Serving the Mogul Read online

  Smart and sexy, a deadly combination.

  Leaning back in my chair, I studied the headshot on her website and debated for another minute.

  I was too intrigued to walk away now.

  When I looked in on the party, it was obvious things were wrapping up. The caterer, who introduced herself as Dina Bell, thanked me for my help earlier.

  Dina didn’t mention Tina, but she didn’t need to. I knew she was the sister Tina mentioned earlier. The physical similarities were striking.

  “It’s no trouble,” I assured her, squeezing her hand and offering a polite smile. “Your sister had everything well in hand, so even if I hadn’t checked on things in the kitchen, it wouldn’t have mattered.”

  Dina’s laughter was bright and cheerful. “That’s Tina. If I want an issue addressed and brought into line, I just need to tell her.”

  “Does she work for you?”

  “Tina?” Dina canted her head toward me, speculation in her eyes.

  I kept my face blank.

  With a faint smile, she shrugged. “Only when I call to ask her to help. I’m glad I did tonight. Panicky brides, I can handle. Angry exes are a little harder.” She glanced past me, and her eyes widened. “Crap…Selena, don’t!”

  She rushed off, and I turned to see a heavily pregnant woman flashing her boss a chagrined look before lowering a tray back to the table.

  No longer engaged in conversation, I made another sweep around the banquet hall, searching for Tina.

  Not seeing her, I blew out a breath and slipped out the heavy wooden doors.

  And there she was.

  When she saw me, her eyes widened slightly.

  “It looks like everybody survived the evening without bloodshed,” I said, offering a smile.

  “I wouldn’t say that.” She wagged a playful finger at me. “You did have to send an employee to the ER for stitches.”

  “True.” As I tucked my hands into my pants pockets, I nodded toward a few stragglers just leaving the rehearsal dinner. “I was referring to your guests, though.”

  “Oh.” She smiled faintly. “Yeah. It ended up going pretty well. Mary Jo left not too long after you did. “I think it upset her that you would send in security just because of her.”

  “Well,” I lifted a shoulder, “maybe she shouldn’t have crashed the party of her ex-husband.”

  “She still considers him her husband…remember?” Tina’s wry smile and sharp humor had me grinning.

  “I’ve tried to forget. It was kind of sad.”

  She laughed.

  Unlike her sister, Tina’s laugh wasn’t bright and cheerful.

  No, it was low and warm and dark, as seductive as her eyes. Drawn to her, I found myself stepping closer, only to stop as a look of wariness entered her eyes once more.

  “Listen…I know I’ve already asked once….”

  She arched an eyebrow.

  I paused, waiting for…something—a cutting dismissal, a flirtation…anything. So far, Tina wasn’t doing anything the way I’d expected.

  Was that what I found so appealing?

  Her lips bowed in a soft upward curve, and one thing was certain, I was dying to taste that mouth.

  But I didn’t let myself approach or draw any closer.

  “And…?”

  Frowning, I asked, “And what?”

  She rolled her eyes. “You said, ‘Listen, I know I already asked,… but you didn’t finish the sentence. Usually, a line like that comes with another question.”

  Fuck. She really had me off my game.

  “Yeah, I’m sorry.” I rocked back on my heels. “It’s been a busy week here.”

  “I can imagine. I’d figure I’d be ready to collapse face-first in bed if I were you.”

  The bed wasn’t a terrible choice. But I didn’t want to go alone. I already knew suggesting Tina joining me would ruin things before they even got started.

  “I need little sleep,” I said truthfully. “I was getting back to the offer I proposed earlier.”

  She looked puzzled.

  “A drink?”

  “Oh.” With a soft laugh, she sidestepped around me. “Don’t you have like a half-dozen women who’d love to have you buy them a drink already waiting in the bar?”

  Possibly. But I wasn’t interested in them.

  “If I wanted that, I’d be there.” I pivoted on my heel to keep pace with her. She didn’t look annoyed, thankfully. “But…instead, I’m here.”

