by Opal Carew
“Yes, that’s very okay. In fact, I’d love it.”
Both men smiled.
“Good,” Blake said. “We might have to meet you there, but we can send a car for you if you like.”
“Oh, no. That’s not necessary. Mom wants me to arrive with her and Jerrold. But . . .” Danni grinned again. “I’m really glad you’re going.”
On Wednesday, Danni hurried to the restaurant to meet her mother. She’d had to grab a quick shower and change because she’d had dust all over herself after sanding drywall this morning. Mom had called last night to invite Danni to lunch. Danni had asked to do it another day, preferably not on a work day, but Mom had insisted that it couldn’t wait.
Danni didn’t know what she wanted to talk about, but she was concerned.
She pulled open the door of the restaurant, conscious of her clothes. She wore clean jeans and a nice cotton camisole that she could cover with a shirt when she got back. She didn’t have time to put on a special outfit that would be more to her mother’s satisfaction, and then change again when she got back. She’d just have to put up with Mom’s disapproving comments.
She spotted her mom at a table. She walked over and sat down.
“It’s nice to see you, Danielle,” Mom said. “Thank you for coming.”
“Of course, Mom.” She picked up the menu on the table in front of her, then ordered the special, knowing it would be fast to arrive.
Mom made some small talk while they waited for the food, but Danni got impatient, not caring about Mom’s friends’ vacation and where they boarded their dog while they were gone.
“Mom, you said you wanted to talk. What is it? Is everything okay?”
Mom dropped her gaze to her plate and poked at some of her linguine, hesitating.
“Mom, you’re making me nervous. Are you okay? Is this about that doctor’s appointment you told me about recently?” Danni’s stomach clenched.
“No, it’s not my health. It’s . . . well, this is hard to say. It’s about Jerrold . . . and his business. It seems the business is in dire financial straits. If Jerrold doesn’t get an investor . . . and soon . . . then he’ll lose the business.” Mom gazed up at Danni, her face strained. “If that happens, we’ll lose everything.” She took Danni’s hand and squeezed, her eyes begging for understanding. “I can’t go back to having nothing. I can’t live like I did when I was with your father.”
Danni compressed her lips. “I don’t recall us having nothing. Dad wasn’t rich, but he worked hard and brought in a decent wage. We had a nice house, clothes, and food on the table.”
“I know, dear. I didn’t mean to disparage you father. You know I loved him. But after he died, we didn’t have a lot and I was always worried about making the monthly bill payments. It was very stressful and . . .” She gazed at Danni with wide imploring eyes, begging for understanding. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with not wanting to have those kinds of worries again.”
Danni nodded. “I get it, Mom. I wish there was something I could do to help.”
“Actually, there is.”
Danni’s gaze darted to her mother’s. “What?”
But she was sure she knew what was coming next.
“Well, Mabel saw you at Alana’s having dinner the other night and she said you were eating with some businessmen . . . including Blake Hawkins and Evan Swift. In fact, she said you arrived with the two of them.”
“And?”
“How well do you know them?”
Danni pursed her lips. “What exactly are you asking?” There’s no way she wanted to explain to her mother that she was having a hot, sexy threesome with them.
“I’m hoping you know them well enough to ask a favor.”
Oh, God, please don’t ask.
“Do you know if they’ll be attending the fundraiser?” Mom asked. “I haven’t received their RSVP yet.”
“Yes, they will. They just recently decided.”
Mom smiled. “That is good news.” She leaned closer. “Now . . . since you seem to have some kind of relationship with them . . .”
“Mom . . .” Danni said in a warning tone, hoping to stifle the inevitable request.
“I’d like you to convince them to talk to Jerrold and invest in his company.”
“Mom, this puts me in an awkward position. I really don’t want to do that.”
Mom squeezed Danni’s hand. “Please, dear. For me.”
As Danni rode the elevator up to the executive floor that afternoon, she fretted over her decision. She didn’t want to disappoint Mom, especially since Mom had kept on with her argument, pulling every emotional string she could until she’d made Danni promise to at least try.
Danni knew Mom had been scared after Dad died. She’d never had to fend for herself before and with a daughter to take care of . . . it had been hard for her.
Danni didn’t want her mother to be unhappy. She really loved her and knew in her heart she’d do anything for Mom.
The elevator doors opened and she stepped into the elegant reception area. She walked to the receptionist. The woman glanced at her, her gaze taking in Danni’s dusty jeans and work shirt. She’d had to come up on a break.
“I’d like to talk to Blake Hawkins or Evan Swift, please,” Danni said politely.
The immaculately dressed woman ached an eyebrow. “Do you have an appointment?”
“No, but I think they’ll see me if you tell them I’m here. Danni Jenson.”
“I’m sorry, but without an appointment that’s impossible,” the woman said dismissively.
Danni gritted her teeth. Jumping off a cliff and flying to the moon might be impossible, but this woman asking her boss a simple question was not.
“I’d really like you to ask, because—”
The woman’s eyes rolled. “It’s not going to happen.”
