Silver Lining, page 9
Peter nodded. “The conference room is ready for the four of you as soon as they arrive, and everyone will be present in the break room by 12:50 p.m.”
That was the largest room in this building for Jeremy, or this Ms. Montgomery, to address all the employees.
After the door closed and Peter left, Colton turned toward me. “Man, you look like someone just stole your dog. Snap out of it. The money is ours, and the future is up to them. Pass the baton and all that shit.”
Reins.
A memory flashed in my mind.
Colton continued, “We did our part by negotiating for our people.”
I eyed him up and down. He too was dressed to impress, not our usual attire. “Then tell me again why we’re dressed up for a funeral.”
“I’m sending you back to Cancún. Your negativity is getting on my nerves.”
“Your positivity is getting on mine.”
We both started to laugh. This was who we were, brothers, friends, and enemies.
“I don’t want you to move away,” Colton said. “Neither does Devon.”
“You can visit anytime. Get your own jet.”
“It’s been a great ride, CJ. I mean that.” He looked around the room. “The Thompson boys made it big.” His arm went around my neck. “Couldn’t ask for a better kid brother.”
“Me moving with Venus, wherever they send Architech, isn’t about leaving you or Devon.”
“I know that. I want you to know we’ll miss you.”
After a few pats on the back, we both stood tall.
I was barely an inch taller than Colton. He had the same color hair, but his was shorter, and his eyes were greener than mine. Two years my senior meant that he was only thirty-three.
“We broke the mold,” I said. “Mom and Dad are proud.”
“Paid off Mom and Dad’s house like we agreed.”
I grinned. “That’s good news. Do they know?”
“Not yet. I can’t wait for that phone call.”
My brother was right. “It has been a wild ride. I’m not ready to get off.”
“To the conference room?” he asked.
“Yeah, but first, let’s take a walk around the facility. If their plane just landed, the traffic will take them a while to get here.”
While our office suites were virtually bare, the rest of the facility was still operating—that was until Venus decided it was time to move locations. Together we made our way down to the different departments, peering through windows as employees continued to work. The hard soles of our shoes clipped along the tile.
“We’ll miss you,” Harrison, a man in our quality-control department, said as we passed in the hallway.
“Venus has made some promises.”
“We know you two have done your best regarding us,” he said. “We also acknowledge we would have done the same thing. Life is what it is. I’ll go on to wherever they take Architech, or if they don’t want me, I won’t.”
As we walked beyond Harrison, I let out a sigh of relief. “I hope that sentiment isn’t the exception. It would make me feel less shitty.”
“Devon keeps reminding me that we did our part for the employees. We need faith that the promises Jeremy made will come to pass. The attorneys crossed the T’s and dotted the I’s.”
“I’m wondering about this Montgomery lady,” I said. “Why would she show up here and not in any of the negotiations?”
Colton shook his head as he opened the door to the conference room. “I don’t know. This whole having money thing is new. Maybe she wanted to see what she bought.”
“Buyer’s remorse.”
“Too late for that.”
The room was set with a water pitcher and glasses upon a long glass table. The window at the far end looked out onto Austin’s skyline, well, part of it. Our facility was only three stories tall, and this room as well as our offices were on the top floor.
“Or,” I suggested as we took our seats on the far side of the table, “she’s here to pull a bait and switch.”
“Do you think we should have invited the attorneys?” Colton asked.
“Shit, man, the deal is done. The grace period expired. I guess we need to be ready for anything.”
At about five until twelve, Peter opened the conference room door and extended his arm toward us. “Mr. Colton Thompson and Mr. Chandler Thompson.”
We stood as the door opened wider. There were more than two people. Seeing the familiar faces, I almost didn’t hear the rest of Peter’s announcement.
“Ms. Lena Montgomery and Mr. Jeremy Wilde are here.”
Lena?
The most beautiful chocolate gaze fixed on mine as my mouth went dry and my heart forgot to beat.
Chapter Seventeen
CJ
Three weeks ago
The balcony bar was quieter than the pool during this time in the afternoon. Sitting at a table near the railing, Lena and I sipped our drinks while simmering in the Mexico sunshine. The umbrella over our table cast its shadow to our side. There was another tiny one in Lena’s drink.
“I was thinking we could have dinner brought to my suite,” I said, looking across the table at Lena. With the last two days of sun, her skin had a bronze glow contrasting her white sundress. Large golden earrings hung from her ears and many golden bracelets jingled from her wrist. However, my attention was on the way her pink lips curled into a smile and the way her top foot swung with her legs crossed.
Since yesterday, she seemed more relaxed.
If I could do anything to facilitate that, I would.
“Adam or Kelsey will have to check your suite.”
I nodded. “Adam told me.”
“What else did he tell you?”
“All your deep, dark secrets.”
She turned toward the ocean and lifted her chin. From this angle I could see beneath her sunglasses as she grinned. “Well, then I guess it’s settled.” She turned back. “He’s fired.”
“That means I have to spend the rest of this week with you and Kelsey.” I shrugged. “I’ve had worse vacations.”
“I can’t believe you’re wearing that shirt,” she said with a giggle.
