by Amanda Uhl
PAINT, PROMOTIONS AND PERFECTION
Creative genius Charlie Solanger has it all: good looks, money, intelligence, charm. And when he swoops in to save Reynolds Paint Company with a brilliant marketing campaign, he has all the ladies in the office vying for his attention. Everyone except math whiz Valerie Wilson.
Val’s not happy Charlie stole her promotion. Worse, his brand of flirtatious charm is reminiscent of her cheating ex-fiancé. So, how come she can’t get him out of her head? The more she challenges him, the more interested—and interesting—he becomes. What secrets is Charlie hiding, and who or what is behind the sudden mysterious drain on their company’s funds? The only way to find out is to join forces. Then it will be a battle of wills…and a triumph of hearts.
CHARMED BY CHARLIE
Amanda Uhl
www.BOROUGHSPUBLISHINGGROUP.com
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, business establishments or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. Boroughs Publishing Group does not have any control over and does not assume responsibility for author or third-party websites, blogs or critiques or their content.
CHARMED BY CHARLIE
Copyright © 2017 Amanda Uhl
Smashwords Edition
All rights reserved. Unless specifically noted, no part of this publication may be reproduced, scanned, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Boroughs Publishing Group. The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or by any other means without the permission of Boroughs Publishing Group is illegal and punishable by law. Participation in the piracy of copyrighted materials violates the author’s rights.
ISBN 978-1-944262-65-5
E-book formatting by Maureen Cutajar
www.gopublished.com
To my BFF Stacy Helco and my Girl’s Rock Marketing Team: Barbara Thuel, Jackie Hudson and Natalie Verardi. Thanks for cheering me on every step of the way.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It takes a small village to write and publish a book. I am grateful for all those who expressed their excitement over early versions, reading chapter by chapter as I wrote them and providing feedback.
To my critique partners, Joyce Caylor, Cathy Matuszak, Tara Harlow, Judy McDonough, and Lydia Sharp, thank you for your patience and input as I reworked first chapters and struggled over back cover blurbs. Your willingness to share feedback and great ideas continues to make the journey fun and rewarding.
To friends and family, who have come from near and far to offer their support, thank you for believing in me and buying my books. Special thanks to Darlene Hritz and Lynn Shirk for beta reading and sharing my excitement. I am so blessed to call you friends.
To my children, Simon, Samuel and Ella, thank you for putting up with my daily ramblings and lack of meals.
And to my husband, for always being there to offer advice and a friendly ear. Thank you for never complaining when I ask for your help to cart books, set up displays, or stay up too late writing and wake you up. I can’t imagine this journey without you by my side.
CONTENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
About the Author
CHARMED BY CHARLIE
Chapter One
“Who’s the new guy, Val? He’s hot.”
I followed my coworker Bernie’s intense stare to the tall, blond and handsome man three cubes over and shrugged. “Not sure,” I said. “We haven’t been formally introduced. But I’m pretty certain he’s Calvin’s replacement.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he’s sitting in Calvin’s cube.” Calvin had been a merchandiser in my unit until he got fired last week. Rumor had it he’d been having an affair with Julie, the owner’s daughter. Never a good idea.
“Has Julie told you anything…is he single?” Bernie was on the prowl. With her mass of dark, curly hair flying in ten different directions, her head swinging from side to side and her bright, red lipstick, she looked like a crazy woman. A cute and lovable lunatic. Bernie was one of the few people I called “friend” at Reynolds Paint Company. We had a lot in common. We were both twenty-nine and single, at least up until recently, when I started dating George Haddad, my almost fiancé. I’d met Bernie nearly four years ago when I’d made the move from San Francisco to Cleveland and needed help finding the coffee machine. Bernie and I were both caffeine addicts. How else do friendships begin?
“I don’t know,” I said, shaking my head. “If she did, I don’t recall.”
Now Bernie placed her hands on her hips and looked at me like I had horns growing out of my scalp. I touched my hair but it was still the same—thin, brown and stick straight.
“Why ever not?” she said. “Any normal woman would look to see if he has a ring on his finger. He’s gorgeous.”
“Because, unlike you, I’m not on the market. George and I are as good as married, remember?”
“You’re not married yet.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? What do you have against George?”
“It means… Oh God, he’s coming this way.” Bernie’s hands flew to her head, trying to smooth down the wayward curls. Despite her best efforts, her hair looked like it had been swept up in a windstorm. Her small mouth hung open as the new guy approached.
“Bernie, close your mouth. You’re drooling.”
But she wasn’t paying attention. She stepped in front of the new guy, blocking his path. As introduction tactics went, it was effective. “Hi,” she said. “I’m Bernie Berger. You must be new. Welcome to the company.”
Even to my ears, her voice sounded deep and seductive. I wanted to vomit. Why did women always gush over attractive men? Because he was good-looking did not make him a “good” guy. For all we knew, he could be a serial killer.
