“Not today, man. Can we talk tomorrow?” I asked him, passing by him quickly. I saw the look of surprise on Hunter’s face because he would have detected that I was troubled.
“Rhett? Do you need something?” he asked but I had already reached the door of my office.
“Tomorrow, Hunter. Let’s talk tomorrow,” I said and pushed open my office door and locked myself in. I didn’t want Hunter or Owen to know about what was going on. Not that I didn’t trust them. We were best friends, brothers almost…I knew they would help. I didn’t want them to find out because I didn’t want them worrying about how Massimo could affect our business.
This was my problem and I was going to deal with it myself. I had managed for all these years and I would just have to find a way to do it again.
For now, I needed to clear my mind by thinking about the woman from the café less and focusing on the problem at hand. But I couldn’t. It was like she had taken complete control over me. I felt an instant sexual spark the moment I turned to look at her. It was more than just that she was beautiful, her personality shone through her eyes. And neither did she seem like an easy catch. She was going to be difficult to pin down and just the thought of winning her over made my muscles stiffen. I was turned on.
This was no time to be fantasizing about a woman I didn’t know, who would probably see right through me if I tried to even talk to her. I walked over to my oak desk and gripped the edges with both hands. What was Massimo going to do? I should have just beaten him to a pulp at the café when I had the chance.
But I couldn’t, not when I saw her. Not when I saw the look in her eyes. I had to stop.
What was happening to me? Since when did I care what a woman thought of me? I always knew what women thought of me. They saw a successful businessman, a self-made man in his late twenties. I was charming and exactly what any woman would want and I knew it. I made no show of hiding it either. Then why was I so concerned about this particular woman? As in, what was it about her, other than being a pretty face that had suddenly affected me like this?
I gritted my teeth and growled a low, guttural growl. Massimo could completely ruin everything I had in my life, what I had built here and here I was, obsessing over a woman who probably despised me.
I’d just have to do something about it. Because if there was something I knew I was good at, besides charming my way into wet panties, it was being able to fix my own problems. Once I’d dealt with her, I would be free to deal with Massimo.
Chapter Three
Heidi
“See you tomorrow, Heidi,” Lucia waved to me as she left the café. I smiled and waved back. I then followed her to the door and locked it after she had stepped out.
I usually stayed back in the café, for at least half an hour or longer just to tidy up after everyone had left. Sometimes I used the equipment to practice new recipes for the next day’s specials and sometimes I just made myself dinner and ate it in the kitchen. I didn’t mind any of that. I’d gotten used to the little routines in my life now.
I grabbed a cloth from behind the counter and started dusting and wiping down the furniture. Sophie, who would be opening the café the next morning, would have to do it again but I liked to make sure that the place was always spotless and sparkling.
I sighed when I thought about the broken glasses and vase from that morning. I needed to be careful about my inventory as much as possible. Even though I was turning over a profit, my resources were still limited. I had to run a tight ship here daily, otherwise the money would soon turn into losses if I wasn’t careful. I was always watching what I was spending and operated on a strict budget. Besides all that, I was also hoping that I hadn’t lost any of my precious customers as a result of the scene that Rhett Larkin had caused.
Rhett Larkin…just the thought of him made my cheeks flush to a deep red. I was embarrassed just thinking about him, even in the safety of my own company, because I knew what the truth was. That I was attracted to him, even though I pretended to be mad at him and which I should have been. I was also secretly fantasizing about him and I had spent the whole day doing that, which was wrong and completely against my own personality. I was usually reserved and aloof. I had slept with a sum total of two people in my life even though I was nearly pushing thirty now. Both of those guys had been serious boyfriends. I never made a decision that was not calculated or well thought out.
One night stands with random, gorgeous strangers were completely out of the question. I was happy to be alone, happy to work towards professional success. A guy like Rhett Larkin therefore, never caught my attention because I was aware that men like him were aware of their good looks and used it to their advantage with women. I didn’t have time for that.
I realized that I had been wiping the same table repeatedly in concentric circles for several minutes now. I’d been deeply engrossed in my confusion about Rhett Larkin and why I was still thinking about him. I was about to look up when I was startled by a loud knock on the glass door of the café.
My hand flew to my heart and I nearly gasped as I looked up. I could see the shadow of someone standing at the door, probably peering in. The light outside was dim, and the café was dark because I liked to keep the lights switched off while I did my cleaning of the place.
Leaving the cloth on the table I was wiping, I walked towards the door. As I got closer, with my heart thumping, I realized it was Rhett Larkin on the other side. He was standing with his hands thrust deep into the pockets of his dark jeans. He wasn’t peering in at all, but even in the dim light, through the glass walls of the café, he was following my every movement with his eyes.
Just the sight of him sent chills down my spine and goosebumps prickled my skin. I stood on the other side of the door with my brows crossed and glaring at him.
“Do you want to open up? Ms. McNeil,” I heard him say in a muffled voice. How did he know my name? I don’t remember giving it to him. I licked my lips and taking in a deep breath, I turned the key in the lock and swung the door open.