  “So you are.” Slowing to a stop outside the banquet room, she rested a hand on the door frame and looked up to meet my gaze. “Listen, I’m flattered…but…no.”

  Without another word, she ducked back into the banquet hall.

  I just stood there, staring at the closing door. I couldn’t think of a way to follow her that wouldn’t have me coming off as either a creep, a stalker…or both.

  But I knew one thing. Tina’s dismissal just made me want her more.

  Six

  Tina

  To say the events had exhausted me would be an understatement. Even though I’d turned Maximus down again, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him. I wasn’t into hooking up with some playboy and becoming another notch on his bedpost, but…damn, that man was potent.

  When I finally fell asleep after three, I woke up before eight, as if I programmed my body to do so. Since it wouldn’t do any good to go back to sleep, I did my usual five-mile run, showered, and headed to my office.

  Nothing but silence greeted me as I let myself in, but that was no surprise.

  I didn’t have any employees.

  At the rate I was going, soon, I wouldn’t even have an office.

  Sure, the small space, not quite hitting eight hundred square feet, wasn’t exactly breaking the bank for Houston real estate, but it sure as hell was breaking me.

  As my lease was up for renewal, I needed to decide whether to hold on to my failed business or let it go.

  I wasn’t yet ready to admit defeat, even though it was unlikely that I would receive a big job today.

  I dropped into the chair behind my desk and gave my computer a baleful look.

  The blank screen glared back, my blurred reflection in its depths giving the impression of a twisted smirk. It was almost like the computer knew something I didn’t and was laughing over it.

  “You’re getting depressingly creepy,” I muttered.

  As I opened my email browser, my phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number.

  “This is Tina Siegler of Siegler Designs. How may I help you?”

  “Yes, Ms. Siegler...I have a delivery for you today, and I wanted to confirm that you are in the office today.”

  My hopes dashed at the polite, professional greeting, and I looked at the time before answering. “Sure. I’ll be here until five.”

  As I disconnected, I checked my emails and tried not to think about how much time had passed since the last time someone had called looking to remodel. It had been over a week, and I had to follow up by phone to see if Eloise Cantrell still wanted to move forward with the proposal. I wasn’t holding my breath.

  A half-hour later and halfway through the email dreck of spam, employment inquiries, and other not-going-to-pay-the-bills crap, I finally saw one subject line that had my heart lurching to a stop.

  Re: Your Proposal/ Loved it. I would like to discuss this in-depth.

  Hattie’s Place was a non-profit organization that helped women in abusive relationships find jobs, new living arrangements, access to lawyers, and assisted with divorce procedures. As a non-profit, they had a small budget, but the word of mouth I would get from doing work for a place like Hattie’s could be phenomenal.

  As I clicked to open the email, a shadow fell across my desk, chased by a brisk knock. I jumped.

  A delivery man smiled at me through the glass window as I unlocked the door. “Ms. Siegler?”

  “Yes…?”

  “Here you go.” He put a long white box into my hands.

  He was already halfway to his van before I’d relocked the door.

  Curious, I took the box to the large workstation on the western wall. The wall was covered with pictures of my favorite projects, from an old children’s bookstore back in San Francisco to a kitchen redesign I’d done in old French country style.

  Before musing about that, I shifted my gaze to the long white box.

  It confirmed a niggling suspicion when I opened it and found a simple white card nested on the pale green stems of the flowers—tulips, many of them still not fully opened.

  “Well, Maximus,” I murmured, picking up the card with a brief note. “You’ve got style.”

  Tina, I hope you enjoy these. I also hope you’ll do me the pleasure of joining me for dinner this Friday. Maximus.

  He included his phone number.

  Sighing, I rubbed my thumb over the neat print before dropping the card into the wastebasket on the floor next to me.

  Then, unable to resist, I stroked a finger down the velvety petal of one bloom. The tulips were a dusty pink at the top that deepened to red as it neared the stem. They were gorgeous.

  Yeah, Maximus had style, all right.

