A chorus of affirmative responses erupted from the group.
“And Ms. Franklin is on equal footing with me, so be aware of that, as well.” Darius turned to Eve, and once again, her insides reacted to his scrutiny. “Go ahead, Eve. You can handle it from here.”
Wow. If he keeps looking at me like that... She didn’t want to speculate on what that might lead to, so she focused on the task at hand. “Good. Then let’s get started.” She opened the briefcase she’d brought in with her and pulled out a stack of papers. “Ms. Fallon, could you raise your hand, please?”
Gloria, seated near the other end of the table, lifted her hand.
“Everyone, this is Gloria Fallon. She is the director of the finance department, where she’s worked for fifteen years. For the time being, she will be taking my place on the board as chief financial officer, so I can assist Mr. Winstead. Please make her feel welcome.”
A brief burst of applause filled the room.
Standing next to Eve, Darius elbowed her gently. “Call me Darius.”
Feeling the heat rising in her cheeks, she looked away. “Is there anything else we need to address?”
“How is your father?” Li Sing Cho, chief technology officer, asked.
“The doctor says he’s suffering from a cardiovascular ailment, but they’ve yet to pinpoint it. For now, he’s resting.”
Li Sing nodded. “I hope he’ll make a quick recovery.”
“Thank you. I’ll relay that to him.” She replaced the plans for the upcoming software launch party into her briefcase and snapped it shut. “With that said, I hereby adjourn this meeting. Mimi will forward the minutes to your inboxes by tomorrow morning.”
“You’re pretty good at this board meeting thing. Bores me to tears,” Darius whispered for her ears only.
She chuckled before she could stop herself. Glancing his way, she found his chocolate eyes intent on her. “It bores me, too, to be honest. But I’ve been watching Dad do it forever.”
“Well, I’m impressed.” He stood, gathered his papers and pens. “I’m going back to the office. See you later, Eve.”
And he departed.
As the board members filtered out, Louise turned to her. “I’m glad Darius put that grouchy Phillip Gordon in his place. If I had any say, he would’ve been fired years ago for his bad attitude.”
“You’re right.” Even though being around Darius drove her to distraction, she liked the way he’d handled the old blowhard. She kissed her mother on the cheek. “I’m headed back to my office. I’ll see you later for lunch, okay?”
Louise nodded, and Eve stood, clutching her briefcase. Mimi rose, laptop in hand, and followed her out of the boardroom.
* * *
Eve reclined in her bubble-filled whirlpool bathtub as evening fell. The sultry sounds of Sade’s greatest hits filtered into the spacious bathroom as she sipped from a cold goblet of sparkling white wine. Placing the glass back into the holder on her bath caddy, she closed her eyes, resting her head on the plush pillow behind her. Humming along to the soothing music, she began to bathe with her favorite lavender-scented soap.
She emerged a short while later, clean and refreshed. In her large walk-in closet, she chose a comfortable ankle-length emerald satin gown. Slipping into it and its matching robe, she crossed the plush carpet barefoot into her bedroom. Freeing the latch and pushing the handle, she opened the French doors leading to her balcony. Once outside, she sat down on the cushioned rattan love seat, prepared to enjoy the late-August breeze. Her perch presented a great view of her wildflower garden and gazebo on the back lawn. Beyond the high black iron security gate and the stand of stately pines surrounding the property, the skyline of the still-bustling Queen City sparkled above the whizzing lights of the traffic streaming down I-77.
Watching the stars overhead, she heard the trill of the ringing phone. Since the housekeeper had gone home for the day, she knew no one else would answer it. Rising from the love seat, she padded back into the room and picked up the receiver near her bed.
“Hello?”
“Eve?”
She recognized his voice immediately. “Hi... Mr. Winstead.”
“I thought I said call me Darius.”
She rolled her eyes, blushed a little. He’s not going to quit, is he. “Okay, Darius. How are you?”
“I’m good, and you?”
“I’m well, considering.”
“Any word on his condition yet?”
“No.”
Silence filled the line for a moment. Then, he said, “I’ve been thinking we should get to know one another, since we’ll be working together.”
She folded her arms over her chest, aware of where he was headed. “Oh, really?”
“Yes. It’s the sensible thing to do.”
She knew what was on his mind, and there wasn’t anything sensible about it. She clicked her tongue. “So you say.”
“I know we’re not on the same page when it comes to pursuing our mutual attraction.”
“I never said I was attracted to you.”
“You didn’t have to. It’s in your eyes, and on your face.”
She said in a warning tone, “Darius...”
“Come on, give a brother a break.”
A sigh escaped her. Part of her felt as if she was fighting a losing battle, but she wasn’t ready to admit defeat just yet. “I’ll try, because you were so helpful with those reporters. But if you mess up...”
“I’ll fess up.” He chuckled. “I can’t ignore how you make me feel.”
She didn’t respond, choosing to concentrate on the sound of his voice. Giving in to her curiosity, she asked, “What do you do when you’re not at work annoying me?”
He chuckled, apparently not offended. “I’m part of a jazz quartet called the Queen City Gents. I play the bass.”
