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“All right. Have you talked to anyone about what happened to Keith?”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “Well, you.”
Her heart hammered against her ribcage, and for a moment, she allowed herself to enjoy the kind of satisfaction that went beyond sexual pleasure. He’d trusted her with his pain—a pain in the past that still lurked in his present. She bit back a smile, determined not to show how his confession rattled her inside. Also, not to be insensitive. His brother’s passing was no laughing matter. “I appreciate your trust in me, but I’m sorry you waited so long. Maybe you should one day take a plunge and just dip right in.”
“As a symbolic gesture of overcoming the past? Even if it’s a lie.” He snorted.
“Sometimes we have to lie to ourselves first to create the courage to do things.” Or have crazy friends to help you get there. She heard herself, and her words reverberated through her. If her friends hadn’t pushed her to buy Cole a drink at Splurge, would things have turned out the same way? Or would she have denied the attraction if she met him at work first without the memories of his sinful kiss? Maybe she’d never find out. A sense of female empowerment traveled through her. Having walked up to the best-looking guy at the bar had been worth it—because now she knew she could do it.
He glanced at her, and for a brief moment, an emotion she couldn’t pinpoint gleamed in his eyes, accentuating the flecks of gold around his green irises. “I’ll keep that in mind for the board meeting tomorrow.”
10
“And that’s why keeping Great Escape in the Tulip area will be more beneficial for the brand and the residents,” Cole said to the group of privileged men and women who had been mostly born into wealth. Perhaps one or another had clawed their way up the corporate ladder, but the type his father usually associated with had been handed a silver spoon as a baby and was proud of it. Those folks didn’t appreciate changing the status quo unless that meant financial benefit.
He pointed at the presentation his assistant had whipped up for him with the numbers he’d cracked with Nikki. She’d gone sightseeing while he attended the meeting. He considered her a last-minute resort—if he didn’t convince the board members with lucrative advantages, he doubted a heartfelt plea from her would do the job.
“How about the deposit spent to hold the other place?” Alfred Wharton, an old golf buddy of his father’s and a man in his sixties, asked.
“I’ve talked to the legal team and we can use a loophole to get out of it with minimum loss.”
He studied the room. A couple of men glanced down at the report he’d passed around earlier, and the other members watched him intently. His father had stayed mum the entire presentation, with an unreadable expression on his stern face.
“You seem very invested in making this change, Cole. Is there any special reason or hidden agenda we should know about?” Audrey Karr, an old-time investor with silver hair, asked.
“I guarantee you I’m not going to bed with any local politicians,” he said, earning a few laughs from the group. “I looked into the matter with a different perspective when I worked with the ground crew and believe this path will be better for everyone.”
“Well, we certainly appreciate your passion,” Audrey said. “You’ve done well, Craig.” She turned to his father. “Myler Enterprises needed fresh, young talent committed to improving performance.”
His gaze landed on his father, and a flicker of recognition gleamed in his beady green eyes. His father gave the slightest nod, acknowledging his peer’s approval, then a small smile curved his thin lips.
A sense of pride zapped through Cole, and he stretched to his full height, encouraging others to ask him any questions they might have. Maybe Nikki had been right all along. There was a way to mix business and personal expectations, and with her help, he’d been able to nail it. Suddenly, his chest clenched, and a sour sensation fluttered in his stomach. She should be here.
He had deprived her of speaking up, and why? To show his father how well he’d done. God, he was pathetic.
“Cole?” Audrey asked him after the end of the presentation. “I’m hosting a dinner party tomorrow and would love if you came.”
“I don’t want to impose.”
“Oh, not at all, it’s only fifty friends or so. A small gathering.”
Small gathering? Hmmm. At least there’d be enough people so he and Nikki could mingle without being in the spotlight. “All right.”
Audrey winked at him. “Yes. Come over.”
* * *
“This is certainly grandiose for a small affair,” Nikki said when the waitress poured champagne in her flute.
Damn, she looked beautiful. She’d picked a forest green dress online and they’d had it delivered. The gown didn’t have many embellishments but the cut suited her perfectly. The silky material caressed her body, outlining her sinful hips and increasing his internal temperature every time he glanced at her.
“These folks know how to live it up.”
“Aren’t you one of them?” She lifted the flute to her lips. Her tone was playful, but for some reason, she struck a chord with him.
“I was born into privilege, yes,” he said, and the burden of an established family name fell on his shoulders. “But I made my own money,” he added with a degree of pride. Did it make any difference in her eyes? He never cared what people thought of him, but Nikki—he peered at her, and she stole his breath away. The weight on his shoulders lessened, and a warm sensation worked its way through him, filling him. Not only did he care about what she thought of him, he wanted her to see him under the best light—for however long they lasted.
She lifted her chin, a glint of challenge in her eyes. “But you’re working with them. Playing by their rules.”
