Designed for Love (5 page)

“Fine.
I appreciate the lift.”

     
Smiling,
Thomas guided her towards a side exit of the Point Corporation building where
the same pearl white limo she’d seen before was parked.

     
Opening
the back door for her, he said, “Please, make yourself comfortable, Ms.
Halifax. There are beverages in the right side wall cooler. Just press firmly
on the panel, and it will open.”

     
Settling
into the back seat facing the front, Chelsi admired the opulence. The interior
was decorated in various shades of gray from the smoke gray suede fabric of the
seats to the pale colored carpet. The vehicle could probably hold ten people
comfortably.

     
Across
from her and along the left side of the car was a full long L-shaped bench seat.
Where she sat, there was a center console with an array of controlling buttons
and a double cup holder. One holder was empty, but the other held a bag of
almonds.

     
“Whose
almonds?” She told herself it was none of her business. Besides they were most
likely sitting there as a courtesy snack for guest like the drinks in the
hidden cooler.

     
Leaning
down, Thomas smiled. “Those are Mr. Poindexter’s. Matter of fact, I believe
that is the last pack left from the three packets he grabbed from the store
last week.”

     
That’s
why he’d stopped there on his way to the airport. That knowledge made those
damn butterflies in her stomach start flapping again.

     
Staring
in the older man’s dark brown gaze that was friendly but unreadable, she
wondered if he remembered her from the store but doubted it. She looked nothing
like she did then. “Thank you, Thomas.”

     
Nodding,
he closed the door and got in behind the wheel.

     
As
they drove away, she glanced back down at the bag of nuts and allowed the
memory of a warm spring day to play out.

     
It
had been the first day of spring break their senior year. The only day she had
to spend with Vincent because her parents were taking her to New York City to
visit her college and take in some sights and a play.

     
Her
family’s housekeeper, Ms. Samson, had brought out a tray of snacks for them. On
the tray among the array of items was a bowl of almonds. Chelsi recalled
offering some to Vincent, who lounged on the chair beside her, thin and tan in
blue swim trunks. He had frowned, telling her he’d never tried almonds and
wasn’t sure if he liked them. Vincent didn’t like peanuts, because he said the
nut was a bully and it always took over anything it was made with. She’d coaxed
him into trying an almond with a promise of a kiss if he didn’t like them.

     
He’d
popped one in his mouth and chewed it then looked her straight in the eye and
said he didn’t like it. She had capitulated and given him a kiss. The kiss
hadn’t been deep, with her parents in the living room, no doubt keeping an eye
on them. After the kiss was over, she’d reclaimed her seat and spied him
digging back into the bowl of almonds.

     
“Hey,”
she’d called out. “I thought you said you didn’t like them.”

     
Giving
her a cheeky smile, he’d confessed. “I actually love them.”

     
She’d
folded her arms under breasts and given him a mock angry gaze. “Then why did
you
steal
my kiss?”

“Because
I love you, too,” he’d said.

     
It
had been that simple. Vincent had let his feelings for her come out of his
mouth for the first time as if it was something she should have known. His
words had taken all the air out of her indignant feeling balloon. Blushing, she’d
told him she loved him too then given him another kiss, as innocent as the
first one, but more powerful to her heart.

He still loved
them
.

     
Too
bad he doesn’t still love me. Her heart lamented before she could stop it.

     
Leaning
back against the seat, she pushed aside all her thoughts and ideas. She didn’t
want to think, or feel, or remember how much she missed Vincent in her life.
Missed his kisses and his touch. Staring out the tinted window and watching the
downtown businesses and people hustle, she allowed her mind to go blank as
Thomas took her to the NoDa district where Densa Fashion sat less than a block
away from a delicious French Bakery and Café.

     
Work
was something she could use to keep her focus, and a lunch stroll to
Amelie’s
was just what she needed.
Vincent was not.

Chapter Four

     
Friday,
Chelsi walked into her condo, kicked off her heels, and pulled her ponytail
down. Shaking her hair, she massaged her scalp as she padded over to the
kitchen. Her stomach had started growling on the way home.

     
In
the kitchen, she stopped at the table to smell the beautiful arrangement of
pink, white, and red lilies she’d gotten that morning from her parents. Her mom
and dad always sent her flowers for her birthday. She’d already called and
thanked them that morning. Tomorrow, she and Becky, her best friend, were going
out to the movies and a local fondue bar.

     
Headed
to the refrigerator, she was halted by her ringing cell phone. She jogged back
into the living room to the satchel she had tossed on the couch when she came
in. Opening the side pocket, she extracted the phone on the second ring. The
screen indicated a private number. For a moment she debated not answering it
and letting it go to voice mail but depressed the green button anyway.

     
“Hello?”
she said, using her most efficient business voice, believing it to be some
organization selling something.

