The Allure of Dean Harper (The Allure #2)(44)

I crossed my arms and finally let myself look at her. Her full lips were twisted into a smirk and the glint in her eye proved she knew what she was doing. She was wearing a sleeveless blue dress that left her long legs on display. Her hair was pulled over her right shoulder so that I could admire the curve of her neck. She tapped her finger against the email impatiently. She was demanding and breathtaking.

I cleared my throat. “Antonio Acosta sent us a revised list of dishes for our menu. He apologized for his lack of preparedness in Vegas. I don’t think he gave a valid excuse as to why his original suggestions were shit. Regardless, the new dishes look great and we will definitely be flying him out soon for another tasting.”

Her smirk widened. “Just so we’re clear, Antonio sent us revised dishes for no reason whatsoever? Out of the kindness of his own heart?”

I gripped the edge of the desk and I shook my head. “You want me to commend your behavior in that meeting, Lily, but I won’t do it. You were rude and disrespectful. On any other day, a chef as hotheaded as Antonio would have smeared us in the press. We’re lucky he was feeling generous.”

She huffed out a breath of air and crossed her arms.

“Have we decided on the name yet?” Julian asked, changing the subject before Lily and I dominated the rest of the meeting with an argument.

“I’m still working on it. I’ve got a few in mind though.”

“I’ve been coordinating with the graphic designer you hired in Vegas,” Zoe said, directing the meeting toward her work. “Obviously, we can’t do much without a name, but we’ve begun to work on basic branding. You’ve told us what aesthetic you’d like for the restaurant, so once we have the name we can home in on what logo would work best.”

“Have you forwarded me that progress?” I asked.

She nodded. “Everyone should have it in their inbox.”

“Good.” I turned to Hunter and his eyes widened. “How is the search going for the restaurant space?”

He swallowed and pulled at the collar of his shirt, trying to loosen its hold around his neck. “Um. Yeah. I’ve been looking, but there’s not much out there. Whole lotta rough, not many diamonds.”

I narrowed my eyes. That’s not what I wanted to hear. “I’m not looking for anything polished, just something we can work with. You’re telling me there are no available leases in Manhattan?”

Was that his attempt at a bad joke?

His cheeks flamed. “It’s just a tough market right now and I think…it’s just…”

He was rambling and it made no sense. Hunter had helped me find the spaces for my last four restaurants and he’d never once had a problem.

“I’ll help,” Lily offered gently. “I can search around online when I get home.”

Hunter shot her a sharp glare. He clearly didn’t want her help, but tough shit. He needed it.

“That’d be great. Thanks.”

She smiled and the impact of it knocked me off my equilibrium.

“Actually, Lily could you stay after the meeting for a second?”

Her smile faltered. “Oh, uh…sure. Okay.”

She was as surprised by my question as I was. The plan was to have a group meeting and then send everyone on their way, together. I should’ve realized I’d cave as soon as I saw her. Two weeks apart meant that she was more tempting than ever. The desire that should have faded was too sharp to ignore. I had nothing business related to discuss with her; I just wasn’t ready for her to walk away yet.





Chapter Thirty-Six


Lily





Zoe was the last to leave Dean’s office. She turned back and shot me a knowing grin just as I shut the door on her. Dean stood behind his desk, peeling off his suit jacket. His corded arm muscles flexed as he tossed it onto the back of his chair.

When his attention was focused on me, I wet my bottom lip and tried to smile. It felt weak.

“I asked you to stay so that we could have a moment alone to talk about the situation between us.”

He was putting our relationship into business terms. Dean’s opening move was always to treat the issue like it was just another danger to his bottom line, but I knew better. I could see the way his breathing had shifted when I’d turned to him. We were alone in his office. I was a few feet away and he was already daydreaming of the ways he could take me across his desk.

I stepped forward. “I’m completely capable of being professional around you.”

My words said one thing and my tone hinted at the opposite.

His mouth twitched and he bent his head to hide the smirk he didn’t want me to see. “I agree. Sleeping with each other doesn’t have to interfere with our business relationship.”

“Exactly.”

“Did I hear that you have a blind date this week?” he asked, arching a brow at me.

“Uh huh. I’m sure you’ll keep yourself busy as well.” I stepped closer and kicked one shoe off and then the other.

He loosened his tie. “Very busy.”

“When’s your next meeting?” I asked as I hit the edge of his desk.

He unbuttoned his belt. “I have to be across town in an hour.”

I nodded.

“You?”