The new guy towered over Bernie, making her look like a midget. He was over six feet by my estimate. He flashed us a full smile, revealing a perfect line of white teeth, and held out a hand. Bernie and I both looked at his finger. No wedding ring.
Charm oozed from his pores like he was a prince on a white steed and we were his damsels in distress. His golden-blond hair lay against his scalp like a talented artist had placed each strand just so. I took an instant dislike to him, which wasn’t fair. It wasn’t his fault he was handsome and charismatic.
Nor mine that I had developed an aversion to those sorts of creatures. Experience had taught me they were cheaters. I preferred stable men, who also tended to be honest.
And boring, my alter ego reminded me. I ignored her. She was always coming into my head at inopportune moments, warning me that I was fast becoming an old biddy.
“First day at Reynolds,” he said. “That obvious? I’m Charlie Solanger. Nice to meet you.”
“I’d be happy to show you around,” Bernie said. “I work over in sales, but if you need anything, anything at all, just ask.”
I rolled my eyes. Bernie was laying it on a bit strong.
“That’s great.” Charming Charlie was saying. “Have you been here awhile?”
“Ten years in March. I know every lunch spot around if you’re not familiar with downtown Cleveland. Let me know when you’re ready to get out and explore a little. I’ll take you to lunch.”
She winked. He smiled. I shook my head, turning back to the numbers on my spreadsheet. Numbers were facts. They never lied. Not like people. I frowned. I loved my job at Reynolds. I was good at it. And I owed Larry Reynolds. He had taken a chance on me when no one else would. This company filled a void in my life I hadn’t even realized was missing until I joined as a marketing assistant more than three years ago and slowly moved up the ranks. Charlie’s deep voice cut into my thoughts. He was still talking to Bernie.
“Great. I’m always looking for new places. Everyone here’s been so friendly to me.”
“I bet.” I’d mumbled it, but I couldn’t stop myself from saying the words aloud. He had the word “heartbreaker” plastered on his forehead in big, bold letters.
I looked up from the file I had been studying to see Bernie and the new guy looking my way. Bernie sighed, as if I were a hopeless case. Which I was.
“Charlie, meet Val Wilson. She’s in marketing like you.”
“Hi, nice to meet you.” Charming Charlie held out a hand, turning the full force of his blue eyes and chiseled blond looks on me. My heart raced, and I had the urge to sit straight and flip my limp hair to the side.
Ridiculous. I nearly snorted out loud. Why would I care what he thinks of me? I didn’t need his attention. Didn’t want to feel such an instant attraction to such an obvious flirt. So he was broad-shouldered and built like an athlete. George was handsome, too. A bit on the short side, but I didn’t mind. George was dependable. I hated men like the one in front of me, didn’t I? All lean muscle and so damn tall, I practically strained my neck staring up at him. I blinked. Charlie waited, hand outstretched, as if daring me to take it. I was going to have to talk to him.
I gritted my teeth and shook his hand, pulling it back quickly. I couldn’t help but notice his strong grip and long fingers. You know what they say about large hands, my alter ego said, but I refused to give her attention. Instead, I bared my teeth and gave him a fake smile.
“Hi.” I turned back to my file, but I could feel Charlie’s eyes on me. Bernie stepped in, as I knew she would.
“Val’s nice, really. She’s on deadline on a project, which makes her a little focused. Plus, she lives alone, so she’s not used to being around a lot of people. Ignore her. You need anything, you come talk to me.”
“What’s the project? Maybe I can help,” he said.
I sighed and looked up from my folder. He was smiling. I tried to ignore the dimple on one side of his cheek, but I swear it winked at me. “How good are you at math?”
“Um, well, okay, I guess. What kind of math?”
“Well, you know. The basic kind…probabilities, statistics, algebra,” I said.
His face looked a little pale. Obviously, math was not his strong suit. Unlike me. I adored math. There were no surprises. That’s why I loved managing a product line. I could puzzle over sales figures for hours until I understood the pattern. I could also solve the Rubik’s Cube I kept on my desk in under three minutes. Not that I bragged about it or anything. “I don’t think this is something you can help with.” I went back to my folder, hoping he would take the hint and leave me alone. He didn’t.
“Try me.” His voice held a challenge. He had come into my cube and was leaning over my shoulder. I could smell his fresh, musky scent. Dark Water, my favorite cologne. Yum. I’d bought it for Christmas last year for George, but it’d never smelled quite like this.
“I’m trying to determine the statistical probability that someone will actually buy our premium line of paints.”
He pointed at my spreadsheet. His long arm brushed next to my right breast, causing my heart to thump painfully in my chest. His finger stopped in front of a column indicating revenue. “How are sales so far?”
