Part 34 (1/2)
”I a.s.sume my invitation is in the mail,” Julien said.
Connor sighed. Sitting back in his chair, he explained, ”It's a business matter.”
”Ah.”
”I looked her up. I wouldn't poke my eye out if she crawled into bed next to me.”
”One more crack and this conversation is over.”
”You're marrying a beautiful woman, Connor. And it's a business matter? Then you are either blind or stupid. She's Pernell's only heir. And according to sources, she's f.u.c.king brilliant with money.”
”Sources?”
”She was an intern at one of my companies.”
No surprise there. Connor nodded.
”She doesn't consider herself an entrepreneur,” Julien continued.
”That wouldn't have come from a confidential HR file, would it?”
”Perish the thought. I'd never be so cra.s.s.”
Connor remained skeptical.
”She can do amazing a.n.a.lytics and risk a.s.sessments, but developing new ideas isn't something she has a desire to do. And, my friend, that's your forte. So why is it simply a business arrangement? It looks like a match made in corporate heaven.”
”You ever met a relations.h.i.+p you didn't want to meddle in?”
”What's the sticking point? I mean, besides you being an a.s.shole.”
Nothing like old friends to give you medicine without sugar. ”You know better than anyone that love is messy.”
”It is. And that's what makes it so...oozingly delicious.”
Connor shook his head. ”It's not that easy.”
”Be bold,” Julien said. ”You're not responsible for anyone else's mess. It's time you saw that. You're a different person than your father. You wouldn't make the same choices he did.”
He recoiled. No one else but Julien Bonds would have the guts to say words like that. But he supposed it was easy to be a sage when you were examining someone else's life and didn't have to live with the consequences.
”So I take it I'm not on the guest list after saying that. No, wait. I'm confused. I was never on it, anyway. I might as well say anything I want.”
”There is no guest list.”
”Pity. Every woman wants a wedding.”
”This one would prefer there was nothing other than a legal certificate. Wants to live in her own house and pretend we're not married.”
”Can you blame her?”
The tension sledgehammered the back of his neck. ”I might add it was her idea to begin with.”
”Judging by what we know of Pernell, I'm guessing your bride-to-be needed some support. So my guess is she offered you something in return, a seat on the board, the opportunity for you to acquire the communications division. A sacrificial lamb, as it were. Unless you'd bend a little and offer some love, I wouldn't want to live with you, either.”
”Thanks for that.”
”Anyway, I'll be in Houston sometime next week. I have a real estate investor who wants me to look at sites for a new retail store.”
”Galleria area?”
”Among them, yes.”
He was intrigued.
”I'd love to meet the new Mrs. Donovan while I'm there.”
”I'll keep you advised.”
”No need. I'll calendar it for you. Let me know what changes. I do love shopping for wedding gifts.”
”Save your money.” He ended the call.
Julien's words haunted the rest of his morning and they were still on his mind when he and April arrived in front of Lara's office building.
She was standing inside the revolving door, and she pushed through it the moment he opened the car door.
At the sight of her, something sparked inside him, a recognition, an attraction, a feeling of possession. Today she wore cla.s.sic pumps, an above-the-knee skirt, white blouse and a blazer. Her purse hung from her shoulder.
No matter what she put on, from that slinky thing on Sat.u.r.day evening to one of his s.h.i.+rts last night, he responded to her.
She'd covered her eyes with sungla.s.ses.
Her smile looked polite. He knew enough to realize it was strained.
He kissed her cheek, but she didn't respond.
Instead, she accepted his hand into the car and told April how much she appreciated the ride.
He slid in beside her, and she removed the sungla.s.ses. It was then that he noticed the tension edged beside her mouth and eyes.
Julien's words plowed into him again. ”Anything I can do for you?” he asked.
”No.” She shook her head. ”I just need to get through tomorrow.”
”Trouble?”
She updated him on the fact her father hadn't shown up for work this morning so she hadn't had the opportunity to discuss the report she'd compiled after her Friday meeting with BHI's VP of Technology. ”I can work on the financials,” she said, ”begin some due diligence, but if my father won't consider the proposal to sell the package of patents to Bonds-”
”Patents for?”