by Desiree Holt
She might have phrased it as a question, but Liam knew she’d had every detail of SBD memorized before making the offer to him.
“I can see a wide market out there for this.”
So could Liam, but until now he’d had neither the money nor the resources to make that happen.
“SBD is still just a small software company,” he reminded her. “Not on anyone’s radar.”
“Not yet,” Taylor agreed. “But it was something that we were looking for. Had been looking for.” She took a sip of her drink then set her glass down. “Reed Molloy, the owner of Optimus, was pretty impressed with your firm. John brought it up to us during a meeting last month. Suggested you could be an important part of the Arroyo structure and we should reach out to you.”
Liam swallowed a laugh. Like they said, it isn’t what you know, it’s who. He could have busted his butt for the next ten years and still not had this opportunity.
“They were pretty happy with the program we wrote for them.”
Noah chuckled. “I’ll say. Molloy told John he had four of his best hackers trying to crack it and they couldn’t get in. There are several companies in Arroyo’s structure I’d like to see you write software for. Companies that have extensive sensitive financial information, especially those that are in sales of any kind. Not to mention defense contractors. We have divisions that contract a lot of government work.”
“And we’d love to write specific programs for them. We have several clients in that line of work. Truth to tell, when I created Software By Design that was my main focus.”
“Then we’re both on the same page.”
As they ate dinner, Taylor skillfully led him through the details of the creation of his idea, how he’d gone about developing the company and what he planned now. The personal things that didn’t show up in any report or analysis. By the time they reached dessert, she knew as much about SBD as he did.
“So, there you have it,” he said, doing his best to look calm and relaxed. He filled his coffee cup again from the carafe on the table and took a swallow.
“Well, I’m looking forward to working with you to grow the firm. Your attorney assured us you’re happy with the arrangement?”
Hell, yes, he wanted to say. He retained fifty-one percent of the company and had access to all the Arroyo resources.
“Absolutely.”
“I like to get to know people personally before I sign the final papers,” she told him. “I’ve had businessmen tell me I’m crazy to do that while trying to manage a company the size of Arroyo.”
“Not many people would become that personally involved,” Liam agreed.
Taylor took a sip of water and set her glass carefully on the table. “My father was killed by someone who wanted to use Arroyo for their own illegal ends. He was a smart man who built the company from nothing. And I mean nothing. But he trusted people to be as honest as he was and he was deceived by some people very close to him. I won’t make that mistake, no matter how good someone or something looks on paper. I’ve trusted my gut all my life and it hasn’t let me down yet.”
Liam studied her face, looking for some clue as to what she was thinking. “I hope I passed the test.”
“And then some.” She smiled at him. “I’m looking forward to bringing you into the Arroyo family, Liam. Welcome aboard.”
She held out her hand and Liam shook it, still in somewhat of a daze.
“This is as good as a signature,” she told him. “You never have to doubt my word.”
“I looked over the list you sent us of possible sites for a move,” Noah said. “You might as well use the Arroyo cloud to get you the best deal and also add in all the goodies you want. I’d like to check them out with you tomorrow?”
“Of course.” He’d make time. This was important.
“Great. Let’s meet in the lobby around ten in the morning. That work for you?”
“It does.”
Taylor and Noah both rose, a signal the meeting was over.
Liam tried to think of something to say that didn’t sound too stupid. “I’m looking forward to this collaboration.”
“As are we,” Taylor agreed.
“By the way,” Noah jumped in, “we’re having the annual corporate barbecue at our ranch next month. We’d love it if you would attend. Your attorney, too, and any of your employees you think should be included.”
Okay, at thirty-five years old he shouldn’t be swallowing his tongue in astonishment, so he just nodded.
“That would be nice. Thanks. If you give me the specifics, I’ll make plane reservations.”
Taylor shook her head. “We’ll be sending the plane for you. Your attorney, too. There are executives he should meet. And as I said, if you think there is anyone else that should be included, just add them to the list.”
“Looking forward to moving ahead with this.” Noah shook his hand at the door. “Taylor has felt for a long time Arroyo should have its own software division. Welcome aboard.”
Then Liam was out in the corridor, heading for the elevator, slightly dazed.
Chapter Two
With everything rattling around in his head, Liam almost forgot to get off the elevator when it reached the main floor. Only when the doors began to close automatically did he give himself a mental shake, push them open and step out.
He got as far as the lobby before he stopped and looked at his watch. Ten o’clock. Too early to go to bed, especially when he was riding such a high on what was happening. Sydney had said she might still be around, and maybe finished with her legal duties for the night. They were having dinner in the restaurant. Surely they’d be finished by now, right?
He was about to turn and head in that direction to check, when someone called his name. He turned to see the woman herself walking toward him. His body responded at once.
Cock, behave yourself.
Thank the lord he was wearing a dark suit where the bulge in his fly wouldn’t be quite as obvious.
“Oh, good.” She hurried over to hm. “You’re still here.”
