“I was thinking…what do you guys think of Austin as a permanent location?” His green eyes watched Evan circumspectly, and I gathered he was treading lightly.
Evan grunted as he finished his set and rested for a moment. “I like it here. It’s Grace’s hometown, so I guess I’ll be dividing my time between here, Boston, and wherever else I gotta work.”
He continued his second set as Zach looked over to me. I shrugged, unsure of what my plans were. I had always gone with Evan on the sets of his films, and when I wasn’t needed, I went back to L.A. Training the stars wasn’t necessarily what I looked for, but studios hired me frequently because of my results. I had begun training in my early twenties, instantly landed a private gig as trainer to a famous female pop star, and finally made my way to Hollywood. I enjoyed it and money was great. “I get jobs anywhere I go, it’s easy for me.”
“Yeah, but would you ever plan to stay here?”
I honestly didn’t care either way. The outdoors was fun. The city had Lady Bird Lake, among other places to go swimming, hiking, and such. And nobody tied me anywhere. Not since my mother passed, and not since Evelyn. Although, she popped her little head up often and tried to guilt me about something. My attempt to stay away had been successful for the most part. “Permanently? Maybe. I haven’t tried the Texas summer though. I might hate it when the major heat kicks in.”
“What’s this about, Zach?” Evan asked as he finished his set and stood up. He instantly positioned himself for his weighted press-ups, and I moved to put the plate on his back.
“Focus, Evan. No talking. Breathe.” I counted with him as he lowered his chest to the floor. “Shoulders back.”
“I’m thinking of investing in a restaurant. Maybe someplace downtown.” Zach’s voice was timid, and he shuffled his feet. It seemed he wasn’t too sure about the idea, yet he continued. “I looked into this one place. Chef’s looking to sell it.”
I finished counting and took the plate off of Evan’s back as he made his way toward a bottle of water and chugged it. I mulled over the idea in my head. Investing in something would be a smart move in the growing city. “Well, it could be lucrative, but could turn to shit. Most bars and restaurants end up closing within three years.”
Evan’s expression showcased surprise. “How do you know that?”
“I’ve looked at investing in a gym, but I studied up on all types of businesses.” I shrugged and moved the kettlebells over for Evan to grab. Instead of opening my own gym, I held a private studio for people to go and train in. It was easy money, hands down.
“Austin’s a great place to be right now. It’s growing so fast. The tech industry, all the festivals going on. This place is the next Los Angeles, and I think it could be a wise move.” Zach placed his hands on his hips, and I could tell he was getting excited at the prospect of a new project. If I was guessing right, he was trying to figure out his future, especially when Evan was thinking about retiring from acting. He wouldn’t need an assistant forever.
“It’s not a cakewalk, Zach. This is a hard-edged investment. We’ll have to look at marketing strategies, what kind of customer base they have, the food, the location,” Evan listed as he reached for a kettlebell and positioned himself over it.
Zach nodded his head, pushed his hair back, and breathed in. “It would need a detailed business plan, definitely, but if I was wanting to go in, I thought you guys might want to help as well.”
“It could be promising. With Evan behind it, I think it might just work,” I said.
“As long as the money’s put to good use and the idea’s solid, I don’t see why not,” Evan shrugged.
I was glad to help Zach. I had the funds, but I wanted to keep what I earned. Money wasn’t something I took for granted, nor did I always have it at my disposal. It would be smart to go in with a full plan. “Marla’s in marketing, isn’t she? We could ask her for details about the area.”
“Marla is in marketing, Josh. Maybe you can make her slogan one to remember,” Evan said teasingly.
“Fuck off.”
Both guys laughed at me as I tried not to remember the way she shut me down. Evan then asked. “She not come around yet?”
I shook my head. “I’m on strike one, apparently.”
“Oh, shit. That’s not good, bro.” Evan’s serious expression had me suddenly worried. “Why?”
Evan shook his head. “I’ll have you talk to Grace. She can help.”
“What’s that mean?” I was genuinely stumped by his concern. I thought Marla had been joking around that night. “Evan, what the fuck, mate?”
