Page 81 of Chasing the Dream

He was still trying to work it out when his desk phone rang, and he saw the receptionist was calling.

“Mr. Matthews, Bryan Jameson is here to see you.”

So much for reviewing the contract before he’d arrived. “Thanks. You can send him up.”

He hung up the phone and sighed. He dreaded this meeting only because he suspected Bryan was more interested in Morgan than in working with his company. His only consolation was knowing that she didn’t return Bryan’s interest.

He went down the hall and stopped at her office to let her know that Bryan had arrived. She stood up and gave him a wide smile. In that moment, he recalled what she’d said earlier about wearing the dress for him. He warmed thinking about what was underneath and what they’d done just moments ago.

It must be my ego, he decided as they walked down the hall to greet Bryan at the elevator. After all, she was beautiful, intelligent, and sexy, and she wanted him. What man wouldn’t be drawn in by that?

When the elevator doors slid open and Bryan stepped out, his gaze immediately locked in on Morgan. He didn’t even bother trying to hide his enthusiasm as his eyes roamed over her with appreciation.

“Hello, Bryan,” she said, sounding friendly yet professional, a feat Gabe had yet to master with the likes of him.

“Great to see you again,” Bryan said, reaching out to shake her hand.

Gabe cringed when Bryan held onto it longer than necessary.

Morgan smoothly let go first, and then she turned to Gabe. It was time to man up. After all, as much as he despised the man, Bryan was their client.

“Welcome.” He gave Bryan a firm handshake, hoping to convey a message.

“Mr. Matthews.”

Gabe was surprised by the formality, but then he understood. Bryan was establishing the fact that he felt comfortable working with Morgan but not him. This meeting was going to be even more difficult than he’d anticipated.

“After you,” Gabe said, motioning for Bryan to walk ahead of them down the hall.

Morgan came alongside him and shot him a warning look, and then it struck him. He wouldn’t be feeling so insanely jealous if this was just a casual fling. This wasn’t about nostalgia, his ego, or recapturing his youth. This was about him and Morgan, and it meant so much more.

Chapter 23

Morgan’s mind drifted while she listened to Gabe read the terms of their agreement with Bryan. She focused on things she shouldn’t have been, like the smooth, rich cadence of Gabe’s voice, the way his hair curled up at the ends, and how his shirt stretched over his broad shoulders. He looked every bit the cool, confident businessman, yet there were little clues that he wasn’t completely at ease.

A few times while Gabe was reading, she’d caught Bryan staring at her. When she locked eyes with Gabe, she could tell he’d noticed too. At one point, he was clasping his ink pen so tightly she thought it might burst open and squirt ink all over the room.

Earlier, when she’d gone to his office to be with him, she’d also hoped it would provide assurance that she wasn’t interested in Bryan. Apparently, her attempt to soothe him hadn’t worked. While Gabe’s concern was flattering, it also added unnecessary tension to the meeting, and she couldn’t wait for it to be over.

“Here’s a tentative schedule of when the work should be completed. Of course, we’ll keep you updated throughout the process,” Gabe said.

Bryan glanced down at the printed schedule and nodded. Then he turned to Morgan. “I’d still like to meet with you on Saturday as we discussed.”

Oh no. She’d hoped he’d forgotten about that, and she’d neglected to mention it to Gabe. The look on Gabe’s face said he hated the idea, but she’d probably made things worse by not telling him.

“I…um…”

“We can meet at my place, at the tavern,” Bryan corrected after glancing at Gabe. “I’ll show you around some more, give you a copy of the menu, that sort of thing. Since nobody else will be there, we won’t be interrupted.”

Morgan felt trapped, and she suspected that was Bryan’s intention. He’d just agreed to sign a contract that stated she would meet with him at mutually agreed upon times. She hadn’t exactly agreed, but now she felt like she had to. Besides, she wasn’t quick enough to come up with a good excuse not to.

She could hardly look at either of the men, and the intensity of their stares (or glare, in Gabe’s case) caused her to squirm with discomfort.

“That’ll be fine,” she finally said.

“Great. If you’ll hand me your pen, I’ll sign,” Bryan said to Gabe, looking like the victor who was about to be handed his spoils.

Morgan noticed the tick in Gabe’s jaw as he reluctantly held out his pen.