A Friendly Engagement (10 page)

The cool midmorning breeze ruffled her hair. She should’ve worn a hat, or at least put her hair back with a scarf. Several sections whipped across her cheeks and stung her neck. If she didn’t act quickly her hair would be a giant rat’s nest by the time they arrived. She gathered all the wayward strands at her nape and twisted her hair into one big knot, tugging it tight so it wouldn’t loosen. She glanced at Omar. The sun softened his profile. He had one hand on the wheel with a relaxed grip and an easy smile on his lips.

“How long before we arrive?” she asked.

He hooked his wrist over the steering wheel to see his watch. “Maybe thirty to forty minutes.”

Devi sucked in a breath and let her head fall against the back of the seat. The passing scenery and warm morning sun lulled her into a relaxed state. She could so easily drift off.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Omar’s deep voice penetrated her consciousness.

“Hmm. Thinking about when you bought this car. Do you think you’ll treat yourself to another luxury buy after you sign Bartow?” She turned toward him, and even with her sunglasses on the light stunned her vision. It became easier to study him with one eye open and the other squinted shut.

He didn’t take his attention from the road. “Haven’t thought about it.”

“You deserve it. Like I said all those years back when you bought this car, you can’t take all that money with you. It’s in your pocket to be enjoyed.”

“Hmm.”

“Okay, penny for
your
thoughts.” She scooted upright and turned in her seat toward him, shielding the sun from her vision by arching her hand over her eyes.

Omar cleared his throat. “Just thinking how lucky I am to have you in my life.”

Devi’s throat went dry. For a moment she took his words in a more intimate way, one he didn’t intend. He really was affecting her head. “I’m glad to help.”

“Well, thanks are definitely in order. I only wish my father could be here when we come home with the contract.”

“I believe, even though he’s on the other side, he’ll know.”

Omar gave her a brief smile and then turned his attention back to the road.

“I have to admit though, our little engagement announcement at work was the hardest ninety minutes of my life. I had to keep reminding myself that lying to our friends wouldn’t hurt them in the end. And the fact that I agreed to all of this to find my father didn’t hurt, either.”

He nodded. “Just for the record, right before our announcement I had a stab of conscience, too.”

“Good to know. I like it when you reveal your human side.” A comforting heat spread through her that had nothing to do with the sun. Omar’s words were another sure sign he had it in him to be a great businessman like his father, but he also had something more. He’d be an even better man and businessman than his father because of his humility.

“So, you’re comfortable with all of this? No doubts?”

“As long as nobody gets hurt, I’m good to go. My only concern is will we be believable?”

Omar rubbed the side of his neck. Something he always seemed to do when stressed. “What makes you think we can’t pull it off?”

“Almost everyone who’ll be there knows us on a certain level. They know we work together, that we’re friends. What if they question our relationship? What if your PDA lacks depth, or mine does?”
Or worse yet, what if I get so into our affection I come off looking like a fool?
“Will we be able to pull off looking like we’re in love?”

“Yes.”

She shook her head and laughed. “You’re such a man. No elaboration or words to soothe me, just that confident, one-word cocky affirmation.”

“What do you want me to say? Let’s just be ourselves.”

“I think we’re going to have to give a little more than that. We’re newly engaged. The peeps will be looking for—”

“Two people who are relaxed and enjoy each other’s company.”

He had a point. She pulled out her red lipstick and turned the rearview until she could see the lower half of her face. She applied a light coat, pressed her lips together, and smiled at her reflection. Then she grimaced as her thoughts took hold. The thing Omar didn’t seem to understand was there was a big difference between looking like you were in love and looking like you were good friends.

Devi dropped her lipstick back into the pocket of her purse and tossed her sunglasses onto the dash. Maybe she’d catch a few rays on the rest of their drive, let the sun massage her face. If Omar could be this relaxed—with his rep on the line—then so could she.
Go with the flow.

He checked the rearview, downshifted, and then hit the gas, changing lanes to pass the car in front of them just as Devi settled back against her seat and closed her eyes.

She gasped, sat upright, and Omar jumped. He glanced at her with concern. “Okay?”

“I wasn’t expecting that.”