Danni debated whether to just march past the woman straight to the executive offices. She knew where they were, since she’d put up the drywall there. There were two large corner offices, which she was sure would be Evan’s and Blake’s.
But that would cause a scene and she didn’t want to embarrass Blake and Evan.
“Now would you please go before I call security,” the woman said.
Danni’s hands clamped into fists, anger flaring through her.
“Danni?” Evan had just stepped into the reception area and a big smile stretched across his face. He’d clearly been in a hurry, but he stopped beside her. “It’s nice to see you. What are you doing here?”
“I need to talk to you and Blake for a few minutes.”
His smile faded. “I take it it’s important.”
She nodded and he glanced at his watch.
“Look, I really have to be somewhere, but Blake’s still in his office.” He turned to the receptionist. “Kim, call Mr. Hawkins and tell him I’m sending someone in to see him, then get someone to accompany Ms. Jenson to his office.”
“I can find my way,” Danni said.
He smiled. “Okay.”
He grabbed the visitor’s badge the now-nervous receptionist held out and clipped it to her collar. Just the brief touch sent shivers through her, a need building inside her to be with him and Blake again.
“His secretary said he’ll be back in a minute,” the receptionist said, “so Ms. Jenson can wait in his office for him.”
“Good.” He turned back to Danni. “I have to go.”
He stared into her eyes as if he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her. She certainly wanted him to.
But he turned and hurried away.
Danni walked down the hall past the smaller offices, then turned a corner. A tall brunette sat behind a desk between the two big offices. The woman’s gaze fell to the visitor’s badge.
“You’re Ms. Jenson?” she asked cautiously.
“Yes, I am.”
“Please, go right in.” She gestured toward the office door on the left.
But before she did, Blake appe
ared.
“Danni, what are you doing here?”
“I need to talk to you about something.”
“Of course. I only have a few minutes, but we can talk in my office.”
He led her through a door past his secretary’s desk and into the huge corner office with a spectacular view of the city. She’d seen it before, when they were building the office space, and it had been impressive then, but now, with his strong presence, it was even more striking. And a little intimidating.
“Sit down.” He gestured to the sleek leather couch by the window.
She sat down and he settled beside her with a smile.
“What is it?”
She sucked in a breath, losing her nerve. “If you’re in a hurry, maybe we should talk later.”
“Nonsense. You felt it was important enough to come here to see me. Tell me what’s on your mind.”
She bit her lip. “I have a favor to ask you.”
“Really? And what is it?”
“My stepfather—”
“Whom you don’t like.”
She frowned. “We don’t always get along, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like him.”
“He’s family. I get it.”
She nodded. “That’s right. Well, my mom just told me that he’s having some problems . . . with his business. She tells me that if they don’t get an investor right away, that he’ll lose it. And everything else.”
“So you’d like Evan and me to invest.”
“I really don’t want to ask. My mom . . . well, she’s really worried and . . .”
He glanced at his watch, then stood up.
“Fine. I’ll take care of it. I’ll arrange a meeting with him this week.”
“Really?” She stood up, too.
“Of course.”
But she heard the curtness in his voice.
“Is there anything else?” he asked, glancing at his watch.
“Uh . . . no . . . I . . .”
“Good.” He strode across the office. “You can find your way out?” he asked as he opened the door.
“Yes, of course.”
Then he stepped through the doorway and disappeared around a corner.
Her heart was pounding and she had to suck in air. She’d asked the difficult question, and he’d actually agreed. At least to meet with her stepfather.
But then he’d turned curt and rushed away.
Fear welled up inside her that maybe by asking him for this favor, she’d endangered the only romantic relationship she’d ever truly cared about.
An hour later, she got a text from her mom asking her to call. As soon as Danni finished work, she made the call and Mom was thrilled because Jerrold had already been contacted about the meeting. It was set for noon the next day.
Danni was pleased and surprised that Blake had acted so fast setting up the meeting.
“Why don’t you come over for dinner tonight and we’ll celebrate?” Mom said, her voice bubbling with joy.
Part of Danni wanted to, just to see how Jerrold would behave toward her now. It would probably drive him crazy having to admit that maybe she wasn’t a total screwup after all. More likely he’d ignore the fact she’d been the one to arrange the meeting. In fact, she was pretty sure he’d be embarrassed as hell that she even knew about their financial problems.
Did he know Mom had told Danni about it? Or was Mom hiding that from him?
Oh, God, her head hurt just thinking about it.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I’m really tired. It’s been a long day. A lot of heavy lifting today. And I banged up my thumb putting up some drywall.”
“Is it okay? Are you putting ice on it?”
“Yeah, I was just about to do that.”
“I hope it won’t be swollen or bruised on Friday. I can hardly wait to show you off with you all dressed up so everyone can see how pretty you are.”
“Mom, any guy who would lose interest in me because I had a bandage on my thumb isn’t worth getting to know.”
“You’ll have a bandage on it? Oh, no. Well, maybe you can pretty it up by wrapping it in a nice fabric or coiling ribbon around it. Make it a whimsical accent to your outfit.”