“Marla’s—well, like I said, I’ll have you talk to Grace.”
“Well, what was the consumer feedback?” I asked. My notes indicated that the latest marketing tactic my team had come up with was just not cutting it.
“Not good,” one of my team members mumbled. At that point, I wasn’t sure who was talking as I scrambled through paperwork.
“Why isn’t it good? Are we making sure the social media spots are following through? I don’t want to come up with a senseless excuse to our client.”
There were days I loved my job, then there were days I wanted to go full Britney and shave my head. Today, I was ready to reach for the razor.
Holden shrugged as he scanned through his stack of messy paperwork. “They were saying it’s our fault the sales aren’t coming through.”
I rolled my eyes at the response. “Get the analysis on the actual content itself. I don’t want stakeholders scared off. We’ll meet here at three to discuss the Anderson project.”
I closed my eyes for a moment to settle my breathing and stay in the present as everyone walked out of my office. Why did it feel like things would run better if I did it all myself? Freaking out over work would never do me any favors, and I tried to keep my mind on the task ahead. If everything was in order, I would leave work by five, hit yoga at six, and cook the shrimp pasta salad with asparagus and pine nuts I’d had in mind. I loved my Pinterest boards full of go-to recipes I wanted to try. That was one of them. If I could just breathe, calm down, focus on my intention, and get through the rest of the day unscathed, that would be amazing.
“Hello, beautiful. Brought you a coffee.”
I glimpsed as Cameron Gilles approached me, and inwardly groaned as he set down the tempting Summermoon concoction on my desk. The mistake of taking him to my favorite coffee bar on our only date months ago had proven to be both a hindrance and blessing. It was one date and the guy was relentlessly hoping to go out with me again. Wooing me with coffee, chocolates, and my favorite pastries didn’t help change my mind. The guy just wasn’t right for me. But at moments like this, I appreciated the gesture since I needed the caffeine, albeit intravenously.
Cameron was pleasing in his looks. Dark hair with opal eyes to match, he was a handsome man and average in height and build. I had gone out with him partially because he wouldn’t stop asking, but when he informed me during our date that his father was my boss, I put an end to it instantly. Add the no chemistry, plus the awkward kiss goodnight, and it made for an annoying situation I had to tiptoe around.
“Thank you, Cameron.” I let the warmth of my Mocha Moon Latte soothe my throat and couldn’t help but smile at the yummy chocolatey taste. His eyes glazed over my face as I straightened in my chair and put the coffee down. I reached for my purse in my bottom desk drawer and pulled out my wallet. “How much was it?”
His palms stretched out as he shook his head. “No, don’t think about it, pookie.”
I tried to hide my look of disgust over the ridiculous nickname he gave me. “I insist.” I handed him a ten-dollar bill and shoved my purse back inside the desk, letting myself focus on the task at hand. “And I prefer you call me Marla.”
He nodded, taking the crisp bill. “Listen, I want to take you to the Broken Spoke this weekend.”
Oh, here we go again. He would stop for a few weeks then try again. Most people called it sexy when a man p
ersisted, and sometimes I liked the idea of it, but just not with him. I had been more than honest about my feelings. “Cameron…”
His stance straightened and he crossed his arms. He looked irritated, and his voice sounded defensive. “Dale Harrison is playing. I know you like him.”
How he knew my favorite musician without me telling him confused me for only a moment until he answered the question. “You posted something on Facebook.”
I nodded my head, recalling hitting the interest button. “I can’t go, Cameron. I have plans this weekend.”
“Oh.” He sighed and pushed his fingers through his hair that fell against his forehead. “Well, you should change them and give me another shot.” He sauntered toward the door and turned to wink at me as I gave him a strained smile. “We’re getting the Anderson account underway. Expect a late night.”
Dreams of shrimp pasta drowned in the sea of my tears. “Thanks for the coffee.” I watched as he almost hit Holden on the way out. I could see the evident glare between the both of them and held back a chuckle.
I studied the latest strategy of the Blencher account as Holden Lucas plopped paperwork in front of me. “I see Cameron’s not letting up.”
