Page 3 of Mine This Time
“Who?”
“Mari Channing,” Lydia, my personal assistant, replied.
I didn’t recognize the name. “What does she need?”
Lydia shrugged, pursing her lips before adding, “She’s rather insistent and would like to meet with you.”
I glanced at my watch. “I only have five minutes.”
“As if I’m not aware of that, Nash,” Lydia replied, her lips quirking slightly in a smile.
Lydia’s smiles were rare. She tended to have a rather severe look with her close-cropped silver hair and whip-thin build. With nothing more than a narrowing of her eyes, she could make one think twice if she disapproved. Although I was technically her boss, I was under no illusions. Without her, my business wouldn’t be what it was.
I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. “Now, Lydia, you don’t usually let anyone screw up my schedule. What in the world did Mari Channing say to persuade you that this interruption was worthwhile?”
Lydia stepped into my office, pulling the door closed behind her with a distinct click. “She’s looking for Brett Henson.”
“Oh, that idiot. Did she say why?”
Brett, or rather the “idiot” as I’d just called him, had asked me about an investment opportunity for a restaurant in New Orleans. He’d lied through his teeth, and I fucking knew it. He was a name-dropper if I’d ever met one. I’d unceremoniously escorted him from my office this morning after he showed up unannounced.
“You know how I draw up a profile on anyone who wants to meet with you about investment opportunities?” Lydia prompted.
I didn’t get to where I had in business and investments without being smart about it. When Brett initially contacted my company about an investment opportunity via email, I immediately did my homework. I declined meeting with him as a result. But then, he showed up like an ass. He was arrogant with just enough polish to maybe fool someone less suspicious than me.
“Yes. I scanned the information you found and declined to schedule a meeting with him. But you knew that. Lydia, you know practically every moment of every day of my life,” I replied.
Lydia’s brown eyes twinkled. “Obviously. I know what happened with Brett. But you might not have noticed the name of his girlfriend. Mariana Channing. She goes by Mari, and her older brother is Max Channing.”
My eyebrows hitched up. “Interesting. I didn’t catch that detail. I was mostly focused on the financials and skipped the personal info. What in the world could she want?”
“I’m not sure, but I thought you should speak with her.”
“I’d guess Max saw right through Brett as well. I’m also guessing Brett hooked up with Mari thinking she might be a path for him to Max and other useful contacts,” I mused.
Lydia simply shrugged. “Shall I bring her in?”
“Of course. Now I’m more curious than anything. Call ahead to my lunch meeting and let them know I might be late.” Fortunately, the lunch meeting in question was nothing critical.
Moments later, Lydia had exited my office and returned, holding the door open and gesturing for Mari Channing to enter. I stood from my desk, rounding it to approach Mari. I’d seen many beautiful women in my life, but Mari took my breath away. She had glossy dark curls that fell in a loose tumble around her shoulders. Her blue eyes were like the ocean, the rich blue deep and layered. She had a smattering of freckles on her cheeks, and her nose turned up at the end. Her mouth was slightly crooked, and her lips were plump.
Nothing was remarkable about the way she dressed, as she wore just a pair of capris and a loose blouse. My eyes dipped down to the shadowed valley between her breasts, taking in the amber hue of her skin. My body tightened in response as I approached her, and I distantly marveled at this.
“Nash Reynolds,” I said when I reached her, holding my hand out reflexively.
“Mari Channing. Thank you for seeing me,” she replied, her palm cool in mine.
I felt a subtle tremor running through her, and concern pricked at me. Releasing her hand, I gestured to a pair of chairs by the windows that looked out over the Mississippi River.
I was unaccountably concerned about Mari. I hadn’t gotten to where I had in life without being able to read people well, and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was distressed. When I glanced toward Lydia at the motion of the door, she mouthed, “Be nice,” right before closing it.
I rolled my eyes. Obviously, I was going to be nice to Mari. I might’ve thought her boyfriend was an idiot, but she’d done nothing to imply she was. Plus, I knew her brother through our business endeavors and considered him nothing other than entirely upstanding.
“Have a seat,” I said when she hesitated.
Mari sat in one of the chairs, smoothing her hands over her thighs. She then clasped them together on her knees as she crossed her legs. Her fingers laced together, tightly enough that I knew she was barely holding it together.
My curiosity was growing by leaps and bounds, but so was my concern. “Can I get you anything? I have coffee right here in the office if you’d like some.”
