Tender Kisses (17 page)

Justin woke up well rested and with a much clearer head. His stomach growled, and he went to the kitchen to find something to eat. He found a note on the refrigerator from his sister.

I left you a plate in the microwave. You can thank me later :) Joce

He smiled, sent up a thank-you and reheated the pancakes and bacon.

With his stomach full and his mind and body renewed, he was able to make good progress in regulating the temperature feature. While it now maintained the room temperature, it still didn't register when a second one was introduced.

His cell rang, interrupting his flow. Justin activated the speaker without glancing at the display. “Hello.”

“Hey, sexy. Did you get some rest?”

His head came up when he heard Siobhan's voice. “What's up, baby? I did sleep a little. What about you?”

“Somewhere around three hours. I'm tired, but in a good way.”

“You don't plan on staying late today, do you?”

“Not too late. My brother Brandon has been camping out at my office making sure I leave at a decent hour,” she added with a chuckle.

“I'm glad he's looking out for you.”

“Of course you are...
men
. But it's okay when he does it. I bet you used to do the same thing.”

“I plead the Fifth.”

“What else would you say?”

He laughed. “I admit I did it a time or two when necessary.”

“Uh-huh. I'm sure you called on necessity more times than not.”

“So how's your day going?” Justin asked, changing the subject.

Siobhan burst out laughing. “Wow, real subtle. My day is fine. I was calling to see whether you were able to get on my dad's schedule.”

His smile faded. “I spoke with his secretary, and I'll be meeting with him on Friday morning.” He wasn't lying exactly because he had talked to the secretary, just not this morning.

“Great! That's a quick turnaround. Most times, it takes two or three weeks. He must have had a cancellation.”

“Must have,” he murmured. “Will you be there?”

“No. You'll be meeting with my dad, his partner Mr. Whitcomb and Brandon.”

“What does your brother do?”

“He's in charge of the home-safety division for now, but will take over as CEO when my dad retires.”

“Home-safety division? The company has more than one division?” Justin frowned, trying to recall if he'd read anything about another facet of the company.

“Technically, no, but my brother Khalil designed some fitness equipment for the disabled to put in his gym, and they thought it would be better to separate the two.”

“Sounds like a wise decision. What are you going to be doing the rest of the week?”

“Tonight, I'm
sleeping
.”

“Does that mean you don't want me to come over?”

“I'd love for you to come over, but we never get any sleep when you do. I have another press conference tomorrow, so I can't afford to fall asleep at the podium. But you can come by tomorrow night.”

“Depending on how much I get done, I may have to take a rain check.”

“I understand. But from what you showed me, it's going to be fantastic. Even Brandon will be impressed.”

“I thought your father had the final decision.”

“He does, but he relies on Brandon to keep up with the changes in technology.”

One more thing to add to his growing list of concerns.

“Don't worry. I know my brother well and he's going to be all over this.”

“You promised to—”

“I know, I know. I'm not going to mention anything. As far as they're concerned, I know nothing. What time is your meeting on Friday?”

“Ten. Why?”

“If you don't have any other meetings scheduled or will be otherwise occupied, I wanted to have lunch.”

“I think that can be arranged.”

“Just text me when you're done, and I'll meet you outside my father's office.”

“Do you think that's a good idea? I mean, with what you told me about those other guys, I don't want him to think I'm after the same thing.”

“He won't, and
I know
differently.”

“All right.”

“Well, I'd better get back to work. Call me later?”

“Definitely.” They said their goodbyes, and he cut the connection. Justin pinched the bridge of his nose. She said she knew differently, and he hoped like hell it didn't change once she found out the truth.

Chapter 17

F
riday morning, Justin arrived at the Gray Home Safety offices fifteen minutes early, filled with an unusual case of nervous tension. It had taken him the entire drive to realize the anxiety stemmed from his concerns about his and Siobhan's relationship and not the presentation.

“Mr. Cartwright?”

He stood at the secretary's approach. “Yes.”

“They're ready for you. If you'll follow me, sir.”

“Thank you.” She escorted him through an outer office and into a small conference area where Mr. Gray and a younger man, who Justin assumed was Brandon Gray, were standing. Mr. Whitcomb sat in a wheelchair.

“Ah, good morning, Mr. Cartwright,” Mr. Gray said. “I'm glad we've finally got our schedules together.”

Justin shook the proffered hand. “So am I, sir.”

“How's your mother? I hope it wasn't anything serious.”

“She's fine, sir. Just a nasty bout of the flu. Thank you for asking.”

Mr. Gray made the other introductions then said, “Let's get started.”

Justin set up the projector and began. “In-home safety for the aging population has become an increasing concern. Many seniors are reluctant to move out of their own homes and want to maintain their privacy and dignity. This causes a high level of stress for both the parents and the caregivers. The SmartInHome Sensor System offers an easy way to keep elderly relatives in their homes as long as possible, even with memory issues.” Justin detailed the different sensors for doors, keys, thermostat, kitchen appliances, bathroom and pillboxes. “Discreet sensors are placed around the home and send real-time data directly to your smartphone from a wireless hub.”

