“This is a wonderful town,” I assured her. “The people are great. That’s why I wanted to locate my tech campus here. I think this would be a terrific place to live.”
“It’s not exactly New York City.”
Thank god. “That’s why I chose it.”
There was a loud pounding sound on the door and then voices. Rescuers. For a moment, I was annoyed that they’d shown up in such a timely manner. I could have talked to Ashlyn for much longer, but this really wasn’t the place to romance a female. As soon as we were out of here, I’d ask her for coffee or dinner. She’s turn me down, of course, because she hated me, but I didn’t get to where I am because I was a quitter.
“Looks like we’re going to get out of here.”
Pretty Ashlyn was looking at me like I was something she’d scraped off the bottom of her shoe and she couldn’t wait not to share oxygen with me. I was liking her more and more. She had spirit and passion, even if I thought her passion was misguided at the moment.
“It looks like we are,” I replied, holding my breath. No matter how successful a guy is with the ladies, he never gets over the fear of asking one out. At least, he shouldn’t. I sure as hell never have, especially when I’m aware of the likely outcome. “I don’t suppose you’d want to grab a coffee when we get out of here?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea but thank you.”
Polite but firm. I wouldn’t push but…
“You can tell me all about why I shouldn’t locate my tech campus where those houses are.”
For a second she looked tempted but then shook her head.
“I don’t think that’s a genuine offer.”
“It is but I understand your reticence.” I pulled a business card out of my pocket and handed it to her. “If you change your mind, give me a call. I’m always interested in listening to good ideas and contrary to your opinion of me, Ashlyn, I do have an open mind.”
She didn’t get a chance to respond. The doors on the elevator slid open, showing that we were indeed stuck between floors. Three firefighters were peering into the elevator car.
“You folks okay?” asked the one in the middle. “We got the doors open as quickly as we could.”
“We’re fine,” I assured him, glancing at Ashlyn who appeared to be relieved. “But I think we’re ready to get out of here.”
We both had a meeting to attend.
“Ladies first,” the firefighter said, beckoning to Ashlyn. “We’ll have you out of here in no time.”
He was true to his word. Within ten minutes we were both out and standing on the fifth floor. The meeting was already in progress, the double doors closed. My friend George was sure to be in there, hopefully charming the town council until I arrived. I’d shot him a text from the elevator telling him to stall. If anyone could do it, he could.
We thanked the firefighters and they left, but not before stringing some yellow tape in front of the elevator doors. Everyone would be taking the stairs tonight.
“So I guess this is it,” I said to Ashlyn, who was smoothing down her skirt. She looked nervous and I had to admit that I wasn’t feeling super comfortable myself. I’d hoped this vote might go smoothly but she might only be the tip of the iceberg. Were there hundreds of people that didn’t want me or my business in Arborville? I might leave this meeting disappointed.
“I guess it is.”
“Well, good luck.”
“You too.”
I opened one of the double doors and stepped aside. “After you, Ashlyn Hill.”
“Thank you.”
Ashlyn entered the conference room and I followed right behind, relieved to see George sitting right up front and smiling. Things couldn’t be too bad if he was happy. In fact, the entire town council was smiling, some even grinning at my entrance. I could feel it in my gut.
This vote was going my way.
And Ashlyn Hill was going to hate me even more before this night was over.
* * *
Ashlyn
I dug my fork into the pile of pulled barbecue brisket and then shoved a huge bite into my mouth. I was upset and angry. Food was my only comfort at the moment.
I’d lost.
Not officially. The final vote would be held next month but the preliminary vote had been almost unanimous. The one hold out voter was Old Man Hendrick who I swear was ancient when I was a child and heaven only knew his age now. He voted no on pretty much everything because he was cantankerous that way. The preliminary vote cleared the way for Kyle Lewis to start getting architectural drawings and bids.
I was having a huge plate of barbecue after the meeting with my two best friends, Shelby Kelly and Emerson Grant. They’d been waiting for me outside the meeting and immediately upon seeing my defeated expression had spirited me away to the barbecue dive we often frequented for a much-needed junk food infusion.
I assumed Kyle Lewis would be celebrating his victory with fine champagne and lobster.
Shelby and Emmy hadn’t said too much, letting me stuff my face until I was ready to talk.
I was ready.
“It’s not fair. The council didn’t even want to hear from me. All they care about is jobs, jobs, jobs.”
Shelby nodded sympathetically. “That’s how they get elected, hon. No one is going to vote for them because they saved an old rundown neighborhood on the edge of town.”
“It’s historic.”
Emmy patted my hand. “Not everything that’s old is historic. Sometimes it’s just…old. If you had all the money in the world you might be able to save them but otherwise they’re just rotting away and pulling down house values.”
I looked up from my brisket and glared at my friend. Whose side was she on, anyway?
“If George Washington slept in one of those houses they wouldn’t tear them down.”
“But he didn’t,” Emmy replied. “And even if he had I’m sure George Washington slept a whole bunch of places in his life that they’ve paved over now.”