     
“How
about you have dinner with me tonight, Chelsi?” Vincent’s husky, sexy voice
tickled her ear.

     
Her
toes curled into the carpet, and her knees became weak. Sitting down on her
couch, she asked, “How did you get my number?”

     
She
hadn’t spoken to Vincent since Monday after that kiss in his conference room.
Rudolph had called Peter on Wednesday afternoon to let them know they had the
contract for the new stores. That afternoon Peter had popped a bottle of champagne,
and they’d all toasted to their accomplishment. Over the last two days, there
had been meetings with Rudolph at Point Corp, but she had bowed out and let Pierre
or Manuel accompany Peter. She didn’t want to risk running into Vincent.

     
However,
that didn’t keep her from thinking about Vincent while they were gone. What he
was doing. Who he was with. She told herself to feel relieved that even though
he knew now where she worked he had not attempted to contact her. Or heaven
forbid, show up at her job.

     
Yesterday,
Pierre had let it slip that Vincent was away on business. She couldn’t stop herself
from feeling at ease. Knowing he wasn’t in town helped her keep her mind on
other things.

     
“I
will never reveal my sources,” he announced in his best Joe Friday impression.

     
That
sound through the phone brought a smile to her face. Dragnet had been one of
Vincent’s favorite re-run shows. “Peter, I bet, is the culprit,” she declared,
unable to keep herself from joining in. This type of camaraderie had always
been easy for them.

He
chuckled. “No, it was not Peter.”

     
“Aren’t
you supposed to be out of town somewhere?” She tossed in, an attempt to keep
the conversation diverted from his original question.

“Keeping
tabs on me, Chelsi?”

     
Busted
. “Someone just happened to
mention yesterday that you weren’t at the meeting.”

     
“I
returned this afternoon. So how about that dinner?” He wasn’t diverted for
long.

     
She
sighed and stared off at nothing in particular. The weight of his question rested
on her mind. “Don’t you think we ought to let our past involvement just remain
what it is, in the past?”

     
“No,
I don’t. Besides I see nothing wrong with two old friends getting
reacquainted.”

     
Tapping
her foot on the floor, she listened to his words as a war began inside of her.
“I do.”

     
The
sound of soft jazz could be heard through the phone. “It’s not like we can just
say nice to see you and walk away. We’re involved in business together.”

     
For
a moment and not for the first time since Wednesday, Chelsi wondered whether
her past relationship with Vincent had been the reason for his selection of the
Densa Fashions contract. Was it all just a ploy to get her to give in to his
wishes?

     
Regardless,
she kept her thoughts to herself. The last thing she wanted to do was ruin this
opportunity for Peter, Manuel, and Pierre. Whatever the reasons, Densa had won
the contract, and they’d do the best damn job to prove they had earned it.

     
“Chelsi,
sweetheart, you still with me?” his voice held concern.

     
“Yeah,
I’m still here.” She continued, “Just because we have to relate in business
doesn’t mean we have to be connected on a personal level. Besides Densa is in a
small facet of your world, I’m sure we’ll probably never have a reason to see
each other again.”

     
“You’ll
learn that I’m a hands-on type of boss.”

“I
think that term is micro-manager.”

     
He
chuckled. “Hell, no. Never that. I pay my managers and department heads too
damn much money to not expect them to do their job. But, I keep in close
contact with all aspects of my company on a regular basis. I’ve even put on a
hard hat once or twice when we were building Point Corp in
Charlotte
.”

     
She
smiled, imagining Vincent in his fancy suit and hard hat, swinging a hammer.
“That must have been a sight.”

     
“Possibly.
Dinner. Tonight. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

     
Leaning
her head back against the couch, she rolled her eyes toward the ceiling and released
a heavy sigh, letting Vincent hear her frustration.

     
“Still
waiting,” he said, humor lacing his words.

     
Her
heart and her mind were truly at war. Vincent couldn’t understand how hard this
all was for her. “Why tonight? Why not next week or next month?”

“Because
it’s your birthday.”

     
That
took the wind out of her sails. He remembered. In that instant, hearing his
words, her heart won over. “Fine. Fine. Okay, I’ll have dinner with you,” she
whispered, giving in.

     
“Great.”
There was too much excitement in his voice for her liking.

“One
rule,” she rushed on.

“That
is?”

     
“Don’t
bring that long pretty limo here to get me. My neighbors will have a million
and one questions for me tomorrow if they see you pulling up in it.”

     
“You
got it. Now tell your gate guard to let me in.”

     
Before
she could question his words, Jim got on the phone. “Good evening, Ms. Halifax.
You have one determined gentleman here for you.”

     
“I’m
sure,” she mumbled, dazed knowing Vincent had been just a few yards away the
whole time he’d been talking to her.

