Bidding on Her Boss Page 11

“My grandparents had packed my clothes while I was having breakfast—I didn’t have a lot—and they were already in the back of the truck.” The betrayal of their not giving her advance warning, of always keeping her in the dark, still stung. “Part of me was happy my mother wanted me, but part of me was thinking about my wall. About where I’d begun to feel settled.”

  “Oh, baby,” he said on a sigh. “You had it all ripped out from under you again.”

  “I never put anything up on a wall again. And the next time I went back to my grandparents’ to live—after my aunt handed me back when I was eleven—I ripped down every one of those pictures and threw them in the trash.” She rubbed at her breastbone. That damn memory still had the power to hurt, even after all these years.

  “Hey, come here,” he said, and wrapped his arms around her.

  She just stood in his embrace, not relaxing. “I’m okay.”

  “I know you are,” he said gently. “But I’m going to hug you anyway.”

  It was the perfect thing to say, and she let herself lean against his solid chest to soak up his strength for just a moment. Then she chuckled—of course it was the perfect thing to say, since he was a known charmer.

  He dipped his head. “What’s funny?”

  “You know, I was warned about your way with words,” she said, biting down on a smile and stepping back.

  His eyebrows shot up. “Who said that?”

  She shrugged a shoulder innocently, enjoying his surprise. “One of Adam’s staff members at the photo shoot. She also said the girls in Adam’s office have a crush on you.”

  “Really?” he asked, grinning.

  She smacked him on the shoulder. “Yes, really. She also said that you could charm the pants off anyone if you tried.”

  His gaze slowly made its way from her face to her toes. “Lucky you’re wearing a dress, then.”

  “Somehow,” she said, her breath coming a little faster, “I don’t think choice of clothing would affect your success.”

  The green of his eyes grew dark, became full of promise. “There’s only one thing that’s stopping me from trying right now.”

  She swallowed. “Our personal shopper?”

  “No, she’s easy to deal with.” His fingertips toyed with the neckline of her dress, sending sparks through her bloodstream.

  “Oh.” And here she’d thought the chaperone was protecting them. “Then what is it?”

  He moved closer, surrounding her with his body heat. “We made a decision. In my kitchen.”

  “We did.” She moistened her lips, and he watched the action as he spoke.

  “And nothing has changed in the factors that led us to make that decision.” His head dipped to kiss a spot just below her earlobe.

  It took several heartbeats for her to remember what they were talking about, since his lips were working magic, drawing her into a haze of desire. “They haven’t,” she agreed, reaching her arms around his neck.

  He kissed one corner of her mouth, then the other, his lips brushing hers, featherlight, in between. “So I won’t be trying to charm your pants—or dress—off you. I won’t be trying anything.”

  When his lips brushed past hers again, she opened her mouth, intoxicated by him, and he took the invitation, kissing her once, twice.

  “Then why are you kissing me?” she asked, using the last brain cell left working in her head.

  He pulled away and looked at her with heavy-lidded eyes. “That’s a very good question. One I don’t have a logical answer for.”

  She already missed his touch even though his mouth was only inches away. “Do you have an illogical answer?”

  “Several,” he said with a smile that melted her insides. “Starting with how you look in that dress.”

  “You don’t look so bad yourself.” He wore a lavender shirt and a silver tie that Julie had matched with it. “Speaking of our clothes, where is our personal shopper?”

  “She slipped out of the room right about when I started touching the sleeve of this dress.”

  Faith blinked. “She’s been gone all this time? She must be getting bored.”

  “I’ll pay her a bonus for her discretion—it will be worth it.” He leaned in and placed a kiss on the curve of Faith’s jaw. “It’s been a long, difficult month.”

  It had been a difficult month for him, too? “I thought that was just me.”

  “Why would you think that?” he asked, his voice low.

  How far into her mind was she willing to let him see? She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. There probably wasn’t a point in holding back now. “You seemed so together when you came to my apartment, while I was falling apart from wanting you.”

  His eyebrows lifted. “I thought the same about you. You seemed unaffected, and I was having trouble keeping my hands to myself. In fact, I was getting annoyed that you were so calm.”

  “Not even close.” She smoothed her hands over the lapels of his jacket. “In fact, I thought you must have moved on.”

  He let out a wry laugh. “I haven’t even been able to contemplate another woman since that first night at the Santa Monica store, when you pretty much ambushed me so I would watch you work.”

  For a long moment she considered just staying here in this little world they’d created. It would be like heaven. Well, until it was ripped away. Places she wanted to be were always ripped away in the end. And the longer she let herself become used to this, the worse it would hurt when it was over.

  “It’s been the same for me,” she said. “But we’ve already discussed this, and standing here, so close, isn’t helping any.”

  He drew in a sharp breath and moved back. “You’re right.” He scrubbed a hand through his hair and didn’t meet her eyes as he said, “I’ll find Julie.”

  Nine

  The night of the launch, Faith was a jumble of excitement and nerves as she sat beside Dylan in the back of the limousine. Going on a date with this man felt like standing at the edge of a cliff and hoping she didn’t fall.

