A Christmas Temptation

Sophie found a lump in her throat. That was more money than she could likely ever spend, but this wasn’t about cash in the bank, at least not for her. This was about carrying out Gram’s wishes. Still, it was a good thing Mindy wasn’t here right now because she would strangle Sophie for what she was about to say. “Again, no. But thank you.”

Jake smiled and nodded as if she’d just agreed to everything he wanted, a tried-and-true negotiation tactic. She wasn’t surprised he was resorting to it. “Maybe it’s best if I just let you think about it for a few days. Let that big, fat, delicious number tumble around in your head. Because I can guarantee you that any of these other companies and developers are not in a position to pay what I’m willing to pay.” His voice held an edge of determination that betrayed the pleased look on his face.

Still, Sophie had to be firm. “I understand what you’re saying, but the answer is no. My grandmother worked too hard for me to simply walk away from it.”

Jake nodded slowly again. “I know. She was a legend. At one time, she was one of the most successful businesspeople in the city.”

“In the country,” Sophie interjected. “Quite possibly the world. There were seventy-six stores in twelve countries at the height of Eden’s.”

“Yes. And now you’re back down to this one store. It was the 1980s. It was a different time. Retail isn’t what it once was. Frankly, owning a store this big, at this time, is a disaster waiting to happen. You’re going to die a very slow, painful death.” He was no longer trying to butter her up. Now he was resorting to cold, hard facts, and Sophie didn’t like it at all.

“Always the pessimist, aren’t you? You know, I think I’ll do just fine on my own. And if I don’t, I’ll just have to die trying.” Sophie pushed back from her desk and stood, sucking in a deep breath. This wasn’t how she wanted things to end between them, but end they must. She had to put him on notice that she would not waver. She would not sell to him. She would not allow herself to fall under Jake’s spell. “Thanks for coming by. And thank you for the flowers.”

He cocked his eyebrows and stood. “And the fruit.”

“And the fruit. But none of that was necessary, nor is it necessary in the future. I don’t need to come into my office to find a flamingo or feather boas.”

Jake stood there looking at her, hands in his pants pockets. It felt like he was trying to tear down the invisible barrier she’d tried to build between them, and she didn’t like it. “You know, Sophie. I have the distinct impression that this is about far more than your grandmother.”

“What? My refusal to do the deal?”

“That and your general distaste for having me share the same air as you.”

Sophie froze. All she could hear was the thunder of her own heartbeat in her ears. So this was how he was going to play this. He wasn’t going to politely ignore their history as she’d done. He wanted to dredge it up. Sophie could do that. She didn’t have to let him off so easy anyway. “The way things ended between us is difficult to ignore if that’s what you’re suggesting.”

“The last time I saw you was on graduation day. I thought things were fine. We hugged. We wished each other well.”

That moment was such a permanent part of Sophie’s memories it was as if it was tattooed on her brain. It was still a bit raw, even after all this time. She could still feel the deep longing for him, a tug from the center of her chest that told her he was all she ever wanted or needed, but she’d never have him. With my very beaten-up heart, I told you that I loved you, and you acted as though I hadn’t said it. “That’s not quite how I remember it, but I’m glad you can look back on it so fondly. I was still pretty hurt about the way things played out after our one night together.”

Jake’s forehead crinkled as his eyebrows drew together. “That was for the best. We both know that wasn’t going to go anywhere. I wanted to save our friendship, and I thought I had. Now I’m starting to think I’ve been wrong all this time.”

Sophie shook her head. “Of course you felt as though it was up to you to save us from each other. No need for discussion or a conversation. Just a few parting words to get you off the hook, right? It might take two to tango, but only one person has to call it off.”

“If it upset you that much, you should’ve said something at the time. You seemed completely fine with it.”

“I didn’t really have time to absorb it. You practically broadsided me.”

“Trust me. You’re a happier woman right now than you would’ve been if things had continued.”

Anger began to bubble under Sophie’s skin. He had no way of knowing things would have ended badly between them. If he’d just given them a chance, they could have been happy. They could have had it all. “Ah, well, apparently your crystal ball works great. Mine is off at the shop. But thanks for watching out for me.”

Again, he only looked at her, his mind clearly working hard. “You know, if it wasn’t completely inappropriate, I would ask if I could kiss you right now.”

Sophie’s heart seized up in her chest. A kiss? Was he insane? “I thought you were supposed to be saving me from being hurt.”

“I know, but I’m just thinking that the first time I kissed you, you melted right into my arms. That was the moment I knew I could convince you of anything.”

She dared to peer up into his dangerous green eyes. They swirled with such intensity it was hard to know whether she’d be able to remain standing or if they’d simply sweep her away. She couldn’t believe he would so brazenly use her weakness for him against her. “Get out. Get out of my office right now.”

“You won’t kick out the guy who brought you a bushel of your favorite flowers.”

“I’m serious, Jake. Don’t make me call Duane from security. He’s six foot six, three hundred and fifty pounds, and has a very short fuse.”