     
“You
know the routine. I will need your phone password to confirm his entry.” Jim
requested.

     
Giving
him the six digit verification number, she approved Vincent’s entrance.

     
Then
just as quickly, Vincent was back on the phone. “I will see you in two
minutes.”

     
Reality
hit her at his words. Damnit, he would be pulling up, and she still needed to
shower and change. “I’m not ready,” she rattled on. “I’ll leave the door
unlocked. Just come in. I need ten solid minutes to get ready.” Leaping off the
couch, she unbolted her door then dashed down the hall to her bedroom. After
closing the door to her room, she flung open her closet doors.

     
“I’m
sure you look gorgeous now, but you can have the ten minutes.”

     
Chelsi
heard the echo of a car door shutting through the phone. “Thanks. Hanging up
now.”

“See
you soon.”

     
That
deliciously husky voice played with her senses as she hung up and tossed her
cell onto her bed. It didn’t help knowing he was just on the other side of her
room door. Inside her condo.

     
She
didn’t know where they were going. Groaning, she knew she should have asked.
Oh, well. She pulled a pale blue crepe drop-waist dress from their Bally
collection. The sequin rose stitched across one shoulder made it appropriate
for a nice restaurant, but the lightweight material made it comfortable enough
for mid-grade dinning.

     
Hanging
the garment up on the door frame of the closest, she stripped and went into the
bathroom. Not wanting to waste too much time, she twisted and clipped her hair
high on her head to keep it from getting wet before she stepped into the
shower. She didn’t have time to flat iron it if it frizzed.

     
The
blast of cold water shocked her body, but there wasn’t a moment to spare. As
she bathed quickly, she was grateful she’d treated herself to a trip to the spa
Wednesday night after they got the contract so all essential areas from ankle
to armpits were smooth.

     
Shutting
off the water, she jumped out and ran the towel along her body in a brisk
fashion that caused her skin to have a deeper red glow than normal. Lotion was
next. She briefly paused to consider her scent and decided on the honey melon.
It was light and sweet, a great scent for “friends”, she told herself. The last
thing she wanted to do was make too much of this evening. It was just a
birthday dinner with an old friend. Old lover, her heart chimed in.

     
She
chose to ignore it. After she dressed, she applied a little mascara, a brush
stroke or two of eye shadow, and a coat of lip gloss over her lips. Staring at
herself in the mirror, she brushed her hair down and groaned. There wasn’t much
she could do with it in the minute she had left. She couldn’t leave it down
because of the big dent in it from the band that had held it up all day in a
ponytail. Instead, she re-twisted it and used a silver clip to hold it in
place.

     
After
exiting the bathroom, she slid her feet into a pair of silver sandals and
grabbed the matching clutch purse, tossed in her cell, and took a deep, calming
breath. With one hand on the door, she could feel her heart racing. She would’ve
loved to blame it all on the fact she’d taken an hour’s job and performed it in
ten minutes, but she knew that had very little to do with it. There was only
one thing—one person—that made her feel this flustered and excited at the same
time. That person was on the other side of the door waiting to take her out.

     
No
more time to waste. She opened the door.

     
Vincent
was leaning against the wall between the kitchen and the living room. His
position gave him a perfect vantage point, seeing her as soon as she came out
her room.

     
“You
look beautiful, Chelsi.” He stepped away from the wall as his gaze moved from
her face and did a slow scan of her body.

     
The
heat from his look made her body tingle as though he were caressing her skin as
she moved up the hall.
Maybe this wasn’t
such a good idea.

     
“Thank
you.” She admired the way his gray slacks clung to his thighs, his jacket
draped over his broad shoulders in a way that made her want to lean against him,
and the crisp white shirt he wore accentuated the soft tan of his skin. He was
a strikingly good-looking man from head to toe. Evidently they were not going
anywhere fancy because he wore no tie and his first two buttons were undone.
“You look great as well.”

He
smiled. “Are you ready?”

     
“Yes,
I just need to grab my wallet,” she confirmed. Going over to the couch, she dug
into her satchel and removed the small pouch that held her license and credit
card and put it in her purse. Her keys were the last thing she picked up from
the coffee table. “Ready now.” She met him at the door.

     
Vincent
stepped to her and, cupping her face, he kissed her lightly. “Happy birthday,
Chelsi. Thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me.” His breath fluttered
across her lips and kicked her heart into high speed again.

“You’re
welcome.” She was breathless.

     
Smiling,
he lowered his hand and opened her front door. As they walked to the car, she
was happy to see there was no limo in the parking lot. Instead, he escorted her
to a four door Bentley the same color as his limo.

     
“Why
does it seem like there should be a driver with this car?” She joked with him
as she slipped in the passenger seat.