Peter

Manhattan

Peter Collins had done a lot more than a quick Google search of the woman who now sat across from him. Locked in his desk drawer was a complete dossier on Allison Jones: her family, her business and most importantly, her relationship with Mike Dennison. He was happy to learn it was in the beginning stages.

Now that he had met her, and determined she was worth his time, he would take the next, more complicated step. Once he hacked into her email and cell phone, he would have what he liked to benignly call a ‘slight edge’. If he chose, he could even listen to her conversations if her cell phone was in the room with her. He had rarely used that option but this was a special case.

The exotic lighting reflecting off the wooden canopy at Nobu always gave Peter the sense that he was dining in another dimension. His stunning dinner guest did nothing to dispel that perception.

Mike had found himself a winner. He had been businesslike on the phone when he asked Peter to see a client of his. He mentioned that she was smart, talented and had a unique vision of the business she wanted to create. He did not mention she was drop-dead gorgeous.

The Boy Scout in Mike may have missed the fact that despite her artlessness, there was a wildness about Allison. Peter watched as she perused the menu. He wondered what she would be like once that cool façade was stripped away. A quiver of excitement ran through him at the thought.

Peter had known, the moment Mike had phoned to casually mention he was sending a client his way, that she wasn’t just any woman.

‘Behave yourself, Pete,’ he’d said, in a voice like steel. ‘I mean it.’

Mike was into this girl.

Too bad for him, Pete thought as he topped off Allison’s saké cup. She had barely touched the warm liquid. He was adept at making women fall for him, but a little alcohol made it easier. This one would take work. However, he had no doubt he was up to the task.

It was the thrill of the chase that turned him on. And he fully intended to catch Allison Jones, no matter the cost. The fact that she was beautiful was a bonus. But if taking this woman away from Mike would pay him back for messing with him and his operations, he would have gone after her no matter what she looked like.

He didn’t like Mike Dennison and he knew the feeling was mutual. Mike was one of those do-right guys – always judging, always calling out Peter for cutting a corner here and there. Everyone in business did the same thing. Everyone except Mike, of course. He was the Boy Scout.

Mike had thrown a monkey wrench into one too many of Media Blitz’s deals. He had cost Peter a fortune and besmirched his reputation. The fact that he was still sought after was a testament to how good he was. And there was no one better at what he did than Peter Collins. Even Mike had to acknowledge that.

Now it was payback time.

‘Are you all right?’ she asked.

Peter snapped out of his reverie. ‘Forgive me,’ he said, smiling sheepishly. ‘Sometimes, when I get excited about a project, I wander off. Mentally.’

A smile spread across Allison’s face. ‘Does that mean you are interested in working with me on Lydia’s Closet? I know it’s a tiny project compared to the type of clients you usually take on.’

‘You’re right about that.’ Peter seemed as earnest as a choirboy. ‘So I guess we’ll just have to take your business global.’

‘Global?’ Allison looked at him carefully. ‘I don’t know about that.’

‘Never think small,’ Peter said. ‘If you have a great idea, which you have, and worldwide contacts, which I have, the sky’s the limit.’

‘If that means outsourcing the manufacture of my designs to some third-world country, I’m not interested.’ Allison was adamant. ‘Those stay-at-home moms count on my business to earn a living while they raise their kids. And they helped me build something special.’

‘Hold on now.’ Peter was laughing. ‘I guess what they say about redheads and their tempers is true.’

Allison composed herself. ‘I mean no offence, but if being a success means turning my back on people who helped me get started, I’ll just go back to work as a designer.’

A female Mike Dennison, Peter thought, the smile never leaving his face. ‘Do you think New York City is the only place on earth that has women who want to stay home with their kids, but still earn a living?’

Allison started to unclench.

‘That’s the essence of the business, what will get you noticed,’ he said. ‘I’m seeing talk shows, magazine articles, speaking engagements. Lydia’s Closet can start a movement.’

Allison was staring at him. ‘Seriously?’

‘Of course seriously. You don’t know what you’ve got here. But I do. We are going to do great things together.’ Peter raised his cup. ‘Now drink some saké to celebrate.’

He downed his cup and watched as she did the same. ‘That’s better,’ he said. ‘May I order for you?’

Allison felt giddy. Whether it was the saké, the amazing sushi, or the ideas pouring from Peter Collins’ nimble brain, she couldn’t be sure. The man was a genius. She couldn’t follow half of what he was saying about interstitials and feeder sites. All techno-jargon was Greek to her. But his excitement was infectious.

She was totally relaxed from the saké and filled with joy. She rarely drank more than half a glass of wine but, feeling as she did tonight, she wondered why she didn’t. And why was Mike so against her meeting with Pete? Was he jealous of his looks, his brains, his power? Or, she wondered, cherishing the thought, did he want her all to himself?

That was fine with Allison. Admirable as Peter Collins was, she was already in love with Mike. However, she was not going to tell him until he told her first. And until she could be sure he was not going to try to control her, like every other man she loved.

Of course, as Mike had predicted, Pete did make a not-so-subtle move, suggesting she come out to his place in the Hamptons for the weekend to work on the launch. But she’d been hearing that kind of invitation since she hit puberty. When she declined, he laughed it off and admitted he just had to try. Not to worry, it would be strictly business between them from here on in.

She was a happy woman as he pulled back her chair and they headed for the door. Happy, that is, until she saw a figure hunched over a beer and a small plate of food at the long bar.

She’d been followed.

As Allison and Peter headed for the door, Mike looked down at his small plate of appetisers and pretended to eat. There was no mirror over the bar at Nobu, but he had been able to see, if not hear, them at the table. The body language was enough. He knew Peter well enough to guess the conversation. And he could tell from the look of excitement on Allison’s face that he had been promising her the moon.

He wasn’t concerned that Peter couldn’t deliver on his promises. He could. But at what cost to Allison and her business? There was always a price to be paid when Media Blitz was involved. Many were happy to pay it.

If he was honest with himself, it wasn’t just her business interests that had Mike skulking about, spying on a girl he barely knew. He was worried what effect the Collins juggernaut would have on his own fledgling relationship with her. Fledgling hell. He was in love with Allison Jones, had been since that day she burst into the Joneses’ kitchen with her cheeks pink from the wind and her hair in a wild tangle under a knitted cap.

‘Check, please,’ Mike said.

The sushi chef looked concerned. ‘Was there a problem with the food, sir? You haven’t touched it.’

‘No, everything is fine. I just remembered I have an appointment.’

He was ashamed of his behaviour. This was so unlike him, so demeaning, following someone like a stalker. This unique woman was messing with his head. He dropped cash on the bar and headed towards the door. He was halfway there when the door flew open and Allison swept in, violet eyes ablaze.

‘Why are you following me?’

‘Allison, I apologise. It was stupid.’

‘I told you, I can take care of myself.’

‘That’s not why I was following you. I realise that now.’

‘Then why?’

He pulled her into a kiss that she found herself unable to resist. It grew so passionate, they nearly lost their balance and fell to the floor. People in the restaurant were watching them with knowing smiles on their faces.

When they could finally let go of each other they stood staring, their eyes riveted, breathless.

‘I was following you to find out,’ Mike said when he could speak. ‘I wanted to know if that first kiss on the beach was as earth-shaking as I remembered.’

He pulled away and headed for the door. Allison hadn’t moved.

When he finally could breathe normally he turned and said, ‘It was.’

And he was gone.