The warm, familiar female voice wrapped itself around him like melting chocolate. She smiled at him, looking sexier than ever. He looked around but didn’t see anyone with her.
“I was just about to come looking for you. What did you do with your dinner companions?”
“Sent them off to bed. They’ve got a big day tomorrow, doing trial prep. They need all the rest they can get.”
Liam hitched an eyebrow. “Should I ask what your client did to need your excellent services?”
Sydney laughed. “I’m his attorney. He didn’t do anything.”
“Oh, right.” Liam winked. “Of course not. Well, do you have time for a drink, then? I imagine you’ll be up early tomorrow, too.”
Say yes.
“I will, but we have such a hard time getting together, let’s take advantage of it.”
“I agree.” His mouth twisted in a wry smile. “Yeah, our schedules aren’t exactly the kind that make for any kind of relationship. We should probably consider what’s left of this evening a gift and make use of it.”
Sydney nodded. “Absolutely. Besides, you look to be bursting at the seams about something, so let me buy tonight. Come on.”
The bar in the hotel was designed for intimacy. No bright lights, just soft coach lamps on the walls and at each booth. The carpeting on the floor was thick enough to absorb sound, so the conversations were muted. It was a place to entice a woman to bed or put together a secret business deal. And perfect for intimate conversation.
Liam followed Sydney into the bar, nudging her toward a booth in the far corner that a couple was just vacating. Conversation around them was little more than a low hum, people engrossed in each other, some serious, some smiling. A low-key, nonthreatening situation. So why, Liam asked himself, did a tiny chill suddenly skitter its way down his spine?
As casually as he could, he glanced around, trying to spot anyone who might be fixated on him.
Watching him. But no one seemed to be paying him attention. Still, the feeling was there and he could not seem to get rid of it. When they reached the booth, he slid into the bench seat that backed up to the wall.
Sydney stared at him, one eyebrow lifted.
“Are you okay? Would you rather not do this now?”
He shook his head. “No. Not at all. I mean, I’m fine and I want to do this.” He was determined not to waste this unexpected opportunity. “Have a drink with you.”
“Okay.” She studied him for a moment. “If you’re sure.”
Liam forced himself to relax. Having a drink with Sydney was the perfect ending to a day when his life had taken an extraordinary turn. Who better to share it with than the woman he couldn’t get out of his head? The woman he wanted to strip naked and tumble in his bed so he could do all sorts of wild things with her. If he weren’t aware of how crass it would sound, he’d ask her to have that drink with him at his townhouse in South Tampa.
No. Not this way. At least let her think you have some class.
“This is nice.” He studied Sydney for a moment. “It seems as though life keeps conspiring to keep us apart, so this is an unexpected pleasure.”
She nodded. “For me, too. Sometimes I wish…”
“Wish what?” That we could get together more often, like now, as I do?
“Maybe that there were more than twenty-four hours in a day.” She shrugged. “No matter. Here we are.”
“Yes.” He winked. “A very unexpected pleasure. It’s great that we both ended up in the same place tonight, even if it’s just for a short while.”
“I agree. Tell me how your dinner went tonight? I want to hear all about what’s going on with you. Whatever it is sounds very exciting.”
“I’m not sure I have any personal business to mention, if you want to know the truth,” he joked.
Even as he spoke, he was scanning the room for anything that might be the source of his uneasiness.
Sydney reached across the table and touched his hand. “Liam, are you okay? Is something wrong?”
He gave himself a mental shake and did his best to knock it out of his mind and into a corner. He was probably just being paranoid, anyway, and for what reason? Damn it, he wasn’t going to waste this unexpected opportunity worrying about some figment of his imagination.
“I’m fine.” He grinned at her. “This has been an exciting few days for me, Syd. I’m probably still just wound up about everything.”
“Must be something big. Did your dinner go well? Can I ask who it was with?”
He nodded, then waited until the waitress served their drinks before answering.
“Are you familiar with the Arroyo Corporation?”
Sydney gave a ladylike snort. “Of course. Who isn’t? I think they own the world.”
He leaned forward a little, blocking out the rest of the bar. “As of tomorrow, Software By Design will be part of the Arroyo family.”
“Liam!” Sydney reached for his hands and gave them a squeeze. “But that’s fantastic. Truly. A major step forward for you. Think of all the doors it will open. The type of clients you’ll attract.”
“No kidding. I can hardly believe it myself.” He took a swallow of his bourbon, savoring its taste. “I’m thirty-five years old and I feel like a kid at Christmas.”
“As well you should.” She smiled at him. “That’s quite a coup. How did you pull it off?”
He chuckled. “In the most unlikely way. Someone knew someone who knew someone.”
He told her about John Martino and Optimus and Martino’s dinner with the Cantrells.
Sydney cocked an eyebrow. “Yes, John certainly knows all the right people.”
“That is just the damn truth,” Liam agreed. He touched his glass to Sydney’s. “A toast to people who know people.”
“Amen to that.” She took a long sip of her wine. “I’m excited for you, Liam.”
