“So you’re in?”
As if I had a choice? Lisa might be my friend, but even she would fire me for turning down this opportunity. Still, none of this made any sense. I didn’t have the expertise or the talent to take on this task even with the clearly formidable Lucy Dare to guide me.
“Lucy, don’t get me wrong. I appreciate the offer. And please don’t take this the wrong way, but if this is Gabe’s version of charity, you can assure him I’m doing just fine.”
Lucy tipped her head back and laughed. “Do you really think I’d risk handing over the biggest challenge of my career to someone my brother, at worst, feels sorry for or, at best, just wants to f**k?”
“Excuse me?” I tried to sound outraged, but the sad truth was, either was a valid possibility. And I appreciated her candor since I wanted to be the same in return.
Lucy propped a hip on the conference room table. “Look, my brother stepped in when my parents died. He made sure I wanted for nothing, from the material to the emotional, and I owe him for that. But even then, I wouldn’t jeopardize our reputation on a whim of his. But you’re no whim.” Lucy Dare met my gaze, confidence oozing from her in a way I envied.
I turned and looked out the windows, confused. My usual state when it came to Gabe.
Lucy came up alongside me. Actually, she towered over my more petite frame, and her body was even more slender and perfect than her undergarments had led me to believe. Just as I had when wearing her clothes, I wanted to hate the lithe, beautiful woman who, from outward appearances, was everything I wasn’t. But I knew appearances were deceiving, and life dealt blows and wounds nobody could see.
Besides, she was bouncy and nice and impossible to dislike. I let out a sigh. “Gabe was infatuated with me,” I admitted. “If nothing else, I’m still a challenge to him.” Not only because I left but because we’d never actually had sex.
She laughed. And laughed some more. “You really think that, don’t you? Oh my God, you are perfect. Listen. My brother believes in you. And after years of watching him in action and learning, I believe in him.”
I smiled at that, glad Gabe had Lucy in his life.
“Isabelle, he wants to give you this chance to shine. And I’ve looked into every client you had a hand in over the last three months. Not long, I know. But you do have design talent, and I have the experience to guide you. Everything in life comes down to who you know and opportunity.” She picked up the Stella McCartney handbag she’d placed on the table.
“I—”
“Don’t decide now,” Lucy said. “Spend the afternoon reading the information about our clubs and Eden. If you think you’re up to the challenge, I’ll see you on the island on Friday. If not, let me know, and I’ll contact my second choice.”
I picked up the folder, intrigued despite myself. “I’ll seriously consider it,” I promised her.
“It’s been a pleasure, Iz,” she said, a gentle smile on her lips.
The unexpected nickname set off a flurry of emotions and memories inside me, but before I could gather myself, Lucy Dare had walked out the door, leaving me behind with a folder. And a challenge.
One I sensed would eventually lead me back to Gabe. If I was brave enough to accept it.
Chapter Eleven
Gabe: Patience versus Sanity
Patience wasn’t Gabe’s strong suit. Three months had exhausted what little he had left. He waited for his sister’s return, pacing his Madison Avenue office in the penthouse of their flagship hotel, staring out the wall of glass, as if he could see her petite form rushing up the street.
By the time Lucy let herself in—without knocking, Starbucks in hand—he was ready to throttle her. “Well?”
His sister settled into the chair across from his desk and propped her feet up on the polished wood. “I like her. She’s feisty. And not too skinny. Oh, and she’s not a bitch.”
“Not what I meant, and you know it.”
Lucy grinned. “She’ll be there. I phrased it as a challenge. There’s no way she won’t rise to the occasion.”
“If she’s not—”
“Then you’ll go after her like you should have done from the beginning,” his sister said, a smug look on her face.
Gabe shook his head. “If I’d done that, she wouldn’t trust me now.”
“When she finds out you’ve kept tabs on her all this time, you think she’ll trust you?”
He shrugged, but his skin felt too tight at the thought. “She’ll understand,” Gabe said.