Mix'n Business With Pleasure

by Hadley Raydeen

  “Are you asking me if I’m involved again? I answered that question earlier.”

  “Well, are you? You never answered the question earlier. You sidestepped.” She had tried to get the answer out of him earlier when she asked about his assistant but he hadn’t elaborated beyond their particular status.

  “I wouldn’t be sitting here across from one of the most stunning women I’ve seen in my life if I were involved or committed otherwise. So now that we have established my status, tell me why someone as stunning as yourself is not taken?” He turned the tables on her, quick. She didn’t know how to answer the question. How exactly do you tell someone you are single by choice? Loving the wrong man in college had led to heartache she wasn’t quite sure if she would ever be over. After the torrid affair with him, keeping a low profile and only dating casually, was in her best interest. Sure, she’d been on plenty of dates in the last couple of months. Friends tried to set her up to help her find Mr. Right. Every date had turned out to be Mr. Right Now. No one special was waiting for her at home.

  The longest, meaningful relationship she had recently was her work. She worked her ass off to get where she was in the Werries’ company. Now that she was there and she had the status and money, there was no one to share it with. She sounded pathetic admitting it, but it was her truth.

  “I’ve dated,” she admitted.

  “Anyone serious?”

  Her gaze met his, dark blue and mesmerizing, enough to make a woman weak in her knees, with just a glance.

  “No, nothing serious.” She kept her answer short and sweet, not wanting to get into it with him about her past.

  He reached across the table and brushed his fingers over her hand.

  “How about I order a bottle of wine and we talk?”

  What does he want to talk about? Hopefully there is no more talk of lips and what he is capable of doing with them. Why am I nervous to have a conversation? Calm your ass.

  The inner dialog was driving her insane. She tried to simmer down and wished like hell she already had the wine he mentioned. She needed something to wrap her fingers around. Of course her mind immediately went to wrapping her hand around the thick erection he’d pressed against her earlier. She shook her head willing the thought away. Bevin, you are better than this.

  “Hey.” The gentleness in his voice snapped her back to reality. He drew lazy circles over her hand before linking fingers with hers. Her insides liquefied as he held her hand across the table. Every inch of her tingled from his touch. He continued rubbing his thumb across her fingers. The thought of being with a man like Jaxon made her desire things she hadn’t found in any other man. How would this feel to sit with him every night at the table holding hands and sharing the happenings of their days? Planning their lives…their future. Other men she dated that compared to him had hurt her though. Successful, handsome, so sure of himself and his sexual prowess. She found it all so appealing, but she had to be cautious not to fall too far, too fast like before. She couldn’t stand that heartache again. And she’d be damned if she fell for him only to have him play the same types of games she’d experienced before. He hadn’t backed down to her attempt to push him away though. If anything, it made him try harder. From the looks in his eyes, he really wanted her.

  “What kind of wine would you like, red, white, or blush?” he asked.

  Wine? Most men she dated wanted a good beer, or whatever whiskey they could get their hands on, straight or on the rocks. She usually enjoyed a Pinot or a Cabernet at home, while sitting in the bath, reading a book by candlelight. Alone.

  “I prefer red,” she answered.

  The waitress came to their table as soon as Jaxon looked up. Sauvé. He has status here.

  “Could we please have a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon?” She listened to him name a brand she wasn’t familiar with and year. It sounded expensive.

  “Absolutely, Mr. Stewart.” The redhead smiled at him.

  “Bevin, would you like a salad?” he asked.

  “Yes, please.”

  “Two of your house salads. The balsamic dressing for me and what would you like?” He cocked a brow and the loaded question was not lost on her again.

  She duplicated his order and sat back and stared at him. “You are like a rock star here.”

  “Trust me, it’s not that big of a deal.” He brushed it off. “Some of the ladies here date some of my guys. Plus, we always tip well when we come in. They like seeing us.”

  “I’m sure they do,” she said under her breath.