  He glanced over and squeezed her hand. “Did I say you look beautiful?”

  “Twice,” she said, smiling. “But I don’t mind.”

  The limo driver pulled over a short distance from the hotel. “Apparently I need to drop you here so you can walk the red carpet,” he said over his shoulder.

  Faith turned to Dylan. “Red carpet?”

  Dylan grinned. “After the success of the Midnight Lily launch, and since Jenna has come out as Princess Jensine, we were able to attract a few more celebrities this time.”

  A thought suddenly occurred to her. “Will it be a problem if you’re seen on the red carpet with an employee?”

  “Not in the least.” He stroked his thumb over the back of her hand. “It’s perfectly natural that I’d escort the florist who made the arrangements for tonight.”

  Put that way, it seemed reasonable, so she let out a breath and smiled.

  The driver opened their door and Faith stepped out, taking in the scene around her. Paparazzi lined the street and a crowd had gathered, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone famous. The atmosphere was like nothing she’d ever experienced before and was a little intimidating.

  Then Dylan was at her elbow, with a warm hand on the small of her back, grounding her. Keeping her centered.

  “I don’t know how Jenna lives like this,” she whispered.

  “Most of the time, she doesn’t,” he said. “She spends the majority of her days with Meg, Bonnie and Liam.”

  The image of a little family rose in Faith’s mind—the stability, the love. Only in her mind, it wasn’t Jenna’s family. It was Dylan surrounded by a bunch of kids with her curly red hair and his green eyes. The image was so perfect, so unattainable, her chest ached.

  “Dylan,” a
voice called once they reached the carpet. “Can we get a quote?”

  Dylan smiled and waved, then leaned to Faith’s ear. “Ebony is from a local morning show. They sometimes do a gardening segment, and I’ve been talking to them about doing something with us, so I need to talk to her. Can you—?” He paused, then grabbed an arm a few feet away. “Adam, I need to do a bit of media. Can you walk in with Faith? You’re here alone, aren’t you?”

  Adam offered Faith a smile before nodding to his brother. “Sure.”

  He put a hand under her elbow and they walked through the door, making small talk about the weather. Once inside, he dropped her arm and asked, “Can I talk to you privately about something?”

  She resisted taking a step back as his expression changed. There was something serious on his mind. Something he wasn’t happy about. But he was the CEO of Hawke’s Blooms Enterprises, which covered the farm, the stores, the markets and R&D, above even Dylan, so she said, “Of course,” and smiled politely.

  He glanced around and then led her through a door marked Staff Only into what appeared to be an office.

  Then he turned and faced her squarely, face stony. “I need to ask. What do you want out of this involvement with my brother?”

  Her blood turned cold at the implication about her morals. Then she crossed her arms under her breasts and matched his stance.

  “What does a woman normally want out of an involvement with a man?” she asked, heavy on the sarcasm.

  Without missing a beat, he began to make a list, raising a finger for each item. “Money, promotion, prestige, access to something, an opportunity to sue or blackmail. I could go on.”

  She coughed out a laugh, more amazed than insulted by his cynicism. “Please don’t.”

  “If you’re planning to use whatever it is between you and my brother to get ahead, it won’t end well for you.”

  She cocked her head to the side, examining Adam’s face. It was amazing how similar he looked to Dylan, yet how little they were alike. She’d seen a range of expressions on Dylan’s face before but nothing this hard, this remote. Adam’s green eyes were the cold arctic sea, whereas Dylan’s sparked with life and energy. There was no doubt in her mind that Dylan was the better man, and she wasn’t going to let his brother push her around.

  She narrowed her eyes and poked her index finger into his chest. “Are you always this suspicious of people’s motives?”

  He looked a little less certain. “I’ve found it pays to be.”

  “Well, let me put your mind at rest.” She took a step back and folded her arms again. “Hawke’s Blooms has been good to me. I would never do anything to hurt the company. And Dylan? He’s a good man. I would never hurt him, and anyone who wanted to would have to go through me to do it.”

  Adam frowned, apparently taken by surprise by her answer. “So you are planning on a future with him?”

  “Actually, I’m not. But here’s a question for you. How much of this—” she waved a finger, taking in the room he’d corralled her in “—is about the company and how much is about protecting your little brother?”

  Adam opened his mouth to answer but then hesitated, frowned and closed his mouth again. Before he was able to find any words, Dylan burst through the door.

  “What the hell is going on here?” His voice was tightly controlled but his gaze was clearly full of irritation aimed at his brother.

  “I was just—” Adam began, but Faith had had enough and stepped in front of him.

  “Your brother was grilling me about my intentions. Turns out he was worried I’d sue the company. Or was it blackmail that you were more concerned about?” she asked, moving to stand beside Dylan and smiling brightly at Adam.

  Dylan’s face turned red. “You said what to her?”

  Adam held his hands up in surrender as Dylan took a step forward. “It was a reasonable concern.”

  “Adam, I’m warning you, get out of this room.” Dylan planted his feet shoulder width apart and glared at his brother. “Now.”

