“Looks like business is going well.” Lincoln Richwood followed Paul up the spiral back stairs of the restaurant to his office. He still couldn’t get over the transformation of the building and how fast Paul had made it through the renovations. It probably helped that his wife and her family owned Jenkins & Sons Construction, one of the largest construction companies in the state. It seemed like only yesterday his client turned friend had approached him for advice on opening a restaurant. Now, almost a year later, Paul was reaping the rewards of his hard work after following his dreams.
“Yes, business has exceeded my expectations. Thanks to you and the sound financial advice you gave me, it looks like I’ll make a profit my first year.”
They stepped into the huge office that looked as if it doubled as a small apartment. To Lincoln’s left was a sitting area with a leather sofa and two wing-back chairs and a table between them. The right side of the large space held a round table with four chairs. And in the back of the office, a large oak desk and bookshelves filled the space.
Crossing the room, the plush carpet felt as if Lincoln was walking on a pile of cotton. Paul spared no expense when he renovated the building, turning it into a five-star restaurant on the lower level and a grand office space on the top floor.
“Here, have a seat.” Paul pointed to one of the upholstered chairs in front of his desk while he claimed the leather seat behind the desk.
Lincoln set his laptop bag on the floor and placed his hat in the chair next to him. He unbuttoned his suit jacket before claiming his seat.
“I appreciate you coming here this evening. Sorry about canceling earlier. One of my cooks was running behind schedule, so I had to get a few dishes started.” The phone on Paul’s desk rang. “Excuse me for a second.”
Rising, Lincoln moved away from the desk to give his friend some privacy. He roamed around the large office and gravitated to the shelf that held several framed photos. One was a picture of Paul, his father, and grandfather. Paul had been a third-generation senator, but left the senate shortly after marrying Martina Jenkins. Now he was living his dream of being a restaurant owner. As his financial advisor for the past four years, Lincoln had been surprised when Paul told him about his idea of opening a couple of trendy restaurants around the city.
“Sorry about that.” Paul hung up the desk phone. “The restaurant manager had a question. I hope you’re planning to stay a while. I ordered dinner for both of us.”
Lincoln glanced at his watch more out of habit than anything else. He didn’t have anyone waiting at home for him and he hadn’t thought much about dinner yet.
“Yeah, I have time. Thanks.”
He reclaimed his seat and he and Paul spent the next hour discussing changes to Paul’s portfolio. Lincoln could talk finances all day long and never get tired.
Twenty-five years ago, after graduating with his MBA from Stanford, he returned to Cincinnati and his career took off. His life was perfect. He had the perfect wife. The perfect kids. The perfect house. For years, he was on top of the world. He went into business with a couple of his college buddies and they opened a financial investment firm. Then two years ago, his wife died unexpectedly, and his world spiraled out of control. He hadn’t realized just how much he needed her. Vicky had been the glue holding their lives together. Then she was gone, taking with her his joy and passion.
Lincoln slipped his laptop back into the bag, winding down their meeting. “So how is married life? How’s the baby?” he asked Paul.
“Marriage is everything I’d hoped it would be. There’s never a dull moment with my wife and her antics.” Chuckling, Paul sat back in his seat. He and Martina had married after a short engagement period just before Paul left the United States Senate. Lincoln had only met Martina a couple of times, but with her wicked sense of humor and lack of verbal filter, she was definitely memorable.
“And Janay,” Paul lifted a photo of Martina and the baby, “she is the most beautiful and sweetest baby that God ever created.”
Lincoln chuckled, remembering how life was when his children were infants. His son and daughter, the loves of his life, born a year apart, used to get into everything when they were kids. Now, one had recently graduated from college and the other was a senior in college. “Enjoy her while you can. They grow up fast.”
“So what about you? How are you doing these days?”
Lincoln stared down at the wedding band on his ring finger. It had been two years since losing Vicky, and he still hadn’t been able to part with the jewelry that symbolized their union. His children, as well as his friends, had been encouraging him to have some fun, maybe start dating. His daughter, Shannon, especially. Just the other day she mentioned that she was sure her mother would want him to find love again. Yet, every time he thought about removing his wedding band, a stab of guilt pierced him in the heart. Here he was thinking about moving on with his life, while hers had been cut short. He knew dying was a part of life, but still …
“I’m all right,” he finally replied. “I’ve been thinking about dating, but at my age I’m not sure I can handle the dating world.” Most days he felt much younger than his fifty-three years, but when he thought about how much the dating scene had changed in the last thirty years, he felt as old as dirt.
Both of his children were out of the house and his daughter, who was the oldest, was interested in relocating to some place warmer. Concerned about him, she’d been dragging her feet about applying for jobs outside of Cincinnati. It was time he moved on with his life, so that his children felt okay to move on with theirs.
