The Beauty and the CEO

by Carolyn Hector

  Although she had no reason to explain further, Zoe felt she needed to. “He and his wife are lovely company.”

  “Wife, you say?” Will straightened up, then exhaled a deep breath and his shoulders slumped. “That makes me feel better.”

  “About?”

  “Never mind,” Will mumbled and went back to the dessert. “Tell me how you got started in cosmetology.”

  Zoe licked some fudge off her bottom lip. “You have sisters, right?”

  “I do, a set of twins.”

  “Did they ever use doll heads to practice fake makeup and hair?”

  Will nodded. “I believe they each got dolls for Christmas.”

  “Well, I got one for Christmas as well, and by the following year I’d gone through at least twenty-five of them.”

  “I understand the doll’s face is washable,” said Will. He set his spoon down on the edge of the plate.

  “They are, but after I got in trouble for using all of my mom’s, I created my own makeup with food and crayons and used it on a few of them, and didn’t know how to make it washable.”

  “Wait.” Will pressed his hand on the table. “You made your own makeup as a kid?”

  Didn’t he read anything on her résumé? “I did get a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and an MS in Cosmetic Chemistry.” Zoe rolled her eyes. “I’d like to think my childhood products inspired the first vegan products.”

  “You believe in vegan products over animal-tested?” Will asked.

  Didn’t he know anything about cosmetology?

  “I’m sure your mother was impressed and mortified. I’m imagining the ants and the smells from your food-based makeup.”

  A memory of her grandmother came to mind. She rarely shared personal stories, but something about being in her hometown was nostalgic. “My grandmother came to my rescue. She was so impressed with the way I perfected the 1940s eye that she brought me more doll heads and encouraged me to do everything under the sun in cosmetology, how a product is made, applied and sold.”

  Will shifted uncomfortably in his seat and Zoe chalked it up to their meals. They had eaten a lot this morning from a food truck. Zoe figured he would burn the meal off with the walking tour of the history of downtown Southwood later after lunch.

  “Okay, so you’ve always loved makeup.”

  “I love pretty things,” Zoe responded.

  In his response to her, Will wiggled his brows. “What do you know? We’re very similar.”

  It was on the tip of her tongue to remind Will she wanted him to be her boss, and that this flirting, no matter how exciting, was inappropriate. But, truthfully, she enjoyed it. She loved the thrill he gave her with each cocky grin.

  “Alright, y’all—” Kenzie clapped her hands together “—it’s time we get moving.”

  Saved by the Southern belle.

  * * *

  The tour ended just before dusk. Will parked the sports car in the same spot and, like earlier, came to Zoe’s side of the vehicle to help her out. His Southern manners were in rare form, Zoe thought, as she watched him move in front of the hood of the car. Despite setting her own ground rules, she couldn’t ignore the wave of excitement each time she got the chance to be alone with him. She’d be lying if she said she was looking forward to the barbecue this evening. It meant she’d have to share his company with the other guests and right now jealousy tingled her senses.

  She’d noticed a hairstylist batting her lashes at Will after dinner. A jealous bug did bite her, but she ignored it. Zoe had an agenda. And, so far, she thought she was winning Will’s favor. They stopped by Grits and Glam Gowns, and Zoe was able to point out the jobs she’d done in the photographs hanging from Lexi’s walls. Will didn’t say anything about her work, but he did nod his head in approval.

  Zoe didn’t care for Rebecca Smith, who was half trotting and half limping in her four-inch heels toward the car. Who wore heels like that on a walking tour?

  A few years ago, Zoe and Titus had been at the same show. In most fashion shows, makeup was done first and then the model went over to the hairstylist. The designer collaborated with her crew to create the looks she wanted for each model. One of Zoe’s models needed more attention. Titus, irritated at not getting more of the intricate work, spent his time backstage gossiping with Rebecca, who held the models in line for hair. With Zoe’s models backed up and Titus’s models ready, Titus had received the high praise for being professional. Rebecca never mentioned the true reason for the holdup.

