If Love was Fair

by Savannah Stewart

  Who was I kidding? I was about to be face-to-face with the man whose bones I’d jumped over the weekend, a client at that. I stepped into the elevator, and once the doors shut, I let out a small tantrum and breathed in deeply. Letting the large breath out slowly, I felt a tad bit better.

  The elevators were located behind where Everett would be seated. Thankfully the design company had done a good job with that, because stepping off the elevator and coming directly face-to-face with him wouldn’t give me any time to take him in. Selfish of me, I know. But a girl likes to observe a nice looking man, even for a split second, before she has to do business with him. Right?

  My heels clanked against the floor as I crossed the walkway toward the waiting area.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Green,” I teased with his last name, which I hadn’t known.

  His company’s name made total sense now.

  His honey eyes connected with mine before making a quick pass down my body and back up again. A mega-watt smile spread across his gorgeous face and he stood, extending his hand for me to shake. Very professional of him.

  But I bypassed the handshake and went in for a hug, knowing it was more intimate, but I didn’t care. His woodsy cologne filled my senses as his hands rested for a moment on my lower back.

  “How did I not know your last name’s Green?”

  “Because you only want me for my body.” His heady tone vibrated through me.

  This is already starting out bad.

  I stepped back with an even wider smile than before and motioned toward the elevators.

  “My office is this way.”

  Everett followed slightly behind me as I pushed the up arrow on the wall.

  “So how was the remainder of your weekend?”

  His question made me clear my throat. He apparently wasn’t going to play fair like we’d agreed upon.

  “Very relaxing.”

  A knowing grin filled his face.

  “Must be nice. Mine was tense. Had to take care of myself yesterday, though.”

  Knowing the hidden meaning behind his response had my body warming.

  We stepped into the elevator and I pushed the button for the floor my office was on.

  “I find it odd that your receptionist is two floors below you.”

  “She’s not my receptionist, she’s my assistant.”

  “Tomato, tamata.”

  “She’d probably be offended if you said that to her.”

  “I highly doubt it. She seemed far too bubbly to get offended.”

  I giggled. “You don’t know how true that is.”

  The elevator doors opened to a very quiet floor. Quieter than I remembered it being when I had gone down to get him. I wasn’t sure if it was my hyper awareness of it or what, but the privacy was a little unnerving. Knowing how our last private moment unraveled.

  I showed him to my office and closed the door behind us. Everett went directly to the large windows I loved to look out. As if we needed something in common.

  “Beautiful view.”

  I stepped beside him. “It is, isn’t it?”

  He grinned at me before turning his attention back to the city. His hands were resting inside the pockets of his black slacks. A solid burgundy button-down fit his toned body, almost the same color burgundy as the envelope that was beckoning me on my desk.

  “You okay?” Everett’s hand touched mine.

  Our eyes connected and I exhaled a slow breath. His touch was calming, and boy did I need that.

  “I’ll be fine.” I took a seat at me desk and motioned for him to have a seat as well. “Shall we get started?”

  “The actual business side of you is showing,” he teased as he took a seat directly across from me.

  I shook my head. “You’re playing dirty.”

  “You look beautiful today, by the way.”

  I tried to hide my grin by rolling my bottom lip between my teeth, but it only seemed to make things worse.

  “You know, I never thought biting a lip was sexy, until I witnessed you do it.” His eyes were focused on my mouth, so I quickly let go of my lip.

  I slid the folder holding all of the paperwork to tie Level PR and Evergreen together across my desk and placed a pen on top. “Here’s what you need to review, if you have any questions, or sections you want altered, simply circle those and I’ll take them down to the legal team and have it looked over.”

  A still smiling Everett lifted the pen and took the folder from my desk. He leaned back in the chair and rested his ankle on his other knee, using his lap as a workspace.

  “We can go to the conference room if you need more space.”

  As soon as the suggestion passed my lips, I knew I needed to insert my foot in my mouth.

  Everett’s eyes rose to mine, and the corner of his mouth peaked.

  “Is that so?”

  A bellowing laugh echoed in my office. “You have got to stop.”

  “I can’t help myself with you.”

  “We have to come up with some common, nonsexual ground.”

  He sat the folder and pen on the corner edge of my desk, and leaned his forearms onto the top until his face was mere inches from mine.

  “It’s hard when a man’s had a taste of something he likes, but not the full meal.”

  I rubbed my knees together beneath the desk and did a helluva job not closing those inches between us and smashing my lips to his. Everett knew the game he was playing, but why didn’t he seem to care about the professional side of it?

  “Do I need to hand you off to someone else?”

  “As a client?”

  “Of course as a client.”

  Everett sat back in his chair and crossed his ankle once more over his knee.

  “I apologize. We can be strictly business associates if you’d like. But the moment you want to try and take it further, if you need to pass me off to someone else, please do.”

  My internal self was screaming to pass his business off on someone else and take him somewhere, so we could do everything we’ve wanted to do since the other night. But I knew losing him as my client would look bad to the higher ups, and I didn’t want that. I needed to keep Evergreen as a client. It was a very large stepping stone for me.

