She exhaled and allowed the relief to wash over her.
Emma rose from the loveseat and plucked the phone from her hand. “Are you ready to hit publish? Or should I raid the kitchen for another bottle?”
She stared at Emma’s finger hovering over the submit button on her new and improved profile. She wanted to believe that in the end, it would all be worth it. The bad dates. The awful men. The liars and cheats. The heartbreak.
“I’m ready,” she said. “Do it. Publish the new and improved Lucy Linden profile.”
Chapter 6
Jared stepped off the elevator on the top floor. The Mitchell Fund’s West Palm office space offered a serene view of the Intracoastal Waterway, Palm Beach Island, and the vast ocean beyond the sliver of expensive real estate. He headed for the young guy manning the reception desk as if he were running a space mission. Coulter ran the Florida operation during the day and attended law school at night. And he probably knew more about the sugar deal than Jared at this point.
“Good morning,” Coulter said as he held out a stack of message slips piled on top of a folder. “Minny’s called twice this morning. He claims it is urgent. I told him that if he was calling about avocados again, then he should speak with the restaurant manager. You’re the owner and don’t have time for—”
“Get him on the phone.” Jared pivoted away from reception and headed for his office. “Has Finn rolled in yet?”
“He called from his car,” Coulter reported. “He’s having breakfast with DeVilla Sugar’s middle management team this morning.”
“Right.” Jared gave the receptionist a curt nod and walked into his office. A wall of floor to ceiling windows offered a view of West Palm Beach. He’d given Finn the ocean-view office because his friend spent more time there.
Jared preferred Manhattan. The city moved at a different pace, buzzing and pulsing with determination. Compared to New York, the sunshine state felt like a permanent vacation. Warm, fun, sexy.
Fuck me, that’s Lucy. Not the entire state of Florida.
He claimed the high-back, leather chair positioned in front of the glass-top desk. He’d left six packs of juice on the princess’s doorstep, but he hadn’t heard a word from Lucy. He should let it go. Let her go. He was leaving after the sugar deal closed. He would return to Manhattan and stay there until Thanksgiving. Maybe longer if his mom was up for a visit.
If his pet acquisition, the company that had put their fund on the superstar map, needed him, he’d be on a plane to New York before they closed the deal with DeVilla. Sure, he had a team for the other companies. But he handled the New Jersey-based software group. Each new product Tico Software Services launched brought in millions. He couldn’t afford to hand over the reigns to anyone. Not even Finn.
The light flashed on his phone, signaling a waiting call.
“Minny,” Jared barked as he plucked the receiver from his desk.
“Mr. Morgan, I checked the reservation book this morning like you asked.” The sous chef spoke quickly. “Lucy’s coming in today for lunch. Table for two at noon.”
“Thank you.”
“You’ll be here?” Minny asked.
“Yes. And I’ll make damn sure you get those extra avocados.”
Jared nodded to the hostess as he walked into the restaurant. Her eyes widened, and she dropped her pen. He looked past her, scanning the seating area. Businessmen accounted for seventy percent of the lunchtime rush. Most sat with their ties tossed over one shoulder as they dug into their messy enchiladas or overstuffed burritos. There were a few tables with younger faces, teenagers or college kids home for the summer. And in the corner, near the kitchen, sat Lucy.
He kept his gaze fixed on her two-top as he stalked through the dining room. She wore a pale pink skirt and short-sleeve, white, lacey shirt. A white tank top hid her bra from view, but he hoped her underwear matched the top layer. Not that he expected a private showing of her bra after she ditched her date.
But her date’s not getting a peek either.
The slim, tall man sitting across from Lucy looked terrified. He kept his eyes on his food and nodded as Lucy spoke. She smiled gently as if trying to coax the guy
out of his shell.
Not going to happen. I bet he’ll faint at the first mention of shower sex.
Lucy glanced up from her date. Her blue eyes locked with his and then narrowed. She didn’t need to say a word. Her thoughts were written in her piercing stare and pursed lips. He’d pissed off little Lucy Linden, and now she wanted him to turn around and walk away.
He mouthed a one-word reply. No. She’d come to his restaurant. His territory. He wasn’t leaving. Her date might be harmless, but that didn’t change the fact that this shy, young man wasn’t a match for Lucy.
He grinned and slowed his pace. Navigating through the crowded tables, he didn’t look away. And he didn’t bother masking his desire. She wanted magic? A spark? He would deliver.
When he pulled her close. When he ran his hands over her curves. When he kissed her.