Dating the Enemy

His face turned into a blank mask as he sat up straight.

“Let’s get this over with,” he muttered.

She slid out of the car, gulping the fresh, non-Nick-scented air to clear her head. Obviously he knew the effect he had on her and wasn’t afraid to use it. But now that she knew he intended to play that game, he wouldn’t be able to surprise her again.

This was business. And he was the enemy. It wouldn’t do to forget that, even if they were playing nice for the evening.

Seconds later, Nick appeared beside her.

“Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

He nodded and set off up the marble stairs, not looking to see if she was following. She did her best to keep up, but the five-inch stilettos she was wearing made it difficult. At the door he turned, and looked momentarily chagrined when he saw her still picking her way up.

“Sorry about that. I seem to have forgotten my manners this evening.”

“I suppose that’s to be expected when you’re forced to play escort to a woman you don’t even like,” she said, trying to make light of the situation.

Nick smiled, purposely letting his gaze drift down to her cleavage. “I like you fine. In fact, if you agree to give up the Goddess account, I’ll make sure we have a lovely evening.”

Jessie pulled her wrap more tightly around her shoulders. “Not a chance, bud.”

He shrugged. “All right, then. I’ll escort you to the table and then you’re on your own.”

“Fine by me,” she said shortly.

He held the door open, sweeping his arm out with false gallantry. “After you.”

Seeing the mockery in his eyes, she straightened her spine, held her head high, and stepped through into the ballroom beyond.

She didn’t need him, no matter how sexy he was. She had all of New York’s advertising elite waiting to be wrapped around her little finger.

CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_2c5bb458-b88d-558b-957a-a3df41ea6723)

“NICK! JESSIE! THANK GOODNESS!” Phyllis said as they approached the table. “I thought that perhaps you weren’t coming!”

Jessie forced herself to smile as Nick gave the plump older woman’s matronly purple dress an appreciative glance.

“I wouldn’t have missed the chance to see you looking this beautiful for the world. You will do me the honor of dancing with me this evening, won’t you?”

“Oh, Nick. Always such a flirt,” Phyllis said.

Realizing that she needed to make her presence known before Nick stole the show, Jessie shouldered her way in to their cozy circle. “I’ve never met an ad man who wasn’t. But Nick is a master!”

“You’re certainly right about that,” Phyllis said. “Thank you, you two, for doing this. I know it’s an awkward situation I’ve put you into.”

Jessie waved her comment away. “No problem. It sounds like we’re going to be working very closely in the future. Might as well present a solid front now!”

“Indeed,” Nick added. “The only thing that matters is that your company is successful. We won’t let our egos get in the way of that.”

“Good, good … Jessie, let me introduce you around. There are some people here you need to meet. Nick, you’ll come with us, won’t you?”

After the introductions were over Nick excused himself and Jessie found herself sitting alone at the table. Picking up her long-neglected glass of champagne, she took a good look at her surroundings. She couldn’t believe how many of the women were wearing the kind of designer gowns she’d only seen in fashion magazines. They were all thoroughbred-thin, their brittle expressions weighed down by heavy make-up. Circulating around them were dozens of self-important businessmen, their wealth apparent in the size of their Rolexes and the youth of the women on their arms.

She didn’t belong here. At all.

Even the music was wrong. There was a band playing, but the songs they played were old and slow. Nothing like the dance music that blared in the clubs she liked.

She gulped down the last of the bubbly liquid and opened her black satin clutch to peek at the clock on her phone. Only an hour had passed. She definitely couldn’t leave yet. But perhaps she could find herself another drink.

Just as she was about to push away from the table a suave gray-haired man approached.

“Is anyone sitting here?”

“You are,” she said, hoping she looked less intimidated than she felt.

“Great.” He pulled out the chair. “I’m Brad Thornton.”

She knew she should know that name, but her mind was drawing a blank.

“It’s nice to meet you, Brad. I’m …”

“Jessie Owens—the digital marketing sensation. I know.”

“How did you …?”

He smiled. “I know everything that goes on in this town. Especially when it concerns one of my clients.”

Everything fell into place. She looked at her empty glass, wishing she could have a quick sip of champagne to settle her nerves.

“Oh, so you’re Nick’s …?”

“Father. And, for at least a little while longer, the head of Thornton & Co.”

Crap. This was one conversation she wasn’t prepared for. “I’ve always admired your agency’s work,” she said, grabbing at conversational straws.

He relaxed back into his seat. “I wish I could say the same about yours, but I don’t have any idea what you’ve done.”

Jessie wondered if she should be insulted by his ignorance. Either way, the man deserved to be taken down a peg or two. “Well, you will soon enough! We’re in charge of the launch for the Natural Goddess line—as I’m sure your son told you.”

His face darkened. “I know. And I am not thrilled. But we have been resting on our laurels a bit. It was about time for someone like you to come along and shake us up.”

Jessie let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “You’re not angry?”

His mouth twisted up into a grim smile. “Oh, I’m angry, all right. But not at you. My son will answer for this one.”

“What is it that I’m answering for?” a familiar voice growled from behind them.