Good question. “Um…” I struggled to think, staring not at the spreadsheet but at his bulging biceps. What was wrong with me? “Not…great.” I managed to glance at the spreadsheet, pointing to a column on the right. “We’ve sold nearly 500,000 units. We need to be at a million to break even.”
“What are you doing to increase sales?” The muscles of my neck tightened where I could feel his warm breath when he spoke.
Smart as well as cute. Figures. I swallowed. Charlie wasn’t moving, and my damn heart would not keep beating off-tempo until he did. I took a breath. “Well…we’ve invested in some new signage. That’s what Calvin had been working on up until he screwed…” God, I’m losing it. His cologne must be affecting my brain. “Up,” I finished brightly.
“And how has that been working out?”
Awful, terrible. “Calvin? Obviously, not well.”
I glanced over my shoulder. Charlie looked at me strangely, his blue eyes intelligent, perceptive. I struggled to form a coherent thought. He grinned, as if he knew the effect he was having on me. Bastard.
“Oh, you meant the signage,” I said, turning back to my spreadsheet. He could flirt with me all he wanted. I wasn’t playing his game. “It’s too soon to tell, but it’s not looking great.”
“Hmm.” Charlie straightened, finally giving my poor heart relief. He turned slightly and angled his backside against my desk, so now I was forced either to look at him or pretend like he wasn’t there. I gulped and my eyes met his. They were bluer than the sea in Maui, where I’d spent a week once with an old flame. I shook my head. A weaker woman could lose herself in those eyes. Not me, I reminded myself. Not after everything I’d been through.
Charlie spoke, and I struggled to make sense of his words, fighting the involuntary shiver racing from my head to my toes.
“Are these the reflective signs with orange letters I saw in the conference room?” He picked up my Rubik’s Cube, randomly turning it as he spoke and ruining the colors.
I grimaced. He had some nerve. I forced my eyes back to my spreadsheet. “That would be them. Calvin thought our customers would really go for those. But from these numbers, it doesn’t look like they’re having an impact. Of course, they’re not in all 1,196 of our stores yet. We’ve only covered about half.”
I stole a quick look at him and deliberately yawned and covered my mouth like I was bored but didn’t want to be rude.
He smiled, setting my now wrecked cube down and leaning toward me. The rich scent of Dark Water wafted over me, causing my heart to pound out a crazy rhythm. “I have an idea.”
For a second, I couldn’t think. My eyes bounced from him to the cube and back again. I blinked in a desperate attempt to break whatever spell he had cast over my muddled thoughts. My alter ego came to my rescue. I bet you do, mister. First day on the job. Has to make a good impression. “And what would that be?” My voice oozed skepticism, even to my own ears. Charlie remained unfazed.
“Well, I’m not certain, but part of the issue might be that they’re not reflective enough. I think if we switched to a mirrored background that might solve the problem.”
“Customers can look at themselves while they buy paint? Remember, the majority of our customers are male. They’re not interested in looking at their reflections.”
“I thi
nk you underestimate the male population. But that’s not why I would use mirrored signage. Mirrors reflect light. They will amplify the reflective nature of the sign, which will naturally catch a customer’s eye.”
I opened my mouth to argue and shut it. He was right. It was a great idea. Brilliant, actually. I tightened my lips until they formed a thin line. “I’ll think about it.” Yeah, in your dreams tonight, girl.
Shut up.
“Charlie, that’s a great idea.” Bernie had had enough of my sourness and was back to flattery. “Wow. I mean, you being new and all. Val, don’t you think that’s a great idea?” Bernie was giving me the evil eye.
I sighed. I knew from past experience Bernie wouldn’t give up until I agreed. She had a way of digging in and holding her ground when she believed I was being unfair. “Yeah, sure. Give the man a cookie.”
“Chocolate chip is my fave,” Charlie said. His tone was flippant, but those deep blue eyes promised retribution. I recognized the look. It was the same one George gave the chessboard when he was calculating the success of his next move. I could have warned Charlie not to bother. It wouldn’t matter what he said; his good looks ensured I wasn’t buying it. I turned back to my folder, hoping he would now take the hint.
“Why hello.” The syrupy sweet voice of my boss sounded right over my shoulder. She was eyeing Charlie up like he was a mouse one of her cats dragged in. Julie loved cats. I suspected she was a cat in another life—a pretty white kitty with claws.
“How are you, Charlie?” Julie asked. “It’s been a while. I keep hearing amazing things about you from my father. I understand you’ve agreed to help us out, and of course you come highly recommended. We’re expecting great things now that you’re on board.” She brushed her soft blond hair from her face and purred. “Welcome to Reynolds.”
I was secretly envious of those waves, but tried hard not to show it. About the only time mine curled was on a humid day. I waited to see if her pink tongue would lick her lips, but it did not.
“Great to see you, Jules.”
