“What?” He looked taken aback for a millisecond. “What are you referring to?”
“It’s none of my business. She’s not happy about you requesting me to be on this job.”
Oh hell, I need to find my filter.
“Why?” Garrick looked perplexed.
“She stated you guys had a long chat after I left and would be having dinner together tonight.”
A loud, booming laugh filled the air, and once again, I was confused. “I left less than a minute after you pulled out of the parking lot. She tried, but I’m not interested. There are no dinner plans.”
“It’s none of my business.” Silence filled the air, and I glanced at him. They weren’t together? No dinner? Satisfaction coursed through me.
“I’m not seeing your boss, Knoah. And I will not be seeing your boss.”
He said my name. And I liked how it sounded from his lips, his voice deep, with a bit of possession behind it. A shiver ran down my spine. Get a grip. It’s your name. Nothing more. I was letting my emotions get in the way. The room grew silent before a knock startled me and I whirled around.
“Mr. Shaw. Bernie brought your lunch from the Greek place. I apologize I wasn’t here to meet Ms. Knox—I stopped to speak with Sara in marketing regarding your three o’clock.” His PA, Annie, brought in bags and began to set up lunch.
His words stopped her and he stood. “Thank you. I’ll handle it from here, Annie.”
For a moment, the receptionist looked stunned and a little lost. Garrick probably rarely unpacked lunch for meetings. Her hands hovered above the bag before she straightened. “I’ll be at my desk if you need anything, Mr. Shaw. It’s good to see you, Ms. Knox.”
“You, too. Thank you for arranging lunch.”
“Of course.” She nodded and left the room.
Once again, silence fell over us, and I made myself busy with the bags, pulling out the containers. Garrick touched my hand. I froze at his touch, but he remained unaffected.
“I’ll take care of it.” His voice was softer, sending the butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
Not wanting to argue, I took a seat as Garrick laid out an assortment of gyros and sides from the Greek restaurant around the corner. I selected a chicken gyro with a tomato cucumber salad, which happened to be my favorite. “Thank you for lunch.”
“My pleasure.” Pleasure. The way he said the word brought the kiss from my dream to the forefront of my mind. After removing his suit jacket, he selected a steak gyro with some potatoes. My word, I thought as his muscles flexed against his dress shirt when he reached to serve himself. Our eyes connected again, and he smiled. It was one of those perfect moments I wanted to freeze. My heart melted, and then I realized I still held the gyro halfway to my mouth. Keep it together. What do I say?
“So what do you envision for the event?”
His words broke the trance I’d been in.
Finally, business. That I could handle. “I researched your past events and found they were all black and white, which I understand goes with the Shaw International logo color theme.” Pulling out my first few boards, I showed him a rough sketch of the room with the accented colors. “This year, I think we should have an accent color to add some differentiation from the previous sponsor. They had decided on a black and white theme as well. Based on the situation of them bailing last minute, I wouldn’t suggest being associated with them. If approved, I can have this proof invitation ready to be printed and mailed today. I know the first round of invitations was already sent, but this could serve as a reminder of the event and a subtle way to show the change in sponsorship.”
Garrick looked at the boards thoughtfully. “Do you like the emerald?”
“Yes, I think it would be magnificent. It’s rich and decadent.” And while I was deciding what to pitch last night, I wasn’t able to get the color of his eyes out of my mind. In fact, it was the reason for my color choice in blouse today, as well.
There was another knock on the door, and Annie poked her head in, a concerned look on her face. “Mr. Shaw, Mr. Monroe is here. He needs to talk to you.”
With slow deliberation, Garrick put the boards down and locked his jaw. “Excuse me, Ms. Knox.”
“Of course.”
With precision, he pushed his chair out and walked sharply to the door. Irritation rolled off him in waves. Annie remained unaffected. I rubbed my forehead for a moment, exhaustion seeping into my bones.
Five minutes turned to ten, which made it easier to finish eating without the distraction.
