Do Not Disturb (15 page)

He stopped her with one hand on her shoulder before she could leave.

“Are we still on for next Saturday?”

Her bottom lip disappeared between her teeth for a brief second. “Yes.”

He managed to contain the urge to pump his fist. “Let me take you out to dinner this weekend, too.”

“I have two events this weekend.”

“Then how about tomorrow night?”

She glanced up at him. “I’m staying in Harrisburg tomorrow night for a weekend wedding. And Sunday I have a fiftieth anniversary party for friends of my grandparents.”

“Monday night.”

Her smile made him want to strip her jeans down her legs, hold her up against the wall and fuck her hard and fast.

“I’ll call you Monday?”

No, he wanted her to say yes now. “Sounds good.”

Turning, she leaned her back against the wall and stared up at him. “I want to see you again, Dane. It’s just that I have a weird schedule. I can work until midnight one night and be up the next day at seven for a business meeting.”

“I will have no trouble working around your schedule. I just want to make sure I get myself on your calendar.”

“I have no doubt you’ll find a space on my calendar.”

“Glad to hear it. Now, about Monday night . . .”

“So do you think you’re up for the challenge? I know I can throw a lot at a person right away, which sometimes makes them run screaming. But I find it’s helpful to lay everything out up front so there are no misconceptions.”

Tru finally stopped to take a breath, and Talia barely managed not to make it obvious she felt like she’d just gone through the spin cycle in a washing machine.

Talia considered herself a competent multitasker and, by competent, she meant she fucking rocked at multitasking.

Tru made her feel like a total slacker. And made her feel ancient.

Tru looked about nineteen with her light brown hair scraped back in a perfect ponytail, that adorable pug nose and those freckles that looked like she dotted them on her face every day. Today, she wore square, blue-framed glasses that managed to make her look both nerdy and cool with her blue-and-cream-striped sweater dress that fit her perfectly.

Her sky-blue eyes held a sharp intelligence that made Talia sit a little taller in her chair.

Tru’s office in the building Greg had bought to house his new film production company that he’d recently moved from Hollywood to Philadelphia was organized so well, not even Martha Stewart would be able to find a fault.

“Yes, I’m up for the challenge. I’ve handled several large events and honestly, I think I have a good handle on what you’re looking for.”

For the next several minutes, she rattled off the ideas she’d been turning over in her head since Tru had first approached her about handling the opening-night party for Greg’s newest film. Tru had given her all the promotional materials and sent her a few clips from the film that gave her a sense of the tone, and she’d been able to put together some ideas from that.

The fact that the film was basically a romance was a huge point in her favor. And that it was an unsentimental romance made it that much better. From what she’d seen, Talia knew this was something she’d spend her money to watch.

When she’d laid out her plans for the after-party, she waited for Tru to say something.

Instead Tru closed her eyes and let her head fall back on her shoulders.

Okay, maybe she’d been totally off base—

Tru bounced off her chair, rounded her desk and bent down to give Talia a huge hug.

“Oh, my god! Thank you so much for being exactly what Sabrina and Kate promised.”

Laughing, Talia returned Tru’s hug as best she could, since the angle was a little awkward.

“You’re welcome. I think. Maybe I should ask what they promised first.”

With a heartfelt sigh, Tru sank into the chair next to Talia’s and let her head rest against the back cushion. “They promised me you were brilliant and I’d be grateful I hired you. And everything you said just allayed all of my fears. With everything going on, I was really worried about this party.”

Nice to know her friends actually did believe in her. Which was totally bitchy to even think and she pushed the thought away. “Then you’re very welcome. Honestly, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work on something like this. I love a challenge.”

“Damn, I am so fucking glad I don’t have to tell Bree we aren’t going to hire you. She’s been telling me for weeks we need to get you to do this.”

Turning her head toward the masculine voice behind her, Talia saw Greg leaning against the door frame.

“Hi. I didn’t realize you were there.”

Greg grinned as he pushed away from the door to walk over to Talia. “I wasn’t until a few seconds ago, so if you talked about specifics, I didn’t get them. But when Truly gets that blissful look on her face, I know all is right in her world. Therefore, all is right in my world.”

Sitting on the edge of Tru’s desk, Greg nodded at his former assistant, now partner. “Of course, you’re gonna hate me for this, but Baz is in the studio and he needs to talk to you about some mixer or something.”

Tru’s gaze narrowed and that sweet, girl-next-door face of hers screwed up into a frown that made Talia’s eyebrows rise.