“Yeah, I’m excited for me, too. I’m not sure if when I left Winters and Pryce I ever thought Software By Design would take off the way it has.”
“You have an incredible brain,” she told him, “and you put that master’s in computer engineering to good use. You always have. I’m glad this is happening for you.”
“Thanks.”
“So, give with the details? When is all this happening? Will you have to move from Tampa? How is it going to work?”
By the time he was through sharing everything with her, they had finished their drinks and another round besides. Sydney told him about her current high-profile client, a hedge fund partner accused of stealing millions from his equally high-profile clients.
“I just wish he wasn’t such a jackass.” She sighed and raked her hair back from her face.
He noticed she was wearing a pink silicone bracelet that she was idly rubbing as they talked. He wondered what that was all about and if it would be rude to ask her. Maybe next time. If there was a next time. He swallowed a sigh.
“Why take him on as a client, then?”
She gave a delicate shrug of her shoulders. “Doing a favor for a friend. Let’s leave it at that.”
Silence sat like a third person in the booth while Liam tried to figure out what kind of friend would get her to do this kind of favor. He was trying to decide what to say next, unwilling to let the evening end on such an impersonal note, when that same chilly feeling from before did its dance up and down his spine. As casually as he could manage, he shifted enough to let his gaze roam the entire bar. Of course, in the dim lighting it would be hard to recognize someone he knew, never mind identify a stranger.
“Liam? Is there a problem?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “It’s probably just me on edge because of everything that’s happening.”
“Are you sure?” She reached across the table and touched his hand. “Sometimes our instincts send us messages before our brain gets them.”
“Maybe.” He raised his hand to signal for the check. “Let’s get out of here, okay?”
“Yes, but I’m buying, remember? My gift for the celebration.”
In the lobby he looked around, trying to be as casual about it as possible. He checked off the clerks behind registration. A group of people near the entrance were chattering about something. A handful of people were lined up at the lobby coffee bar that stayed open until midnight. A man about his age, in jeans and a sweater, sitting in one of the armchairs in a conversation grouping, reading something on a tablet. A couple stood in a corner of the lobby, the woman tapping something on her cell phone. Three more couples passed him, chatting as they headed for the entrance.
That was it. No one who looked suspicious, or gave him an evil eye.
I’m probably making something out of nothing. Too little sleep.
Still, that weird feeling crawling over him would not go away.
“Liam?”
He shifted his gaze to Sydney, who was looking at him with a worried expression.
“I’m good. It’s…nothing.”
“It’s not nothing when you’ve been figuratively and sometimes for real looking over your shoulder since we got together tonight. Please tell me what the deal is? Maybe I can offer some suggestions.”
He blew out a breath. “This is going to sound really stupid.”
“Nothing is stupid if it causes you distress. Come on.” She tugged on his jacket sleeve. “Let’s go sit at that little table way over there in that corner. No one’s hanging around there and we won’t be disturbed.”
She settled them at the table then fetched two coffees from the coffee bar.
“We both probably need sleep more than the caffeine,” she said, as she took the chair across from him. “But if something’s bothering you, it won’t help if the liquor takes the edge off your awareness.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “You think two drinks will put me under?”
Sydney laughed. “No, but it can make you or anyone less alert. Come
on.” She lifted her cup. “Drink up.”
Liam took a grateful sip of the hot liquid. It seemed to do more for him than the two drinks he’d had.
“Okay, give,” she told him.
“I keep thinking I’m paranoid,” he began and took another swallow. “Three times in the last couple of days I’ve been nearly sideswiped by a car when I was walking. Or running, like when I was heading for the garage elevator.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t just some crazy drivers being careless? I know, I know.” She held up a hand and again the hot-pink bracelet caught his eye. “I don’t think you have an overactive imagination, but I have to ask. And what else? What happened tonight?”
“I had another near miss in the garage. I could swear a car tried to run me down, but I got out of the way fast enough. Then I wondered if I was just being paranoid. But ever since I came out of the meeting tonight, I’ve had the weirdest feeling someone is watching me.”
“In the bar? In the lobby?” He gave her credit. She kept her eyes on him and didn’t swivel around to look at everyone the way he might have expected. Instead she looked directly across the table at him, leaning in slightly, as if they were lovers having a hot drink before…before doing whatever came next.
And damn it! He wished at that moment they were lovers. Then he realized she was staring at him and he hadn’t answered her question.
“Yes. To both places. I tried not to be obvious checking out the bar, and I kind of skimmed a glance over the lobby when we entered it.” He took another hit of the coffee. “The thing is, Syd, I can’t think who would want to hurt me.”
“What about any of your projects? Would they be adversely affecting anyone?”
He chuffed a laugh. “Only if they wanted to steal information and our programs prevented that.” He shook his head. “Our primary purpose is creating client-specific security software. In other words, rather than writing a program that can be mass marketed, we design one for each individual client. That way there is no duplication of programs.”
“And that means?”
“That even if, god forbid, someone found a way to hack into the software at company A, they couldn’t use the same Internet tools to hack into company B.”