In Her Wildest Dreams (6 page)

To be fair, Tonya had offered on several occasions to become more involved in running the business, but Gavin had quickly squashed that idea. He’d allowed his first business to slip away from him. He wouldn’t allow that to happen with Decadente. He’d just have to be more diligent at taking care of the business side of things.  

Gavin stopped in at his condo in the Lower Garden District to take a quick shower, then headed downtown. When he arrived at Decadente, he was thrilled to find nearly a dozen customers in the store.

“Pretty busy, huh?” he asked Tonya.

“Plenty,” she said. “I’ve got a couple of messages for you in the back. And Erica asked to call her as soon as you returned.”

“Why didn’t she call my cell?”

“She didn’t want to interrupt, in case you were having lunch with…you know…someone who wouldn’t appreciate being interrupted by another woman.”

The look Tonya gave him made it clear that Erica thought he’d been on a lunch date with another woman. Gavin bit back a curse. Just what he needed, to have Erica think he was seeing someone.

For a second, Gavin warmed up to the thought of her being bothered by that. It was only fair after the numerous hours he’d endured listening to her talk about her dates from hell.

But he’d never been one to play those kinds of manipulative games, and he wouldn’t play them with her. He wanted Erica Cole to know that he was one hundred percent available to her, if only she would open her eyes wide enough to see it.

Two more customers walked into the store, and Gavin decided that all the messages—including Erica’s—would have to wait until the foot traffic died down. He and Tonya kept busy all afternoon. Ten minutes before close, Erica came through the doors.

Gavin acknowledged her with a nod but before he could ask if she could wait ten minutes, Tonya said, “I can handle it out here.”

“You sure?” he asked her.

She gestured for him to head to the kitchen. “You need to get started on more chocolates. I have a list of what we’re running low on.”

“Yeah, buddy. Get in there and make some chocolates,” Erica piped in as she approached the counter.

“Hmm…,” Gavin said. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea to let her in the kitchen. I’ll have fewer chocolates than I started with.”

“Hey, I provide a much needed service,” she said. Gavin raised a brow in inquiry. “Quality control,” she offered.

He barked out a laugh.

“It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it,” Erica said.

“Come on. I heard you came looking for me.”

“I did.” She followed him into the kitchen. “Heard you had a hot lunch date.”

“Really? You heard my date was hot? I’ll have to tell Dalton. He’ll be happy to hear that.”

“Dalton?”

Gavin nodded. “My old college roommate and business partner at Technology Concepts. He and I met for lunch, although we chose to forego lunch in exchange for a pick-up game of basketball.”

“So, you were out with your old roommate,” she said.

That was relief he heard in her voice. There was no mistaking it. Before Gavin could address it, Erica continued, “So, do you want to hear about the phone call I got today?”

No. He wanted to talk about why she was so relieved that he hadn’t been out to lunch with another woman.

“Tell me about your call,” he said, knowing she would just brush off his other question. Using a box cutter to slice open the box of round chocolate discs that had arrived, he popped one in his mouth and tossed one over to Erica so she could sample.

“Umm…good,” she said.

“Yeah. I like this blend of milk and semi-sweet. It goes really well with the fruit-filled chocolates. So,” Gavin looked over at her. “What was the call about?”

With an excited gleam lighting up those warm brown eyes, she said, “Your Wildest Dreams is about to go national.”

Chapter Five

Erica couldn’t help but laugh at the befuddled look on Gavin’s face.

“Let me back up a bit,” she said. “I was at the zoo this morning—”

“What were you doing at the zoo?”

“That’s not important,” Erica said. “Well, actually, it is important, but we’ll get to that later. Anyway, I was meeting with the Audubon Zoo’s director of operations when I got a call, but, of course, I let it go to voicemail. Later, when I listened to the message, I learned it was from a Hilton Banks with an investment firm called The Hawthorn Group. They specialize in investing in businesses that are ripe for franchising.”

“I had no idea you were even interested in becoming a franchise. And a national one, at that?”