“That man is going to . . .” Tru huffed out a breath and pushed away from her desk. “Sorry, I’ll be right back, Talia.”

Then Tru left, grumbling under her breath something about smashing equipment over Baz’s head.

When the girl had disappeared, Greg began to laugh.

“If they don’t kill each other first, they’re gonna be two of my biggest assets in this company.”

“They don’t appear to get along at all.”

“Well, Tru thinks Baz is a fucked-up rock star, and Baz thinks she’s an uptight control freak. They both happen to be right.”

Talia’s back immediately went up. “Tru is one of the sweetest people I know. And Baz is one of the funniest. I think they’re both great.”

Greg smiled. “And that’s all true. I love them both. But you don’t like me very much, do you?”

Taken back by his blunt statement, Talia blinked up at him, her lips parting but she had no idea what to say.

“That’s not true.”

He continued to smile. “Yeah, it is. I appreciate the fact that you’re trying to save my feelings, but I’d rather you be honest. The thing is, Bree loves you. And I think you honestly care about her.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I do honestly care about her. She’s one of the absolute best people I know.”

“Which is why you’re not too sure about me.”

She drew in a breath, ready to refute him . . . and stopped. Greg just continued to smile at her.

Because he was totally right.

While Bree thought he was the most amazing man on the planet, Talia saw way too many similarities between his personality and her father’s. Though Greg wasn’t slickly handsome like her dad had been, he was attractive in ways that made women flock to his side whenever he smiled. And made men want to throw money at him, whatever his plans were.

“I don’t
not
like you, Greg. It’s just . . .”

“You don’t think I’m good enough for her.”

Was that it? “I don’t want to see Bree get hurt.”

He nodded. “And if I told you that’s the last thing I ever want to do?”

“Then I guess I’d give you the benefit of the doubt.” Now she smiled and made sure he saw the edge on it. “And cut off your balls if you ever do.”

Greg threw his head back and laughed, and now she saw the genuine side of him that she might have possibly been overlooking because of her protectiveness of Sabrina. And because of her dad, who’d colored so much of her perception of men since she was a teenager. She knew most men didn’t stand a chance in her eyes.

Greg met her gaze again and, yeah, she totally got what Sabrina saw in him.

“Bree said you don’t pull your punches and I like that about you. Which is kind of why I wanted to talk to you. You know, I don’t feel the need to explain myself to any of her other friends. Not Kate, not Annabelle. But you . . . you’re the one I need to win over.”

She shook her head, a bemused grin on her face. “You don’t need to win me over. I’m not the one you’re seeing.”

“But you’re the one she looks at and thinks, ‘I wonder what Talia would do.’”

Rolling her eyes, she held up one hand. “If that were true, she never would’ve gone near you.”

And there was that damn mouth of hers, getting away from her again.

Greg just continued to smile. “See, that’s what I like about you.”

Sighing, she leaned back in her chair. “Honestly Greg, you remind me of someone, but that’s my issue, not yours.”

“I hate to think I remind you of someone who hurt you, but I get it. It’s human nature, hon.” He shrugged. “It’s hard to let go of the past. Anyway, I just thought we should talk. I needed to get that off my chest so thanks for listening. And I’m anxious to see what you do with the premiere party. I know you’ll pull together something amazing.”

He got up to leave and she reached out to touch his arm as he passed by.

“Greg . . . Thank you.”

He snorted. “Yeah, don’t thank me yet. You haven’t actually had to work with me. Talk to you . . .” Greg slowed as he got closer to the door then stopped just short of walking out. “Well, shit. They’re at it again. I swear I’m going to have to hire a referee to handle those two. If I didn’t know better, I’d think they hated each other.”

Though she hadn’t before, now Talia heard Tru and Baz arguing in the hall and getting louder every second.

Turning, Greg headed back toward her. “I’m getting the hell out of Dodge, babe. I love those two, but there’s no way you want to be between them when they start arguing. I suggest you find a back way out.” Stopping by her side, he dropped a kiss on the top of her head and made quick time for the door on the other side of the room. But he stopped before he left and turned to look at her.

“We good?”

She nodded. “We’re good.”

He smiled and she totally understood why Sabrina would fight tooth and nail to keep him. “See you soon.”

She blinked as he disappeared out the door, her brain snapping with questions.

Did he know that Dane had invited her to the Salon? Was that what that smile of his meant? Or had she totally read something into his expression that wasn’t there?

Was she really going to go?

If she did, there was a damn good chance Greg would be seeing her naked or at least could watch her having sex with Dane.

