Enticing Winter

“Oh really,” Jaleen said, taking a swig of his beer. “So if your eyes weren’t trained on Winter, who I must say is looking good tonight in that sleek black skirt and red blouse, then do tell who has your attention.”

Taheim pinned Jaleen with an irritated stare before he quickly masked his feelings. He didn’t like the fact that Jaleen sounded as if he was checking out Winter, even though he clearly didn’t have any claims on her. In fact, his reaction was downright ridiculous considering his nonexistent relationship, and friendship, with Winter.

“With all the sexy single ladies in this room, Winter Dupree is definitely not getting my attention.” He waved his arms around the room to emphasize his point.

Daman and Jaleen shared a look of disbelief that didn’t go unnoticed by Taheim.

“Seriously, guys, that’s a headache I don’t need right now.”

“Problems with your clothing line?”

“No, sales are great and I even have a big city tour scheduled for next spring to visit the retail stores that will start carrying the line next year.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Taheim took a sip of his tequila. “It’s the men’s nightwear line that I want to debut before the end of the year. I’d like to get it in stores early next year and talk to retailers about it during the big city tour. T.R. Night will be different from the clothing line, and I guess I’m just trying to figure out the perfect time for a debut.”

“If you’re worried about the market accepting T.R. Night like they did Collegiate Life, then I don’t think you have anything to worry about. The release will be successful.”

He nodded his head at Daman, glad that he had friends who knew just what to say when it came to his diving into another project. Taheim was an entrepreneur in every sense of the word. In addition to being a cofounder of R&W Advertising and the creator of Collegiate Life, he handled all the marketing, promotions and advertising for his brother’s chain of nightclubs and lounges, as well as his parents’ Midwest restaurant chain. Even with all his success, every now and then he ventured into a project more personal than the others. In this case, T.R. Night was that project.

“Thanks, man. The nightwear line has been a little more challenging than the clothing line, but I’m really excited about this.”

“You should be,” Jaleen said. “And if you’re stuck on any designs, there is this one designer who specializes in nightwear who I’m sure could offer you some great ideas.”

“In Chicago? I’m pretty familiar with all the designers in the city. Besides, I think I’m okay on the designs.” There were a few things he questioned, but for the most part, he knew he would figure it out.

“I was referring to Winter.”

Taheim shot Jaleen a look of disbelief. “Is there a reason you keep bringing her up today?”

“I’m just saying. She’s got talent and if you are struggling with any designs, she could probably help.”

“I don’t and never will need the help of Winter Dupree. We can barely stand being in the same room with one another, let alone discuss business. I’ll pass on that.”

Jaleen shrugged. “So did you decide on a date for the debut?”

“I actually have a meeting tomorrow morning with Ajay to discuss something he had in mind for the grand opening of his night lounge in December.” His brother had worked hard to be the most successful club and lounge owner in Chicago and Taheim was glad to see he was finally reaping the benefits of all his hard work.

He was about to continue when he felt a jolt in his pants. Crap. He already knew that Winter had returned from the rooftop terrace without even turning in her direction.

Don’t look her way, he thought to himself. It wasn’t that he cared what his friends would think if they caught him staring at her again, but rather the fact that he needed to get through the rest of the night without imagining her in that mouthwatering lingerie.

Despite his best efforts, his head slowly turned to where she had joined her sister. He hated to admit it, but he was still disappointed by the way he had acted during their blind date. Yes, there were times that he went into dates already knowing that they would end with the woman in his bed, but he hadn’t gone into his date with Winter assuming that. But the minute he’d seen her sitting there her beauty had taken him aback. Winter wasn’t the type of woman to cake on too much makeup every day, but rather she applied just the right amount to accentuate her features.

When women met him, they immediately wanted to date him. Unfortunately, it wasn’t only because of his looks and personality but also because of his money. Or the money they assumed he would dish out to them. Sometimes he felt like a walking ATM rather than an astute businessman who had been fortunate enough to land a few successful business deals. Winter didn’t seem like other women, and instead of going into the date differently, he’d acted like a jerk.

He watched her bring her water bottle to her mouth, instantly jealous of the item as her lips closed around the rim. Lips that would look perfect enclosed around his mouth instead. His eyes left her lips and connected with hers, and he was not surprised to see her looking back at him. He thought she shot him a soft smile, but he was too far across the room to tell.

