“And that’s three. Sweet dreams.” With a soft smile, she closed the cab door, and Brooklyn rode off into the night, alone with her very active thoughts. “What the hell had just happened?” she asked the backseat of the cab as a smile tugged on the corners of her mouth. “I mean, seriously.”
It was an encounter like no other, and the beauty of it was that it had been so unexpected. Things like this didn’t just drop out of the sky, did they? Women like Jessica didn’t just show up in the middle of your bad day and make everything so much better. But she had no other explanation for what had been the most amazing, albeit impromptu, date.
She decided not to analyze it and enjoy the experience for what it had been. Perfect.
*
“You are way past curfew,” Samantha said from the sofa when Brooklyn arrived home to the small loft they shared. Five floors above the office, it was nine hundred square feet of home, divided into Samantha’s organized elegance and Brooklyn’s haphazard clutter. Samantha’s room was to the right, Brooklyn’s to the left, with the joint living room and kitchen serving as common space.
Mallory lived four floors up in her own, much-fancier apartment but popped in whenever she felt like it. Hunter, on the other hand, needed a little distance from where she worked and had a studio to herself in the Meatpacking District.
“I didn’t realize I had a curfew. But it’s nice to know you care.”
Samantha was tucked under a blanket on the couch, clearly in for the night and cozy. Her hair was down, glasses off, a sharp contrast to the serious-looking Samantha she’d left back at the office. It was one of her best tricks, the duality. She was a girl who kept you guessing. “If this I Love Lucy marathon wasn’t on, I’d be highly annoyed at you right now. Lucky for you, Lucy has been a great opening act and padded your delayed entrance quite a bit.”
“A. You don’t have to wait up for me, and B, which episode is it?” Brooklyn hung up her coat on the vintage coatrack they’d found at a secondhand store when they’d decided to get the apartment together. Samantha had insisted it had to live with them, and Brooklyn knew when to listen to reason. Sam was, after all, the more grown-up of the two of them.
Sam pushed herself into a seated position, obviously about to make a point. “When you head to the printer at six and don’t come back until after ten, I tend to worry. It’s kind of my job. So what gives? Where have you been? Oh, and it’s the episode where Ricky brings home the mink coat.”
“Ohhh,” Brooklyn said, slipping under the blanket next to Sam. “I love this one. He should just let her keep the coat, you know? He’s never fair to her.”
Samantha glared and muted the television. “Stalling. I know all of your tactics.” She pointed the remote at Brooklyn and moved it in an accusing circle. “Where did you run off to? This is all very suspect. And why are you all glowy?”
Brooklyn couldn’t hide the smile. “I met someone tonight.”
Samantha stared at her. “At the printer?”
“The little bistro place across the street. My car was towed. My heel was broken. I was down-and-out. It was all very tragic. Then, there she was. This woman, this kind, articulate, beautiful woman. And there was kissing.”
Samantha gasped and sat up, suddenly energetic. “Start from the beginning. No detail will be spared.”
So she did. She recounted the entire tale all the way to the kiss under the lamplight. “It was the most perfect kiss moment ever.”
“A Cinderella-kiss moment?”
“A sexy Cinderella-kiss moment.”
“Oh, my. That is good. Now you just have to figure out who she is. An heiress. A rich royal from Monaco.”
“Could be. But the mystery makes it all the more exciting in a way. If we ever do see each other again, I’m sure I’ll find out.”
Samantha slammed down the remote. “I call disparity. Nothing like this ever happens to me.”
“Aww, Sammie-Sam,” Brooklyn said, giving her ankle a squeeze. “You’ll meet your Cinderella one day.” She raised an eyebrow. “Or, in a more mundane scenario, your Prince Charming.”
“Is that a bisexual dig? That sounded like a bisexual dig.”
“I would never.” She bopped Sam on the head before standing and stretching. “I’m off to bed to get my much-needed rest. I’m pretty sure the rest of this week is going to make me its bitch, so I should prepare accordingly. Not even close to being ready for Foster Foods, and I want this one.”
