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Marion stands and begins to walk out of my office. I look down at my file, but when I look back up, she’s at the door staring at me.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
She pauses and meets my eyes. “Yes. Enjoy yourself tonight.”
I smile, and she walks out. I don’t think anything will be enjoyable about tonight. But if I can remind myself of the end goal and convince myself of Cash’s shrewdness, perhaps I can walk away from this entire situation unscathed.
Chapter 11
Cash
“Who is Grace Kensington, and why are you staring at her picture?” Carter asks as he leans over my shoulder, shocking me from my quiet study of the woman I’m having dinner with in two hours.
I don’t know what I hope to learn by staring at her Instagram. Instead of helping my steely resolve, I find myself weakening as I read her witty captions and memorize her favorite restaurants. I hate her and yet I’m infatuated with her. I’m spending more time studying what makes Grace happy than I am learning how to manage my new position as CEO.
I slam my laptop shut, hoping Carter didn’t get too good of a look at Grace. I don’t want to hear his opinion. He’ll have no qualms telling me if he finds Grace hot. And he’d have to be blind not to.
“She’s handling the matchmaking scheme that Grandmother planned.” I try to appear irritated, attempting to establish that this is a problem for me and not something I’m looking forward to. I shouldn’t look forward to spending time with Grace. I should want nothing to do with her. I should push her to set me up with other women so I can move on.
Instead, I’m torturing myself by spending more time with a woman I’m infatuated with. A woman I can’t have and who is like my father. A man I despise.
“She’s a smoke show. You sure you’re not trying to date her?” Carter’s eyes lift up as he smirks. Can’t bullshit a bullshitter, and he’s the best in the game.
I grumble, “She’s married. Don’t even think about it.”
Carter holds up his hands and laughs. “Believe me, I’m not going after anything that you set your sights on. Never works out for me anyway.” He motions around the room as if to say that he wanted this job.
He didn’t. That’s the only reason I’m sitting where I’m sitting.
I bark out a laugh. “Fuck off. You and I both know you want nothing to do with this job.”
He laughs too. “Damn right. This job sucks. So why are you drooling over the married lady?”
I rub my hand over my face, trying to erase Grace’s smile from my mind. Or her hips, or her breasts. But all I keep seeing is her naked in the shower, kissing me, looking up at me with trepidation as I run my hands down her body, causing goosebumps to pimple her skin. My pants grow tight.
“Because I’m a glutton for punishment,” I answer honestly.
Carter levels me with a stare. He points his finger at me. “Don’t. Do not get involved with a married woman. You’ll hate yourself and you’ll never win. She’s not something for you to conquer or fix. If she even needs fixing. Whatever it is you see in her, look the other way.”
I meet my brother’s eyes. He may be a player—quick with a comeback and sometimes an ass—but he cares more than most people, and he’s always been here for me. “I am. Looking the other way that is. She’s setting me up with a future wife, remember?”
Knowing I would never involve myself with a married woman, Carter relaxes and laughs. “Better you than me.”
I shrug. Truthfully, it will be good to have someone to go home to at night. “How was your meeting with Sintac?”
Carter smiles. “Pretty sure we’ve got it in the bag.”
Sintac does business in every arena that you can think of. Partnering with them would bring James Spirits to new heights.
I hold back my smile. “I heard Hanson was meeting with them as well. You sure it went well?”
Carter stares me dead in the eye. “Do you really think Hanson could do a better job sweet-talking Landry? Please. When I say we have it in the bag, I mean we have it in the bag. I’m not letting that family take more than they already have from us.” Carter’s eyes twitch in anger, and I have to keep myself from grinding my teeth.
“After what Sintac went through with that law firm and their board members, I’m sure Landry is leery of partnering with anyone. We need to show him we are a trustworthy company. Doing business with us isn’t like doing business with other corporations. We have values, honesty, and integrity.”
Carter nods his head. “I know. And that’s why you’re our leader. Because no one is more honest than you.” Carter winks at me, and I bite back a laugh. He isn’t as bad as he likes to pretend, but his playboy attitude is one of the reasons I was selected for this position. It’s the reason my grandmother wants me to settle down. We have an image to protect. A history to preserve. One that my father almost destroyed.
Carter stands. “Well, enjoy your matchmaking session.”
