Page 28 of Charm (Billionaire Buck Boys #7)
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Greer
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t put any effort into how I look tonight.
I showered when I got home from work before putting on a pair of white jeans and a simple short-sleeved light blue sweater.
The flats on my feet are comfortable enough for me to walk blocks in.
I’ll do that after I meet with Holden. I already know I’ll need to decompress before I head back to the Upper East Side where I live.
It’s humid enough outside that I opted to pull my hair into a tight, high ponytail. It tends to curl with the humidity, and right now, it feels like it’s one of the few things I can control in my life.
I swing open the door to the bar, smiling when I see the dragon statue next to it. Since the awning above the door clearly states the bar is called Regrets, I laugh aloud. Hopefully, I won’t have too many of those when I leave in thirty minutes.
I’m barely inside when I spot the man I’m meeting. He’s standing next to a long wooden bar with a glass tumbler in one hand. It has a trace amount of amber liquid in it, which he swallows in a single gulp.
He places the empty glass on the bar, says something to the bartender, and then approaches me.
The jeans and gray T-shirt he’s wearing are a far cry from the tailored suit he had on earlier.
He looks more like Joe Campbell now, but Joe was never real.
He was a relaxed version of Holden Sheppard.
Or maybe he’s the more calculated and cunning version.
I still don’t know if he recognized me as the co-owner of Sweet Indulgence when we met in East Hampton.
My personal information was supposed to stay between Mrs. Frye and me. It’s not outside the realm of possibilities that she accidentally let my name slip to him, and he saw an opportunity to swoop in and seduce my company away from me.
I shake off that thought because, in a big picture way, Sweet Indulgence is a small company compared to most of the recent acquisitions of Carden Confectionaries. I know that because I spent part of my afternoon researching the company Holden owns.
“Hello, Greer,” he greets me, but keeps his distance.
I appreciate that, but still, I have to wonder if he’ll keep the discussion on a strictly business level tonight.
“Hi,” I answer succinctly, not bothering to add his name to it because I’m still trying to get used to the fact that it’s not Joe.
“Let’s grab a table.” He motions toward a trio of empty tables. “The bartender is bringing me another scotch. I didn’t order for you because I wasn’t sure what you’d like.”
He knows I like red wine, but I’m glad to hear he didn’t presume anything, because I rarely drink. I did in East Hampton because apparently I was living my life without any inhibitions during that weekend.
I’ve snapped back into reality now.
I take a seat at the table that is closest to the corner. Holden sits directly across from me, but the table is circular and small, so the distance between us is only a few feet.
The bartender appears with Holden’s drink in hand. When he asks me what I’d like, I make it clear. “Just water, please. Light ice. No lemon or lime.”
“I’ll get that for you,” he says in a warm tone.
Holden stares at me as he sips from his glass. He places it down, still not saying anything. I can’t tell if he’s gathering his thoughts or waiting for me to launch this conversation.
Fortunately, the bartender shows up with my water. I down half in one gulp before he’s back at the bar.
“I had no idea who you were in East Hampton, Greer.”
My head pops up. “You didn’t?”
“No fucking idea.” Holden chuckles. “I knew your real name wasn’t Summer Time.”
I manage a small smile. “It doesn’t take a detective to figure that out.”
He smiles, too. “I’ve used the Joe Campbell name at different times over the past fourteen or so years.”
“Why did you use it that weekend?” I ask, sipping another mouthful of water.
“There’s no particular reason.” He shrugs. “Things between us felt fun, and since you tossed out a fake name, I jumped on board and did it, too.”
It makes sense, so I nod. “I had no idea who you were either then.”
“I know.” He chuckles. “Your reaction at the meeting gave that away.”
“It was that obvious?” I ask as he drinks.
He places the glass down again, sliding a fingertip over the rim. “You looked as shocked as I felt. I could not fucking believe you walked into my conference room. I thought I’d never see you again.”
“That was the plan,” I whisper.
“Plans have changed,” he points out the obvious. “We need to figure out how to handle it.”
I stare at him. He’s not wearing the eyeglasses he had on earlier. I suddenly wonder if they’re a fashion statement and not a necessity. “No glasses tonight?”
I accentuate the point by circling a finger in the air around my right eye.
Shaking his head, he chuckles. “I typically wear contact lenses. I am now. Glasses are my last choice, but after you told me you liked the look weeks ago, I’ve been wearing them more frequently.”
I almost repeat how much I like the look, but I refrain and keep my mouth shut. He doesn’t need to hear how gorgeous I think he is, or that he’s by far the best lover I’ve ever had.
“That bracelet is cute.” He tilts his chin toward my left hand. “That’s a friendship bracelet, right?”
Panic soars through me. I look down and I’m immediately grateful that all the letters on the colorful, beaded bracelet are turned inward and out of his view. I didn’t do that on purpose since I’m not the one who slid it onto my wrist at dinner tonight.
Olive did that. She made it with Martha this afternoon as they sat on a bench in Central Park after buying the kit at a toy store. Martha had one with GRANDMA spelled out on it around her wrist. Bruce’s was fashioned with bright blue beads in addition to the word GRANDPA.
Mine is almost all pink with the most precious word in the world at the center of it all.
MOMMY.
I place my hand over the bracelet, shielding it completely from Holden’s view. “It is a friendship bracelet.”
“Am I safe to assume your business partner didn’t give you that?”
I almost laugh out loud as I drop my left hand to my lap, ensuring the bracelet is out of his view. “Krista’s mad at me now, but we’ll figure it out.”
Nodding, he takes another small sip of his scotch. “She wants to sell. I take it you don’t.”
“I don’t,” I whisper. “But, we have a lot to talk about. We will. Krista and I are close.”
“I’m open to negotiating the offer to terms that would suit you both,” he effortlessly shifts into full business mode. “I can have an amendment to you by tomorrow at noon.”
I glance at my lap and the bracelet. It’s a reminder of why I want to hang onto Sweet Indulgence. I’m just not sure I can if Krista is ready to walk away from it. “Don’t bother.”
“For now?” he asks in a low tone. “Or are you closing the door to a deal completely?”
“I need to talk to Krista,” I answer, ignoring his questions. “I need to do that first before I make any decisions.”
His left eyebrow perks. “Even a decision about whether or not you should go to dinner with me the night after forever ends?”
I stare straight into his brilliant blue eyes. “I had fun, Holden. I had a lot of fun during our weekend together, but nothing has changed. I’m not interested in more. I never will be.”
He leans back in his chair to finish his drink.
“I’ll let you know about whether we’re open to negotiating.” I push to stand. “You’ll hear from me soon.”
He’s on his feet before I can take one step away from the table.
I swing my left hand behind my back to hide my bracelet from him, but he doesn’t notice. His gaze is pinned to my face.
“Never is a long time,” he rasps. “I want you, Greer. That hasn’t changed.”
The words crawl inside of me, tempting me to throw all caution to the wind, but I stand strong. “I’ll be in touch about my company. Thanks for the drink.”
A slow smile spreads over his lips. “It was just water, but you’re welcome. I’ll wait to hear from you, Greer, or should I say, I can’t wait to hear from you.”
I turn and walk straight to the bar’s exit. It takes every ounce of strength I have not to steal another glance at him.
As soon as I’m outside, I press my back against the brick exterior of the bar and draw as much fresh air as I can into my lungs.
My gaze drops to the beaded bracelet on my wrist. I’m a mom first and a businesswoman second. I can’t be anything to Holden Sheppard but a memory of one weekend of his life because that’s all he can ever be to me.