by Tawny Weber
She turned to face the man who used to be one of her best friends, but whom she hadn’t seen much of in the last two years. Not since the big ugly fiasco, as she mentally referred to the worst night of her life.
She was glad Conner seemed to be over the whole humiliating incident and was willing to not only see her again, but to give her such an incredible opportunity. Still, she didn’t figure reminding him of the big ugly fiasco was a good idea.
So instead, she gave him a cautious smile. “Conner, this is all so fabulous. You and Daniel must be so proud of the hotel, and of this mall.”
“I’m actually quite proud of what I’m about to pull off,” he said. His smile was innocuous enough, but there was something in his tone that caught Larissa’s attention. She narrowed her eyes, wondering what he was up to. But then he added, “Want to see the space that’s available?”
“My store?” she queried, only half teasing. “Heck, yeah.”
“Right this way.”
Her wheeled cart carrying the boxes of sample merchandise squeaked behind her as she let Conner lead her to the only store with its arched, glass doors open wide. Her breath hitched. She blinked quickly to clear the sudden tears from her eyes.
It was perfect.
Large, bright and, oh man, so, so luxurious. The counters were granite. The walls were lined with gilt-framed mirrors. She could see a dressing room off to the back and a sign indicating a bathroom. Other than the checkout counters, the room was empty except for a deeply cushioned settee against one wall. She spun around to check the view as she imagined herself behind the counter thanking her customers.
Just perfect. Through the pristine front windows, she could see the lush plants surrounding a plush velvet bench and a statue of Aphrodite, just inside the hotel lobby.
Larissa’s Romance Rule number one: Appearances count. And appearing here would count for so much. Thrilled, she hugged herself tight.
“So, is it what you were hoping for?” Conner asked. “Can you imagine writing your column from the Cartright Boutique? Romance à la Cartright, catchy, huh?”
Larissa’s brow went up before she could stop it. He was kidding, right? But she managed to keep the question to herself. Old friend or not, pissing Conner off was a bad idea. Cartright’s policy was to promote all the stores on their properties on their website, in their other venues and with little gifts and special mailings to their patrons. There was no way she could ever afford that level of marketing on her own. The only way to get it was to snag this store space.
“Is that my new byline? The Romance Authority, brought to you by Cartright Hotels?” Her joking tone faded as she saw that he was serious. She knew that promotion was a big deal for Cartright, and that by taking a space in the mall, she’d be included in the co-op.
But this? She wasn’t sure how she felt about it. It felt wrong, somehow. Like she was selling out.
Conner must have sensed her hesitation, because he laughed it off and gave her shoulder a quick pat before stepping away. “I’ll give you time to set up your display, hmm? The committee is meeting in a half hour. Would you mind coming back to the boardroom then to give your presentation?”
A little confused and conflicted, Larissa silently nodded, then watched him leave. It wasn’t until she heard the echo of the elevator door closing in the empty mall that she let out her breath and looked around again.
Then realizing that she only had thirty minutes to make the store scream Isn’t It Romantic, she shoved her worry to the back of her mind and got to work. After all, seeing was believing. She was sure the committee would fall in love with her store as soon as they saw how well her lovely merchandise fit in their exclusive space.
FORTY MINUTES LATER, Conner nervously fiddled with his pen as he listened to Larissa’s pitch. He shifted in his chair, then adjusted his tie. The third time he ran his hand over his hair, he elbowed his marketing VP, Ben Jackson, giving him the evil eye.
Time to chill. Conner forced himself to calm down and act like the responsible, clear-headed businessman he usually was. He had too much on the line—both with this hotel and mall, and with his own private scheme—to blow it now.
They were in one of his newly completed hotel board-rooms, just Larissa and the three-man committee who would decide the fate of her dream. Conner had hand chosen the two men on the committee. Both were golfing buddies and good friends. But more important, both had a decent level of acting skills, which were vital if his scheme was going to work.
