The Henson Brothers: Two Complete Novels (42 page)

"It's part of my job."

He wanted to laugh. Now how was she going to explain this expenditure as a necessity? He leaned back in his chair instead. "Explain this to me. I can't seem to make the connection."

She spoke slowly. "I can't sell my merchandise if I look unkempt. I sell a fantasy and I have to look the part."

"At these prices you'll have to sell a lot more than a fantasy. You spend over a hundred dollars every visit and you go twice a month."

She ignored the implication. "Going to the spa relaxes me."

"Find a hobby."

"It is a hobby."

"I thought your hobby was club hopping."

She narrowed her eyes at his tone. "That's under entertainment."

"Isn't that Keith's role?"

"That's none of your business." Her voice was ice.

Eric shook his head, pushing his glasses to the bridge of his nose. He knew he was treading on dangerous territory, but he liked the feeling. A part of him liked the whisper of warning that came with risk. He didn't care if she got angry as long as he made his point. "You have spent nearly three thousand dollars on him. That is my business."

"Don't make it sound so vulgar," she snapped. "He's an artist and needs supplies."

He rested his chin in his hand and studied the list of supplies for a moment. He looked up at her and raised one eyebrow, softly mocking. "Seventy-five dollars for one brush?"

"It's of excellent quality. Haven't you ever wondered why paintings are so expensive?" She glanced around his bare walls. "No, I guess you don't. The fact is Keith is really very good and once he's made his big break he'll pay me back."

"His big break," Eric murmured. He shut his eyes for a moment. Adriana was more naive than he thought. He hated Keith's ability to capitalize on that. She was flighty and vexing, but she was kind and he would not let her get used.

He softened his tone, trying to sound indulgent. "Has he displayed his work?"

"Yes." For the first time that afternoon, she actually smiled at him, excited by his interest. "Actually, I'm wearing one of his prints now. Would you like to see it?"

He nodded. Inside, his gut clenched. He hoped Keith showed some marketable talent.

She opened her shimmering jacket, displaying a black dress shirt with splatters of red, yellow, and pink—like one would find on a baby's bib—accentuated by white dots.

He squinted at the design. "What is that supposed to be?"

"It's not supposed to be anything. Keith says it's just a conveyance of emotion. Anger versus despair versus hope."

Eric lost his patience."Why don't you get him a paint-by-numbers set and invest in him when he learns how to draw?"

Adriana glared at him. She shoved the buffer in her handbag and stood. "Thank you for your advice," she said stiffly.

He silently swore. He had pushed her too far. "Sit down, Adriana," he said. "I'm not finished."

"Yes, you are." She rested her hands on his desk and leaned forward. "All you've done is waste my time and insult me. I'm not a complete half-wit although you have done your best to make me think so. You've insulted my lifestyle, my job—"

"I never made fun of your job."

"No, you just smirked. My lingerie boutiques are excellently run and very profitable."

He nodded. "Yes, I agree you make a handsome income."

There it was again, that arrogant, condescending tone that showed his surprise at her fortitude. She'd had enough of him, his unreadable dark eyes and cool, mocking voice. She had made a mistake, but she would not make it again. She turned on her heel and headed for the door.

Eric was there before she could open it. She gaped up at him, surprised. For his placid, calculating ways she hadn't expected him to be so swift or so large. His size always came as a shock. One wouldn't expect a mathematical robot to tower over six feet with a powerful, intimidating presence. She looked at his pressed shirt, amazed at how it clung to his wide frame. While not overly muscular he was anything but scrawny and moved with a sinewy, catlike grace. He leaned against the door looking mildly regretful. "I apologize."

She shrugged, mollified by his apology. "What for? It was my mistake for coming here."

"No, it wasn't. It was bold of you to come and I haven't made it easy for you." He stared at the floor. A tiny frown formed between his brows. He was trying to be gentle. She found the attempt endearing. The soft whisper of a Jamaican lilt accented his words. "Talking about money is always difficult. It represents much more than our financial status; it reflects our habits, our personalities, our fears, our goals... It takes a lot for my clients to be as honest with their spending as you have been. People feel more comfortable talking about their sex lives than debt."