  She looked over the menu at the mostly American fare. She decided on Parmesan crusted chicken and he ordered New York strip.

  The first band started playing indoors and they sat back to enjoy the night air and the sound of smooth jazz filtered through the speakers set on the outdoor patio.

  “I never even knew this place was here. I’ll have to ask my brother if he has heard of it. He loves jazz,” she commented.

  “This place is fairly new. I believe it’s been open about a year or so.”

  “I’m surprised it got past me. I like to stay up on trendy new places. Thank you for suggesting it.”

  She looked up as the server brought their wine and salads and waited while she poured them each a glass of the dark liquid.

  “Thank you,” Bevin said, truly grateful for the break in the intense stares he gave her. She busied herself, fiddling with her napkin and taking the wine glass, swirling it and taking a healthy sip. The moan of appreciation for a good glass of wine escaped her lips. She rolled her eyes shut and let the bursts of rich fruit hit her pallet. She opened her eyes and noticed he watched her with an amused grin.

  “You approve?” he asked.

  “It is delicious. I’ll have to put it on my wine list.”

  “Absolutely. A good choice for the wine collection.”

  “So, this place has been here for a little piece of time?” She repeated the information he had already told her, grasping for something to stop his examination of her face. “I’m really surprised. Were there any reviews or write-ups about its opening? It could be that I just never made it out this way. I will have to keep it in mind for clients who come in town. This would be a great place to entertain—”

  “Sounds like all work and no play, Bevin. You really should do some more things for yourself. Do you ever go out or is it just work, work, work?” He sipped from his glass keeping an eye on her.

  “Yea, something like that. I haven’t had real time to maintain a relationship. My schedule has been hectic. I’ve been helping Russ build his business. I’ve been—”

  “Busy? Busy is the new black it seems. Everyone is using that excuse to explain away why they don’t have personal interaction with people or why they are ignoring someone. Most importantly denying their own happiness. No one should be too busy to take care of you and your own personal needs. Don’t you have needs, Bevin?”

  A nervous chuckle escaped her lips. She did not want him to finish the sentence with that question. She could not be held responsible for what may come out of her mouth. She wouldn’t mind sharing her personal needs with him. She was quite sure he could help her ease those needs. She wanted to throw caution to the wind, let loose and enjoy. Yes, she was all work and no play. Yes, she was horny as hell. Yes, she wanted to jump across this table and have him scratch that sexual itch. Damn him. Keep it neutral.

  She glanced up at him. He watched her like the best entertainment since TV outdid radio. He waited her out. She refused to speak. After the babbling, she wouldn’t embarrass herself further.

  He finally broke the silence after a sip of wine. She watched him swish it around his mouth and set it back on the table.

  “Well, since I’m not getting an answer to that question, how about you tell me about you?”

  “What about me?”

  “Tell me what makes Bevin tick?”

  So he wants deep conversation, eh? She took a sip of wine for liquid courage before answering his loade
d question. “What would you like to know?”

  “Anything you are willing to share. I’m game to hear it all.” He leaned forward like a little boy about to hear a story.

  “I was born and raised in the Farmington, Connecticut area. My father was killed in a car accident the year I graduated high school.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Bevin; that is tough.”

  “Yes, it is. My mother still lives in the area. We make sure to look after her. Most of our family lives out of state. You know extended relatives, aunt, uncles, and cousins. I left for college shortly after my dad died. I had already been accepted at Brown University. Not too far from home, but far enough away to find myself and still be close to my brother and mother.”

  “Brown is an admirable college. Ivy League, correct?” he asked, sipping from his own stemmed glass.

  “Yes,” she answered. “I was able to pay my way through school, of course by hard work. I ended up with my MBA and landed the job I have now through some connections I’d made while at school. I worked my way up through the ranks. Russell has been fabulous. He is an excellent mentor. He took me under his wing.” She noticed his eyes darken and something flash across his features. She couldn’t quite place the look.

