Page 13 of Daring to Love You (Priestly Family #3)

Chapter Ten

“ I know you’re interested in a marketing plan for just this hotel. However, I took the liberty of mapping out an additional campaign that would encompass all your family’s hotels located in the Midwest.”

Lynix wasn’t opposed to hearing more, but his focus right now was on this place.

They had just acquired the incredible hotel located in the Chicago loop, and Wes had big plans for it.

Though the hotel’s average occupancy rate was seventy-five percent, his brother wanted to get that percentage up to eight-five by the end of the year.

While also increasing the number of events held in the facility.

Currently, there was very little social media presence, and they were heavily dependent on location which showcased tons of restaurants, attractions, and shopping. However, the hotel was competing with more well-known ones in the area.

“We even included this restaurant in the campaign,” Rodney Webber, a representative from Concept Marketing Agency said. They were meeting inside the hotel’s restaurant, a popular eatery even for those not staying at the hotel.

A couple of weeks ago, when Wes had asked Lynix to handle some business for him, Lynix had no idea it would involve marketing and advertising. Though he didn’t mind the assignment, he had hoped to be doing something a little more interesting than meeting with several marketing agencies.

Still, he was excited about joining the family business, something he thought he’d never do. Working with Wes directly and their other brothers indirectly was a bonus. He would finally be putting his college degree to good use, and he was looking forward to the challenge.

He tuned back into Rodney’s presentation, listening as the man drone on about research he’d done, the importance of brand awareness, and he touched upon strategies they’d used successfully in the past. When he pulled up the hotel’s website, Lynix thought it looked good, but Rodney offered a few ideas on how to make it stand out more.

Lynix nodded as his gaze bounced from Rodney to the person he’d brought with him, his manager, Shauna Orman. It was hard to miss the way she watched Rodney. The expression in her eyes wasn’t one of boss to employee, but more like lovers, which he found interesting.

He was trained to notice such things while other clients might not, and he couldn’t help wondering why she tagged along.

Maybe Rodney was in training or something, but he seemed to know what he was talking about.

Or maybe she had come along with the intention of them getting a room at the hotel after the meeting.

Lynix shook the wayward thoughts free.

Focus dude. Focus.

He could already tell that sitting in meetings was going to be his least favorite part of this job. He thought having a casual discussion in the hotel’s restaurant would make it more comfortable, but staying tuned in was proving to be difficult.

He glanced at the tablet that Rodney had turned his way and watched a short mockup clip of what a TV commercial would look like. When it was over, Lynix nodded. He liked how they had come prepared to show him more than what he’d asked for.

“That looks…” Lynix stopped when a vision in white appeared in his peripheral. At first, he thought he was seeing things, but nope, after blinking a few times, he assured himself he wasn’t. It was Dorian, and she was heading his way with a gorgeous smile on her pretty face.

Damn, she was beautiful.

Her hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun with a few long tendrils hanging down and framing her face.

The little white dress with the deep V-neck she was wearing hung loose on her and stopped just above her knees.

It was simple, tasteful, but seductive as hell.

As were the wedge-heel sandals that added three to four inches to her height.

And those legs?

Good Lord.

The woman’s long, shapely legs were what wet dreams were made of.

He had always been a leg man, and hers sparked all types of impure thoughts to rush through his mind.

But what really caught his attention was her smooth, sexy strut.

She carried herself well, looking more like a runway model than his usual cute, sweet, innocent obsession.

Who was this nubile vixen, and what had she done with the woman he’d come to care for?

Lynix couldn’t help but smile, and he slowly stood as she approached.

“Hey, sweetheart. This is—”

“Hey, yourself,” she said, cutting him off and shocking the hell out of him when she cupped his face within her small hands and kissed him.

Not just any kiss, but a kiss that made his toes curl inside his loafers and caused the rest of his body to spark to life.

Hot damn. He wasn’t sure what had gotten into her, but he was here for it.

His arm slid around her narrow waist, and he slammed her soft body against his. Her arms went around his neck, and she held on to him as he kissed her back. They might’ve been in a secluded corner of the restaurant, but there was no doubt they’d caught the attention of other customers.

