“Sharon.”
In tune with him, she discreetly glanced over to the front of the restaurant. Without so much as a frown she whispered back, “Intercept her. She’s here to make trouble.”
In his best business tone, Rick said to everyone at the table, “Excuse me, please.” He got up and crossed the room to where a determined Sharon was zeroing in on her target.
Vanessa did her best to keep the Williamses’ attention. She wouldn’t allow Sharon to ruin Rick’s business dinner. She turned to the young couple. “So, tell me, does your son get along with the baby?”
Hillary talked for several minutes, with Johnadding some interesting anecdotes. Rick was back before they knew it.
“I beg your pardon,” he said as he sat down, nodding at Vanessa in a secret code that told her everything was under control. “Now, where were we? Yes, I remember. I was just about to offer John the position.”
Once he accepted, and Hillary discussed her moving plans, they were ready to drive the couple back to their hotel.
“Nice job this evening,” Rick said as soon as he and Vanessa were alone in the car.
“Thanks, but I didn’t do much.”
“Nonsense, you had to endure two hours of baby stories.” He grinned widely.
Vanessa laughed. “It was a good thing you waylaid Sharon before she got to the table. What did you say to her, anyway?”
“I paid her off,” he said succinctly. Then he continued. “A pair of diamond earrings is cheap compared to what she would’ve cost me. John’s a great fit for my team.”
After a few seconds Vanessa said, “It was nice of you to offer John a signing bonus.”
“I really thought he deserved it. He’ll make it back for me. And a little extra cash is handy when you’re moving.”
“How do you know that?” Vanessa asked curiously. “You’re still living in the family home, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, just like you. We actually have a lot in common.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Oh yeah? We both live at home, neither of us is starving to death, are we?”
“No, but that’s where the similarity ends.”
He wished he weren’t driving so he could look at her and gauge her expression. Was she offended that he’d said something about her still living at home? Truth be told, she was right—that was where the similarities between them ended. She was warm and gregarious and family-oriented, while he…Well, suffice to say he was none of those things. The only thing he cared about was work.
But that was changing, he realized. Hadn’t he missed yesterday’s meetings? In ten years that was a first. But he couldn’t tell Vanessa that. So instead, he agreed.
“Yeah, you’re probably right. But I know I owe you for offering such a lovely toast to our business agreement. John was impressed, too. It made for a perfect ending to a long night.”
“Okay, I’ll agree you owe me for that one.” She sighed. “As much as I enjoyed the meal, I was ready for the evening to end.”
He knew she meant because of the endless baby stories. “That makes two of us.”
Typical of Vanessa, she excused Hillary Williams. “Having two babies so close together can shift youremphasis to them and nothing else. I hope I don’t ever get that self-absorbed.”
“You won’t,” he assured her with a smile. “But I’m not sure how you managed to grow up so unselfcentered as an only child. Didn’t your parents spoil you?”
“No, not really. Dad didn’t pay me much attention, and Mom believed in encouraging me to use whatever time I had to improve myself.”
“Do you think she’ll be the same with Danny and the new one?”
“Of course,” Vanessa said. “Danny has already taken karate and gone on playdates. This year he’s going to prekindergarten.”
“He’s very young. Don’t you think she’s expecting too much?”
“Not at all. Mom went through everything I did herself. She watched my gymnastics lessons, my soccer games, my school concerts. She took me out to lunch
In tune with him, she discreetly glanced over to the front of the restaurant. Without so much as a frown she whispered back, “Intercept her. She’s here to make trouble.”
In his best business tone, Rick said to everyone at the table, “Excuse me, please.” He got up and crossed the room to where a determined Sharon was zeroing in on her target.
Vanessa did her best to keep the Williamses’ attention. She wouldn’t allow Sharon to ruin Rick’s business dinner. She turned to the young couple. “So, tell me, does your son get along with the baby?”
Hillary talked for several minutes, with Johnadding some interesting anecdotes. Rick was back before they knew it.
“I beg your pardon,” he said as he sat down, nodding at Vanessa in a secret code that told her everything was under control. “Now, where were we? Yes, I remember. I was just about to offer John the position.”
Once he accepted, and Hillary discussed her moving plans, they were ready to drive the couple back to their hotel.
“Nice job this evening,” Rick said as soon as he and Vanessa were alone in the car.
“Thanks, but I didn’t do much.”
“Nonsense, you had to endure two hours of baby stories.” He grinned widely.
Vanessa laughed. “It was a good thing you waylaid Sharon before she got to the table. What did you say to her, anyway?”
“I paid her off,” he said succinctly. Then he continued. “A pair of diamond earrings is cheap compared to what she would’ve cost me. John’s a great fit for my team.”
After a few seconds Vanessa said, “It was nice of you to offer John a signing bonus.”
“I really thought he deserved it. He’ll make it back for me. And a little extra cash is handy when you’re moving.”
“How do you know that?” Vanessa asked curiously. “You’re still living in the family home, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, just like you. We actually have a lot in common.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Oh yeah? We both live at home, neither of us is starving to death, are we?”
“No, but that’s where the similarity ends.”
He wished he weren’t driving so he could look at her and gauge her expression. Was she offended that he’d said something about her still living at home? Truth be told, she was right—that was where the similarities between them ended. She was warm and gregarious and family-oriented, while he…Well, suffice to say he was none of those things. The only thing he cared about was work.
But that was changing, he realized. Hadn’t he missed yesterday’s meetings? In ten years that was a first. But he couldn’t tell Vanessa that. So instead, he agreed.
“Yeah, you’re probably right. But I know I owe you for offering such a lovely toast to our business agreement. John was impressed, too. It made for a perfect ending to a long night.”
“Okay, I’ll agree you owe me for that one.” She sighed. “As much as I enjoyed the meal, I was ready for the evening to end.”
He knew she meant because of the endless baby stories. “That makes two of us.”
Typical of Vanessa, she excused Hillary Williams. “Having two babies so close together can shift youremphasis to them and nothing else. I hope I don’t ever get that self-absorbed.”
“You won’t,” he assured her with a smile. “But I’m not sure how you managed to grow up so unselfcentered as an only child. Didn’t your parents spoil you?”
“No, not really. Dad didn’t pay me much attention, and Mom believed in encouraging me to use whatever time I had to improve myself.”
“Do you think she’ll be the same with Danny and the new one?”
“Of course,” Vanessa said. “Danny has already taken karate and gone on playdates. This year he’s going to prekindergarten.”
“He’s very young. Don’t you think she’s expecting too much?”
“Not at all. Mom went through everything I did herself. She watched my gymnastics lessons, my soccer games, my school concerts. She took me out to lunch
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