by Reese Ryan
“If you need to bring me up to speed on the meeting, call me from your car. In fact, you could’ve done that in the first place rather than showing up here and demanding that I drop everything and come with you.”
Liam squeezed the bridge of his nose. The situation was snowballing and he was the one to blame. “I’d like to go over a few documents in the car. It’ll be much easier if we ride together in the limousine.”
He shoved both his hands in his pockets and leaned against a tall wooden filing cabinet. Hoping she’d say yes. Because while every word he’d said about them needing to work together was true, the deeper truth was that he’d missed Teresa.
He missed the scent and feel of her skin, the way her sparkling blue eyes danced when she laughed and the sweet taste of her pouty lips. And he missed the incomparable ecstasy of watching Teresa St. Claire fall apart in his arms.
* * *
Teresa stood in the nude Stuart Weitzman block-heel sandals she’d worn in deference to her still-sore ankle. She retrieved her matching nude clutch from her desk drawer and walked to the door, only slightly favoring her injured leg.
“Your ankle...” He furrowed his brow. “Is it okay?”
“It’s fine. Just a little sore.” Teresa didn’t want to think of Liam as the man who’d rushed to her rescue that night. Nor did she want to forget that he’d come charging into her office like an entitled ass who thought the world revolved around him. Still, she wouldn’t behave like an ogre, even if he had. “Thank you again for what you did that night.”
“I’m just glad you weren’t seriously hurt. When I think of what could’ve happened...” He seemed genuinely distressed by the near miss. “I’m just glad it didn’t.”
Don’t be swayed by a few kind words.
She walked out to Corinne’s desk, not acknowledging the evil eye her assistant was giving Liam.
“We’re a go for the retreat.” Teresa forwarded Matt’s text to Corinne. “I just sent the dates Matt Richmond is interested in. Pull a couple of staff members in to call the entire guest list. Find out if either date is tenable. With such a short turnaround, we should get a feel for whether either date will work before we put too much time and effort into it.”
“Got it.” Corinne scribbled notes on a sheet of paper.
“I need a list of viable venues as soon as you can come up with them. I’ll work on a few possibilities from my end, too. There has to be something available in Seattle that fits the bill for an event of this magnitude. Don’t call Jessie Humphrey. I’ll call her. A bit of persuading might be required after the nightmare we put her through last time.”
Corinne nodded her agreement. She eyed Liam again, then shifted her gaze to Teresa. “Will you be returning to the office?”
Teresa cast a glance over her shoulder at Liam. He was especially handsome in a navy suit that hugged his strong frame and reminded her of all the reasons she loved the feel of his toned body pressed to hers.
But he’d rejected her after their unbelievably hot encounter at the spa. And again after the rumors about her being a scheming gold digger surfaced, despite the poignant moments they’d shared the night before.
Teresa’s spine tensed. She gripped the clutch under her arm and reminded herself to hold on to that anger. So she’d never end up in Liam’s bed again.
“I have every intention of returning here as soon as I can.” Teresa turned and made her way toward the door, aware that every pair of eyes in the office was focused on her and Liam Christopher.
They left the building by the back entrance, where Liam’s driver was waiting. Her cheeks stung at the thought of being shuttled away under cover because he was embarrassed to be seen with her. She slid across the leather seat, putting as much space as possible between them.
Liam had the audacity to look hurt.
“I know you have things you’d like to go over, but I need to make a call first. If there’s any chance Jessie Humphrey isn’t already obligated on the dates I have available, I don’t want to miss my window of opportunity.”
“Of course.” He picked up a black leather portfolio and shuffled through its contents.
Teresa pulled up Jessie Humphrey’s number and hoped things would finally go her way.
Four
Jessie closed her eyes and settled into eagle pose, her left leg wound around her right and her right arm wrapped around her left. Unable to keep her mind still long enough to formally meditate, she enjoyed the moving meditation of yoga.
The ring of her cell phone disturbed her peaceful solitude.
She unraveled her arms and legs and peeked at the caller ID.
“Teresa St. Claire.” She muttered the name under her breath, then considered ignoring it until she’d finished her yoga practice.
But Teresa had indicated that Matt Richmond wanted to reschedule his event. Despite the chaos of the heavy rains, power outage, and a tree falling into the hotel which nearly took Teresa out... Matt Richmond had generously paid her the full agreed-upon amount of her contract without quibbling.
If she was going to do this project independently, without the backing of her label or the blessing of her agent, she needed an infusion of cold, hard cash.
Jessie answered the call just before it went to voice mail. “Hello.”
“Jessie, it’s Teresa. I’m glad I caught you. Matt Richmond has decided to reschedule his retreat. The only bright spot to the entire ordeal at The Opulence was your impromptu concert in the lobby. I swear, it’s probably the only thing that kept the guests from rioting.” Teresa’s words were rushed and her voice seemed tense. “So, of course, he’d like you to perform at the rescheduled event.”
Not wanting to sound too eager, Jessie hesitated before responding. “That’s nice of you to say, Teresa. The situation got pretty intense, so I’m glad I was able to help. The event isn’t going to be held there again, is it? It was a lovely hotel, but after the mudslide I’m not in love with hotels situated on a cliff.”