"Would you rather talk about sex?"

His eyes captured hers. "Are you offering?"

Her heart began beating an odd rhythm. He was quick for a nerd. "No."

He pushed himself from the door and took her arm. The grip was loose, but she knew escape was impossible. "Sit down. Let's see if we can come to an agreement."

Adriana sat and stared at him in wonder.

"What?"

She rested back, impressed. "You're very good."

He frowned.

"I was prepared to storm out of here, bristling with indignation, and somehow you convinced me to stay. Amazing."

"It's because you realized—"

"No, you're just very good at reading people." She tilted her head to the side, trying to read his dark eyes. "Pull any cons when you were a kid?"

He gathered some receipts. "About the spa—"

She sighed. Why did she even try with him? "I like to go," she cut in. "I like being pampered." She looked at him. The poor man was trying, but he still didn't understand. Before he could argue she said, "Isn't there something you like to do? Something that relaxes you and makes you feel so good that you couldn't imagine life without it because it's part of who you are?"

His dark eyes flickered with genuine amusement. He nodded. "Good argument. Okay, once a month."

She let out a breath in relief, then frowned. What hobby couldn't he do without? She couldn't even picture him with a hobby. What would he find entertaining?
Business Week,
CNN, a scientific calculator? She knew it was no use asking him. What he didn't offer he wasn't willing to share.

He wrote something down on a Post-it. "Let's see what other adjustments we can make to this budget."

The phone rang. Eric glanced at his watch and answered. "Henson."

Adriana watched in amazement as his face softened. Not into a smile, but something close. She knew at once who was on the line: her best friend, Cassie.

"Thank you. Yes, I got them." He nodded and glanced at her. "Yes, she's still here. Would you like to speak with her?" He nodded again, then handed her the phone. "It's Cassie."

"Hi," she said as she watched Eric discreetly leave the room. Once he closed the door she asked, "How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Get the statue to soften."

Cassie sighed. "How many times do I have to tell you that your opinion of him is all wrong?"

"Until I believe you, I suppose."

"He is one of the sweetest, most gentle men I know."

She reached for the Post-it note he had written, but his handwriting was too illegible to read. "You're just biased because he's your brother-in-law."

"If he's so horrible, why did you ask for his help?"

She pushed the pad away and toyed with his pens. "I didn't ask for his help, he offered and I accepted out of desperation. Believe it or not I would really like to get my finances in order."

"Well, Eric can definitely help you do that."

"So why did you call?"

Cassie hesitated. "He didn't tell you?"

Adriana straightened. "Tell me what?"

"I guess it's his business. He doesn't have to share if he doesn't want to."

"Share what?"

Cassie sounded annoyed with herself. "Never mind, it's not important. I'll call you tomorrow to find out how everything went."

"Cassie, are you going to let me die of curiosity?"

"You won't die. Besides, you'll figure it out soon enough."

"Cassie—" she began, but her friend hung up.

Eric came into the room soon after. Adriana briefly wondered if he had been listening by the door, but quickly remembered he wasn't the type.

She watched him walk to his desk, her mind brimming with curiosity. What was Cassie talking about? What wouldn't he want to share? There didn't seem to be anything different about him. "Are you feeling well?" she asked.

"I'm fine, thank you." It was a nice polite response that offered her nothing. She pushed her curiosity aside. Why Cassie had called him was none of her business. It was probably something dull anyway.

After another half hour of debating, they finally settled on a budget.

"It's going to be difficult at first," Eric said as he handed her the final plan. "But the end reward will be worth it."

Adriana folded it and pushed it in her handbag. She hated it already. She felt as if the fun and freedom that were an integral part of her life had been taken from her. Eric wouldn't understand. He wasn't the sort to indulge in simple pleasures. Unfortunately, he was to be her saving grace. She had come to him for help and she would do what was necessary to get out of debt. It was difficult to fly on the wings of fun and freedom with debt chained to your ankle.