  He placed the open folder in his lap and spun the pen between his fingers as he read through the documents. I pretended to be doing other things on my computer, but kept finding myself watching him out of the corner of my eye. No one had affected me to the extent that he was, besides he who shall not be named. It was unnerving how much they reminded me of one another. Not in the looks department, but the snarky things they said and how easily they could be the polite guy.

  “Where’s my favorite roommate?” Emily came barging in without notice, causing me to huff and Everett to turn his attention from the paperwork to her.

  Emily came to a dead stop as she glanced between me and Everett. I gave her a knowing look that screamed ‘do not start,’ hoping and praying she would get the message and leave my office.

  “I didn’t mean to intrude.” She turned on her charm.

  “It’s quite all right.”

  “I’m going to be a little while, so I’ll catch you once we’re finished here.”

  I tried to get her the hell out of my office as fast as possible, but she wasn’t a fool. She knew exactly who he was without ever seeing him before.

  “By all means, stay,” Everett spoke up. “I didn’t have an appointment with Arbor, so if you two have some business, it’s fine.”

  “She doesn’t have an appointment either,” I quickly countered.

  “I don’t need one, though, since I work here as well.” She crossed the room and extended her hand to him. “Emily Colt, Senior Marketer, and best friend of that gal right there.”

  “Roommate, too?” Everett took her hand for a moment.

  “Yes.”

  “Very nice to meet you, Emily.”

  “You, too, Everett.”

  The thought of
throwing my stapler at her crossed my mind. My hand was even clenching it, but I talked myself down. He hadn’t offered her his name yet, and knowing he didn’t have an appointment scheduled with me was more than enough evidence for him to know she shouldn’t know his name. Not unless I was openly talking about him to her. He cocked his head to the side and grinned at me. Not the regular grin of his, but one that spoke volumes about Emily knowing his name.

  I was caught red-handed.

  “Well, if you want to grab lunch when you’re done, let me know.”

  “Sure thing, Emily.”

  “Ah, you beat me to it.” Everett closed the folder. “I was really hoping to have lunch with Ms. Kenton so we could go over a few items in the paperwork.”

  My heart almost leaped from my chest. Everett was intervening in my lunch plans, and doing a helluva job at making it impossible for me to say no. Unless Emily didn’t take his bait.

  “Oh, by all means, she’s yours. We can have lunch anytime.” She smiled widely at him and once he turned to face me, she mouthed ‘oh my God’ and fanned herself.

  The stapler almost took a trip yet again toward her head.

  “Perfect. How about we head out now?” I locked my computer and pulled my purse from the bottom drawer of my desk.

  Everett stood and shook Emily’s hand again.

  “It was nice meeting you, Emily. Hopefully I’ll see you around.”

  “I’m sure you will.” She offered a smile and left my office without another glance in my direction, knowing I was shooting daggers at the back of her head.

  “Looks like you’re mine.” He tucked the folder beneath his arm.

  “That I am.” I rounded my desk and he placed a hand on my lower back as we left my office.

  Why do all the best conversations happen over food? There was something about breaking bread with others that would even place enemies at the same table for periods of time without harming one another. History had proven so. But I hated to admit that I absolutely loved spending time with Everett over food. It seemed to calm the tension between us and brought out the everyday conversation normal people have. Since the majority of our conversations had been sexual innuendos and playful hidden messages. Professional by all means.

  “So why’d you leave your hometown for a big city where you didn’t know a soul?”

  How could I tell him that I hated that place? No one understood me there, and most ties I had were either deceased or didn’t acknowledge my existence. Like my lovely cousin Libby who wanted me to be in her damn wedding.

  “It was an easy decision really. Both of my parents had passed, I’m an only child, and nothing was holding me there anymore.”

  “I’m sorry to hear about your parents.”

  “Death comes for us all at some point.” I laughed. “That sounded morbid, I’m sorry!”

  Everett rolled with laughter. “No, you’re right. Death does come for us all. That’s why we have to live our lives to the fullest.”

  I fiddled with a random strand on the waist of my pencil skirt. Knowing his underlining meaning to people living their life to the fullest, I couldn’t look at him. Everett’s words were very transparent, no matter how he masked them. Something about his choice of words intrigued me, no matter what he was talking about.

  “Arbor.”

  “Yeah?” I kept my focus on anything other than him.

  “Look at me.”

  Instead of responding, I dove right into the real reason we were supposed to be having lunch. The paperwork.

  “You didn’t ask me to lunch to go over the paperwork, did you?”

  “Truth or lie.”

  “What?”

  “It’s a game I used to play whenever someone would ask me a question. I ask if you want the truth or a lie.” He leaned his arms against the table. “So, Arbor, truth or lie.”

  “Lie.”

  He chuckled.

  “I don’t know why, but I had a feeling you’d pick lie. Yes, I wanted us to talk business over lunch, and we’ve done a great job doing so.”

  As much as I thought hearing a lie would ease the situation, it definitely didn’t.

