LITMIR.BIZ

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requires an expertise that I’m not in any way sorry to say I don’t have.”

      “Are you for real?” Clive was incredulous when the screen split and he appeared on the monitor. Soon, though, he relented with a decisive shake of his head. “Look, G, I don’t need you to actually see my plans here.” He referred to the space along the quaint side street within the resort he owned. “I only need you to tell me that you believe the venture has moneymaking potential.”

      Gage replayed the clip that had provided a 360-degree tour of the space in question. The area was practically shielded from view due to the overgrown foliage. The camera turned away from the space to offer a brief presentation of the cobblestone street that boasted a twenty-four-hour breakfast bar, nail, wax and massage spa, as well as a bookshop, among its other sole proprietorships.

      “Definitely has diversity going for it,” Gage murmured, while more avidly assessing the locale.

      Via split screen, Clive could be seen rubbing his hands palm to palm. He even seemed to be performing a little excited dance in his chair, the back of which could be seen moving to and fro through the screen.

      “Well?” Clive’s baby-blue eyes were wide with expectancy.

      Smirking with evident devilry driving the gesture, Gage let his old friend sweat out the wait for a few more seconds. “I want to take a look at the site when we land, but based on what’s before me now...I can see it.”

      Clive bowed his head and Gage’s smirk turned into a grin when he heard the man’s delighted grunt drift through the laptop’s speaker. While Gage hadn’t truly been able to visualize Clive’s business plan for the space at his resort property, Gage saw money. And when Gage Vincent saw money, money was made.

      A chuckle accompanied Gage’s grin as Clive’s excitement infected him to an extent. “When’d you get so interested in fashion?”

      “Well, hell, Gage, we can’t all be GQ superstars, now, can we?” From the screen, Clive waved a hand toward Gage, who looked worthy of a spread in the famed magazine even in the simple button-down shirt, its cream color accentuating the flawless pitch of his skin.

      “I still know what I like, though,” Clive finished indignantly.

      Gage’s chuckling rounded out on a quick laugh. He traded stroking his jaw for massaging it and more closely regarded his friend. “Is it the fashion you like or the woman who gave you this idea?”

      It was Clive’s turn to raise his hands in defense. “I swear it’s the money the fashion can make me.” The quirky smile that always betrayed his attempts to be at his most serious betrayed Clive then. “The woman only helped me to see it through her eyes.”

      Gage’s infectious, hearty laughter erupted. “Is she a blonde or brunette?” he queried through his laughter.

      Clive buffed his nails against the crimson polo shirt he wore. “Neither,” he replied.

      “Mmm...redhead, then.” Gage was confident with his guess until Clive sent him a look of mock smugness through the screen.

      “Not...” Gage observed the easy arrogance in Clive’s resulting smile and fell into another roll of laughter. “Try and save a few of the sistas for the rest of us, will you?” he asked when he’d come up for air. The teasing pleas held a fair amount of seriousness. Gage knew that his old college roommate fully earned his ladies’-man status.

      “You and your counterparts are safe.” Clive leaned back in his desk chair. Behind him a view of swaying palms and unending turquoise water rippled in the distance. “Besides, this lady is only interested in me for my building.”

      “Good for her. Smart in business and too smart to fall for your foolish lines.”

      “Hey! My lines are gold.” Clive shook his head in spite of himself and appeared a touch serious. “You’re right, though—she’s a smart one. Ambitious, too. That combined with your assurance that there is more money in my future is enough for the time being. Besides—” the playful light returned to Clive’s expression “—it’s going to take a lot of time to get the place in shape. That’s more than enough time for me to put my wooing skills to work.”

      Smiling broadly, Gage shook his head, as well. “Be sure to let me know how that works out for you.” He wiped at a laugh tear in the corner of his eye and straightened in his chair when he took notice of his open doorway.

      The woman from the tarmac waved a hand but began to back out of the office. Gage motioned her forward. Satisfied that she was obliging his request, he interrupted Clive midsentence.

      “C? Listen I need to go, but we’ll catch up as soon as we land, all right?”

      “Sounds good. See you then.” Clive signed off with a mock salute just before his side of the split screen went black.

      “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were on a call.” She bit the side of her lip, watching as he closed down the laptop.

      “Come on in.” Gage was done with the computer and rounded the desk while giving her another beckoning wave.

      She hadn’t taken more than a few steps into the office. There she remained. “I only came to apologize.”

      “Apologize?” His playful frown prefaced a smile. “Now you have to come in.”

      His hand folded down over her elbow, drawing her into the small, albeit state-of-the-art, work space. Despite her reluctance to move forward, she let herself be led into the smartly done office.

      “Wow...” She blinked several times in rapid succession, turning to assess every element of the room.

      Gage allowed himself to marvel, as well. Sure, he’d marveled over her looks—what man wouldn’t? She was tall and possessed more than her fair share of soft curves, as well as a fragile allure that belied a certain strength. The radiant, creamy caramel of her skin, the stunning amethyst tinge of her stare and the wavy tousle of blue-black bobbing about that lovely face had captured a great deal of his interest. Still, her heart-stopping physical assets didn’t explain the extent of his attention.

      What was it exactly? It annoyed him that he couldn’t put a finger on it and yet it beckoned him just the same. Gage believed that once he managed to pinpoint the “it,” he wouldn’t be nearly as infatuated with her as he surely felt he was becoming.

      “Alythia Duffy.”

      He realized she was giving her name and offering her hand once he’d eased out of the deep well of his thoughts. Taking the hand she extended, he didn’t shake it, only squeezed and held. His grip hinted of possession and gave no promise of freedom.

      Alythia cleared her throat.

      “You weren’t out there when the introductions went around earlier and I—” She cast a quick look toward the doorway. “I, um... I missed the first ‘getting to know you’ session because I was running sort of late.”

      “Right...” Gage allowed unfairly long lashes to settle over his warm gaze as though he were just recalling that fact. “Right...happily late till you discovered your ride hadn’t left without you.”

      Alythia hung her head when her eyes closed. Gage could feel her hand going limp inside his and he gave it a few reassuring pumps in an attempt to pull her gaze back to his. It worked.

      “Gage Vincent.”

      “I know.” Alythia then placed her free hand over the one he’d clasped about hers.

      She’d bowed her head again and moved a smidge closer and he took the opportunity to inhale deeply of the light fragrance she wore.

      “I’m so sorry about before.” Alythia raised her head suddenly.

      “You’ve already apologized to me twice at least and we haven’t even known each other a full day.”

      “Oh, I’m—” Alythia appeared to be piping up

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