Vivid Temptation (Touched By You) (7 page)

“Not at first. I mean, I think he was but couldn’t make the commitment.”

“Why not?”

“In short, the fear he won’t be a good father.”

“Huh. He’d be a great father.”

“So I told him, but he didn’t have such a smooth childhood. That’s putting it mildly. I guess he fears what he experienced in his formative years, especially when he was very young, will affect how he behaves as a father.”

“Hmm, you think so?”

“Not really, but I can understand how he would feel that way. But we talked about it, and have decided we’re ready. I can’t get pregnant immediately because I just stopped the birth control. I’ll have to give it a little time. But it’s exciting.”

“Yes, very. I could be Aunt Cheryl.”

“You will be. Why didn’t you ever have children?”

“Good question. I guess when I was younger my career came first. And then later, I never met the right guy. I was always traveling, so I couldn’t imagine having children. What kind of lifestyle would that be? Now I’m with Dani, but I’m past the age where I want to mother children. I do love them, though. I’m sure I’ll spoil yours to death.”

“Yes, no doubt about that. Any idea when that meeting will be over? We can get in some more shopping before we meet them for drinks and dinner.”

“Not sure. Dani said he’d call when they got done. Have you seen this guy they are meeting?”

“No, never met him. Neither has Tanner, not in person, anyway.”

“Do you know he just turned twenty?”

“So young.”

“Yes, I guess the younger set catches on to technology fast. Seems he’s been all over social media since he was in high school. Dani looked into him and his background before moving forward with this meeting. And I saw pictures of him. The guy is a hunk.”

“
What’s he look like?”

“Short brown hair, sexy caramel-colored eyes, muscled, tattooed…and young.” Cheryl winked.
“A real heartthrob.”

“Wow, sounds like it.
And talented too.” Natalie pondered the description of Sean Reid. “Probably better I didn’t meet the guy.”

“Why? I wouldn’t mind getting up close.” Cheryl grinned.

“Jealousy, you know. Tanner’s been pretty chilled lately, but I never know. He has a short fuse sometimes. We had a couple of blowups over Gianni Rinaldi.”

“Something happened?”

“No, that’s just it. Nothing happened. But real or imagined, my gorgeous husband has a jealous streak.”

“Point well taken.
So, where do you want to go next?”

Sean Reid’s office was in the financial district. The door said
Reid Consultants
, a deceptively simple company name. The team he hired was top-notch, and Reid himself was the best. If one didn’t know what his company did or the value of his services, a fancy company name wasn’t going to help. His high-priced consultation was sought after by those who were familiar with his reputation and knew what he had to offer.

Reid Consultants housed an entire floor of a six-sided granite and stone tower on Essex Street. The office space was open and airy, with light blue walls and cream-colored flooring. The exterior walls were all windows, and the carpeted areas were wildly patterned with varying shades of gray and royal blue. Some of the executives had treadmills in their offices so they could exercise while working or in between meetings.

The conference room was furnished comfortably with off-white leather chairs, padded for comfort. The main work area was composed of cubicles with low divider walls so the entire workforce could be seen at a glance. Top-of-the-line computers were on every desk, and the vibrant energy of the place couldn’t be missed.

One of the secretaries, a tall blonde with an edgy haircut and colorfully framed glasses, escorted them to the room and offered coffee, water, soda, or anything else they desired. Once they were settled she let them know the company owner would be with them shortly. Tanner eyed the high-quality presentation screen, a glass-beaded fabric surface in a steel shell, and the shiny laptops easily accessible around the room.

“Good setup.”

Dani
nodded. “I’d have to agree. Let’s see what this guy’s like.”

At that moment, the glass door opened. Both Tanner and
Dani had worn designer business suits complete with tie. The owner of the company wore a white shirt open at the neck, with a thin gray V-necked sweater under a darker gray blazer, with designer blue jeans. His choice in business attire evoked a young image, casual and friendly.

Yet coming to an important meeting dressed as he wished said in an instant that he was confident and in control. It was his office after all. Though it appeared from his attitude he would do so, no matter whose office it was. He had short-cropped brown hair, but if he had tattoos such as
Dani had seen in photos they were hidden under his comfortable clothes.

“Sean Reid,” he said in a strong, deep voice, giving the impression that he wasn’t to be messed with, while at the same time welcoming his guests.

Introductions were completed and their host indicated they should sit where they wished. Clearly, the tone of the meeting was relaxed. Yet once Sean began to talk, his competence was obvious. His reputation possibly understated his true brilliance.

Sipping a bottle of expensive mineral water, Sean said, “A successful social media campaign doesn’t happen by chance. Factors that are important include the quality of your content, frequency of posts, engaging your audience. But what you don’t know…” He leaned forward before continuing.

“At every turn, new social networking platforms pop up. It can be hard to know where to invest your time and resources. Where is networking going? How can you get on board? And most of all, how can you dominate?”

“We have a competent team, but it takes more than that to get the edge. We are here to find out what you can tell us that the others can’t,” Tanner said.

“Yes, of course you are. And your new social media business is in a strategic position. For all businesses, social media is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. Which puts your service in high demand. But only
if
you can deliver and deliver in such as way as to prove you are well ahead of the competition.”

“Exactly,”
Dani said. “And we are prepared to invest the money and resources to that end, if you can show us how to do that effectively.”

The meaning of the comment was not lost on Sean; the businessmen sitting in front of him had the wherewithal to make their words true. They could invest what was required, given
that they had assurance of results. He nodded, his look all business, to let his elite clients know he took them seriously. “I intend to show you that right now.”