  “We really should be going. I have a few deadlines I have to wrap up and I need to get your paperwork turned in to my boss.” Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Everett hadn’t given me the paperwork. “That is, if you’re planning on still signing it.”

  “Of course I’m going to sign it. I just wanted more time with you, Arbor.”

  “Thank you for the lunch, Everett. I had a nice time.”

  I stood from the table and hooked my purse on my shoulder. Everett stood as well and followed me out of the restaurant.

  “Care for a ride back?”

  “Sure.”

  As much as I wanted to tell him I could catch a cab, I couldn’t. He was like a magnet, pulling me in when I should be going in the opposite direction. His handsome face, honey eyes, and priceless smile, they did things to me that I shouldn’t be running toward. But my job was the main priority. If I screwed that up, I would be back at square one wishing for a new life.

  The valet pulled Everett’s Audi around, but he beat the valet getting to the passenger door to open it for me.

  “For the lady.”

  “How kind of you, sir.” I slipped inside and he shut the door.

  I watched through the windshield as he slipped the valet some cash and rounded the vehicle to get in. A couple of older women stood on the sidewalk awaiting their turn with the valet, but their attention wasn’t on him. It was on Everett. He noticed just before he opened the driver’s door and gave them a wink.

  “Have a nice afternoon, ladies.”

  He shut the door and drove off as I held in the laughter that was threatening to erupt.

  “What’s so funny?” He glanced at me while we sat at a stoplight.

  “You even had those women swooning over you, and they’re old enough to be your grandmother!” Not realizing the depth of my own words, I chuckled.

  His hand covered mine in my lap and he gave it a gentle squeeze.

  “I honestly only care about two women’s opinions.”

  Like a fish grabbing hold of the bait on a hook, I went for it.

  “My mother’s…and yours.”

  I dropped my head back against the seat. “Can we be real for a second here?” I paused, knowing the overflow of words were about to spew from me. “How do you have such strong feelings for me? We’ve only been around each other a handful of times. I’m positive it’s sexual attraction and nothing more. Because I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to jump your bones, Lord knows I do. But other than that, I’m not sure. Yeah, you seem like a great guy, but the one word that stands out in that sentence is seem. I don’t honestly know you yet, but I’d like to get to know you.”

  “Okay,” Everett removed his hand from my lap and wrapped it back around the steering wheel.

  The light turned green and we were moving at a nice pace down a usual busy street.

  “Truth or lie.”

  “Lie.”

  “I don’t think we should sleep together to see if it’s just sexual attraction. So if you want to, it’s not happening.”

  Twelve

  Nervous habits had never been my thing. But sitting at my desk, running over the cluster I’d gotten myself into had me not only shaking my foot, but tapping my pen against the wood grain as well.

  My life was taking a turn, and I wasn’t sure if it was going to be for the best or the worst. One could only hope for the first of the two, but what I’d learned throughout my years is that life doesn’t usually turn out how you envision it. If it does, you’re damn lucky.

  Ten days had passed since Everett signed the paperwork to join Level PR. Ten long ass days of wondering when he would pop in next, but surprisingly he hadn’t. No phone calls, no emails, no surprise visits. Which seemed odd for a new client. Unless I’d officially ran him off by not responding to his lie of an answer that day on the way
back to my office. I mean, what do you say to a man who straight up tells you the two of you should sleep together and see if the attraction is simply sexual or more. I’d only been that forward once in my life, which turned into the best night of my life that led to the worst few years following.

  It was bothering me that I hadn’t heard from him though. Radio silence was all I got, nothing to do with work or trying to promote any of his musicians. Absolutely nothing. I opened my email account and clicked his contact. If he wasn’t going to reach out to me, I was going to reach out to him. Professionally this time. I couldn’t drop the ball on this, and I hated that I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting for someone to push me off.

  Good Afternoon Everett,

  I wanted to touch base with you regarding your musicians. Are there any services you need currently? Never hesitate to give me a call or shoot me an email. That’s what I’m here for, to help your business thrive even more than it currently is. Looking forward to hearing back from you.

  Arbor Kenton

  The email was short and sweet. Definitely less painful than I’d imagined. I hit send and sat there staring at the screen for a few seconds. No automatic response came through, so there was one option of why I hadn’t heard from him checked off the list. He most likely wasn’t out of the office for an extended period of time. I scrolled through my emails and found that I’d caught up on everything that needed to be taken care of for the next couple days. I hadn’t been that caught up in quite some time. It felt nice to have a handle on something, even if I didn’t have a complete handle on others.

  My office phone beeped, “Arbor.”

  “Yes, Stacey?”

  “There’s a Libby Mack on line two for you.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” She paused. “Should I take a message? She doesn’t seem like she’s in the best of moods, and I say that as nicely as possible because I haven’t ever spoken with her before.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at Stacey’s remarks. “She’s not the best person to deal with. I apologize if she gave you any grief. I’ll take the call. Thank you, Stace.”

  “Life, why must you hit me with a negative every time I have something positive?” I directed my question toward the ceiling while Libby sat on hold.