The door reopened and Garrick appeared, a small worry line marring his forehead. “Sorry about that. GS Industries, a subsidiary, is having some issues.”
GS. Garrick Shaw. Of course. “I heard about it in the news. I don’t understand why your PR team is only going on the defensive.” Garrick stared at me with those eyes. Nervously, I rambled on. “I mean, I’m sure the situation is a mountain out of a molehill. There have to be some positives to outweigh the negatives.”
“Only two people were displaced from the restructure. They were offered different roles at equal pay but chose the severance package instead.” For a moment, Garrick’s mouth dropped open and he seemed shocked he’d disclosed so much. Maybe I affected him, too.
The news had made it seem like most of America’s workforce would be out of a job. “Why haven’t you released a statement about your goals of keeping jobs while aligning the company for longevity at the same time? There are a slew of offensive tactics GS Industries could use to negate the rest.”
It had been a while since I used my PR training, but this seemed basic. He sat there without responding, watching me. I fidgeted with the hem of my dress. “Mr. Shaw, I apologize. It’s not my place to comment on the situation.”
“Do you have a background in public relations?”
“Only my bachelor’s.” I wanted to ramble more but stopped myself. Anything else about the topic might lead to more questions.
He took a deep breath. “To answer your previous questions, yes, I’m aware what should be done. It’s… complicated. Let’s go with emerald.”
I wondered what complicated meant. That seemed more in-depth than the normal business dealings. Being in charge of your own multi-billion-dollar company had to have many complicated situations.
With another knock, Annie walked in. Garrick hadn’t taken a seat yet. “Sir, I apologize. Mr. Monroe won’t leave. What do you want me to do? I have security on standby but did not think you would want a scene.”
Things had escalated.
“Tell Hastings I’ll be out there in five minutes.”
“Yes, sir.”
Isn’t Garrick his boss? Why not leave? Outwardly, Garrick remained unaffected except his eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
“Ms. Knox, proceed with your vision. I’ll contact you later about additional details.”
The dismissal deflated me a little. Yes, I wanted to be near him yet leave at the same time. But I thought we would have more time. I stood and extended my hand. “Perfect. I’ll send a recap of everything I do via e-mail before I leave for the day.”
Garrick held my hand but held on for what seemed like longer than normal. Maybe I was imagining things. With Garrick around, my mind was not my own. He scrubbed a hand down his face. “I apologize that our lunch was interrupted. I will touch base this evening.”
And with that, he abruptly turned on his heel and left. From his parting words, I would ponder when Garrick Shaw would call me.
I need a life.
Chapter Ten
I sat on my living room floor with order books and notes spread out around me. This was my first police gala, and I wanted to make sure I followed any necessary protocol. Brenda had e-mailed a folder with comprehensive details, which helped immensely. I heard from her assistant, as well, and a few other people involved with the event. The moment I came on board, people reached out to me. It appeared Garrick led a well-oiled machine.
The apartment
was quiet. Sawyer was at her parents’ having dinner—I’d been invited, of course, but I declined. With so little time until the gala, I couldn’t get away. At least the work kept my mind from wandering too often to Garrick.
Of course, he hadn’t called.
Earlier, I’d fed Snickers and cleaned out the litter box for our neighbor Jessica. It only kept my mind occupied for ten minutes.
My phone rang; it was Kurt. Finally, another distraction.
“Hey there, rock star. How’s Miami?”
“Why didn’t you tell me about what happened last night outside your office?”
I closed my eyes. Kurt had probably seen the newspapers. I refused to look at the garbage being published. “It was fine. They’re fishing for information.”
“Knoah, your safety comes first. If something happens, call me. Okay?” From his coarse tone, he was clearly aggravated. Maybe the scene outside my office had been a little more intense than I wanted to admit.
Releasing a breath, I said, “Okay. I promise.”
“And you’re okay now? Nothing today?” The worry in his voice was sweet.