“There are already a few of these systems on the market. I don't hear anything different about yours,” Brandon interrupted, seemingly bored by the entire presentation. In contrast, both older men listened with rapt attention.

“There are two very distinct and critical differences in my system. One, while the others can only give you the room temperature, mine goes a step further and allows you to track body temperature, as well. And two, because the data is routed through the hub, there's no monthly subscription cost.” He had even done a comparative cost analysis.

Brandon straightened in his seat. “Go on.”

Justin smiled inwardly. “I can show you better than I can tell you.” He had worked for twenty-four hours straight and finally got the temperatures to regulate. By Brandon's reaction, Justin was glad he'd solved the issue. He set up the demo, which had been calibrated for his body temperature, and placed sensors in the outer office. After instructing Brandon in its use, Justin went into the outer office, where he simulated several functions.

Upon his return, Mr. Whitcomb said, “I think I can speak for us all when I say this is one of the most innovative products I've seen in a long while.” All three men wore huge grins.

“Now, I don't know what other companies you're negotiating with, but I'm sure we can come up with something to make it worth your while to join the Gray Home Safety family,” Mr. Gray said.

Justin maintained his cool exterior demeanor, but inside he wanted to shout for joy. He listened as Brandon outlined some of the contract particulars. Justin clarified some key points regarding retaining design ownership. Although eager to partner, he didn't plan to hand over what he had worked so hard to build. Satisfied, he said, “I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to see me.”

Mr. Gray stood. “Thank you for coming. Could you wait a few moments while we discuss the compensation package?”

“Yes, sir.” Ms. Avery appeared as if on cue and escorted Justin into a waiting area stocked with coffee, tea and a variety of snacks.

Thirty minutes later, they came back with an offer far above what Justin had expected.

“Would you be able to provide us with an answer by next Wednesday?” Mr. Gray asked.

“Yes, sir.” He thanked them once again and took his leave. He didn't believe he would get a better offer, but had scheduled appointments with two other companies for the following Monday to explore all his options.

Out near the secretary's desk, he sent Siobhan a text. Less than two minutes later, she came toward him wearing a fitted black-and-tan blouse, a tan skirt that skimmed her curves and had a split in the front, and a pair of black pumps. It took everything in him not to throw her over his shoulder and find the nearest empty room. “Hey, baby.” He gave her a brief kiss.

Siobhan smiled, and excitement shimmered in her eyes. “How did it go?”

“It went pretty well, I think. We can talk about it at lunch.”

“I have a last-minute meeting in an hour, so it'll have to be quick. There's a café on the ground floor.”

“Works for me.” On the way out, Justin noticed Brandon had come out of his father's office and followed their departure with a narrowed gaze.

Over lunch he told Siobhan about the meeting.

“Did Brandon say anything?”

“He didn't seem too interested initially, until I mentioned the room and person temperature differentiation function and the no monthly cost.”

“I knew that would get him,” she said with a little laugh.

“I'll decide by next Wednesday. I want to weigh all my options.”

“Of course. If you do accept, we'll have to go out and celebrate—my treat.”

He had to tell her now. “Siobhan, I—”

“I have to go.” She slid out of the booth and gave him a quick kiss. “I'll talk to you later.”

He sighed inwardly. “Baby, I need to talk to you.”

“We can talk later.”

She opened her wallet, and he glared at her. “Weren't you leaving?”

“Fine.” She pointed a finger his way. “But I'm paying for your celebration dinner.” She spun on her heel and strode off.

* * *

As Justin had suspected, the offers from the other two companies didn't come close to the Grays'. Seeing no reason to wait, he called to accept the Grays' offer on Tuesday morning. He would go in on Friday morning to sign all the documents.

“Oh, my goodness! I'm so happy for you, baby,” Siobhan said when he called to tell her the good news. “Do you want to go out tonight or tomorrow night?”

“Siobhan, you don't need to make a fuss. It's not that big of a deal.”

“Are you kidding me? I don't know the details and I'm not asking, but the buzz going around has everyone here excited. So, yeah, it
is
a big deal. Let's try this again. Tonight or tomorrow?”

Justin really wanted to say neither, but he couldn't put off the conversation any longer. “Whatever is more convenient for you.”

“Tonight, then. I know the perfect place. I'll make reservations and call you back.”

It went against every grain of his manhood to allow a woman to pay, but he gritted his teeth and went along with her plans because it made her happy.

* * *

Siobhan hung up from Justin's phone call and did a little squeal. She was beyond excited for him and already envisioned some ideas for the marketing campaign. Turning to her computer, she googled the LA Prime restaurant in the Bonaventure Hotel, made a reservation for seven forty-five, then sent a text to Justin with the details. To save time, they agreed he would pick her up from the office at seven.

She was still smiling when Gordon marched into her office.

“What is all this?” he asked, waving a stack of papers.

“I have no idea. I haven't perfected the art of reading documents I can't see.”

Gordon slammed the papers on her desk.

She peeked over. “Oh, I see you received my email.”