“What are you doing here? I said you are not welcome back here again,” I said, trying to keep my voice even. This guy’s blue eyes were icy cold and dark, boring a hole into my forehead as he studied me. Just like before, he didn’t shy from gazing down at my breasts. I should have been offended, but there was something appreciative about his shameless staring. My cheeks flushed.
“I wanted to come back here and apologize to you again,” he said, snapping me out of my thoughts of him.
“You’ve apologized already and I didn’t call the cops. Isn’t that good enough for you?” I snapped at him. It was none of my concern that he was a billionaire like Lucia and Sophie said. He had behaved rowdily in my café and I wasn’t going to be afraid of telling him off.
“You’re new around here, aren’t you, Ms. McNeil?” he asked and I narrowed my eyes at him.
“What has that got to do with anything? Are you trying to threaten me?” I said, trying hard not to display just how flustered I was feeling inside. I was confused by this mix of emotions running through my veins.
“Why would I want to threaten you? It was just a question, an innocent question,” he said and without invitation, stepped inside my café. Our bodies brushed gently together when he did that and I felt my skin sizzling. He was hot as Hell and I couldn’t seem to separate my feelings of being offended from how absolutely devastatingly handsome he was.
“This is harassment, Mr. Larkin. You have to leave now!” I called out to him, from my position at the open door. Rhett Larkin was looking about him at the dark interior of the café and then he turned around to fix his blue gaze on me again.
“I’m not harassing you, Heidi, I’m offering you money,” he said.
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Chapter One
The ceremony ended an hour ago, but it was taking forever for the visitors to leave. Hundreds of people had flocked to the funeral to pay their respects to Robert Parker, the iron-fisted founder of Parker Industries. The entrepreneur had built his million-dollar business from the ground up and managed to achieve the American dream. Under his rule, Parker Industries bought out and built up two different currier services, a mega-chain auto rental, and more. He was ruthless when it came to business, and most of the visitors were business associates. It was a room full of the pretentious and rich. There were few people left in the world who had truly loved Robert Parker.
They say that he'd hardened his heart after the death of his wife twenty years ago. He left behind three sons, and the funeral guests, who weren't there to network, were there to see the notorious Parker brothers.
Garret Mason loosened his tie and frowned. The expensive suits still made him a little uncomfortable even though he'd been wearing them for years. In high school, Robert Parker had made him a deal. If Garret proved himself in college, Robert would make sure that he always had a job with Parker Industries waiting for him when he graduated. The old man kept his word, and Garrett was named Press Release Manager five years ago, but it was still hard to shed his old skin. "This is ridiculous," he muttered. "Do we have to do this today? They just buried their father."
The skinny and bespectacled man shifted nervously from one foot to another. As Garret loomed over him, the shorter man’s balding head gleamed under the lights. Todd Harris. Garret could tell that something was unnerving the lawyer, but the man was tightlipped about the terms of the will. He only insisted that he meet with the brothers and the board directly after the funeral. "I told you. It was Mr. Parker's wish," he said nervously.
"Relax, Garret." Blake, the eldest of the three brothers, put his hand on Garret's shoulder and squeezed. "You're making Mr. Harris nervous."
"I don't know why. I'm just pointing out the obvious."
"I'm fairly certain that Cole and Hawk don't mind. As soon as we establish the terms of dear old Dad's will, the sooner they can skip town and move on with their lives. It's better that we get it all done at once." Blake, always the efficient one, cracked a rare smile. Blake had been groomed since practically birth to take over Parker Industries. When Garret first met Blake, he thought that the quiet and far-too-serious high school kid was an easy target.
He was wrong.
"Did you see the tabloids yesterday?" Garret asked grimly. "Hawk was so drunk at the club that they actually kicked him out. I can only imagine how bad he must have been for the club owners to throw a notorious Parker brother out."
"Damn fool. The faster we get them out of here, the better. Parker Industries is under critical scrutiny, and we can't afford any embarrassing scandals right now. Why the hell is Cole talking to Wiltshire? Please tell me that he's not trying to expand his connections at our father's funeral. And Wiltshire, of all people."
A scene between Blake and Cole would end badly, so Garret reached out and grabbed his friend's arm. "I'll get them to the office if you want to go ahead and meet us there. The crowd should dissipate once we leave."
Blake gave his brother one last look of disgust before nodding. Leaning down to give a quiet word to Todd, the two men walked out together. Garret decided that breaking up whatever deal Cole might be making was his highest priority.
"Mr. Wiltshire," Garret said as he flashed his most charming smile. "You'll have to excuse Cole. He's needed elsewhere. I'm sure you understand."
"Of course," Wiltshire nodded. "Cole, we can pick this up at another time. I am interested in your ideas, but you have a lot on your plate. I am sorry about your loss. I’m interested in seeing how Blake will fill his shoes."