Leaning forward in his seat, Paul rested his forearms on his desk. “I’m glad you’re considering getting back out there. Does that mean you’re planning to attend your partner’s annual holiday dinner party?”
Lincoln pushed the chair back and crossed his legs at the ankles. “No. I haven’t really thought about going.” Despite the prodding from his two business partners, Lincoln hadn’t attended the annual party since Vicky died. The intimate, catered event was usually hosted by one of the partners at their home and Lincoln couldn’t see himself showing up alone. He didn’t want to see pity in anyone’s eyes.
“What if I told you there was someone I wanted you to meet?”
Chuckling, Lincoln shook his head. “I don’t know, Paul. In theory I might be ready to date, but in reality, I—”
“All you have to do is meet her.”
Lincoln released a drawn-out sigh. For the past six months, his partners’ wives had been trying to introduce him to some of their girlfriends, but he hadn’t been ready to date. But now … maybe it was time.
“Who is she?”
“My mother-in-law.”
Lincoln narrowed his eyes, picturing an old, over-weight, wrinkly woman wearing a red and white checkered apron around her waist while puttering around in the kitchen all day. He wasn’t sure why the vision popped into his head, especially since he didn’t know anything about Martina’s mother.
“Why are you trying to set me up with—”
A knock at the door interrupted his response.
“Come in,” Paul called out.
Lincoln and Paul stood when a woman entered the room wearing a white chef’s hat and jacket.
“Dinner is served.” She placed a tray with covered dishes in the center of the round dining table.
“Betty, you should have called me down. I would have come and gotten the tray.”
“Not a problem, boss. I wasn’t sure what you wanted to drink, but Carolyn is bringing water, coffee, and—”
“Did I just hear my name?”
Lincoln’s breath stalled in his chest. He barely kept his tongue from hanging out when the sexy woman from the bar downstairs glided into the office carrying a small tray of drinks held high with one hand. Her other hand rested on her hip.
His pulse kicked up as his gaze traveled over her full breasts, barely contained behind a sleek, black, button-up vest. His attention slid lower down her svelte body. The black, skin-tight pants wrapped around curvaceous hips, covered legs that seemed to go on forever. When his attention landed on the red high-heeled shoes, his body stirred with appreciation. He couldn’t ever remember a woman having this type of effect on him, not even his late wife.
“You guys let me know if you need anything else,” Betty said, cutting into Lincoln’s thoughts as he continued staring at the woman setting the drinks on the table. Bent over, she gave him a good view of her perfectly round butt and all types of wicked thoughts bounced around in his head. His attention only shifted when Betty waved good-bye and exited the office just as fast as she’d entered.
When he glanced back at the woman with the hot body, their gazes met and Lincoln realized she was even more stunning than he first thought. As her appreciative gaze strolled over him like warm honey, all he could do was stand there and let her get her fill.
“Hi, I’m Carolyn.” She stretched out her hand, and for a moment, Lincoln stood dumbfounded, enraptured by the enticing floral scent wafting to his nose. The twinkle in her gorgeous eyes and a smile that could melt ice sent blood rushing from his brain. He enveloped her hand between both of his and a zing of electricity shot up his arms.
“Lincoln. Nice to meet you,” he finally said, still holding on to her. She glanced down at their joined hands and her smile wavered. Lincoln wasn’t sure what suddenly changed, but she eased her hand from his loose grip. The sparkle that was in her eyes only moments ago dulled and she took a step back.
Okay. What just happened?
Turning to Paul, Carolyn said, “I’m getting ready to head out. Can you let MJ know that I’ll pick the baby up at ten in the morning?”
“Will do.” Paul kissed her on the cheek, telling her that he or Martina would call if there was a change of plans.
“You fellas have a good evening.” Carolyn gave Lincoln one last glance before strutting across the office toward the door. Her hips swayed left, then right rhythmically with the sexiest walk Lincoln had ever seen. She stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her, and to Lincoln it felt as if she was closing the door on any opportunity to get to know her.
“So what did you think?” Paul asked as he removed the lids from the covered plates on the table.
“About what?” Lincoln remained rooted in place, still trying to shake off the snub. He clearly needed to get out more. He was acting as if he’d never seen a gorgeous woman before.
“Lincoln? You all right?” Concern pinched Paul’s features.
Lincoln shook his head, clearing the fog that had filled his brain after his brief encounter with Carolyn. There was definitely something that had passed between them. Something he had never experienced.
“Linc?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” He loosened his tie and eased out of his suit jacket, draping it on the back of the dining chair before sitting. Glancing at the impressive spread on the table, he took in the smell of sausage and peppers. He had skipped lunch and suddenly felt as if he could eat a cow.
“I was asking what did you think about Carolyn … my mother-in-law?”