In the Enemy's Embrace by Mindy Neff

Author:Mindy Neff
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

For the next two days, Jessica rode in to work with Nick. Since they’d more or less made a pact to tie themselves at the business hip, it seemed to make sense.

She’d had a bad patch going into his office that first morning after making love with him there, unable to look at the sofa without remembering, without desire tingling through her body. But she’d managed to bluff her way by feigning nonchalance.

There were definite drawbacks to spending this much time together, though.

The lack of privacy, for one. She had phone calls out on her project research and didn’t particularly want to discuss them in front of Nick.

She wanted a better handle on the way he worked first. No sense missing something vital and having egg on her face with her first truly big presentation.

Nick held the door open for her as she preceded him into the air-conditioned lobby of a swanky uptown restaurant. They were having lunch with the president of Amabella Cosmetics, then drinks later across town with executives of Damian Lease Management.

The hostess led them to a corner table where Amabella’s young president was already seated, sipping on iced lemon water.

The woman stood. “Hey, handsome. Right on time as usual.”

Nick grinned. “And you’re early—as usual.”

Jessica always had trouble getting used to Nick’s easy smile. Around her, scowls were the norm. She forgot what the wattage of that smile did to his face. It gave her hot flashes.

“This is my associate, Jessica Coleman,” Nick introduced, then held a chair out for her to sit. “Jess, this is Tina Lee. The brains behind Amabella Cosmetics.”

“Nice to meet you, Jessica. Are you any relation to the Coleman part of Coleman-Grayson?”

“Yes. Randy Coleman’s daughter…and major stockholder.” She accepted Tina’s handshake, then sat and placed the white linen napkin in her lap. Tina was a beautiful, petite woman full of energy and shrewd intelligence who laughed easily and projected a friendliness that put everyone at ease.

“Well, I’m honored,” Tina said. “I get not one, but two of the top dogs today.”

Jessica wasn’t sure what her own role was here. Perhaps just to listen and learn? Did Nick expect her to offer opinions? Or simply absorb and familiarize herself with the various heads of the companies they invested in?

“I apologize that my associate couldn’t make it today,” Tina said. “There are always fires to put out, you know?”

“I hear you,” Nick said. “Someone should invent a longer day.”

“Heaven forbid!”

Jessica sat back and listened to the exchange, deciding in an instant that Tina Lee was someone who put her cards on the table. Jess was a pretty good judge of character, and she liked Tina instantly.

She had to admit that she was a bit surprised by the other woman’s appearance. With a company named Amabella, she’d expected to meet a statuesque Frenchwoman. With her dark hair cut in a chic pageboy style and her distinctly Southern accent, it was quite obvious Tina was a Texas gal—or at least had been raised in the South.

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