“Please, call me Mercer.” He held his hand out to me.
His fingers wrapped around my hand and sent tingles up through my arms. This close, the scent of his aftershave, a mix of patchouli and spice, drifted to my nose, and I resisted the urge to lean in and breathe him in. His eyes held that same intensity I’d lost myself in on the stage. I broke our gaze with a small cough and reached for my beer.
“You have a very unique name,” he said. “Not something you hear these days.”
I smiled over the rim of my glass. “My mom had a thing for Greek mythology.”
That was the understatement of the year.
“So, are you a developer like Serenity is?” he asked.
“Roommates actually.” I laughed. “I would say coding is all Greek to me, but I actually understand Greek.”
He chuckled. “Interesting. Do you hail from Greece?”
“Ancestors,” I said shortly. “My family likes to keep up with tradition, though.”
“Cassi’s our media source.” Sheridan stepped closer to him, semi-blocking him from my view.
“Is that so?” His gaze met mine over her head.
“I would love to set up a time for an interview when you have a moment,” I said. “There are so many questions I have. Maybe with you and Sheridan?”
He stepped around Sheridan and closer to me. Serenity’s eyes bored into him with an almost burning intensity. She gave me a brief shake of her head. Whatever she wanted to tell me was lost when Mercer took my hand again and pressed his lips to it. My heart was doing somersaults in my chest. Could he hear how loud it was beating?
“How about an exclusive?” he asked.
I blinked. “You’re serious? I would love that.”
Serenity snorted and crossed her arms, returning her glare to Mercer. “Do you really think that’s appropriate?”
“Yes,” Sheridan raised her voice. “I can arrange for a conference. I know she wanted to interview me as well. That way she can get both of us at once.”
He gave both of them a bland smile. “I’m sure the school news would love to hear more about the project from me.” He returned his gaze to me. “And just the two of us would cut out any distractions.”
A delicious shiver traveled across my body at the thought of the two of us alone. What was I thinking? This was supposed to be business. Except, those green eyes of his were promising so much more than business. I had to be misreading this. Why would a man like Mercer Chaplin be interested in a girl like me? I’d seen the women he had on his arm, and I was nothing like them. They were more like my Aunt Dahlia, sophisticated and perfect.
“How about we meet next Friday? That will give our little project a few days to get off the ground.” He glanced at Sheridan. “Do I have anything conflicting with my schedule on that day?”
She flashed me a dirty look under her eyelashes and touched her phone. “The retrospective isn’t until two weeks, so you are free on that day. However, I’m sure you have other business you need to attend. I’d be happy to give the exclusive.”
“No, I’d love to share my thoughts on this with Ms. Wayne,” Mercer said.
“Call me Cassi,” I said. “Everyone else does.”
“It was a pleasure, Cassi. Until we meet again.” He gave my hand a soft squeeze and turned to Serenity. “I will see you on Monday.”
Serenity continued to glare with her body stiff. He sighed, gave me a parting smile, and walked away. Sheridan flipped her hair over her shoulder and followed behind him without a backward glance. I could still feel the tickle of his lips on the top of my hand. I shakily grasped my glass and downed the rest of the beer.
“Want another?” I asked Serenity.
“Take me home,” she said.
“But the night’s still young.” I kept my voice light.
She stood and shoved her hands in pockets. “I’ll catch the bus or something.”
I let her walk away for ten seconds. The night was going so well. With a heavy sigh, I tossed a twenty on the bar and chased after her. I made her come to this place, and I would be an ass if I let her leave without a ride home. Had I really expected she would have a blast?
“All right.” I caught up with her. “Let’s go.”
The first few minutes stretched on in silence, with only the rumble of the engine and the howl of wind outside. I kept from gritting my teeth and switched on the radio. Some new singer crooned through the speakers to a slow melody.
“Don’t get too attached to Mercer,” Serenity said.
“I’m not,” I said. “It’s just an interview.”
“I saw the way you were looking at him.” She turned from her contemplation of the passing building and looked at me. “You’ve seen him on the news. He goes through women like water.”
I chuckled nervously. “I doubt he’s even interested in me.”
“He was flirting.”
“And he probably does that with all the women.”