Minka laughed, her head falling back and her eyes closing. She missed seeing the stranger’s curious smile evolve into a provocative grin as he appraised her lovely dark face.
“I’ll have to make sure Charles comes over later to thank you for saving his face from your fist,” Minka said once she’d sobered from her laughter.
“Best to hold off on bringing him near me till after the meeting, or else he’s liable to get that black eye, after all.” The stranger smiled, then extended his hand. “Oliver Bauer.”
Minka settled her hand into his. “Minka Gerald,” she said.
“I know who you are.”
Minka waited for those extraordinary eyes of his to take a trail downward, just like they always did when men first met her. Besides, the cut of her black wrap dress offered quite the irresistible view.
Oliver Bauer’s gaze took no such journey, however. Minka didn’t know if she felt more disappointment or offense over the slight. She blinked again, confusion pooling her eyes.
“Bauer? You’re related to Vectra.” It wasn’t a question. Her new friend and this man shared the most entrancing eye color—a light walnut-brown shade. In Oliver Bauer’s eyes, though, there lurked a playful, almost rakish look.
“She’s my sister,” Oliver confirmed.
Minka frowned. “I thought she said you were older?”
“Well, I am.” He feigned offense that she didn’t think he was. “By eighteen months, thank you very much.”
“Your parents didn’t waste any time, did they?”
Oliver shrugged. “My folks never wasted time when it came to sex.”
Minka surrendered to more laughter. “I’m sorry.” She gave a quick shake of her head and cleared her throat. “You said there was something you needed to talk to me about?”
Broad shoulders lifted beneath an olive-brown suit coat. “Not really.” His tempting mouth curved into a crooked smile. “I just didn’t much care for him talking to you, is all.” He inclined his head in the general direction of Charles Ruggles. His eyes never left Minka’s face. “Ms. Gerald.” He nodded once slightly, then made his retreat.
* * *
“So you’ve all heard the proposal,” Austin Sharpe said once his guests had settled around the meeting table. “Your minds are relaxed by drink and unoccupied by hunger.” Austin grinned while his audience laughed. “Do I have any questions?”
All around the table were representatives from the companies Austin had tapped to play a role in his bold venture.
“Yes, sir?” Austin sent an encouraging smile across the square table toward the man who had raised a hand.
“Thank you, sir. I’m Ed Summeral—Wilder, VP Marketing,” the freckle-faced redhead said.
Austin’s welcoming smile remained. “Go on, Ed.”
“Thank you, sir, uh.” Ed moved to allow a server to top off the coffee Charles Ruggles had been drinking since the onset of the meeting.
“Sir, what part will Wilder, specifically the marketing team, have to play in this venture?”
“Good question, Ed.” Austin ticked an index finger in the VP’s direction. “This will be the marketing team’s turn to shine and get some credit for all that back-breaking work your boss loads on you.”
Everyone laughed at Qasim Wilder, who sat next to Vectra.
“My clients know I trust Wilder with my money, which means I trust Wilder with their money too,” Austin continued. “This is your chance to show them why. The same goes for all the departments represented here tonight. It’ll be exciting to see how you toot your horns.”
More laughter followed as hands rose more freely following the opening question. Minka took notes on the queries from Wilder staff. Chances were high that she’d have to help the various departments at Wilder “toot their horns.”
Absently, she toyed with a loose jaw-length curl. She glanced away from the pad and locked in on Oliver Bauer’s bright, potent gaze fixed on her. The heat of self-awareness coursed through her, and Minka cast a subtle glance toward Qasim and Vectra.
The room and the square table were relatively large, but anyone paying close enough attention would be able to pinpoint the object of Oliver’s stare. Thankfully, Minka thought, no one else seemed to notice.
She looked down at her pad again and only made a pretense at note taking. Another hand rose, this one belonging to Rita Waymore, the floor manager for Gallery V in San Francisco.
“Mr. Sharpe, you’ve stated that Wilder handles your money, and we all know Bauer Development acquires your land and builds your executive parks, but what part will our gallery serve?”
Austin nodded approvingly and smiled. “The part your gallery will serve is the one I’m most excited about, because it’s an unprecedented one. The work done by Oliver and his team at Bauer D is staggering. We’ve all seen it and can attest to that, I’m sure?”
The room livened with sudden applause and cheer. Only then did Minka risk looking over at Oliver. Her heart performed another of its acrobatic flips when she saw that he was still staring her way. He had no qualms about allowing a few seconds to pass before he acknowledged the applause with a smile and wave.
“I’d like for Gallery V to showcase that genius,” Austin Sharpe said. “My hope is that the skills that have earned Gallery V a reputation as one of the most cutting-edge art galleries on the East and West coasts will create a dazzling showcase of the new Sharpe Executive Business Park in South Beach, Miami.” Austin waved with a flourish.
“Gallery V’s creator, Vectra Bauer, assures me that such a request is child’s play for her dynamic staff.”
Another round of enthusiastic applause erupted.
“Well, this concludes my presentation, folks.” Austin beamed as he surveyed the group. “We’ll all be meeting many more times over the course of the next several weeks.”
“I urge you all to remain a little longer and get to know one another. We’re all going to be spending lots of time together,” he added before giving a final salute and reclaiming his seat.
Conversation colored the room at once. Some remained chatting at the table, while others collected at the elaborate hot-beverage-and-dessert buffet that had been set up.
Minka was drawn aside by Wilder’s financial consultants. She focused on the conversation and took notes on the group’s preliminary ideas for wowing Sharpe’s Miami clients.
Much of the staff at Wilder questioned Minka’s decision to remain Qasim’s assistant when she so clearly had a talent in other areas. Alas, Minka was happiest helping her boss and friend, and more important, it kept her privileged background off the radar.
The consultant team made plans for a lunch meeting the following afternoon. Once they parted ways, Minka decided it’d be in her best interest to get lost while she could. It had been a long day, what with the drive and visit with her grandmother in Petaluma as well as the drive back to San Francisco in time for the Sharpe meeting.
She was wiped and made quick work of packing her tablet, pens and notepads in her tan portfolio tote. Despite her determination to make an exit, she paused and gave in to one last look at Oliver.
He was tall, but height seemed to run in their family. He had the kind of lean, muscular frame that Minka was sure would make him a formidable opponent on a basketball court. Dressed as he was in a tailored three-piece, she couldn’t help but appreciate the breadth of his frame. Even at rest, he seemed on alert somehow, as if he were