find him grinning at her. “I’m not playing games, Graham, merely giving you a heads-up in regards to Miles. Monique had drinks with him Tuesday night—that’s why I brought Emily to soccer. So don’t accuse me of games when I’m being more than nice to warn you.”
“And why would you do that?” His face grew serious.
“Huh?”
“Warn me?”
Tess stopped midstride. She spun toward him, mouth open. But… she didn’t know what to say. Why was she warning him? She had no business saying anything about Upstart’s plans for Oedipus, or the fact Monique had pulled out all the stops to tear the lucrative account from the hands of the new Ullo CEO. Was he right? Was she needling him to keep herself from falling prey to the attraction between them, or did she subconsciously want to help the company she’d loved for so long? Or maybe she felt like she should rub his nose in Upstart’s success, proving she was loyal to Monique. Her actions and emotions mystified her. It was as if she were in a house of mirrors, her image stretched and distorted at every turn.
Graham studied her, his expression not what she was accustomed to. No soft blue eyes full of sympathy or alight with passion. Instead he looked intrigued. It was a good look on him—made him intense and somehow even more desirable. This man who had hurt her now stood ready to protect her father and the company he’d built with sweat and tears. It should have pissed her off, but instead, something inside stilled at the thought.
“Just wanted you to know what you’re up against,” she muttered, moving toward her Prius, wanting to escape Graham examining her every motive.
“I thought at first this was about inserting something between us so you didn’t jump my bones and have your wicked way with me in the parking lot,” Graham said, trailing behind her, seemingly unwilling to let the conversation die.
She wrinkled her nose. “As if.”
“But that’s not it. You can’t help it, can you?”
“Help what?” She faced him, chin up. No way she backed down, even if she longed to get in her car and escape… just the way she had two nights ago. Sticking her head in the sand had become a strategy. Ask her father. She couldn’t seem to dial the number and return his two phone calls. Not like she hadn’t tried. She just didn’t know what to say to him yet.
She needed time, but that had been her excuse all along. Time. Maybe it would run out before she was ready.
“You left your heart at Ullo.”
No shit, Sherlock. Of course she had left her heart at Ullo, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t tried to move on. She’d spent the past weeks since she’d signed the contract with Monique putting her all into designing brilliant floats for Upstart. She had stuff that was going to blow Miles Barrow’s mind for the Oedipus floats… if Monique submitted it. Anger and hurt tied to her pride were good motivators and she’d created some of her best work over the past few weeks.
And it should have been for the company that carries your name.
At that thought, anger flooded her. He didn’t have to be so smug, questioning her loyalty to her new job… even if it was partly true. “My allegiance is to the person writing my paycheck. When Upstart does well, I do well. Tomorrow night I’ll prove to Miles and Oedipus that Upstart can and will build their floats next year. And they will be the most stunning, beautiful, and cost-effective floats in the history of parading.”
“So you think Upstart will replace Ullo as their go-to floatmaker?” Graham said, his eyes flashing beneath the parking lot light blinking on. No more smiles. Game on.
“Every dog has its day. Upstart has been whittling away Ullo’s business for the past two years. I’ve already brought in the captain of Thor, and Stacy Reynolds just gave us all of the floats for Rhea. We’re almost too busy… but not for Oedipus, of course. That parade would be icing on the very large cake we’ll be serving.” Tess turned and unlocked her car, the beep-beep punctuating her declaration.
And then Graham smiled at her. Not the sexy smile he’d used that beautiful night under the stars, or the sad one he’d given her in the park last Sunday. No, this one was sharky and slightly amused. Like he toyed with her. “Well, do your damnedest, sweetheart.”
She bristled. “Oh, you