  “Hello again.”

  The delivery guy from my office also showed up at my house several times that weekend. Now, at ten Monday morning, back in my office, I met his gaze with a sarcastic smile. “Any chance you’ll tell me how many more of these are coming?”

  “I couldn’t say.” His smile was polite and professional as he turned over the box. “I just take the orders where they’re supposed to go.”

  “Of course.” After saying thanks, I let the door close behind me, but I didn’t lock it this time. Not that I was expecting a client, but I was determined to remain optimistic.

&
nbsp; This box wasn’t a flat white one. It was open on top and had a protective cardboard sleeve, keeping the potted orchid inside upright while protecting it at the same time.

  The petals of the orchid were a rich blue and incredibly striking.

  “You’re a persistent man, Maximus,” I murmured, as if he were there to respond. After easing the pot out of the sleeve, I found another surprise. Gasping in shock at the sight of the delicate glass bowl, almost the same shade as the orchid’s petals, I decided I might have to revise my estimate of one James Maximus.

  He wasn’t just persistent.

  He was clever as hell.

  I recognized this bowl. The delicate, richly blue glass, rimmed by a metal vine of enameled flowers, wasn’t exactly what you’d expect to find your typical flowers delivered in, nor should it be.

  I’d saved this design on my Pinterest board, the one connected to my business, although I’d pinned this one to a separate board titled: For my dream house.

  “Sly fox,” I muttered, stroking the gleam of golden flowers. Flowers were one thing. A gift like this? So much harder to resist.

  Plucking up the card nestled against the orchid’s stem, I blew out a breath.

  The blue of this made me think of your eyes. Hoping you’ll say yes to dinner. M.

  He’d added his number down again, but I already had it memorized.

  My cell phone pinged on my desk, and I gave the bowl another greedy look before gathering up the box. Last night, I gave the basket of wine and fruit to a neighbor. But I couldn’t give this beauty away. The bastard. He’d gotten to me with this one.

  Grabbing my phone on the way out the back door, I read a text from my sister.

  I talked Newt into closing up for me tonight. If I pick up the food for tacos, would you be interested in me heading over for a last-minute margarita night?

  I thought about the flowers and gifts from Maximus and decided I could use a listener while I vented and said yes.

  I went inside to finish my work for the day. It was galling to admit there wasn’t much. I would meet Hattie’s Place’s team in a few days, and I was tentatively optimistic, but for now, I had bills to pay, most of which were already late. And I had cold calls to make.

  Neither one was appealing in my current frame of mind.

  I took the orchid home with me.

  There was no way I’d leave that gift at work—not a bowl that ran almost two grand.

  After clearing away the space on my small dining room table, I put the bowl down and went to change into yoga pants and a tank top.

  Maybe I should have left the damn thing at work.

  Maybe I should text the stubborn bastard and tell him to stop it with the gifts already. I would not be the next notch on his bedpost.

  Brooding over the issue, I juiced a bag of limes I’d picked up on my way home. I still hadn’t come to any sort of resolution. But I was definitely keeping the bowl, and I still would not accept his dinner invitation.

  When I was washing up, I heard a rap on my front door. Then Dina called out, “Hey, it’s me! Is there a margarita waiting?”

  “Pretty much…just have to add Jose,” I called back. Hanging the dishtowel back on the peg by the sink, I walked out of the kitchen and intercepted my sister, taking one bag from her. Giving her a critical look, I asked, “Rough day?”

  “Mostly just an annoying one.” She rolled her eyes. “We’ll talk once I cook. Otherwise, I might…wow.”

  Her eyes rounded, and she pushed around me to walk over to the table. “That looks just like the bowl you showed me from your Pinterest board.”

  “Yeah.” I drummed up a smile.

  She’d been running a finger along the metallic flowering vine, but at my tone, stopped. Looking up, she studied me through narrowed eyes. “Are you seeing somebody?”

  “No.” Huffing out a breath, I nodded to the kitchen. “Let’s get those margaritas going, and I’ll spill. Nevertheless, tell me what you did today.”

