by Crespo, Nina
“Thanks. I’ll run it by T.J. I hope she goes for it.”
After conferring with Tirra J, the bodyguard gave him the nod that they were going through with the ruse. Rome contacted Xander to fill him in on what was happening.
A few minutes later, Tirra J walked out of the box with her bodyguard and another woman. The bodyguard escorted them to the brunettes’ table.
The Tirra J fans appeared momentarily dazed in shock before huge grins covered their faces. They made room for Tirra J and her friend to sit with them in the booth.
Despite feeling ill, Tirra J talked, smiled, handed out autographs, and took selfies with them. A few minutes later, she stood. As she waved goodbye, she turned as if heading back to the box. Her fake twisted ankle performance was worthy of an Academy Award.
The concerned women in the booth made room for her to sit down so the bodyguard could take off her shoe and check her ankle. Meanwhile, Tirra J’s friends and her fans fussed over her, and she feigned embarrassment.
Word spread about her sprained ankle. A few people cracked insensitive jokes, but most, especially the women in the VIP area, were sympathetic to her situation. And many of them, like they’d hoped, were already busy on their phones, spreading the sprained-ankle story on social media.
The bodyguard swept Tirra J up in his arms. Before he left with her, he glanced at Rome and gave him a brief nod.
Rome cued his mic. “Clear a path. Tirra J and her people are coming down.”
The sense of accomplishment that settled over him was reminiscent of how he’d felt in the past when a security strategy was perfectly executed. A small smile he couldn’t stop tipped up his mouth as the bodyguard carried Tirra J down the stairs and her entourage flocked after her.
Chapter Sixteen
Natalie sat on the couch in her living room, comfortable in a cropped peach T-shirt and jean shorts. Rome had scored big with the Wednesday night dinner. The restaurant where he’d bought the food was easily going on her list for one of the best places in town for a fantastic bacon cheeseburger and spicy wedge fries.
She glanced over at Rome over the small counter that looked into the kitchen, where he performed mixology magic. “I could easily get addicted to those fries. Where is that place again?”
“It’s down the street from where I live in the Harbor.”
“Takeout is good, but I bet it’s even better when you eat in.”
“It is. They serve really good truffle fries, too.” Rome came out of the kitchen, carrying two tumblers filled with dark liquid and ice.
Equally comfortable in his bare feet, wearing blue sweatpants and a gray T-shirt, he looked at home.
Rome handed her a drink and then sat beside her. “We’ll have to go there sometime so you can try them.”
Did he mean like going on a date? Her caution meter spiked a tad but settled back down. As long as they didn’t take it seriously, eating yummy burgers and truffle fries could fit into the definition of casual.
“We should.” She took a sip of her drink. The bite of alcohol along with sour and sweet floated over her tongue. “This is the drink you made me at the club. It tastes like a whisky sour.”
“But it’s not.” He winked. “It’s something I created just for you.”
Sure he had. He’d probably made it tons of times, but she’d play along.
Warmth from the alcohol and memories of what happened after he’d made her that drink at the Bash spread through her middle. She snuggled closer and leaned her head on his shoulder. “Feel like watching a movie?”
“If that’s what you want.” Rome put his glass on the wood-topped ottoman. He cupped her cheek and brushed his mouth over hers. “I’m up for whatever you want to do for the rest of the night.”
Up all night—that could be fun, but she had to go into work extra early, which was why Rome was sleeping over, so he could meet the security alarm technicians in the morning for her. She’d meet him back at the house around five so he could show her how to operate the system before he went to the club for his shift.
He slipped the glass out of her hand, breaking briefly from kissing her to set it down next to his.
She wound her arms around his neck, reveling in the taste of the drink and something addictive that was all him. Following his lead, she straddled his lap. He slipped his hands under the hem of her shirt and skimmed up her waist.
Just as Natalie was about to take off her shirt, her phone rang on the side table with the high-pitched ringtone she’d set for her boss.