I leaned forward and heaved a sigh, grabbing the dreaded documents. “I wish. Did you input the overall stats?”
“Yep.” He stood beside me playing with a pen in his hand. He was the most ‘handsome one’ in our office. With thick blonde hair and forest green eyes, at six-foot-four, he was a golden god. Every girl wanted a piece. Except me. Not that I wasn’t attracted to him. He just seemed like a brother more than a boyfriend, or even a fuck buddy. I wasn’t into that anyway. “So, have you let him down easy?”
“I’ve told him plenty of times already, Holden.”
“I could pretend to be your boyfriend. Kiss you in the breakroom when he happens to barge in during our lover’s embrace.”
Ana strolled in with a coffee in hand, “Just warn me before you do that, please. I want to keep my lunch down.” My co-worker Ana Wells had a mad crush on Holden, but would never admit it. Not to me, nor herself. She figured acting indifferent to him would hide that fact, but I knew better. She spotted my coffee cup and grimaced. “No fair. You got Summermoon?”
“Her boyfriend brought it to her.” Holden grinned and winked at Ana, which only caused her to scoff at him. “Not me,” he pointed to himself eagerly, “although, I have offered my services.”
“Cameron would be jealous,” Ana joked. “Then he’d torture us with more work. Just date him already, Marla.”
I laughed and continued to enjoy my beverage. “Cameron will never be my boyfriend.”
“He dreams of it though,” Ana wiggled her eyebrows at me, taking a sip of her mediocre coffee as she sat down across from my desk. “So does Holden.”
“It’s true. Sorry to break your heart, Ana, but Marla is my dream woman.”
My glower at Holden confused him, and I realized he truly had no idea of Ana’s crush. She nonchalantly pushed her thick brown locks over her shoulder, trying to hide the hint of sadness I could see peeking through her demeanor. “No offense, Holden, but you’ve never had my heart, so you don’t have the power of breaking it,” she claimed boldly.
He meandered toward her and sat on the arm of her chair, his sexy bum rubbing against her. “Sounds like a pop song gone wrong, pop tart.”
I could automatically sense the tension and build-up happening between those two as she giggled and tried pushing him away. If only they acknowledged what they wanted, it would save so much time. But how many of us actually were ever that upfront? Except maybe Muscle Man McKenzie. God, I don’t even want to think about the strength, endurance, and stamina of that man. He irked me, yet something drew me to him, my thoughts aimlessly drifting to the ink on his smooth, strong skin.
Ana finally pushed Holden away bringing me back to my senses. “Pop tart? You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Why do men give such ridiculous nicknames? It’s not attractive,” I stated, drinking more of the delicious mocha and forgetting about the icy blue-eyed Josh.
“Girls love it when it’s from the guy they like,” Ana replied.
I was about to ask either one of them to stab me with a fork the moment I let some guy call me a cute name when my boss Roger Gilles walked in. Our body language instantly shifted from relaxed to upright and aware. However, it wasn’t because we were scared of him, it was simply out of respect.
What Roger lacked in height, he made up in leadership. He was the epitome of the perfect boss. The company ran well because he truly believed in it, nurtured it for years, and held pride in what it stood for. It was a shame that his son didn’t live up to the same standards he did. But, then again, Cameron was raised by the dreaded ex-wife that Roger referred to as she-devil. It was only until recently that my boss had an opportunity to connect with his son when Cameron decided to move to Austin about six months ago. Cameron didn’t have much experience in the marketing world, but I think Roger took him on with a combination of guilt and pity.
“Hope you guys are looking at that Blencher account. It’s dismal.” He stuffed his hands in his gray pants as he moved toward my desk. The attention in the room was centered on him as my team listened with intent. “Translating what the market wants is key. Are you guys listening to the motivating factors of what makes customers buy?”
“Of course, Mr. Gilles.” Holden nodded as he grabbed paper from my desk. “We’ve been paying extra attention, spending time with them, doing the obligatory outings.”
