It certainly didn't help how she'd only blossomed with age. She walked with the power of a woman who knew how to get what she wanted, perfectly demonstrated by today's meeting. Her strawberry-colored hair now hung halfway down her back, still curly and wild as ever, like silk trapped in fire. She liked to wear it up now, shoving those strands into a neat chignon. Her face had always been a bit too round, her mouth and eyes a bit too wide, and she'd always despised the scattering of freckles across her nose and dotted generously over her white skin. He hated those black-framed glasses that hid her jade-green eyes and gave him fantasies about sexy librarians. Her wardrobe drove him slightly mad, with her tight designer suits, short skirts, and sexy high heels. She'd never been petite or small boned-no, her body was all Eve, lush and ripe like the apple that tempted her. In New York, he'd had a hard time meeting a woman over a size 6. Their makeup was always flawless, they regularly attended blow-out salons to kill any curls, and they were all vegetarians who believed in saving the earth. They never looked at him with adoration and always paid their own check and would instruct the bartender exactly how to make their Skinnygirl martini.
No, much easier to concentrate on the way she treated him like a bug she'd rather squash or her refusal to talk to him during Sunday dinners at the mansion or the cool tone of her throaty voice when she answered his demands, like he was slightly brain damaged.
Much easier to remember the depth of her betrayal.
If he concentrated on that truth, it was easier to ignore the persistent electricity crackling between them and the low thrum of arousal beating through each cold, deliberate word spoken.
Just lingering stuff from the past, he told himself. They worked better together when they avoided each other and stayed in their private corners.
But now she was challenging the corner he'd put her in.
"Listen, I'm not saying Sydney's not competent at her job," he said steadily. "But she's never headed a project with flipped properties, renovation, and design. I've always been the one in charge, and I don't like that ultimatum she threw out at us. She has no right."
Dalton shrugged. "You would've done it," he pointed out. "It's good business. Offer something we want and present the hook to get it. Would've thought you'd admire her moves."
"It's different," he gritted out.
"How?" Cal asked.
He clenched his fists under the table. Frustration rippled through him. "She tricked us. Plus, if she fails, we lose Cushman for future projects and put ourselves in a serious financial hole. It's too risky."
"I don't think so," Cal said. "She'll have to be lead, but it's critical you work with her at every step. That will confirm our success."
He refused to acknowledge the slight trickle of panic threatening. "I'm too busy to babysit. I have my own shit going on."
"Like what?" Dalton asked. "You said in another week you'd be clear. Did you take something else on?"
He tamped down the urge to pound on his brother. "I was planning on investigating some houses outside of town." The vague explanation only made it more obvious he was full of crap. Dalton and Caleb shared a knowing look.
"Why are you so against this?" Cal demanded. "Don't you think she's earned CFO? Or is your problem personal?"
He jerked and smothered a curse word. His brothers knew they'd had a fling years ago, but he'd kept most of the details a secret. Being with Sydney had been almost taboo-she'd been a soft spot for his parents and had practically grown up in their household like a younger sister. Of course, his brothers had been barely talking back then, anyway. When he took off to New York to carve out his own path, they lost all contact for five full years. It was only when Christian Pierce died that Tristan returned to Harrington to discover his father's will stated Pierce Brothers would be sold unless they all ran the company together for one full year.
The memory of that first year made Tristan shake his head. They'd barely been able to be civil to one another, let alone run a company. It was a hard year, full of painful fights and realizations that had changed them all. Finally, they'd healed the past, and he'd gotten his brothers back. There was still the occasional blowup or argument, but underneath was a respect and love that guided them through. Finally Pierce Brothers was a true family company again, and he'd decided to stay in Harrington.
Unfortunately, he hadn't been able to move forward with Sydney.
"Not personal," he shot back. "Just trying to present a full view of the obstacles. I know we all admire Sydney, but this is a big decision."
Cal's gunmetal eyes flickered as if he knew what the real problem was but wasn't going to force his brother to say it. "I say it's an easy decision to make," Cal said. "But we all have to be in agreement. Those in favor of offering Sydney the CFO position and taking on Cushman's project, say yes."