“Understood. It’ll be a while before The Opulence is up and running again anyway. And Matt would really like to get this retreat done soon—”
“How soon?”
“He’s considering two weekends this month.” Teresa’s tone was tentative. “I’m hoping you’ll be available on one of them.”
Jessie grimaced. She’d planned to spend the month writing songs for her next album and securing the producers and musicians she wanted to work with on her dream project. “Actually, I cleared my calendar to work on my next album.”
“I can appreciate how busy you must be, Jessie, but if you have any flexibility at all, you know Matt Richmond will make it worth your while. We’d do the same generous deal as last time. In addition to your booking fee, we’ll pay for your flight via private jet, and all of your room service expenses at the hotel.”
Jessie chewed on her lower lip and paced the floor. “I don’t know. This album is really important to me. I didn’t tell you before, but I’ve decided not to re-sign with my current label. I plan to start my own, so I’ll have the freedom to make songs like the ones I performed that day in the lobby.”
“I applaud your decision, Jessie. I did the same when I broke away from MSM Events and started my own company. So I know how rewarding it can be, but I also know that you need money and connections when you’re breaking out on your own. And at Richmond Industries’ fifth anniversary gala, you’ll have an opportunity to nab both.”
“What do you mean?” Jessie sat on the edge of her sofa. “Who’s going to be at the retreat?”
“Since not all of the invited guests will be able to attend on such short notice, Matt instructed me to expand the list. If there’s a producer or music exec you’re eyeing for your new project, I could try to have them added to the guest list. I can’t promise you they’ll attend, but I’ll do my best to get them there. I’ll even seat you at
the same table.”
Jessie sat on the piano bench. As much as she’d like to spend the next several weeks immersed in this project, if she was going to make it a reality, she needed the money she’d get from this gig. And if Teresa St. Claire could get her at a table with Chase Stratton or Dixon Benedict and allow her to showcase some of the new material she was working on for the album, all the better.
“And if you’re looking for wealthy music lovers who might be willing to help bankroll your project, there’ll be a few in attendance, I’m sure. Also, we might be able to increase your exposure by broadcasting your performance live this time. If that’s something you want, I’ll talk to Nicolette Ryan about it.”
There were too many benefits to this deal to ignore. “You’ve got a deal. Send the contract over to my agent.”
Sinking onto the mat, Jessie tried to resume her yoga practice.
She’d managed to avoid Gideon Johns the last time she’d returned to Seattle. Maybe she could again. The money and exposure were worth the risk.
If she did cross paths with him, things didn’t need to be awkward. She couldn’t stop thinking of him, but he probably hadn’t given her another thought. So she’d hold her head high, greet him politely and move on with her life.
Jessie allowed her eyes to drift closed as she inhaled a deep breath. Everything would be fine. In fact, it might be good to see Gideon again. Perhaps it would prompt her to relinquish the silly fantasy she still held on to. Then she could finally let go of the past and any thoughts of what might’ve been.
* * *
“Good news.” Landon knocked on the partially open door of Gideon’s office. “You won’t have to pin Matt Richmond down for a meeting after all.”
“Why not?” Gideon looked up from his laptop where he’d been writing an email, trying to close the deal with a potential investor in the Dubai project. “Have we gotten all the capital we need?”
“Not yet.” Landon frowned as he took a few steps inside Gideon’s office. “But we’re close. And I think we might’ve gotten even closer. I just confirmed that you’ll be available to attend the rescheduled Richmond Industries anniversary retreat.”
Gideon leaned back in his seat and rubbed his chin. “Matt is hosting the event, so it’ll be hard to pin him down for a one-on-one presentation.”
“I’ll put together a quick video presentation with all of the basic facts. Something eye-catching that’ll grab his attention.” Landon slid into the chair in front of Gideon’s desk. “You can hand him a copy of the prospectus as well as email it to him so he can review it at length.”
“Good work, Landon.”
“Thanks.” He grinned, settling in the chair.
Gideon raised an eyebrow. “Guess that means you’d better get to work.”
“Right.” Landon hopped up quickly and headed for the door. “Oh, and I sent you over that list of prospective investors.”
“I’m working on it now,” Gideon confirmed. He peered through his thumb and forefinger. “I’m this close to securing another hundred million.”
Landon’s phone rang. But rather than a traditional ringer, it played a familiar song.
“That song...”
“Sorry, I usually turn my ringer off in the office, but I just came back from lunch and—”
“That’s a Jessie Humphrey song, isn’t it?” He’d recognize Jessie’s soulful, heart-wrenching voice anywhere.
“Yeah, it’s one of the more obscure songs on her recent album. It doesn’t get any radio play, but if you ask me, it’s one of the best songs on the album.” Landon seemed impressed that he knew who Jessie Humphrey was. “My girlfriend loves the song, too. That’s why I chose it as her ringtone.”
“Well, you’d better call her back, huh?” Gideon went back to typing out his email.
“Right. But I’ll send you the tentative dates for the retreat first. And I’ll get to work on that presentation just as soon as I can.”