When Dorian finally eased her mouth from his, he stood stunned until she gently wiped lipstick from his lips with the pad of her thumb.

It was the sexiest thing he’d ever experienced.

If there weren’t so many people nearby, he would’ve swiped his arm across the table, clearing it of its contents.

Then he’d stretch her out on it and have his way with her luscious body.

But there were people around. Besides, she might’ve been making a move on him, but he was sure she wouldn’t appreciate him doing what he dreamed of doing.

He opened his mouth to tell her she could greet him like that anytime anywhere, but she spoke first, saying, “I know I’m early, but I couldn’t wait to see you.”

Okay, what the hell was going on?

Something was happening here, and Lynix wished he could read her mind, but he couldn’t. However, he could follow her lead.

He cupped her cheek, and taking full advantage of whatever she was up to, he kissed her again. Loving how soft her lips were against his and how amazing she smelled. Hell, he could do this all day, but first, he wanted to figure out what she was up to. Because she was damn sure up to something.

When he lifted his head, her eyes were narrowed, and she shot invisible daggers at him. Lynix couldn’t help but grin. Oh, yeah. This was going to be fun.

A throat cleared, and he belatedly remembered he was in a meeting.

Shit.

Maybe he could shoo them away, then carry Dorian up to the hotel suite reserved for his family’s use. Then again, who was he kidding? No way he could whisk her off and make mad, passionate love to her when she hadn’t even agreed to go on a date with him yet.

Instead, he reached for her hand to make sure she didn’t leave.

“Umm, sorry about that,” he said to Rodney and Shauna. “I tend to get carried away when she’s in my presence.”

He pulled out the chair next to him for Dorian to join them. After reclaiming his seat, he draped his arm across the back of her chair and made introductions.

“We’ve already met,” Dorian said, and Lynix straightened when he heard the edge in her tone.

“Really?”

He glanced from her, then to his guests, who fidgeted in their seats. For a minute, they looked everywhere but at him, especially Rodney. Interesting.

“How do you guys know each other?”

Dorian leaned in as close as their chairs would allow and placed her hand on Lynix’s thigh as she looked at him. He stared back into her gorgeous brown eyes and knew whatever she was about to say, he wasn’t going to like it.

“Remember the marketing agency I worked for before quitting and joining my parents at the B&B?”

Hmm … she hadn’t told him anything about where she used to work, but he sensed things didn’t end well. He tried recalling if Zion had ever said anything about her previous employment and came up blank. Still, he played along.

“Ahh yes,” he said slowly as he looked at the two people sitting on the other side of the table. Then his attention zoned in on Rodney who looked the most uncomfortable.

What the hell had this bastard done to her? Dorian wasn’t the type to make a scene, put on a show, or seek revenge. It wasn’t in her nature. So whatever this guy had done to her must’ve cut deep, and suddenly whatever he’d done made Lynix want to snatch his ass up and seek his own form of revenge.

Instead of doing something crazy, he said, “I remember.” Though he didn’t, but he hoped Dorian would say more and enlighten him as to what had happened.

“That was a long time ago,” Shauna hurried to say as she low-key glared at Dorian, and protectiveness slammed into Lynix. That one statement let him know this woman was a part of whatever took place.

“Actually, it was only a year ago,” Dorian said. “These were the two involved in making my life a living hell at work. So much so, I ended up quitting and leaving the company. But you know what? That was in the past, and I’m over it.”

“What’s over is this damn meeting.” Lynix stood, prepared to take her and leave, but Dorian, who was still seated, grabbed his hand and gently tugged, keeping him in place.

Rodney lifted his hands out in front of him.

“Wait. That was a long time ago, but Dorian, I’m sorry if you felt I had anything to do with a hostile work environment.

” Then he turned to Lynix. “Mr. Mathews, we at Concept Marketing pride ourselves on being professional and meeting our clients’ goals.

We want your business and know we can provide you and your organization with the best marketing campaign.

If you’d just give me a chance to finish my presentation, I’m sure you would agree,” Rodney said in a rush.