Two more floors and she exited at the top level of Softech’s headquarters. A secretary, who looked far more conservative than the girl in the elevator, greeted her and led her to the impressive double doors of the corner office. So far, so good. Everything in this area of Softech looked professional. Her heartbeat elevated as the doors to the large corner office at Softech opened before her.
Caroline strolled in, chin held high, shoulders back. It looked like a teenager’s gaming room had collided with his dad’s corporate office. There were vintage upright video game consoles side by side with a huge flat-screen television. On his desk, among the papers and file folders, were video game controllers. Right now, in her professional estimation, Joshua Martin was a red-hot mess. He wore a badly rumpled green plaid button-up shirt open at the front over a faded, threadbare blue T-shirt. The long-sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, exposing nice forearms lightly dusted with dark hair, and he had a broad set of shoulders she didn’t remember seeing before, but his outfit was too shapeless to tell what she might have to work with as far as his physique.
His dark brown hair was on the longish side, falling into his eyes, hiding his ears and brushing the tops of his shoulders as if he’d let a haircut from six months earlier grow out and hadn’t done much with it since. Fine for a college kid; not so good on a CEO. But even so, Joshua Martin wasn’t a pushover. Far from it. He radiated confidence, as if he didn’t give a damn how he looked and did it intentionally to unsettle corporate types. He knew what he wanted and how to get it, no matter who stood in his way. She and Connor had been just a few of the many casualties he’d piled up along the way to his über-wealthy status in the tech world.
He still hadn’t looked up from his desk, so Caroline cleared her throat. “Mr. Martin?”
He glanced up. His face had changed since high school. The change surprised her, bringing an unwelcome flash of heat to her skin. Back then he’d been just another geeky kid hanging out with her little brother. Now his jaw had grown more angular, with a scruffy dark five-o’clock shadow. He’d filled out. Grown up. He had good bone structure. She hated to say it, but he looked good. The only thing that was exactly the same as she remembered was his eyes. They were a piercing blue that had the potential to steal your breath away. And those dark lashes were enough to make every girl jealous. Too bad they were half hidden behind his dark, thick-rimmed rectangular glasses. From the glimpse she’d gotten under the desk, he wore faded blue jeans and high-top basketball shoes. Definitely too casual for a multibillionaire who wanted to rock the world and ooze sex appeal. Josh Martin had promise. He just needed the right person to help him—then let him fall flat on his chiseled chin, and make it look like it had been all his fault.
…
Josh stared at the exquisite brunette in a tailored, ivory silk blouse and tight black skirt across the wide black marble-topped desk. She sat down in one of the chairs across the desk from him, not saying another word.
She hadn’t changed a bit since high school, two grades ahead. Oh, she’d grown more mature, her form creating killer curves in all the right places. Her auburn hair fell in a straight shiny spill over the silk on her shoulder instead of in a perm, but she was still the same. Unattainable. Clearly, she didn’t remember him. But he’d done everything he could to forget her.
“I trust Mr. Carvales explained what we are looking for.”
“A makeover. Something high-profile so you can attract the attention of the right kind of investors in a new company you’re launching.”
“That’s correct. What do you propose?”
“I haven’t said I’ll take the job yet.”
He stared her down. “I haven’t said you’ve been offered it. There are a dozen well-known consultants I could hire with a tap on my phone, so why, Ms. Parker, should I hire you?”
Chapter Two
For a moment she just stared straight through him. A slight rose color infused the creamy skin of her neck and cheeks, and the sultry scent of jasmine drifted toward him when she moved.
For ten years he’d been waiting to kiss her. For ten years he’d been waiting for the right time to get her to notice him, not just as her kid brother’s geeky friend, but as a man. And for ten years he’d promised himself that one day Caroline Parker was going to beg him to touch her. Getting her to beg for a job was a nice start.
“Mr. Martin, I assure you if you select our firm to consult in this matter, you will see results.”
“And it’s absolutely confidential?”
She nodded. “Guaranteed.”
“What about getting me into People magazine in the Sexiest Men Alive issue? Can we base your guarantee on that or my money back?”
She frowned slightly, just a momentary pull of her brows together that showed him she was slightly confused by his choice of goals. “I’m looking to capture the attention of a particular woman who would see that as an asset,” he explained.
“May I ask who?”
He hesitated. He didn’t like revealing too much of his plan, especially to someone outside the company with no vested interest in the outcome. It unsettled him. He preferred to be the one in control of the situation at all times. “Not at this time. If we can come to an agreement, then we can discuss it in greater detail.”
She paused for a second. He could tell from the flicker of doubt in her eyes she was considering how much of a challenge that might be. The momentary lapse in Caroline’s perfectly controlled facade intrigued him. Just who had Caroline grown up to be? Had she changed as much as he had?
“I believe we can do it.”
“And who would I have for my personal consultant?”
Caroline smiled. “I’ll take care of you personally, Mr. Martin.”
He liked the sound of that. Possibly too much for his own good. What would it be like to have Caroline Parker in his bed, even if it was just for one night? He intended to find out.