“So this is you paying attention to other women and ignoring Winter?” Jaleen asked, as he looked in Taheim’s line of vision.

“Whatever, man.”

“Why don’t you just ask her out again?” Daman asked.

“Hell naw, I can’t. The last one was bad enough.”

Daman and Jaleen shared a look, but luckily, they changed the subject. He was being serious when he said he couldn’t ask her out again; however, the reason why wasn’t that the last one had been so bad. The real reason he couldn’t ask her out again was because deep down, he feared what would happen if the date actually went well.

* * *

Taheim admired the exterior of the lounge that his brother Ajay was opening in a month and a half. The South Loop area in Chicago had a good vibe to it and he had every idea the lounge would be successful.

“Ajay, you in here?” he yelled as he walked through the side door.

“I’m back here, bro.”

He followed the sound of his brother’s voice until he reached a room in the back of the lounge.

“What’s up,” Ajay said as they touched fists. “How was Malik and Mya’s engagement party yesterday? I hate that I missed it, but this place keeps me busy.”

“It was nice. The team you have working there was great.”

“That’s why I will be intermixing that staff with the new staff I hire for this location. I want Inferno Lounge to be the best in the city.”

“Well, it’s definitely the largest,” he said as he thought about how massive the venue was when he entered.

“Thanks.” Ajay moved a few boxes off his desk and desk chair before pulling out two chairs from a closet.

“Why did you pull out an extra chair?”

Just as Ajay was about to answer, he was cut off by a female voice. “Hello, is anyone here?”

“One sec, bro,” Ajay said as he left to get the woman behind the voice. As he listened to his brother greet the woman, he strained to make out the details of her voice. It was soft but slightly husky at the same time. It was the type of voice that would be perfect for one of those naughty call centers.

The closer they got, the more aware Taheim’s body became. If he wasn’t mistaken, the voice sounded a lot like...

“Taheim, I hope you don’t mind but I asked Winter Dupree from Bare Sophistication to join our meeting.”

From the stunned look on her face, he assumed she was just as surprised to see him.

“I don’t mind,” he said. When Ajay motioned for her to sit in the chair next to Taheim and their arms brushed, he immediately regretted the words that had just come out of his mouth. He should have told his brother that he definitely did mind and that he would prefer he discuss their business before he discussed whatever business he had with Winter. Which begged the question, What business does my brother have with Winter?

He brushed off the same jealousy he’d felt when Jaleen had complimented the way Winter looked yesterday.

“So, as you both know, Inferno will be opening the week before Christmas. I’ve been racking my brain about the type of grand opening I want to have and I’ve decided that a masquerade gala would be the perfect event.”

“That’s a great idea,” Taheim said as Winter expressed similar sentiments.

“Thanks, guys. So that means this event has to be the best lounge event Chicagoans have ever seen.” He took out a couple sheets of paper and handed a sheet to each of them. “I ran my idea by Elite Events since they will be planning the majority of the grand opening, including a huge part that will require the expertise of both of you.”

Winter looked up from the paper. “And what might that be?”

“On the back side of that sheet, you will see the details of the masquerade lingerie fashion show I want to be the central feature of the grand opening.”

Taheim scanned the back side of the paper and assumed that Winter was doing the same.

“I’m confused, Ajay,” Taheim said. “So you want Winter and me to plan the fashion show?”

“Yes. You both have done fashion shows before and Elite Events has a lot of other items to work on for the grand opening. Winter, I heard that you were working on a new line for the holidays that will release next week or so, correct?”

“That’s right. Some pieces are out already.”

“And, Taheim, you need to debut T.R. Night before you go on tour next spring, right? What about creating some holiday nightwear and, of course, you could show some pieces from the Collegiate line, as well.”

He chanced a glance at Winter, who didn’t seem any more thrilled by the idea than he was.

“Listen,” Ajay said as he waved his hand at both of them. “I know you both have heard that the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is trying their best to make Chicago a fashion-forward city and that includes more fashion-focused events. It’s a great opportunity to showcase your work and it would really help me out a lot.”

Taheim ran his fingers across his face. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for his family and Ajay knew that.

“Of course I’ll do it, bro.”

“Thanks, man.” Taheim and Ajay both looked at Winter.

