Stay focused, Masters. But then how could he, when her scent was driving him crazy? “Cobra asked me that same question earlier today,” he said. “Masters Unlimited has just as many clients in New York as they do in Boston and Orlando. In fact, I closed a lucrative deal yesterday.”
“Congratulations, Colton,” she said, a huge smile on her face.
His gaze was immediately drawn to her beautiful lips and dimples. He enjoyed seeing her smile. It replaced his memory of that dark frown she’d given him two years ago. It had taken a while for him to recover from that frown and the disappointment that had been reflected in it.
“Thanks.”
“I’m beginning to believe what Cortez told Victoria about you is true,” she said.
He took a sip of his coffee, wishing it was something stronger. He had a feeling he was going to need it. “And what did Tez tell Victoria about me?” he asked.
“That when it comes to making a deal, you’re a pro.”
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t say that.”
“Of course, you wouldn’t, since you’re modest.”
He chuckled again. “I wouldn’t say that either. Now, to answer your question, which city is my preference? Both have advantages. Cobra lives in Manhattan, so I often go there to hang out with him. New York City is closer to Boston. You can travel by plane or train, and there’s plenty to explore and do there. And like I said, a lot of our top clients are there.”
He paused for a moment, then continued. “But there are advantages to Masters Unlimited opening an office in Los Angeles as well. It’s a market we can expand in, although we’ll be just one marketing and advertising firm among many already established ones.”
“True, but like I noted in my report,” she said, “Masters Unlimited isn’t just a marketing and advertising firm. The resources your company provides are…unlimited, which is probably what Lake Masters had in mind when he founded this company. In addition to marketing and advertising, you offer a number of specialized services, like advanced technologies, social media, data analytics, and so much more. I’m not going to say it will be a cake walk, but I believe Masters Unlimited will do well if Lake decides to expand the brand in the Los Angeles market.”
He took another sip of his coffee, enjoying listening to her talk. Her intelligence was one of the first things that had captivated him about her--after nearly being knocked off his feet by her beauty, of course. She had a vast knowledge of several subjects, and a natural gift for conversation. She never took over, and knew when to listen as well.
“I hope you’re right,” he said, grinning.
“Of course I’m right.”
He knew it was getting late, but he wasn’t in any hurry to part ways. She didn’t appear in any hurry to leave either. “I didn’t ask if you wanted dessert.”
She chuckled. “I wish you hadn’t, since that’s my weakness.”
“Really? Any particular dessert?” he asked.
“Cheesecake. Especially strawberry. And I did happen to notice it on the menu.”
He smiled and met her gaze. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“I was waiting for you to ask.”
Like a magnet, their gazes held again, and he wondered if they were still talking about cheesecake. Breaking eye contact with her, he glanced at the door where one of the waiters waited. He’d had dinner meetings here before, and one thing he liked about this dining room was that it came with private service.
“Normally, I enjoy dessert with my coffee, so not asking was definitely an oversight,” he told her. “I apologize.”
“No apology needed.”
Colton got the man’s attention. He quickly entered the room and walked over to their table. “Yes, Mr. Masters?”
“My dinner guest would like a slice of strawberry cheesecake, and so would I. Also, we’d like a refill on our coffee.”
“Yes, sir.”
When the waiter walked off, Colton said, “Of course, there will soon be another reason I’ll want to spend more time in Los Angeles. My uncle-to-be status.”
Kelly smiled. “I’m looking forward to that. I can’t wait for Monica and Landon to become parents so I can be an aunt.”
“You like kids?”
