Mia ran a hand through her windswept hair. It settled around her shoulders, waves cascading over her sun-kissed skin. "Where's James?"
"On his way. He had another meeting this morning, so we drove separately."
"He'd better not be late. Come on, let's go."
The cream-colored dress hugged every curve of her svelte body. And those red-soled stilettos… Jesus, was it bad that all he could do right then was picture her sprawled across his bed wearing only those shoes? He rolled his eyes heavenward. It was time to focus on something other than that perfect ass. Like the liquidity of his company.
After checking in with security, Mia led him to the elevator bank. "This is a really important meeting. The McMillen Group owns controlling interest of most media and entertainment conglomerates across the country, and your offerings represent a gap in their portfolio." She winked. "Don't mess up, okay?"
"No chance. I'm wearing my lucky tie."
"Fantastic. I feel so much better now."
They stepped out of the elevator on the fifth floor. Mia glanced at her watch. "We still have a few minutes. I'm going to run to the ladies' room. Can you tell them we're here?"
"Sure." He took a deep breath, watching her scurry through the large mahogany door. Her scent permeated the air around him, and he longed to bury his head in her sweet-smelling neck, nuzzling, caressing— Dammit, concentrate!
He sighed and walked to reception. "Hi, I'm Chris Camden with LazerShark. I have an appointment with Ken Greene."
A bleached-blond head looked up at him with narrowed blue eyes.
Fuck.
A nasty smile spread across Lexi's face as she rose from her chair. "Chris Camden. Hmm, I think we've met before, haven't we?"
Talk about worlds colliding. "Lexi, hey, it's good to see you ag—"
"Isn't it, though?" Her eyes spit fire as contempt dripped from her lips. "How nice that you remember my name this time."
"Listen, I'm really sorry about what happened. I didn't mean to—"
"Oh, come on, Chris. I'm a big girl. Don't flatter yourself. Nice tie, by the way."
"Um, thanks. I'm, uh, glad you weren't upset."
She flashed a toothy grin and picked up a cup filled with a raspberry colored-liquid. "I just love pomegranate juice."
That didn't sound good.
With one swift motion, she pulled the straw from the cup and blew. Red juice sprayed the front of his shirt and tie. "I'm not upset at all." She grabbed the handset on the desk, a triumphant smile on her face. "Ken, Chris Camden is here to see you."
The red liquid had already seeped into the silk. Ruined. And he had only himself to blame. "Great, thanks for letting him know."
Mia's heels clicked on the marble floor behind him. "Did you give her our names—" She pointed to his chest. "What happened to your lucky tie?"
"Not so lucky anymore." Lexi snickered. "You must be Mia."
"Yes, Mia Bradshaw. Wait, we met at that event, didn't we?"
Lexi glared at her. "Yes, we certainly did."
"Hey, guys. Sorry I'm late." James joined them at reception. He raised an eyebrow at Chris. "Did I miss something?"
"I'm sure your partner will be happy to fill you in. Please follow me." Lexi stalked down the hall, with the three in tow.
Mia turned confused eyes to Chris. "What the hell?" she mouthed.
Great, the hot woman who couldn't even inspire an erection had just planted even more seeds of doubt into the mind of the hot woman he was lusting after. What kind of sick irony was that?
He yanked off the tie. "Better?"
She nodded. "Much."
Lexi stopped short in front of the conference room and flung open the door. She pushed past Mia and stared daggers at Chris. "I hope your dick shrivels up and falls off," she seethed. Without another word, she flounced back to reception.
Mia's mouth dropped open.
"Do I even want to know?" James groaned.
"No. It's fine. Let's just do this."
"Mia Bradshaw." A tall blond-haired man in his mid-forties greeted her with a wide smile. "You look fantastic."
"Ken, it's so great to see you again. Thanks for accommodating us. We're really excited to be here."
"Chris Camden and James Callahan, I presume. Very excited to finally meet you." Ken graciously shook their hands and made the introductions.
