Seduction on the CEO's Terms (4 page)

“Maybe. You're a beautiful woman, Ali. You have flair and style, and if you don't mind me saying, you're sassy. I
think Joe looks at you and warning bells go off in his head that scream, ‘Stop!'”

“Wonderful,” Ali said, feeling hopeless.

“All is not lost. Nick told me he wanted to ask you out, and Joe wouldn't hear of it. Joe was pretty adamant about it.”

Ali's antenna went back up. “Did he say why?”

“Something about not wanting Nick to break your heart, but I think it's more than that. I think Joe was jealous.”

“That's something,” Ali acknowledged. She sipped her merlot, contemplating. “But what can I do about it other than jump his bones?”

Rena shook her head. “I think the opposite approach would work much better. We've got to remove that stop sign in his head. You've got to tone down your appearance and become less of a threat in his mind.”

“You mean, a makeover in reverse?”

Rena smiled. “That's one way to put it. But yes, he may notice you more, if you're not on his mental do-not-touch list. Sort of like Cinderella turning back into a plain Jane.”

Blood surged through her veins as Ali mulled the idea over. “I think it might work. I'm ready to try anything at this point.”

“Trust me, Ali. If I didn't see sparks between you, I wouldn't encourage this. But Joe's a great guy and deserves love in his life again,” Rena said, daring Ali with the gleam in her eyes.

“Nothing I've been doing so far has worked.”

“If you decide to do this, I'll help in any way I can.”

“Hah, so
Ali,
has an
ally.
Okay, I'll do it. If I succeed, I'll name our firstborn after you.”

“And I'll hold you to that.”

“When should this all happen?” Ali asked.

“Well, I think you should make a few subtle changes during the next few weeks.”

“Like toning down my hair and makeup and my sass mouth?”

Rena shook her head with laughter. “Yes, but slowly. The change should happen over time and then—”

“Then?”

“The real transformation will happen when it will be noticed the most.” Rena leaned in and curved her lips into a wickedly satisfied smile. “Cinderella will turn into a plain Jane, at the ball…my wedding!”

D
ressed in a Brooks Brothers suit and ready to stand up for Tony as best man, Joe glanced around the grounds of the Carlino estate. The backyard had been transformed into an elegant wedding venue, the changes subtle and well-designed thanks to Ali Pendrake.

Joe had spent the past weeks working on the wedding details with her, but she hadn't really needed his input. Ali's organizational skills and her instincts were right on. She'd ordered the cake, taken care of table seating arrangements, hired a five-piece band and a florist and arranged for her neighbor, Royce, to head up the catering.

Joe hadn't said much about her choice of chef, but he hadn't loved the idea.

She'd gotten here early this morning, dressed in jeans and an old sweatshirt, making sure everything would go according to plan. Joe couldn't commend her highly enough, but he also felt a personal sense of pride in her
accomplishments. He hated to admit it, but Ali would make an expert wedding planner. Thank goodness, she seemed content working at Carlino Wines with him. He'd never be able to replace her.

“The place looks great,” Tony said with a smile, coming to stand beside him on the patio. Guests milled around the grounds, conversing.

“You should tell Ali that. She did it all.”

“I will. She's in with Rena now, getting dressed. They've become friends.”

“Ali has no trouble making friends.” Satisfaction hummed through him. Inexplicably, that his sister-in-law liked Ali made Joe feel good.

“Rena and I owe you both a big thank-you.”

Joe nodded. “It wasn't as hard as I thought it'd be.”

“Hell, I wouldn't think so. I hear you spent your weekends with Ali.”

Joe shot his brother a warning glance. “It's not like that.”

Tony shook his head. “I know, and I can't figure that out.”

“Sometimes, neither can I.” Joe muttered aloud what he'd kept his mind from thinking.

The band started playing, and guests began to take their seats. Tony straightened his tie and took a deep breath. “It's time to do this. I'd better get Rena.”

Joe embraced his brother. “I'll see you up there,” he said. “I'm happy for you, Tony.”

Ali's plan was for both Tony and Rena to walk down the white aisle runner together. They'd had a hard road getting to this place, and their trip down the aisle together would be more meaningful and show unity.

Joe had the urge to grab Ali from the dressing room and have her stand beside him. He wanted her next to him.
They'd been together in this from the beginning, but he held back. Logically, his place was beside his brothers and not with his personal assistant. And damn it, if Ali had a way of making him think illogically.

Joe took his place next to Nick to the left of the flowery archway. The setting sun reflected off the pool waters, and he squinted as he waited for the wedding couple. The band stopped playing, and the entire group of guests hushed their voices. Then a harpist began playing a melodic tune.

Joe searched the dozens of guests for Ali. When he spotted her standing by the last row of chairs, their eyes locked.

His heart pounded.

