Page 26 of Brant
Christ! He had been trying to avoid the word, but here it was: plain and simple jealousy. The green-eyed monster had never beset him before, but it had consumed him completely. He had bloody well almost made a fool of himself and punched the guy out.
Stirring himself when the meeting broke for lunch, he politely but firmly declined the effusive invitations from the Italians to join them for lunch. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts and had some details to finalize before they met again in a few hours. The men were used to discussing business with his father and were still getting used to him. He knew the questions that had been fired at him were designed to figure out if he knew what the hell he was doing.
But the joke was on them. He had studied automotives in college as well as business, and had been brought up by a man who knew his vehicles, especially high-end ones.
Dragging a hand through the side of his hair, he stepped from the elevator and was crossing the wide lobby when he heard his name being called.
“As I live and breathe.” The curvy brunette practically flew into his arms, red skirt swirling around magnificent legs.
“Sofia.” He caught her in his arms automatically, her perfume teasing his nostrils. Lively dark eyes twinkled as she lifted her fire-engine-red lips to be kissed.
“You’re a naughty boy,” she said reprovingly. Aware that they were drawing attention, Brant took her arm and led her over to the privacy alcove. “You haven’t called me in ages.”
“I’ve been busy, and so have you, by what I’ve read in the Italian papers. You signed a large contract with the theater.” He smiled at her in genuine delight. She was just the distraction he needed. They had been lovers once, briefly, an interlude that had been uncomplicated and passionate, and the parting had been mutual.
Stretching her excellent legs forward, she crossed them at the ankles, smiling in satisfaction. “A huge one. It’s going to be the defining moment in my illustrious career.” She stretched out a hand, long, slender fingers covered with rings, nails the same fire-engine red as her dress and lips. “I’m in the mood to celebrate. Are you staying here?”
“I am, but regrettably, I’m off-limits,” he said with an easy smile.
Her gaze sharpened as she continued to study his face. “I do not see a ring, and the Brant I know wouldn’t pass up an opportunity…”
“I’m married.” Reaching for his phone, he touched the gallery and brought up a picture of Indigo and himself in front of the courthouse. His mother had taken the picture and sent it to him.
Grabbing the phone, Sofia stared at the woman for a long minute before lifting her head to look at him. “She’s not your usual type. She’s lovely, yes, but you usually go for petite women, like myself.”
“I’ve grown over the years and now appreciate women of a certain type.” He took the phone from her and put it back inside the pocket of his sports jacket.
“You’re not wearing a ring,” she pointed out.
“Something I will be remedying soon.” He shrugged. “Suffice it to say that she intrigues me.” He spoke more to himself than to Sofia.
“Intrigue?”
“More like fascinates me. She’s quite a woman.” His tawny eyes danced in amusement at her expression.
“You sound… how should I put it? Smitten.” She pouted a little at the idea that he was not interested in her.
“I just might be.” Picking up one elegant hand, he kissed the back of it before letting go. “You’re a stunning woman, Sofia, and I will always remember the time we spent together with extreme fondness, but I’m no longer on the market for anything other than friendship.”
She stared at him for a minute before shaking her head. “I never thought I would live to see the day.” She rose, and he stood with her.
“Well, goodbye, my sweet, gorgeous ex-lover.” Leaning up on her toes, she brushed her lips against his and eased back to look into his eyes.
“Anything?” she asked hopefully.
“I’m afraid not.” Giving her a charming smile to take away the sting of rejection, he kissed her forehead. “See you around.”
*****
Indigo recognized the woman as soon as she stepped inside the store. She had been on her way back to her office to take care of some invoices when she heard the bell tinkling. The expansion had finally been finished, and she was in the process of stacking the shelves with items from local artists. There were costume jewelry, delightful landscape paintings, hand-carved furnishings, glass bottles spun by an eccentric old man in the mountains, and several other items.
She had even gone as far as to start advertising in the papers and on the internet. Her website was updated, and her store was getting a lot of attention, so much so that she had had to hire two more people and was going to find herself an accountant. It was all well and good when she was operating on a small scale, but now the store’s reputation had exploded, and she was becoming flooded with customers.
Eventually, she was going to have to think about shipping and deliveries, but that was in the future.
It was the same blonde he had been dancing with at the function, the one she had wanted to march right over and tear her hair from the roots. Indigo did not think the woman had just randomly walked into her store because of the sudden surge in popularity. She had come to see the competition.
Well, she certainly was not going to run and hide inside her office. She had to thank the good Lord that she had decided to wear a clingy teal-blue cashmere sweater dress with awraparound waist and soft butter-yellow leather boots. She had also left her hair loose and was wearing a minimal amount of makeup.
