A Family He Never Planned

I assume this meeting is being conducted with the utmost confidentiality? ” " Of course it is," Jane Watson said, though she had never before had to assure a potential client of that. " Then I'll be honest. " She eyed Dave Brown as he paced before her in his ironed suit and tie. The floor-to-ceiling of his office overlooked the river and provided the perfect backdrop. Gorgeous—the man and view. As he paused for a moment, she noticed just a hint of something on his neck, right about the collar of his suit. Was that a tattoo? Quickly, Jane dropped her graze, knowing full well how easy it was to read her expression, so she turned her thoughts in more business-like directions. " Besides,” he continued as he faced her once more, "If word goes out, I'd know where it came from, wouldn't I? ” Okay, David was making it look a lot easier for Jane to focus on business. " My shipping fleet has done very well, but I'm interested in taking my business to the next level. To that end, I am aiming to attract a certain family that I hope will contract extensive work from my fleet.” A frown married David's smooth face. She could almost see the thought as they took hold of him. " This family is very altruistic, and so I want to do some fund-raising event that appeals to them." "So this is all business?" Though she understood the logic David was working with, the conclusion was still disappointing. The hot CEO apparently doesn't have a heart... "It's purely a business endeavor. As with other projects, I'll write the check, you do the work." Wasn't that a nice attitude? NOT. Though Jane does work with high-profile business people in the city, she'd never had one approach her with a proposal this cold. "Why me?" She asked quietly. "I did my research," he said, turning a direct stare at her that made her uncomfortably aware of things other than business. "You're well known in the circles I want to attract, your clients have a very high rate of satisfaction, and we use some of the same vendors, the best vendors in the city of Savannah." His praise should make her feel better, right? "My assistant received some wonderful feedback from you. You were rated the highest star quality event planner in the region." "I only work with the best of the best. That's how I can trust you to do good work." Why did he have to be so handsome? A handsome automaton. That slight peek at the tattoo on his neck had led her to expect more. A buff of laughter escaped as she imagined him as a true robot in her own overactive imagination. "Is there a problem?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at her as if suspicious she was making fun of him. "Nothing." At least she didn't giggle. That would definitely be unprofessional. "Can you tell me what charity you have in mind?" she asked, trying to get back in business. "I dont know. Pick whatever you feel is appropriate." Jane blinked. Everything about this meeting was completely out of the ordinary when it came to how she worked with her clients. "I'll simply need an event that is noteworthy and appropriate," he continued. "They seemed to be involved in quite a few cases. Oh, and I need it in less than two months." Oh, my. "So you think I'm a miracle worker?" This time he relented enough to offer a small smile. "I certainly hope so. Otherwise, the event will be too late to have any impact on my bid. Can I count on you?" She thought back to their conversation. NO. NO. And no. "Listen, I don't think I'm the right person for this job you are talking about." Or, quite frankly, for this boss. She had a feeling that working with him or for him would be a minefield, and with her life in tumult already. She didn't need a different boss. He stopped his pacing to stare, "Why not?" You're too handsome, too business-minded and too cavalier about this endeavor altogether. Only she couldn't say any of that loudly. Questions rang in Jane's mind as she watched him, thinking hard. She'd heard plenty about David Brown, but she'd never actually met him before today, despite her extensive work with the Jason's elite. One of the city's youngest billionaires—self-made through his dedication to his quickly growing shipping business—he attended only a few selected events on the social scene. Considering his reputation as a hard-nosed, focused business person and what she'd seen during this meeting, she had a feeling he only did that much to maintain his business contacts. His presence was commanding, he looked suave and professional. So saved that she wanted to mess with his perfectly placed blond hair just for the heck of it. Jane was professional, too, but she often had the feeling she was hearing cats—especially since the arrival of Ruth... and often she feared it'd show. "Look," she tried to explain, searching for words that David would understand. "I realize charity events are good ways of getting positive press and word of mouth, but my events are known for having hearts." "Good. Then you can give a heart to mine." She was still unsure how to make him understand that this wasn't a good fit for her. To her relief, his phone rang. "Yes James?" he asked over the phone. "I'm sorry to bother you, sir, your lawyer just had the agreement you requested." "I need to take a quick look at this," David explained to Jane. "Excuse me for a moment." "No problem." A few hours to herself might give her time to regroup. Glancing around his office, Jane noticed right there, there were no personal touches. No novels or magazines. No photographs of his family... or even him with friends. A framed photo of a large building graced a prominent spot on the wall. Jane couldn't imagine being this impersonal. She knew a lot of people, cared about a lot of people, but her family was her core support. Few others got to see behind her public persona. After losing her parents when she was a teenager, she couldn't imagine the devastation she would feel if she lost another member of her family. She'd known David wanted an event planned—after all, that's what she did. But his complete lack of personal interest or passion was daunting. And though there were some charities that didn't require the benefactor to be very much involved , it wasn't the way she wanted to work. But how could she convince him that a more hands-on approach was needed? "So what do you think?" The smooth smile on David's face as he returned to the room was so attractive it made her chest ache. She saw a lot of powerful, pretty men in her job, but David had to be the pinnacle. Frankly, she wasn't sure what to do with that, either. "Should we start talking about contracts?" Jane nodded, willing her expressions to remain neutral. "Yes, but I have a few requirements of my own." David Brown eyed this woman before him with concern, itching his brain, though he was too smart to let it show. Jane didn't seem to be like the bragging type. She appeared to be nothing like the cutthroat business people he dealt with on a daily basis. So why did he detect a hint of steel in those cornflower-blue eyes? "A bit unusual for the event planner to start making demands, isn't it?" She arched her brow in a challenging expression, but judging from the way she was tightly clasping her hands in her lap, he had a feeling it was false bravado. "It's definitely not my normal MO," she said. "But a girl's got to have standards." No apology—he likes that. "Name your price." "Oh, it's not about price." She paused for a moment as she studied him. "It's about participation." David was caught up in her beauty that he wasn't getting all the cues. "I wasn't following..." "I'll happily take on your event— I already have some great ideas. And don't get me wrong. Being given a lot of freedom is an event planner's dream. But as I said, I have certain standards. This isn't about what's easiest for me... or you. A contract will require you to participate in each step of the process—" "I guess we could touch base via phone." Though seeing her won't be a hardship. Those blue eyes and her delicate bone structure were the first things to distract David from his business in a long, long time. "You'll participate by attending all the meetings that I deem necessary with vendors and representatives of the charity we support." What? Hold a minute. "Nice try, sweetheart. I have a business to run. And more than enough to do. That's why i am hiring someone else to do it." "I also have a business to run. And a reputation to protect. You need to be involved for this to work. So it's my way or no way." David tried to figure out what was going on here. "There are plenty of event planners out there in the city." Jane nodded graciously, but he again got a feeling there was a steel behind those genteel smiles. "And you are welcome to contact them." She was up and across the room ready to leave, but she paused by the door. How could she, just the way she glanced back at him, be so sexy? Especially as she proceeded to drop a bombshell. "I would like to remind you that I do know Jefferson personally, and I am a frequent guest at their parties." Shock rocketed through him. Had she known? "You were referring to the Jefferson, weren't you? I do my homework too." As she strode out the door with a tempting flash of her leg, David was impressed even though he knew he shouldn't. Sexy and smart. It gave her too much of an advantage.