“I’m in, too,” she said hesitantly. “It sounds like fun.”

“Great! So I suggest you both share contact info and start planning this fashion show. There are some organizations that I’ve partnered with who may have opportunities for you both to showcase some work, as well, but I’ll let you both know as those opportunities arise. I’m really excited to bring a holiday collection from Bare Sophistication and T.R. Night to Chicago. I’ll leave you both to discuss the best way to begin planning. Remember, Elite Events is here to help, too.”

Yeah, right! It was his friends at Elite Events who had gotten him into this mess with Winter in the first place. First the blind date and now planning a fashion show together? Ajay had always been a forward thinker, but he wasn’t a schemer. This had Elite Events written all over it.

He glanced over at Winter, taking note that she still hadn’t looked him in the eye. He ran his hand over his forehead before placing his forearms on his thighs, trying to think of what to say. In all his thirty-three years, he’d never been at a loss for words around a woman. “I guess we need to set up a date to meet. What day works for you next week?”

She didn’t turn to look at him right away, but when she did, she looked as though she’d rather have been doing anything else than having this conversation.

“Look,” he said, clasping his hands together. “I don’t like this idea any more than you do. But I would love the exposure and I’m sure you would, too. And since Ajay’s my brother, I couldn’t say no even if I wanted to.”

“But that’s insane.”

“What is?”

“What’s insane is the fact that your brother or anyone else would think we could work well together. Over the past couple months, every time we talk, it turns into a debate or an argument. You and I don’t get along.” She waved her hand between the two of them.

“That’s because you disagree with everything I say.”

She gave him the side-eye. “Actually, you are the one who starts most of the arguments.”

“No, I don’t,” he said as he turned his chair more to face her. “Just last month at that fund-raising event that you and I both attended where we happened to be placed at the same table, I was talking to that high school principal about the benefit of a growing man having a good male role model to look up to.”

“And I didn’t disagree,” Winter interjected. “In fact, I agreed with you. I was just pointing out that the same goes for a woman having a good female role model. Sometimes I feel like women get left out of the equation. We need positive role models just like men.”

“But that wasn’t the conversation. That principal was talking about the program he’d created at his school for young men.”

“Exactly my point,” Winter said, turning her chair, as well. “Why start a program for the male students and not have one for the female students? Why segregate the programs at all?”

“I never said I disagreed with you either. I just pointed out the fact that that wasn’t the current topic of discussion.”

“Yeah, and you pointed it out in front of the eight other people at the table, who laughed and then disregarded my suggestion.”

He placed his hands on his chest. “So you’re mad that they thought I was funny?”

She lifted her eyebrows. “How in the world do you process information? It wasn’t because they thought you were funny. It was because they lost sight of my point.”

“Because they were only focused on laughing at me and talking about my viewpoint?”

“Once again, you somehow made this about you.” She sighed and closed her eyes, the sound distracting him from listening to whatever else was coming out of her mouth.

“Taheim, did you hear anything I just said?”

“Every word,” he said as his eyes dropped to her lips. She must have noticed the change in his mood, because her lips parted with awareness.

“So,” Ajay said, reentering the room and breaking the trance between him and Winter. “Did you guys settle when you’d have your first meeting?”

Winter stood and put back on her coat. “Your brother is the most difficult human being to ever walk the planet.”

Ajay laughed as he looked from Winter to Taheim. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

“Call me at Bare Sophistication when you’re ready to set up a meeting,” she said to Taheim as she left the office.

“She was in a hurry,” Ajay said as he sat back in his desk chair. “What did you say to her? Because clearly, it was the wrong thing to say.”

He glanced at the seat that Winter had just vacated. “When it comes to that woman, what don’t I say that’s wrong?”

Chapter 4

Winter’s navy heels clicked on the wood surface in a tempo that matched the hard sound of the rain pounding on the window. It seemed fitting that an early-November rainstorm paired perfectly with her sour mood. A mood that had been one of many ever since she’d heard the news about working with Taheim on the fashion show a couple days ago.

It was a great opportunity, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t slow her heart rate whenever she thought about working closely with him. She glanced over at an unfinished lace cami that she wasn’t sure she could even complete today, as planned. Her creativity was even starting to suffer because her mind was working overtime trying to figure out how she would handle the situation with Taheim.

