Lace

by Deborah Bladon

  “Someone posted that they saw you in here yesterday morning around this time.” She shrugs. “I thought it was worth a try.”

  It’s a plausible explanation, but I’m still skeptical.

  I call her bluff because I need to move my day forward and I can’t do that standing in this café. “I want to talk to your boss. Buck? Is that his name?”

  “Buck Remsen.” She smiles. “If you give me your number I’ll have him call you…”

  “No.” I narrow my eyes. “Give me his number.”

  She spits out a ten-digit number before my phone is out of my pocket.

  “Repeat that.”

  She doesn’t hesitate. She relays each number to me again, slowly and clearly.

  “I’ll give him a call,” I say after I program the number into my phone under the contact name Buck.

  “He’s in the office all day today if you’d rather speak to him in person.” She eyes my coffee cup. “I’m heading back there after I grab a latte. We can share a ride.”

  “Where’s the office?” I ask because there’s zero chance in hell that I’m getting in a cab with her. I’m still unsure if this Buck character is real.

  “Lexington and Forty-Sixth Street.” Her gaze scans the large menu board behind me. “It’s the Remsen Agency building. You can’t miss it.”

  I head straight for the exit.

  It’s time for a quick online search of Buck Remsen. If he checks out, I’ll be shaking the man’s hand within the hour.

  ***

  “My ex-wife would have killed for a chance to meet you.”

  It’s not the greeting I was expecting from Buck Remsen, but I’ll take it. The gray-haired man is indeed Trey Hale’s agent and if the evidence I found online of that wasn’t enough, this office is.

  There are framed photographs of Buck with some of the biggest names in sports today, and yesterday. The picture of him and Hale is front and center.

  His reputation for being cutthroat in negotiations on behalf of his clients was evident in the two archived New York Times articles I read on my phone during the cab ride over here.

  If he had any experience in the realm of the arts, I’d be tempted to fire my representation and convince him to take me on.

  “You’re not an easy guy to track down, Alex.”

  I don’t mind the familiarity. Hell, I welcome it. This guy has a direct connection to Alvin’s hero. It seems that Melody was speaking the truth back at the café.

  “I’m a busy man.” I laugh. “You can relate, Buck.”

  “One day.” He holds a hand in the air. “One day I’ll leave this earth. That’ll be the day I relax.”

  This guy is hardcore to the extreme. I try to carve out time in my schedule for relaxation at least a few times a week. My frequent visits to Phoebe’s place usually top the list when I have a spare hour or two.

  I cut to the chase because I came here for one reason only and that’s not idle chatter. “When I spoke to Melody she mentioned a surprise for my nephew.”

  “What’s his name?” He lifts his chin in the air. “I need the kid’s name.”

  I don’t question what for because this guy represents one of the greatest pitchers to ever take to the mound. “Alvin Costa.”

  He reaches for a pen and a pad of paper sitting on his desk. He writes down something. I’m going to assume it’s Alvin’s name. I take that as a good sign.

  “Look, Alex.” He leans his hand against the desk. “I’m going to be straight with you.”

  I cross my arms over my chest and nod, unsure of what he’s about to say. “Please. Go ahead.”

  “When Trey found out that the signed jersey you bought for Alvin was stolen, he wanted to step up and do the right thing.” He glances at the framed photograph of him and Trey. “Trey loved the game when he was a kid too and he knows how much the jersey will mean to Alvin, but he wants to do more.”

  “More?” I question.

  “We want to get Alvin down to the park for the first game of the World Series.” He clears his throat. “I’m talking two club seats, refreshments, the jersey, a team jacket, some pennants. Hell, we’ll give the kid a ball signed by the team.”

  I sense a but coming.

  Buck delivers it with ease. “All we need from you is twenty minutes with Trey and a few dozen cameras. You bring Alvin to the locker room before the first pitch is thrown, we do a quick interview on camera for the local news, snap some pictures and you’re free to enjoy the game with your nephew.”

  I get it. They want the opportunity to showcase Trey Hale’s benevolence. “I’ll have to run it by Alvin’s mom, but I don’t see a problem.”

  He claps his hands together. “Looks like Alvin’s going to have a birthday to remember. I’ll need your direct number so we can arrange all the details.”

  I text a simple, thank you, to the number Melody gave me at the café.

  Buck’s phone beeps. “Got it. I’ll be in touch, Alex.”

  It’s my cue to leave, but I’m not about to. I welcome the effort he’s putting in to make Alvin’s birthday one for the record books, but I want to know who the hell is behind this.

  I wait a beat and then casually ask the question I’ve wanted to know the answer to since I walked into this office and saw the picture of Hale on the wall. “How did you hear about the stolen jersey, Buck?”

  He glances at me. “Does it matter?”

  It shouldn’t, but it does. Jack would have told me if he had a connection this close to Trey Hale. He knew I was on the hunt for an autographed jersey for months.

  The only other people who know that a one-night stand left my place with the jersey are the women who work at the lingerie boutique and the half dozen customers who were there the morning I stormed in with those panties in my hand demanding answers.

  “It matters,” I answer succinctly.

