Triple Diamonds (Mystic Nights #2)(38)

When he left the storage room a minute after she did, he didn’t see her at her station, but Louis was there. And he looked confused. He just shrugged his shoulders at him and looked towards the double doors he had come in through earlier. He must have seen her leave in a huff.

He just didn’t know what to think. Trust in him was hard to earn.





Chapter 12




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Three hours later Joseph sat at a table with Leanne Carne. She was the owner of Natural Wonders, her own line of creative skin care products made from local ingredients. Her company was only six years old, but already developing quite the following. Testimonials, and customer satisfaction after many years had helped her to get her struggling products the attention they deserved.

And if her face was anything to go by, the products did wonders. He knew she was forty-three, but could easily pass for thirty. His mother had tried the products herself recently and loved them. He was in negotiation with her to use her products exclusively for their casino in the state of Connecticut. And she was a tough negotiator. He tried to persuade her the advertising they would provide at The Mystic would help boost her online sales. They would also sell her items exclusively at their salon and spa.

But still she wanted more. In the strip of stores downstairs, she wanted a shop that carried her products and offered mini facials. It was a good idea, he had to admit, but it would mean another expansion or moving one of the lesser selling shops out.

“How about a kiosk?” he volunteered. She wrinkled her lovely nose at the idea. “We could hire a few of the spa personnel to run it and build into it a wall, a shelving system to sell your various products.”

“Well, that could work for now, but once my new line of cosmetics comes out, I don’t think that space would suffice.”

“How about we do the kiosk, and then in two years, we could have a clause that allows you to put in the store. I don’t think you have enough products to fill a store yet, you’ll be waiting on your own research and development team, and FDA approval anyway. And if you perhaps agree to come once a month to help market the products you do have, we could do make up sessions, tutorials, teach the workers.”

“Once a month is asking a lot. But I do like that idea. The shop could do drawings for make-up makeovers, once a day. And the trained staff would use my products. But I couldn’t commit to coming every month. I like gambling too much,” she laughed. “I’d be spending all my profit in the casino.”

“I can understand that, Leanne,” he laughed charmingly. It finally seemed like they were getting somewhere.

“Good, I like that deal. I think we can work something out. Maybe coming every other month. That shouldn’t be too difficult since I’m local.” She lifted her glass of Merlot and toasted a very profitable meeting. Setting her glass down, she eyed the younger man with appreciation. If she weren’t happily married, she would definitely be interested in this man. He was devastatingly handsome, and the utmost professional. “Dinner was delicious. I am glad we ate in the casino. I must admit I was very impressed with how they cooked the fish. I am all about locally grown and raised produce and meat.”

“And we are too. That’s why we wanted only you for the new direction of the spa.” He lifted his glass one more time to her, draining its contents.

“I’d love to thank the chef,” Leanne indicated. Joseph had a brief moment of panic. If he had been sipping his drink, he might have choked. He knew Louis left early and Jewel was heading the kitchen tonight. Louis just came to set up the kitchen. But not wanting to disappoint Mrs. Carne, he nodded at one of the wait staff who immediately came bustling over.

“We would like to thank the chef, and compliment her on the delicious meal,” he informed the waiter who dipped his head slightly and then backed away.

It wasn’t but a minute later when he saw her. She was wiping her hands on a cloth, and handed it to the waiter who also nodded in their direction. He saw her quick frown, and her falter for just a moment when she realized where she was headed. But because of the professional she was, she quickly replaced her annoyance with a tight smile. He knew she was probably still angry about earlier, but he respected her competence.

When she approached the table, she gave her hand to Leanne performing a quick once over. The woman was stunning. Tall, and lithe, blond, and her breasts were exposed perfectly in the blouse she wore. And they weren’t too large either. She was everything Jewel was not, and even though she had been upset with Joseph for his rash accusations, she’d hoped they would talk it out. She’d even regretted her moment of fury. But, this, just a few hours later, rubbing it in that he could so easily find someone else to warm his bed, had her on fire once more.

“I am so glad you enjoyed the fish this evening. It was fresh and locally caught on the nearby reservation.”

“Yes, so I’ve been told,” she smiled across at Joseph. “It was delicious, the sauce perfect. I wanted to thank you personally.”

Jewel’s eyes strayed briefly to Joseph, but returned her focus to the stunning blond. “You are quite welcome. And if you are staying for dessert, I recommend the blueberry torte. Also locally grown berries. The first season was just brought in.”

“Oh no, I couldn’t.” She patted her stomach which was flat as a washboard.