Dad, smooth.”
Chelsea had a degree in Elizabethan literature, and Rachel had a degree in finance.
“Don’t get us wrong,” her mother interjected, obviously in agreement with her husband. “You all bring something to the table, but you ensure the structural integrity of every float. Without you, the floats might collapse in the middle of the parade. Do not make me remind you of the great float debacle in 2001, which forced your dad to go out on his own.”
Greer simply grinned at her mother. “I get it.” She slanted a glance at her father. “You told your boss that the float wouldn’t work and you were right.” The float fell apart a half hour into the two-and-a-half-hour parade and had to be pulled out of line and pushed back to the staging area.
“It was a beautiful day,” Roman said with a wide grin.
And being the only African American family in the float business had brought its own level of notice, letting others know what one family could achieve when they worked together.
“I still think the interview went well,” Greer said. “Next time I’ll be better prepared and won’t let him drag me off topic.”
“You were pretty amusing off topic,” Virginia said with a chuckle.
“The wave has gone viral,” Roman said.
“We need to take you off social media,” Greer retorted. She took another sip of her water. “Dad, did Logan Pierce approach you about designing his float?”
“No,” Roman said. “He went with Associated Float Design. Why?”
“He called me and wants to meet for dinner tonight.”
“Are you going?” Virginia asked.
“Sure. Why not? Maybe I’ll get some answers to this rivalry he and Daniel Torres have going.” She stood and yawned. Maybe she shouldn’t have accepted Logan’s dinner invitation. She needed sleep more than good food.
* * *
At exactly seven o’clock, Greer pulled to a stop in front of Craig’s. The valet opened the door to her Toyota 4Runner and held a hand out for her. She accepted the help. He handed her a ticket and took her keys.
She’d dressed carefully for her meeting with Logan. After going through her closet, she’d chosen a pearl-gray silk sheath with a matching jacket trimmed in black satin ribbon. She wore a silver locket that looked perfect with her gray and stylish silver earrings. Black stilettos and a clutch purse completed her look. She’d smoothed her hair back from her face and kept her makeup at a minimum.
She glanced around as she entered the restaurant. She’d never been to Craig’s before. The facade only hinted at the elegance inside. She stepped into the warmth and was immediately greeted by the hostess. “I’m meeting—”
“Mr. Pierce is waiting for you, Miss Courtland,” the hostess said smoothly. “If you’ll follow me.”
Craig’s had an elegant feel to it. The walls were dark wainscoting with brick above it. Art hung at intervals on the wall. Brick pillars supported the ceiling. The hostess led Greer to a prominently placed booth. Logan Pierce slid out and stood, a smile spread across his face. He was a muscular man a few inches taller than Greer. She didn’t know if his carefully brushed and arranged blond hair was natural or bleached, but he looked good. Sparkling blue eyes met hers and he grinned, showing perfect teeth of a dazzling white.
He held out his hand. “Thank you for coming, Miss Courtland. May I call you Greer?”
She slid into the booth and he sat across from her. “Please, if I can call you Logan.”
Logan nodded. The hostess walked away, and a few seconds later, a member of the waitstaff approached. Mona, as she introduced herself, placed glasses of water in front of them and then asked for their drink order.
“Merlot, please,” Greer said.
The woman listed the different brands, and Greer chose one. She didn’t recognize the label but knew it would be excellent. Craig’s would offer nothing less. Logan ordered bourbon on the rocks.
“Thank you for coming,” Logan said.
“Why?” she asked. “Why do you want to have dinner with me?”
He looked taken aback for a second but recovered neatly. “I thought you might be hungry.”
She laughed. “It is dinnertime, so you didn’t make a bad assumption. But I don’t think that’s your real reason.”
“Why do you think I asked you out?” He leaned toward her.
“I assumed you wanted information on Daniel’s Rose Parade float.”
His eyebrows went up, and his blue eyes sparkled with mischief. “You caught me.”
Greer narrowed her eyes. “I didn’t think I was your type.”
“I like smart, funny women.”
The waitress brought their drinks. As Greer took a sip of the excellent wine, a shadow fell across the table, and she glanced up to find Daniel standing in front of them. A tiny, dainty-featured blonde woman hung on his arm. Greer recognized her from her TV show but couldn’t remember her name.
“Mind if we join you?” Daniel motioned the actress into the booth next to Logan and then pushed in next to Greer.
As Greer shifted over, she noticed Logan’s face. He looked completely surprised, especially when the blonde woman slipped closer to him with a tiny purr. Daniel simply smiled.
“What are you doing here?” Logan asked, his voice sounding choked.
“Got to eat,” Daniel replied. “You’re my best friend and I thought I’d join you. We don’t get to spend much time together.”
“You normally take your dates to your parents’ restaurant.”
“Not tonight,” Daniel said cheerfully. “Pass me the bread please, Greer.”
Greer pushed the bread basket toward him, shifting a little further away. “You’re interrupting my date.”
“I’m saving you from boredom. Logan has two subjects—himself and sports.”
“I do not,” Logan objected.
“You told me last week you wanted to meet Melody Wilkerson. So I called her up and invited her to meet you.”
Melody giggled, putting a childlike hand over her mouth. “I’ve been dying to meet you for years.”
Greer sat back and watched as the woman walked her fingers up Logan’s arm and pouted prettily. “Why did you bring that woman on my date?” she half whispered to Daniel.
“You shouldn’t be dating Logan.”
“Why not?” she asked.
“Because you should be
