Garrett gave him a mock salute and followed Rhett back to his conference room. There they found Chester whispering delightedly with his daughter on one side of the massive conference room table, and Lucas Van Dorn seated on the other side, quietly perusing financial spreadsheets.
Rhett glanced at his watch. “Where the hell is Cross?”
Chester glanced up, momentarily surprised. “Good Lord, I forgot. I sent him word to meet us on the third floor at Van Dorn’s conference room.”
Delia chuckled wickedly, and Garrett said, “I’ll go get him.”
“No!” Rhett barked and bolted for the elevators.
Lily had seen enough. She wanted out of this building. Now. Garrett had tricked her again. He’d known exactly when Rhett was coming back because he had a meeting with Rhett and Chester Armstead, and Delia had won again. Right now, the witch was upstairs at their business meeting, hanging all over Rhett.
She pulled the remaining sleeved plants off the still-full cage cart and staged them in the corner, all under the watchful eye of the nosy receptionist. Let Rob deliver the remaining plants. She was leaving. She angled the empty cart toward the elevators and stabbed the button once, then twice, wishing it was Delia’s nasty smirking eyes.
Thankfully, the elevator doors whooshed open right then for Lily’s escape. Only the elevator was occupied.
Aidan Cross grinned at her and stepped out. “Talk about getting what you ask for. I’ve been hoping to run into you, Lily Foster.”
Lily almost shivered at the deep sensual timbre of his voice, and she heard a distinct gasp from the receptionist.
Good. Maybe she’ll tell Rhett.
She smiled at Aidan. “Hello again.”
His eyes roved from her head to her toes, and she fought back another shiver.
“I’m sure there’s an interesting story behind you being in BDC headquarters and dressed like that.”
Oddly, there had not been a shred of condescension in his voice or expression. In fact, his eyes twinkled with amusement.
Lily grinned. “Most assuredly.”
“Then that’s a story I’d love to hear.”
He stepped close enough she could feel the change in temperature from his body heat.
“Actually, I’d love to hear any story about you, Lily Foster.”
He lifted her hand and lightly brushed his lips across her knuckles. Why did he always do that? To watch her shiver? She didn’t disappoint him though she really tried to squelch it.
Just over his shoulder, Lily spied the receptionist’s eyes growing wide. Aidan was so close, she could hear him breathing. She dared not move. If she backed up, she’d knock the palm over, and besides, he still had her hand.
She tugged and he grinned.
Darn that lethal smile of his.
The elevator behind her dinged again, but she didn’t dare glance over. She had to keep an eye on Aidan.
“How about having a drink with me later when you’re through here?” he asked in a much louder voice than before.
Good Lord, the man was asking her out? Here in the middle of BDC and in front of the receptionist? She blinked at him. Well, why not? She wasn’t tied to anyone here. Not any longer.
Lily noticed the receptionist’s wide eyes no longer focused on the two of them.
A large hand clamped down on Aidan’s shoulder and yanked him backward. “Your meeting is on the fourth floor. My office,” Rhett barked at Aidan. His eyes glittered dangero
usly.
The two men squared off in full glare—barely a few feet separating them—like two pugilists in a boxing ring awaiting a bell for the next round.
The receptionist gasped.
Lily held her breath, her gaze bouncing back and forth between the two big men and awaiting the first swing since all four hands had balled into fists.
“Leave Lily alone,” Rhett growled.
“Why? She’s not spoken for,” Aidan snarled back.
Rhett just glared at him. Lily could feel the animosity rolling off the two men in waves. She had to do something.
“Aidan offered to help me out with my cart,” she volunteered. “That’s all. But, I can manage on my own.”
Rhett’s gaze swung to hers. She thought she saw a flash of hurt blaze for an instant in his eyes, no doubt because she wanted to see some sign he still cared.
Rhett abruptly swung around and stepped into an elevator that once again appeared to open on cue. “Help her out, then get to the fourth floor for our meeting,” he ordered Aidan. “You’re already late.”
Though Lily willed him to, he didn’t look at her again as the doors closed in front of him. Then he was gone.
Without a word, Aidan took hold of Lily’s cart and pressed the elevator button. When the doors opened, he pushed the cart across the threshold and held the door open for Lily. She stepped in next to him, and the elevator doors whooshed closed.
“Sorry about all that, Lily,” he said as the car started to move.
“Why should you apologize?”
He actually looked chagrined. “I antagonized him on purpose. I saw him get out of the elevator. I knew he was back there.”
Lily stared, nonplussed, for a moment and then the light went on.
“You only asked me out for a drink because you knew he was standing behind me,” she tested.
He smiled sheepishly and nodded once.
She felt a brief stab of disappointment that this gorgeous man hadn’t really invited her for a drink. It would’ve soothed the ache of seeing Delia so easily drag Rhett away with her.
Aidan tilted her chin toward him with a finger. “Would you have gone out with me?” he asked.
His voice had gone low and husky. No, make that sensual. Okay, so maybe he could be slightly interested. Her ego felt better though her heart sure didn’t. She blinked at him, unsure what to say next.
He flashed his smile again. “It’s okay. Just allow me to wish that I’d met you first. My plan all along was to let you get Rhett out of your system and then talk you into giving me a chance.”
Oh, now that was sweet.
But she couldn’t allow herself to be taken in yet again. The elevator doors parted and saved her making a response.
Aidan waited for her to step out then pushed the now-empty cart into the lobby. “I still want to hear the story of how you ended up here delivering plants.”
“Maybe someday,” she said and started the cart toward the entrance doors, wanting only to get away from BDC. She refused to look at Gerald knowing the security guard would be smirking behind his lobby desk.
She almost made it to the front door.
“Lily, wait!”