“Gentlemen,” Larissa said with a charming smile that made Conner want to sigh. “Your focus on couples, honeymoon packages and romantic getaways ties in perfectly with my store. Isn’t It Romantic will totally enhance your guests’ stay. I’ll stock romance books, both fiction and nonfiction. Romantic movies through the ages. All the necessary accoutrements to bringing the pleasure of romance into your—our—guests’ visit, as well as providing them with mementos of their wonderful stay that they’ll appreciate for years to come.”
As she continued, Conner let himself get distracted by how she looked. The same as the last time he’d seen her, yet, not quite. Her hair, often a riot of wild curls, was a tame fall of ringlets framing her sharp face. She wore a black suit, its austere color softened by a ruffled jacket and a skirt that hugged her hips and legs to the knee, where it echoed the jacket’s ruffle. The darkness of her clothing was offset by vivid red heels that sent a few fantasies skittering through Conner’s head before he reminded himself that he didn’t think of Larissa that way.
Drew Franklin, the guy on his left, kicked him under the table. Conner started, then remembered the game. His plan was to keep her off balance until the, well, the surprise he’d been calling it. She might refer to it as the big betrayal. Or the knife in her back. Maybe some other title that included ugly swear words.
No matter, he owed her. And a Cartright always paid his dues.
“Larissa, this sounds great. The committee has a few questions, though,” Conner said. He kept his voice a little distant instead of encouraging.
He hated to see her smile dim, nerves clear in her eyes as she nodded and said, “Of course. I’d be happy to answer them.”
“It’s a nice idea, I agree. But why just romance?” Drew Franklin asked, embracing his role as the doubtful hard-ass. “Why such a narrow focus?”
“My impression was that you were looking for boutiques, not department stores,” Larissa said, sounding a little less like a polished businesswoman and a little more like the spunky girl Conner knew. Good, she was going to need that spunk today.
“Sure. Boutiques are the goal. But couldn’t you diversify a bit? You know, maybe spice it up or something?” he prodded.
“Or something?”
“You know, something sexier.” He said it like sexier was a euphemism for kink on a stick.
Larissa wrinkled her nose, looking like she wanted to ask if he was a member of the pervert-of-the-month club. Conner looked down at his blank notepad to hide his grin.
“I do understand the appeal of diversification,” she said after a deep breath. “And if you consider it, you’ll see that I have diversified in a big way. Isn’t It Romantic is more than a bookstore, or a movie store, or one focusing only on candles and scents. It’s got it all.”
Apparently deciding it was time to wow them with her charts and diagrams, Larissa handed each man a folder containing sketches, swatches and photos of the array of items she planned to carry.
“This is great,” Ben said, flipping through the contents enthusiastically. He gave Larissa a flirtatious look, making her smile dim. She shot Conner a baffled, do-you-only-employ-creeps look.
He resisted the urge to pump his fist in the air. His plan was working. The worse he made guys look in the next half hour, the better she’d respond to his surprise.
He hoped. If not, his brother Daniel was going to seriously kick his ass for scaring away not one, but two perfect candidates for the storefront.
“Ben’s r
ight,” Conner agreed. “You’ve really nailed the concept here. I think your idea is unique and would fit in nicely with Cartright’s message.”
“I still think it’s a little, well, boring,” Drew said, starting to tap his pen on the unopened folder she’d given him. “If a couple is staying at this locale, they’re already covered with that romance thing. They want spice. They want excitement. They want—”
“I don’t think romance ends when a couple checks into the hotel unless he’s paying her by the hour,” Larissa said with an arched brow. Then she smiled. “But that isn’t really romance, is it? Or the type of hotel you’re opening?”
Conner tried to disguise his laugh as a cough. Ben wasn’t quite as successful.
“But I can see where you’re coming from,” she said, obviously encouraged that two-thirds of the room seemed to be on her side. “And I guarantee that Isn’t It Romantic would cover the gamut of tastes, from sweet to spicy.”
