Chapter 19

Brendon

The report was crisply bound, with a plastic cover and title page that had my diligent secretary's name all over it. Not literally, of course. The literal title was a boring string of words that basically accounted to, "the result of Aurora's brilliance." Only a few stores had implemented her suggestions so far, but it was early days. This was the first collection of data from the campaign, and I couldn't wait to see the results. I figured it was going to be positive, but anxiety fluttered in my gut all the same.

It wouldn't be a big problem if Aurora's suggestions hadn't worked out. Marketing teams could take years coming up with a campaign, only to have it flop in the first few weeks. That didn't mean that the people involved were inherently under-qualified or bad at their jobs. It just meant that the next move was going to have to be in a different direction. No reason to stop trying.

I opened the report and started to read.

Aurora arrived at my office door looking slightly bewildered. She knew I'd gotten the report, so no doubt my summoning of her without so much of a hint as to why was troubling to say the least.

"You wanted to see me?"

I smiled broadly and nodded, eyes eating her up from head to toe. Her curves were packed perfectly into a black, scoop necked dress that stretched wide over her hips. Her breasts were looking particularly plump and I considered closing the blinds so I could get my mouth on them.

I cleared my throat. Not the time.

"Yeah, I wanted to discuss the details of the report with you." I gestured to the chair across from me. "Come in."

Aurora closed the door behind her and sat down. I passed the bound notes over, and she raised a brow.

"Do I want to know?"

I laughed. "I think you do." I tapped on the cover with my index finger. "The results of the program have been so positive that the other stores are clamoring to be the next to be made over a la Aurora Frayser. The Beverly Hills store alone has reported a traffic increase of 15%. You should be proud."

She beamed, her smile lighting up my room like a flash of sunlight.

"I couldn't have done it without you," she said. "You've been so supportive this whole time and—"

I waved at her to stop. "No, don't do that." I tapped on the report again. "This is you, Aurora. This is your project. You've been slaving your ass off over this and I know at times it must have felt like you were in way over your head, but you came out on the other end with a win and I couldn't be more proud of you."

She looked down at the hands clasped in her lap, and when she looked back to me it was with a wide grin but tearful eyes.

"Please tell me those are happy tears." I got up and walked around to her side of the desk anyway, not able to take the sight of my woman crying sitting down. Squatting next to her, I took her hands in mine.

"I'm just a little overwhelmed, is all." She sniffed, smiling through the tears. "Things have been moving at breakneck speed ever since I moved to New York, you know?"

I brought her knuckles to my lips and kissed them. "I know," I said. "And I'm afraid it's not going to slow down just yet. I'm desperate to get you over to my parents’ house so they can meet you. Julian's been asking about you too, and I thought I could bring you over for dinner tomorrow so I can introduce everyone to the girl who snatched up my heart and injected new life into my business. What do you think?"

I wouldn't be totally heartbroken if she denied my request, but my family was important to me. Things in my life were going exceptionally well and I wasn't fool enough to think it would always be like this, but I wanted to capitalize on the good feelings while they lasted. I wanted to have all the people I loved in one room just because I could.

Aurora didn't so much as flinch. She nodded enthusiastically, her smile reaching for the corners of her face.

"I would love that. I've been looking forward to meeting your mom and seeing where all your little quirks come from."

I laughed. "I hope you don't end up regretting that."

Aurora leaned down and kissed me. It surprised me, since normally she was more proper at work. It was a good surprise though, and I kissed her back greedily, licking the salt of her perplexing tears from her lips.

Something had been off with Aurora for a while now, but I wasn't sure even she knew what it was. If she did, she would tell me, wouldn't she? She seemed happy. She was happy. She was just a little different, a little stranger. I wondered if, like my family, she naturally assumed that I wasn’t good partner material based on my history of bachelorhood...and probably also the fact that the first time I met her I was paying for sex. I wouldn't blame her, and I intended to do everything in my power to prove to her that I was serious.

I pulled back and rose to my feet, striding back around my side of the desk. "I'll have to call my mom and arrange a day, but I was thinking tomorrow. Does that work for you?"

Aurora nodded enthusiastically. "Yes. Totally. Can't wait."

She got up and left without any further prompting from me. I wondered if maybe inviting her over to meet my family had overloaded her.

No—Aurora could handle anything.