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"Hey, I didn't mean to be harsh." He grabbed her into his arms and kissed her forehead, soothing her. "What you need is an agent."
Her head dropped back and she laughed in disbelief, looking up at him. "You really are mean. Besides, you promised we wouldn't talk about that this week. We do our work then meet up for dates."
When she pouted, he wanted to kiss her. Those luscious lips seemed even more tempting without lipstick. Naked. If he didn't have so much to do, he'd have her back in that tiny bed of hers.
"We agreed not to discuss the agency or contracts," she added.
"Okay, we're really not talking business stuff though. I'm interested as a friend, one who cares about you."
He'd regained her attention and she gazed up at him with curiosity in her eyes. The dusting of pale freckles across her cheekbones made her look cute, while the doleful look in her eyes as she considered finances made him want to chuckle. "Its early days for you, establishing yourself in an outlet here, I know that. What are you, a couple of years out of college?"
Even as he voiced the question, he realized he didn't know how old she was. He figured twenty-six, maybe twenty-seven. This week would remedy the situation. Thankfully they'd gained more time to learn basic stuff about each other, as well as the most important thing – trust. She hadn't known how to take his offer of a contract – with strings – and once he reflected on it he could see her point.
She nodded. "I've had the designs in manufacture for just over a year now, and the shop opened shortly after. I did a one year apprenticeship before that."
"It's still very new. You can't gain the full range of knowledge you would need for an expanding business like this all on your own. Naomi, I can tell you're an independent, headstrong and – quite frankly – stubborn young lady. You made those characteristics obvious when you walked out on me in London." He couldn't help teasing her. She looked so adorably flummoxed by his comments.
"You're being mean again." Her lips were pursed.
"It's the truth – nothing wrong with knowing your own mind and what you believe in. I admire that. It stops being helpful if you won't accept genuine offers of help and advice."
She nodded, but there was still reluctance in her posture.
"Hmm. It's a wonder you even thought of applying for agency representation, you being so self-reliant and all."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't push your luck."
"Okay, I'm teasing you, I'm sorry. But seriously, this is the sort of thing you need help with. It's nothing to be ashamed of. I need to work through my schedule today, and I'll hand over as much as I can to others for the days ahead. We'll make time to look at your accounts and your profit margins later in the week."
When her eyebrows gathered in a frown, he quickly soothed her, stroking her upper arms gently. "Honestly, no ulterior motive, just as a friend... a friend who cares."
Again she stared up at him with a wistful expression. She was willing to trust him with her physical safety during sex game, and she wanted an agent, but she didn't know where their personal boundaries were. He would have to make her trust him on all levels.
He kissed her, enjoying her soft lips and the eventual relinquishment in her as she sighed and leaned in against him to return his kiss. When they drew apart, he was pleased to see the frown had gone. Her perfectly arched eyebrows weren't meant to be marred by a furrowed brow.
Naomi looked toward the pavement outside and exclaimed loudly. "Oh my God!"
Lucas followed her gaze. A mature gentleman was c
hatting with Megan on the pavement outside. Megan pointed into the shop, peering in at them. The man beside her peered in too.
"Problem?"
"It's my dad."
A moment later the man in question entered the shop, the door chiming as he did so. "Hello, sweetheart, I didn't expect to see you back today." He nodded back at Megan who had stayed outside but was peering in at them. "I just called down to make sure Megan had remembered to open up." He chuckled and winked. Then he looked at Lucas expectantly.
There was a likeness, Lucas noted. The man's hair was white, but vibrant ginger strands remained in his goatee beard. If he didn't already know Naomi was a natural redhead, Lucas had the proof before him. Her father was tall and distinguished and he had a genial smile. The tweed jacket he wore had leather elbow patches. A checked shirt, jeans and loafers completed his mismatched but comfortable attire.
"Dad, I..." Naomi's voice was somewhat strangled, and she looked from one to the other of the two men in a helpless fashion. "This is Lucas Eaglestone."
Lucas smiled, amused because her complete bewilderment over the introductions was too adorable. How would she introduce him – as her lover, a potential business consultant, or what? The pained expression in her eyes meant he wasn't able to wait to find out. He had to erase it.
He stepped out and offered the older man his hand. "Mr. Kildare, good to meet you."
Naomi's father took his hand and shook it with a strong grip.
"I work with a retail agency in London. Whilst we haven't made a decision as yet, I've come to check out the look of the displays because it's so integral to the label. It had to be seen to be understood properly, so we brought our discussions here to Edinburgh." It was a risk, mentioning the agency again, but he wanted her to have the option of keeping their personal involvement private if she wanted to. It was the obvious get-out. "Any franchise outlet would have to follow the style of layout I see here," he added, "it works so well with Naomi's designs."