“I’ve never considered it,” Erica replied. “Really, why would I? Your Wildest Dreams is just over three years old. It takes most companies five times that long before they get any kind of franchising interest.” Erica shook her head. “I still can’t believe this is happening.”

“So it
is
happening? You’ve already agreed to it?” Gavin asked.

“No, no, no.” She held her hands up. “I’m getting ahead of myself, as usual. I’ve only had one call with the man from The Hawthorn Group. He explained exactly what they do and mentioned some of the businesses they’ve brought nationwide in the past.”

“Anything around here?”

She nodded. “A massage business and yogurt franchise. There are several of both around the city, in Metairie, and on the North Shore. Of course, I’ve scoured the Internet for every bit of information I can find on them. Everything Mr. Banks claims, I’ve found back-up evidence for online.”

Gavin leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “This is a pretty bold move.”

“It isn’t guaranteed yet,” she said. She swiped another chocolate disc from the box and popped it in her mouth. “According to Hilton Banks, their company has several small businesses they are considering at the moment.”

His jaw turned to stone. “So they buy up smaller businesses and take them over,” he stated in a hard voice.

“No, Gavin. It’s not the same thing that happened with you and Technology Concepts. The Hawthorn Group helps small businesses to grow.”

Erica could tell that he wasn’t completely convinced.

“They’ve asked me to come up with a sample ultimate date-night experience,” she continued. “Several of their executives will be in New Orleans in a few weeks for a convention, and will go on the ‘date.’”

“That shouldn’t be hard. You put together date night packages all the time.”

“Yes, but it doesn’t just come out of thin air. You know this.” She gestured toward him. “You’ve had the Your Wildest Dreams treatment before. One of the things that make my company special is that the client and I go through a comprehensive interview so I can tailor their experience specifically to them. I need to know a person’s likes and dislikes. I’m not into just doing the generic.”

“So, what do you have in mind?”

“Well, I was hoping you could help me with that,” she said. “The Hawthorn Group will reimburse me for the fantasy night I create, and because you were one of my first clients who gave me a ‘money is no object’ budget, I figured this would be right up your alley. I want you to pretend you’re looking for another ultimate experience for you and…well, whoever you would consider sharing an ultimate Your Wildest Dreams experience with.”

An amused smirk pulled at the corners of his lips. “You are horrible at subtlety, Erica. Why don’t you just come out and ask me what you want to ask?”

“What?”

“If there is something brewing between me and Whitney?”

“That’s not what I was thinking,” she argued. “You said you were at lunch with your old college roommate. You didn’t see Whitney after lunch, did you?”

“Would it matter?” Gavin asked.

“No,” she said quickly, though she wanted to scream
Yes! Of course it would matter!
Erica held her hands up, palms out. “You can see whoever you want. I just want to make sure you’re not doing anything stupid, Gavin.”

“Like?”

Erica shot him an evil look. He was going to make her say it.

But maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing. Maybe he needed a reminder, especially if he was thinking of starting up with his ex-fiancée again.

“Do you remember when we first ran into each other again a couple of years ago? It was at the French Market, much like the way we ran into each other yesterday.”

Gavin nodded. “Just so happens I was buying groceries for dinner then, too.”

“The first person I asked about was Whitney, because our only other encounter was when I’d put together her birthday fantasy night.”

“I’d just broken up with her,” Gavin said, his voice icier than a second earlier.

“And your dad had just died,
and
you had just left your company,” Erica stated. “You were in a dark place back then, Gavin, and Whitney Parker was a big part of that. I don’t want to see you hurting like that ever again.”

He walked over to her. “Don’t worry about me,” he said. “I am in no danger of being pulled in by Whitney. That ship has sailed, and I have no intentions of climbing onboard again.” Staring down at her, he brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Thanks for caring.”

Erica’s skin tingled where his fingers had touched it. She prudently stepped to the side, putting some distance between them.

