HELLO, MRS. MIC
Brigit tossed and turnedall night. Not since the death of her parents had she set foot in the building that had once been her second home. And she was about to waltz through the doors of the Francesco Company with the very man who’d taken it from her. Not as his adversary, but as his ally.
Though she’d racked her brain for an excuse to keep her from flying to Ohio, she’d come up with nothing ironclad. Grunting her frustration, she sat up. Oh-dark-thirty. Brigit dragged herself out of bed.
As the hot shower pounded her awake, she ruminated on Vanessa’s warning.Colton is a complicated man with unusual needs.And what was it aboutthatman that made statements like those so intriguing? She dressed in her favorite black suit and black heels, then returned to the bathroom to make up.
Brigit had been close to Marjorie McAllister, Francesco’s COO. Had she changed enough to fool Mrs. Mic or would she see right through her mask of deceit? Trembling, she smeared mascara across her brow.Dammit! Get it together.After wiping the smudge, she plumped her lashes with the black wand.
Ready early, she headed downstairs to find the sleepy-eyed group drinking coffee. Red and Dez sat at the kitchen table while Colton thumbed his phone at the center island.
“Good morning,” Brigit said. “I hope you weren’t waiting for me.”
“No, you’re fine,” Dez replied.
“Ugh.” Red sipped her coffee. “I’m going to need a three o’clock caffeine hit, big time.”
“Morning, Brigit,” Colton said.
Even at this godforsaken hour, Colton looked phenomenal. Dark olive suit paired with a burgundy tie and white dress shirt. And he’d styled his hair out of his eyes, giving her a clear line of sight to his handsome face.
“Colton, I discovered several Mitus investments that haven’t been managed in years.” She stood near him at the island and inhaled his delicious scent. “There’s a sizable amount of money wrapped up in those positions. I’ll stay behind and work on that today.”
“No. You can slide your deliverable to Friday.”
Damn.There was no escaping Francesco.
Colton’s phone buzzed. “Chad’s out front.”
In silence, they trudged outside to the waiting Bentley. Dez rode shotgun, while Red slunk into the back, behind Chad.
“After you,” Colton said.
“Why don’t you sit in the middle?” Brigit slid inside and scooted over.
“In that tiny space?” He got in and slammed the door.
That seat worked just fine the last time we were in this car. She glanced in his direction and he waggled his brows. Pursing her lips to keep from smiling, she buckled in.
As the giant gates swung open, Brigit sucked down a nervous breath. Leaving the compound made her very, very uneasy. In the pre-dawn hour, the eerie quiet sent a shiver down her spine. Chad waited for a few cars to pass, then pulled onto the road. If someone was lurking in the shadows, she didn’t see him. Brigit glanced out the rear view window. The Bentley traveled alone on the darkened road.Deep breath. No one even knows I’m in this car.
“Yesterday, MobiCom’s entourage toured Francesco,” Colton said. “Bob Dobb, Francesco’s CEO, claimed they showed up unannounced.”
“Yeah, right,” Dez said. “A pop-in from Northern Virginia to Columbus, Ohio.”
“Did they visit the factory?” Brigit asked.
“Yes.” Colton shifted in the seat and his leg pressed against hers.
His massive thigh stimulated her in the most scrumptious of ways. Even though she desperately craved his touch, she had to fight those feelings.Move away.While sheshouldhave repositioned herself so they weren’t touching, she didn’t. As casually as possible, she peeked at him. Dark eyes full of lust and power stared back. If his intensity could have devoured her, she’d have been eaten alive, right then and there. She couldn’t look away.
“Sounds like they’re taking stock. Positioning to make an offer,” Dez said. “This is classic acquisition.”
“And deceptive,” Red said. “What are your expectations today?”
Silence.
“Colton?” Red asked.
