“But I can’t afford to pay you.”
He smiled, and with a quick movement pulled her against him and pressed his lips to her cheek. He was right, she realized. Whether Eliot had shown up or not, she would’ve never felt anything but friendship for Wayne.
With a final hug, he stepped back, a soft grin on his lips. “I knew you would feel good in my arms.” He shook his head and turned toward the door. “Consider me paid in full,” he called over his shoulder as he left the office.
Sophie leaned back against the desk and released a breath. A small part of her regretting the fact that her heart had not chosen Wayne.
Chapter 25
It was almost a week later. Sophie was alone in the office when the fax machine buzzed into life. She glanced at the machine, assuming it was another ad for diet pills, and turned back to the computer.
Something told her to check it out, so she snatched up the page and quickly read it. Her eyes widened and she sprung to her feet. She quickly reread the page and rushed into the kitchen where Wayne was cleaning an oven.
“It’s an order!” She shook the page at him, before charging to the front of the store. “Grandma, it’s an order! A new order!”
Mae was busy wiping down the front counters. She jumped in surprise as Sophie swept her up in a hug. “We got a new order! A big one!”
By that time, Wayne had joined her. “What are you talking about?” He grabbed the paper from her hand and read it. “Whoa, the city of Jackson!”
Unable to control her enthusiasm, Sophie hugged him, too. “Jackson Municipal Services! For a city of what? Fifty thousand?”
Mae clapped excitedly. “Oh, thank you, Jesus!”
“Probably more than that,” Wayne said, frowning at the page. “Sophie, where did this come from?”
“It just came over the fax a few minutes ago.”
“Did you submit a bid to them?”
She shook her head, as the euphoria began to slip away and Wayne’s questions were ringing in her head. “No—I didn’t. So how do they even know about us?” She reached for the fax.
“Exactly,” Wayne answered, as he handed it over. “Why are they sending an order now? After everything that’s happened?”
She reread the fax once more, this time very slowly, looking for any hidden clues as to the origins of the request. “I don’t know,” she muttered, then glanced up at both her grandmother and Wayne. “I plan to find out, but I’m also not going to look this gift horse in the mouth.” She pointed to the page. “It says here they need the first delivery by Friday morning, so start measuring.” She turned and headed back to the office. “I’m going to check this out.”
But as she reentered the office, she stopped dead in her tracks because several pieces of paper lay on the floor and every few seconds more were pouring out of the machine. “Grandma! Wayne!”
Sophie began picking up the pages, glancing at them, trying to read as fast as they were coming. Each was a new order, some from large municipalities in the surrounding area, some from small businesses and organizations. Many of the businesses she had never heard of.
Wayne was also reading through the faxes. “What the hell is going on?” he asked in amazement. “I thought we were finished.”
“So, did I,” Sophie laughed, trying to organize the orders by requested delivery dates. “But, it looks like we’re back in business.”
Seeing the fat little stack of papers, Mae clapped her hands together. “Hot damn! I’m going to get my apron on.” She hurried back to the kitchen, leaving a shocked Sophie and Wayne behind her.
“Did she just say hot damn?” Sophie asked. Her eyes twinkled with delight; she had never before heard her grandmother curse.
Wayne laughed. “That’s what I heard.”
“I think she’s been spending too much time with you.” Sophie laughed, too, feeling better than she had in over a week.
“Wayne!” Mae called from the kitchen. “I’m going to need some more bags of flour!”
Wayne shook his head at the summons. “I better hurry up before she tries to get it herself.” He turned and headed out of the office, but stopped. “Hey, girl, don’t know what you did, but way to go.”
Alone in the office, Sophie continued sorting through the pages. She wasn’t sure what she’d done, either, if anything. Something had changed in the past week. Maybe Fulton had decided to back off their lawsuit. She doubted it. That man had wanted blood. You don’t give up a vendetta like that.