Danni sighed. “Don’t worry, Mom. I don’t think it’ll need a bandage, but if it does, maybe I’ll wear a pair of evening gloves.”
“Oh, that will look very elegant,” she said with a glow of approval in her voice. “And they’ll hide your nails.”
Which Mom often expressed concern over because they were short, unmanicured, and made her hands look like a workman’s.
Of course they did. She worked in construction.
“Are you sure the dress you got will be appropriate?” Mom asked. “Because, you know, Jerrold and I are willing to pay for it. I told you that.”
“It’s okay, Mom. It’s a designer gown.”
“Oh? Whose is it?”
Danni frowned. “I don’t know. You know I don’t pay attention to that kind of thing.” Damn, that wasn’t going to put her mother at ease. “But don’t worry. I got Blake and Evan’s opinion on the dress and they said it’s perfect for the event.”
“Blake and Evan is it?”
Danni could hear the smile in her Mom’s voice. Danni’s thoughts turned to memories of how Blake and Evan had come into the changing room with her in E.V.’s and how the three of them had lived out her most erotic fantasy to date.
“I’ve got to go, Mom. The swelling on my thumb is getting worse.”
“Of course, dear. You go take care of it. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
She hung up. She loved her mom, but they sure had very different ways of looking at the world.
She watched a show while she iced her thumb. She wondered if she should call Blake and thank him for setting up the meeting with her stepfather, and for doing it so quickly. But the memory of his curt attitude after she’d asked him made her think twice. Maybe she’d just wait until the next time they talked and thank him again then.
She hoped they’d talk again soon. She was sure once she was with the two of them again, her uneasiness over this whole thing would go away. She was probably way overthinking things and being ultrasensitive to his mood this afternoon because asking a favor like this of anyone made her uncomfortable. When she saw them again . . . when they made love again . . . then she’d know everything was okay with them and she could breathe easy again.
Hopefully, they’d call tonight.
The next morning, she trundled to the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee and grabbed a bagel, then settled at the table. Neither Blake nor Evan had called last night.
Not to worry, though. She didn’t expect them to be in touch every day. It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours since she’d seen Blake.
She showered and dressed. Her thumb was still a little sore, but the swelling had gone down.
She went to work and finished the drywall they’d started the previous day. By the time she got home, she was tired and dusty. She showered, made dinner, and settled on the couch to enjoy it. The phone rang and her heart jumped. Maybe that was Evan or Blake.
She picked up the phone and saw it was Mom’s home number.
“Hello?” she said.
“I just called to say thank you,” her stepfather said over the line. But sarcasm glazed his frosty voice. “That was a fucking waste of time.”
Chapter Eleven
Danni gripped the phone tightly. “I take it the meeting didn’t go well.”
“The meeting?” He spit out a laugh. “The meeting was a fucking joke. They sent some lackey to talk to me in a show of feigned interest. I don’t know who you talked to or why they bothered, but this is clearly a dead end. What did you do? Call in a favor with some guy you know at Topaz Industries and get him to send someone to talk to the old man to shut your mother up? Was this guy even a lawyer like he claimed? If so, I bet he was just one of their interns. You don’t give a shit that you got your mother’s hopes up, as long as you come out looking like a
shiny coin. And it doesn’t hurt that I come out looking like some ass who can’t even close a deal.”
Danni’s lips compressed as anger steamed through her. There was no point in talking because he wouldn’t hear anything she had to say. And she sure as hell wasn’t going to defend herself for doing something nice for him that she hadn’t even wanted to do in the first place.
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out,” she said through clenched jaws. “I’ll see you at the party.”
She ended the call.
She sat down and sucked in deep breaths, trying to calm down. Trying to blink back the tears welling in her eyes. Goddamn it, she wouldn’t let Jerrold of all people hurt her feelings. She was used to his belligerence.
But as she stared at her dinner, she realized her appetite had dried up. She took the food into the kitchen and put it in the fridge, then went back and slumped on the couch.
It was a long evening, and had been an even longer week. She still hadn’t heard anything from Blake or Evan. She was tempted to text them, but what would she say? Just tell them she was thinking of them? That sounded so needy. And they might interpret it as her pushing to find out about the meeting with her stepfather.
She had hoped one of them would call her and arrange for her to come over. That they would just feel they’d done what she’d asked—given her stepfather a chance—and now let that whole thing slip into oblivion, while the three of them moved past it.
But now she worried that they were done with her. They might have considered her fun and sexy to be with, but if she was going to start pushing them for favors, she wasn’t worth it.
Her heart ached. She was used to her stepfather telling her she was worthless, but she’d never expected Blake or Evan to make her feel that way.
Danni stared at her very shiny red nails. She’d had them done at the salon and had decided on a simple manicure with no design on top in a color to match her dress, but the woman had talked her into a pedicure, too. And it wasn’t just nail polish. Apparently, it was something called gel polish and it needed to be cured under a special lamp. The manicurist told her it would last two to three weeks.
Given the kind of work she did, Danni would believe that when she saw it. As long as it lasted the evening, she’d be happy.