Sean went to the screen on the wall. Clicking a remote, he began showing them graphics, surveys, and statistics, to back up what he was saying. “As it has been, social media tasks have been assigned to existing employees in companies at large. This is no longer viable. Expecting an employee, not an expert in the field, to produce results in a competitive endeavor like social media is ineffective at best, foolhardy at worst.

“Businesses are moving away from that, and hiring social media strategists or full-time social media managers. If you want to improve customer loyalty and trust while increasing brand recognition, here is how you do it.” He clicked from screen to screen, narrating the presentation.

Both Tanner and
Dani listened to every word, intrigued with the man’s knowledgeable approach to the ever evolving subject of social media. But more than that, they could see he had a unique view of media as a whole, along with brilliant ideas that had been proven to get results. The enthusiasm he exhibited and awareness of what a younger market wanted were additional points in his favor.

At the end of the meeting, there was no question that his consulting services were required. Contracts would be reviewed and details refined, but the deal was done. Sean Reid would consult for their growing social media endeavor and be paid handsomely for it. The gentlemen shook hands and committed to reviewing the agreement without delay; the conference was over. It had taken several hours, start to finish. Yet the presentation was delivered in such a sharp, direct manner that the meeting never dragged.

Haru served modern Japanese cuisine, and after the day’s activities sounded like a relaxing place to enjoy something different. It had a beautiful Japanese garden and elegant sushi bar. Asian-inspired artwork, custom pieces from local artists, adorned the walls. The entry had a black silk kimono with a white orchid pattern hung on the wall like a lovely tapestry. A table with delicate white flowers was positioned below a chandelier made of blown-glass globes.

The atmosphere was traditional Japanese with a modern touch. Each private dining room was closed off with a shoji, a sliding door consisting of translucent
washi paper over a wooden frame. The doors used in homes, as well as restaurants, were designed to conserve space and used in lieu of a swinging door.

They sat at the sushi bar and ordered a variety of items:
miso black cod, seaweed salad, tempura shrimp, and sushi. Natalie particularly liked the spicy crunchy tuna rolls. Sharing bites from each other’s dishes was too tempting to pass up. Everything was delicious. The others had sake, but being reticent about anything that strong, Natalie chose Kirin Ichiban, one of Japan’s bestselling beers. It was smooth with no bitter aftertaste and went down easily.

At the end of the evening,
Dani and Cheryl went to a club for another drink. Tanner took Natalie back to the room, wanting to be alone with her. She hugged her friends before leaving, hoping to see them in New York soon. In the back of their limo, Tanner held Natalie’s hand, desire in his blue eyes.

Although it was impossible to get pregnant so soon, Natalie still thought about it and making love with her sexy husband took on a new blush. They were no longer practicing, but doing it for real. She liked that and tingled, thinking of having him alone in the room.

*****

The next morning, Tanner took her to Faneuil Marketplace in downtown Boston only steps from the waterfront. The cobblestone promenades were filled with music and performances by world-renowned street entertainers. Jugglers, guitar players, circus-like acts, and even a contortionist were a few of the outdoor shows. Despite the purchases Natalie had made the day
before, she bought a suit at Ann Taylor when Tanner liked it and insisted she get it. The outfit was a white suit with a short jacket and sheer black blouse, with lace accents worn underneath. It was tasteful, yet sensual and sophisticated.

There was so much more they could have done in Boston, especially if the weather had been nice. But only a short trip had been planned. Cheryl and
Dani booked for the week at the hotel, but Natalie and Tanner left after a late lunch at an upscale eatery called Anthem Kitchen. They sat at a table by the window with a view to the street filled with shops.

“So, your meeting went well?” Natalie hadn’t brought the subject up until now, but was curious.

“Yes, very. And I assume you and Cheryl got along.” Tanner’s eyes sparkled.

“We could have shopped there for days. That place is huge.”

“I would have liked to sightsee more but I have to get back. It’s really not a long drive. We could come back in the spring and make it a longer trip.”

“That would be wonderful. I’d like that.”

“I have some other news, though. My agent in Paris emailed that Gabriella got married. I guess it was a big deal in high society over there,” Tanner said, then took a bite of his sandwich.

“To Pierre
Clarins?”

“Yes. I guess fine watches suit her.” Tanner took a sip of his beer. “And it might be a good thing. She can pester her wealthy husband, and leave me alone.”

“Yes, any distraction is good.”

“And remember the donation we made to the foundation at Christmas?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Well, it worked out well. All the children in the facilities got presents and had a holiday meal. And now the remainder is going into a new program for mothers who want to adopt but
can’t afford to. They can get help with expenses, such as food, medical, and clothing. It should facilitate more adoptions.”

Since Jazzy and Ellis adopted, the idea of assisting more children to get homes had become a new goal for Tanner. “That will mean so much,” Natalie said, “and Emma is expanding her church group. I’ve lost track of how many women are sewing clothes now, but it’s growing by the week. Who knew something like that would be so popular?”

“Emma has been an inspiration.”

“And I heard from Doctor Gene just before we left. I meant to tell you. She is responding to the change in medication and diet. Her condition has stabilized, and he told me there is no reason my mother can’t look forward to a long, productive life. Can you believe that?”

“Excellent news. If she needs anything at all, don’t hesitate.”

Natalie thought of all her husband had done for her family, Emma especially, since she’d met him. Sometimes he just didn’t realize his own goodness. Their baby was going to be very lucky to have Tanner for a father, whether he knew it yet or not.