  Adam’s eyebrows shot up. “Okay, sure,” he said and headed for the door. “Look, I’m sorry—”

  “Not the time,” Dylan said, his voice tight and fists clenching at his sides.

  “Right then.” Adam disappeared completely from view.

  Dylan kicked the door shut behind him and then turned to Faith and blew out a breath. “I can’t believe he did that. Sorry doesn’t seem enough.”

  He seemed so tense that she laid a hand on his arm, wanting to reassure him. “No harm done. I was handling it.”

  One corner of his mouth quirked up. “Actually, when I opened the door, the expression on his face did seem a bit lost.”

  “Good,” she said, satisfied she’d been able to hold her own. “You know, I think he was more worried about us as your brother than he was as the CEO.”

  A frown line appeared across his forehead. “What do you mean?”

  “He’s protective of you.” Heat radiated through Dylan’s suit coat to her hand, and she rubbed his upper arm, always wanting a little more when she was near him.

  He let out an exasperated breath. “He should be more worried about himself.”

  “Why?” The dynamics between Dylan and his brothers were endlessly fascinating to her, but then again, anything about Dylan fascinated her.

  “I can’t remember the last time I saw him in a relationship. Or with a woman who made him happy. I don’t know why he thinks he’s in any position to sort out anyone else’s love life.”

  Her throat was suddenly tight, and she had to swallow before she could get her voice to work. “We don’t have a love life. We’ve put a lot of effort into ensuring that.”

  “That’s true,” he said, his eyes pained. “I still love this dress on you, by the way.”

  She looked down at the shimmering green dress. “Thank you again. It’s a lovely present.” Then, unable to help herself, she looked back at him, taking in the lavender shirt and silver tie. “And I like you in that suit.”

  His eyes darkened. “Someone with great flair picked it out for me.”

  She ran a hand down the front of the shirt, remembering what it felt like to touch him without fabric between them. Without reserve.

  He sucked in a sharp breath. “If we’re going to leave this room, we’d better go now.”

  She dropped her hand and took a step back. “I think you’re right.”

  He opened the door and gestured for her to go past, and they walked into the ballroom as if nothing had happened.

  * * *

  Dylan looked out over the crowd of the fashionable and famous mingling and drinking champagne in honor of Hawke’s Blooms. He was still annoyed at his brother but was trying not to let it affect him. He just wanted Faith to have one perfect night to remember, and he wouldn’t let Adam ruin it.

  She’d bought three dates at the auction—she’d spent the first making flower arrangements at the Santa Monica store and the second making flower arrangements at Liam’s research facility. Was it too much to ask that he be able to give her one night when she wasn’t working, without his stupid brother ruining it?

  He glanced down at Faith and pulled her a little closer against his side as they made their way through the ballroom. They were stopped by several people he knew in the industry, and he introduced Faith each time as the florist who had created the designs that adorned the room. The guests were full of praise, and although Faith didn’t say it, he could feel her pride in her work. He smiled inside, knowing he’d become attuned to her feelings.

  “Thank you,” she whispered just below his ear once they’d moved on from another person who’d been impressed by her work.

  He took a moment to appreciate the warmth of her breath on his neck before asking, “For what?”

  “I told you on
ce that my dream was to create arrangements that reached lots of people. To spread joy on that larger scale.” She moistened her lips. “You’ve made it happen.”

  His chest expanded at the expression in her eyes, but he couldn’t take the credit. “No, you’ve made it happen. I might have arranged the opportunity for Jenna, Liam and Adam to see your ideas for the Ruby Iris, but you’re the one who impressed them.”

  “As you said, you arranged the opportunity,” she said, clearly unwilling to let it drop.

  “Ah, but you were creative enough in your approach to attend the auction and get my attention in the first place.” He smiled down into her eyes. “You’re one of a kind, Faith.”

  His mother appeared at his elbow, wineglass in hand. “Here you are, Dylan. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

  He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Did you need something?”

  “Just to check on you. Adam said something cryptic about wanting me to make sure you’re all right. What happened?”

  Dylan smiled tightly, not wanting to get into it with his mother. “Just big brother pushing too far.”

  “Don’t be hard on him,” his mother said indulgently. “His heart is always in the right place.”

  Dylan didn’t say anything, letting his silence speak for him.

  “Okay,” his mother said, chuckling. “Sometimes he does take things too far. Now, introduce me to Faith. I’ve heard such good things about your work from Jenna.”

  Obediently, he glanced back down at his date. “Faith, this is my mother. Mom, this is Faith Crawford.”

  Faith smiled and held out her hand. “Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Hawke.”

  “You, too, Faith. But call me Andrea.” She shook her hand. “The floral arrangements are gorgeous. You’ve worked miracles with them.”

  The two women looked over at the closest arrangement, and Faith smiled. “Thank you. I made these final versions this morning out at Liam’s facility, so this is the first time I’ve seen them under the ballroom lights.”

  The crystals interspersed among the blooms caught the sparkling light and refracted it into little sunbeams across the ceiling. All the guests were commenting on the effect.