Chapter Two
Jasper
This guy? Really? With her barely tamed toffee-colored hair, eyes the most amazing color of violet. A shade I’ve only ever seen in the thistle of Scotland, I’m positive they can’t be real. Deep plum-colored lips, the same color as the silky top stretched across her chest. She’s got this wild-child vibe that I’m drawn to. She’s what I like to call a “mullet”—all business on top and party in the back. How did this stuck-up suit ever snag her? Shaking off the thought I tune back into the conversation around the high top.
“Cafferty, nice of you to show up,” the one they called Shelby, the bold beautiful black woman not afraid to spill her friend’s deepest secrets to me, says in a bored tone.
I find myself shifting just a bit closer to Fannin when his eyes land on her. Drawn in by her aura, her presence. Head held high, her face an impassive mask as she takes another sip of the orange blossom whisky I handed her earlier, she barely acknowledges him and his wedding shit dig.
“It’s not like it’s a meeting or anything. We’re just here to get a feel for the place and the clientele.” He glances around the bar like it and the patrons enjoying themselves are beneath him. “I don’t know who thought this was a good idea. I’ve been with the company for years and have never used this tactic to gain an account. We don’t spy on our prospective clients.”
“We’re not spying, Adam. We’re doing our homework so that we can put together a package that will benefit the client,” their friend, Erica, tells him while I do my best not to glare at him. He hasn’t even acknowledged me yet, and I don’t believe for one fucking second that’s on accident.
“Fannin is the lead on this one so it doesn’t matter what you think.” My girl Shelby gives him a big “fuck you” smile.
“I’m not sure what Noah was thinking. This is a huge account,” Adam the ass says, insulting Fannin. She doesn’t even blink. Just watches the TV over the bar where a rugby game is going on.
“Noah was thinking that he wanted to score this account and the best person to do that is Fannin.”
The way her friends come to her defense is pretty awesome. I’m not sure if I’m pissed or proud that she’s not even acknowledging him.
His phone rings from his suit pocket, “Excuse me, ladies—it’s my bride.” The moment he steps away from the table, Fannin speaks up.
“Don’t even bother with him, you guys. I couldn’t care less what he thinks. He knows damn well this is the way I work. I like to research so that I can offer the best presentation and plan of action. He’s just pissed because I’m the lead. Do not engage. The less you speak to him the better. I don’t want to hear him cry about this for the next few weeks.” The girls all agree though they’re not happy about it. It’s obvious they care about their friend.
“Beautiful and smart,” I murmur. Fannin turns slightly to look at me.
“A smooth talker, huh? I’m not surprised. You look like a lady killer.” She bites back a smile.
“You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”
My game is weak. I know it is, but I’m not sure how to proceed. I’m not even sure why the hell I’m still standing here. But I can’t leave. Besides being drawn to her in ways I haven’t been drawn to a woman in a long time, I feel like I need to protect her from her ex. Except I don’t. She’s more than capable of handling him, but my inner protector doesn’t care. This guy clearly feels threatened by Fannin. Whoever this Noah is, he obviously thinks Fannin can handle the acquisition and watching how cool and calm she is even with her ex smack-talking, he’s absolutely right. I want to put him in his place. Whatever place that may be. Maybe even with my fists, which is a little shocking since I’m not a fighter typically. She’s bringing out the beast in me. But seriously, what kind of dick do you have to be to leave your woman for her step-sister?
I catch little bits and pieces of the ex’s conversation while the girls chat about what an asshole he is. “Noah put her in charge. Going to have a chat with him. She’ll fuck this whole thing up. She should just stick with playing dress up or whatever the hell she does.” I stop listening at that. There’s nothing sexier than confidence, and Fannin has it in spades. The need to protect her turns into the need to stick around to watch her in action.
“The wedding will be perfect; stop worrying. You’ll be the most beautiful woman there, Beth. It’s one of the reasons I’m marrying you.” He says it loud enough that his voice carries to the table. Another dig at Fannin. “Love you too.”
He returns to the table, perching—and that’s the only way to describe it—on the stool taking in my proximity to Fannin with curiosity and disdain. He takes that moment to try to invoke some kind of reaction from the wild beauty beside me.
“Fannin, Bethany wanted me to ask about your plus one. She couldn’t find the card and didn’t know what name to put on the seating chart.” Without hesitation, without thinking about the fact that I don’t even know this woman, not her last name or if she has a boyfriend hiding in her bed or any fucking thing, I hold out my hand. “Jasper James, I’m her plus one.”