Threads Of Desire (Creative Hearts Book 3) (7 page)

Gabby felt her lip twist, and she let out a snort. Nick seemed to bring out the best in her etiquette.

He looked from his iPad and back to her. “All right, so what did I do now?”

“Nothing. You are you, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”

Nick smiled that wicked smile that Gabby knew, if she weren’t careful, would do more than curl her toes. “And you insult me very prettily, Ms. Russell.”

She lowered her eyes before looking back at him. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to insult you. It’s just that you make it sound so cut and dry. Like a business deal. What does Claire have to say about things or does that even matter?”

He let out a slow breath and shook his head, then flipped his wrist sharply, checking his watch. She studied him as he grimaced slightly, his bottom lip curling in frustration. “It matters.” His voice started coming out in a fast-paced rush. “But I misjudged Claire, and that part’s on me. I want to get things cleared up as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Claire made her decision when she carnally intertwined with her yoga teacher.” He tapped on his screen a few times, shutting it down, and looked up at her. “This is not about being cold or heartless, but it is about business, and today is Monday morning so I’ve gotta get down to it.”

“Huh?” Gabby asked. He talked so fast and the words were so smooth that if Gabby didn’t know him, she’d almost believe he didn’t care.

He gave her a grin. “Really, a ‘huh’? It’s not very often that you’re left speechless, Ms. Russell.”

Gabby took a long gulp of her coffee and shrugged, throwing up her hands. “You know what? It’s none of my business. I’m glad you’re good. I’d better get ready to hit the road too.”

He went to the sink, and she watched as he carefully washed both of their dishes and put them neatly in the drying rack. He then gave her a look that had her gulping down the rest of her coffee and then he held out his hand to take her cup from her. She handed it over, careful to not brush her hand against his. The morning had already had enough familiarly to send her reeling. She feared a brush of his hand might send her into overload.

He washed her mug—it was the one that said, “Designers thread it all together”—and she couldn’t help but glimpse the way his hands looked as they carefully glided over the rim of the mug. All slow and methodical and soapy. She pushed away from the counter.

“I’d better get ready.” Damn. Was that 
her
 voice all dry and croaky?

They ended up meeting back at the front door and awkwardly walked out of the building together. Gabby tried hard to push the odd hominess of the morning aside. She’d tangled with Nick before and had the scars on her heart to prove it. She didn’t need that type of pain again.

“Wow. It’s even hotter today than it was yesterday.” Nick’s voice was deep and mellow from over her head. It was also, she noticed, all easiness, reminding her this anxiety she was feeling was indeed all in her head.

“That it is. They say we’re due for a heat wave.” The morning was overcast but she could see the sun fighting to peek through the clouds. She looked up at him. “Is this the usual time you’ll be leaving in the morning?”

“Is that a problem?”

Of course it was. She wanted her space, not some reminder of her lack of anything but. “No, not at all. I just was wondering if we should come up with some sort of schedule.”

He looked down at her, all coolness in his dark unreadable eyes. “Well, it looks like we timed things perfectly today.”

Gabby looked down the street and spied a business-ready couple: the woman straightened the man’s tie and gave him a quick kiss as he caressed her backside through her pencil skirt and they headed off toward the train station. Gabby stared at the couple. “Yeah, it would seem we did,” she mumbled.

“Are you going toward the subway?”

She blinked, shifted her eyes, and looked at him. “No. You go ahead. I like to take the bus. It’s less crowded and more scenic.”

He seemed to recoil at that. “Are you nuts? The train is so much faster.”

Gabby smiled and patted his chest, all friendly. Still she couldn’t help but be surprised once again at the feel of his hard, unyielding flesh underneath her fingertips. She pulled her hand back. “That is so you, Nick. Always in a rush. You hurry off and assess some risk.” She gave him a wink. “Have a good day, dear.”