“Sleep while you can.”
“You staying up?”
Samantha smiled like a kid. “For one more episode. Or, you know, three.”
Chapter Three
The office was deserted when Jessica arrived to work the next day. But then it always was at six a.m. The rest of her team didn’t arrive until closer to eight, which was perfect for her. She set her attaché next to her desk and went to work, enjoying the two-hour jump she got on the rest of the world.
Hard work was her best friend and had gotten her to where she was today. Growing up in a family with very little money, she’d never had anything handed to her, and she was proud of that. What she’d accomplished, she’d done with long hours and shrewd business moves.
“Hey, Boss.”
She glanced up, realizing how quickly time had passed. Her assistant and most valuable employee stood in the doorway with a file in his hands. “Morning, Bentley.”
“I have that copy Jasmine wrote up. Want to take a look?”
“Yes. But later. I’m in the zone.”
“Gotcha. Coffee?”
“Double espresso. Black.”
“On it. Then we need to prep for your ten o’clock.”
He headed to the office kitchen. Bentley Fox had been her assistant since she’d started the company thirteen years prior. He was tall and handsome and chased anything in a skirt. Well, except her, for obvious reasons. They worked remarkably well together. Bentley got her and was the glue that held her together. And okay, over the years, he’d also become her friend. And she didn’t have a lot of those. Who had the time?
“Ms. Lennox?” Scarlet, her less-than-stellar account executive, poked her head in her office. “I got an e-mail that you wanted to see me?”
She sighed. “Come in.” She waited until Scarlet sat in the plush chair across from her desk to begin. “I talked to Jim Culvers over at Dell. They’re not happy with the direction your team is taking them. He feels the campaign is too conservative, which is what I’ve told you all along. They’re looking for new and fresh. You were aware of this going in, so I don’t understand the disconnect.”
“Hmm. Okay. Let me talk to him and see if I can better clarify—”
“No. I’ve already smoothed things over and told him you’ll have new print layouts and campaign concepts for him by the end of the week. Do not contact him until you do.” She stood and strolled to the picturesque window overlooking Central Park. “I shouldn’t have to do your job for you, Scarlet. This is an important account, and if you can’t get it together, I’m giving it to Tina.”
“I understand.”
“I hope so. Because this isn’t the first client that’s had issues with your team.”
“It’s the last time.”
“Excellent. So we’re clear?
“We are.”
As she exited, Scarlet passed Bentley on his way back with her coffee. He set it next to Jessica on the desk and strode confidently to the door, closing it behind Scarlet. “Heads up. Tina’s on her way in here and she wants the Dell account.”
Jessica sighed. “Of course she does. She’s on a one-way ambition train lately. She reminds me of me when I got started, but she needs to dial it down a notch.”
“Tina and ‘dialing it down’ have never inhabited the same sentence.”
“You’re not a fan. I get it. But she’s responsible for a lot of our revenue over the past two years.” She sighed. “I had to lay into Scarlet a little. I was pretty harsh.” She rubbed the spot just above her eyes
where a headache was starting.
“It’s what executives have to do sometimes.”
She returned to her chair in defeat. “I know. But I don’t relish it the way I used to. Maybe I should have been a zookeeper.”
He sent her a curious look. “Random. But okay.”
“I watched a special on Animal Planet. Sometimes I just wish it was more about the work and less of it required me to, I don’t know, always be in charge.”
Bentley perched on the corner of her desk. “I can’t believe I’m hearing these words. That’s what Jessica Lennox is known for.” He was right. Over the years, she’d developed a reputation for her cool demeanor and hardhearted personnel decisions around the office. Originally, it stemmed from her younger years and the overcompensation that came with trying to be what she thought a high-powered businesswoman would be. And it had worked. Everyone listened to her and doors started to open. Little guys had been stepped on, but they’d recovered. All is fair in love and business.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m playing a part just to keep up with the big boys.”
“And has that worked?”
