Need You Now

“You mean the only man Kayla can turn to.”

“That’s one and the same.”

“And how do you plan on breaking the ice between you and Ms. Adams?”

“I’m going to do what every man does when he’s trying to woo a woman. I’m going to ask her out on a date,” Ethan responded.

“I could kill you for the move you pulled at the premiere,” Kayla told Piper, plopping down on the bed in her best friend’s apartment after work. She’d arrived moments ago to help Piper pick out an outfit for her blind date after receiving an SOS text from Piper earlier that day.

“What move?” Piper asked innocently, even though she knew the move in question.

“You left me alone with Ethan Graham.”

“And?” Piper raised a brow and glanced at Kayla as she held up a pantsuit. “What was wrong with that? Didn’t you tell me years ago, after seeing the string of beautiful women Ethan dated, that you were over pining for him?”

“I know what I said. And I am not pining for him,” Kayla replied testily. “And that suit is godawful. This is a date, not a business meeting.” She snatched the ensemble out of Piper’s hand and handed her another option. “Try this on.”

Piper took the garment out of Kayla’s hand and slid it down her slender frame. “Are you saying you lied to your best friend of twenty years?” She held her chest as if crestfallen.

“No,” Kayla answered. She rose from the bed and zipped up the back of Piper’s dress. “It’s just that I thought I was over the man, but then…” Her voice trailed off as the image of Ethan’s lips slowly starting to descend on hers came to mind.

Piper turned around. “But what?”

Kayla plopped back down on the bed and was silent. She hated to admit it, but she had no choice. “He still gets to me.”

“Did something happen between you two when I left?”

Kayla nodded. “We almost kissed.”

“What do you mean almost?” Piper asked. “You either did or you didn’t.”

“Well…we were interrupted because another couple burst onto the terrace,” Kayla replied. “If they hadn’t, I would have acted like a teenager and made out with the man. I can’t believe this, Piper.” She jumped up. “Ethan was supposed to be in my past.”

“Sounds like you two have some unfinished business,” Piper mused. “Because clearly Ethan has tapped into some hidden desire you still have for him.”

“No!” Kayla shook her head. “I refuse to give in to some teenage fantasy. I’m a grown woman who is capable of controlling her emotions, and I have to do that.”

“Why?”

“Because…because I don’t trust Ethan Graham one bit. He knows Adams Cosmetics is in trouble and he’s ready to swoop in like the vulture his company is. I’ve heard what he’s done to smaller companies that have merged with Graham International. I refuse to let Adams Cosmetics be a casualty.”

“But don’t you need the capital Ethan could provide?”

“I need capital, but there are other investors,” Kayla replied. “And it’s just a matter of time before I convince one of them to invest in Adams Cosmetics.”

Kayla returned home to find the family had already gathered in the formal dining room for dinner.

“Kay, we didn’t think you were joining us, so we started without you,” her mother, Elizabeth, said as she entered.

“No worries, Mom.” Kayla kissed her cheek before taking a seat at the table next to Shane.

“Where were you?” Courtney asked.

“I was at Piper’s. She needed help choosing an outfit.”

“I’m surprised Piper would need help in that department.” Her father chuckled. “She seems to have a handle on…er…her personal sense of style.”

That was her father’s diplomatic way of saying Piper’s taste bordered on eccentric, but that was okay with Kayla. They’d been best friends for twenty years and there was no one she trusted more.

“It’s a blind date,” Kayla offered. “And she wanted to make a good impression.”

“You know I was surprised Andrew Jackson wasn’t at the premiere,” her father said. “He always did like a good show.”

A silence came over the table, as the Jackson family was persona non grata in the Adams household.

“I ran into him last week,” Kayla responded. “He was really interested in the fact that we were starting a new fragrance and mentioned that he just so happened to have been in France.”

“The fragrance capital of the world.” Shane rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Jackson could be up to something.

“Watch out for him,” Byron said. “He’s always been envious of our success.”

“Oh, trust me, Daddy, I’ve got an eye on him at all times,” Kayla said, laughing.

“That’s good to hear. You’ll need it,” her mother said. “Anyway, you received a dozen calla lilies. They are on the table in the foyer.”

“Really?” Kayla asked. She couldn’t fathom who might have sent them. “From whom?”

“That’s what we were wondering,” Shane responded. “Do you have a secret admirer?”

Kayla rose from the table, but Victor was already on it and bringing her the card from the flowers. When had he sneaked out of the room? “Thank you, Victor.”

“You’re welcome,” Victor said.

“So, who are they from?” Courtney inquired. “A new beau, perhaps?”

“Yeah, right. That’s the last thing I need right now,” Kayla said, pulling the card out of the envelope. She was surprised at the name on the card and had to read the message twice for fear she was hallucinating. The card stated, “Dinner. Tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. Will pick you up. Ethan.”

Why was Ethan sending her flowers? And did he think he could just order her to dinner and she would comply? “Anyway, it’s no one important.” She placed the card back in the envelope and slid it inside her purse.

“Hmm…if it’s no one important, you should tell us,” Shane said from her side.

Kayla glared at Shane before rising from the table. “Umm, I don’t think I’m hungry after all.” She grabbed her purse. “I’ll see you all later.” She quickly rushed out of the room. She had business to attend to, namely, setting Ethan Graham straight.

Ethan had just prepared himself an after-dinner cocktail and was relaxing in his living room when his doorbell rang. He had a loft in the city, but after living abroad the past few years while expanding Graham International, he much preferred his nine-bedroom, nine-bath mansion in Tuxedo Park.

He answered the door himself because he’d told the staff they could retire for the evening. So not only was the visitor shocked to see him answer the door, but he was equally shocked to see her. “Kayla!”

“Ethan.” Kayla pushed past him into the foyer. “I need to talk to you.” She stood in the hallway, then began pacing back and forth.