Barbara Dunlop - Christmas Secrets

“Do you have an appointment, sir?”

“I’m afraid I just got into town.”

The woman’s smile faded a little. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Calvin doesn’t have any openings today.”

Footfalls and male voices rose up behind them. The woman’s surreptitious, worried glance to the group told Cole one of them was likely Roth Calvin.

He quickly turned, talking the man in the middle of the group to be the guy in charge. It had to be Roth.

Again, Cole strode forward, offering his hand. “Roth Calvin. I’m Cole Parker.”

Roth’s expression was guarded, and his critical glance flicked to the receptionist. Cole figured it was only a matter of moments before security arrived on the scene.

“I was speaking with Amber Welsley the other day. She suggested you were the person to discuss Coast Eagle’s Pacific routes? I’m Cole Parker, Aviation 58 out of Alaska.”

“Amber told you to see me?” Roth asked.

“She did,” Cole lied. “She speaks very highly of you.”

Roth’s eyes narrowed, and Cole feared he might have gone too far. He was trying to arouse Roth’s curiosity, and maybe put him off guard with the mention of Amber.

Roth looked at Cole. Then he looked to the receptionist. “Sandra, push the Millsberg meeting by fifteen minutes.”

“Yes, sir,” the receptionist answered.

“Right this way, Mr. Parker.” Roth gestured to a doorway off the reception area.

“Please, call me Cole.” Cole entered an airy meeting room that housed a round table for four with leather and chrome chairs, coffee service on a marble side counter and a sofa grouping near the picture windows.

Roth gestured to one of the chairs at the round table, then took the one opposite. “How can I help you, Cole?”

“I understand you’re about to be named interim president,” Cole opened.

A smug smile formed on Roth’s face. “You’ve been listening to rumors.”

“I find, more often than not, rumors tend to be based on some truth. I’ll be honest, Roth, Aviation 58 is looking to expand along the West Coast. With the shakeup at Coast Eagle, I wondered if you might be interested in discussing some of your less-profitable routes in the West.”

“All of our routes are profitable.”

Cole had checked out Coast Eagle’s public information on the ride over, and now he made some assumptions and guesses. “Seattle to Vancouver is barely break-even. You’ve been losing market share in Portland. And your passenger load is low on anything northbound out of LA. Entering into a lease or codeshare deal with Aviation 58 could boost your cash flow and profits considerably.”

“You’ve done your homework, I see.”

“I have,” said Cole. “And it tells me Amber Welsley is a short-term play. You’re the guy with the ear of the board.”

Roth didn’t answer, but he did nod.

“I haven’t seen the actual will, of course. But I can guess where that’s going. A trophy wife is all well and good, but nobody’s under any illusions. Samuel would never have allowed a situation where Coco’s decisions could run Coast Eagle into the ground.”

Roth chuckled, and his expression relaxed. “You strike me as an intelligent man, Cole Parker.”

“I’m also a patient man. I get that your attention has to be on the home front for a few months.”

Roth gave a shrug. “These things can be expedited.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“A word here, a conversation there. It’s all about who you know, and who knows you.”

“I understand,” said Cole. “The sooner you get custody of the kid, the better.” He paused. “I mean, the better for Coast Eagle, of course.”

“Once the big question is settled, we will be looking for an early cash influx,” said Roth, coming to his feet.

Cole rose with him. “That’s good to hear, I’ll—”

Suddenly, the meeting room door flung open, and Amber burst in. She glared at Cole, cheeks flushed, nostrils flared. “You went behind my back?”

“Amber.” Roth’s voice was stern and patronizing.

“You suggested I follow-up,” Cole said to Amber, purposefully mischaracterizing their conversation.

“This is a private meeting, Amber.” Roth’s tone grated on Cole’s nerves.

Amber ignored Roth and spoke to Cole. “I suggested you follow up with Joyce Roland.”

“Amber,” Roth all but shouted. “Can you please excuse us? ”

Cole had to steel himself from demanding that Roth shut up.

The receptionist appeared in the doorway. “Mr. Calvin? They’re waiting. The Millsberg meeting?”

Roth looked to Cole. “I do apologize.”

“No problem. Thank you for seeing me. I’ll be in touch.”

Roth looked to Amber, obviously waiting for her to leave.

She folded her arms across her chest, standing her ground. Cole wanted to applaud.

Roth gave in and left the room, followed by the receptionist.

“How dare you,” Amber whispered.

Cole wished he could tell her he was on her side. “It was an initial courtesy call. Nothing sinister. I told you up front that I was interested in the Pacific routes.”

“And what were you doing last night? Pumping me for information? Are you actually using Zachary’s trust to gain an inside advantage?”

“ You called me last night,” he reminded her.

“And you were only too happy to show up.”

“To help with Zachary.”

“That’s how you played it, all right.” There was something in her eyes, a veiled hurt that made him think of their kiss.

He took a step forward. “Amber, I’m sorry.”

“For lying to me?”

“I didn’t lie to you. Last night was all about Zachary.” He paused. “I mean, it was mostly all about Zachary.”

She gave her hair a little toss. “You don’t need to explain.”

But he did need to explain. He wanted to explain. “I like you, Amber.”

“Well, I don’t like you.”

He moved closer anyway. “Yes, you do.”

“Go away.”

He shook his head. “I understand that it’s complicated.”

“It’s not complicated.”

“It’s Zachary. It’s business. It’s you, and it’s me.” Even as he spoke the words, he asked himself what on earth he thought he was doing. He needed to leave this alone, not ramp it up.

“There is no you and me.” But her expression instantly shifted, telling him otherwise. Her lips parted, her blue-eyed gaze going bedroom soft.

Cole glanced at the open door, debating pushing it closed and pulling her into his arms again. But that would be a stupid move. The receptionist, Sandra, would certainly report the closed door to Roth. It would complicate things even further for Amber.

But she was so enchanting, and his memory of kissing her was so incredibly strong, he couldn’t stop himself. He reached past her and gave the door a shove. Her eyes went wide as it clicked shut.

Without giving her a chance to protest, Cole pulled her into his arms, bringing his thirsty lips down to hers and kissing her soundly. She gasped, but she didn’t pull away. After a moment, her lips softened. She kissed him back, and her arms wound around his neck.

He pressed their bodies close together, feeling the sweet heat of her thighs and the softness of her breasts. He teased her lips with his tongue, and she responded, parrying with him, a small moan burbling in the back of her throat.

His hand went to her cheek, cradling the soft skin, holding her in place while he plundered her mouth. He forgot where they were, forgot everything except the sweet taste and scent of Amber. His other hand moved to her waist, sliding beneath her linen blazer, along her silk blouse, feeling the heat of her skin through the thin fabric.