  “I gave her my word that I wouldn’t bring her name into this.” He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “She’s close to Trey, so I don’t want to rock the boat. He puts family first. He’ll have my head if he knows I broke my promise to her.”

  Her.

  “They’re family?” I push for more.

  He nods. “That’s all you’re getting out of me.”

  It’s not enough, but I sense that his loyalty to Trey will outweigh the two tickets to a performance of the symphony I was about to tempt him with. I’ll still have the tickets sent over to him with a note thanking him for what he’s doing for Alvin.

  “Fair enough.” I pocket my phone.

  I’ll have to figure out the identity of the mystery woman on my own.

  Chapter 6

  Olivia

  I take a tentative sip. A smile of satisfaction blooms on my lips. “You’re right, Steph. This smoothie is amazing.”

  “I know. That’s mango pineapple. Mine is strawberry banana.” She places her cup on the corner of my desk. “I thought my roommate was crazy when she told me that she quit her nine-to-five to start selling smoothies from a food cart in Washington Square Park. I’m beginning to think she’s a genius.”

  “I’m not one for throwing caution to the wind, but I think she made the right choice.” I eye the logo on the side of the plastic cup. “You’re not here to tell me that you’re jumping ship so you can sell smoothies too, are you?”

  Her mouth twists into a wry grin. “If that was the case, would you give me a raise to keep me?”

  I would. Since Steph took over as the manager of Liore’s flagship store, employee turnover is down and sales are up. We need her and a raise in pay was already in her near future. I was going to break the good news to her a few weeks from now during her yearly employee evaluation.

  “You’re due for a five percent raise next month, but I’m willing to increase that to seven percent if you sign a new two-year contract with us today.”

  “Are you serious?” She inches forward on the white leather chair that’s in front of my desk. “Really?”

 
; “Tell me you’ll stay, Steph.”

  “I’m staying. I’m not going anywhere,” she says hurriedly. “I’ll sign the contract today.”

  I drop my gaze before I lock eyes with her. “You didn’t come here to quit, did you?”

  She breathes a sigh. “I didn’t. I hope that doesn’t change your offer. I’m committed one hundred percent to Liore. I love my job.”

  “It doesn’t change a thing. The raise is yours.” I take another sip of the smoothie. “Did you stop by just to share the smoothie?”

  “No.” She tucks a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. “Something happened at the boutique this morning. I thought you should know about it. I wanted to tell you in person.”

  Eighteen months ago, when I first took on this position, I would have felt a jolt of panic at those words, but a lot has changed since then. I’ve learned that every problem has a solution. “What happened, Steph?”

  “Alexander Donato happened.” She rolls her blue eyes. “He showed up again demanding more information.”

  “What information?” I ask as I feel a tense knot forming deep in my stomach.

  I think I already know the answer to that question.

  Trey sent me a text early this morning telling me that Buck had met with Alexander yesterday to give him the good news about the jersey and the tickets to a game.

  I replied that I was glad and I asked Trey if Buck kept my name out of it.

  Trey assured me that he had.

  I trust Trey, but I don’t know Buck. Maybe he let something slip to Alexander about me.

  “He asked if I was related to Trey Hale.” She shoots me an amused look. “He asked Liza too. Thankfully, she has no idea that you’re Trey’s cousin.”

  I breathe a heavy sigh of relief. “Thank you for not saying anything.”

  “When you first told me that he was your cousin, I promised you that I’d keep that information to myself.” She raises her hand in the air as if she’s taking a vow. “I don’t break promises, Olivia.”

  “So he left the store after that?”

  Her hand curls around her smoothie cup. “He tried to, but Liza was determined to flirt with him.”

  I can’t hide my smile. “She’s crushing hard on him.”

  “He wasn’t feeling it.” She grins at me. “He asked about you before he left.”

  The knot in my stomach morphs into an annoying flutter in my chest. I try to chase it away with a cough, but it does little good.

  “He wanted to know how he could reach you,” she goes on, “I asked if there was a message that I could relay to you and he said he’d deliver it himself.”

  “Himself?” I blurt out. “Did you tell him where he could find me?”

  She shakes her head. “No, but all he would need to do is look at the Liore corporate website. Your bio page has your office phone number on it and the address of this building.”

  She’s right.

  If Alexander is determined to talk to me, he’ll have no trouble finding me.

  ***

  “This is the guy who waltzed into Liore last week with a pair of panties in his hand?” Kate hands my phone back to me. “He’s super hot, Olivia.”

  “No.” I shake my head. “He’s not that hot.”

  “Get your eyes checked.”

  “He called my office today when I was in a meeting.” I sigh as I exit Alexander’s website and drop my phone back into my oversized black leather tote. “He left a message with Sheryl.”

  “Oh, poor you.” She smirks. “You returned his call, didn’t you?”

  By the time my assistant, Sheryl, gave me the message it was almost six o’clock. I promised Kate that I’d be at her store at six, so I left my office with the intention of calling Alexander back tomorrow.

  “I didn’t have time.”

  She glances at the silver watch on her wrist. “According to this, you have all the time in the world.”

  I playfully pat her hand. “I’ll call him when I get to my office in the morning. I thought we were going for pizza.”