“What?” He slowed down after he passed the other car before veering back into the other lane.

“Sorry, I have issues about passing cars on the highway. The speed. The rev of the engine.” She tried to give him a reassuring smile but sensed it came off shaky.

Omar rubbed the side of his neck for a moment before returning both hands to the wheel. “What happened?”

“I’m surprised that after all these years of riding around together I’ve never told you.” She took a breath. Of course most of their rides in a car were on city roads, where there wasn’t much chance of revving engines and lane changes at high speeds. The last couple of weeks Omar had learned a lot about her, and here she was about to reveal something more. “When I was a kid my grandpa and I were heading to the zoo. He hit the gas just like you did to pass another car, only the other driver decided to switch lanes at the same time and we ended up in the ditch. Nobody was hurt, except for a bump on my head, but I was pretty shaken up.” She unclenched her fist from the edge of the seat. Until that moment, she hadn’t been aware she’d held the seat so tightly.

“I’m sorry, Devi.”

“No. There’s nothing to be sorry for. It’s my own hang-up and I should be over it by now.” She ran her fingers over her hair and clutched the knot at the back of her head briefly. The clink of her bracelets helped her to concentrate. To have him apologize, even though her heart still raced, helped her try to relax. She rolled her shoulders and took another steadying breath.

“It won’t happen again when you’re in the car.” He shot her a smile. “Promise.”

“Thanks. And I’m sorry if I scared you.”

He reached out and curled his hand around hers. His touch, protective and sure, eased the heavy thump of her heart.

“No worries. I got you. I’ve always got you.” His last sentence came out a whisper. One she wasn’t sure she heard correctly.

“And if it makes you feel any better, I’ll confess one of my issues.” He delivered a reassuring smile.

“You? Issues?” She shielded her eyes from the sun.

He nodded. “I’m not big on heights.”

“Doesn’t sound like we’ll be teaming up for any roller-coaster rides in the near future.”

They shared a chuckle, and Devi closed her eyes, sank back into the soft leather of the seat, and turned her face skyward. Heat from the sun washed over her face and arms and penetrated through her layers of clothing to warm her thoroughly. Combined with the hum of the car and the easy music, she drifted to the edge of sleep. Funny, she’d never been able to nap in the car, just like she’d never been able to read in the car without getting motion sickness.

She didn’t know how long they drove, but she got lost in the warmth and comfort. When the car turned toward the right, Devi jerked upright and blinked several times before pulling her sunglasses off the dash and sliding them up the bridge of her nose.

Omar’s hands slid along the wheel as he turned into a flower-lined drive with the sun-kissed ocean waters acting as a backdrop. A sign marking the entrance read P
IECE OF
H
EAVEN
.

Omar cleared his throat, then gave her a mischievous smile. “Remember, act natural. We might be newly engaged, but no need to come off like a couple of convicts granted a conjugal visit.”

An honest to goodness laugh escaped her lips. Sometimes Omar caught her off guard with his humor—and she caught herself off guard with the replies she wanted to utter. The ones she usually didn’t hold back. “Are you saying you won’t be groping me in public? Or I shouldn’t grope you?”

“Exactly.”

“Now it might be funner—”

“Funner?” He shook his head.

She sat up straight in her seat. “Yes, funner. There are times it’s ‘funner’ to make up your own words.” Plus, it was nice to take her mind off meeting Bartow and the rest of the people who’d be there. Of course, most she’d met several times over the years at conferences with Omar, but that didn’t stop her from having the jitters.

He shook his head, but tiny laugh lines crinkled around his eyes.

“You know, O, saying something about conjugal visits is almost like inviting me to have a little fun at your expense.” She lifted the visor so she could get a better view of the huge whitewashed house looming in the distance. A little piece of heaven described her view perfectly.

“Be on your best behavior, Devi.”

“Does that mean I can’t initiate some PDA? That you’ll be uncomfortable?”

“Did I say that?”

“Is that an answer to my question?” She twisted in her seat and tried to hide her smile, but her lips didn’t cooperate.

“I’m going to start calling you Shark.” Omar slowed as they neared a curve in the drive.

“Shark? Why?” She loosened her hair from the knot at her neck and finger-combed the strands.

