The Guy Next Door (25 page)

E
RIC COULDN’T QUITE
believe his eyes when he turned to see the woman walking straight toward him across the crowded reception. “Tessa?” Confusion made him dizzy as his sister rushed in for a hug.

“Hey, big brother. I feel like I haven’t seen you in weeks. You work too hard.”

He kissed her cheek automatically. “What are you doing here?”

“Jamie and I talked. He needs to cover the bar tonight, but we both agreed I should come help you out.”

“It’s just a reception.”

“But all of this…” she said with a vague gesture. “You shouldn’t be the only one working on it. We’re all part of Donovan Brothers. We’ve got to share the burden.”

“Of course,” Eric said. “But tonight’s no big deal. You don’t need to hang around here. I’m just going to stalk Kendall for an hour or two. You worked too much last month.”

She rolled her eyes and tossed her dark blond hair back. “We’re all working overtime. That’s the price we pay as business owners, right?”

Eric considered for a moment then shrugged. “You’re right. And Kendall is going to love you.”

“Why? Does he have a thing for blondes?”

Eric felt his face twist in horror. “Jesus, Tessa. As if I’d let you around him if he did. No, I meant you’re the perfect all-American little sister. We’ll present a great image.”

“Oh. Okay. Good.”

“Just, uh…button up your shirt a little more.”

She glanced down to her silky gray shirt. “Eric, it’s already buttoned to my collarbone.”

He narrowed his eyes in doubt but decided to let it go. Tessa was twenty-eight now. He had to stop playing the role of overprotective big brother, but it was tough to let it go. After all, he’d also been a parent to her for nearly fifteen years.

“So give me the lowdown,” she murmured as she looked over the crowd. “What’s up with this guy?”

“He’s arrogant and rich. He’s not young and hip like the image they’ve developed for High West Air. The airline is just one of many high-capital ventures he owns. But he’s not a typical high roller. He’s been married to the same woman his whole life. They have six grown children and every one of them works for him. He’s not a big believer in women’s lib, but he finally let his daughter have a chance at moving up. She’s the VP of High West Air. His five sons have been executives at his companies for years now.”

“Oh? Are any of them single?”

Eric ignored her. “He likes people scraping and bowing, so you’d better limber up.”

“Got it,” she said with a wink. “Anything else interesting going on?”

“Uh, no.” He thought his voice sounded odd instead
of casual, so he cleared his throat and tried again. “Nothing. No.”

“Any new contacts?”

He glanced around as if Beth Cantrell might be making her way toward him, but he hadn’t spotted her at this reception. Thank God. Probably she was at the web-design seminar. If she showed up and heard Tessa call him by his real name… “Nothing too promising this year. And there he is.”

Eric inclined his head toward the doorway where Kendall was comfortably ensconced within a herd of four gentlemen in suits.

“Great! Let’s go talk to him.”

“Wait,” he started, but Tessa was already striding across the room on her spike-heeled sandals. Spike-heeled sandals? What the hell?

Scowling, Eric followed behind his sister, catching up just as she infiltrated the group of men. “Mr. Kendall,” she said, “What a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Kendall narrowed his eyes at her, his gaze dipping down her body with a hint of scorn, as if Tessa was too young and too female to merit his respect. “Who are you?”

“She’s my sister,” Eric snapped. In that moment, he didn’t give a shit who Kendall was or what he could do for the brewery. In that moment, the bastard was just a sexist ass.

Every eye in their group was on Eric, but Tessa just smiled and cleared her throat. “I’m Tessa Donovan. I’m afraid we haven’t had the chance to meet before.”

Kendall took the hand she offered and gave it a limp shake. She beamed up at him, and he finally deigned to crack a smile. “You have a lovely sister, Donovan.”

“I agree. My sister is a priceless asset to the company. She handles finance and accounting, so you’ll be dealing with her when we finally reach an agreement.”

“And she’s cute as a button,” Kendall added.

Eric scowled, but Tessa just gave a little giggle. What a faker. But Eric may as well follow her lead and take advantage of it.

“I was just about to get a drink for Tessa. Would you like to join us? Whiskey, right?” Before Kendall could decline, Eric headed for the bar. He was almost there when he spotted her.
Her
. Beth. She turned away from the bar to look over the room.