Josh leaned forward, putting his elbows on his desk and flipping the pen in his hand back and over his hand, between his fingers over and over again. He’d been deliberately lounging back in his office chair, appearing uncommitted to the idea of using her company for an image consultation. He didn’t want her to see how eager he was for this meeting. Caroline did something to him with her mere presence; it wasn’t normal. Hell, just her perfume made him want to touch her and gave him one hell of a hard-on.
“So how do you suggest we proceed?”
“I have a four-step plan prepared for you, Mr. Martin.”
He gave her an easy smile. “We’ve known each other since we were teenagers. If you’re going to be the one remodeling my public image, I think you’d better start calling me Josh.”
Her mouth pursed for a moment as if she’d sucked on something particularly sour. She straightened her shoulders and sighed. “So you do remember me.”
“Kind of hard to forget the most popular girl in school, especially when she was your best friend’s older sister who turned you down flat, and you get knocked out by the football quarterback for asking her out.”
Caroline looked out the window, a pained expression flitting across her features.
“But that’s all in the past, isn’t it?” he said dismissively.
“I hardly remember it.” The words were simple, but her tone told a different story.
“Well, Josh, I’ve done a bit of research. Based on what I’ve been able to find, your style is a bit too casual for the goal you’re pursuing.”
“Are you trying to say in a really nice way you think I look like a teenage kid who plays video games all day?”
Her shoulders relaxed. “Who doesn’t always shave,” she added with a smirk.
Good. She was honest. This had potential. It wasn’t often he found people who could be straight with him. Most thought the way to get into his good graces was to tell him what they believed he wanted to hear. But he’d learned early, and heard often from his mentors that honesty from the people closest to you was invaluable.
“Good. So what would you change?”
Her gaze drifted over him again, assessing him, and Josh felt it physically, like a caress. “We’re going to create a very specific image for you, something that says powerful, attractive, and a little bit rogue.”
Josh found himself enthralled by her. “You mean Han Solo rogue?”
She raised one brow, questioning his choice. “If you want to think of it that way, sure.”
…
Divine intervention came in the form of Josh’s secretary who came in silently with a tray bearing two glasses of ice water garnished with paper-thin slices of pale green cucumber and bright yellow wedges of lemon. She set the tray on the edge of Josh’s desk, then efficiently departed. Caroline rose from her chair and picked up one of the tall glasses and took a sip.
The crisp flavors floated over her tongue. The drink gave her a moment to collect her thoughts. Han Solo? Seriously?
Perhaps it was a good thing he was so reclusive. It would cut down on the time it would take to transform his image from powerhouse of the techie geek circles to top of the Sexiest Men Alive list. She turned slowly and set down her glass on his desk. “Step one will be getting you a new look.”
He frowned a little, a flash of defiance lighting his blue eyes. “You’re not going to make me give up everything comfortable, are you?”
“I think we can find you some alternative clothes that are both comfortable and stylish.”
He flipped the pen between his fingers over and under his hand again. That was a habit she’d need to break.
“Fine. What next?”
“Step two, we teach you how to have fun around other people. Until you get that element, everything else we do will look too forced to be credible to the media, and in particular People magazine.”
“All work and no play makes—”
“Joshua Martin a recluse,” she finished for him. “Which leads us to step three, updating your social skills and getting you out in public places.”
The geek billionaire turned that icy glare on full blast. “I don’t do public appearances.”
Caroline pivoted, then curled herself back into her chair, deliberately mimicking his posture, and clasped hands to make him feel more at ease subliminally. “What bothers you most about them?” This was something she really didn’t understand. How could he avoid this in his line of work?
“Everybody wants something from you. It’s like you’re at an all-you-can-eat buffet, but you’re the buffet.”
“I can see where that would be draining.” She sat back, stroking her finger across her mouth. His eyes dilated a fraction, which surprised her, but she continued, trying not to betray that she’d noticed his unintentional sign of attraction to her. As an image consultant she was trained to make note of every little twitch and unconscious movement of her clients. “But let me ask you this, have you ever been to an event where you just had fun?”
He brightened. “Yeah, when I bought out a theater to watch the rereleases of the Star Wars films.”
“Who did you take with you?” There wasn’t a woman in his life, was there? she wondered.
“Myself.”
“Ah. Anything else?”
He shook his head, making the longer strands of his dark hair shadow his eyes. “Not really.”
She had the sudden compulsion to brush the hair back with her fingers, but resisted it. Touching clients was a no-no, especially anything that hinted at intimacy, unless they expressly knew it was all just practice. The desire to touch him took her aback.
“What about with friends?”
“I don’t have time for a social life,” he said as if it were a fact rather than a choice.
She spread her hands down the thighs of her skirt and watched his gaze follow the movement. “You know what your problem is?”
His eyes locked on hers, blatant male interest there for just a moment before it disappeared behind the professional image. “Enlighten me.”
“You don’t know how to have fun.”
He gestured at the gaming consoles and vintage video games. “Look around. I play plenty.”
