Flying High

Striker hesitated, frustration warring with loyalty, sharp words about his father hovering on the tip of his tongue. After a moment’s hesitation, he swallowed them. How the hell was he supposed to quit his job when he couldn’t even cut out on a family dinner?

Quitting would kill his mother.

He knew that.

He’d always known that.

She’d worried for years while his brother, Tyler, worked at his own business. And she’d been over the moon when her youngest son had finally come back to work at Reeves-DuCarter International last month, and the family was together once again.

If Striker left now, he’d pull the rug out from under his mother’s newfound happiness. What kind of a man would do that?

ERIN O’CONNELL couldn’t believe her boss would do this to her. “This is what you call my big break?”

“I’m asking you to schmooze with him, not sleep with him,” said Patrick Aster in an undertone, closing the boardroom door on the busy reception area of Elle Jewelers’ New York head office.

“For schmoozing, the company’s buying me a new wardrobe?” Erin felt like a prostitute. Sure, she’d been bugging Patrick for months to give her a chance to negotiate with some of their bigger gem suppliers, but not like this, not at the expense of her ethics.

Patrick walked over to the coffee station and poured himself a cup. “This is Allan Baldwin we’re talking about,” he said. “Allan freaking, High Ice Diamonds, Baldwin. Do you have any idea what kind of an opportunity I’m handing you?”

Erin crossed her arms over her cream colored blouse. “Exactly how will flirting my way into a contract get me recognition and respect in this company?”

Patrick lifted the stoneware mug as he turned to face her again. “You land the Baldwin account, and this company will kiss your little white—”

“They’ll all think I slept with him to get it.”

Patrick scoffed. “No they won’t.”

“Yes, they will.”

He took a sip of the coffee. “Well, even if they do, they won’t care.”

“You don’t get me at all, do you?”

A smile played on his lips and his eyes danced. “You’re intelligent, committed, hardworking and hungry.”

Okay. So, maybe he did get her. She’d been a regional buyer for Elle Jewelers for four years now and she was dying to break out into the big leagues. But she had her standards, and she had her pride. She wasn’t about to use her gender, her looks and her body to get her first big gemstone contract.

Patrick sighed with exaggerated patience. “All you have to do is fly to Seattle, hop a floatplane to Blue Earth Island, attend the Pelican Cove Art Exhibition—I wrangled you an invitation—and ‘accidentally’ run into Allan Baldwin.”

“Then offer him what to sign with us?”

Patrick winked. “Whatever it takes, baby.”

Erin’s jaw dropped open.

“I’m joking, Erin. It’s done like this all the time. You meet him casually, get to know him, put him at ease before you start talking business.”

“No.”

The boardroom door opened and Elle Jewelers gemologist, Julie Green, stuck her head in.

Patrick nodded in her direction. “You can take Julie with you.”

“Take Julie with you where?” asked Julie, coming fully into the room and closing the door behind her.

“To Seattle,” said Patrick. “The Mendenhal Resort on Blue Earth Island. All expenses paid.”

“The Mendenhal?” asked Julie, her blue eyes going wide.

“Elle Jewelers will throw in a new Fuchini wardrobe,” said Patrick. “For each of you.”

Julie turned to Erin, her short blond hair bobbing with her rapid nods. “Yes. Take Julie with you. Definitely.”

“Don’t get so excited,” said Erin. “He’s pimping us.”

Julie looked back at Patrick for a second, then back to Erin. She mouthed the word Fuchini. Then out loud she said, “Define pimping.”

Erin rolled her eyes.

“Have you seen their summer dress line?” Julie shot Patrick another look. “I wouldn’t actually have to sleep with anybody, would I?”

“Allan Baldwin,” said Erin.

“The Allan Baldwin?” asked Julie.

Erin wasn’t surprised that Julie recognized the name. Allan Baldwin had revolutionized the diamond industry.

With his huge diamond find in northern Canada, he’d capitalized on the demand for ethical stones. When he “branded” his diamonds by etching a microscopic killer whale into each stone mined at his High Ice property, the market had leaped to attention. Now every jewelry wholesaler in the world wanted Allan’s gems. Including Elle Jewelers.

“The Allan Baldwin,” Patrick confirmed.

Julie’s eyes narrowed and her mouth puckered contemplatively. “Well…He is gorgeous. I mean if I had to actually sleep with—”

“Gorgeous is all it takes for you to throw your principles out the window?” asked Erin.

“Of course not,” said Julie, much to Erin’s relief. “Drop-dead gorgeous and a diamond mine is all it takes.”

Patrick chuckled.

Erin shook her head.

“Didn’t you see his picture in Entrepreneur West last month?” asked Julie.

Erin had seen the picture. Allan was definitely good-looking.

Not that his looks made any difference. Patrick’s proposal was ridiculous. She threw up her hands. “I’m a professional gem buyer, not a good-time-girl.”

“Men do this all the time,” said Patrick. “Tell her, Jules.”