Weird. Spencer was phoning her this late at night? “I have to get that.”
Rome snuck in a quick kiss before he reluctantly let her go.
Natalie snagged her phone, and as she answered it she headed for the kitchen. “Hi, Spencer.”
“Natalie, we have an emergency.”
“Oh?” The mellow feeling that had come over her with Rome’s drink dissipated with full alertness. Hopefully nothing bad had happened to someone on staff.
“The Los Angeles office blew it with a major account—Gull Beach Boots. The company hates the ideas that the creative team in L.A. have come up with for their new campaign. They were planning to leave Crawford altogether for another firm, but I know the chief financial officer of the company. He convinced the company’s executive officers to meet with me to see if they’d consider giving Crawford another chance. If they agree, the account will come to us here in Alexandria instead of to the L.A. office.”
“I’m glad our firm is getting another shot.” But why call her about it, unless he was giving her the account?
“I wanted to give you a heads-up because you and your team will have to pick up the slack for the team that gets the account. I haven’t made my choice yet, but as soon as I do, you, me, and the account director for that team will need to meet right away. Most likely, it will be a video conference with us in L.A.”
Natalie sank back against the counter. Once again, he’d picked one of the other account directors for a prime project. But during her midyear review, he had said that he’d consider her taking on bigger accounts if she took the initiative and fought to get them.
She stood straight. “Spencer, I know you probably have an idea about who you’re putting on this one, but I’m interested in this opportunity.”
“Natalie, I really appreciate your enthusiasm. In fact, your passion for the work is one of your strong suits, but I think a more experienced creative team is best for this. I have to be honest about the situation. If Gull Beach doesn’t get what they want this time around, we won’t have another shot at it.”
Not to mention, another failure could taint Crawford Advertising’s reputation, and by association, the account director involved. Spencer also had a vested interest in making sure things were successful. There were rumors that he was looking for a path back to the Los Angeles office as a business director. Winning and satisfying the Gull Beach execs could pave the way for that to happen. He wouldn’t want to take a chance on messing that up.
But this was the perfect opportunity for her and her team to make their mark. Determination overrode apprehension as Natalie took a deep breath. “Yes, passion is important. I may be less experienced, but my track record with my team speaks for itself. Every company we’ve worked with has walked away more than satisfied by the successful campaigns we’ve created for them, and I’m confident that we’d have the same result with Gull Beach.”
Spencer released a long exhale over the phone.
Disappointment sank into Natalie during his silence. Well, at least she’d tried.
“Be ready to leave in the morning, and clear your calendar for the rest of the week. We’ll be in California until Friday.”
“Yes!” Natalie winced at the happy squeal in her voice. She tamped down her excitement and answered in a more professional tone. “I’ll be ready.”
“My assistant will email you the information on the flight arrangements. I’ll brief you on the way, but do your research tonight
. They’re a second-generation company, operating out of Carlsbad, California. This trip is primarily a fact-finding mission for us. We’re going to wine and dine the hell out of them and spend quality time learning about the company, along with what they expect from us.”
“Got it. That’s a sound strategy.”
“And Natalie, it’s important for you to understand that if I sense, for any reason, that you can’t do what it takes, I’m handing this to another account director. End of story.”
“I understand. I won’t let you down.”
“See you in the morning.”
Natalie ended the call with Spencer. She’d done it, or more accurately, she’d taken the first step. Now she just had to win over Spencer and the execs at Gull Beach Boots. Her heart pounded with excitement and a little anxiety as she walked back into the living room. The Sun Ray account, like the others, was moving along smoothly. Jack usually took over as team lead when she was away. She’d have to call him tonight. Crap. She hated taking away his time with his family, outside of working hours.
Rome sat on the couch, surfing Netflix, while Betsy lay beside him with her head on his lap.
