The car pulled into the driveway of the Childs Hotel and they got out.
They were met in the lobby by Roberta Dallard, the hotel event planner, who escorted them up to the restaurant.
Cameron Childs was already seated at a table near the front. He stood up as they neared the table. “Good afternoon, gentlemen.”
He shook Kyle’s hand first and then Nelson’s. “I saw your mother last week,” Cameron told him. “She’s a very talented lady.”
Nelson nodded in agreement. “Yes, she is.”
They waited until Roberta took her seat before sitting down.
“I’ll be seeing Harper in a couple of weeks.”
“Is he coming to New York?” Nelson asked.
“I’m actually traveling to Philadelphia,” Cameron said. “I have some business meetings lined up.”
“I was wondering if my brother had planned to come to the city without letting me know.”
“He wouldn’t do that,” Kyle interjected as he scanned the menu. “Harper never comes to New York without seeing the family.”
“Roberta, can you give us an update on the preparations?” Cameron took a long sip of iced tea.
“Sure,” she responded with a smile. “The tablecloths are here. I inspected each and every one personally. They are exactly as you ordered.”
Kyle noted that Cameron appeared somewhat distracted, which was strange for the man who was a company sponsor and deeply involved with RHD’s future. He silently wondered at the cause.
“Sounds like everything is on schedule,” Kyle said after Roberta had finished and a waiter had taken their order. “My mom can relax now.”
Cameron broke into a smile. “Lila’s called me twice this week already.”
“I’m not surprised,” Kyle said. “She’s a perfectionist—especially when it comes to stuff like this.”
“Don’t let him fool you,” Nelson interjected. “Kyle is also a perfectionist.”
Kyle couldn’t deny it. “Roberta, please make sure that the florist delivers the centerpieces no earlier than an hour before the party. I don’t want them sitting out any longer than that.”
She nodded. “I’ll give them a friendly reminder the day before the event.”
He stole a glance at Cameron, who clearly wasn’t listening to the conversation.
The waiter returned with their meals.
Kyle blessed his food before diving into his salad.
“I will email you the finalized menu,” Roberta said. “Should I email a copy to your mother, as well?”
He nodded. “You can actually just send it to her. Lila Hamilton knows exactly what she wants when it comes to that.”
When they’d finished eating, Roberta excused herself by saying, “I have a meeting in fifteen minutes, so I need to leave you all. Kyle, call me if you need to change anything.”
“I don’t think we’ll have any changes,” he said. “Thanks for your help, Roberta.”
She smiled. “It was my pleasure.”
After they shook hands with Cameron and Roberta and said their goodbyes, Nelson turned to Kyle. “Do you have that effect on all women?” he asked as they made their way to the elevator. “I don’t think Roberta even realized that I was in the room.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You didn’t even notice the way Roberta was looking at you.” Nelson shook his head. “Or the way that she said the word pleasure.”
Kyle gave a short laugh. “Coz, I think you’re imagining things. Believe it or not, there are some women in the world who aren’t interested in me.”
He could think of one woman in particular.
“Yeah,” Nelson retorted with a chuckle. “The ones who haven’t met you yet.”
Kyle still remembered the day Zoe had walked into RHD, excited about her role as an intern during her college years. His first impression of Zoe was that she seemed to have a chip on her shoulder. Her attitude didn’t scare him, however. It was more of a turn-on. Had she been older, he might have considered pursuing her.
I wonder how things would have turned out if I hadn’t been quite so noble.
The elevator doors slid open.
Kyle was shocked to see Zoe standing there. She wore tan slacks and a crisp white shirt that would have looked severe if not for the amethyst-and-silver choker and matching earrings she wore with it. She smelled divine and Kyle tried to disguise his deep inhalation as a regular breath.
Did I just dream her into reality?
They stood staring at each other for a moment.
Well, he stared while Zoe glared at him.
Almost reluctantly, she stepped to the side to allow Kyle and Nelson entrance.
He cleared his throat. “Hello, Zoe. It’s good to see you. It’s been a while.”
“It’s nice to see you as well, Kyle.”
She was polite, but the look in her eyes was remote. Things had been chilly between them since Zoe had left RHD five years ago. She had obviously been avoiding him since then, although he did not fully understand why.
“I see the years haven’t removed that chip on your shoulder.”
“Or made you any less arrogant,” she retorted.
Nelson was watching them both. After a moment, he offered Zoe his hand. “I’m Nelson Hamilton. Kyle is my very rude cousin.”
Shaking his hand, she awarded him a warm smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Kyle suddenly felt an emptiness. There was a time when he’d felt that Zoe’s smiles were reserved only for him. He stole a peek at her. She had turned her warmth up a notch and was beaming as she talked with Nelson. She did not spare him a glance.
“How long will you be staying in New York?” she asked Nelson.
“I actually live here now.”
“The Big Apple is a great place to call home.”
Nelson smiled at her. “I completely agree.”
Kyle looked from one to the other. They were engaging in a full conversation and completely ignoring him. “How have you been?” he interjected.
Zoe glanced over at him as if she had just noticed he was standing there. “I’m great,” she said coolly. “Couldn’t be better.”
She turned her attention back to Nelson. “I’m sure you know that there’s a lot to do in New York....”
Did she just dismiss me? Kyle wondered when she turned her attention back to his cousin.
Kyle shook his head in disbelief. But he wasn’t sure whether it was disbelief over her actions or the jealousy that he couldn’t deny he was feeling as he watched Zoe Sinclair paying attention to someone else.
* * *
Part of Zoe’s view was blocked by a muscled chest and brawny forearms beneath a black knit shirt, but she was determined to ignore his chocolate-brown eyes and the way sexiness oozed from his every pore.
The first time she’d met Kyle, he had made such an impression on her that Zoe had instantly responded with the eagerness of a teenage girl. However, that connection had short-circuited after