  “There you are, Will,” Rebecca exclaimed breathlessly. Rebecca’s attempt at wing-tip eyeliner was shaky at best, and in the sweltering heat, the liquid had also leaked onto her upper lid. Poor thing was oblivious. Zoe was almost tempted to pull her aside and let her know. “I was hoping to find you before we ate dinner.”

  Will extended his hand to help Zoe out of the car and kept a possessive hold on her hand as he spoke to Rebecca. “You found us,” he said, with an emphasis on the us.

  Rebecca gave Zoe a tight-lipped smile. Zoe dipped her head to hide her sarcastic grin. “I wanted to talk business with you.”

  Zoe disentangled herself from Will’s grasp. “You two go on ahead. I’m going to change for the cookout.” She excused herself and walked through the yard, through the hickory-scented air. What business did Rebecca have with Ravens Cosmetics? Zoe didn’t realize she was stomping up the steps until Lexi, cuddled up on the hanging swing with her husband, glanced up and paused her conversation. Zoe waved an apology and headed upstairs. She had no business feeling any way over Rebecca. More than likely the hairstylist just wanted to be a part of RC, much like Zoe did. Who could knock her for trying?

  Inside her room, Zoe debated whether or not to shower and erred on the side of caution. Being sweaty and standing near the lake water was a good way to get bitten by a mosquito. She slipped out of her sundress, padded barefoot into the bathroom and locked the door to Will’s side of the room, just in case Will decided to do the same. Once in the shower, scrubbing her body with a loofah, Zoe thought more about what Rebecca and Will were talking about. She was in a sudsy lather and her mild rage grew as her mind wandered. What if Rebecca wanted the CDD position? What if Rebecca was willing to compromise her integrity? There was no what-if, Zoe thought bitterly.

  Zoe got out of the shower, dressed in a pair of denim shorts and red crop top, and stomped down the stairs in her red flip-flops, already in a tizzy. Will stood by the grill, nursing a bottled beer, talking and watching Ramon maneuver a grilled chicken leg over to its other side. When he finished, Stephen stepped in with a basting brush and brushed a thick, deep-red sauce over the meat. Will nodded his head in approval.

  “That’s what I’m talking about,” Will cheered the barbecuers.

  “Oh, brother,” Zoe groaned, walking over to them.

  Kenzie came out of nowhere and linked her arm with Zoe’s. “Men will bond over anything, from a sports show to meat.”

  “Not just meat, woman,” Ramon said, puffing his chest and lifting his hands out to the sides. “We made fire.” To celebrate Ramon’s feat, Will and Stephen gave him high fives.

  Zoe liked this side of Will. He wasn’t as stuffy as he was with his brothers at Ravens Cosmetics, where he had to be the boss. He was himself...or, at least, she thought so. “What’s on the grill?”

  “I have some chicken now,” said Ramon, “and there are burgers and hot dogs keeping warm in the oven.”

  “So, we’re ready to eat?” asked Kenzie.

  Ramon looked at the grill and nodded. “Yeah, let’s start calling the guests down.”

  “Is there anything I can help with?” Zoe asked. “I learned from my grandmother that if I didn’t bring anything to the party, the least I can do is help out.”

  “Yours, too, huh?” Will chuckled. “We may end up washing dish
es together tonight.”

  Great, Zoe groaned inwardly, a night of getting wet with Will.

  Chapter 5

  The following morning, a wave of nerves washed over Zoe when she brushed her knuckles against the door to Will’s room. She’d dressed in a pair of comfortable red workout shorts, a plain white T-shirt and some running shoes, and stepped out of her room into the hall to go right next door. She heard no movement but in a second Will opened the door.

  Before leaving her room, Zoe had prepared a speech to coerce him into going off Lexi’s daily schedule. Then he answered the door in a pair of black basketball shorts with the waistband hanging low on his hips, exposing those V-shaped muscles. Zoe’s mouth went dry. She’d figured he was fine, but damn.

  And the last thing she’d expected to find on his defined chest were the initials TOP over his heart. A woman? Zoe stamped down the surge of jealousy coursing through her veins.

