Dean’s irritation rippled over the line. “Fuck email. Didn’t you get my gazillion phone messages? I called you ten times last night.”
Parker pulled his phone out. Dead. Had to have died after dinner since he’d sent Lynn a few texts around then.
Still didn’t make him any less guilty of failing to be on top of the business side of life. He’d found time to contact Lynn, even from his parents’ place, and yet he’d ignored the growing number of messages filling his inbox.
Giving himself a mental slap on the wrist, Parker vowed to focus on business from this point on, then answered Dean with a genuinely remorseful, “Techno failure. Sorry.”
“Whatever,” Dean grumbled. “Look, the paper is doing a piece on unusual businesses in the Bay Area. Suz mentioned our company to the features editor, and the guy was all over it. He wants to do a profile on us and publish it in this Saturday’s issue.”
Parker had to grin. “So you scheduled an interview and didn’t bother showing up for it?”
“Again, if you checked your messages, asshole, you’d know that I got a call yesterday at midnight from Frank Gabbert. Major SOS—the man’s had a clothing disaster for the anniversary dinner we’re planning for him and the missus tomorrow. So now I have to spend the morning suit shopping with a middle-aged plumber.”
“Your dedication to the job is inspiring.”
“Yeah, well, it’s your turn to show some dedication. Give the interview in my place. It’ll be good publicity.”
“Yes, sir.”
It was rare for Dean to issue him orders, but he had to admit, the guy had earned it. Dean had arranged for them to be featured in a major newspaper, and was personally handling a fashion SOS? Parker ought to nominate him for sainthood.
Grinning, he disconnected the call and turned to Suz. “Dean can’t make it. Looks like it’s just you and me.”
She arched a brow. “Good. Now I can grill you about your intentions toward my best friend.”
Parker was not the least bit fazed. “Grill away.”
A moment later, he’d settled in the armchair, with Suz sitting across from him on the couch. They stared each other down for a moment, but clearly Suz hadn’t mastered her stern face, because it wasn’t long before she broke into a smile.
“I like you, Parker. I really do.”
“Thanks.”
“Lynn likes you, too. I talked to her before I left the office today, and when I asked about her Friday date, she lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.” Suz’s voice softened. “It’s good to see her happy again. The guy she was dating before was a real jerk. But she’s too nice. She always tries to see the best in people, even when there’s no best to see.”
He wanted to voice his agreement about the sheer jerk-ness of Phil Shotelle, but since he couldn’t let her know he’d met the man, he just nodded and said, “She’s amazing.”
“With that said, I need you to know something.” A deadly glint entered her green eyes. “If you hurt her, I will kick your ass. I look small and harmless, but trust me, I can do some serious damage. I grew up in a family of cops, and let’s just say I’m more than capable of defending myself—and inflicting pain on others.”
His lips twitched. “I appreciate the warning.”
Her cheerful smile returned, and she quickly reached into her bag for a digital recorder. “Okay then, how about we get started? Tell me how you came up with the idea for DreamMakers Inc.”
Lynn paced the conference room, waiting for her department head to show up for their meeting. She’d already loaded her program and today’s presentation on her laptop, and now she needed her audience to arrive. Kathy Levinson was usually a stickler for punctuality, so her tardiness made Lynn a little nervous.
Taking a breath, she sank into one of the plush chairs around the long table and tried distracting herself by thinking about her date with Parker. Hands down, it had been the best evening of her life. And not just because of the mind-blowing sex. She honestly couldn’t remember ever having so much fun with a man.
She was about to reach for her phone to shoot him a quick text to pass the time, when footsteps in the hall stopped her. Lynn quickly smoothed a hand over her hair, which she’d left down in an attempt to look more professional, and rose to her feet as the conference room door opened.
Kathy Levinson stepped inside, greeting her with a warm smile. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Lynn opened her mouth then closed it when a second person strode into the room. John Samuels, the VP of the advertising department, and none other than Phil’s boss.
“Ms. Davidson,” the man boomed, extending a hand in her direction. “Good to see you again.”
She gulped hard as she went over to shake his hand. Samuels had always intimidated the bejeezus out of her, probably because everything about him screamed authority, from his salt-and-pepper hair to his tailored suits to that commanding baritone voice.
“Good to see you, too, Mr. Vice-President,” she stammered.