I looked down at the surfing cat. Instead of a surfboard, the cat was surfing on a piece of pizza. When I looked up, Lena had her straw between her lips, drinking a frozen daiquiri. My first thought was her offer yesterday to relieve my big issue. The whole popping-champagne-cork incident took us a different direction.
“Where did you even get it?”
“The shirt?” I questioned. “Oh, you see, it’s a valuable family heirloom passed down for generations.” When she only shook her head, I added, “I recall you saying that you didn’t care if I wore clothes.”
“I don’t think those were my exact words, but you’re right. Now, I admit the statement was too broad. How could I have ever predicted your interesting fashion sense?”
“Interesting?”
“Unique.”
“I can go back to the shop where I found yesterday’s shirt, but I think you should know, the cashier is hot for me.”
Lena nodded as she pressed her lips together. “There’s no ring on your finger. Maybe this cashier has a thing for cats and you’ll get lucky.”
I leaned slightly toward her over the table and lowered my timbre. “I don’t need a ring to know who I want to spend time with, clothed or unclothed.”
“Come to my suite for dinner,” she suggested.
“Do I need a code word to get past your security?”
Her cheeks pinkened. “Maybe a safe word for once you’re inside.”
Trying to swallow, I almost choked on my seltzer.
Lena’s smile turned to a full laugh. Her hands came to her cheeks. “Tell me I’m not blushing.”
“You’re blushing.”
“I don’t blush.”
“It appears you do.” I sat back against the chair and crossed my arms over my chest. “Walrus.”
“Walrus?”
“My safe word.”
Lena’s slender eyebrows rose above her sunglasses. “Is that your standard safe word or a random thought?”
“I have a whole list.”
She nodded. “Interesting.”
“Yeah, but the thing is, I offer the list when a woman can’t come up with her own. It saves time. Sometimes going over the contract gets laborious.”
“I agree, you have to watch the fine print.”
I had very little clue what I was talking about, other than what I learned from a movie I made the mistake of watching with my mother. Nevertheless, I remembered a few things.
“Are you saying I’ll need a safe word?” Lena asked with her eyebrows again raised.
Reaching across the table, our fingers met until they were intertwined. “I’ll share.”
She looked to where our hands were connected and back. “Sharing is good. As for entry, no, I’ll tell them that you’re coming.”
“We could tell them now.”
“I was thinking seven o’clock. The sunset is at seven thirty. We can have room service.”
“I’ll bring dinner. You’re supplying the atmosphere. Is there anything I should know, allergies, likes, dislikes…?”
“It seems that Adam didn’t fully fill you in.” When I only shook my head, Lena placed a finger on her chin, appearing to be in deep thought. “No allergies, except to sulfa medications. Dislikes would include chocolate candy with pinpricks.”
That was a subject I wanted to avoid. “Now tell me likes.”
She looked at my shirt and smiled. “Pizza.”
“Veggie, no cheese.”
Lena shook her head, the tips of her deep red hair swinging near her chin. “I love cheese. While admittedly, I don’t indulge in pizza often, when I do, the greasier the better. Thin crust, pepperoni.” She grinned. “I know from yesterday’s and today’s breakfasts that you don’t shy away from meat.”
“Carnivore, remember.” I imagined the delicacy she described. “My brother and I went on a business trip to New York, and there was a shop near our hotel. I swear it was always open. We’d go down late at night. They sold it—”
“By the slice,” she said, completing my sentence. “That’s the best.”
“Then that’s my quest for today, to find us the best New-York-style pizza in Cancún.”
Her smile dimmed. “Don’t leave the resort.”
“There is no journey I won’t make for this pizza. If I have to fly to New York and back, I will have our feast.”
“I hope you don’t disappoint me.”
“Never.”
“Do you and your brother work together?”
I tilted my head. “Real life.”
“You said you went together on a business trip.” She waved her hand, her bracelets jingling. “No, you’re right. Here and now.”
“We did. Not anymore.”
Lena leaned back and stared at me. Even though her eyes were covered by the dark sunglasses, I felt her gaze upon me.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “That makes you sad.”
“You make me happy. That real life will be around next week. You won’t.” When she didn’t reply, I asked, “What are you thinking?”
“This week versus next. Kelsey said she approved of you. She said that you’re a good distraction.”
“Is that what I am?”
“You’ve distracted me,” Lena said. “What am I?”
“A lioness.”
“To you?”
“A beautiful distraction. Since talking to you the other afternoon at the bar, I’ve been blissfully distracted from real life. You know, that thing we’ve sworn not to discuss? You appearing on the treadmill at my side was a gift from the gods. I look forward to more distracting.”
“I recognized you.”
“In the gym?”
She nodded. “I’m glad I chose that treadmill.”
“Me too.”
As Lena stood, the neckline of the dress lowered, giving me only a hint at the tits I’d had on display yesterday afternoon. Pulling my gaze away from her curves, I also stood and reached for her hands.
The sandals she wore were flat. I stood easily seven or eight inches taller than her. “Are you leaving me?”
“I’m going up to my suite. I want to give you time to hunt for our dinner.”
