Lost Without You

“Your resume is quite impressive,” Ethan stated.

“Thank you,” Gabrielle said and smiled. “I believe in working hard to achieve one’s goals.”

“After you graduated second in your class at perfumery school, you joined L’Oréal?” Shane jumped right into the fray.

Gabrielle stared daggers at Shane. Trust him to remind her that he’d beaten her as valedictorian of their class. Had he called her Gabby to knock her off her game? “That’s correct. And I’ve enjoyed an immensely successful career there.”

“Why don’t you tell me some of the projects you’ve worked on?” Shane asked. It was time to skip the pleasantries and get down to business. Find out exactly what Gabrielle Burton was made of.

“Well, I’ve worked on numerous L’Oréal fragrances, and recently we’ve been working on some new skin-firming crèmes.”

“Tell me more,” Shane urged.

For the next hour, Shane grilled Gabrielle about her work in the lab. When he was done, he was impressed with her credentials, but he wasn’t about to tell her that, at least not yet. Gabrielle was competitive and would be eager to prove her worth.

Kayla watched Shane and couldn’t believe how hard her brother was being on Gabrielle. She had never seen him behave this way toward a woman. Usually Shane was such a smooth talker that women melted around him like butter. Gabrielle seemed immune to Shane.

“One final question,” Shane said. “Do you really feel confident working in cosmetics even though your primary focus was fragrance?”

“I am a qualified chemist,” Gabrielle stated. She resented that Shane was implying otherwise. “And I am confident that I can work on cosmetics or fragrances.”

“That’s good to know.” Shane’s gaze focused on Gabrielle. “Because this company means everything to me, and I will not settle for mediocrity.”

“Wow!” Ethan looked down at his watch. “Look at the time. I have to get to another meeting. Ms. Burton, we’re delighted to have met you and will be making our final decision within the next few days. We’ll be in touch.”

“Thank you, Mr. Graham.” Gabrielle rose from the table and shook his hand. “Mrs. Graham.” She snapped up her portfolio before turning to Shane. “Mr. Adams.” She called him by his formal name. “It was a pleasure to get reacquainted with you, and I do so hope for the opportunity to work with you.”

Shane smiled and nodded. He just bet she did.

Once Gabrielle had gone, Kayla turned to Shane. “Was that really necessary?”

“What?” Shane asked.

“You cross-examined her as if she was on the witness stand,” Kayla responded. “You know as well as I do that Gabrielle Burton is more than qualified for this job.”

“I had to be sure she wanted the position,” Shane replied. “And if she was willing to fight for it.”

“And I assume you got your answer?” Ethan asked.

“She will do.” Shane closed the folder holding her resume.

“Then why don’t you tell her she got the position?”

“We are not interviewing anyone else?” Shane asked, slapping down the folder on the table. “I should have known this was a done deal with you and Ethan, because you always have to have your way.”

“That’s not true.” Kayla leaped to defend her husband.

“Shane, you know this was merely a formality to get your stamp of approval, which she has. You yourself said she’s qualified for the position. So go give her the good news, as she will be your employee.” Ethan rose from his chair because the discussion was over. “Kayla and I have other plans. My dear…” He turned to help his pregnant wife out of the seat. “Let us know a start date,” Ethan said over his shoulder on their way out.

Shane wrung his hands as he rode the hotel elevator up to Gabrielle Burton’s room. He could wring his brother-in-law’s neck for forcing him to have Gabrielle in his crosshairs every day. Gabrielle was competent and focused, but she was also very much by the numbers, and sometimes when it came to creating fragrances, an element of whimsy was required. He doubted Gabrielle had ever had a whimsical moment in her entire structured life.

He could have delivered the news over the telephone, but Shane preferred to take his hits like a man. Even more than that, he needed to make a few things clear to Gabrielle before she accepted the position. He didn’t want there to be any misunderstandings in the future.

He arrived at her hotel room shortly after 6:00 p.m., after he’d learned from Kayla’s assistant, Myra, where Gabrielle was staying. He knocked several times and was just about to leave when Gabrielle finally opened the door.

He must have awakened her, because for the first time he could remember, Gabrielle looked disheveled. Her normally perfect updo hung haphazardly over her shoulders, and the silk blouse she must have worn earlier underneath the hideous gray jacket was wrinkled. But her liquid brown eyes shone brightly, and that appealed to him.

“Shane!” Gabrielle immediately closed the door and leaned back to check herself in the foyer mirror.

“Ohmigod, I look a fright,” Gabrielle said aloud. “Uh…I’ll be right with you,” she yelled through the door and rushed to the bathroom to find her brush and repair the damage from her afternoon nap. She was still getting accustomed to the time change and must have fallen asleep.

On the other side of the door, Shane chuckled. Gabrielle Burton not perfectly in control at all times? Heaven forbid!

When she was satisfied with the results of her impromptu hair fix and quick lip-gloss application, Gabrielle opened the door. She found Shane leaning against a pillar, looking as cool and handsome as he pleased. His hazel eyes were lit from within with a golden glow.

“Sorry for the delay. Please do come in,” Gabrielle said formally.

“If now isn’t a good time I can always come back,” Shane said, smiling as he stood up straight.

“No…no, now is fine.” Gabrielle motioned for him to come inside. “My apologies… I took a nap. I’m still trying to get on East Coast time.”

Once inside the hotel room, Shane’s male energy dominated the small living area, and she found it disconcerting. She watched him assess the suite before turning his eyes back on her.

He had a way of sizing her up that Gabrielle wasn’t quite sure what to make of. “So, to what do I owe the honor of your visit?” Gabrielle folded her arms across her chest as a defense. “I’m sure it’s not to catch up on old times.”

Shane’s eyes pierced hers. “And if it were?”

“Well, we were never really friends in perfumery school, now were we?” she muttered hastily.

“So we were enemies?”

Color flushed Gabrielle’s cheeks. “I…I wouldn’t say enemies, that’s quite indelicate. I would say more like rivals.”

“Hmm…” Shane mulled her comment over in his head. “And do you think you can work under me, your former rival?” He doubted she wanted to be under him for any reason.

“If that’s what the job entails, but I had more hoped it would be a collaborative effort, given my background and experience.”

At this, Shane’s face turned as hard as stone. “Make no mistake, I run the lab.”

Gabrielle sucked in a deep breath, as she’d obviously hit a nerve. She didn’t want ego to get in the way of her getting this position, so she said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to infer otherwise. I just assumed we would work very closely on projects together, but ultimately you would have the final say.”

“That’s correct,” Shane said coldly. “An Adams will always run Adams Cosmetics. If you are clear with those terms, then the job is yours.”

A smile spread across Gabrielle’s face. The news was music to her ears. She was ready to come home. “Thank you so much.” She offered her hand to Shane. He stared at her small, delicate hand for several moments, as if he wasn’t quite sure what he’d signed up for, before he finally shook it.

A strange electric sensation pulsed ever so briefly between them at the touch of their palms, but then it was over just as quickly as it had begun, making Gabrielle think she’d imagined the connection.

“Welcome aboard, Gabby Burton,” Shane returned. He offered her a forgiving smile with no trace of his former animosity.