Two other men dressed in Hugo Boss with Rolexes peeking out of their shirtsleeves joined them in the conference room. These guys practically oozed money and success. That was their future. He hoped James was taking copious notes.
"Liam Shaughnessy and Zach Williams are two of the partners with The McMillen Group." Ken clapped his hands together. "Let's get started. We have a lot of ground to cover."
Mia sat across from Chris and pulled out the pitch presentations. A strand of glossy, dark hair fell over her eye as she handed out the materials. It looked so soft… his fingers itched to smooth it back, to run his fingers through those thick waves, to breathe in the citrusy scent. He clenched his fists under the table, forcing himself to listen. But her voice was just as arousing. Hell, everything about her incited his very carnal desires.
"Gentlemen, I think you'll be really impressed with the headway that's been made to date. Blue Coat has been fielding requests left and right from potential investors, but we feel The McMillen Group would be a very viable partner. LazerShark brings something unique to the table, and, if we can establish synergy among your holdings, the opportunities for future expansion are endless."
Ken nodded. "Agreed. This is exactly the kind of business we'd like to invest in, and we're eager to discuss ways in which we can work together in the future. If you have the financial statements we requested, I'll give them to the accounting group for analysis. That information will give us a better idea of LazerShark's long-term growth potential and capital needs."
Liam picked up one of the presentations. "I oversee our global strategy and operational efforts. The digital environment provides us with a lot of avenues for expanding market share. You've commanded a great deal of membership in Asia and India. How is your support team handling the activity?"
James nodded. "We've just hired a number of new employees to handle the customer service calls. They work a staggered day so we can provide 24/7 support."
Zach turned to Mia with a sly smile. "Do we have any stiff competition? How many other companies are angling to get into a board room with the principals of LazerShark?"
"I can tell you there's a lot of buzz around this company right now. Streaming video coupled with celebrity fantasy leagues has driven up membership exponentially."
Enough staring. It was time for him to contribute to the conversation and divert his attention from Mia's cleavage. "We're extremely selective with the companies we partner with on the gaming end because we know that if any of them falter, our reputation is on the line." His eyes wandered to Mia. "Building an effective and mutually beneficial relationship takes time and requires equal input from both parties."
"We couldn't agree more, Chris. If a partnership is something both of you are willing to entertain, we'd like to begin working on a strategic plan." Ken picked up one of the presentations and smirked. "Thanks for bringing these. Emerson always comes empty-handed."
Mia grinned. "You know how this works. Paul's the visionary. He creates the opportunity, we make the deals."
"TOO BAD JAMES COULDN'T stay for lunch. It would have been good to talk about next steps while they're fresh in our minds." Mia elbowed Chris as they walked up to the hostess station at an outdoor café in Mill Valley. "You know you kicked ass back there, right?"
"You weren't half-bad yourself. Take some of the credit."
"When all you do is go to meetings to strike deals, it's kind of second-nature. Same spiel, different day."
"I've always loved the sales end. That's why I had such a hard time letting go of FanFollow. I liked having the control. If something went wrong, I had to fix it. When things went well
, it was because of my effort. The same thing applies to LazerShark." He paused. "Jay's not a fan of an acquisition."
"I figured. What do you think?"
"He's my partner, and this is his baby, so I have to respect his decision. I think working with McMillen would be great, but it'll have to be on our terms."
"Does he know what you stand to gain from a buyout?"
"Yeah, but he's really dedicated to LazerShark." He fiddled with his watch. "I know what happens if you stay in the game too long. I don't want to miss an opportunity, but I can't go against him."
"I get it. Blue Coat won't make you guys do anything you're not comfortable with, either. We'll present the offers and give you advice and guidance. You guys will make the final decision. Just tell him to keep an open mind."
The waitress seated them at a table overlooking the bay and handed them lunch menus. "Can I start you off with something to drink?"
Mia opened the menu. "Is it wrong to have a cocktail right now?"