“There is no reason to issue statements on all these...these internet sites,” he said tersely. “We've always sent press releases to the news and radio stations and newspapers
only
, and there's never been a problem with the public getting our information.”

Siobhan smiled sweetly. “Well, times and technology change, and we will change with them. You can either have those statements posted by noon as I asked, or you can explain to Brandon and my father why you think you're more qualified to make decisions about the company than they are.”

Gordon visibly blanched. “Why wasn't I informed about this?”

“Last time I checked, you weren't a department head,” she said mildly. “Is there anything else?”

He snatched up the papers and left in a huff.

She chuckled. Today, she wouldn't let anyone get under her skin. She had a man she was falling in love with, and they were celebrating the start of something great. Siobhan breezed through the rest of her day without incident. She laughed when she checked the company's Facebook and Twitter pages and saw her press releases. No doubt Gordon had to ask one of the younger technicians how to access them.

Leaving her desk, she made a trip to the bathroom to freshen up and reapply her makeup. By the time she returned, Justin had sent a text indicating he was in the lobby. No one had access to the upper floors without a badge after the offices had closed.

The moment she saw him, her pulse skipped. She threw her arms around him as soon as she was within reach and planted a kiss on him that left them both panting.

“Whoa, what a greeting,” Justin said with a huge grin. “How was your day?”

“Better now that I'm in your arms.”

He kissed her again. “Now, that's what a man likes to hear. Ready?”

Siobhan nodded.

“I'll bring you back to your car after dinner, then follow you home.”

“I'm counting on it,” she said with a sultry wink.

“You're about to get yourself in trouble. Keep talking like that, and I'm going to skip dinner and go straight for dessert. And you know how much I love dessert,” he whispered close to her ear.

A shiver passed through her, and her nipples tightened beneath her blouse. “I think we'd better leave.”

Justin laughed. “Hey, you started it. I'm just letting you know I'm willing and more than able to finish it.”

She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the parking garage.

He navigated the streets and made it to the hotel with ten minutes to spare. He left the car with the valet and escorted her up to the thirty-fifth floor, where they were seated near a window with a panoramic view of the city.

“How's your mom doing?” Siobhan asked.

“She's doing well. The ear infection is gone, and she's back to her old self.”

“I'm glad to hear it.”

“Me, too. Siobhan,” Justin started.

“I already know what you're going to say. It's too expensive, and you don't want me to pay. We already had this conversation, and I'm not budging. You can pay for everything else from now on, but tonight, it's not happening, so relax and enjoy yourself. Didn't you tell me you had no problems sharing control?”

He opened his mouth, closed it again and shook his head. “That's not what I was talking about, and you know it.”

“Mmm-hmm, but you said it and you weren't specific, so...” She let the sentence hang.

A slow smile started on his lips. “I see why you're the PR director.”

Siobhan laughed and started humming the old Chaka Khan song “I'm Every Woman.”

Justin joined in her laughter.

“So, have your feet touched the ground yet?”

“They never left. I'll admit that I think this will be a great product and do well in the market, but my main concern is the lives that will be saved because of it, and not so much the money.”

Reason number twenty-five why I love this man.
“What inspired you to do it?”

“When my grand—” He stopped midsentence and pulled out his cell. He frowned. “Can you excuse me just a minute? It's my dad.”

“Of course. I hope everything is all right.”

“Be back in a minute.” He stood and walked to the front of the restaurant.

She opened the menu and studied the selections.

“Siobhan?”

Her head came up at the sound of an unfamiliar masculine voice. “Oh, hi, Bobby.” Siobhan smiled. “It's been a long time. How's the wine business?”

Bobby leaned down and kissed her cheek. “It's good. I just flew in last night because I have a business dinner here. I see you and Justin connected.”

“You know Justin?”

“We've been best friends since college. What do you think of his alert system?”

“It's fantastic, and I'm glad we'll be working together,” she said warily. How did he know about the partnership? It hadn't been made public.

“I told him you were the best PR director in the business.”

“You did? When?”

“At that safety banquet a few weeks back.”

Dread uncoiled in Siobhan's belly. “You were there?”

“Yes, but I had to leave early.” Bobby chuckled. “I guess Justin didn't need my help getting an introduction after all.”

“Help?”

He nodded. “He had studied up on the best companies, and yours topped his list, so I got him an invitation to the fund-raiser. I'm glad he had a chance to talk to you guys.”

The breath whooshed out of Siobhan as if she'd been sucker punched in the gut. It was all a lie. A fleeting memory crossed her mind of Justin saying she looked familiar. Had he known who she was the entire time? She glanced up to see Justin headed back to the table with a look of panic on his face. Tears filled her eyes. She shoved the chair back and came to her feet. “Can you excuse me, Bobby?”

“Ah, sure,” he answered with confusion. “Is something wrong?”

“Ask your friend.” She met Justin halfway, and he placed a hand on her arm to stop her. “Don't touch me,” she gritted out and brushed past him.

Justin released her, held up his hands and followed. “Siobhan, please wait and let me explain.”