Billionaire's Contract Engagement(8)

She sucked in a breath. "He wants me to go to Catalina with him. We'd  leave Thursday afternoon. It's the only time he can spare me and he's  promised to listen to my ideas while we're there."

Brock's brow furrowed further and he studied her intently.

"I see."

Forgetting about all she needed to do and that she didn't want to be  stuck here in Brock's office forever, she sank down into one of the  chairs and stared glumly at her boss.

"I told him I'd go. I didn't see that I had a choice. While he didn't  come out and say it, he implied that if I didn't, he was prepared to go  with another agency."

"I agree you should go. Does that make me an ass?"

Celia laughed, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "No, it  doesn't make you an ass. I guess I just worry about the fallout. It's  stupid. I shouldn't care. I never would have before, but I know what  will be said if it gets out and how things will be twisted."

"You have my support, Celia, and you have the support of the agency. Don't ever doubt that."

She rose and smiled gratefully at him. "Thank you, Brock."

He grunted. "Get me the damn account. That's all the thanks I need."         

     



 

She stopped on her way out, put her hand on the door frame and looked  back. "I'll need someone to cover for me on Friday. I have two client  appointments, one in the morning and one in the afternoon."

"Jason will cover for you. You just worry about knocking Evan Reese's socks off."

"I will," Celia murmured. "I will."

On her way down the hall, her BlackBerry rang and she dug into the  pocket of her briefcase for it. Seeing Noah's number on the LCD, she  mashed the answer button and stuck the phone to her ear as she walked  into her office.

"I'm working on the maid service," she said in lieu of hello.

Noah chuckled. "Great, I nearly killed myself getting out of bed this  morning. You'd be amazed how dangerous a pair of dirty underwear can  be."

Her nose wrinkled in disgust. "Would you at least try not to send the  maid screaming from your house on her first day? That's just gross."

He made a derisive sound. "So I read through the info you sent. I also  had my agent do some checking. I might add that my agent is orgasmic  that I'm considering this endorsement deal."

"Tell him I expect a nice Christmas gift as thank you," Celia said.

"Oh, please. He doesn't even give his mother presents."

Usually she wouldn't mind chatting mindlessly with her siblings, but she  had a hundred things to do before Thursday, including figure out how  she was going to survive a weekend on an island with a man who made  mincemeat of her willpower.

"So does this mean you'll consider it?"

There was a pause, and she found herself holding her breath.

"Yeah. He checks out. He seems as solid as you said he was. I'll talk to him if nothing else."

She did a double-fist pump and dropped her bag on the floor by her desk.

"Have his people call my people," Noah said airily.

Celia laughed. "I am his people. Or at least I will be."

"Hey, you going to be at Dad's this weekend?"

She winced when she remembered that she'd told their father she would indeed be there for Sunday dinner again.

"Afraid not. Something's come up."

Noah made a disapproving sound. "Don't you ever take off? It's Sunday, for Pete's sake."

"How do you know it's work?" she defended. "Maybe I have a hot date."

He snorted. "When was the last time you went on a hot date? It's always work with you."

Knowing they were about to get into lecture territory again, Celia cut him off before he got carried away.

"Hey, I have to run, Noah. Have a meeting in five minutes. I'll call you later, okay?"

Before he could call her a liar, she hung up and plopped into her chair. She blew out a long sigh of relief and closed her eyes.

It was all coming together. Not without a few potholes, but it was  within reach. All she had to do was hold it together and get through the  weekend and the account would be hers.

"Knock, knock."

Celia opened her eyes to see Jason Reagart standing in her doorway.

"Brock told me I needed to cover for you on Friday, so I stopped by so you could get me up to speed on what I need to know."

"Yeah, have a seat. Give me a minute. Been running all morning. I'll dig out my notes."

Jason eased into a chair, his long legs eating up most of the space  between it and her desk. Celia picked up her beleaguered briefcase and  opened it on her desk.

