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“Called what?” I turned my head toward the familiar voice interrupting and saw Tricia stirring creamer into her coffee.
“Excuse me, are you talking to me?” Deanna asked, her eyebrow raised toward Tricia, and I saw no way out of the situation except to introduce the two women.
“Tricia Mattison, meet Deanna Waitland. Deanna’s father is an associate of my father’s.”
“And both our fathers wanted to marry us off,” Deanna added unreservedly.
Tricia’s eyes narrowed instantly and she eyed up Deanna like she wanted to lay her out flat. My chest tightened at the possessive way Tricia stepped in close to me, and I loved that Deanna had made her jealous.
“I’m sure many fathers would be delighted to have a man like James take care of their daughters.”
“And you know each other, how?” Deanna asked, her curious eyes flitting from my face to Tricia’s.
Tricia eyed me for a moment while emotions of lust and want ran through them before she shrugged.
“It’s complicated.”
“She’s lying. We saw each other a few times, but it didn’t work out,” I replied, calling her out.
“So… shall we find a spot to talk business, James?” Deanna asked, politely dismissing Tricia from our conversation. Tricia’s eyes looked far darker than usual. Jealousy looked good on her.
“Lead the way,” I prompted. “Catch up with you later, Tricia,” I added, although I had little intention of doing so.
“I’ll hold you to that, James Wild,” Tricia called after me, undeterred when I went along with Deanna.
“Wow, that’s a woman who knows what she wants,” Deanna muttered, as she walked head down with her coffee held in front of her.
“I think it’s more a case of wanting what she can’t have.”
Turning to look at me, she arched a brow. “She can’t? That’s not what I read in the way you examined her.”
“She’s here with some other guy.”
“Poor guy, because if she’s that blatant about cutting in on me, she won’t be keeping him around for much longer.” Deanna’s observation made my heart lurch because it told me if others saw how she looked at me, it was proof she was into me. “Let’s forget your complicated love life for a few minutes, I have a few propositions I’d like to put your way.
* * *
Fifteen minutes later, I knew Deanna and I would be valuable allies in business for a long time to come.. Grabbing another fresh coffee, we headed into the conference room for the first speaker of the day. Filing into an empty row of seats, I sat next to Deanna on an end seat next to the aisle. Two minutes later Tricia came in with Bradley in tow and sat two rows in front.
Bradley immediately rested his arm around the back of her chair, leaned in, and murmured something into her ear. Tricia turned and smiled before bending down and pulling her tablet from her bag. As soon as she switched it on, Bradley’s head connected with hers as they shared her screen prior to the keynote speaker taking his podium.
“I think you two need to talk,” Deanna informed me with a smirk. I turned my head to look at her with a puzzled look. “She’s clearly flaunting that guy in your face, and the tension between you both is stifling.”
“I’m not with her, Deanna,” I objected, sounding stern.
“Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean either of you are happy about that.”
I didn’t respond to her comment and tried to focus on the speaker who outlined the day’s agenda, which had sounded as exciting as being served with a pile of dry toast with no water to wash it down.
Next a small stereotypical mathematician took to the stage and looked positively pre-orgasmic as he clicked through spreadsheets, pie charts, and statistics displayed in visual form via a drab-looking PowerPoint presentation.
I scanned the room, as looked for Rhea and prayed her notes were comprehensive because I had zero concentration. I’d been too busy noting Tricia and her guy in front of me, and my attention to anything else had gone to shit.
Trying to focus again on the speaker, my mind toyed with shutting down due to the monotone voice droning on through the auditorium—its faint echo making me feel distant to the unengaging delivery—as much as the monotonous subject matter. Every minute he spoke felt like ten and by the time his hour was done, I wasn’t sure I could sit through another presenter without falling asleep.
Deanna stood and smoothed down her dress. “Okay, this is me,” she said, as she stuffed her tablet back in her oversized, expensive designer purse. “I have a workshop in one of the other seminar rooms now.” Nodding toward Tricia, she gave me a pitied smile. “Talk to her, James. It doesn’t take much to see how tightly you’re wound when you look at her.”
I nodded because despite my intentions to keep my distance from Tricia, I felt bile build up in my stomach when I saw her with someone else.