  “Is there anything more there between the two of you?” The question was low and calculated. She heard a tone in his voice, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

  “Is there anything more?” Then it dawned on her. “You mean between me and Russell?” She laughed, nearly choking on her wine. She reached for her napkin. “No, not at all. My boss is gay.”

  “Really?” A slow grin crept across his face, causing her heart to skip a beat.

  Is that relief I hear in his voice and see in his eyes?

  “Yes. Matter of fact, I think he thinks you are quite handsome.”

  Jaxon laughed. “I’m flattered, but I’m very much into women—sexy, smart, talented women.”

  Her cheeks warmed under his appreciative glance and he reached a hand across the table to brush lightly at her knuckles. The arrival of their meals caused her to sigh, relieved for the break in the heated conversation. She needed a second to regroup. The look in his eyes reciprocated her feelings. The confidence and mesmerizing way he gazed at her drew her to him and she wanted to open up to him more. Not now, Bev. Don’t give him too much. Have to slow this down.

  After they received their food, he cut into his steak, savoring the taste before he spoke.

  “Please continue, Bevin. Your story is impressive.”

  “Really it’s not. I’m thankful for everything I have, and everything I’ve been able to do, considering...” Her words caught in her throat. She didn’t want to get emotional in front of him. Not now. It was much too soon to go into the nitty gritty of her life. The truth was that after her father died, her world had fallen apart. Her mother had become a shell of a woman, unable to cope with the loss of her one true love. Bevin loved her mother but she didn’t want to become dependent on a man. So much so she couldn’t live her life and be who she was meant to be if, heaven forbid, he became lost to her.

  Then she’d done the complete opposite of what she set out to do and began falling down a path of dating too much looking for attention, no doubt, and the one thing she thought she’d never let happen, did. She fell for the wrong man and was horribly hurt. She shook her head slowly clearing the thought. No, he wasn’t ready for that much truth about her life. It was one of the reasons she’d built a wall up against anything real or lasting. She wouldn’t put those insecurities out there. She shifted the subject.

  “I’m so thankful for my brother. He is my best friend. His family is wonderful. He is married with two sons. I spoil them rotten.” She laughed. “We do holidays and vacations together. I’m cool Auntie Bev. It really is good.” She needed to change the subject. She wasn’t usually this open about her personal life up front. He clearly wanted something from her and this is all she could give right now. It had to be enough. She needed it to be enough. She was thankful for his comment and almost sighed in relief he didn’t press for more.

  “Auntie Bev. I like it.” He smiled at her.

  She cut into her chicken. “Please, enough about me. Tell me about you, Jaxon.”

  “Oh really, it’s nothing to talk about. I don’t want to bore you.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I just sat here and told you about me. You could at least tell me about all things Jaxon.”

  He laughed. “‘All things Jaxon, huh’? Well, I grew up in Texas.”

  Explains the tan and cowboy build.

  “My mother still has a house there actually.”

  “Oh my, what brought you to Connecticut?” she asked.

  “UCON,” he simply stated.

  “Go Huskies,” she said, taking a bite of her chicken. She chewed a small bite thinking on his college choices. “You are telling me you came all the way up here from Texas, with all the colleges and universities between here and there? What interested you in Connecticut?”

  “Honestly, I applied to every northern college and university I could think of. See, I come from a good-sized family. I’m the oldest; one sister, two brothers—”

  “The oldest of four. Sounds like a lot of responsibility.”

  “Yea, being big bro has its challenges, but we are close. My mother had a hell of a time with us, but we muddled through somehow.”

  She laughed out loud. “Was your father around?”

  She watched, as a few emotions crossed over his features. She wasn’t exactly sure what he was thinking but she waited for him to speak. He looked away briefly then back at her with a slight smile.

  “Yes. He was a hell of a man.”

  “Was?” she asked, knowing the signs of sadness of loss.

