He’d come from a wealthy family that was completely dysfunctional, a society mother who totally ignored him, a dad whose biggest concern was making more money and was never around. Beau had rebelled, and to spite them, become friends with the local bad boys, which included Linc.
After the robbery, Beau had reformed. He’d just graduated college when his grandfather died, leaving him a minor fortune but not the foggiest idea what to do with it.
He’d come to Linc because he felt guilty, felt he owed Linc for taking the fall for the robbery. Linc, being no fool, had accepted Beau’s offer to work for him. Their boss-employee relationship had become a partnership. Together they had built the company into the vastly successful corporation it was today.
“Carly, this is my partner, Beau Reese. Beau, this is Carly Drake.”
“Nice to meet you,” Carly said with a smile.
“Linc’s told me a lot about you,” Beau said.
Linc didn’t miss the surprise on her face. What? She didn’t think he’d mention the woman he was living with to his best friend? Irritation trickled through him.
Beau flashed one of his signature smiles. “Don’t worry, it was all good. He says you’ve been having some problems with the company but you’re getting things worked out.”
“I have some great employees. We’re going to make it work.” She looked up at Linc and her features softened. “Linc’s been really great.”
His irritation faded. She thought he was great? She’d sure never said anything like that to him.
Beau’s gaze went over Carly’s head and Linc realized the moment he’d been dreading had arrived as Sophia Aiello walked up to Beau. Shegave Linc a disdainful look down the length of her nose, which tilted even higher when she spotted Carly.
“Sophia, this is Carly Drake,” Beau said. “Carly, Sophia Aiello.”
A perfect black eyebrow arched up. “So you are the one. You were working in his office. What are you, some kind of secretary? If you think you can sleep your way to the top, you are a fool.”
Carly’s mouth thinned.
“Ms. Drake is a businesswoman,” Linc said, hoping to defuse the situation before the vicious little witch sank her fangs any further into Carly. “She owns Drake Trucking. We’ve been friends for some years.”More or less.
“I see.”
Beau cast Linc a long-suffering glance and took Sophia’s arm. “Why don’t we take a walk around, see what auction items will be up for bid?”
Sophia sniffed petulantly. “Perhaps you will buy something for Sophia, yes?”
“Maybe I will.” Beau cast Linc a look that saidand Lincoln Cain is going to pay for it.
Linc just smiled.
Carly seemed to relax as they walked away. “There’s some wonderful art up for sale,” she said, glancing at the artwork on display around the room.
“The theme this year is Latin Legends. Some of the art that’s going to be auctioned was donated by collectors. There’s a Diego Rivera, a piece by a Chilean artist named Roberto Matta, a number of other important South American artists.” There was also pottery, sculpture, and handmade jewelry.
“According to the catalog,” Linc said, “the prize of the evening is a Botero, a gift from the Weldsburg Foundation. It’s valued at over a million dollars.”
“Will you be bidding?”
“Not on that. This is a charity auction, so I’ll buy something.” He smiled down at her. “Maybe you can help me choose.”
Carly smiled back. “That sounds like fun.”
The two of them wandered, greeting people he knew, sipping champagne. Linc introduced her to Randall Conners and his wife, Andrea, two of the people seated at his table.
Carly said something about traveling, Andrea mentioned Paris, and the next thing he knew they were chatting away in French, rolling their eyes and laughing.
Linc never would have guessed she spoke French and he had to admit he was impressed.
“I flew New York to Paris, remember?” she explained when he asked. “Being able to speak the language was one of the reasons I was assigned the route.”