"So how is Lauren?"

She hated idle conversation, but the silence was more awkward and she  hadn't planned on having to turn over the two meetings to anyone, so her  notes were haphazard at best.

"Pregnant. Grumpy. You know, typical pregnant woman."

Celia scowled at him over the top of her briefcase. "Like you wouldn't  be if you had to deal with water retention, hormones and arrogant men?"

Jason laughed. "Hey, I spoil her rotten."

"As you should. Ah, here we go."

She pulled out a folder and tossed it to Jason.

"Everything you need to know for the morning meeting is on pages one  through three. This isn't a big deal. They just need a little hand  holding and a little ego stroking. Bowl them over with how Maddox is  going to make them look good while increasing their exposure by three  hundred percent and they'll be fine."

Jason flipped through the pages, his brow creased in concentration. She  felt comfortable leaving her clients in his very capable hands. He took  his job very seriously and moreover, he was damn good at what he did.  Maddox had landed a huge account thanks to him, and if Celia had her  way, she was going to top that by landing Evan Reese.         

     



 

"And the afternoon meeting?" Jason asked.

"Hopefully you can read my notes. I have the PowerPoint presentation  ready to go. They need to view it and sign off or suggest any changes so  we can move it into the production stage. Impress upon them that this  is their last chance to see it before it goes nationwide so make sure  they're happy with it."

He nodded and straightened the papers before closing the folder. "Don't  worry. I'll take care of it. Brock said you were going to be out of  town. Hope everything is all right."

There was a subtle question there, and she knew he hoped she'd expound  on her reasons for not being there on Friday. She was just grateful  Brock hadn't told him where she was going and why.

She smiled. "Everything's fine, and thank you again for stepping in on  such short notice. I owe you one. Send Lauren my love. I'll have to  remember to buy her a gift certificate from my favorite spa. I can't  think of a pregnant woman alive who wouldn't appreciate a massage."

Jason sent her a disgruntled look. "I don't want some beefcake putting his hands on my wife."

Celia rolled her eyes. "The poor woman can't see her feet and is  probably miserable, and you're going to be picky about who gives her  some relief?"

"Damn right I am!"

Celia made a shooing motion with her hands. "Out. I have work to do."

And she made a mental note to call her salon and make an appointment for  Lauren. She'd ask for the hunkiest massage therapist they had.





Five


The car that Evan had sent to collect Celia pulled up to the plane  parked on the paved landing area that led to the single runway and  stopped just a few feet from where the door to the jet lay open.

Celia looked out the window to see Evan standing a short distance away. He was waiting for her.

The driver opened her door, and she stepped into the afternoon sun. She  blinked a few times then pulled her shades from her head over her eyes.  Maybe then it wouldn't be so obvious how she ate Evan up with her gaze.

He was dressed casually. Jeans, polo shirt and loafers. She'd only ever  seen him in suits, and she hadn't imagined he could look better. She was  wrong. So, so wrong.

The jeans cupped him in all the right places. They clung to his thighs,  rounded his butt and molded to his groin. They weren't new,  starchy-looking jeans, either. They were faded and worn, just like a  good pair of jeans should be.

"Celia," he said with a nod as she approached. "If you're ready, we can be on our way."

"I just need to get my luggage  … "

She turned to see that the driver was handing her luggage to a uniformed man.

"Okay then, I'm ready," she said cheerfully.

He smiled and motioned for her to precede him onto the plane. She mounted the steps and ducked inside.

Her eyes widened at the luxurious interior. It was simple and  understated, but she recognized it for what it was. Very expensive  comfort. She shoved her shades up so she could get a better look.

There was nothing gaudy about any of the furnishings. It looked very  masculine. It even smelled masculine. Leather and suede. Earth tones.

Beyond the three rows of seats, there was a small sitting area with a  couch and one chair with a coffee table and a television. To her left  between the seats and the cockpit was a small galley area complete with a  steward.