plans...the list goes on and on.”
Imani looked at Daman. Since he appeared as confused as she felt, she asked the obvious question. “I’m sorry, Mr. Sims, but I don’t follow. What does the gala have to do with our interest in the estate?”
Mrs. Sims smiled. “What my husband is trying to say to you both is that we’ve received approval from the board and would like to ask you both to plan the gala...together. Afterward, you two will decide who will get the estate. If you accept the challenge, we have numerous volunteers to help you.”
Having numerous volunteers wasn’t important to Imani. What was important was finding out why the Simses thought it was such a good idea for her and Daman to work together on this.
Mrs. Sims poured herself a glass of water from the carafe sitting near her side of the table. She took a quick sip before continuing. “I guess you should also know that last week we decided to sell one of our smaller estates. Although it isn’t as exquisite as the estate with the lake view, it’s definitely a beautiful property. Whoever does not get the lake-view estate will get the smaller estate.”
Mr. Sims nodded his agreement. “We understand how you both must feel, and if you accept, the board will be happy to have you on the planning committee free of charge.”
“Free of charge? Why wouldn’t we get paid for this event?” Daman asked.
Mr. Sims smiled slightly before continuing. “As a consolation prize for your doing us this huge favor, we are willing to give those properties to you for a minimal fee.” He handed Imani and Daman each a piece of paper detailing the prices for the estates.
“Why would you charge us so little?” Daman asked.
“Mr. Sims and I have made some very wise investments, so we have all the money we could ask for.” Mrs. Sims softly touched her husband’s arm. “This is something that we want to do, and we’d appreciate it if you took us up on our offer. Selling the estates was never about the money. It was more about ensuring that the estates were in very good hands.”
Imani hated surprises, and she really wished the Simses would have taken her aside to explain their proposal before having the meeting. But as a friend of the Simses, she knew better than to debate them on the issue. “I need a day or two to think about this,” she said.
“I do, too.” Daman stood and moved toward Imani’s chair. “Imani, I usually work in Detroit this time of year, but I will be in Chicago for a while. May I suggest that you and I talk about this over dinner tomorrow?”
Daman was right; they had a lot to discuss. But at the moment, she couldn’t even think about the Simses’ proposal because the man towering over her was making her heart skip a beat.
“Sounds like a plan,” she said, satisfied that her voice wasn’t as seductive as before. “Here’s my card. Call me, and I’ll meet you at the restaurant of your choice.”
Daman nodded as he took the card in one hand and reached out his other hand, waiting for her to return the gesture. She hesitated outwardly, but inwardly she was certainly responding to him. She reached out her hand, lightly gripped his and was once again caught off guard by the magnetic spark she felt. The heat reflected in his eyes mirrored what she was feeling.
When she rose out of her seat, he let go of her hand but still stood close by. “Mr. and Mrs. Sims, it’s been a pleasure. Imani and I should have an answer for you in, oh...” He looked Imani’s way to allow her to say when.
“In a couple of days. As always, it was nice seeing you both,” Imani said.
Mrs. Sims opened the door for them. “Imani, tell your family we send our love. We look forward to hearing from the two of you very soon.”
Chapter 2
Daman rocked his head to the beat of smooth jazz music as he sat in a popular downtown Chicago steakhouse, awaiting Imani’s arrival. He’d called her earlier that day to settle on a location for them to meet and discuss the Simses’ proposal. However, the business side of him had some strong apprehensions about accepting what they had offered. He knew there was a catch, but he didn’t know what the older couple had up their sleeves. Regardless of his apprehensions, he knew he had to accept their offer and partner with Imani to plan the gala. He’d promised his father he would buy the property when Mr. and Mrs. Sims were ready to sell, and he couldn’t disregard a promise. On his deathbed, his father told him that the estate would be the best investment he’d ever make. He also told him that it held answers to questions he didn’t even know he had. Daman never got the chance to ask his father to expand on his request. So, Daman not only wanted the estate, he needed the estate. He knew there would be something there from his father. What it was, he wasn’t sure.
Taking a sip of wine to calm his nerves, Daman pondered the proposal. He was anxious about his business dinner with Imani. This wasn’t like him. He never got anxious about meeting with a woman. Then again, he had never gone months without sex, either. Dealing with pressing personal issues had recently forced him to put everything else on the back burner—even his physical needs. But meeting Imani ignited an inferno under that back burner.
Partnering with her wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen. He was irritated, though, at the way his body reacted to her. Even now he felt like he needed a cold shower. Maybe it was the way her body had sweetly filled out her business suit. Her luscious curves and fair golden-tan complexion were causing him a lot of discomfort. He’d closely assessed her when they were introduced, and the fact that she had boldly assessed him in return every time she caught his eye had made it hard for him to look away.
He glanced at his watch and took another sip of his wine just as he spotted her being escorted to his table. She walked like a woman on a mission.
“Daman, it’s good to see you again,” Imani said. She gave a soft smile but remained professional.
Any man could tell she was poised and she exuded confidence. He usually avoided overly confident women. In his experience, he found them to be too much work, even though his friends would say he never gave that type of woman a chance. On her, however, he had to admit that he liked the confident air.
He stood to pull out her chair. “Good to see you, too, Imani.” The attraction was strong, and so was his anxiety. The faster they got down to discussing business, the better off his body would be.
“I’m sorry I’m a little late,” Imani said as she took her seat. “My mom needed me to run an errand for her. Sometimes I think she’s oblivious to how much work I do. But as she always says, ‘A Burrstone’s work is never done!’”
“No problem. I understand.”
As she ordered her wine, he couldn’t help but observe her natural beauty. Then a thought struck. “Hold on. You said Burrstone. I thought your last name was Rayne.”
“Yes, it is. See, my mother is a Burrstone. My father’s last name is Rayne.”
“Oh, okay. By Burrstone you don’t mean...” His voice trailed off. Imani was smiling a little too hard. Something about the way she smiled made him want to suck her lips and really give her something to smile about.
“If you were going to ask me if I was a Burrstone as in the Burrstones, then the answer is yes.”
Oh, so she’s one of the infamous Burrstone women. The Burrstone