"It's five o'clock somewhere, right?" He turned to the waitress. "I'll have a Corona, please."
"Good point. Now, what to get…" She peered at the drink choices and flashed a mischievous smile at Chris. "I feel like a martini. How about… pomegranate?"
"Not cool."
"Can I ask what that was all about? Or is it a sore subject?" Something had happened after they left Broadway Studios, and, judging by her reaction, it hadn't ended well for Lexi.
"There's really not much to tell."
"I bet she'd have a very different take on the situation."
"I drove her home. I guess she expected more but I wasn't interested." He shrugged. "See? Nothing outrageous that warranted ruining my lucky tie."
"You still managed to kill the meeting even without your tie. Maybe you can bury that superstition now." Mia tapped the stem of the martini glass placed in front of her. "It looked like she was pretty into you the other night."
"I didn't realize you were paying so much attention."
Heat flooded her insides under his amused gaze. Dammit, she'd fallen right into that one. "It was hard to ignore. She was all over you like a cheap suit."
"I don't know… it just didn't click. She wasn't…" He hesitated and looked down.
Wasn't what?
"She wasn't the one for me. There wouldn't have been a future with her. It was low risk." His hazel eyes darkened with intensity. "I don't usually think that way."
Adrenaline coursed through her. All of this from the most eligible bachelor in the bay area? She wiped her now-clammy palms on her legs, barely able to squeak out the next words. "What changed?"
"Maybe I need to stop avoiding the risk." His face relaxed into a smile. "Come on, you're a venture capitalist. You know all about mitigating risk to get the largest returns. I bet you can give me some pointers."
"I've got my own hang-ups, so I may not be the best one to give advice." If that wasn't the understatement of the year…
"Meaning?"
"It took me a long time to get involved with someone after Chloe's dad died. When it finally happened, things were great. He'd made a lot of promises about what he wanted for our future, as a couple and as a family. Then his dream job became a reality and he left us without so much as a goodbye."
"I'm sorry."
"Trust me, I'm over it. But the experience kept me on my guard. I've got a little girl to look out for, so I need to be careful about my choices." Translation: guys like Chris Camden represented heartache with a capital H, something she didn't care to experience ever again.
"And Gardner?"
"He's fine."
"Safe."
"Maybe."
CHAPTER ELEVEN
"HEY, POP. I STOPPED AT THE store. I figured you could use some supplies. How's the leg?"
"Eh. It's just the arthritis flaring up again. But I can't complain. It could be worse." His dad hobbled over to the table and peered into one of the bags. "Thanks, pal. I was almost out of apple pie. I hit my stash pretty hard this week."
Chris flopped on the couch with a bottle of Coke and twisted off the cap. "You want me to stay here for a while until you feel better? I can help—"
"No, I'll be fine. Besides, I don't want to cramp your romantic style."
"I wouldn't worry about that."
"Why not? Nobody's turning your head these days? Should I be worried?"
"There is someone, but this girl… she's… the whole thing is… just too much. It can't go anywhere."
"Chris, you're twenty-nine years old. When are you going to realize that it's only really hard when it has the potential to be really good? You know, when I met your mom, we had challenges too. Things weren't easy. There may have been another guy in the picture." His dad winked. "But I worked my charm and eventually convinced her he wasn't the one."
"This goes way beyond the competition."
"Trust me, son. No obstacle is too large when you find the right girl. I'm not saying she's it, but if you feel something for her, take a chance and see where it can go."
"It's not that easy. We work together, and she's got a kid. How the hell do I deal with that?"
"Is she pretty?"
"She's insanely hot and happens to have a ridiculous layup, but that's not even the draw. I just want to be around her. She's everything I never knew I wanted. I'm… I'm in deep with this girl. The past couple of months have been torture because it's been building. I want to tell her, but I can't."
"Didn't you just hear your own speech? If that's not proof enough you need to tell her how you feel, I don't know what else can convince you. Don't run away from your feelings because you're afraid to take a chance. You're an entrepreneur. You know all about taking risks, and so far, they've paid off well. Why not take one that can make you happy for the rest of your life?"