“No, everything was fine. No one bothered me.” Most of it was because of the security precautions Garrick took. There had been a few photographers at the apartment complex. However, because the tenants had complained about the paparazzi, two new security guards had been added.
He let out a breath. “Good. On a side note, I got the contract for the royalties for ‘Lost.’ I’ll send you a copy. It’s straightforward. My lawyer has looked it over as well. Let me know if you have any questions.”
“When does it need to be done? I’m in the middle of planning a major event for GS Industries this weekend, which is taking up all my time.”
He paused. “GS Industries as in Garrick Shaw?”
I froze. Does Kurt know him? “Yes, Mr. Shaw hired As You Wish since he’s now sponsoring the police gala. Do you know him?”
“Only a little. You never realize how small a world it is.” That seemed like an odd statement, but I let it go. Diving too deep into information about Garrick was not a good thing for my psyche. Kurt was supposed to be a distraction, not bring Garrick to the forefront of the conversation. “Anyway, they would like it back Sunday night if that works.”
I stood to stretch. “I’ll make it work. Is tomorrow your last concert?”
“Yes, I’ll be headed back to Orlando the following day. I’m working on getting a place but will stay at a hotel until then.” There was a knock on Kurt’s side of the line. “Gotta go. I’m meeting with the band to talk about switching to Cameron’s company. What are your thoughts?”
“On Cameron?”
“Yes.”
I thought about it for a second, wanting to make sure I gave an unbiased opinion. “From what I’ve seen and heard, I think he’s good at what he does. I would imagine you’d be one of his most high-profile clients. I’d ask to have one person completely dedicated to your account.”
“I think that’s a good idea. Call me if you need anything. We may need to get you a security detail.”
I shuddered at the idea. Having someone follow me around would be stifling. If it called for it, I would understand. But hopefully, it would be unnecessary. “I promise to call.”
“See ya, squirt.” I groaned at my nickname, and Kurt laughed. “I’ll text you tomorrow.”
“See ya.”
After we hung up, I realized how thankful I was that we’d reconnected. Opening the camera on my phone, I looked at one of the pictures from the slideshow at the concert. It was the one of all three of us. We’d been happy and ready to conquer the world. I ran my finger over Dylan’s face. I was thankful for the time he’d been the center of my life. He’d given me beautiful memories. But now, I felt less hollow inside, and I wasn’t sure why. I wanted more.
I poured myself some water and looked at the clock. It was almost eight. On cue, my stomach rumbled. I needed to find something to eat. With that thought, an e-mail came through on my phone letting me know the reminder invitations had been sent out this evening. Good, I thought with relief. We were on track. I informed all three teams of Garrick’s company who e-mailed me today with the update.
My checklist was becoming more manageable. On my way home, the venue had returned my call, indicating they’d received the new layout along with the change in expectations. On Saturday, I would go to review everything prior to the event on Sunday.
Sunday was an odd day to have a gala, but the previous company had booked it to get a cheaper rate. At this point, there was no changing it. From what I understood, the previous company had incurred unexpected funding issues, and Shaw International had stepped in to save the day.
I checked my list again. Tomorrow the catering service would provide a selection of meals to choose from. The menu had been low budget and not up to par for a Shaw International function. Making last-minute changes became challenging but necessary.
My phone rang, and my heart sped up at the sight of his name flashing across the screen. “Hello?”
“Hello, Ms. Knox. Is now a good time?”
Oh, that deep, sexy voice had me shifting where I stood. He’d called. Now I wanted to giggle like a little schoolgirl with a crush. This attraction took me off guard every time, and that low, deep need began from within me. I cleared my throat. “Yes. I made a lot of headway today. I’m having the caterers redo the menu and should have a final budget tomorrow. The previous hosts skimped on this piece of it to save money, it seems. All the necessary parties at Shaw International have been brought up to speed.”
“I planned to bring up the menu tomorrow morning.” He sounded like he was in a car. “Are you still at the office?”