• • •

Nick watched her turn on her heel and go. He let himself look at her for a total of five seconds before he booked it to the subway station. On the way downtown, he replayed those five seconds no less than fifty times over in his head. That, mingled with her tub scene, plus the way she’d danced with him over the weekend, and even the way she looked just sipping her damned coffee. It all made for a pretty fast ride. The whole time he hardly thought of the Claire situation or the fact that he had to get on his new apartment hunt or the new retail mergers he’d read about in the papers today. His head was just chock full of 
her
. Just as it had always been. His beautiful, luscious distraction.

But all distractions were put aside the moment he walked into his office. He was five minutes later than usual, and as it turned out, five seconds of watching a woman walk away meant a lot when your boss, who happened to be your ex’s father, was waiting on you. Nick had barely made it to his office when his assistant, Lea, took his bag, handed him and cup of coffee and a file, and told him that Bill Elliot was ready for him.

An invisible stone dropped in his belly and Nick inwardly grimaced as the scene with Claire rushed back to his mind. How easily she’d intertwined so intimately with another lover and then how easily she’d dismissed it. The fact that she expected 
him
 to so easily dismiss it, still sent him reeling. It was as if she didn’t know him at all. Maybe she didn’t. How much of his authentic self had he really shared with her in the few months they’d been together? What did she know of his values and what he expected from a relationship? After he’d retrieved his things from their apartment, he’d left his key by the door, along with a check for another month’s rent and texted her to let her know. Despite what Gabby said this morning, Claire had taken it all in stride, sending him a text back saying thank you and that she hoped he’d see the light and be back soon. She seemed to think he just needed a good cooling off and he’d be back and ready to fall in line. That her veiled threat about her influence over her father would have him falling at her feet ready to do her bidding. He felt his jaw tighten. Honestly, for someone, she really was the perfect woman. Most men would welcome the occasional threesome with two hot women. If word got out he could lose his guy card, but he just couldn’t do it. After her stunt, he knew that bending to Claire, though on paper looked like a perfect partnership would mean him losing out in the end. He may bend now but in time he’d be broken.

Nick let out a breath. But now it was time to face this perfect woman’s father.

Bill’s secretary announced him before he walked in, and Nick instantly perked up, letting his fight or flight instinct take over. He paused, straightening his collar and putting his game face in check. He didn’t know how much Claire had told her father, if anything, so he’d have to take his cues from Bill to see how to spin things. There was no way he could tarnish Bill’s sweet little girl’s image and come out a winner.

“Good morning, sir.”

Bill Elliot turned around from his two-sided view of lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. The sight never failed to leave Nick momentarily breathless. “How many times have I told you to call me Bill?”

“Sorry, Bill. Just giving respect, sir. It’s a habit.”

Bill grinned. “That’s what I like about you. None of that bullshit entitlement that you see from so many young people coming into the workforce nowadays. Come on in, Nick, and have a seat.”

Nick walked into the modern office and took a seat at the small seating area that Bill gestured toward.

Bill offered him coffee. “No thanks, sir,” he replied and got a look in return. Nick smiled as Bill took a seat and cleared his throat. He knew by that throat clearing it was time for business.

“So, this file?” Nick placed it on the coffee table and flipped it open. He had a feeling that what he’d read online over breakfast would spell work for him. Sutton Industries had been a longtime client of the firm, and their fashion and textile business had been struggling for a while. Now, with Bakers and Acrons, two of the biggest retailers, lowering their profit margins, they couldn’t compete. The Sutton family wanted to close their freestanding stores and go exclusively online—something Nick understood, but didn’t know if they had the customer base to be successful.

“Yes. That file,” Bill said.

“I saw the news about Sutton and its new online push. Is there something else I should know? Are they looking to change their minds? Because I’m not entirely sure about the move but didn’t know they were open for talks,” Nick said.