“By yourself. You’ll have to learn to play well with others if you want them to admire you and follow your lead in setting a new trend.”
He shifted uncomfortably in his chair as she studied the vintage Star Wars posters that adorned his office walls. “I have a basic set of social skills, enough to run this company. I’m not a complete workaholic.”
Caroline came closer, leaning over to glance at the doodles of X-wing fighters he’d made on the notepad in front of him. “Yes, but unless you’re talking to other Star Wars fans online or your staff in the boardroom at Softech, I’m guessing you don’t get into discussions with people very often.”
“I have plenty of interactions with people. On all sorts of topics.” He refused to meet her gaze, but the defensive, angry tone in his voice came through, telling her much more than mere words alone.
Caroline deliberately sat on the edge of his desk, intruding on his personal space. His eyes dilated slightly and his respiration rate sped up. Yeah. Just like she thought. While he’d grown into a man’s body —a nice one if her initial assessment was correct—deep down inside he was still the geeky kid who’d played video games with her brother all night. Not a girl in sight. “And how many of those have been casual, non-business-related dates with women?”
“Some. I don’t date much,” he murmured. “I can afford to be highly selective and I’ve been too busy to find suitable dates. Let’s just say I’m picky.” He sounded a bit surly about it.
She gestured to the walls of his large top-floor office. “And you’ve done fantastic things with that dedication, but what we’re really focusing on is getting you prepared for step four, remaking your reputation.” She crossed her arms over her chest, emphasizing her cleavage, and saw the hot flicker of interest flare again in his eyes. “I can do amazing things for you, Josh, but I can’t remake your reputation into one of the sexiest men in America without the media believing women are willing to throw themselves at you.” She leaned in a little closer, watching his reaction. “I myself would have to be willing to throw myself at you. And we aren’t there…yet.”
He shifted in his chair. “Well, you’re the expert. Is that all there is to it?”
“No, we have one more step. In step four we find someone to fall in love with you.”
Josh bolted up out of his chair, the soft leather seat rolling silently backward from the force. The piercing laser-like intensity of his stare made her breath catch.
“What? You can stop right there. I have no intention of getting that serious about anyone.”
Caroline swallowed hard and forced her lips into a cordial smile. The power radiating off him stunned her. Josh might be a geek, but beneath that techie exterior was some real drive and command, a real alpha male, who was used to being in command. It made sense. How else could he have accomplished all that he had in the ultracompetitive high-tech field before he was even thirty? He was smart. Determined. A man who didn’t take no for an answer—from her or anyone else.
“Don’t stress out.” She stood again, backing away from her perch on the edge of his desk, giving him space. “It’s a calculated PR move. I’m not a matchmaker, but if you want to really lock in a nomination for the magazine, we need to have your face in every newspaper online, every entertainment television show and blog out there. That means we make a name and we hook you up with an even bigger name—someone in the entertainment industry, a singer or actress. Even if you two only date, the coverage will boost your chances of getting into the top ten on People’s list.”
He grumbled beneath his breath and sat down again.
“Did you have a question?”
“No.”
Joshua Martin didn’t mince words.
“I think it’s time you were honest with yourself, Josh. Just from the basic research I’ve done, you eat, sleep, and breathe this company and
your other business endeavors. That’s the very definition of a workaholic. We need to change that to put you on the radar of the top-tier customers you’re looking for and the mystery woman you want to notice you.”
He sat back in his executive chair and stared out the window, distant once again. “When do we start?”
She stood up and smoothed her skirt, pulled her shoulders back, flipped her hair back over her shoulder, and gave him a broad smile. Getting what she wanted from Joshua Martin might not be as simple as she thought, especially with how he made her body feel and his obvious interest in her as a woman. A slight complication.
“Tomorrow. Your place. Nine o’clock.”
Chapter Three
The morning light filtered through the fog over Lake Washington, turning into a mist of gold, peach, and pale pink as Caroline drove through the exclusive neighborhood on Mercer Island. It turned the narrow, winding road into a surreal labyrinth of driveways and massive houses lurking behind elaborate fences and high hedges.
Her eyes followed the GPS instructions on her phone. The little blue arrow kept pointing forward. After ten minutes more she came to the end of the road. A massive gate crafted from stainless steel into a dragon, wings spread wide, stretched across the entrance, barring the way, reminding her of all the nights he, Connor, and Antonio had stayed up playing Dungeons & Dragons. “Of course he has a dragon gate.”
She rolled down her window and hit the intercom button.
“Castle Martin,” his voice said. “Glad to see you made it on time.”
Caroline’s gaze flicked up to the camera and the aperture of the lens dialed down, zeroing in on her. “You’ll find I’m always on time, Mr. Martin.”
“I can’t let you in if you aren’t going to call me Josh.”
She resisted the urge to frown, knowing the camera was focused on her face. “Okay, Josh.” The gate cracked open, gliding inward on massive silent hinges, the dragon losing a wing and a portion of his tail to the one side.
The Geek Billionaire Makeover Page 2