“With friends like you…”
“We are your friends,” Shelby argued. “But you need to see that you’re wasting your time and energy on this fight, Ash. People want and need jobs. The council would be derelict in its duties if it didn’t allow this project to move forward. You need to pick a battle that you can actually win.”
I stabbed another piece of meat with my fork. “He looked so smug, too. He knew he’d won and he was smiling. Arrogant asshole.”
Emmy and Shelby exchanged a glance before the former piped up. “Who’s an asshole?”
“Kyle Lewis. Smug jerk.” Although he’d actually been really nice in the elevator. “Do you know he asked me for coffee? Can you believe that he had the nerve to do that?”
Eyes wide, Emmy took a gulp of her iced tea. “Wait a cotton-picking minute. You said you were stuck in the elevator with him. We assumed it was for a few minutes. Just how long were in there with him? And you turned him down?”
“Of course, I turned him down. He’s the enemy. My nemesis.”
“He’s almost handsome, rich, and a freaking genius,” Shelby pointed out. “If I wasn’t engaged I’d have coffee with him.”
“You don’t know him like I do.”
Emmy cleared her throat. “I think you need to start at the beginning and tell us all the details. You’ve skipped over some major parts of the story. Important facts that we need to know. Why don’t you start when you entered the elevator?”
That’s where it all went downhill.
CHAPTER THREE
Kyle
I’d won and I was happy as hell about it. The final vote hadn’t been taken yet but there didn’t appear to be any hurdles in my way to making my dream a reality. Arborville was my new home and I couldn’t wait to get started.
George and I had decided to get a bite after the meeting. I’d been too busy earlier to eat and now my stomach was growling and letting me know that I’d better feed it right the hell now. Of course, there was only one pla
ce we wanted to go – the hole in the wall barbecue joint we’d accidentally found months ago when we’d first visited Arborville. We’d both been starving, and we’d stumbled on the jewel as we’d toured the downtown area. I didn’t know who was manning their kitchen but whomever it was knew their way around a smoker. The brisket was positively melt in your mouth.
The walk to the restaurant, however, was freezing cold. My cheeks were red from the wind and by the time we pushed open the door and felt the rush of warm air greet us we were chilled to the bone. Midwest cold felt distinctly different than a New York City cold. It had to be that prairie wind that got deep inside and didn’t let go without a fight.
The hostess showed us to our table and the waitress quickly and efficiently took our order. We were both having the brisket, although I was contemplating getting a rack of ribs to take home and nibble on the next day. Or maybe even tonight. I didn’t sleep much, my mind always whirling and gnawing on problems. Thankfully, I didn’t need much sleep or maybe I’d learned to live without it. Either way, those ribs might not make it ’till dawn.
George’s brows were raised and his head jerked slightly to the left. “Isn’t that her?”
I followed his gaze to where my elevator buddy Ashlyn Hill was sitting with two other females. She didn’t look nearly as happy as I did, and I suddenly felt a little guilty for my euphoria. My win was her loss, but she shouldn’t be discouraged. She’d fought admirably and had made some decent points.
I was actually going to have someone go in and take another look at those houses to see if they were as bad as they looked or if they were salvageable. I just wasn’t planning on telling her about it. I didn’t want to raise her hopes because I had a pretty good idea what I was going to find out.
I was sure those homes were not only rundown, they were dangerous. Frankly, I’d be doing the city a favor tearing them down. One stray spark and the whole block would go up like a box of tinder.
“Yes,” I said, my gaze settling on the three women. “That’s Ashlyn Hill.”
George was grinning comically. “She doesn’t like you.”
“I’m so glad you’re finding this hilarious.”
“I don’t remember the last female that didn’t like you. This is positively historic. Dear Diary, there’s a female in this world that didn’t fall for Kyle’s fame and fortune today. She’s immune to his charm. She thinks he’s evil.”
Evil might be taking it too far, but she didn’t like me, that’s for sure.
“I can’t even argue with you. She turned me down like a bad habit. Talk about an ego buster.”
“You have plenty of self-esteem. You’ll survive. So what are you going to do now?”
Good question. The never-say-die part of me wanted to keep trying, wear her down with my charm. Another part of me overrode that one however, saying that behavior wasn’t respectful. She’d said no. End of story.
I did find her fascinating, though. Not many people would have shown up at that meeting to take me on. Ashlyn Hill had been all by herself, too. No environmental organizations backing her, no anti-tech groups with picket signs extolling the virtues of analog-anything. Just her and me, toe to toe.
That wasn’t really accurate. The town council had been firmly on my side. Jobs and all. They’d politely let her speak but I don’t think most of them were really listening except for that one old guy at the end of the row who had voted no. I had the distinct impression that he didn’t like me, either.
“I’m not going to do anything. She turned me down and thinks I’m lower than a snake’s belly. It’s hard to come back from that, my friend. Best thing I can do is accept defeat gracefully.” I playfully wagged my finger at him. “No one likes a sore loser.”
George glanced over at the table with the three women, as did I. Ashlyn looked much happier and I was glad her friends could cheer her up.
“She is pretty.”