Sophie began calling the different companies to confirm the orders, and it didn’t take her long to figure it out. The first couple of calls were awkward, as she didn’t really know how to introduce herself. But soon, she was finding the code words to get the information she needed. Although the companies were in different cities and had different needs, they had all signed contracts Sophie had yet to see. And they had all dealt with her marketing director…Eliot Wright.
Sophie had never known exactly what Eliot did at his uncle’s company. Only that he did it at Fulton Foods and he’d lied about everything. Apparently, he was some kind of marketing bigwig who could at once bolster his own interest while at the same time slicing and dicing the competition. And he was now using those skills in her interest—and against his uncle.
Sophie wondered if she should tell Mae and Wayne what she’d discovered. She finally decided not to. They needed this business too badly, and if they knew where it came from, pride might keep at least one of them from wanting to accept it.
But despite the fact that she could not reject his help, she needed him to understand it did not entitle him to anything. Digging around on the desk, she found the card Carl Fulton had basically thrown in her face a week ago.
She grabbed her purse and jacket and headed for the door. As she passed through the kitchen she called out, “I’ll be back in a little while.”
“You can’t leave now!” Mae was standing with the walk-in refrigerator door open, about to go in. “We have all these orders to prepare.”
“I know. I’ll be back soon,” she said, slipping her arms into her jacket.
“It’s Eliot, isn’t it? That’s who did all this?”
Sophie glanced over her shoulder, searching for Wayne.
“He’s out back in the shed getting flour. So tell me, am I right?”
“Yes.” Her lips twisted in disdain. “Apparently, he’s some kind of a marketing ace. That’s what he did for his uncle.”
Mae closed the fridge and walked toward her granddaughter. “Sophie, what are you about to do?”
“Talk to him.” She glanced down at the floor. “Find out why. What does he expect.”
“It’s possible he’s just trying to make up for what his uncle did.”
“It’s possible. I just want to make sure.”
“Sophie, be careful. Sometimes we say things. Things we later wish we could take back. Right now, there’s still something there between you two. Something that could probably be worked out in time.”
“No there isn’t.”
“Don’t go to him in anger and do something that can’t be undone.” Mae reached out and touched her arm. “Leave it alone for now. Just wait. When he’s ready to explain he will. Just leave it be for now.”
“I can’t. I have to know what he expects.”
Mae stood straight up, but even then she was a foot shorter than her granddaughter. The stern tone of her voice had returned. “I’ll tell you what he expects. He expects you to forgive him eventually. And so do I.”
Sophie’s eyes widened in amazement. “Sorry, Grandma. If that’s the case, you both will be disappointed.”
Mae stared at her granddaughter for several long seconds, before finally shaking her head. “Not nearly as sorry as you will be if you cut ties with the man you love.” She turned and went into the fridge.
Sophie sighed, feeling like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. She turned to leave and found Wayne standing in the
back door with a bag of flour over his broad shoulder. She didn’t know how much he’d overheard until she looked into his eyes and realized he’d heard just enough to hurt.
“Wayne, I—”
“We’ll hold down the fort until you get back. Just hurry up.” He carried the bag over to the mixer and pulling his small knife from his pocket began cutting the bag open.
An hour later she pulled into the driveway of the address on the card, and was surprised to find it was a high-rise condominium. As she pulled up to the valet attendant, she began having second thoughts. This was not where El would live. This concrete palace was nothing like him.
The attendant came forward with a smile to open her door, and she forced herself to step out. Slowly she approached the building, quickly scanning the card in her hand. Yes, this was the right address, but it just didn’t feel right.
She went inside, got directions from the doorman and, taking the elevator, quickly reached the tenth floor. As the elevator doors closed behind her, she turned and stared at the gold-colored doors. Then the plush burgundy carpet that lined the hallway, the same as in the lobby. Tables bearing glass vases filled with fresh flowers lined the empty corridor.