Rome…Betsy. Leaving on this trip didn’t just impact her, but them, too. She’d been so caught up in fighting for the opportunity to win the account, she hadn’t thought about them. And what about the security system install…or the fact that Dorian was picking up Betsy this weekend? Natalie’s excitement dimmed.
Rome glanced her direction as she dropped down on the couch. “Everything okay with work?”
Betsy sleepily turned and crawled onto Natalie’s lap. “My boss is giving me the chance to win a major account.”
“That sounds great, but you don’t look happy.” Rome turned the TV off with the remote and set it on the ottoman. “Are you having doubts about doing well?”
“No, I’ll do whatever it takes to impress Spencer and the company executives, but…” Natalie stroked Betsy. She’d realized that handing over Betsy to Dorian for the first time would be difficult. But she’d envisioned long walks and lots of cuddle time in the days before it happened. What she hadn’t envisioned was being on the other side of the country.
Rome stretched his arm behind her on the back of the couch. “But what?”
“The company is in California. I fly out in the morning with my boss to meet with them.”
“That soon, huh?” Rome rubbed his hand over his jawline. “Well, I can still handle things with the install tomorrow, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I’d appreciate it if you would.”
“I can also watch Betsy, too, while you’re gone, if that helps.”
Upon hearing her name, Betsy’s ears perked up in a lopsided, adorable way that always tugged at Natalie’s heart. As she hugged Betsy, the clean scent of the dog wipes she’d used on her earlier filled Natalie’s nose. Soft, sad emotions welled in her chest.
“Hey.” He grazed his knuckles over Natalie’s cheek. “I promise to take really good care of her.”
“It’s not that, but…”
Don’t burden people with your problems. Her aunt’s admonishment was all but imprinted on her brain. She didn’t want him to feel sorry for her. But since their extended fling was coming to an end, why not tell him? It wouldn’t be a burden for him to know the details, since he wouldn’t be around her, anyway.
She met his gaze. “I have to give Betsy to my ex on Sunday.”
…
Give Betsy to her ex? Rome thought he’d misheard Natalie, but her glum expression confirmed he’d heard her right. Still, he didn’t understand. “What do you mean by ‘have to?’ She’s yours. You said he gave her to you.”
“He did, but based on the terms of our divorce, we share pet ownership.” She released a short, bitter laugh. “All of Betsy’s ownership papers were in his name. He was also the one who took her to doggie daycare and the vet appointments. My name was nowhere on the paperwork there, either. I never thought to check. I had no legal way of proving that he gave her to me as a gift.” As she continued to stroke Betsy, the beagle’s eyes started to droop. “According to our prenup, we agreed that we’d leave with what we came into the marriage with, and Betsy’s ownership fell under that agreement.”
“So, he’s so much of an asshole that he’d take away the dog he gave you as a gift?”
“His motives for doing it weren’t just about her. He felt he deserved a part of my assets, but the chances of him overturning the prenup weren’t good. He knew I wanted Betsy, so he used her as leverage.”
As Rome took in what she’d just said, it all became clearer. “You paid him to agree to joint ownership.”
“Yes.” She offered up a helpless shrug. “My attorney advised me against it, but I couldn’t risk losing her completely, and I just wanted things to be over between me and Dorian. It seemed like the easiest way out.”
Fuck. Natalie hadn’t told him much about her ex, but Rome could easily grow to hate the guy. If he was that damn greedy, what was stopping him from coming back and dangling the chance of full ownership of Betsy in front of Natalie for more money? That was probably why Natalie’s attorney didn’t like it.
But hating the fuck out of her ex didn’t help Natalie now. “You weren’t planning on going out of town. Can’t you talk him into letting you keep her a few extra days this time around?”
“No. He’ll want his two weeks with her to start on time.”
A harsh breath escaped Rome. He scooted closer to Natalie. “What can I do?”
Before sunrise the next morning, he walked with Natalie from the house, wheeling her suitcase down the driveway to the sedan her boss had sent to pick her up.