“No, I brought everything home. Matching color swatches and ordering decorations is easier to do in pajamas than business attire.” Not to mention, Mickey had become a raging bitch and would be working late tonight, as per Chelsie.
He chuckled. “I would imagine so. Have you eaten?”
Things shifted as his voice became warmer. I smiled. “No, but I need to.” I paused, realizing he probably didn’t want to hear all the details about what I planned to microwave for myself or how I was going to work in my pajamas. Very professional. I brought my hand up to my face, feeling the heat creep up my neck. “I’ll have new proposals done tomorrow with a better estimate of the total cost. Some of it will be a little higher due to the timing.”
“I appreciate your hard work. Call my cell phone when you’re ready to discuss.”
“I will.” E-mail would be so much easier. Being around him so much for the next five days was going to be tough. I had to make sure I didn’t act foolish.
Silence fell over the line, and I wondered what to say. Maybe Garrick wondered the same thing. Unexpectedly, he said, “Let me have dinner delivered to you.”
I was speechless for a moment but recovered quickly. “What?”
“Dinner. Let me have it delivered for you.” The warmth that I kept seeing glimpses of was back.
“You confuse me, Garrick.” I gasped and threw my hand over my mouth. “I mean, Mr. Shaw.”
He let out a sigh. “I would prefer if you called me Garrick.” He paused, but I remained silent, not knowing what to say. I called him Garrick—and he wanted me to! The lines just got blurrier for me. And worse yet, I wanted to call him Garrick… I wanted to blur those lines. “Knoah, it’s a simple thank you for dropping everything to handle this event.”
“I… uhh…” Knoah. He called me Knoah.
“I know a great Thai place. Do you like Thai?” He paused for only a brief second. “It’s the least I can do considering it’s after eight and you’re still working on the gala.”
At this point, it was easier to agree. Who was I kidding—I wanted to agree. “I do like Thai. Thank you.”
“Give me your address, and I’ll have it arranged.”
I gave Garrick what he requested and we said goodbye. Why is he acting like this? The spa
rk between us brightened the more we talked. Did he feel anything? Well, my feelings, at least. It was going to be hard to work with him for even a week and fight the draw to him. If I could stay away and handle most everything via phone and e-mail, that might help. My thoughts were a mess.
Thirty minutes later, I’d accomplished nothing but trying to understand my feelings about Garrick and if it was okay to have those thoughts, when the doorbell rang. What is this unexplainable pull I feel from him? Why him? Deep down I wanted to see Garrick again. I enjoyed being in his protective presence.
When I opened the door, the deliveryman handed me more food than I would be able to eat in days. When I sat down to open it, there was a simple note on the top of the box.
Have a good evening, Knoah.
Garrick
The note brought a smile to my face, and I brought it to my chest. This was completely new territory for me, but I refused to do anything but enjoy the moment. He’d put Knoah and signed it Garrick. Sometimes it was the simplest things that made the brightest mark on a person’s day. I had all these unexplainable feelings for Garrick even though I knew hardly anything about him. Internet searching had not given me much information. But I had a job to do, so I would focus on completing it.
~ ~ ~
Another late night and I was running on fumes after staying up until almost four again. I’d lain down at two, but my thoughts had turned to Garrick. Is it normal to be this completely consumed with the thought of another person? I hadn’t experienced this before, which worried me. Maybe something was wrong with how I moved forward—trading hiding from the world with obsessing.
I hoped not and somehow doubted it.
At least I had all the major decisions made, which helped balance the horrendous start to my day. My hair dryer broke. My car had a flat tire. I spilled coffee on my new shirt. And I lost one of my favorite earrings somewhere along the way. Shitty day and hot mess were two perfectly fitting phrases for the moment.
After parking in the secured area, I leaned my head back for a minute. This day cannot get any worse. The gates opened, and a black town car entered. I hurried to get out of the car. It might be Garrick. If it was him, I needed to get myself together first.
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