“I’ll miss you.”
“Seven o’clock,” she said, her fingers slipping from my grasp as she stepped away.
I took a step toward her. “How about a kiss?”
She shook her head with a grin. “I’m holding them hostage, my insurance policy that you won’t stand me up and more importantly, leave me hungry.”
“I will collect. Suite number?”
“I’ll text you.”
We’d exchanged numbers sometime yesterday. I’d gone to sleep with her text. I had hope that tonight, instead of holding my phone, I would be holding her.
Lena’s light-brown gaze stayed on me for a moment until she turned and walked toward the steps that led to one of the many pools. Watching from afar, I waited until I saw Kelsey approach Lena.
Relief flooded my circulation, knowing that Lena was in safe hands.
Tonight, I wanted those hands to be mine.
Removing my phone from my pocket, I began my hunt.
Chapter Eighteen
Lena
“Creed Royal Service,” Kelsey said as she entered my suite.
“A smidgen.”
After leaving CJ, I’d gone to one of the resort shops and purchased two bottles of wine and the green sundress I was now wearing. Next, I’d returned to my suite, showered, and shaved. If yesterday afternoon was a prelude to tonight, I wanted to be better prepared. Now my hair was done, I wore a bit more makeup, and the atmosphere was set.
“It’s overkill. Isn’t it?” I asked as Kelsey looked around the living room of my suite illuminated with candles—lots of candles.
“No, I’m sure CJ won’t take off running over a fire hazard.”
“Maybe he’s a fireman?” I shrugged. “I mean, he could be. He looks the part—hot and buff.”
“Do you want to know his profession?”
I shook my head. “No. That’s real life.” Turning toward the open door to the balcony, I recalled what CJ had said about his brother. “He seemed sad when he mentioned that he and his brother no longer worked together.” I spun back to Kelsey. “I hope his brother didn’t die in a fire.” My eyes opened wide. “Yeah, the candles are a bad idea.”
Kelsey began to laugh. “This is so not you, and I have to admit, it’s entertaining.”
My fists went to my hips. “What’s not me?”
“In a matter of seconds, you created an entire backstory on a man you barely know. A tragic backstory.”
“Am I warm?”
“Are we now playing that game where one person is supposed to answer either warmer or cooler?”
“I don’t know.” I looked out at the pink and orange sky. “I’ve never dated anyone or even had a one-night stand with someone who I’ve known so little about.” I grinned as I turned back to Kelsey. “See, old dog, new tricks.”
“You aren’t old.”
“I’m not, you’re right. I’m also not young, and while I don’t know by how much, I’m certain CJ is younger. Did you see that shirt?”
Kelsey scoffed. “I think that shirt is an example of CJ’s confidence, whatever his age. I mean, Adam wouldn’t wear that shirt and he’s a confident man.” She grinned. “Jeremy might.”
As I blew out some of the candles, Kelsey asked, “Do you need anything else for tonight?”
I looked at my watch. It was almost seven. “Just CJ and pizza.”
“We’re across the hall if you need anything. The camera is set on your door.”
Real life.
“Is there any reason to believe the fish stalker knows we’re here?”
“No, ma’am.”
I let out a breath. “Have you or Adam heard from the Montgomery security or Missoula police regarding the candy?”
“The only fingerprints were ours—yours, Adam’s, and mine. The person was extremely careful. They’re still working on the note.”
A chill ran through me. Wrapping my arms around my midsection, I told myself to live in the here and now. That was the point of distractions. They were supposed to distract me.
“Don’t think about it,” Kelsey said as the entry door to the suite opened.
We both turned as CJ and Adam entered.
It wasn’t only the box in CJ’s hand that made me smile. It was the way he was looking at me, the curve of his grin, the presence of his dimple, the dampness of his untethered dark hair, and his white shirt. The surfing cat was gone. As my scan concluded at his canvas loafers, I realized he wasn’t wearing a bathing suit.
With my feet bare, I made my way across the room and offered to take the box, the delicious aroma already had my stomach growling.
With a grin, CJ held the box tight. “No pizza until I get my kiss.”
Putting my hands on his shoulder, I lifted myself up on my tiptoes until our lips touched. Soft and sweet, our connection was chaste. My attention went to our audience. “Thank you. I know you’re close.”
Adam and Kelsey nodded.
“Have a nice evening,” Kelsey said as they both disappeared behind the double doors.
Quickly, I secured the deadbolt and turned back to CJ. “I’m sure you think that’s weird.”
“I feel like I’m in high school and they’re your parents.”
I scoffed. “We’re not in high school and technically, they work for me. I’m their boss. And as I told you, Kelsey approves.”
“Adam?”
“He doesn’t chime in on my intimate relationships.”
“Intimate,” CJ said with a grin.
Setting the pizza box on the large table before the sofa, CJ came my way. Flames flickered and roared to life in his turquoise stare. My feet were rooted to the floor as his powerful long legs moved with purpose, shortening the distance between us.
I may be the lioness, but at this moment, CJ was the lion, king of the beasts, and he was looking at me as if I was his next meal.
