Sinful Desire (Sinful Nights, #2)(33)
“We’re in cahoots then,” she said, with a cheery smile for the fresh-faced law school graduate. “How are you finding the transition from law school to the corporate world?”
“My grandfather works me hard. The other day, for instance, he only let me take a one-hour lunch to play the cards at the MGM instead of the two hours he gives the senior partners.”
“I’m so cruel,” Clyde said with a hearty laugh.
After another minute of casual chatter, she said goodbye, and Clyde saw her to the lobby.
“That went quite well didn’t it?” he said, a huge grin on his face.
“He is lovely indeed,” Sophie said. Also six years younger than me, and I’m not a cradler-robber.
“Perhaps the two of you could attend the concert together,” he said, then snapped his fingers. “Wait. I have a better idea. Why don’t you go out before? Have a nice dinner. On me.”
She wanted to put her foot down, but she also didn’t want to offend this man who she needed in her court by turning down his grandson. Nor did she want to lie to him. She wanted to live a life free of lies, and free of trickery. She also wanted to operate on her own terms, not conform to the expectations of the men she worked with, whether they were back in the tech world or the titans of industry with fat wallets now.
“Oh, Clyde you are such a darling,” she said, stalling for time.
“What do you think about that?” he said, undeterred.
“Why are you so eager to set him up? He’s a handsome, smart, sweet man. Seems he could easily find a date on his own.”
Clyde lowered his voice. “I want to leave him the firm. And I want to know he’s with a woman who’s not going to try to take all my money,” he said in a you-get-my-drift voice.
Oh, she got it. She definitely got it. Because she had money, she wouldn’t need his. Clyde assumed she was the type of woman who’d sign a pre-nup. Well, maybe she was that type of woman. But still…the notion of why she was his top choice made her feel greasy.
“Also, you’re the most delightful young woman I know,” he added, as if that reason suddenly would hold water. “The two of you could be a wonderful match.”
Sophie had other ideas about what made a good match. Besides, who said she was looking for something serious? She was quite content with her life as it was, thank you very much. If she wanted anything right now, it was passion. It was sparks and fire.
It was Ryan Sloan, and the way he commanded her pleasure.
Oh God, just his name in her head sent heat flaring in her body.
Which meant it was time to nip this thing with Clyde in the bud. She’d run a multi-million dollar company for several years, and she hadn’t gotten to that position by letting the men she worked with try to set her up.
She touched Clyde on the shoulder with her fingertips. “Clyde, you know I adore you. And I could humor you right now simply to stay in your good graces, but I want to be totally honest. Your grandson is lovely. However, I’ve started seeing someone, and it’s going quite well so far. So I’m not really on the market at the moment.”
He frowned. “Is it serious?”
“Clyde,” she said softly. “It’s not a matter of whether it’s serious. It’s a matter of choice. I’m choosing to see someone right now, and likely I’ll be bringing him to the benefit. I hope this won’t affect your support of the center, but it’s important to me to be honest with you.”
Clyde took a deep breath and nodded, as if he were processing this news. She mentally crossed her fingers, praying she hadn’t messed up by being frank. She held her breath, hoping he wouldn’t snatch away his funding.
“I’ve been too presumptuous,” he said, contrition in his tone. “And I respect you for saying that. And of course I remain a committed supporter.” Then he fixed on a cheery smile. “And I look forward to meeting this man at the event.”
Oh shoot. There was that little matter. Now she had to deliver Ryan in the flesh to back up her thanks, but no thanks. To prove she was an honest woman.
“You will definitely meet him then,” she said, her businesslike bravado hiding her worry that she’d been too bold to think Ryan would be her arm candy.
She was going to need to ask Ryan to be her date. The possibility thrilled her, but he seemed to be playing it day by day. Would he even want to plan that far ahead?
As she drove to her next meeting, she ran through the best ways to invite Ryan to the event. What was happening between them was new and tender, and she didn’t want to ruin it by asking for too much. Would this type of date imply they were more than merely lovers? Was she ready to state that so boldly?
She shut off the questions momentarily when she arrived at the community center, parking behind a brown Buick. She rushed inside for a quick visit with Elle, who ran the center, updating her on the status of the fundraising.
“So glad it’s going well. We are lucky to have you behind this,” Elle said, gesturing broadly to the broken-down building and the basketball court with its cracked concrete surface, badly in need of the repair and revamp that they hoped would soon be possible.
“It thrills me to help,” Sophie said, as the dark-haired and insanely gorgeous Elle walked her back to her car, passing the basketball courts on the way, where teenage boys played hoops. A few of them stopped to stare at Sophie, and one even catcalled.