got Performance to agree to our terms today,” Michael said. “They’re signing the contract tomorrow.”
“That was fast,” Carter said. “Care to share with us how you did that?”
“I don’t want to know,” Steven said. “All I know is it’s been a week since I gave you Avery Jackson, Carter.”
“Well, since I can’t lower myself to kidnapping family members, I think it might take me a little longer.”
“It’s just two stores,” Michael teased. “Two little stores.”
“I’m using her partner to get in.” Carter socked Michael in the left arm. “She’s clean, but he has a lot of skeletons in his closet.”
“I already did a background on him,” Michael said.
“I did a better one.”
“Are you being careful?” Steven asked.
Carter didn’t answer that and Steven knew he wouldn’t. He could see the resentment in his son’s face at his questioning. He should feel guilty about it, but he didn’t. Besides, if Carter didn’t want this tension between them, he knew what he could do to change things. Come work at Chase Beauty. “I’m giving you one more week.”
“Or what?” Carter asked. He wasn’t going to be threatened by anyone.
Michael wondered why in God’s name Carter pushed their father like that. This was the one thing he envied about his brother. He watched as the two men stared each other down, knowing he could never have the nerve. Carter would blink first. He always did, but each time he lasted longer and Michael wondered if it were possible that one day, Steven would be the first to blink. He didn’t think so.
Carter blinked.
“Get out,” Steven said, satisfied. “I’ve got work to do.”
Carter was fine with leaving, but Michael never let him just walk out.
“Why haven’t you checked in on Haley?” he asked.
“Who are you now, Mom? Haley might not want to see me after she finds out what I did.”
“You think she actually cared about that guy?” Michael asked, laughing.
“I lost my head for a second.”
Outside of Michael’s office, Carter stopped and grinned at his little brother. He had been ready to tell him everything he had going on with Craig, but not now. He would slap him with it a few days from now.
“Come in,” Michael said.
Carter knew why Michael always invited him into his office when he stopped by Chase Beauty. He enjoyed the momentary affliction of envy Carter felt when he saw Michael’s throne. Carter did love his father and he was proud of Chase Beauty. Here Michael was, basking in it all and he never let Carter forget it.
“You think you’re going to get a promotion out of this, don’t you?”
Michael’s expression was very serious, no signs of his usual sarcasm. “This was my idea and it’s gonna be gold. You’re damn right I’m getting a promotion.”
Carter checked his ringing cell phone. It was Lisette and he placed the phone back into his pocket, leaning against the wall. “So, how many laws did you break to get Performance on board?”
“Laws?” A wicked grin crossed Michael’s face. “Never heard of the word.”
“I hope I’m interrupting something.” Kimberly sashayed into the room looking like a million dollars. Her hair flowing, her hips tempting; it was a sight Michael never tired of. She rubbed against him, flipping her head back as if on cue from a photographer.
“Unusual to see you here, Carter,” she cooed. “Oh yeah, that’s right. You’re on retainer.”
“Something you and I have in common,” Carter noted jokingly. Michael certainly had his hands full with this woman. “I’m out of here.”
“What was that about?” Kimberly asked after Carter left, closing the door behind him.
Michael tightened his grip around her. He knew he was too possessive, but something about Kimberly made him feel like he was always trying to keep her. “What is this about?”
“I’m having lunch with an old friend downtown.” She leaned away when he tried to kiss her.
“Old?” He frowned. “From the modeling days?”
“She’s in town doing a show.”
“Jealous?”
“Well, she does have her own house.”
Michael lifted her onto his desk, maneuvering himself between her legs. “When I get this next promotion, we’ll move into a house built to your every desire. Right now, I need to stay close to Dad. He’s making up his mind about me, and I need to be everywhere he is.”
Kimberly felt his hand make its way up her thighs and she was already melting. “Promises, promises.”
“It is a promise.” He held her chin in his other hand, looking into her eyes. He wanted to see them when he touched her. “But until then, maybe this will hold you.”
Kimberly let out a gasp as her body shivered all over. She grabbed his head, pulling it to her, and pressed her lips against his so hard it hurt. She loved it on his desk with the door unlocked.
Avery was venting her frustrations as she tossed the dinner she’d prepared into her kitchen garbage. Alex was supposed to be there at 7:00 and it was 7:30. She had let it go that he was fifteen minutes late for breakfast at Roscoe’s yesterday, because the whole scene with Carter and Congressman Flay was entertaining enough, but he wouldn’t be that lucky tonight. She hated feeling this way. Used, unappreciated and taken for granted. She wasn’t high maintenance, only expected what any woman would want; some attention and a guy who was on time every now and then. Apparently three years into a relationship, that was just a little too much to ask.
She looked down at the two-carat ring on her finger, wondering if this symbol on her saying that someone loved her was what she really wanted and not marriage. That was what she thought of most now; the ring, the dress, and the wedding. Not Alex so much anymore. It made her want to cry thinking of what it could all mean. She didn’t want to accept failure, three years coming to nothing and, God forbid, returning to the dating world where men like—
“It’s been a while since the Chase family has given us so much to talk about. I think we’ve all missed them a bit.”
Avery wondered if she was hearing things. She rushed into the living room where the local FOX news station was on the television, her only company after a long Saturday at the salon. The female reporter conveyed the story as if just talking about the Chase family caused a stir within her. Avery couldn’t get the effect these people had on everyone.
“Right on the heels of Haley’s scandalous encounter with Congressman Jack Flay, the usually clean Carter Chase is making
