your relationship has become personal as well as professional?”
Royce wasn’t sure he wanted to address that issue yet. Something had been bothering him since this conversation started.
“How did you know he was my father?” Royce asked. “That’s not something I advertise.”
“I don’t blame you. He’s not the kind of man I’d want to claim as a relation, either.”
Royce met the other man’s gaze in surprise. It wasn’t often he had conversations with people who would admit to disliking his father as much as he did.
Don explained. “I’m a very thorough man. I know a lot about you, Royce. I’ve kept you on my radar for a while. With your meteoric rise on Savannah’s business scene, it was inevitable we would do business with each other at some point. When your proposal came in, we had you investigated.”
“Why?” But there was something Royce wanted to know more. “Actually, right now, I just want to know if my father has ever tried to do business with you.”
Don nodded slowly. “He has attempted to work with us in the past. And, yes, I did investigate him just as thoroughly. But I didn’t find the connection at that time.”
He smiled at Royce. “I didn’t need to investigate to see your relationship with Jasmine. It’s all in her face, though she tries to hide it.”
Royce could see it, too, every time she looked at him. He was deeply worried his own feelings showed just as clearly, and he wasn’t ready for that.
Don leaned back in his chair, causing it to creak. “As to why we investigate the personal backgrounds of potential business associates, I like to know who we’re working with. Not just what you’re capable of in a business arena, but who you are as a person. Unusual, but that’s just how my wife and I like running our company. It works for us.”
Royce wasn’t sure how he felt about that. He could understand the concern, but the idea that his personal life had been scrutinized wasn’t something he was comfortable acknowledging.
“Of course, we don’t usually share that knowledge with our employees or contractors,” Don said, “but in this instance, I felt it was particularly important.”
“Again, why?”
“Well, I doubt this will make you feel any better about my snooping, but we happen to have taken a special interest in Jasmine Harden.”
Royce wasn’t above digging for his own information. This he wanted to hear. “My event planner?”
Don cocked his head to one side. “Is that all she is?”
“You tell me. You’re the one hunting for info.”
“Touché. You’ve just never been known to date much. She’s never dated any of her clients.”
This was getting more bizarre by the minute, but the fact that Don was concerned about Jasmine oddly reassured Royce. “I guess the real question is—is there a problem with anything you found out?” He might as well know if his history was about to stand in the way of his future.
“You’ve done very well for yourself—and in the best way possible. The only complaint I could find out about your company, or you for that matter, is that it isn’t very child friendly.”
“It’s a business.” Not a day care. But, for once, he kept that part to himself.
“I get that,” Don conceded. “And a better understanding of a healthy work environment and happy employees will come to you with more life experience—but it’s not a concern for us when it comes to doing business with you.”
The proposal.
Don continued, “I’ll be honest. I was skeptical at first. You see, we believe business should have a soul.”
Royce shot his host a questioning look. The phrase sounded vaguely familiar. Royce wondered if it was something he’d read on Don’s company website.
Luckily, Don was willing to enlighten him. “We believe that all of our business efforts should be done with our fellow man in mind wherever possible—helping take care of those who can’t, keeping the environment stable and as unharmed by our work as possible, providing safe working conditions—and by extension, creating better living conditions for those who can’t afford to do that for themselves.”
Okay, this sounded familiar. The Jeffersons’ company was known for its environmental stewardship and humanitarian working policies, in addition to its philanthropic efforts.
“When you first applied,” Don continued, “I didn’t believe this was a philosophy you readily embraced, despite your own efforts to make your shipping company as environmentally friendly as possible. Don’t get me wrong—you’ve accomplished incredible things at a very young age.”
Don grinned at Royce. “I can say that from my very advanced age and not sound Scroogy.
“Then I found out about your work with Jasmine. I know you have a charity event you are planning together. One we are much looking forward to, by the way. Sounds exciting.”
Royce relaxed—a little. “Isn’t anything Jasmine plans exciting?”
“Just about...” Don smiled. “She’s an incredibly talented woman.”
That was an understatement. Royce had learned more about the hidden depths of Jasmine Harden than he’d ever dreamed he would. She was smart, sexy, bold yet gracious, tenacious and amusing. And the first woman he’d ever wanted to stick around for longer than a night.
“My concern might sound a little old-fashioned. But I would never presume to insist that you marry her or stay with her. That’s not anybody’s place,” Don conceded.
Royce acknowledged the sentiment with a nod.
“But she doesn’t have a father present, and Marilyn and I are friends of hers, so I do feel a bit of a responsibility to request that you treat her decently. That’s all any of us can expect.”
“It’s what any woman deserves,” Royce said tightly, thinking of the man in the other room.
Don’s nod was slow, almost contemplative. But Royce sensed it had nothing to do with studying him to get more inside information. Instead, the wisdom in Don’s mature gaze told Royce he had more than an inkling about the hardships and poverty he’d suffered as a child...and why.
“I agree,” Don finally said. “I’m glad to know we’re on the same page.”
* * *
Jasmine realized she was in for it when Marilyn smiled her way and asked, “So, Royce Brazier, huh?”
The older woman nodded sagely when Jasmine didn’t answer right away. Instead she snagged them each a pretty mimosa off a passing waiter’s tray. Jasmine sipped, grateful to have something to occupy her.
Under normal circumstances, she had no problem talking with Marilyn. They could cover a wide range of subjects without running