Surprise raised her brows. “Really? I like the name. Where can I see the Gents in action?”
“We have a regular gig Wednesday nights at the Blue.”
She thought for a moment. “Oh, yeah. Is that the place in Hearst Tower? One of the accountants raves about the food there, but I’ve never been.”
“That’s the place,” he responded. “What about you? What do you do when you’re not being a high-powered executive?”
His deep velvet voice caressed her eardrum. If his touch is as silky as his voice... Would he make her tremble with anticipation? She thought it better to concentrate on his words, so she pushed her fantasies aside for later.
“Hmm. I love to read, play checkers, spend time with my best friend and hit the spa. And, coincidentally, I love jazz and neo-soul.” She hoped he’d get the hint and invite her to one of the Gents’ shows. Darius aroused her curiosity, among other things.
“I’ll get you tickets to a show soon. But first, I want to take you somewhere where we can talk more. I want to get to know the real Eve Franklin.”
The invitation in his voice set her mind ablaze with memories of his kiss. And I’d like to sample those luscious lips again... “I, uh, where would you like to meet?”
“Could I pick you up?”
She hesitated, unsure she really wanted to go down this path with him. She thought about the way he made her feel. As much as she hated to admit it, she knew she couldn’t conquer those feelings without exploring them further and defining them. “To be honest, I’ve dated my fair share of yahoos lately, so I think I’d rather meet you somewhere this first time.” She waited for his response.
“I understand. Do you like Chinese?”
How does he know that? “Love it.”
“Then let’s meet at Cherry Blossom. Do you know where it is?”
“Yes.”
“Great.” He seemed pleased. “Let’s meet there Thursday night at eight.
Will that work for you?”
“Sure.” I’m looking forward to it already. Suddenly, an idea struck. “Wait. Would you mind if I brought along my best friend, Lina?” Cherry Blossom was Lina’s favorite Chinese restaurant, and Eve knew having her best friend along would relieve some of the pressure she often felt during first dates.
“If that helps you feel more comfortable, I don’t mind. Tell you what. I’ll bring along my buddy Rashad. Who knows, maybe the two of them will hit it off.”
“Sounds good. I’ll let you know tomorrow if she can make it.” She could already imagine Lina jumping up and down at the mere mention of the word date, on account of her self-professed drought. “Well, thanks for the invite. If all goes well, then I’ll see you Thursday night.”
“I’ll be on my best behavior. I can’t make any promises for Rashad, though,” he said, with a low, rumbling laugh. “I’ll let you go. Good night, Eve.”
“You, too, Darius.”
She placed the receiver back into the cradle and fell back on her pillows, grinning like a giddy schoolgirl. It then occurred to her that she didn’t know how he’d gotten her home phone number. He likely culled it from the company directory of board members, she thought. Right now it didn’t matter. His eagerness to get to know her had begun to crack the icy wall she’d tried to erect between them. Perhaps if she spent a little time with him, she could get the pesky yearning she felt for him out of her system.
* * *
Parking in the lot of Cherry Blossom, Eve swung open her car door.
The place looks pretty quiet for a Thursday night, she thought, stepping out onto the pavement. She glanced at her watch. Ten minutes after eight. She gave the parking lot a quick scan, and saw Lina’s navy blue sedan parked nearby. The personalized plates reading TALDRNK made the vehicle easy to spot.
Smoothing the front of the light blue knee-length sheath she wore, she entered the restaurant and looked around, hoping to spot Darius or Lina. Darius must have made reservations after she’d agreed to meet him, because they were already at a table. In the back left corner of the room, Lina waved both her arms wildly above her head like an air traffic controller. Smiling, she strolled over to the table. Darius waited there, with a tall, dark, dreadlocked man she assumed to be Rashad.
“Hi, everybody. Sorry I’m late.” She slid into the empty seat next to Darius.
The man with the long locks extended his hand. “You must be Eve. I’m Rashad McRae. Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” She shook Rashad’s hand, then turned to Lina. “Have you been on your best behavior?”
Lina scoffed. “Sure I have. Ask Rashad. He loves me already.”
The look in Rashad’s eyes held a mixture of humor and frustration. She hoped he’d packed his patience for the night ahead. I love Lina like a sister, but my girl is a lot to handle.
A petite waitress approached the table, handing out menus. “Welcome to Cherry Blossom. I’ll be back in a few moments to take your order.” With a polite nod, she walked away.
Perusing the menu, she could feel Darius’s eyes grazing over her body like a caress. Looking up, she found him watching her. His gaze sent a shiver down her spine.
“If you keep looking at me like that, you’re going to set my clothes on fire,” she whispered.
“I can’t help it. You are incredibly beautiful. But I’ll try,” he disclosed in that low, velvet voice of his.
His dark handsomeness and his charm were wreaking havoc on her. With him sitting so close, she inhaled the spicy, masculine scent of his cologne. She thought it best to turn her attention back to her menu, before his smoldering eyes led her down a path she wasn’t ready to tread. Why she felt such an attraction to this man, who’d irritated her on sight, she couldn’t begin to guess.