His breath caught in his throat.

Dressed in a soft jade-colored satin dress, covered with a jacket of the same material, her hair spun up in a demure twist and her face nearly free of makeup, Joe almost hadn't recognized her. Her appearance stunned him. Flashy Ali, usually with all the bangles, beads, boots and exotic hair, looked soft and elegant tonight.

“That's a new look,” Nick whispered. “Ali sure can keep a man on his toes.”

Irritated by the truth of that comment, he ignored his brother and focused on Ali. She'd been on his mind too much lately. True, they'd spent a good deal of time together these past three weeks planning the wedding. Joe hadn't faltered, keeping his relationship perfectly professional the entire time. Whenever his mind would wander, he reminded himself that she was his employee and a woman who was off-limits. He denied feeling anything but pride for Ali and her accomplishments here today.

Joe turned his attention to his brother, who had reached the arbor of flowers along with Rena. Without the benefit of clergy, they renewed their wedding vows to each other
with deep emotion and honesty. At times, they laughed; at times, tears stung their eyes. When it was all said and done, Tony took his pregnant wife by the hand and turned to their guests, receiving a round of applause.

Rena's face beamed with joy, and Tony looked happier than Joe had ever seen him. A bit of envy crept into his heart. At one time, Joe thought he could be that happy. But he'd learned a hard lesson. No woman would ever make a fool of him ever again.

After shaking his brother's hand and hugging Rena, Joe turned to face Ali, who had walked up and also congratulated the couple.

“You did it, Ali,” he said.

“
We
did it, Joe,” she said softly.

“You did most of the work. The place looks great. I can't give you high enough praise.”

Ali put her head down, then glanced out toward the vineyards. “Thank you.”

Joe was at a loss for words. Usually Ali did most of the talking. Today she appeared unusually melancholy. “Can I get you a drink?”

“That would be nice.”

“I'll be right back.”

Joe flagged down a waiter holding a tray of bubbly champagne and returned to Ali with two flutes. “Here you go.” He handed her one and then made a toast. “To you, Ali, for all your hard work. The wedding was perfect.”

Ali touched his glass and then sipped champagne.

Joe stared into her eyes, wondering what was up.

Ali smiled softly at him, and for some odd reason, dread entered his heart.

Ali's neighbor, Royce, came out of the kitchen and approached them. “Ali, can I speak with you for a minute? I need your opinion about something.”

“Sure,” she said to Royce. “Excuse me, Joe.”

The chef put his hand to Ali's back and escorted her into the kitchen. With a clenched jaw, Joe watched Ali walk away from him. He polished off his champagne in one huge gulp and searched for something stronger.

He headed for the bar inside the house and poured himself two fingers of Scotch. It went down smooth and easy, and Joe sighed, relaxing his tense body.

Laughter from the kitchen had him walking that way. He stopped just outside the door, recognizing Royce's amusement and Ali's quiet chuckling. He heard Ali reassuring Royce about the main dish he planned to serve, complimenting his choice, and then they seemed to share another private joke.

Jealousy burned in his gut.

He clenched his teeth again and headed outside, his blood boiling.

 

Ali sat next to Joe at the Carlino table during dinner. She met Rena's good friends, Solena and Raymond, who worked at Purple Fields, and several of the Carlino cousins as they dined on Royce's amazing dinner. She'd had her doubts about hiring him since she sensed Joe didn't like him, but Royce's entrées were a big hit, and she felt justified in her choice.

She was sure she was only asked to join the head table because of the work she'd done on the wedding, yet everyone she'd met had been cordial to her. She'd bitten her tongue a dozen times dying to dive in and get to know her dining partners better, but she'd taken Rena's advice to stay under the radar instead of flashing her friendliness like a neon sign.

She'd spent the past three weekends with Joe, creating a wedding and reception that Tony and Rena would cherish in
their memories. All that time, Joe had been eager to help, but he hadn't shown one iota of interest in her personally, even though she'd become more reserved, put her hair into sedate styles she'd never have dreamed up before and dressed herself like a churchgoing schoolteacher.

Her ego had taken a deep plunge.

This was her last-ditch effort to get Joe to notice her as more than his employee. If the makeover in reverse was her ticket to gain Joe's attention, then she'd give it her best shot. Unfortunately, patience was a virtue she hadn't been born with. She'd wanted this to happen the second she'd slipped her feet into her first pair of lackluster pumps.

“In case I haven't said it yet, you look very beautiful tonight,” Nick said from across the round table. Rena had done the seating cards and had deliberately put Joe next to her and Nick as far away as possible. “Joe, don't you think so?”

Joe shot Nick a hard look and then turned to Ali. Needlessly, he pushed his glasses up his nose. They were already as far as they could go. “Yes, Ali, you look very pretty tonight.”

