A Malibu Kind Of Romance. Synithia Williams

I?” She tried to look innocent but knew he had to see the humor in her expression. She was having a hard time not chuckling at his confusion.

      Julie quickly turned and nearly sagged with relief when she saw the hostess bringing the contractor to their table. She stood and held out her hand to the man beside the hostess.

      “Orlando Salvatore,” she said.

      Orlando nodded and took her hand. He was tall with wavy dark hair, gleaming straight teeth and a body honed from working in construction. His white shirt and dark brown pants accentuated broad shoulders and strong legs.

      “And you must be Julie Dominick.” His handshake was firm but not too tight.

      “I am. Thank you for meeting me this morning.”

      “No problem at all. I’d love to work on this project.”

      Julie grinned, then held out her hand to Dante, who watched her with slightly narrowed eyes. “He needs no introduction, but this is Dante Wilson. Obviously, he’ll be involved with choosing the contractor for the job.”

      “Of course,” Orlando said. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Wilson. I’m a big fan.”

      Dante slowly stood and shook Orlando’s hand. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”

      Orlando grinned. “I only speak the truth.”

      Julie sat, and then Orlando and Dante followed suit. Julie ignored Dante’s direct gaze on her. Outwardly, anyway. Inside, her body was a ball of nerves. She hoped to impress Dante with her proactive approach to handling the development of the nightclub. It was the reason she’d invited him here this morning. Go hard or go home.

      “I’ve been looking at your website, Orlando,” Julie said. “I’m impressed with the jobs you’ve handled. I see that you’ve also been chosen to open a nightclub in LA. Will you be able to handle another job?”

      She didn’t like small talk and preferred going directly into any concerns. She trusted the recommendation she’d gotten from her former coworker, but she couldn’t forget he still worked for Nexon-Jones.

      Orlando handled her direct question easily and went right into the number of crews he had working for him and how he scheduled his workload. He answered all Julie’s questions easily and impressively while they waited on their food. Dante perked up and stopped glaring at her long enough to ask Orlando some of his own questions. From the interest and satisfaction that flashed on Dante’s face, she guessed he was also impressed by Orlando.

      By the end of the meal, her questions were done. After a few minutes of small talk, Julie wrapped up the meeting.

      “Thank you again for meeting with me, Orlando,” Julie said. “I’ll be in touch before the end of the week.”

      She stood and so did the men. Orlando shook Dante’s hand, then hers. When she would have pulled back, he held on. “The pleasure was all mine. I hope to hear from you soon, regardless of the outcome.”

      Orlando’s smile and the flirtatious tone were clear. Julie returned his smile with one of her own and nodded. “I’ll be sure to give you a call.”

      “Do that,” Orlando said before leaving.

      Dante looked at Orlando’s retreating back and then at Julie. “What was that?”

      “What was what?” Julie sat back down.

      Dante sat and motioned his head in Orlando’s direction. “That?”

      “That was me thinking I’ve found our contractor. Didn’t you like him?”

      “He was all right.”

      “All right? Did you look at the work he’s done, all on time? That’s big when it comes to contractors. Of course, I’m going to check his references.”

      “You’re ready to hire him already?”

      “He was my top choice, but we’ve got another interview later today.”

      His brows rose. “We do?”

      “Yeah.” She checked her watch. “I agreed to meet her for a late lunch. Are you available?”

      “Her?”

      Julie raised a brow. “Do you have a problem with a woman?”

      He raised his hands. “Not at all. At least this time you won’t spend the meeting grinning and giggling over the guy.”

      “I don’t giggle.”

      “Yes, you do.” He quirked a brow. “It would be cute. If you were giggling over me.”

      She laughed. “Still want me to make you my exception to the no-business-and-pleasure-mixing rule?”

      “I’d like to know if you were considering it.”

      She eyed him from head to toe. “I’ve already considered it.”

      “And?”

      “And you’re talented, sexy and very smug. I’m not interested.”

      Dante rubbed his jaw. “If you would have let this be a real date, I think you would be. I envisioned this morning going a lot differently.”

      “What did you envision?”

      “Brunch, sightseeing, maybe a kiss.”

      She glanced at his lips, imagined them on hers and was hit with a wave of longing, which she quickly pushed aside. “I’m here to work. I promise—I will not be kissing you.”

      “I believe that not only will we kiss but that you’ll initiate it.” He looked so arrogant and sure of himself that, for a second, her heart trembled, and she believed he might be right.