“Because when you smell blood you go for it. Especially when it’s mine.”

“Well, we are by the ocean after all.” She gestured toward the blue-green water filling the view from his side of the car. “I think the nickname will suit me this week. Don’t be surprised if I take an occasional sharky bite.”

“Don’t be surprised if the object of your shark attack bites you in the butt, Miss Boss.”

“Ooh, talk dirty to me, O. I like how you think with the kink. This week might be more fun than I thought.” She tossed back her head and laughed when a red stain crept up his neck. Teasing Omar never got old.

“I hereby dub this week Shark Week.”

They laughed, and she settled back in her seat as the house disappeared from view, blocked by several rocky crags and hills.

“Nicely done, O. Shark week it is.”

One more curve in the drive and the house appeared again in all its spectacular glory. Devi caught her breath and sat forward in her seat, her hand gripping the dash.

“Whoa. Talk about breathtaking.” Mr. Bartow’s summer cottage had the look of a mansion. One she’d picture in an idyllic small town bordering the waters of Spain or Italy.

“Impressive.” Omar slowed further as he admired the view.

“Funny what some people refer to as their weekend home or vacation house. In reality most people would consider it out of their realm of possibilities any time of the year.” Devi slid her sunglasses to the tip of her nose and took in the clean lines of the house. Smooth white stucco extended to the sky like a sandcastle reaching for the sun. So many peaks and angles in the architectural design her eye couldn’t stay in one spot. Each window and entry was trimmed in bright red that matched the tiled roof. The expansive front porch was held in place by four impressive columns that poured over the circular drive and supported a shaded arch.

They’d barely pulled to a stop when a tall, athletically built man sauntered down the wide stairway with a movie star white smile and a relaxed wave.

“Bartow?” she whispered, as if he could hear them from their vehicle.

“The one and only.” Even Omar sounded impressed.

“I’ll tame my inner shark until formal introductions are made.” No matter how much she wanted to watch Omar squirm, she’d get a feel for the place first.

“I’m thankful for that miracle.”

“Well, I might have to take one small bite.” Devi leaned close and kissed him on the cheek as he slid the car into park. She grinned and then swiped the smudge of lipstick from his skin, making sure to let her fingers slide along his jaw in a light caress. She turned him toward her with one finger and winked. Even though she had her shades on, she knew he could easily see her eyes at this distance.

“Remember, newly engaged. We’re bound to be all perky, playful, and full of lip-locks,” she whispered. Then she playfully bit the air. “Shark bite.”

Omar grabbed her arm and his lips lifted in a devilish grin. He didn’t break eye contact as he turned her wrist skyward and touched his warm mouth to her skin. He flicked his tongue across her pulse point. She could feel his smile when her heart raced.

She closed her eyes and swallowed hard. For the millionth time this week she wondered just what she’d gotten herself into as a shot of heat, followed by thousands of pinpricks, shot up her arm.

Omar tilted his head to the side. “Touché. I just want you to know I can dish it out as well as take it.”

“You’ve been practicing.” Devi’s voice came out rushed and breathless. How had he gone from that awkward hug on the sidewalk to making her body hum and purr with the lightest pressure of his mouth on her wrist?

“You wanted real, didn’t you? Don’t underestimate me when I want something. And I want this contract.”

And I want you.
She coughed, almost choking on her thoughts. Instead she managed to choke out, “Lesson learned.” As if she didn’t already know he always got what he wanted. She pulled her hand from his and wrapped her fingers around the strap of her purse.

“I hope I’m not interrupting.” The older man’s grin encompassed them both. “Welcome, Omar. Although I was surprised you agreed to join us, I’m glad you did. I’m looking forward to getting to know both of you.”

Omar shook Mr. Bartow’s hand as he stepped from the car, a flash of a frown furrowing his brows briefly. “I’m glad—we’re glad to be here. The drive up to your house is impressive.”

The comment about Mr. Bartow being surprised they’d want a chance to work with him didn’t go unnoticed by Devi, either. Why wouldn’t Esterly want the chance to take him on as a client? She planted a smile on her face, but made a mental note to ask Omar about it later.