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JAXON
The woman in the coffee shop had snagged his attention and he couldn’t stop thinking about her entrancing brown eyes or the sleek line of her hair as it fell around her shoulders. She’d been dressed in business attire that she made look elegant with her trim curves which looked like she ran. Her creamy complexion hadn’t flushed as he’d given her the once over. He’d been caught studying her and he felt like a pig, but he hadn’t expected to find someone so interesting at all while he was there, let alone in the first few minutes.
When she’d wordlessly taken over and helped him with the cup issue and then returned to her order, he’d been momentarily speechless. Her movements were brisk and to the point. She hadn’t seemed impatient, just helpful, like a mother with her children.
He had anything but childlike thoughts toward her.
She hadn’t turned to acknowledge him as he talked into the phone, watching her as he spoke. True, he’d even raised his voice a little bit to make himself sound more autonomous to her. Maybe she would be interested more, if she thought he was a successful businessman. He was, but how did he tell her without writing his name on the back of his receipt and handing it to her? The only thing more desperate was to slip her his business card.
When the woman left, she hadn’t looked back. Could she feel his gaze on her? He hadn’t taken his eyes off her.
He was looking for someone to marry. Someone to help him drive out the loneliness. But everyone wanted something from him. With his money, no one ever wanted just him.
It’d be nice to meet a woman who didn’t know who he was and who could like him for him before finding out he was loaded – to put it indelicately.
There was no way the women in the small lake town of Sandpoint would know who he was, at least at first. Too bad small town women weren’t his thing. His type tended to be big city living with an appetite for costly food and fast cars. They hadn’t made him happy yet, but he was certain the right one... wait.
The thought struck him like a slap across the face.
Maybe he needed to readjust his expectations of what his type was. His type only wanted him for what he could give them. Maybe a small town woman would fit better into what he wanted.
As he sipped his drink, Carlisle walked in, motioning Jaxon to follow him.
Following Carlisle, Jaxon arched an eyebrow as the man pointed up the external stairwell. “We’ll go up here. The elevator inside is down right now.”
Carlisle was efficient and pleasant. If Jaxon moved the company headquarters to Seattle, he would offer Carlisle a moving bonus to go with it. He had no doubt in his mind that Carlisle would want to go. Who wouldn’t want to go bigger, have bigger opportunities?
Jaxon trekked up the pebble-covered stairs, effortlessly carrying the bag he’d packed. He hadn’t booked a hotel room yet. He’d been assured there would be time for that.
“Are you kidding me? The offices are above the coffee shop?” It seemed like a sitcom scenario and Jaxon shook his head.
“Yeah, Colin believes in supporting local businesses. Panhandle Coffee and Cones is as local as it gets. Being above the company, Colin has the ability to help out with fundraisers as well as offer Sara, downstairs, help when she needs a break to help her children.” Carlisle spoke over his shoulder, half-looking past his arm as he reached the landing and turned to walk around the stair handrails.
“Colin sounds like a magnanimous guy.” Jaxon stopped behind Carlisle as he opened the door and pivoted to usher Jaxon inside.
“Yeah, I guess you could say that.” Carlisle smiled, extending a hand toward the plush couch and coffee table set up to the right of the entryway. “Go ahead and make yourself comfortable. I’ll see if Colin is ready to see you.”
Carlisle disappeared through a doorway opposite the front door, leaving Jaxon to fend for himself.
Jaxon stepped close to the couch, depositing his bag on the side of the furniture, out of the way. He settled into the seating, letting himself relax a bit. He wasn’t nervous. There was nothing to be anxious about. He’d been through more acquisition meetings in his short life than he could count. Taking over companies was what he did. He was good at it, made further evident by his ever-growing bank accounts.
A loud shout came from the office where Carlisle had disappeared. Jaxon stood, worried something had happened. He moved toward the door, stopping when Carlisle burst from the room.
The assistant’s face was flushed red and his gaze ricocheted around the room. “Um, you know? I think we might go find you a room and then come back. Colin is... busy. Yes, busy.” Carlisle cleared his throat and pasted on a tight smile. He moved around the desk opposite the couch and grabbed a folder. “If you’ll follow me, we’ll get you set up at –"
“I came all this way. Colin could at least give me the courtesy of a greeting.” Jaxon tamped down his frustration at the rude treatment. He stepped forward before Carlisle could stop him and pushed open the door.
He jerked to a stop.
The office was feminine in design with soft blues and pinks complementing each other in the various accessories. The walls were devoid of art so as not to compete with the view out the large window of the street below and the huge ski mountain outside. The colors were vibrant and surprisingly more comfortable than Jaxon would have assumed possible.
The main chair at the desk faced away from him and he couldn’t see the occupant, but the chair swiveled slightly from side to side, as if the person in the seat were irritated.
A woman’s voice reached him from the seat. “Carlisle, I’m not kidding. I’ll deal with that boorish brute later. Right now is not the best time, if we want him to return to Seattle alive.” Her tone was tightly controlled but melodic.
Amused and angry at the same time, Jaxon folded his arms and leaned against the wall. He narrowed his eyes. “The boorish brute would like to at least be introduced.” Why was there a woman inside Colin’s office? Jaxon was struggling putting the pieces together. He wasn’t usually so obtuse, but the situation didn’t make sense.
The chair turned around, revealing not just any woman, but the woman from downstairs. Her brown eyes narrowed as she studied him. “I’m Colin Davies. I wish I could tell you it was nice meeting you, Jaxon Stint.” Her delicate but determined chin came up and she stood, bracing her hands on the desk. “Well, I won’t lie. This actually works out well. I thought I would have to tell you carefully that you could go back home and sorry you wasted my time, but now that the truth is out there, let’s start with goodbye.” Her smile was tight.
Even her voice was silky and firm. Jaxon was entranced. There was a fire in her eyes and she clearly had a succinct way about her that was rare in most business owners.
He stepped forward, unable to look away from the fiery determination in her features. “We can’t start with goodbye when we haven’t even said hello yet. As you know, I’m Jaxon Stint.” He held out his hand in a challenge.
She wouldn’t be tamed. Not this type of woman. There was so much passion in her eyes, it would take down a lesser man.
Thankfully, Jaxon wasn’t lesser and he appreciated challenges for what they were. He needed her to know she would be perfect with him, but what did he do when she pushed him away before he could make sure they were attached in some way? If he could convince her to let him in with the business – investing, partnering, buying, whatever, he would take it – then maybe he would have a chance to get to know her better.
Her good breeding showed as she reached out and shook his hand even though her reluctance to do so was evident in every line of her body. She would definitely be a prize worth winning.
Jaxon motioned toward the chair opposite her and sat while she stared at him with her mouth partly open. He settled onto the seat and waited for her to lower herself back to her own chair before he spoke. “I came all this way, Ms. Davies, to buy your company. I plan to make you a generous offer. I’d like to have this taken care of before the banks close tomorrow. I assume the banks up here have business hours on Saturdays? What do you say?” Maybe if he could buy the company that afternoon, he could take her to dinner that evening. Starting with what he wanted the most would make it easier to negotiate down to what he would take.
Colin laughed, a genuine sound filled with ironic humor. Her smile ensnared Jaxon.
He smiled at her stupidly, shaking his head while leaning forward to brace his elbows on his knees. “I’m sorry, what’s so funny?”
She narrowed her eyes at him, all humor gone from her face.
Jaxon’s own amusement faded. This was a woman who was doing her best to control her anger and Jaxon had a feeling he was the reason. What had he done to make her so mad? And was there any way he could fix it?