Nicole groaned in frustration. “The thing is, I don’t really believe he’s as good a fit for Red’s style of work. Red likes people who enjoy confrontation and competition.”
“So the girl, then. You said she played Division 1 soccer. That’s, like, the ultimate competition.”
“But she might be a total bitch.”
“Nicole, you’re overthinking this thing. The truth is, it doesn’t really matter that much who you hire. Red’s going to be fine either way.”
Nicole agreed with her, but inside she was still fighting to understand her issue with making this decision. Rather than belabor the point, however, she asked Danielle how things were going between her and Kane Wright.
Danielle got quiet for a little while. “Things are getting a little strange,” she admitted.
“How so?”
“Kane has a temper. Sometimes he just yells at me for the stupidest things.”
“Like what?”
“For instance, last night I spilled wine on the rug in the great room. And he just went ballistic, screaming and yelling about how inconsiderate I was. I mean, it was an accident.”
“He shouldn’t treat you like that, Danielle.”
“I think he’s just stressed because of work. Now that he’s taken over Jameson International, things have gotten a little more difficult for him. That company’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”
“Really? How so?”
Danielle was quiet. “I don’t know. But maybe Red was the lucky one in that whole situation.”
A few minutes later, Nicole got off the phone and went up to the study, where Red was reading and drinking a glass of scotch to unwind from the day. Nicole still hated the study—it reminded her of one of the worst nights in their entire relationship.
But Red smiled when he saw her. Even though he was clearly tired, she could tell he was happy.
“Hey, what’s up?” he asked, giving a little stretch.
“I was just on the phone with Danielle.”
He swished his scotch around in the glass. “Oh? How is she?”
“Not so good.”
He waited for her to tell him why.
Nicole felt like such a gossip, but she wanted to share with him. Partly because she knew he’d want to know about Kane struggling a little, but also because she’d suddenly realized how lucky she was to be with Red. Red, who never yelled at her for something as stupid as spilling wine on the rug in the great room—even though they didn’t even have a great room. “Danielle says that Kane yells at her,” Nicole told him, finally.
Red’s eyebrows rose a little. “Yells at her? For what?”
“Stupid things. Spilling a drink. Stuff like that.”
He shook his head. “Poor girl, getting stuck with that maniac. Of course, they probably say the same things about us.”
Nicole came closer. “And she also said that he’s struggling with Jameson International.”
Now Red truly perked up. He sat forward in his chair and his face got intense. “Struggling? In what way?”
“She wasn’t specific. She just said that maybe you were the lucky one in that deal.”
He swished his scotch around his glass again. “Wow, that’s surprising.”
“I feel badly that I even told you this stuff. She’s my friend and I’m running up here and telling you all of her secrets like I work for The Rag or something.”
Red laughed. “Relax. I’m not going to tell anyone.”
“I feel badly.” Nicole shook her head. “Anyway, she helped me make a decision about who to hire to replace me. That’s why I really wanted to come talk to you.”
“Oh?” He seemed less interested now.
“I think we should hire Rick. That’s what my gut tells me.”
He smiled enigmatically. “That’s what I figured.”
“What does that mean?”
He cocked his head at her. “What does what mean?”
“You say that like I’m being a predictable silly girl or something.”
“Not at all,” Red laughed. “But you do seem really tense right now.”
“I am. I’ve been stressing over this hiring stuff.”
“Relax. It’s not a big deal.”
“That’s what Danielle told me, too.”
“Maybe you should listen to her,” Red said. He was looking at Nicole carefully, studying her. “I think I know what your problem is. Why you’re really so tense.”
“What’s that?”
His eyes suddenly changed, flashing with that familiar hungry look as he watched her. “I think you need more direction. I think you need to get out of those constricting clothes you’re wearing.”
Suddenly, her nipples had stiffened under her shirt. The truth was, she did feel rather constricted in these clothes. She was wearing tight jeans and a black sweater and it was all too clingy—the fabric chafed. “I think maybe you have a point about my clothes,” she admitted, her voice husky with desire for more talk.
He looked her up and down from where he sat. Red sipped his scotch and then tilted the mostly empty glass in her direction. “Take your shoes off,” he said.