Bill smiled pensively. “I’m glad you are already up to speed. I knew you would be. What you should know is that the older brothers are fighting. Pierce wants to sell out entirely, while his brother wants to go exclusively online and get out of textile manufacturing, cut some lines, and focus only on the big fashion sellers mainly in the women’s market. The grandmother…well, she’s torn. She’s not quite ready to let go of the business 
or
 do the online deal. It’s an old company that has been leaking money, frankly. But I like Roselyn Sutton; I consider her a family friend. Her son was a good friend of mine before he passed away, and I promised her that I would look out for her best interests. I’m trusting you to study this carefully.”

Nick nodded. He hadn’t known about the family’s personal connection to Bill. This meant he had to really get this one right. Nick racked his brain for what else he knew about Sutton Industries. “There are other siblings involved as well, right?”

Bill nodded. “Two younger Suttons, a boy and a girl, but they aren’t as involved with board business. They’ll vote as their grandmother tells them.” He sighed. “Truthfully, though, I’m wary of Pierce. He’s essentially a good guy, but just a little impulsive, a little wilder than Avery. If they sell out, I worry he’ll run off with the money and lose much of the family’s assets in some wild scheme.”

Nick thought of the differences between him and his own brother. Though to some it seemed obvious, at times, it was hard to tell who was the real risk taker of the two.

“So just where do I come in? How do you want me to come at this?”

“I want you to look at this from all angles, though I know you’ll do that. See how you can make everyone happy and of course make the firm come out well in the end.”

Nick studied the file a bit and frowned. The numbers were bad. He hated to tell Bill but at first glance, he agreed with Pierce Sutton. Selling out, even at a loss, seemed like the best option. But that probably wouldn’t please Mrs. Sutton, and if she pulled her business, it’d be a big blow to the firm. Even with their struggles, the Suttons were one of their biggest clients.

“Nick, I want to make it clear that Roselyn Sutton’s happiness is important to me, but as always, the bottom line for the company has to be our top priority.” Bill’s kind eyes went to ice, mirroring the coldness Nick had seen in Claire the other day. “Friends are one thing, but business is another entirely. You do what you have to do.”

Nick cleared his throat. “Of course, sir. I always do.”

Bill gave him a smile that was more a baring of his teeth than anything else. He then clapped his hands together, signaling the end of the conversation and the meeting. Nick was beginning to rise, when Bill’s voice stopped him. “Speaking of family, I spoke with Claire last night.”

Damn, so close. The older man’s eyes were still doing that cold shark thing he did when he was in negotiations. Nick knew he couldn’t show fear. One drop of blood in the water and he was sunk. But then Bill blinked, eyes going soft as he took in Nick’s own solemn expression. “Oh, don’t worry, my boy! Buck up. You gave it your best, and who knows, she may yet still come around.” Bill leaned in. “As a matter of fact, I’m counting on you to bring her around.” Bill’s eyes narrowed again and Nick fought the urge to swallow. Fuck.

Nick didn’t know what to say and inwardly chided himself on not finding out how Claire really had spun things with her father.

“I don’t know if I can do that, si—” He stopped. “You know your daughter. She is quite strong willed.” There, that was vague enough.

Bill twirled a pen between his palms, then let out a sigh. “This is true, Nick, but if anyone is up for the job, it’s you. Whatever has happened, I assure you it has not clouded my opinion of you.”

Oh hell. What had Claire said about him?

“Cloud? Why should it?”

Bill grinned. “It won’t. I’m sure you and Claire will work out. You know, I still see you as the future of this firm, and I’d hate for you to get distracted. I let my daughter know that business is business, and she can’t go and take my star player out of the game.”

Nick pushed back a frown. So she’d called her daddy and put his job on the line? Just what he needed—and probably what he deserved for screwing where he ate. Well, let her play her games. He’d deal with the rest later. “Yes, si- Bill. I’ll get right on the Sutton case.”

“Good,” Bill responded, and Nick turned to head for the door. “Oh and Nick? Better get that watch checked out. Seems like it’s running about five minutes slow.”