She blew out a breath. “I think that’s an affirmative.” Because it definitely had. By age thirty-eight, she’d started her own company, watched it ascend the ranks of the advertising world, and had been named three times to the Who’s Who List of Executives Under Forty. She loved what she did. She thrived in the creative, fast-paced world of advertising. She just wished she could find a way to be successful and have a life at the same damn time.
“Then you’re doing something right. Don’t second-guess yourself so much. The fact that you actually have a heart is a secret that’s safe with me.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“And I was proud of you for leaving a little early yesterday. You’ve been killing yourself unnecessarily. That’s why you have a slew of account execs, by the way.”
“I just want to be sure everything goes well this week. It’s a big deal.” She reached for her coffee and felt the smile tug at her lips. “But I did enjoy the downtime.”
Bentley turned his face and stared at her out of the corner of his eye. “What’s with the look?”
“What look?”
“The smirk. The happy little smirk that shot across your face when you referenced yesterday and your time off. Something’s up.”
She met his eyes and crumbled because it wasn’t like she could keep anything from him. They spent far too many hours together and he knew her too well. “I met someone. I mean, I think I did.”
“When you say someone, do you mean a chick?”
She passed him a glance. “Don’t be such a guy. I met a woman. At this little wine place near my apartment. I still don’t know what made me stop in there. That’s kind of the cool thing about it. It never should have happened. But it did. And we spent the evening talking about anything and everything.”
“Yeah, yeah. Great talking. What happened after that?”
She shook her head at his one-track mind. “There was a rather remarkable kiss and I put her in a cab. Anyway, we should go over the marketing materials for the Foster pitch.”
“No. We haven’t finished here. Are you going to see her again?”
Jessica hesitated because, as much as she enjoyed her time with Brooklyn, in the clear light of day, she knew it probably wasn’t a good idea. She didn’t date that often, for a reason. But she’d be lying if she said she didn’t want to see her again. And soon. “I don’t know.” She held up a hand. “Let me get through this presentation first. I can’t think about anything else at this point. One thing at a time, you know? I have to stay realistic, Bent. I don’t have much of a love life because I don’t have time for the drama. I’m married to this company.”
Bentley opened the door and glanced back. “Even some of the best marriages end with a little action on the side. Do you really want to die alone?”
That one got to her. “Geez. You have a mean streak, you know that?”
“That’s why you hired me. Don’t forget your conference call with Folgers after lunch. And Tina’s on her way in.”
She glared at him just in time for Tina to appear in her doorway. She was slight, with dark hair, glasses, and a severely slicked-back ponytail. There was an edge there and always had been. A Yale grad, Tina meant business and looked like it. “Jessica, can we talk about the Dell account and why it should be mine?” Jessica exchanged a wary look with Bentley. “Sure. Come on in.”
She returned to her workday then and dodged the obstacles that were hurled her way like some sort of Asteroids video game, pausing only briefly during her working lunch to think about a blond-haired, blue-eyed distraction.
*
“Advantage, Starbucks.” Mallory walked in and slid the door to the loft closed in defeat.
Brooklyn looked up from her desk. “Uh-oh. What happened this time?”
“I ordered a skinny latte and was rewarded with a chai tea I didn’t discover until I was already on the elevator. This brings me to two points. Life is unfair and Starbucks is out to get me.”
“There was a time when I would have argued that second point, but Starbucks does seem to have your number.”
“They hate me.”
Brooklyn held her hand out, palm up. “Yet, you continue to go back.”
Mallory shrugged. “I’m aware I have Starbucks issues. I’m working through them. I don’t need you to point them out.”
“Who has issues?” Hunter asked as she rounded the island in the kitchen. She was wearing one of her off-the-shoulder T-shirts that would have her fan girls drooling. Hunter’s shoulder was a hot commodity in Manhattan. The dress code around the Savvy office was fairly casual, unless a client meeting was involved. Then they brought their fashion A game.