  “I almost want to skip my day and hear about yours.” She paused for a beat. “Almost. Not quite.”

  Good. I was still trying to figure out how to explain things.

  “I can’t believe that woman came by your office and tried to pump you for information about a client.” Licking a bit of salt from my lip, I shook my head and met Dina’s gaze, a blue just a few shades lighter than my own. “Did you warn Marti and her husband?”

  “No.” She heaved out a sigh as she expertly flipped the chicken breasts she was grilling for the tacos. After lowering the grill’s cover, she picked her drink back up and joined me at the table. “They’re on their honeymoon. Not due back for two weeks.”

  “Nice.”

  “Yeah.” Heaving out a sigh, she slumped in her seat. “How can I interrupt that to suggest they put out a restraining order against a crazy ex?”

  Dina drained her margarita and checked the time on her watch. “Let’s eat inside. I want another drink, and it’s too hot out here for me, even with the shade and the fan.”

  Once inside, seated at the table with full plates and glasses, she gestured to the bowl with a tortilla chip. “Okay, little sister. I confessed. Now, it’s your turn. How are you suddenly in possession of such an expensive vase?”

  “James Maximus sent it,” I said, deciding just to tell it all.

  Dina, glass halfway to her lips, paused. “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me.” I heaved out a sigh and grabbed my glass, downing a healthy swallow. Putting it back down, I pinned my gaze on the beautiful bowl. I met him in the hotel kitchen when I asked if they could help with the Mary Jo situation.

  Grimacing, I explained how I’d put my size seven shoe into my mouth, and my sister laughed out loud. “You did not dress down James Maximus in his own hotel?”

  It was the third time she’d repeated that question, so I didn’t bother responding.

  Eyes bright and lit with her lingering amusement, she finally straightened and picked up her margarita. “To my favorite sister and her arrogant, mouthy self. May you never change.”

  “Bitch,” I said with a smile. She was my sister, after all. “BTW, I’m your only sister.”

  “And still my favorite,” she said with a smirk. “Okay, so…after you turned Maximus down, he…what? Started stalking your Pinterest board?”

  “Well, no. First, he asked me out again.” I explained about the many flowers and fruit baskets. “I keep thinking he’ll give up, but this gift today….”

  We both looked at the orchid and the extravagantly expensive bowl.

  “Well, he’s committed. I’ll give him that,” Dina said.

  Her sober tone had me looking at her, and it did not surprise me to see a hint of concern in her eyes. “I’m not interested in Maximus, Dina, okay?”

  “Good.” Her cheeks went prettily pink, and she bit her lip before blurting out, “The guy’s got a rep. I don’t just mean that he’s a playboy, Tina. He goes through women left and right. You…that’s not who you are.”

  “I know.” Taking her hand, I squeezed. “I already told you, I’m not interested. I just couldn’t refuse that bowl.”

  “Well, there’s a chance he was betting on that.” She picked up the pitcher and topped our drinks off. “I doubt the guy got his rep by being scared away easily.”

  “Regardless, have you ever known me to get all aflutter because some guy sent me pretty flowers?” Accepting my refilled glass, I shrugged. “He’s sexy and sharp, but I’m not into one-night stands. Right now, I’m not looking for anything, but when I do, I want something that lasts.”

  “You’ll find it.” She gave me a confident smile. “You always get what you want once you decide. It’s the thing I’ve always admired about you. You don’t quit.”

  She was right. I never quit, and Maximus is a distraction I don’t need. Not now or any other time. But, from what I’ve heard, he also doesn’t quit.

  Seven

  Maximus

  “Dude, seriously?”

  On the computer screen, my half-sister’s face stared out at me, the familiar setting of her office in the background.

  I lifted an eyebrow. “Is there a problem?”

  Gianni sighed and looked at the text I’d sent her earlier. “You want me to investigate a woman just because she turned you down twice. Doesn’t that strike you as…overkill?”