Her hair was down again, and she wore those fantastic red heels, but she’d changed into a hip-hugging dress that nearly made him swallow his own tongue. Like everything else he’d seen her in, it was modest, showing only a hint of cleavage and a respectable amount of leg. But the way it wrapped around her hips rocked his world.

It made him want to rock her in return.

“Hello, Jamie,” she said in that incredible voice.

He glanced over his shoulder, sure that everyone in the room, including his sister and Kendall, must be watching. Shouldn’t everyone’s eyes be on Beth? But his sister was occupied with laughing too hard at some joke Kendall had made, and the rest of the room seemed oblivious.

“Beth,” he finally said, his eyes sweeping down her body even though he tried hard not to look again. “Are you having a good evening?”

“I am, thank you. Don’t let me interrupt your path to the bar, though. You’ll never survive this kind of gathering without a drink.”

“Oh, I… Yeah, I’m getting a drink for my sister. Can I get you anything?” His mind was racing. What if she said yes? What if Tessa saw him handing this woman a drink and wanted to know who she was? What if she came over to talk?

But Beth cut off his worries by picking up a glass of wine. “I’m good, thanks,” she said. “So how do you know Roland Kendall?”

Eric was damn glad he didn’t have a drink in his hand yet, because he would’ve dropped it without question. “I’m sorry?” He leaned an inch closer, hoping he’d misheard her the first time.

“Roland Kendall. He’s not getting into the beer business now, is he?”

“No, I… We’re trying to get our product onto High West Airlines. You know Kendall?”

She arched an amused eyebrow at his words. Even Eric could hear the incredulous worry in his voice. “He’s not a big customer at the shop, if that’s what you’re wondering. I went to school with his daughter.”

“Oh.” So Kendall knew exactly who Beth was. Shit. He didn’t look over his shoulder, worried he’d look guilty if he did.

“Mr. Kendall is a tough nut to crack,” Beth said.

“He is.”

“Well, good luck with that.” She was walking away before he could say another word. He felt a stark sense of relief that she was moving away from him, but that relief was sharply offset by the pleasure of watching her curves sway as she left.

His mouth watered at the sight, but he told himself it was a good thing she’d called off their flirtation. She’d
been right. Their social circles weren’t as far apart as he’d thought they were.

This thing between them wasn’t meant to be. Still, Eric had given it a hell of a shot the night before. And his body seemed confident that it was the perfect candidate for the job. Too bad he wouldn’t get to finish it.

B
ETH WATCHED
J
AMIE
D
ONOVAN
chat up the group of businessmen who surrounded Roland Kendall. She still didn’t see anything of the kilt-wearing bartender in Jamie. Tonight he wore a dark business suit and a pale green tie. He looked every inch the sharp-eyed businessman. Good God, why did he have to be so serious and hot? Her fingers itched to grab that silk tie and pull him out of the room for a quick make-out session in the hallway.

Beth shivered. It was her own fault. She’d primed herself for this by slipping into something decadent and naughty. The fabric of the dress had felt so good under her hands that Beth had gone one step further. A new shipment of lingerie had come in the day before. Beth hadn’t put it out on the floor yet, but when she’d opened the box, she’d sighed in reverence.

The silk of the bra and panties was such a pale and delicate gold that it looked like aged ivory. The matching garter was made of soft braids of the same silk and paired perfectly with nude stockings. Beth had had to have the whole set. She’d dug through for her size and left a note to remind herself to pay for them in the morning before anyone else came in.

The lingerie had been well worth the exorbitant price tag. She could feel the expensive material against her skin as she moved. More than that, she could feel the
wicked knowledge of what she wore as if it was tattooed onto her. No one else could see it, but she felt daring and sensual and ready.

And maybe he could feel it, too. Their eyes met as she raised her wineglass to her lips, and energy arced between them. This was chemistry like she’d never felt. If she passed it up, she’d regret it for the rest of her life. She knew she would, because she’d felt grief-stricken as soon as she’d opened her eyes this morning.

“Hey there, gorgeous,” a man said from just over her shoulder.

Beth turned with a slight smile, thinking he must be someone she knew, but her smile dropped when she saw a stranger. “Pardon me?”