  “Hey,” Will said, cocking his head to the side to catch her attention.

  Zoe hadn’t realized she was staring until her neck ached as she straightened it to meet his gaze. “Oh,” Zoe began, “I, uh, I wanted to see if you wanted to go off course again today.”

  “You have something in mind?” Will asked and reached up for the top of the door frame. A natural bulge formed in his biceps. A natural moan threatened in the back of Zoe’s throat.

  “I thought you’d like to visit the Four Points Park today for a workout.”

  “A park?” A spark of excitement was in his voice.

  “Well, yesterday you almost killed us while driving because you seemed so distracted by the view,” Zoe teased.

  Will began to rock back and forth, his arms still holding the top of the door frame. Now all Zoe could see was the way the muscles in his legs flexed. She gulped once more. Was he doing this on purpose?

  “What was I doing yesterday?” Will asked.

  Zoe blinked back up to make eye contact with her potential boss. If she kept saying that in her head, she’d eventually believe it. “I should have asked how your forehead was doing, considering how many times you hit your head against the window every time you saw a green pasture.”

  “Whatever.” Will chuckled and pushed himself away from the door. “Well, all I need to do is put on my shoes and we can head out.”

  “And a shirt,” Zoe reminded him.

  From the middle of the room, Will turned around and winked. “Too much for you to handle?”

  Playfully Zoe rolled her eyes and scoffed. Without stepping into his private sanctuary, she stood in the doorway and leaned against the jamb. “Whatever, I’d hate for your virginal skin to be attacked by the Southern mosquitoes—they’re unlike any bug you’ve ever come across.”

  Will sat on the edge of his bed and slipped on a pair of black tennis shoes. The crumpled blankets on his king-size bed created images in Zoe’s mind that she needn’t think about. When he finished with his shoes, Will stood to his full six-four height. He reached for something in the covers, then stood and slipped a black T-shirt over his beautiful body. Zoe swallowed her disappointment.

  “I can promise you one thing, babe,” Will said. “Nothing about me has been virginal in a long time.”

  The only thing Zoe could do after a comment like that was choke on her words. “I wasn’t talking about that.”

  “I know.” Will crossed the hardwood floor, grabbed something off the dresser against the wall and then stood so close to her in the door frame that Zoe felt his heartbeat thump against his chest. “But I was.”

  At first, Zoe assumed Will was being boorish and using his size to push her out of the way. So she turned to the side with her back against the frame. Will turned to face her, and her heart raced. He lowered his lashes and licked his lips as he stared down at her. It was barely after eight in the morning and Zoe was already working up a sweat. This wasn’t fair.

  “Do you mind?” she asked him, hoping he’d catch on to her sarcastic tone.

  “Hey, you’re the one who didn’t move.”

  In true dramatic form, Zoe sighed and took a big step to the left and into the hallway. “Better?”

  “Not really,” Will mumbled with a wink. “So, where are we going again?”

  “To the Four Points Park.”

  A set of keys jingled in the palm of his hand and scraped against the brass knob when Will closed the door behind him with one hand. He placed his other hand on Zoe’s lower back. She tried not to be skittish and willed herself to remain calm.

  “You’re dressed like you’re going to work out,” Will observed.

  “I need to.” Zoe nodded. “You keep shoving your desserts at me.”

  “Yeah.” Will laughed. “I ordered one and you pulled it toward you.”

  “You pushed it toward me like you wanted to share!” Zoe gasped.

  “Uh, no.” Will shook his head. “I was making elbow room and getting ready to dig in when you assaulted my dessert with your spoon.”

  Done with this version of the truth, Zoe folded her arms across her chest and sighed.

  “Then let’s talk about last night and the triple-crust peach cobbler with the homemade vanilla ice cream.” Will patted his stomach. “Or, at least, I believe it was homemade. I barely got some.”

  In jest, Zoe rubbed her belly and offered a lazy smile. “Oh, it was homemade, and it was good, too.”

  “So you admit you stole my dessert?”