She was. She was intelligent, too. I could tell from her presentation. Her sense of humor was still questionable but I had a feeling that it was fine from the way she was smiling at something one of her friends said.
“Lots of women are pretty, George. Plenty of fish in the sea.”
“I don’t think you’re as okay with this as you pretend to be,” George chuckled. “I think this bugs you.”
“A man shouldn’t have everything he wants,” I replied, quoting my father. He was always warning me about getting spoiled because of my success. “It’s not healthy. Caesar had everything he wanted and look what happened to him.”
“A cautionary tale,” George agreed. “Now how about we talk about the campus? I’ve had another idea that I think you might like.”
This was good. Back to business. No more thinking about delicate blondes with stubborn chins that thought pressing an elevator button over and over again was going to make the car move.
She simply wasn’t interested.
* * *
Ashlyn
That stupid man trap book.
Shelby was currently extolling its virtues, reminding us that her sister Mia had used it and was now blissfully living in Scotland with the man of her dreams. Shelby had a Ph.D. and was a licensed clinical therapist, which usually meant that she would try and figure out our hidden motivations. For example, I couldn’t have eaten because I was hungry. I must have been trying to swallow my anger along with a large pizza with extra cheese.
At some point in the past after a few margaritas, Emmy and I had agreed to help Shelby when she finished her book. I think I can speak for my friend when I say that we never thought Shelby would finish the book, so when she did we were trapped. Mia had been the first to succumb and admittedly it had worked out for her. She was in love and planning a life with her man and we were all ecstatic for her. But that didn’t mean that it would work for me.
“And I also don’t have to remind you that you both promised to help me vet the book when it was finished,” Shelby said. “The book is done, it worked for Mia, now it’s time to step up and do your part. One person working through the book isn’t enough. Three isn’t really enough but at least it’s a start.”
My word meant something to me, so I was basically backed into a corner. I simply couldn’t let Shelby down.
“I’ll take a look at it,” I said with a heavy put-upon sigh. Just a little dramatic. “But I can’t promise that I’ll use anything. Besides, I’m not even dating anyone right now.”
“That’s your own fault,” Emmy said. “You could be out with Kyle Lewis right this very minute.”
“I doubt we have much in common,” I replied with an eye roll. “He’s probably sipping champagne and dining on lobster in celebration.”
“I think he’s more of a barbecue brisket kind of guy,” Emmy said with a grin. “Ask me how I know.”
“Okay, how do you know?”
Emmy nodded toward my left. “Because he and some other guy are sitting at the table right over there.”
The universe was clearly messing with me and I was starting to get peeved. Out of all the restaurants in Arborville he had to walk into this one. Shelby’s lips pursed and her eyes widened as her gaze ran over my nemesis. He seemed to notice my regard and raised his hand in a wave that almost had me scurrying under the table to hide. There he was, smiling and waving like we were buddies. We were not. I quickly turned away and hid my face behind a menu card.
“Wow, that is one handsome man. And he’s a genius?”
Emmy nodded. “Rich and successful, too. He’s the whole package.”
Shelby’s gaze had now settled on me. “And you turned him down? Have you lost your mind?”
They didn’t get it, which surprised me. They usually totally understood my little quirks but this time they were letting the tasty candy coating blind them to what lay underneath.
“Can you imagine the two of us on a date?” They hadn’t thought this through. “What would we talk about? We don’t have anything in common. He’s not my type.”
Emmy’s brows shot up. “Honey, he’s everyone’s type, and you don’t have to marry him. Just go for coffee. There’s no commitment there.”
I snuck another glance at Kyle Lewis from the corner of my eye. He was extremely good-looking and I’d been interested until I found out who he really was. But that was the key phrase… who he really was. He was a man that only looked forward, not appreciating the past.
“We don’t have anything in common,” I repeated, more firmly this time. “It would be a disaster. We’d end up arguing and hating each other. He’s my nemesis, the enemy, for heaven’s sake.”
“He obviously has an open mind,” Emmy said. “He asked you for coffee knowing full well that you would probably use that time to try and convince him that he was wrong and you were right. Maybe you should take advantage of that.”
“Are you suggesting that I use my womanly wiles to change his mind about the location for the tech campus?”
Shelby’s gaze wandered back to where the two men were seated. They were both smiling and laughing over their brisket. Of course, Kyle Lewis had good reason to be happy. He’d won tonight. The battle, not the war.
“I think Emmy is just saying that if he’s offered you his time, you should take it. You never know. You might find that you actually like him and enjoy the date.”
I swear sometimes talking to my friends was like talking to a wall.
“Name me one thing that Kyle Lewis and I have in common. Just one.”
Emmy waved her fork toward the two men. “Well, you both ordered the exact same dinner. That’s a start.”
“It’s not a start,” I denied, although I had to admit he had decent taste in food. But on what planet did that constitute a reason to date someone? “There is no start here. I am not going out with him. Ever.”
Shelby pulled the black binder from her incredibly oversized handbag and slapped it on the table between them. “Take it just in case. You never know when you might need it.”
Tease Him (ManTrap Book 2) Page 2