“Mal has issues. She and Starbucks are breaking up. High drama this a.m.”
“You know what? I think you’re right. We are breaking up,” Mallory said with a newly realized confidence.
Hunter edged her hip against the table. “Unlikely. Starbucks is like your abusive girlfriend, and you just keep going back for more.”
“I keep thinking she’ll change,” Mallory said meekly.
Brooklyn laughed. “While I’d love to delve further in this Mallory-Starbucks therapy session, I happen to have a major presentation to give tomorrow. And might you remember that I’ve never given one of those before.” She looked to Mallory. “I’m the idea girl. You’re the pitch person. I’m not sure deviating from our proven formula is the best plan after all. You should do this one on your own.”
Mallory joined her at the desk, her expression sincere. “Hey, you’re going to do great. I’ve been trying to pull you into this part of things for a while now. The thing is, no one explains your amazing Brooklyn-ideas better than you do. You have this way of lighting up when you talk about them. And tomorrow, Foster Foods is going to get to see that firsthand. And I’ll be there to handle all the rest. ”
“So you’ll handle opening and closing. I just have to—”
“Wow them in the middle. And you will wow them.”
“You will,” Hunter said. “Or we’ll lose the biggest account we’ve ever been up for, and no one will ever speak to you again.”
At Brooklyn’s stricken face, Hunter relented. “Kidding. I just love it when you get that shocked-puppy look. You’ll do an amazing job, Brooks. Don’t freak out about this.”
“What’s she freaking out about now?” Samantha asked, hurrying in. “Sexy Cinderella kissing? She finally spilled her guts? Damn it, I overslept and missed the retelling.”
Hunter whistled low and Mallory turned to Brooklyn, her mouth open. “Strangely, she hasn’t mentioned any kind of kissing. Has there been kissing? And more specifically, sexy Cinderella kissing?” Mallory regarded her expectantly, but she didn’t get a chance to answer as Sam beat her to it.
“There has been. She met a beautiful woman last night, and I have to say, she seems a little smitten.
”
Brooklyn held up a finger. “First of all, smitten makes me sound like I’m seventy. Give me some cool credit, people. And it wasn’t that big a deal. Yes, an amazing kiss with a really hot woman was had, but I doubt anything will come of it. She has my number. We left it there.”
Hunter eyed her. “You’re downplaying. Describe the sexy kissing.”
Brooklyn relaxed into her chair, remembering, and it took her right back there. “It was good. Really good. The kind of kiss that’s soft at first but then pulls you slowly in until your toes scrunch up and your body does that all-over tingly thing and you just want to keep going and going and going.”
Mallory nodded seriously. “That is a sexy kiss. I haven’t had one of those in a while.”
Brooklyn gave her head a little shake. “Stop making me think about it. I have so much work to do that it’s insane. Sexy Cinderella kissing cannot get in the way of this presentation.”
Samantha turned on her heel. “This is true. Leave her alone, guys. She needs to focus. We’re not losing another one to The Lennox Group.”
Mallory stalked back to her own desk. “No, we’re not. And don’t get me started on Little Ms. Lennox herself. If I have to see that superior look on her face again, I probably won’t make it. Did I mention that I can’t stand that woman? Because I can’t. That fake smile, the one that secretly says you’re going down, is beyond infuriating. It’s like she knows how to get inside my head without even trying. You should be lucky you haven’t gone out on these pitches before, as you haven’t had to deal with running into her.”
“Yikes.” Brooklyn had never met anyone from The Lennox Group or their much-talked-about CEO, but she’d heard enough chatter out there to know the woman was no joke. She meant business and was clearly a royal bitch. The world seemed to be in agreement on that little detail. “Okay. That freaks me out a little. Now I remember why I let you handle these meetings. Is she really that bad?”
“Worse, from what I hear.” Samantha heated the water for her tea. “The rumor I heard is that she’s married to some billionaire who financed the whole company for her. The Lennox Group gets so many jobs because of his business connections.”
Kiss the Girl Page 4
