The Ivy House - By Drea Stein Page 0,42

a small knowing smile, as if they shared a secret.

“But you know, I was able to take a marine hardware store in a sleepy little town in Connecticut and turn it into a successful online business.”

Phoebe swallowed, suddenly lost again in Chase’s sapphire-colored eyes, centered on the intent look on his face. Gone was the exuberance and in its place was a look of focus, of concentration. Phoebe remembered briefly that here was a man who had sailed through the edge of a hurricane to win a race. She supposed he wasn’t a man to give in lightly or to second-guess himself.

“It’s because I have a talent for knowing what people want and like. Me, I couldn’t sew a pillow or come up with a design for one if you had a gun to my head. But I can spot when someone else has created something that people want. If you sign a deal with North Coast Outfitters, I will handle all those pesky details that you artistic types hate. You won’t have to deal with suppliers or vendors or whether your name gets in the paper or if the shipment from the factory is late. I take care of all of that for you, so you can do what you do best.”

“What’s that?” Phoebe breathed.

“Create things.” He was close to her now, so close that her vision was filled with him, with his dark, slightly unruly hair, his tan skin, the stubble on his face. She could sense his lips hovering near hers, and for a brief moment, just an instant, she had to close her eyes, break the connection between the two of them.

When she opened them, she found that he was watching her, a step back now, hands shoved into his pockets, one eyebrow raised.

“What do you think, do we have a deal?”

Phoebe hesitated only a moment before she nodded.

Chase smiled, looking highly pleased with himself. He stuck out a hand and she took it, their skin brushing, a bolt of electricity shooting through her. He held it just a bit longer than necessary, looking at her, a lazy, sexy grin spreading over his face.

“I’ll have my lawyer send over some papers.”

Chapter 18

“So, she took the deal,” Noah said.

“She took the deal.” Chase took a sip of his beer. Chase had wandered over to Noah’s house after work, and now the two of them were holed up in the large garage behind it.

“Do you boys need anything else? I have to go out now.” Caitlyn came in and Chase watched as his friend’s whole face lit up.

“No, I think we’re good. We have beer and a boat. What more could we want?” Noah said, giving his wife a kiss as he pulled her close, his hand touching her still-flat belly.

Chase watched, wanting to turn away, but didn’t. Noah was so damn happy, married and soon to be a father that it was enough to make any other guy sick. Except that’s not what Chase was feeling. Not envy, for while Caitlyn was beautiful and accomplished, Chase knew he wasn’t jealous for her. Just of what she and Noah had together.

“Be careful, please. Let me know when you get there?” he whispered.

Caitlyn laughed. “It’s just a few miles away. How much trouble can I get in? It’s just dinner.”

“Call,” Noah said, his eyes narrowing, his voice serious.

“I’ll call. Of course. There’s some stuff in the fridge for dinner if you boys get hungry. Just be careful using those power tools.” She waved once more and let herself out and they heard the sound of her car leaving the driveway.

“Hey, Daddy, wipe the drool off,” Chase said to his best friend.

Noah just shook his head. “Wait until it happens to you. Won’t know what hit you.”

“That will be the day,” Chase said, but an image of Phoebe flashed through his mind as he said it. He could still feel the way the electricity had shot through him at her touch. He had hurried away from her, not because he wanted to, but because he so badly wanted not to.

“So you have a deal with the cool and collected Phoebe Ryan. What’s next?”

Chase checked his watch. “Well, my attorney’s drawing up some paperwork, and my marketing director is through the roof. Would think Phoebe was a movie star herself, she’s such a Savannah fan. Coming up with all sorts of ways to market the collection. So we’ll see. With any luck, we’ll be able to have it ready for the