  In one swift movement, she’s clutching my hand in hers. “You’re interested in him, aren’t you?”

  I almost laugh. “Who?”

  “Alexander.” She points a finger at me. “That’s why you’re putting off calling him back. You’re trying to figure out what you’ll say to him.”

  I suck in a deep breath. That’s not why I’m putting off calling him back. “I swore off all arrogant and cocky men years ago. He’s attractive, but he’s not my type, Kate.”

  “She who protests too much…” Her voice trails.

  “I’ll call him tomorrow,” I repeat as I gaze around her store and the potential customers checking out the dresses and accessories. “Are you sure you can pull yourself away for a dinner break?”

  “My staff can handle it.” She straightens the collar of the red dress she’s wearing. “I’ve been craving pizza all day. I’m ordering a huge slice of pepperoni. How about you?”

  Pizza isn’t my favorite, but spending time with Kate ranks high on my list of things I love to do. “I’m having the same.”

  “Let’s go.” She takes off toward the door of the shop. “I’ve only got an hour to spare. Try to keep up.”

  I laugh as I fall in step behind her.

  Chapter 7

  Alexander

  Olivia Hull.

  That’s her standing next to Trey Hale in a picture he posted to his Instagram account last year.

  The caption says it all: Best Cousin Ever!

  The photo was liked more than a half million times and the comments number in the thousands.

  They’re both dressed in jeans, matching baseball jerseys and Yankees ball caps.

  Olivia’s is skewed to the side to reveal her entire face.

  It’s beautiful. Her smile is infectious.

  Dammit. She’s a gorgeous woman.

  She’s also compassionate.

  I’m grateful that she went to her cousin so that I wouldn’t walk into Alvin’s birthday party empty-handed.

  I’m slightly pissed that she didn’t return my call yesterday.

  After I discovered her connection to Trey on his Instagram account, I pulled up the Liore Lingerie corporate site and zeroed in on her bio page.

  Another breathtaking image of her greeted me. In that one, she was dressed in a white blouse and blue blazer. The fuck-me red lipstick she had on piqued my interest.

  It gave her an edgy look that stirred my cock.

  I don’t know if my driving desire to talk to the woman is born from my thankfulness over what she did for my nephew or my attraction to her.

  “That’s a cute picture of Olivia you have there.”

  I look up from my phone and into the face of Olivia’s assistant, Sheryl. The woman is efficient. When she left me standing here, in front of her desk, I expected her to be gone for more than two minutes.

  “Did you find Olivia?” I ask abruptly as I slide my phone into the pocket of my suit jacket. “Did you tell her that I’m waiting to speak to her?”

  “That would be a no and a no, Mr. Donato.” She sighs heavily. “Ms. Hull’s meeting ended more than an hour ago. She must have left the building for lunch.”

  I drop my gaze to the flowers in my hand. I want to show my gratitude for what she did for Alvin. I didn’t bother with a card when I stopped by the florist to pick up the large bouquet. I assumed I’d be handing the flowers to Olivia in person, along with my words of appreciation.

  “Are those for her?” Sheryl reaches for the bouquet.

  I pull them closer to me. “Can you call her and find out when she’ll be back?”

  “I guess I can if that’s what you want.” She tosses me a puzzled look before she rounds her desk and picks up a cell phone. “I’m glad to see she’s dating someone like you. The last man she was with wasn’t her type at all.”

  “We’re not…” I begin before I’m stopped by the rise of her hand in the air.

&nbs
p; “Olivia?” She asks into the phone before she pauses. “Your boyfriend is here at the office to see you.”

  She sighs and lets out a small chuckle. “Alexander Donato.”

  Sheryl’s eyes rake me over as she listens intently. “He’s not? Oh. I’m sorry. I just assumed. It’s been a long time since you…”

  I clear my throat as she stops again to listen.

  “He wants to speak with you.” Her gaze drops to the top of her desk. “All right. I’ll tell him.”

  She lowers the phone from her ear and studies the screen. It fades to black under her gaze.

  I wait for her to say something, anything, but she continues to stare at her phone silently.

  I clear my throat. “When will she be back?”

  That prompts a slow raise of her chin until her eyes meet mine. “She won’t be back in the office today. She was called into one of our retail locations to handle a problem that popped up.”

  “Which location?” I ask. “I’ll head over there to speak to her.”

  She looks at the flowers again. “She’s very busy today. She said that you could expect a call from her tomorrow once she’s back in her office.”

  “I’d like to talk to her today,” I press. “It’s an urgent matter, Sheryl.”

  “She didn’t mention that,” she mutters under her breath. “Is this business or personal? Olivia didn’t get into any detail on the phone.”

  I see the unmistakable glint of curiosity in her eyes. The woman is dying to know what my connection to Olivia is and what the flowers symbolize.

  I use her nosiness to my advantage. “It’s a personal matter. The flowers are a surprise. Thank you for not mentioning them to her during the call. I can’t wait to see the expression on her face when she sees them.”

  She reaches out to touch my arm. “Olivia didn’t specifically say that I couldn’t tell you where she is. You won’t take up too much of her time, will you?”