Everything about the place screamed wealth, luxury and an elite lifestyle. And all she could think about was the down-to-earth workingman who’d flirted with her during his breaks. An image of him dressed in a sleeveless white T-shirt and loose jeans came to mind. She could just picture him with sweat causing the thin material to cling to his muscular chest. His back would be against the wall, one leg propped on a garbage can while he seduced her with his beautiful smile. God, how she missed that man.
At the end of the hall, a door opened and Eliot stepped out. At first he did not see her. He was locking his door and preparing to leave. He turned to head down the hall and stopped.
Sophie was so surprised to see him suddenly appear before her, she froze. They stared at each other, each surprised to see the other.
Slowly, he started down the hallway toward her. “Sophie?” He picked up his pace until he was almost running.
Realizing his intentions, she quickly put her hands out in front of her to block him. “Don’t touch me!”
He stopped a few inches from her. His eyes narrowing in anger. “What?”
“I said don’t touch me.”
“Then why are you here?”
“To ask you why you sent us new clients.”
His shoulders slumped and she suddenly understood why he thought she was there. It was just what she suspected. “Did you think you could buy me back?”
“Don’t be stupid.”
Sophie felt a sharp surge of anger. He looked so perfectly polished and aristocratic, and yet it was her El’s voice and words coming from his mouth. “Go to hell!”
“You’ve already sent me there, baby.”
She frowned, wanting to tell him that if that were the case then they were sharing the place. Instead, she said, “Just answer one question, and then I will leave and we will never have to see each other again.”
He laughed. “Now, why would I find that the least bit appealing?”
“What?”
“You offer up the opportunity to never see you again like some kind of prize. Like it’s something I want.”
“Well, it’s what Iwant.”
His jawbone flexed with suppressed emotion, but in an even tone he said, “Then ask your question so we can both get on with our lives.”
“What do I owe you for doing this?”
He tilted one of those arrogant eyebrows at her, and she felt herself melting inside. Why did this stranger have to look, act and sound so much like the man she wanted? Dressed in his expensive suit and loafers, he looked like a million bucks. She didn’t know this man. So, why did he feel so familiar? So much like home?
“Hmm…” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I hadn’t thought about a price for my service.” He grinned wickedly, as his amber eyes slid over her form. “But, since you’re so willing to pay, why not?”
“You’re such an arrogant jackass!”
“Maybe. Now…about that price.”
“I knew you were no good, but thanks for reminding me.”
He continued as if he had not heard her. “Oh, I know. How about a massage—in my hot tub?” He shrugged. “Of course, I’ll leave the specifics up to you.”
She shook her head. “I shouldn’t have come here.”
They looked at each other for several long seconds. “No, you shouldn’t have,” he finally said.
“I just wanted to tell you that anything you’ve done to help us is appreciated, but that’s all, El…iot.” She forced the unfamiliar name from her lips. Trying to make him an unknown entity and not the lover she thought she knew well. “A hearty thank-you is all it will get you. So, if you’re helping us because you think you’ll get me back, it won’t work.”
“Okay.”
She stood stunned. She blinked trying to process the one word answer. Okay?
With a jerky nod of her head, she turned to the elevator and pushed the button. “Well…goodbye, Eliot, and again, thank you for all your help.”
“Uh-huh.” He stood beside her and stared at the numbers overhead.
What the hell? One minute he’s acting like he can’t live without me and in the next like he doesn’t even know me?!
She glanced at him as he pulled out his cell phone to make a call.
Feeling like something had just reached inside and ripped out her heart, she glanced down at the purse in her hands. She looked at the flowers on a nearby table. Half-listening as he discussed business on the phone, she checked out her cuticles and decided to get a manicure soon. She looked anywhere but at him.
He’d been the greatest love of her life, the man of her dreams,
the one she would remember for the rest of her life and the final word of the relationship had been uh-huh.
Finally, the elevator doors opened and revealed an empty car. She walked in, followed closely by Eliot. She tried fighting back the tears in her eyes, not sure what was worse: knowing she’d been duped, or knowing she’d meant so little to him.