Substitute Seduction. Cat Schield

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СКАЧАТЬ free time had been taken up by sports and friends.

      “He runs the family business since our dad semi-retired five years go,” Harrison began. “Crosby Automotive is a billion-dollar national chain of auto parts stores and collision centers in twenty states. We also have one of the largest private car dealership groups on the East Coast.”

      “And you race cars.”

      Her matter-of-fact tone carried no judgment, but Harrison imagined someone as no-nonsense as London McCaffrey wouldn’t view what he did in a good light. No doubt a guy like Tristan, who put on an expensive suit and spent his days behind a desk, was more her cup of tea. On the other hand, she had been engaged to a baseball player, so maybe Harrison was the one guilty of being judgmental.

      “I’m one of four drivers that races for Crosby Motorsports.”

      “Car twenty-five,” she said, doodling a two and a five on her legal pad before encircling the numbers with a series of small stars.

      He watched her in fascination. “Yep.”

      “I’ve never seen a race.” She glanced up, caught him watching her and very quickly set the pen down atop the drawing as if embarrassed by her sketch.

      “Well, you’re in luck,” he said. “I’m racing on Sunday in Richmond.”

      “Oh, I don’t think...” Her eyes widened.

      “It’s my last race of the season.” He made his tone as persuasive as possible.

      London shook her head. “It’s really not my thing.”

      “Then what is?”

      “My thing?” She frowned. “I guess I don’t really have one. I work a lot, you see.”

      “And that leaves no room for fun?”

      “From what my friend told me about a racer’s schedule, I’d like to know when you slow down for fun.”

      “You have me there. I’m on the go most of the year.”

      She nodded as if that put an end to the topic. “So, how many people are you looking to invite to your brother’s birthday party?”

      “Around a hundred.” He’d secured a list from his mother after realizing he’d better not show up to a party planning meeting empty-handed and clueless.

      “And do you have a budget?” London had relaxed now that they’d returned to familiar territory and flipped to a clean page so she could jot notes.

      “Keep it under ten.”

      “Thousand?” She sounded a tad surprised, leaving Harrison questioning whether he’d gone too high or too low. “That amount opens up several possible venues. Of course, the timing is a little tight with it being the start of the holiday season. Did you have a particular date in mind?”

      “His birthday is December fifth.”

      “I’ll have Missy start calling around for availability.” She excused herself and went to speak to her receptionist.

      Harrison barely had a chance to look at any of the several texts that had come in while they’d been talking before she returned.

      “Are you thinking a formal sit-down dinner with cocktails before and dancing afterward or something more casual?”

      “My mother insists on a formal event. But I don’t think dancing. Maybe a jazz band, giving people a chance to mingle and chat.” Harrison was even more relieved that he’d checked with his mother because he was able to parrot everything she’d suggested.

      “You were smart to get her input,” London said, picking up on his train of thought. “I guess my last question for now is whether you had any sort of theme in mind.”

      Theme? Harrison was completely stumped. “I guess I was just thinking it was his fortieth birthday...”

      “A color scheme?”

      More and more Harrison wished he’d found a different way to connect with London McCaffrey. “What would you suggest?”

      Her lips pursed as she pondered the question. “I’ll pull together three ideas and run them past you. What are you thinking about for the meal?”

      “Wouldn’t it depend on the place we choose?”

      “Yes, but it might help narrow things down if I thought you wanted seafood versus steak and chicken.”

      “Ah, can I think about it?”

      With a slight shake of her head, she pressed on. “Give me your instant thoughts.”

      “Seafood.”

      She jotted that down. “There are several venues that do an exceptional job.”

      Although he’d never planned an event like this before, Harrison was finding that the process flowed easily with London in charge. She was proving to be both efficient and knowledgeable.

      “You’re really great at this,” he said.

      Her lips quirked. “It is what I do for a living.”

      “I didn’t mean to sound surprised. It’s just that I’ve never thrown anyone a birthday party before and you’re making everything so easy.”

      “If you don’t mind my asking, how did you come to be in charge of this particular event?”

      Harrison doubted London was the sort who liked to play games, so he decided to be straight with her. “I volunteered because I was interested in getting to know you better and a friend warned me that you wouldn’t be inclined to give me a shot.”

      “Get to know me better?” She looked more curious than annoyed or pleased. “So you decided to hire me to plan your brother’s birthday party? You should know that I don’t date my clients.”

      Despite her claim, he sensed she wasn’t shutting him down entirely. “You said you usually work with corporate clients. Maybe this would be an excellent opportunity to gain some exposure with Crosby Automotive. And I get a chance to work with a woman who intrigues me. A win-win solution all around.”

      Interest colored her voice as she echoed, “A win-win solution...”

      * * *

      London’s pen flowed across the legal pad as she randomly sketched a centerpiece and pondered Harrison’s words.

      When he’d called to set up this meeting, she’d been elated. Organizing his brother’s birthday party would solve the problem of how she could get close enough to Tristan to figure out how to bring him down. The more she learned about Zoe’s ex-husband, the more daunting her task. Frustration welled up in London as she considered the impulsive bargain she’d made several months earlier. What had she been thinking to agree to something that could lead to trouble for her in the future if she wasn’t careful? But how did she back out now that Everly and Zoe had their plans in motion?

      “Would СКАЧАТЬ