“I’m Will. Will Heston.”

She warily took the hand he offered. “Beth.”

He kept his fingers wrapped around hers and aimed a glaringly white grin at her. “I saw you at your booth earlier.”

Oh, great. One of those guys. Beth tugged on her hand until he let it go.

“You’re an incredibly sexy woman,” he said, clearly unable to read every “go away” signal she was blasting at him.

“Thank you,” she snapped, turning slightly away to look out over the crowd. He didn’t take that hint, either. Instead of excusing himself, he edged closer. His chest brushed her arm when he leaned toward her ear as if they were sharing an intimate conversation.

“I’d love to buy you a drink. Somewhere a little more lively, maybe? There’s a club over near the university that—”

She stepped a foot away. “No, thank you.”

“Are you sure?”

He held out a business card, and Beth glared down at it. Without reaching for the card, she could see the title President and Owner, along with the logo of a local luxury car dealership.

“Oh, I’m sure,” she muttered just as her phone began to ring. “Pardon me.”

She heard his snort of disbelief as she walked off, but she was too busy juggling her wine and phone to bother to look in his direction. “Hello?”

“It’s Cairo!” a cheerful voice sang. “I finally got the boys over here so I could try that tea.”

“Oh? And?”

“Aaaand…” Cairo’s giggle made Beth grin in response.

“I take it the tea worked?”

“Well, I’m feeling darn good right now.” The sound of a loud smack echoed through the phone, followed by Cairo’s eardrum-piercing squeal. A male voice rumbled in the background.

“They’re still there?” Beth put a hand over her eyes in chagrin.

“Oh, I made sure they won’t be moving for a while. Seriously though, the tea had a subtle effect, but I do think it worked. I’m gonna try it again tomorrow when I’m by myself. I think if I don’t have so much
visual
stimulation it’ll be easier to gauge whether I really feel different.”

“Oh, right. Good idea. Thanks, Cairo.”

“Jeez, it was my pleasure. Hey, Harrison says
hi
.”

As Beth hung up the phone she spotted the tea shop owner, a plump older woman wearing Birkenstocks with her black knit dress. The woman probably didn’t carry
samples with her, but Beth briefly considered asking, just in case.

Then again, she didn’t really need any help. She certainly hadn’t needed any last night. She’d come faster than she’d thought possible. Just the memory was enough to make her pulse quicken and her skin sparkle with sensitivity. That kind of chemistry shouldn’t be ignored, even if they weren’t right for each other in any other way. It was too rare a phenomenon, at least for Beth.

Screw it. She needed this whether she was ready or not.

But… She couldn’t approach him in front of his sister and Mr. Kendall, not if they wanted to keep this on the down-low. Beth slipped out the side door of the room and found herself in a dead-end hallway that led to two other banquet rooms. Excitement skittered through her body as she pulled up his number and called. This was who she’d always felt she
should
be. A sexy, daring woman.

“Hello?” he answered in a low voice.

“Hi. It’s Beth.”

There was a pause. She pictured him moving away from the group. “Are you still here?” he finally asked.

“I’m just outside the room, actually.” She drew a deep, quiet breath, and then she took the plunge. “I’ve been thinking about our conversation yesterday. Maybe we could…” While she tried to think of the exact right words, he stayed silent. She tried again. “I know you’re busy, but do you have a moment to talk?”

The line grew muffled for a moment before he
cleared his throat. “Can you give me one minute? Maybe two?”

“Of course. I’ll meet you in the hallway next to the side door.”

Beth spotted a big mirror at the end of the corridor and walked over to check her makeup. The dress slid against her hips. The ties of the garter belt stretched across her thighs. Her nipples tightened beneath the warm silk of the bra. And when she met her own eyes in the mirror, she saw a sexual goddess on the prowl. Wow. Where had
she
come from?

Who the heck cared? She ran her hands through her hair and watched a slow smile stretch across her face. It didn’t matter where the sexual goddess had come from. It only mattered that she was finally here.

Thank God.

A door opened. The sound of the party swelled into the hall. Beth turned and walked toward him.

There was no missing the way his eyes devoured her body. He liked her hips. No question about it. She suppressed her grin in favor of a sexy smirk.