When the waitress returned, the group placed their orders. After she left with their menus, Lina spoke. “So, Rashad, what do you do? I feel like I’ve heard your name before.”
“I’m the register of deeds for Mecklenburg County. What about you?”
Lina looked impressed. “I’m a lawyer at the Werner Law Firm. I’ve probably seen you around the courthouse before.”
She watched her friend make small talk with Rashad, and noticed the uncharacteristic redness around the base of Lina’s neck. Pleasantly surprised, she mused that Lina’s “dating drought” might be coming to an end.
“Does she know about the band yet?” Darius asked as he sipped water from his glass.
“What band?” Lina’s eyebrows went up.
“The Queen City Gents,” she interjected. “It’s a jazz quartet, remember? I told you about it.”
“Oh, yeah. So what do you do in the band?” Lina asked Rashad.
Rashad answered easily, “Piano and vocals.”
“You can sing?” Lina’s eyes widened in surprise. Then she smiled. “Come on,” she said, grabbing Rashad by the arm. “Let’s get our own table. Eve, you’re cool, right?”
“Sure, Lina.”
She watched as Lina led Rashad away.
Lina called back, “If he tries to get fresh, just give a shout!”
As they walked away, Darius laughed out loud. “Is she always that—insistent?”
“You mean, pushy? Yes. She’s been that way ever since college.”
Amusement twinkled in his dark eyes. “Well, this is a fortunate turn of events. Now I don’t have to share you.”
A dizzying warmth flowed from him, touching her in places too intimate to think of in public. “Really? And what are you planning to do, while we’re alone?”
He smiled, showing off two rows of beautiful white teeth. “Find out everything there is to know about you.”
She fought the urge to trace his kissable lips with her fingertip. “That’s going to take more than one night.”
“I’m willing to hang in there for the duration. I’m sure my patience will be rewarded.”
Her insides reeled from his declaration. But relief soon filled her when she saw the waitress approaching with their food. “You do realize this is just a one-time thing, to thank you for getting rid of those reporters the other day.”
He winked. “We’ll see about that.”
Simultaneously annoyed and intrigued by his cockiness, she said, “You have to understand...we can’t date while we work together.”
“Why not?” Challenge filled his voice and his expression.
“Because it’s not a good idea. Can we talk about something else?” Apparently the concept of fraternization was lost on the man.
The waitress inquired about the rest of the party. Without taking her eyes off Darius, she pointed in the direction of Lina and Rashad’s new table.
As he forked up some of his chow mei fun, she noted the paper cuts on his long-boned fingers. She let her gaze travel up the muscled bulge of his arms beneath the pale yellow dress shirt he wore. When her eyes swung back to his face, his gaze awaited.
“Who’s setting clothes on fire now?” he teased.
He caught me staring. Trying to hide her embarrassment, she picked up her chopsticks and captured a shrimp from her plate of lo mein.
“How did you learn to eat with chopsticks? I never figured it out.”
Grateful for the change of subject, she answered, “I spent some time with my father in China, recruiting for our research and development department. We’ve found some bright kids here in the States, but a lot of them seem to lack the drive and the work ethic we want in our employees.”
He looked impressed. “Where else have you been?”
“Hmm—Tokyo, London, Paris, most of the major cities. Some were business trips, because we want to expand into the European market. Others were vacations.”
“Wow. You’re pretty well traveled for someone under thirty.”
She waved him off. “Under thirty? Are you pulling my leg?”
“Well, how old are you?”
“Usually, I would lecture you on how you’re not supposed to ask a lady her age, but I guess I’ve given you enough grief already.” She paused, smiling. “I’m thirty-four. How old are you, Darius?”
“I’m thirty-six. Born and raised in Tennessee.”
“When did you move here?” She sipped from her glass of lemonade.
“After college. Rashad and I shared an apartment for a while, until he got the job downtown.” He finished the last bite of his rice noodles. “What about you? Born in Charlotte?”
She nodded. “My parents came here in the sixties. Dad bought a struggling software company, turned it around, and you know the rest. I’m an only child, so someday, FTI’s supposed to be mine...”
Her voice trailed off. Now that her father was in the hospital, she wondered if someday would come sooner than she’d expected.
“Eve? What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry,” she said, brushing a lone tear from her cheek. “I’m okay.”
“I know you’re worried about your father,” he said, extending a gentle finger to stroke her cheek. “You don’t need to hide it from me.”
“But we barely know each other, and we have to keep this professional—”
“I know. Still, I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable being vulnerable around me,” he countered. His finger traced its way to her chin, and he lifted her face to capture her gaze. “I’m not out to hurt you, Eve.”
Exhaling slowly, she relaxed, letting him slip his arm around her shoulders.
“I’m still waiting to hear what’s wrong with him,” she said, her voice soft and trembling. “My mother’s by his bedside most days. He’s doing fine for now, but I just wonder—what does he have? How serious is it? It’s driving me crazy.”
He nodded his understanding. “I hope they can tell you something soon.”
“If they don’t, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I can’t take too much more of this.” She sighed. “This was supposed to be a thank-you date, not a therapy session,” she lamented.
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