Roger kept his eyes on me as he nodded. “I have confidence that you are earning their trust, and that’s most important. Get on with the figures, let them know we’re leading them in the right direction.”
Even though Cameron was overlooking all the teams, I was the one in charge of my group. I was the one guiding them and looking into all divisions of the company, making sure we were credible and giving the customers what they wanted. In short, everything landed on my shoulders. I needed to take care of business and not leave it up to anyone else to take the reins, let alone Cameron.
Evaluations were approaching, and my eyes were on the prize. A higher position would come with better perks, which would allow me to eventually take a decent vacation. My dream was to journey somewhere tropical like Tahiti instead of just a short trip to visit my family. I loved traveling and never did enough of it. However, work came first.
In my head, I was already setting up meetings and different avenues to bring ideas to fruition. “Our team’s ready and willing to spend even more time with Blencher to make sure we’re producing a successful product that creates revenue.”
Roger gave me a smile and began his trek out the door. “I can always count on you, Sullivan. Don’t let me down.”
It was his tone that made me want to do my best and be the best, not only for him, but for my team, and for myself. Lately, however, I was stretched thin. I needed to leave the office sooner. Thirteen hour days were taking their toll on me. Added to that were constant business meetings and lunches. I needed to relax. I needed to let loose. I needed sex.
Okay, yes, I needed sex. Great sex. I was wound up too tight, and Ryan Dane hadn’t helped in the great sex department at all. He was good looking, but selfish in bed, which most men tended to be. Josh McKenzie came into mind again. Could he be as self-centered as the meatheads I had dated in the past? I admitted to myself that I tended to have a type, usually like him. But I put that behind me. No more Mr. Wrongs.
“Looks like it will be another long day,” I lamented as Ana and Holden groaned.
Ana shook her head and stood, stretching her arms over her curvy body and yawning. Holden was gazing at her, watching as her voluptuous body moved with grace. A hint of skin peeked from her stomach, and he gulped as he studied the way the fabric moved up and then covered her. I chuckled and he cleared his throat, lifting from the chair. “Okay, I’ll tell the rest of the team we’re in for a late night.”
“You need to let loose and have some fun, Marla. When was the last time you went out on a date?” Ana asked as she pulled up near my desk.
“When was the last time you went out on a date, Ana?” I teased as Holden slowed his exit out the door. I suspected he was trying to listen in. Ana hesitated to answer, and gave a quick shrug of her shoulder. I continued when only the two of us were in the office. “You should ask Holden out.”
“Are you mad? Never!”
“Why not?” I asked, trying to multi-task and type in my daily report. “He might be interested.”
“I work with him. And he’s-he’s…”
My eyebrows lifted waiting for her answer. “He’s… what?”
She nervously giggled. “Look at him. He’s gorgeous. And clearly he’s in love with you.”
I thought about biting the bullet and telling her that he was doing that to get a reaction from her. It just wasn’t my place. Meddling wasn’t my thing, and perhaps it was better for it to happen naturally. Or not at all. “He’s not into me, Ana. Open your eyes, girl.”
“I think he’s into you,” she mumbled and played with her bubblegum pink thumbnail.
“Well, think what you want. And tonight let’s order a pizza for the team. Home Slice.” I grabbed my purse from my drawer and handed her my card. “It’s on me, but be sure to get the garlic knots too.”
“Garlic knots, sure thing.” She nodded. “They don’t deliver though.”
I groaned, remembering the best places hardly ever did. “Can you pick it up? You can take my car.” I dug into my purse and searched for my keys, remembering her car was in the shop.
Ana must’ve noted my confused expression as I searched throughout each pocket of my bag. “What’s wrong?”
“Can’t find my keys.” My hunt began to turn into panic when I took out the entire contents of my bag and checked the pockets of my outfit.
“Did you go anywhere for lunch?” Ana asked as she helped look inside the desk drawer.
“No, I ate in the breakroom.” After a thorough search, Ana found them under a stack of papers on my desk. Today had been one of those crazy days, and now I felt like a moron who couldn’t handle herself. “I need a vacation.”
A Promise Made (Promise #2) Page 3