She looked competent and professional, wearing a double-breasted black blazer and matching skinny-legged slacks and heels with her hair in a sleek ponytail.
When they reached the curb, he handed her bag to the driver, who stowed it in the trunk. “Have everything you need?”
“Everything but more sleep.” Faint shadows were under her eyes. “I couldn’t stop my mind from racing last night.”
She’d stayed up late, working on her laptop and packing for the trip. When she had finally come to bed, it was almost time for Betsy’s morning walk. He’d taken her out instead so Natalie could get at least a couple hours of sleep.
As he hugged her, he kissed away the worry line in the middle of her forehead. “I know you and your boss probably have to talk strategy for your client meeting, but try to sneak in some rest.”
“Okay.” Natalie hugged him back. As she stepped away, she glanced to the house, where Betsy watched them from the living room window. A hint of sadness came to her eyes. “Don’t forget that the dog sitter is willing to help out more if you need her. And if watching Betsy gets to be too much with your schedule, she can stay at the pet resort I mentioned.”
She searched his face, looking for signs that she was being a burden to him.
“We’re good here.” He nudged Natalie toward the car. “Go do your thing.”
Chapter Seventeen
After a day and a half of wining, dining, and attending meetings with the Gull Beach Boots executives, Natalie’s face ached from smiling. But she conjured up one more for the driver holding open the rear passenger door to the sedan as she and Spencer exited the Asian restaurant.
They had just had what seemed like a productive late Friday afternoon lunch with Gull Beach’s CEO, Aaron Murray, and the CFO of the company. Unfortunately, Aaron’s sister, Carolyn, who was the COO of the company, was out of town on unexpected business and hadn’t been able to attend any of their meetings.
A light breeze tugged the hem of Natalie’s camel dress as she slid inside next to Spencer. She slipped her right foot out of her snug, matching stiletto-heeled pump. A sigh of relief slipped out. Foot cushions. She’d forgotten to pack them.
As Spencer talked to his assistant on the phone, he loosened his purple-and-gray geometric tie from around the collar of his gray d
ress shirt. “So, what he’s saying is, now he wants to screw up my Sunday morning with a meeting.”
Hopefully Spencer wasn’t expecting her to work over the weekend. Her brain was fried. After seeing the boot, she could understand why the L.A. creative team struggled. The company was known for their plain, sturdy work boots, but the new casual boot was very different. The L.A. team had created a huge disconnect with their paintball-warrior-themed campaign featuring teens.
Once she reread her notes on Monday and processed all she’d learned on the trip, she’d meet with the team, and they’d brainstorm some possibilities. But now, she just wanted to get home to Betsy…and Rome.
She and Rome had spoken via video chat the night of the day she’d left. He’d try to tell her about the successful alarm install, but after a long flight and a busy day of briefings with Spencer, she’d fallen asleep in the middle of it.
Earlier, before lunch, he’d sent her a video of Betsy in the backyard, chasing a new blue ball he’d bought her through the oscillating sprinkler.
Unable to resist the impulse, Natalie pulled the video up on her phone again and muted the audio. Betsy’s exuberance and Rome’s grin erased any cares about if Betsy tracked muddy paw prints into the house or that the ball was blue instead of pink, matching Betsy’s other toys. A smile she couldn’t stop pulled at her lips, and she suppressed a laugh. She just wished she was there with them. No rules to follow or people to impress, just fun and freedom.
Spencer chuckled. “Fine. Tell him if he wants to meet with me, he’ll have to get his ass out of bed in the morning and pump up the tires on that Kestrel sitting in his garage. A bike ride will do him good. We’ll stop and talk along the way.” Spencer went over a few more tasks with his admin assistant before he ended the call.
As he slipped his cell into the inside pocket of his dark gray suit jacket, he glanced over at Natalie as she put away her phone. “You really impressed everyone on this trip, including me.”
