intern, waving her over to the Brooks and Johnson table. When she’d hired the interns, she’d told them that they were all on a first-name basis and could call her Naomi.
“No need to yell, Alexis,” Naomi said when she arrived. Her salespeople were already occupied with other customers, so Naomi headed straight for her. “What can I do for you?”
“Well, this gentleman wants to know how they might go about carrying our products at his stores,” Alexis replied with a smile.
Naomi smiled and hid her purse under the table. Now this man she could handle and knew what to do with. She immediately started explaining Brooks and Johnson’s mission statement and how they would be a great addition to his business. It didn’t take long for the man to hand her his card and tell her he’d be in touch to talk terms.
“That went wonderfully,” Naomi said five minutes later to Alexis, who was standing avidly by, soaking it all in.
“How’d you do that?” the young woman asked. They’d hired her to help with the trade show and she was still green.
“Experience,” Naomi replied. “Don’t worry, the more you’re exposed to these types of environments, the more you’ll learn.”
Applause sounded from behind Naomi. She didn’t need to know who was praising her. Lucius. The man refused to go away. He was like a puppy nipping at her heels.
“I couldn’t have said it better myself, Naomi Brooks,” Lucius responded. He held out his hand. “Pleasure to officially meet you.”
Naomi thought about leaving Lucius hanging, but since she was in front of her intern, who looked to her as a mentor, Naomi had no choice but to accept the handshake. Lucius’s hand clasped her small one, and a ripple of excitement went up her spine at touching him again. He studied her face, waiting for a reaction.
Damn him!
She quickly released his hand and turned to her intern. “Alexis, I’d like you to meet—”
“Lucius Knight?” the girl finished. “Black Enterprise businessman of the year.”
“One and the same.” Lucius smiled broadly, and Naomi couldn’t fail to notice he had straight, pearly-white teeth. His charm hit the poor intern like a ton of bricks, and she blushed from ear to ear, her cheeks turning red.
“Oh, my God!” Alexis’s hand flew to her mouth. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“You as well,” Lucius said and turned back to stare at Naomi. His eyes pierced hers, and Naomi felt her heart hammer foolishly in her chest. She hated that she was having such a reaction to his obvious interest in her. If this had been sixteen years ago when she’d loved his rebel-without-a-cause image, she would have welcomed it, but not today.
“You could learn a lot from this woman,” she caught Lucius saying. “Naomi and her partner started this company from nothing and have grown into a multi billion-dollar enterprise, or so I’ve heard, while I’ve just gambled on the right companies.”
“Clearly your gambles paid off,” Naomi responded.
Lucius laughed heartily. And Naomi had to admit she liked the sound of it. “They usually do.”
“Arrogant,” Naomi muttered underneath her breath.
“What was that?” Lucius asked.
“Oh, nothing,” Naomi said. “Alexis, I’m going to get back to the trade show. The salespeople are available—” she motioned to her sales team, who’d finished with their customers “—as am I if you need me again, all right?”
“Sure thing, Naomi.” Alexis smiled.
Naomi retrieved her purse and started toward the other table, but stopped. “Are you coming?” she asked Lucius. Since it was obvious she wasn’t going to shake him, she might as well try to use his interest to find out more about what he had in store for Brooks and Johnson.
His face creased into a sudden smile. “Love to.”
* * *
Lucius was happy that Naomi softened toward him as the afternoon progressed. If she’d kept the hardened stance from earlier this morning, he would have his work cut out for him. But this more laid-back Naomi was more his speed. And if he played his cards right, their relationship would be more than just business.
When he’d seen her sitting there in the workshop, he couldn’t believe his luck. It was an opening for him to get to know Naomi and how she’d changed from awkward teenager to brilliant businesswoman. He hadn’t found out everything he wanted to know about Brooks and Johnson that afternoon, but he enjoyed her company. Perhaps it was because he found Naomi extremely attractive.
A luscious mane of spiral curls was piled atop her head, allowing him full view of her delicate neck and shoulders. Or was it the way she carried herself now? She was more confident and assured in that pencil skirt that hugged all the right places. The white shirt, though professional, gave him just a hint of cleavage that he was dying to find out what secrets were underneath.
Lucius didn’t know this version of Naomi Brooks. He remembered a gangly teenager who was so socially awkward the students in their high school made fun of her. He’d protected her once when a gang of bullies razzed her. Adam probably thought he didn’t remember, but he had. She’d looked so small and innocent back then, unable to take care of herself.
But this new Naomi Brooks was a force to be reckoned with. Lucius had a feeling that a takeover of her company wouldn’t be as easy as he’d thought. Naomi wasn’t just going to lie down and roll over. She was going to fight him, but Lucius was more than ready for the challenge.
“How about a cocktail?” Lucius asked when they’d both seen enough of the east wing of the trade show and everyone was starting to pack up for the end of the day.
“I don’t think so.”
“C’mon,” Lucius said. “What are you going to do? Go back to you room and order room service?”
Naomi chuckled, and Lucius suspected that was exactly what she was going to do. “Only if I get to take off this outfit and put on something more comfortable.”
Visions of Naomi naked sprang to Lucius’s mind, but he blinked them back. “Deal. How about I meet you downstairs in the lounge in fifteen minutes?”
“You’re on.”
* * *
Ten minutes later, Naomi paced her hotel room after she’d changed into jeans and a tank top and let down her hair. It was her usual attire after a long day, but the reason why wasn’t. Why had she agreed to a drink with Lucius? The man couldn’t be trusted. He’d already acted like he didn’t know who she was when she knew darn well he’d done his research on her. Did he remember they’d gone to high school together? Did he remember when she’d followed him like a lovesick puppy dog after he’d saved her from some bullies?
Of course he didn’t. He was Lucius