While her brain was scandalized, her body went tight and hot all over. Because that really didn’t turn her off. At all.

“Jesus Christ, Truly, you are going to fucking kill me. Just get the goddamn—”

“Don’t you dare use that language with me, Baz. You know—”

“—mixer I want in the first place. Christ, you’re such a priss. You know I don’t mean—”

“—I’m not going to respond. This is what they had when I called, so I figured you’d rather have this than nothing at all. I’m sorry it’s not up to your exacting standard, but the one you wanted is on its way now.”

“Then why the fuck didn’t you just say that to begin with? God—”

“Because you still would have felt the need to run your mouth. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to continue my meeting.”

“Oh, for fu— Ow!”

Truly reentered her office, her smile fixed and brittle. “I’m so sorry, Talia. I—Never mind. Is there anything else you need to go over?”

“Uh—”

“Hey, Talia. How goes it?”

Standing, Talia turned to Baz with a smile. Unlike Tru, Talia had no problem with Baz. Smart, funny and, yeah, occasionally crude and loud and totally inappropriate, Baz had wormed his way into her good graces by being such a good friend to Sabrina. Talia had secretly hoped Sabrina would fall for Baz.

Which probably went to show how screwed up she was about her dad.

“Pretty good, actually.” She gave him a hug, which he returned tightly. The guy was a total sweetheart. Obviously, he and Tru were oil and water.

“Don’t let the taskmaster get to you.” He nodded in Tru’s direction but never glanced her way. “She’s just never happy.”

Trudeau raised her eyebrows at him. “And you’re such a joy to work with all the time.”

Baz laughed, but she heard an undercurrent of self-disgust in his tone. “You know I totally am. But it looks like I’m not getting any work done so I’m outta here. Have a good one, Tal.”

Then he was gone and, behind her, Tru took a deep steadying breath. “That man is going to be the death of me. Unless I strangle him first.” Shaking her head, Tru switched gears on a dime. “So, let’s run with the ideas you’ve already presented and we’ll set another meeting for the Monday after Jared and Annabelle’s wedding, if that works for you.”

That was two days after the Salon party.

“Absolutely. I’ll see you then.”

If she survived the weekend.

***

“Hey, you got a minute?”

Looking up from his computer, Dane found Jed standing in the door to his office.

“What are you doing here?”

“Nice to see you, too. And I wouldn’t have to show up if you’d just answer your damn phone.”

Glancing at his desk, Dane realized he’d missed a few calls from Jed and more than a couple of texts from several others. None of which mattered because none of them were from a certain blonde who was formerly a Roller Derby girl, a fact he found utterly fascinating.

“Sorry. I lost track of time. What’s up?”

Jed leaned against the door frame and tapped his watch. “Appointment at the jeweler’s. You said you wanted to go with me to get that necklace for your mom. You also mentioned something about bracelets for your sister and the girls. After ‘necklace for Mom,’ I tuned you out because you were talking about jewelry.”

“And if it doesn’t have anything to do with Belle, you don’t give a shit right now.”

“What can I say, man? I found the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with and she loves me back. Amazing.”

Jed’s smile made Dane shake his head. “The amazing thing is she hasn’t tossed you out yet because she’s sick of you.”

“Let’s hope that never happens.”

Dane nodded in agreement. “She’s the best thing that’s happened to you in a damn long time. So don’t screw it up.”

“Don’t plan to. So what’s got you so wrapped up you don’t even answer your phone?”

Dane paused, wondering if he should admit what he’d been up to, because he wasn’t sure how Jed would react. Then again, it wasn’t like he was doing something illegal. At least, not yet.

“Come in and close the door.”

Jed’s eyebrows lifted but he did what Dane had asked.

“Okay, you wanna tell me why you’re all cloak-and-dagger? Is it one of your cases?”

Dane shook his head. “I’m checking out Talia.”

Jed’s eyes widened. “Come again?”

“You heard me the first time.”

“Yeah, I did. But I’m pretty sure there’s more to the story.” Jed dropped into the chair on the other side of Dane’s desk and leaned his elbow on his knees, blue gaze intent on Dane’s. “Because I’m pretty sure you had her sign the nondisclosure and I know you. You already checked her out. So what’s with the double dip?”

Good question, and one he couldn’t answer. Which was bugging the hell out of him.

“I’m not sure.”

“And . . .”

“And I’m not fucking sure.”

A frown wrinkled Jed’s forehead. “Wait, did you find something?”