“Oh, I was planning to buyyoucoffee,” she said with a smile.
Rob smiled back, his teeth slightly crooked and oddly charming in a face that looked sculpted from marble. He had Nordic good looks: styled blond hair, bright-blue eyes, and a tall frame filled with muscle. Plus he headed the marketing arm of an up-and-coming tech firm. Something to do with nanotechnology. Daniel had tried to explain it then stopped after she’d complained of a nerd-induced headache. He’d then accused her of being an unenlightened redshirt and left her with even more questions.
“Okay, Kenzie. I’m happy to see what you’ve got for us today.”
Was it her imagination, or did he give her an interested once-over? She was terrible when it came to knowing what men thought. Damn. She really should have had Lila and Rachel handle the meetings today, leaving her in her happy place, surrounded by alternative rock and her bright basement filled with creativity and ideas. And no people.
“Oh, ah, well, let me break out my laptop.”
“Outstanding.” He checked his phone. “I hate to do this, but we’ll need to cut this short. An unexpected meeting with some shareholders popped up, and my sister wants me there. But hey, if all goes well, we’ll have to do this again soon, right?”
Rob and Kayla, partners in their business, were said to divide their responsibilities evenly. The vibe she’d gotten from a friend who’d recommended her was that this would be a terrific company to get in on early before its stock really took off. Because it would.
That he needed to end their meeting early didn’t bode well. Especially because he didn’t seem too keen on rescheduling. Despite his “do this again soon” spiel, she heard his noncommitment clear as day.
Kenzie pasted a smile on her face and showed him on her laptop what she’d been thinking about for his company. From her research, she’d pieced together some key concepts that had him nodding.
A good sign.
He’d barely said anything when he lit up, looking over her shoulder. “Evan?”
Kenzie blinked. That name. It was like her sexy mover was haunting her.
She turned andbam. There he was, looking better than any man should in jeans and a plain blue polo.
He and Rob shook hands, though she saw Evan’s eyes widen upon seeing her.
As the two caught up on old times, Kenzie waited, her opportunity to impress Rob shrinking. And her irritation with Evan Griffith growing. Bad enough he’d been invading her dreams, now he was affecting her work.
“Hell. I have to go.” Rob sent a guilty look Kenzie’s way. “I’m so sorry, Kenzie. Call my secretary and let’s schedule a meeting in a few weeks. I do want to see your designs.”
“Sure.” She smiled, doing her best not to shoot Evan any death glares that Rob might see. She’d be sure to save them until Rob left.
“Oh, are you thinking of hiring Kenzie?” Evan said.
Great. Now what?
“Sykes Design has a great reputation,” Rob said, surprising her. “Our company needs to rebrand before we go bigger. Something techie yet intimate so that the regular guy won’t think us too highbrow. Kayla’s interested in working with someone local in particular.”
“Good idea.” Evan nodded, avoiding her gaze. “Some of my old clients have used Kenzie, and they can’t say enough about her. You really should schedule that meeting before she’s overbooked and can’t fit you in.”
Kenzie frowned. Old clients? What was he talking about? Overbooked? Please. They needed all the help they could get. When she saw Rob looking at her, she cleared her frown and nodded. “He’s got a point. But I know you have a meeting to get to, so—”
“No, no. Evan’s right. I don’t want to miss out on working with you.” Rob brushed a hand through his hair and smiled. “Besides, it’s not often you get to talk business with someone as attractive and capable as a woman like Kenzie. Plus my sister can’t say enough good things about Rachel, and Kayla doesn’t like many people.”
When the hell had Rachel met Kayla? Wait. Rob had called her attractive?
Evan slapped Rob on the back. A little hard, by the way Rob teetered before catching himself.
“Well, I’d best be off,” Rob said. “Talk to you soon, Kenzie. I’ll make sure to get back to you later today on a new time to meet.” Rob left.
Evan turned, and Kenzie trapped him in her death glare.
“Oh, ah, funny meeting you here.”
* * *
Funny, he’d said. Evan had been set up.Again.Daniel Sykes needed some discipline, something the Corps, or a foot up his butt, might just provide. Then again, should Evan be upset at another opportunity to see Kenzie up close?