More like interested in getting his grubby hands on the company if Blake failed. Garret reached out to shake the man’s hand and tried to keep his temper in check. Robert Parker wasn’t even in the ground yet, and the wolves were already circling. "There's a car waiting for you out front. Blake and the lawyer are already on their way. Have you seen Hawk? The two of you can ride together."
"The hell we're riding together," Cole muttered darkly. "He can take his own car."
Garret was about to ask Cole to wait when he saw two men approaching them. Not wanting to cause a scene, Garret conceded. "Fine. I'll get Hawk myself."
This meeting was going to go real well.
When Garret met the three brothers, they were loyal to each other. The ridiculously expensive private school they attended took boys of all ages, so they looked out for each other at school. When Robert paid for Garret to attend the same school for the last two years, Garret quickly found out that money only made some kids meaner. Many of the kids were the spoiled offspring of Robert Parker's competitors, and they shared their daddies’ hatred for the man. Hawk, as the youngest, always felt the brunt of their cruel jokes.
Garret was never really sure what happened after he and Blake graduated. They stayed friends during college and while they worked together, Robert made Blake work his way up to the top just like everyone else, but Cole and Hawk didn't want anything to do with the business. They moved to the different corners of the country for college, and the brothers drifted apart.
Way apart.
"Mr. Mason." The blonde gentleman cleared his throat, and Garret realized they worked with the funeral home. "We hate to bother you, but there's a gentleman with a lady in one of our offices."
He was about to demand why that was his problem when he saw the fear in their eyes.
Damn it. Hawk.
"I'll take care of it. Which office?"
Following their directions, he opened the door just in time to see the youngest Parker brother with his hands sliding up some young woman's bare thigh as she knocked things off the desk. She giggled breathlessly, and Garret cleared his throat. "Forgive me for interrupting," he said dryly. "But this is a funeral."
"Garret." Hawk smiled as he straightened. "I should have known that you'd be here policing my father’s funeral. Darling, meet Garret Mason. He was just some rat on the street that my father took in and turned into a real man. Garret, meet…" Hawk frowned. "Actually, I don't know your name, sweetheart."
Garret let the insult slide off him. He could smell the whiskey on the man's breath. "Miss? You should go." With wide eyes, the attractive redhead slid off the desk, straightened her dress, and hurried out with a muttered apology.
"Did Blake send you here to make sure that I was behaving myself?"
"Actually, Blake is on his way to the office. You and your brothers have a meeting with the board and the lawyers. I'll call for a car to pick you up."
Hawk leaned against the desk and shrugged. "I'm not going. We all know that our father left the company and the house to Blake. I'd say that he's the favorite, but Blake was just the first one out. The rest of the cash assets will be divided evenly."
"You still own controlling shares, and you need to attend if for no other reason than to sign the paperwork. The sooner you get this over with, the sooner you can go back to your life. Whatever that may be."
Hawk narrowed his eyes. "Whatever," he muttered as he strolled out from the office. Garret called one of the drivers to pick up Hawk and escaped to his own car. No matter how much money he made, Garret couldn't imagine paying someone to drive him around. He loved the control that he felt behind the car too much.
The last to arrive at the meeting, he wasn't surprised by the tense silence. Blake had already taken his father's chair at the head of the table. Cole looked angry, and Hawk looked bored. The board members looked confused, and poor Todd looked terrified.
Yup. This was going to go swimmingly.
Todd cl
eared his throat nervously and stood. "Mr. Mason. Now that you're here, we can get started. As dictated by the last will and testament of the late Robert Parker, I have convened everyone here to discuss the arrangements of Parker Industries. This will was created on…"
"For the love of God," Hawk groaned. "Can you please skip the formalities and just get to the good stuff. We all know that Blake will take the controlling shares, so just tell us what to do."
"Hawk," Blake hissed. "I'm sure your plans to waste your life with sex and alcohol are important, but I think it can wait."
“You’re just pissed because I have a life.”
"The two of you getting into another pissing match is only going to make this longer,” Cole chimed in. "We don't want to be here. You don't want to be here. They don't want to be here. So let's just get this over with."
"Gentlemen," Garret said forcefully. The brothers fell silent, and Garret nodded to the lawyer. "Mr. Harris, I think we'd all agree that it's best if you just get to the point."
Todd paled considerably, and Garret frowned. He had a feeling the man was about to say something that no one would like.
"Very well," he stuttered. "As it so happens, the majority of the shares don't fall to Blake. They are to be split evenly among the three brothers. Blake, Cole, and Hawk are to evenly share the responsibilities of Parker Industries for at least a year. If they attempt to sell their shares or shirk their duties in that year, their shares will be transferred to Wiltshire and Donovan LLC."
At first there was stunned silence. Then the whole room exploded. Garret was too shocked to do more than just watch the chaos. Poor Todd visibly trembled as everyone yelled at him. Blake was furious to lose what he'd considered his birthright. Cole was ripping the copy of the will from the lawyer's hands, and Hawk was cussing everyone else out. Even the members of the board were outraged.
The Art of Love Page 34