Gideon hit Send on the email. Then he pulled out his phone and searched for Jessie’s recent album. He’d purchased every album she’d made and the songs she wrote for other artists over the years.
Despite the debacle of the kiss, Jessie had been a friend. Someone he truly cared for. He wanted only the best for her.
He stared at the album cover where Jessie sat in a leather chair wearing a short, flirty dress and a sexy smile. He often wondered if things would’ve turned out differently between them if more time had passed after his breakup with Geneva before Jessie had kissed him. Would he still have reacted negatively? Or would he have kissed her back?
Gideon shook the thought from his brain. They’d both gone on to fulfill their dreams. Wasn’t that proof enough that things had happened just as they should?
He scrolled through the song list. Most of the songs on this album had an upbeat pop sound. But the song Landon had chosen as his girlfriend’s ringtone was more like the soulful performance Jessie had given in that intimate little club. It was the kind of song that made her unique vocals shine.
Gideon shut the door to his office and played the song on repeat, losing himself in the mellow sound of Jessie’s voice and her heartbreaking lyrics.
Five
Teresa ended the call with Jessie Humphrey, holding back a squeal of glee. In an otherwise crappy day, this was a victory worth celebrating.
She tapped out a quick email to Corinne confirming that Jessie Humphrey would perform. She asked her assistant to make sure the contract was ready to send the moment they selected a date and secured the venue.
Teresa checked the shared spreadsheet updating which guests were available on either of the possible weekends.
“Shit,” Teresa mumbled under her breath.
“What’s wrong?” Liam stopped scanning the documents in his folder. His smoldering blue eyes seemed to slice right through her. “You just secured your headliner. I’d think you’d be ecstatic.”
“I’m thrilled that Jessie confirmed.” Teresa ignored the fluttering in her belly and the electricity that danced along her spine when he stared at her that way. “But I’m not happy that most of the guests are selecting the earlier date. That gives us just two weeks to find a venue and get everything in motion. So far, every suitable venue in Seattle is booked. I’m going to have to venture outside the area.”
“Have you considered Napa Valley?” Liam returned his attention to the documents.
“That’s at least six hundred miles from Seattle.”
“Seven, but who’s counting?” Liam’s eyes danced when they met hers and a sexy little smirk curved one corner of his mouth. It reminded her of the look he’d given her when he’d...
Teresa shut her eyes and tried to push thoughts of their amazing nights together from her brain.
“That would considerably increase the cost of the event.”
“True. But it might also lure more people there. Especially those who are still unhappy about what happened at the previous event in Seattle. The beauty of the vineyards and an endless supply of wine will earn you a lot of forgiveness with this crowd. Besides, it’s the company’s fifth anniversary. Matt needs to make a big splash with this event so everyone will forget what happened at The Opulence.”
“All good points, but I can’t book a venue without seeing it for myself. I need to make sure there’s adequate event space, suitable accommodations and trained, professional staff. I’d need to sample the food and attest to the cleanliness of the rooms. I’d want to talk to people who’ve used the venue before to make sure their level of customer service is on par with what my clients expect.”
“So find a few possible venues and fly there and check them out.” Liam shrugged.
Teresa gritted her teeth. Was he being intentionally flippant about something that could make or break her?
“I would, but my private plane is in the shop.�
� She dropped her phone in her clutch and snapped it shut.
Liam chuckled, his eyes twinkling. “Then by all means, take mine.”
“Now you’re just being cruel.” She folded her arms and pursed her lips. “I know this doesn’t mean anything to you, but this event is important to me. With everything that’s going on right now, this might be my only chance to keep my company from going under.”
“I wasn’t being facetious.” His tone and expression seemed genuinely apologetic. “I’m being sincere.”
Teresa stared at him, blinking. “I don’t get it. Not an hour ago you could barely stand to be in the same room with me. Now you’re offering to let me use your private plane to plan your friend’s event?”
“That’s just it,” he said quickly. “Matt’s my best friend and this event is important to him. I want to ensure his retreat succeeds. Besides, Matt and I will be making the announcement about our joint venture, the Sasha Project, so I’m invested in the success of this event, too. That’s why I’d like to accompany you on this scouting trip.”
Teresa stared at him blankly, still waiting for him to pull the rug from beneath her. She sifted her fingers through her hair. “I’ll have to check with Matt first. If he’s good with relocating the event to Napa Valley, I’ll gladly accept your offer. Thank you.”
* * *
“Anything for a friend,” Liam said calmly, though his heart danced in his chest. He could barely keep from smiling at the thought of spending time alone with Teresa in Napa Valley.
She’s supposed to be the enemy.
Yet he wanted to haul her onto his lap and kiss her like it was the only kiss he’d ever need. The way he’d kissed her when last she’d been in his arms.
His eyes drifted to her momentarily, scanning the royal-blue silk blouse that was a welcome pop of color against her stark white linen pantsuit.
Teresa always managed to look so buttoned up and proper. It was a calm facade that gave no indication of the raging heat and unbridled passion that lay beneath her cool exterior.