"Thank you." Her voice came out muffled.

"Sometimes the word
'
budget
'
scares people."

Or makes them ill.

"Try to think of it as a spending plan. It is not set in stone and is flexible for your needs. It's just a guide to help you achieve your goals. For example, money for your parents' care."

She had given him that financial goal just to impress him. She knew that if she had told him the truth he would have scoffed at her.

He rested his arms on the desk and clasped his hands. "However, we still have one thing we need to address."

Oh no.
"What?"

"I want you to write down everything you spend for an entire week."

"No."

"Either that or only use a checkbook."

No plastic? "Why?"

"Because even though you gave me a detailed list of your expenditures I know that money is running through your fingers. We need to know where it is going."

She swung her foot, annoyed. "You don't need to put it like that."

"I find honesty very helpful. You're an impulsive shopper."

"I like to shop. I wouldn't call it impulsive."

"You could make shopping an Olympic sport."

She grinned bitterly. "Thank you. I always go for the gold."

"You would have a lot more in your savings or more to invest if you would use only cash in stores and wait a day before you purchase something that catches your eye. Especially sales."

Time out. He'd overstepped the line. Sales restrictions were off-limits. "You've helped me with my budget. I don't need any more of your advice."

"If you buy it on sale and you don't need it, it's not a bargain."

Adriana tapped her foot and blinked.

Eric leaned forward, his voice lowering to a coaxing tone. It had an unsettling effect on her. Only he could get excited over money like this. "Give me just a thousand to invest for you and I can show you how it will grow."

She grabbed her bag, ready to leave. "No, thank you."

"Listen, Adriana—"

He stopped when the door flew open. A young woman dressed in a dark winter coat with hood and blue knit scarf entered the room.

"Are you Eric Henson?" she asked in a high New York accent.

His reply was flat. "As it says on the door. Why?"

"Because I've got a message for you." She turned to Adriana. "Don't worry, this won't take long." She pulled a music player from inside her jacket and place it on the desk. Suddenly, raw, raunchy strip music filled the tense air. A light flashed; the woman's clothes dropped to the floor. She began dancing in front of Eric, dressed in a red, sequined bikini that glittered and shook with each gyrating motion.

Adriana managed to pull her eyes away from the display to stare at Eric. Her mood went from shock to amusement to dismay. The poor woman was wasting her time. Eric wasn't even impressed. He rested his elbow on the desk and watched her with the same interest as a scientist observing a research participant. Even as the woman wrapped a scarf around his neck and let her blond hair cascade around him he didn't even flinch.

Her dismay turned to disgust. Wouldn't he even smile at her? Cool the stone in his gaze or soften that hard mask on his face? He was completely inhuman. Any healthy male would at least show some interest in a beautiful woman dancing solely for his pleasure. Even she, as a female, was amazed by the woman's shapely form and awe-inspiring moves. She glanced at his granite profile, waiting for even the barest of emotions.

She was about to look away when he turned and winked at her. Adriana gasped, the soft sound drowned out by the music. In that one fleeting moment she knew that he was very male and could be very dangerous to any woman who underestimated him.

She pushed the thought away. Her flare for the dramatic was taking over her common sense. Eric was a dull, ordinary intellectual. She must have imagined his wink. She stared at him again. His impassive mask was firmly in place, confirming her suspicions.

When the music stopped, the woman kissed him, leaving bright red lipstick on his cheek. "Happy birthday," she whispered. She gathered her clothes and left.

Adriana stared at the closed door, then said, "I guess we all splurge once in a while."

He wiped his cheek and frowned at the red smudge on his fingers. "I didn't pay for that." He grabbed some tissues and wiped his hand. "My sister will, however."

"Jackie sent her?" She turned to him and laughed.

He began to clear up his desk.

"So today's your birthday, huh? How old are you?" She held up a hand. "No, wait, let me guess. You're not a day over a hundred and four."

He disappeared behind the desk. "A hundred and ten." He peeked at her, his serious eyes teasing. "The lack of gray tends to fool people."