"Thanks for the pep talk. It's just complicated. Maybe some apple pie will help. Come on, I even bought vanilla ice cream."
CHAPTER TWELVE
"I GUESS WE'LL HEAR ALL ABOUT Blue Coat's brilliant vision today, huh?" James punched the Up button next to the elevator.
Chris leaned against the wall trying to look nonchalant. He rubbed the back of his neck to relieve the stress knot that had taken up residence after a fitful night's sleep. The anticipation of seeing Mia coupled with potential contention with Paul was enough to keep him tossing and turning for hours on end. "Yeah."
"Why are you so edgy? Are you nervous or something?"
"Not nervous, just curious." The writing was on the wall. If McMillen was interested in an acquisition, Paul would push them to sell, and that wasn't a conversation he was looking forward to having. Mia seemed amenable to their plans the other day, but Paul was a loose cannon. If he smelled a potential deal, he'd manipulate the situation to get the outcome he wanted.
The elevator stopped, and they walked into the foyer. "Here we go. Let's see what the next three to five years will hold."
Chris pressed his lips together. They needed to present a united front and take control of the meeting. Paul would devour them if they showed any hint of weakness.
"Hey, guys. Great to see you." Alison stood up and welcomed them with a wide smile, her gaze settling on Chris.
"Hey, Ali." His eyes darted down the hallway in the direction of Mia's office. It was unintentional, and it didn't go unnoticed.
With a thin smile, she said, "Mia will be with you in a few minutes. I'll take you to the conference room."
Several voices drifted into the hallway, and Chris stifled a groan. Dan Harris? The guy was a complete dipshit. Why the hell hadn't Paul fired him yet?
"Hey, Camden, how's that layup of yours? Looked like it needed some work last time I checked." Dan's lips curled up into a condescending smile.
One punch, just one punch. "Always nice to see you too, Dan. Are you going to grace us with your presence this afternoon?"
James glared at Chris and turned to shake Dan's hand. "We're looking forward to hearing your plans for LazerShark." He cla
pped a hand on Chris's shoulder. "Since we're all on the same team, right?"
"Indeed we are, gentlemen." Mia's smooth voice filled the room, and Chris snapped his head around to catch a glimpse.
She strolled in, dark hair slicked back into a sleek ponytail, glasses firmly in place. A form-fitting black dress clung to her slim hips, and she towered over Dan in black stiletto heels. With a flourish, she laid out the presentation materials on the table.
"As you know, there's a lot of interest in LazerShark right now, and we need to make sure your strategy is solid before we entertain any deals." She flashed them a sweet smile and sat in one of the chairs. "Paul will be in a bit later, but I'll kick things off."
Chris tried to focus on her words, but the melodious sounds faded into the background as he watched her lips move. Those sultry, full, glossed lips… the ones he yearned to taste and feel on his. Her confidence and poise were mesmerizing. A charge raced through him as her caramel-colored eyes wandered to his. Tiny beads of perspiration popped up on the back of his neck. Hell, LazerShark was his livelihood. It was time to stop thinking with his dick. But the beauty sitting in front of him made every shred of business acumen dissipate into the air around him. He couldn't think. Focus… focus…
"Chris, James, do you have any questions before we continue?"
He blinked. "Sorry?"
James shot him a confused look. Chris read the message loud and clear. Dude, what the fuck? Are you even paying attention to this? Seriously. What.The.Fuck?
"Mia, we're really interested in pursuing other investment opportunities. What can The McMillen Group offer us? They seem like a good potential fit, but we don't want to hand over control. Are there other viable partners we should consider? How can we pursue an agreement without giving up everything we've been working toward?" James looked over at Chris again and narrowed his blue eyes.
"We're not sure another investment partner is the best option, and, judging from the meeting the other day, McMillen is interested in much more than just a small stake in LazerShark's future. We need to entertain that opportunity very seriously."
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