She stiffened. Aidan caught her arm. “I need to ask you something.”
Curious, she raised her brows.
He swallowed. “It seems I’m invited to Buchanan’s Spring Fling barbecue next Saturday. I’d like you to go with me.”
She could only stare in astonishment. Her invited to Buchanan’s barbecue? But she wasn’t. Aidan was. And why was that?
As though in answer to her question, he said, “We’re about to swap great development properties today, so I suppose Rhett felt magnanimous and sent me an invitation, or rather Garrett did.”
Still she stared.
“Garrett actually invited me. Before the, um, altercation upstairs. But I’m still invited, I think.”
Her brows went up.
“Of course, I am.” He grinned. “Jupiter Island doesn’t practice do-overs. Say you’ll go with me.”
Still considering her answer, she inadvertently glanced over at the security desk. Gerald glowered at her. Now what was that all about?
“I don’t think I should—”
His finger pressed against her lips. He glanced over at the still glowering Gerald. “Let’s step outside." He grabbed the cage cart with one hand and her elbow, gently, in the other and steered both toward the glass-entrance doors and out to the exterior landing.
Lily glanced at the Bloom & Grow truck waiting in the loading zone. No sign of Rob. Rob who was here to ensure nothing and no one out of the ordinary happened to her while she was at BDC. Rob was going to get an earful later.
“Please go with me, Lily,” Aidan asked earnestly. “It will be beneficial for both of us.”
“How is that?”
“I’m just guessing here, mind you, but you and Rhett have unfinished business.”
She frowned. No way would she discuss Rhett, not with him upstairs with Delia right at this moment.
“Okay, I’ll confess.” There was that sheepish, close-to-lethal smile again. “I called Garrett and asked what happened between you and Rhett. I had to know before I made any move.”
“You did?” she asked, astounded. Boy, had her ego needed that today.
He nodded. “Oddly enough, Garrett was forthcoming and told me you hadn’t been exactly up front about your line of work, and Rhett felt betrayed, so you two had split up.”
He angled her cart down the side ramp at the front door and down toward the truck. Lily paced alongside. “Seeing you today helped me fill in the puzzle pieces,” he continued.
She stiffened and reached for the cart handle.
Aidan grabbed her shoulders. “I don’t care what you do, whether you work at a nursery or not.”
I happen to own that nursery.
But suddenly, she didn’t feel he needed to know that bit of information.
“You obviously aren’t over Rhett.” He let out a deep, disgusted-sounding sigh. “And if I can’t have you, I want Rhett to have you.”
Irritation roiled. “Of all the arrogant, selfish—”
“No, wait.” Again, he pressed a finger to her lips. “I said that wrong. What I meant was, I can help you get back together with Rhett.” He exhaled hard. “If that’s what you want.”
“Sorry, Aidan. I saw you two upstairs just now, and I have a hard time believing you want to help Rhett.”
“It’s true. I’m willing to help because I know I don’t have a chance with you. Wrong timing and all that.”
He gave her a crooked, sexy little smile that had probably stolen the hearts of countless models and starlets.
“Believe me, if I thought I could win, you’d be the first thing I’ve intentionally stolen from Rhett since college. I admit I have won a few deals away from him over the years, but it was just how the business deals shook out. I never intentionally went after anything of Rhett’s. At least, not since college. And I still owe him. If I can’t have you, the next most honorable thing I can do is help Rhett have you. Er, get back together with you.”
Lily crossed her arms over her chest and eyed him intently. “Explain. And no more sort of.”
He exhaled long and hard. “Okay, here it is.”
He stared off into space for a few long moments, and she tapped her foot impatiently.
“Hard as it is to believe, I’ve tried to help Rhett when I can over the years. Call it penance.”
“For what?” she asked.
“For a hurt—a devastating hurt, I think—that I caused him years ago. Albeit unwittingly, mind you. But that’s no excuse.”
“Go on,” Lily prodded, when he stared off into space again.
“Rhett and I were rivals in college, you see—not in fortunes anyway. He came up dirt poor, and I—” He put palms up and shrugged. “—came from old money. But the two of us shared most of our classes. Both business majors, we began competing for top grades right from the beginning. Then we competed in lacrosse and then again in golf.”
“Where does the penance come in?” Lilly interrupted.
“Patience, my dear.” He chucked her under the chin.
“I found out Rhett had been seeing a particular girl, Gloria Conover. Not one I would normally date. She was a snob of the first water. I also wondered how Rhett had ended up with her when she only dated guys with money or guys who could help her in some way.
“Rhett had just shown me up in a golf match against Yale, and I wanted revenge.”
Lily frowned.
“Shallow of me I admit, but I wanted to beat him at anything after that match.” He stopped to collect his thoughts again.
“Go on.”
“The three of us—Rhett, Gloria, and me—were all in an Economics class together that semester, and we had an exam the week after the golf match.” He frowned at his memories. “Gloria, who rarely studied and only squeaked by on grades, did better than me on that exam, and I knew Rhett had helped her when she thanked him after the test.”
Lily watched his jaw clench.
“That was the last straw for me.” He caught her watching him and stared back intently. “You see, I hate to lose.”
“You and Rhett were a lot alike,” she remarked.
He shrugged. “I suppose so. And since I was young and a jerk at the time, I decided to get even with Rhett after the exam. I wanted to see if I could steal Gloria.”
Lily got a sick feeling in her stomach and somehow knew she wouldn’t like the end of this story.
“My friend, Jared, and I approached Gloria and her friend Kersey one night and asked them to meet us at Avio’s pizza parlor. I had planned to tell Rhett all about it later while I gloated.”
Cinderella Busted (The Cinderella Romances #1) Page 19