“Ms. Zahn, I think I speak for all of us when I say you’ve made a strong impression. Your store would align nicely with the other business we’ve chosen to represent us at the Cartright,” Ben told her.
Conner nodded while Drew had pasted on an over-the-top bored look.
“I’d love for you to see what I have in mind for the space,” she offered quickly. She placed her hand on the large box she’d carried in. “I’ve brought a few of the items I’d stock with me and I’ve created a display in the store that will give you a better understanding of the atmosphere and aesthetic I’ll bring to the South Carolina Cartright.”
Ben nodded enthusiastically. Drew gave a sigh, though, as if getting up and walking to the elevators was more work than he’d intended to do today.
Before Conner could add his own two cents, a message flashed on his cell phone. He read it and grinned. Perfect. He looked at his colleagues and gestured with the phone.
“I just received the message that our earlier appointment has finally arrived. This is great. We can wrap up the interviews now, before heading out for the weekend,” Conner said. “Larissa, if you’d please wait in the antechamber, we’ll head down to the mall to look at your display just as soon as we finish with this appointment.”
He offered Larissa an innocent smile and said, “Our next interview won’t be long. Would you mind making yourself comfortable?”
She frowned, then with a quick shrug, gathered her charts and diagrams and tucked them away in her briefcase. She gave him a couple of searching looks, like she was trying to see what he was up to—or was that just his guilty conscience?
He wanted to rush the table and wrap her in his arms, assuring her that he’d make everything right for her.
Larissa had always had that effect on him. She was so pretty, with her riotous black curls and huge, dark eyes. He’d had a crush on her ever since he was fourteen, when she’d moved in with her eccentric aunt up the street.
Unfortunately, he’d made the mistake of acting on that attraction, only to be rebuffed in the most painful way—with sweet pity. And he’d reacted poorly. Acting like a spoiled brat, he’d lashed out. Not at her, but at the fiancé she’d refused to leave for him, hinting to the other man that there was something more going on between him and Larissa. Conner had felt justified, since they broke up. For about a week. Then he’d felt like shit. His greedy obnoxiousness had hurt two people, one of whom he cared about deeply.
He was hoping to make it up to her now. By tomorrow, she’d either love him again—as a friend. Or hate him.
FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIONS Daniel Cartright had given him, Jason made his way through the empty hotel. He glanced at his cell phone to check his battery. It was heading for dead, but probably had enough juice for him to offer up a convincing slideshow during the presentation.
Looking forward to seeing Daniel, who, after rooming with Jason’s brother for three years in college, was as much Jason’s buddy as Peter’s, Jason sauntered into the boardroom with a wide grin on his face. The grin faded as he stepped through the doorway.
Instead of finding Daniel sitting at the head of the shiny new boardroom table, Jason was greeted by his younger brother, Conner.
Jason barely noticed the other two guys flanking him. He was too focused on the sudden fury flashing through his brain.
Memories washed over him like a monsoon. Larissa. Damn, he’d fallen hard and intense for her. He’d been young enough, stupid enough, to think he’d been in love with her. Their affair had been hot, wild and intense. Until she’d cheated on him with Conner.
Bombarded by feelings he’d been sure were long gone, he clenched his teeth and resisted the urge to tear into the guy.
His shoulders clenched, his hands fisting at his sides. He was being ridiculous, he reminded himself. Conner had been in Europe, not aware that Jason and Larissa were a thing when he’d asked her out. And when he’d found out, he’d completely backed off. Conner wasn’t to blame. Larissa was.
On the surface, Jason and Conner had made their peace a couple years ago. The past was over. And if there was one thing Jason prided himself on, it was being the kind of guy who didn’t dwell on stuff that was already put away. Especially not anything as useless as emotional baggage.
Especially not now, when he had a business to save.
“Hey, Conner,” Jason greeted, his words only a little stiff. He forced himself to stride through the wide-open doors of the partially furnished boardroom. “This is a surprise. I thought I was meeting with Daniel.”
