The Tantric Principle(3)
He had too much to lose.
Grant reached for the phone and dialed her number.
“Aren’t we working tonight?”
Arianna looked up to see Tim Grayson in the doorway. She shot him a smile and finished packing up her briefcase. “Not tonight. I have to attend a workshop this weekend in Boston.” He ignored her obvious attempt to rush out the door and made himself comfortable in the burgundy leather chair opposite her desk. “What type of workshop?”
“Yoga.”
He gave a snort that was half laugh. “Yeah, right.”
She checked her cell phone one last time and tossed it in her bag. “Thanks for the support. At least I have a hobby outside of the office.”
“Yoga people can’t make it in the real world. They don’t understand deadlines.” She laughed. Tim was like her in many ways, and their brief fling had been satisfying, but short. Neither of them had regretted giving in to their desire, but the passion quickly cooled after a weekend spent in bed. So they agreed to simply remain friends.
Arianna had been relieved because their relationship at G&B Advertising was more important to her than a few orgasms. They were both on the fast circuit—long hours, dinner spent hunched over a computer, and brainstorming sessions with her creative team that ran late into the night. So far, she hadn’t met a man who could compete with the adrenalin rush of scoring a big account. She'd always assumed the man she’d eventually fall in love with would have the same intensity toward his career. She respected businessmen and loved the sharp intelligence and social edge people in advertising possessed. It was cutthroat and for the young.
The thought brought a smile to her lips. Enter her interest in yoga. Imagine her surprise when she realized her body was beginning to betray her. All the fast food and late nights had finally taken their toll. She'd felt brittle and bone weary. Her edge blurred and her mind had became fogged. The kickboxing and cardio only seemed to make things worse. One day she’d seen an advertisement in the paper about a local yoga studio offering free beginning classes.
She'd gone and hoped for a miracle.
And gotten it. Along with a sexy teacher who was beginning to drive her crazy.
Arianna shook off her thoughts and re-focused on Tim. “Stop making fun of me. The asanas help me relax and focus better on work.”
“Ass what?”
She laughed. “The postures. It’ s a great workout. I finally have some arm muscles from all those push ups.”
Tim waved his hand in dismissal. “You need a burger and a roll in the hay.” He waggled his eyebrow. “I’m free tonight if you want to use me.”
“No thanks. You’d fall madly in love with me again and we wouldn’t be able to work on the Rosebud account.”
“That’s why you should be working with me this weekend. Not running off to some guru camp to find inner peace.”
She made a face at his obvious displeasure and shooed him off the chair. “I promised I’d help my teacher out. I’ll have my cell phone and be instantly reachable. Send me the print ad as soon as Mel finishes. On Monday I’ll meet with the team and we’ll go over our final pitch.”
“Yeah, no pressure.” Tim rose and walked her out. “Don’t get too relaxed out there and leave me stranded.”
“Have I ever?”
He gave her a raunchy grin. “Nah, never. It’s always been good for me.” She laughed and locked up her office. As she drove home, she thought of spending the next two days with Grant. Alone. A delicious shiver slithered down her spine and pooled between her legs. She shifted in her seat at the throbbing ache and wondered how he would be in bed. She firmly stopped the thought. No sense in going there or she’d need her vibrator. Again.
Boston was strictly business, just as he relayed. He needed someone to demonstrate the poses to the class and be a general errand girl. He’d offered to pay her but she laughed and requested a few free classes. Arianna assumed her teacher knew she didn’t need his money. She wondered how much yoga teachers made, and then wondered if he had problems with women making more money. As a successful advertising executive, she’d made her way through the ranks, starting as an intern. A ruthless cunning and hunger for success finally placed her at the cusp of an account that could launch her into the big time. She’d been at G&B for ten years now, and no one had invaded her turf yet.
She realized Grant Madison lived in a different world. He’d never understand why she had to work late on their anniversary, why stress made her curse like a truck driver, and why she didn’t view the world through rainbow colored glasses. She’d made her own way with no help.