  “He died… cancer, about fifteen years ago.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” she said, sad to hear he too was void a parent. She wanted to reach for him, console him. She missed the touch of his hand, wouldn’t mind feeling it again… warm and strong.

  “Yeah, his death was a real tough time for the family,” he said, quietly looking down at his plate. “He was an excellent father. Taught me a lot about how to be a man and how to love a woman… love family first and be a manly figure. Honestly, he was my idol. I wish I could be half the man he was. He is…was… just special. No one I ever met could live up to him. His demeanor… Honestly, the man took care of business… You know… he was a straight shooter. I could go on and on for real… I was… well, we all were blessed. He is…missed.”

  She looked up at him and caught that moment… a son missing a father. She saw the pain and memories flash across his face and leave traces of pain in his eyes. She felt bad their conversation had pulled this out of both of them.

  “I’m so sorry for your loss, Jaxon. How old were you when he passed?”

  He looked up at her. “Oh, hell,” he chuckled, but it wasn’t a humorous gesture. More of the ‘laugh to keep from crying’ type of bitterness came through in that grin. He scrubbed a hand over his stubbled jaw. “It was my freshman year of college. I’d just started. I didn’t know he had cancer. He kept it from us kids. My mother knew though.” Bevin’s eyes grew wide, listening to the story. “Yeah, it was rough. Of all the coming-of-age moments. Just starting my undergrad and… my Pops…” He cleared his throat and cut into his steak. “But… anyway, I headed north. I wanted my freedom, or what little I could get. Like I said, I applied to damn near every school I could. Thankfully, I did pretty well in high school and I played football. UCON offered me the best ride. I graduated with a degree in engineering. I worked and completed an internship for a man who had a firm in Farmington. He mentored me into building the business I have today. He was a tough ass shrewd business man but he gave good advice on how to start and grow.” His tone turned a bit dark and she couldn’t quite figure out why. Something about that internship? She didn’t want to press if he didn’t want to share.

  “When I found
out I’d be working with you on this project, I researched your firm. Your business is rather large.” She stroked at his ego.

  “I do okay.” He smiled, but the expression didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  “You are modest. What you have done for yourself is admirable, Jaxon.”

  “Thank you. You as well. I also read up on you. Bevin, to be an exec at your age… I tip my hat.”

  “I do okay.” She echoed his words. He laughed out loud, and she enjoyed the sound, thankful she could pull him out of the dark mood. “So how does your family feel about you still living up here when the rest of your family is still down south?”

  “My siblings moved out and moved on. Getting married, having kids, you know how it is. I think I’m the farthest away. My one brother is still in Texas and the other one is in Oklahoma. My sister is in Florida, but I’m the only one up here. I like it. I like being that crazy uncle that flies in and sees my nieces and nephews. I love my family, don’t get me wrong, but it is nice to have my own space and be my own man. One day I do hope to find that special someone and start a family of my own and I’m sure that will be around here. I like Connecticut.”

  She listened to him speak. She didn’t know if it was the wine or what exactly that made her bold enough to ask, “How close to your goal are you?”

  “What do you mean?” he asked, looking at her, his blue eyes penetrating.

  “How close are you to your goal of finding that special someone and settling down? Everything you’ve told me, you seem like a great guy. I find it hard to believe you are single.”

  He smiled at her before stabbing at a potato on his plate with his fork. “I guess, like you, I have dedicated the last couple of years to starting my business and making a name for myself. Meaningful relationships were never in the equation. It sucks though, because at the end of the day, after working your tail off, having to come home to an empty house, without anyone there to share your success with… well, it is the missing link, you know?”

  She knew all too well exactly what he meant. “Well, I have to say, unfortunately, I’m in the same boat.” She laughed bitterly, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. She took another sip of her tepid wine. “I’m sorry Jaxon. I don’t mean to be Debbie Downer tonight. I just thought I would ask.”