Conner, looking like the successful tycoon he’d always been, rose with a smile to shake Jason’s hand. For a brief, stomach-churning second, Jason could see why Larissa would go for the guy. He was just like one of those romance novel heroes.
Stop, Jason mentally snapped at himself. Focusing on the past was useless. Put it away and make today happen.
“Jason, good to see you. Unfortunately, Daniel was called away and couldn’t be here. But we’re glad you could make it. Since we’re running behind, let me introduce you to the committee and we’ll get started. Then we can catch up later, if you’d like.”
“Sure thing.” But before Conner could say anything else Jason made his way around the table, and with handshakes all around, introduced himself.
He dropped the case holding his trump card, so to speak, onto the polished table, barely noting the tufts of dust that rose as it hit the wood.
“Have a seat,” one of the committee members suggested. “Conner’s told us about your ideas and I’ll admit, I’m loving the prospect of working with you. But we have another contender for the space and we are in a bit of a hurry. So if you don’t mind, grab a seat and tell us about your plans.”
Jason eyed Conner, wondering just what he’d told the committee. Daniel had taken a few trips with Can-Do. But Conner wasn’t really the roughing-it type, so he’d always passed. Sure, they were all cool now. But given that, at one time, Jason had threatened to toss Conner out a window, he wouldn’t have been surprised if the dude still held a grudge.
Nice to know they were both too big for that kind of crap, Jason thought, giving Conner a friendly smile. Then, parking the past into the history books where it belonged, he focused on the here, now and more importantly, the future.
“I’ll skip the sitting invite, if you don’t mind,” he told the partner. “I just flew in from the Galapagos by way of Zimbabwe, so my ass is pretty numb.”
“Pace away, my friend,” Conner said with a wave of his hand. “I’d love to hear about your latest trip, too. But Ben has a plane to catch, so why don’t you give us your pitch before he goes.”
Jason gave a friendly nod. “No problem. First off, I’d like to say thank you to all of you for considering Can-Do Adventures. Regardless of whether we end up working as a team here at the latest Cartright Hotel, I hope you’ll all accept an invitation to take a trip as our gift. Any adventure, from the Andes to Tanzania, just give us a call and we’ll set it up.”
Jason reminded himself to let his brother kno
w. Peter was the money-man, which meant he’d probably throw a fit at the thousands Jason had just tossed on the table. But it was worth the gamble. Besides, if they didn’t get this space, Can-Do would be Used-To, so it wouldn’t matter.
“What makes you think a travel agency would thrive in a hotel catering to couples?” the pudgy, less-friendly guy asked.
“Fair question. Ben, isn’t it?” Jason stuffed his hands in his front pockets and rocked back on the worn heels of his hiking boots, waiting for the guy to nod.
“First off, Can-Do isn’t a typical travel agency. We don’t book cruises and family trips. We specialize in adventure. In thrills and excitement and pushing the limits. No two bookings are alike, since no two people want the same thing. We customize one-of-a-kind tours. And if we’re aligned with the Cartright Hotels, we’ll be offering very exclusive, very impressive tours for Cartright’s patrons.”
He emphasized that point, since it was one that was near and dear to his heart. It was also the first one that’d have to go if this deal didn’t come through. He pictured himself leading his tenth hike of the month through the Daintree Rainforest, on a first-name basis with the tree-kangaroos, and shuddered. Gorgeous, yes. But with that kind of repetition, there was no excitement. Travel for the sake of seeing the same thing over and over was as bad as sitting on his ass in front of a television watching the nature channel.
Totally not his thing.
Not that he hadn’t considered it, once. Giving up the wild trips, playing it safe. Or at least, safer. He’d almost left Peter in the same lurch his brother now had him in. That was why he couldn’t be too pissed at the guy. Women—some very special women—could make a man go stupid.
Jason eyed Conner and wondered if he should’ve thanked the guy all those years ago instead of getting ugly. After all, if Conner hadn’t swooped in with his rich boy charm and swept Larissa away, who knew what kind of craziness Jason might have gotten into?