“I still can’t believe you didn’t run her over with your car after the way she helped them take your company,” Erica said.

“Because that’s against the law, isn’t it?”

“Justifiable homicide.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “I was upset at the way it all went down, but a part of me was ready to let go. Whitney wanted the company so badly; why not let her have it?”

“Oh, Gavin Foster. So gallant.” Erica laughed.

“That’s me, a regular knight in shining armor.”

“Pretty close,” Erica said. “Except you’re better. You’re a knight who carries chocolates.”

“Yet you’re still looking elsewhere.”

Erica’s smile faltered. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Gavin huffed out a tired laugh. “If I have to spell it out for you, then I’m in an even worse position than I thought I was.”

Time seemed to stand still as they stared at each other, Gavin’s gaze piercing, challenging. The air was charged with awareness, saturated with feelings neither of them had ever had the courage to express in words to each other.

Conflicting emotions warred within Erica’s being, jostling for the uppermost spot in her brain: desire, anxiety, excitement, fear.

Overwhelming
fear.

Fear of losing her friend, the confidant whom she called on in both good times and when things got a bit shaky. It had happened before, back in high school. She’d stupidly allowed things to go too far between her and Marvin Cross, who had been her best friend since third grade. Marvin had been her confidant, too. When her mother had been too busy to bother with her, Erica had turned to him.

And, then, one night—one foolish night, when two teenagers decided to experiment—things changed. She and Marvin’s relationship was never the same after that night she’d crossed the line from friend to lover. The thought of the same happening between her and Gavin made her throat tighten with horrified fear.

And then, of course, there was the fear that she’d fall victim to the scenario she’d witnessed so many times in her youth, her mother lying in bed for days, suffering from her latest tragic relationship disaster. How many times had she told Erica that she should expect nothing more from a man than his very least? It was just the way they were.

But Erica knew that wasn’t true. The strongest friendships she’d had in her life were both with men. It was when you allowed it to get muddied up with sex that things started to fall apart. She’d learned that lesson already, it would
not
happen a second time.  

Erica turned away so she wouldn’t have to face Gavin’s piercing stare. She walked over to the opposite side of the room, her eyes roaming around the pristine kitchen as she ran her hands up and down her arms, warding off a chill that had nothing to do with the setting on the thermostat.  

“So will you help me come up with something for The Hawthorn Group?” she asked.

When Gavin didn’t answer for several moments, Erica glanced his way. The expression on his face told her that he had no intention of allowing her to change the subject. Erica sent him a pleading look, imploring him to let her off the hook.

She knew she was being unfair—selfish even. But with everything that was going on right now—the hotel issue, this potential franchising opportunity—she couldn’t deal with this thing that had suddenly surfaced between her and Gavin. Their friendship was the one steady thing in her life, the thing she could always count on. And she desperately needed her friend right now.

The hard line of Gavin’s jaw stiffened even more, and Erica could see the indecision playing back and forth across his face. Finally, with a shake of his head, he said, “Why don’t we grab a bite to eat? We can hash things out over dinner.”

Relief flooded through her. Before he could walk away, Erica caught his arm. He paused for a lengthy stretch of time before looking back at her.

“Thank you,” she said.

Erica knew she didn’t have to spell it out, but she felt the need to acknowledge that she was aware of what had become abundantly apparent. Their relationship had shifted. And as much as it scared her to accept it, she knew there was no denying it.

With an irritated breath, he said, “Yeah, the knight in shining armor to the rescue again.”

She released his arm, and looked away. “Gavin, I’m not blind,” she said. Erica raised pleading eyes to his. “But I really need my friend right now. Please, can you just be my friend?”

“And just ignore the obvious? That’s what you’re asking me to do?”

She squeezed the bridge of her nose. “For the moment,” she said. “This…this other thing that’s happening between us is a lot to deal with. I just need my sounding board right now.”

Gavin stared at her for such a long time Erica started to get antsy. Just when she thought he would send her packing, he took her by the hand and led her out of the kitchen.