“Soph, come on. I’m just kidding. You know me. I’m a kidder.”

With a jab of her finger, Sophie directed him to her office door. The exit. “The problem, Jake, is that I do know you. I know exactly what you’re capable of, which is the reason I have to ask you to leave.”

* * *

In a daze, Jake stepped off the elevator on Eden’s ground floor. He felt a bit like he’d been run over by a truck. His meeting with Sophie had not gone well, but even more than that, he’d forgotten what being around her did to him. Her sleek black dress was enough to make him sign over his entire business, hugging every gorgeous curve of her body, reminding him of everything he’d had and given up. And that was only the start—her trademark red tresses tumbling over her shoulders, her deep brown eyes blazing and her full cherry-pink lips tempting him into making an admittedly bold remark. It was a business meeting and he shouldn’t have brought up kissing. But everything he’d said had been the absolute truth. She had melted into him that night. They were on the same wavelength, completely.

He’d really thought the flowers might do the trick. Sophie was sweet and sentimental. What woman like that doesn’t appreciate that sort of gesture? He hadn’t expected an immediate yes to his proposition, but he had hoped she would at least consider it. Instead, she’d done nothing more than try to create distance between them. If she’d been any more successful, she’d have had him on the other side of bulletproof glass. It was a real shame. There had been a time when Sophie would come running to him. Not anymore.

He met David, his driver, at the curb and jumped into the back of the black Escalade, his mind a jumble of thoughts of Sophie and business as the sights of the city whizzed by in a blur. He had to turn this around. His killer instinct, the one that had brought him success that surprised even him, wouldn’t allow him to back off simply because of one bad conversation. His fellow members of the War Chest were eager to get the jump on this deal, and with each day closer to the reading of Victoria Eden’s will, the more unlikely it would be that Jake’s plan would work. Everyone in the city with a fat bank account would be pursuing Sophie and her sister by then. If Jake was going to bring this deal to fruition, he had to do it now. Wait and lose out. That was all there was to it.

By the time he reached his office, Jake knew that flowers and fruit baskets had been the wrong approach. He needed to go with reason. She and her sister were sitting on a fortune. All they needed to do was cash in their golden ticket. He needed to show Sophie on paper, in hard numbers, why it was in her best interest to sell. Eden’s future was indeed grim. He was certain of it.

“Unless I get a call from Sophie or Mindy Eden, I’m in a meeting,” he said to Audrey as he strode past her desk.

“Yes, sir, Mr. Wheeler.”

He sat at his desk, pulled out a fresh legal pad, grabbed the folder of background materials Audrey had pulled together on Eden’s and opened up a new browser window on his laptop. “Time to figure out just how bad things look for Eden’s Department Store.”

Hours later, Jake had pages and pages of numbers and notes. He’d read two dozen articles about the future of retail, made estimates as to how much space Eden’s was using and wasting with some of their departments. Unfortunately for Jake, the most profitable department, women’s shoes, only stirred up thoughts of Sophie in the ones she’d been wearing today. They were some of the sexiest shoes he’d ever seen. For a moment, he had a vision of them on his shoulders and Sophie at his mercy, an idea he immediately wrenched from his mind, although he might be forced to revisit it later.

He moved on to analyzing Eden’s online presence and the amount of company resources they were devoting to everything from marketing and advertising to store security and, yes, decorating executive offices like the inside of a snow globe.

This was a bit like reading tea leaves, but he had to make do with what he had, and there was a great deal of satisfaction to take from the knowledge that no other money guy or investor was putting in this kind of work. Sophie would see that he was just looking out for her. He had her best interests at heart.

And himself, of course. This deal would be the talk of developer circles for years. Decades even. And he’d grow his bank account considerably.

But first, he had to call the one person who was on his side—Mindy Eden.

“Jake, I told you the last time we talked, I’m not the one you need to convince. It’s all Sophie. I have zero interest in anything having to do with Eden’s. I have more than enough on my plate.”

Jake tapped his pen on his planner and looked out his office window. The holiday market down in the park was again bustling with people. He’d never understand some people’s obsession with Christmas. “Okay. So then tell me how I get through to her. She’s not only digging in her heels about the store, she refuses to have a conversation with me.”

Mindy laughed. “You do know you broke her heart, right?”

Jake froze as Mindy’s words worked their way through his head. “I did not break her heart. Sophie and I had a little too much to drink one night, we had some fun, and I ended it the next day so she didn’t have to. Believe me, I was looking out for your sister. Any other guy would’ve strung her along for months.” Did Sophie truly feel as though he’d broken her heart? He’d only tried to protect her.

“Or he might have fallen in love with my perfectly smart and beautiful sister and lived happily ever after.”

Not this guy. Jake swallowed hard to stuff those words back inside him. It was one thing to get personal with Sophie, and quite another to talk about subjects like this with Mindy. “Something tells me she would’ve gotten tired of me real quick.”

“Hmm. I don’t know about that.”

“Do you think it would help to try to talk to her outside of the office? Maybe catch up with her on the weekend when she’s more relaxed?”