  “I was helping you out,” Zoe argued. “Both desserts were too large for one person to eat. You really should be thanking me.”

  Bowing at the waist, Will nodded. “You’re right, and thank you,” he conceded. “But you must know, I’ll share anything with you.”

  They walked along the hallway together and down the stairs. A lighting director and his assistant were the only ones awake and preparing their breakfasts. Silver-domed trays were spread out along the dining room’s buffet. Fresh fruit in clear bowls stood as the centerpiece on the table. Zoe stepped in for a moment to snag two bananas before she followed Will out the door. Even though she didn’t need help down the steps, Zoe wouldn’t have minded Will’s gentle touch again. She bit the inside of her cheek to avoid showing any emotion.

  Will proved to have a good memory. They drove without her having to give any directions. The banter over who’d eaten how much dessert continued until a song from a female group Zoe had once worked with came on the radio. Without thinking, she turned the volume up and began belting out the punk-rock lyrics. At a red light, Will slowed the car and the song began to fade away. Zoe remembered her surroundings and bit the nail of her index finger.

  “Sorry.” She grinned.

  “Don’t be sorry.” Will shrugged, a smile spreading across his face. “Is the band a favorite of yours?”

  “In a way,” said Zoe. “I did their makeup for one of their album covers. You may have seen it in my portfolio.” Zoe glanced over in time to catch his fingers gripping the steering wheel.

  Will cocked his head to the side. “Can we be honest here?”

  “Sure.”

  “I wasn’t a fan of your work.”

  The light may have turned green, but Zoe ceased to notice everything else around her. Her heart slammed against her rib cage. “What?”

  Will shrugged. “You said I could be honest.”

  “Well, I didn’t mean rip my heart out and slam it on the ground,” Zoe shot back quickly. “We’re talking about my life’s work.”

  “Your work is stuck in the eighties.”

  “It’s not stuck in the eighties,” Zoe gasped. “It’s an homage to the eighties. It’s my signature.”

  “Big hair, bright colors, crazy colors.” Will shook his head and frowned. “Not my cup of tea, but fortunately for you, I don’t have the final say in the hiring.
We do have to put it to a vote.”

  “And do you want to tell me what my odds are right now?”

  Chuckling, Will reached over and patted Zoe’s shoulder. “I have no desire to be that honest with you.”

  They drove along a few more miles before reaching the park. Will slipped the car into an empty spot with no cars on either side and stepped out. Zoe was still at a loss for words. He didn’t like her work and he had no problem telling her so. So why wasn’t she ready to rip his head off?

  In the beauty business, there was always competition. If Zoe had a fit every time she didn’t get a job, she’d be one miserable person. The only time she hated being passed over was when it came to Titus. He stole everything from her. Zoe swallowed down the bubbling irritation. No need to worry. Zoe had Donovan, Marcus and the twins on her side. Surely that was enough, right?

  “Thanks,” Zoe said, taking his hand as he offered to help her out. “I mean, for being honest.”

  Will held on to her hand to press it against his heart. “Can I be honest with you some more?”

  Butterflies puttered around in her belly. How much honesty was she supposed to take in one day? “How about, if you beat me around the field,” Zoe pulled herself away and took off running, “you can say whatever you want.”

  “No fair!” Will shouted at her backside as she left him in the dust.

  * * *

  Cute. She wanted to race. Will had two choices. The competitive side of him wanted to, of course, win this instant race, but winning might cause more hurt feelings than Will wanted to provide. Even though Zoe smiled at him after he gave his honest opinion, Will knew better than to push his luck. So, clearly, the other option was to let her win.

  Going with that, Will jogged behind Zoe. She had great form, knees up, feet up as she paced herself. His steps were quiet, quiet enough that when he turned around to run backward alongside of her, Zoe jumped off to the side with a little scream. Her pace became a full-on dash. The light laugh she made, as if she couldn’t catch her breath, was infectious. As Will caught her laugh, he made the mistake of closing his eyes and not watching where he was going. Thanks to his carelessness, he tripped over a log and fell down to the grass in a laughing heap.