Nick grinned, and Ali didn't know which Carlino brother she should clobber first.

“Thank you both.”

Ali looked at Rena, who gave her a nod of approval. Rena had been a saint, helping her pick out a new conservative wardrobe and giving her tips on how to subdue her outgoing personality. Rena warned it might take some time for this plan to work, but Ali wondered how long she could endure loving Joe and not having that love returned.

After dinner, the band started up again, and people began to approach the large redwood decking overlooking the vineyards, which served as the dance floor.

Ali rose from the dinner table to listen to the music,
and immediately, a friend of the family approached her. “Would you care to dance?”

Ali didn't have time to respond. Joe appeared beside her and clasped her hand in his. “I think she promised me the first dance, Allen.”

Ali's heart pumped overtime. Joe squeezed her hand tight, and she nearly stumbled when he brought her onto the dance floor. “I don't do fast,” he warned.

How well she knew. But she was sure he meant fast
dances.

“But I think I can manage not to break your toes with this song.” He pulled her up against him, and she thought she'd died and gone to heaven. Hugo cologne and dancing practically cheek to cheek with Joe was a sexy mix. Consumed with being in his arms, she couldn't name the artist or the song they danced to, barely hearing the music at all as Joe swirled her slowly around the dance floor.

“You're a good dancer, Joe.”

“Am I?” he asked, his voice a low rasp in her ear.

Tingles broke out all over her body, and she relished each amazing second of the dance.

Joe tightened his hold on her. “How can I thank you for tonight?” he whispered.

She had a few suggestions that didn't involve touring Napa. Lusty images filled her head. She could barely put together a coherent thought with him holding her so close. But she couldn't push her luck. She had to stick to the plan. “You didn't forget our bargain, did you?”

“No. I'm a man of my word.”

“I know that about you.”

Joe pulled away to gaze into her eyes. He blinked a few times and then shot her a killer smile. That smile, his sexy scent, the way he held her—Ali wanted to pull him into his bedroom and make love to him until the sun came up.

“I'm glad, Ali, but I just don't know how much you'll get out of me being your tour guide.”

Nick and Royce both offered to show her the sights, but Ali was holding out for numero uno. She wanted to spend time with Joe and only Joe. Ali had pressed him to this bargain, and she couldn't let him off the hook now. Normally, she'd goad him into it—a promise is a promise—but the new Ali had to take a different turn. “It's all right if you'd rather not. I understand.”

Joe's brows arched. “I wasn't weaseling out of it, Ali. I'll do my best to show you around.”

Ali smiled, warmth overflowing. “That's all I ask.”

Joe seemed satisfied with that and took her back into his arms until the dance ended. When they parted, Ali hated the separation. She could have stayed on the dance floor with Joe all night.

“Thanks for the dance,” he said, escorting her back to their table.

“It was nice, Joe. Thank you.”

Joe nodded, and when he pulled out her chair to sit down, Ali changed her mind about staying at the table. “I think I'll take a little walk.”

“Would you like some company?”

She would love it! She hesitated one second then with a slight tilt of her head, she answered. “Okay.”

They walked past the reception area lit with twinkle lights and lanterns, down an inlaid stone pathway that led to steep steps. Only moonlight guided their way now, the party music fading.

“They're tricky without much light.” Joe took her hand and helped her down steps that seemed to go on forever. He'd touched her more today than in the past year since she'd met him. Ali held out some hope that progress was being made, small as it may be.

Once they reached the floor of the vineyard, which was still pretty high up on the hillside, he released her hand. Ali gazed out at the endless rows of vines that columned Carlino land. She sighed in awe. “Most people have swing sets in their backyards.”

“We had those, too. We were privileged as kids, but believe it or not, we had a pretty normal childhood. My father was a taskmaster. We had chores to do and had to bring home good grades, just like anybody else. We got grounded. Well, I didn't so much, but Nick and Tony? They were always causing the old man conniptions.”

Ali wished her childhood involved having a mother and father who loved her unconditionally. Someone who loved her enough to ground her or make sure she was doing her homework. She'd never had stability in her life. There was never much normalcy, either. Joe—living up here on a hill, with all his wealth and privileges—probably did have a more normal childhood than she had.

“He cared about the men you were to become.”

Joe scrubbed his jaw. “I guess so. He was a hard man. My mother softened him, though. He loved her so much. He'd have died for her.”

“They were lucky to have each other.”

Ali turned from Joe to absorb what he'd just said. She pretended to look out at the vineyards, but she looked beyond them to her own life. That kind of love—that close family bond—was completely foreign to her. People looked at her and assumed she had everything she wanted. But that was far from the truth. Her childhood hadn't been a fairy tale. She wanted the kind of love that Joe's mother had—that unconditional commitment and devotion. Ali had been on her own in one way or another most of her life.