“But you haven’t been on a date in months,” Lee pouted.“I don’t get any dirty details to live vicariously through.”
“You don’t need my dirty details,” Summer scoffed.“You’ve got enough of your own with your darling husband.”Then she sighed.“I have Paul.He’s fine when I get the itch.”
“But it’s not a relationship.And he’s out there looking for something stable with someone else.What happens when he finds the right one?”
That was true.There had been times during theirnon-relationship when Paul met a woman and wanted to go for it.He’d never been a two-timer—not even with someone like her, a casual-sex friend.But nothing had worked out for him.
“And the girls are away at university for nine months.You’re all alone, girlfriend.”
“I just started a new job.I want to concentrate on that.Taking up with some VP, even if he is with another company, won’t work right now.”
“You’re just afraid of another relationship failure.”
Lee knew her so well—every little detail about her marriage.
“I’m not afraid of failure.I’m just not interested.”Her voice sounded sharper than she intended.
Lee raised her hands.“All right, I hear you.You don’t want to be under a man’s thumb.You don’t want a man telling you what to do and dictating your life choices, even down to the clothes you wear and the job you take.But not all men are like the asshole.”
Her husband Everett—the asshole—had become more controlling the older he got.When they were young, he’durgedher to give up her job when they’d decided to have kids.But later, he’d flat out told her to change an outfit he didn’t like her wearing or insisted she drop a friend she enjoyed having coffee with because the woman was too crass or too sexy or a bad influence.She’d done what he wanted to keep the peace, even taken the job he thought she should take when she went back to work.In fact, she’d been surprised he’d even agreed to her getting a job—until she’d learned they were having a few financial problems and he wanted the extra income.
Never again.She wouldn’t let a man control her life or her bank account.
But she conceded to keep Lee happy.“I’ll go for a relationship when I’m ready.I promise.”
Lee snorted.“You don’t have to promise me.I’m just thinking about you.You said you didn’t want to date after the divorce because it was too disruptive for the girls.But it’s been three years, and they’re in college.That’s all I’m saying.”
“Okay, fine,” Summer said.“But when I’m ready for a serious relationship, it won’t be with someone like Knox Turner.He’d be more like Paul—a friend with benefits, if anything at all.He absolutely doesn’t strike me as relationship material.And besides, there’s the whole work issue.”
“Okay, I get it.He’s not the right guy.And I totally agree about not dating anyone at work, especially since he’s in a superior position to you.Even if he’s at the other company, there’s still the joint venture to worry about.And all that has way too many potential problems, much more for you than for him.But if I find someone whowouldbe good for you?—”
Summer cut her off.“Please, no more blind dates.Not even a double date.”
The second her lip went into a pout—Lee had a pretty pout—the guy at the next table couldn’t take his eyes off her.Again, Lee didn’t notice.There was only one man she’d ever noticed, and she’d married him.
“All right.But what if someone with potential comes along?Promise you won’t make up excuses not to go out with him.”
“I can agree to that.”Summer meant it… because she knew no one with potential would just becoming along.“But not anyone from work.”
And most definitely not Knox Turner.
3
Monday morning, Knox relaxed in a chair in Holt Montgomery’s office.“Your Summer Gentry seems to be a really hard worker.She was here on Friday until at least ten at night, finishing out the month.”
“She’s a go-getter.Works hard, very knowledgeable.But what the hell were you doing here so late on a Friday?”
In his fifties, Holt was a commanding presence.With steel-gray hair and a formidable bearing, he gave Knox the impression of a commander at the helm of his battleship.Yet he’d always seemed reasonable and fair, listening to others’ ideas with an open mind.
“Not that I don’t trust you guys implicitly,” Knox said, “but I wanted to see that everything went out.”While the project was really Rafferty’s—SV Displays’ VP of R&D—Knox felt like it was his own.He was in charge of the new equipment that manufactured this product.And while West Coast’s thin-film technology was an integral part of SV Displays’ new touchscreen, Knox felt that since his machines would do all the assembly, it was still his baby.
“So how long has Summer Gentry worked here?”he asked, ever so nonchalantly.
Holt raised his eyes to the ceiling.“About three months.”Which matched what she’d told Knox.And what he remembered about the first time he’d seen her.“She’s doing a bang-up job,” Holt went on.“Not that we were a mess before, but she’s instituted several processes that have completely streamlined things.”
Knox had already figured that about her—not only was she a hard worker, but inventive and smart.“I’m surprised she’s not at least a director level or higher.”He didn’t sayat her age, but it was implied.He guessed her to be over forty—a very attractive over-forty—and seemed like the type of woman who wanted to move up the ladder.
“She stayed home to raise her two girls.She went back to work only once they were both in middle school.But she’s made up for lost time in the last six years.”
