“Thank you.” My throat is tight at her tender advice. I’ve never handled emotions very well, especially in front of someone else. And I’m too excited to let myself sink into self-pity, even for a moment. I collect myself and offer my newest client a professional smile as I extend my hand to her. “I’m thrilled to be working with you, Avery. I’ll take everything back to the boutique and start working on them right away. Since we do the sewing in-house, we should be able to schedule a preliminary fitting for the first few pieces in a couple of weeks.”
“I can’t wait,” she says, shaking my hand. “Thanks again for being willing to change our meeting place at the last minute today. Nick’s office was a much better option, since our apartment is currently a construction zone.”
“My pleasure,” I say, gathering up my materials andslipping everything back into my portfolio. “I’m sorry I kept you waiting.”
She waves her hand dismissively. “It wasn’t a problem at all. Katrina had already phoned to let me know you were on the way, and besides, I was still buried in phone calls and emails when Nick’s assistant, Lily, came in to tell me you were downstairs.”
“Ah.” Lily being the sweet-voiceddarlin’Gabriel Noble had spoken to so casually, so charmingly, after treating me like a security threat. For reasons I’d rather not dwell on, I’d been hoping to find a middle-aged librarian seated outside the executive suite. Instead I was greeted by a stunning young woman with a mane of jet-black hair and a megawatt smile when I stepped off the elevator, harried and indignant after my encounter with the aggravating man.
I suppose I have to give Gabe credit. Instead of starting my meeting with Avery amid a case of stomach-churning nerves and anxiety over the fact that I was late, I marched in energized by my fury for him. Not that I’ll ever tell him he did me a favor.
And not that I’ll ever see him again—if I should be so lucky.
“Well, I suppose I should let you get back to your day.” I sling my portfolio strap over my shoulder as Avery rises from the sofa with me. “Like I said, I’m very excited to start working on the designs. I’ll email you copies of the sketches once I get back to the boutique, so if you have any questions or ideas you can let me know.”
“That sounds great.”
She walks me to the door, and as we exit together, we’re met by my brother and Dominic Baine, who arejust arriving off the elevator. Dressed in dark suits and crisp white shirts, both men are tall, well-built, and handsome. I’m sure a more formidable pair have never ruled a boardroom. Now, at the end of a long day, Andrew’s sharp maroon tie is still impeccably knotted around his creamy brown neck, while Nick’s length of graphite silk is unfastened, and hanging loose along the sides of his unbuttoned collar.
I hear Avery’s soft inhalation beside me as her fiancé strides toward us, his cerulean blue gaze locked on her with unbridled desire.
I get it, girl.Even though I’ve known him for years through my brother, sometimes I still have to remind myself to breathe whenever I see Dominic Baine. The man is a walking force of dark, vibrating energy, and it’s hard not to get swept up in the powerful magnetic pull that seems to surround the attractive billionaire.
Andrew’s no slouch in the good looks department, either. His high cheekbones and pale green eyes have always turned female heads wherever he goes, but his trim black goatee lends an intriguing, sinister edge to him that I imagine only broadens his appeal.
“Someone’s parked in my spot,” he says, grinning as he strolls up and greets me with a light kiss on the cheek.
Nick greets Avery in similar fashion, but his smile is smoldering and his sensual mouth lingers near her ear. Whatever he whispers to her sends a heated blush rising into her cheeks.
Cupping his broad palm around the back of Avery’s neck in a possessive, yet tender touch, he turns his gaze on me. “Evelyn, this is a nice surprise seeing you here.”
“Hello, Nick.”
Avery places her hand against his chest. “I thoughtit would be better to meet here while you and Beck were at the contract meeting across town.”
“Of course, it’s fine. Did you have a good meeting?” he asks me.
I nod. “I think it went well.”
“Evelyn’s being modest. She blew me away with her designs.”
Nick’s answering smile is wicked. “Well, I look forward to seeing the results.”
I glance at my brother as the happy couple indulge in a brief, yet passionate kiss. “Sorry about taking your prime parking space. I was running late and I remembered you told me you’d be out most of today in meetings.”
“No problem,” he says, then quirks a brow. “You, running late? I’m shocked.”
“Yeah, well . . . I got delayed at the boutique and it couldn’t be helped.” I haven’t mentioned my missing purse to Avery, and I’m sure as hell not going to tell my overprotective brother. He already worries too much where I’m concerned, and I’d rather avoid another of his well-meaning lectures about my safety and personal well-being.
Andrew studies me for a moment. “I’m glad to hear everything worked out. I know how much you’ve been looking forward to presenting your work to Avery.”
I nod. “I almost didn’t get the chance. I thought your security detail was going have me arrested for illegal parking.”
Nick’s brows rankle as he looks at me. “Who are you talking about? You mean Luis down at the lobby desk this afternoon?”
“No. Gabriel Noble.” It isn’t the first time I’vethought about him since I arrived on the executive floor, but saying his name out loud sends an uninvited ripple of awareness through my body. I’m still annoyed with him, but my anger has mellowed from the sharp outrage I felt in the garage to a mild indignation. And none of that has had any impact on the unwanted attraction that still simmers along my nerve endings when I picture his handsome, if arrogant, face.
Andrew chuckles. “Gabe’s a stickler for rules and procedure. That’s part of what landed him the job here.”
