he was truly surprised by the results of the research. I don’t think he realized how much the competition had eroded the company’s market share, and not just for the women’s division.”
“He shouldn’t have been surprised. I’ve been telling himthe same thing since he took over when my dad got sick. He just chose to ignore me because he’s an arrogant ass.”
She bristled at Teagan’s description of Quinn. “Well, he realizes it now, and I think we should look at this as an opportunity to share your plan—”
“No,” she said sharply. “Absolutely not.”
“But I think he’d be willing to listen now.”
Teagan stared at Amelia, her eyes cool behind her black-framed glasses. “There’s no discussion, Amelia. I hired you to redesign our women’s jeans, and you agreed to do it. You knew Quinn wasn’t on board, and I’m not sure why you suddenly have a problem with our agreement.” She paused meaningfully. “Of course you still have the option of not being involved with Riley O’Brien & Co. in any way.”
Teagan’s warning was clear, and Amelia tensed, unsure how to respond. Everything Teagan had said was true.
“I know my brother, and his feelings on the subject haven’t changed, regardless of that presentation. Trust me. We need to stick to the plan, and when the designs are complete and you have samples, we can present them to him as a done deal.”
A cool breeze swept across the rooftop, and Amelia shivered. She didn’t have a good feeling about this project any longer. But she knew she couldn’t walk away from this opportunity, not when it would give her everything she’d ever wanted.
She decided it was well past time to return to the party. “We should head back,” she suggested, and Teagan nodded her agreement.
As they made their way back to the party, Amelia thought about what Teagan had interrupted. She was appalled she had just stood there and let Quinn touch her.
She growled beneath her breath, and Teagan glanced sharply at her. She summoned a smile and a plausible lie.
“My feet hurt.”
“Yeah, those boots rock, but you’re going to be in some serious pain later tonight.”
Amelia was glad to hear Teagan’s voice had lost some of its edge. She didn’t want their relationship to be tense. They had reached the area where the bar and band were situated, and Teagan touched Amelia’s elbow to get her attention.
“Are we on the same page?”
Amelia nodded but was unable to speak because several people had made their way over to the two of them, eager to meet her. With a smile on her face, she answered their questions and participated in casual chitchat, but the whole time she talked, her eyes scanned the garden for Quinn.
She finally spied him leaning with his back against the living wall, his booted feet crossed at the ankles and his arms over his chest. He was more tempting than the most decadent caramel brownies, and even though she tried to resist their chocolaty goodness, she always gave in.
And that wasn’t the worst of it. When she finally gave in, she was never satisfied with just a little taste. She always had to have the whole thing.
Yum
.
Chapter 12
Quinn tossed the baseball up and grabbed it out of the air as it came back down toward his face. He was stretched out on his beloved denim sofa, his feet propped on the armrest and crossed at the ankles.
It was his favorite thinking position and, God knew, he had plenty to think about. He threw the ball over and over, hoping the monotonous movement would calm him, physically and mentally.
Yesterday had not been one of his best days, and he cringed when he thought about the time he’d spent with Amelia in the garden. She had done her best to make him feel better during the party, and he’d repaid her efforts by grabbing her and squeezing her and licking her . . .
Damn.
He had to stop thinking about Amelia and all the dirty things he wanted to do to her, or do with her since he’d really prefer
“He shouldn’t have been surprised. I’ve been telling himthe same thing since he took over when my dad got sick. He just chose to ignore me because he’s an arrogant ass.”
She bristled at Teagan’s description of Quinn. “Well, he realizes it now, and I think we should look at this as an opportunity to share your plan—”
“No,” she said sharply. “Absolutely not.”
“But I think he’d be willing to listen now.”
Teagan stared at Amelia, her eyes cool behind her black-framed glasses. “There’s no discussion, Amelia. I hired you to redesign our women’s jeans, and you agreed to do it. You knew Quinn wasn’t on board, and I’m not sure why you suddenly have a problem with our agreement.” She paused meaningfully. “Of course you still have the option of not being involved with Riley O’Brien & Co. in any way.”
Teagan’s warning was clear, and Amelia tensed, unsure how to respond. Everything Teagan had said was true.
“I know my brother, and his feelings on the subject haven’t changed, regardless of that presentation. Trust me. We need to stick to the plan, and when the designs are complete and you have samples, we can present them to him as a done deal.”
A cool breeze swept across the rooftop, and Amelia shivered. She didn’t have a good feeling about this project any longer. But she knew she couldn’t walk away from this opportunity, not when it would give her everything she’d ever wanted.
She decided it was well past time to return to the party. “We should head back,” she suggested, and Teagan nodded her agreement.
As they made their way back to the party, Amelia thought about what Teagan had interrupted. She was appalled she had just stood there and let Quinn touch her.
She growled beneath her breath, and Teagan glanced sharply at her. She summoned a smile and a plausible lie.
“My feet hurt.”
“Yeah, those boots rock, but you’re going to be in some serious pain later tonight.”
Amelia was glad to hear Teagan’s voice had lost some of its edge. She didn’t want their relationship to be tense. They had reached the area where the bar and band were situated, and Teagan touched Amelia’s elbow to get her attention.
“Are we on the same page?”
Amelia nodded but was unable to speak because several people had made their way over to the two of them, eager to meet her. With a smile on her face, she answered their questions and participated in casual chitchat, but the whole time she talked, her eyes scanned the garden for Quinn.
She finally spied him leaning with his back against the living wall, his booted feet crossed at the ankles and his arms over his chest. He was more tempting than the most decadent caramel brownies, and even though she tried to resist their chocolaty goodness, she always gave in.
And that wasn’t the worst of it. When she finally gave in, she was never satisfied with just a little taste. She always had to have the whole thing.
Yum
.
Chapter 12
Quinn tossed the baseball up and grabbed it out of the air as it came back down toward his face. He was stretched out on his beloved denim sofa, his feet propped on the armrest and crossed at the ankles.
It was his favorite thinking position and, God knew, he had plenty to think about. He threw the ball over and over, hoping the monotonous movement would calm him, physically and mentally.
Yesterday had not been one of his best days, and he cringed when he thought about the time he’d spent with Amelia in the garden. She had done her best to make him feel better during the party, and he’d repaid her efforts by grabbing her and squeezing her and licking her . . .
Damn.
He had to stop thinking about Amelia and all the dirty things he wanted to do to her, or do with her since he’d really prefer
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