Autumn appeared at the door. “Can you please stop pacing? I can hear your footsteps down the hall and you’re giving me a headache.”

She ignored her sister’s comment since evidently, she had no idea how much anxiety she was experiencing. Winter never got anxious about anything, but the end of the year was bringing on quite a few behavioral changes for her.

“You’re the one who came back here to my design studio.”

“Aren’t we testy this evening,” Autumn said as she walked farther into the room. “But seriously, you’re going to put a hole in the floor.”

“I’ll stop pacing as soon as I figure out how to work with Taheim without losing my sanity.”

“I’ve never seen you like this. He must be getting under your skin more than I had initially thought.”

Winter stopped pacing and turned to face Autumn. “He doesn’t get under my skin. He’s more like that irritating itch that no matter how much you scratch, it still itches.”

“How is that any different from what I said?”

“You made it seem like I allow him to bother me more than I’ve ever let any man bother me before.”

Autumn walked over to Winter and placed an arm on her shoulder, which was covered in a navy jacket that went perfectly with her white top and dark jeans.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Autumn replied. “I meant to indicate that he gets to you more than anyone has in the past. Male or female.”

Winter rolled her eyes before walking over to the massive wooden table currently covered in red, silver and black fabrics. “Is there a reason you’re here? I thought you had to help Danni change the fixtures in the store.”

“I do, but I got distracted by this guy asking me if he could discuss business with you. Something about some new design ideas, I think. I’m not sure.”

“Okay, I’ll meet with him real quick.” It wasn’t as if she were getting much work done anyway. Usually on Friday evening after the busy lunch crowd, Winter enjoyed spending time cooped up in her studio turning her creative ideas into a reality. Today she’d barely gotten anything done, so maybe talking to someone about possible business would be enough to jump-start her creative juices.

“Where is he?” she asked as she stepped into the store.

“He’s over there.” She followed the direction of Autumn’s hand and immediately shot her sister a look of irritation.

“Are you kidding me? You made it seem like it was a person I didn’t know.”

Autumn smirked. “I never said you didn’t know him. I only said it was a guy who was distracting me. In this case, that person is Taheim, but what does it matter? You said he doesn’t affect you any more than anyone else.”

Instead of responding to Autumn, she stood there and stared at her sister in silence.

“You can stare me down all you want, but that won’t change the fact that Taheim is waiting to talk to you. Sixty percent of the population lie to themselves in hopes of believing that lie.”

Winter squinted her eyes together. “And you’re telling me this in order to say what exactly?”

“That the sooner you stop lying to yourself about the way Taheim affects you, the quicker you can figure out how to handle the situation.”

“I don’t even know why I asked,” Winter said, throwing up her hands in defeat.

“I do,” Autumn said with a shrug. “You’re delaying seeing Taheim. But time is up and the store is slow now, so Danni and I have to change those fixtures. Why don’t you take him to your office or studio?”

Not that she had a choice, since Autumn was already ushering her to Taheim. She didn’t particularly like the fact that he had dropped by without even calling the store and asking her if it was okay. That’s because he’s used to doing whatever he wants. It wasn’t that she had been waiting on his call. But since they really did have business to discuss, she’d figured he would have actually scheduled a meeting with her.

As she got closer to him, she tried to ignore her nerves. Her palms were growing sweatier by the second. The last time that had happened was her senior year at the New York School of Design when she had to present her final design to the board before graduating. And even with that situation, she wasn’t sure the circumstances compared. This is ridiculous on so many levels. Fast heartbeat. Sweaty palms. Moist thighs. What in the world is wrong with me?

Crap. All those reactions represented those of a woman who was attracted to a man. No shit, Sherlock, you are attracted to him. But being attracted to him and acting on that attraction were two different things.

“Hi, Taheim. Did you stop by to talk business?” Way to go, Dupree. Had she really just alluded to the fact that he would stop by to discuss anything other than business?

He turned around slowly in a way that made her wonder if he had to brace himself before seeing her. When his eyes landed on hers, it took all her strength not to gasp aloud. He placed his hands in the pockets of his black pea coat and she tried not to look down at the zipper of his jeans, which was now exposed.

Ever since he had found her in his bedroom, she’d replayed every minute of the encounter and wondered if he would ever look at her the way he’d looked at her that night.

“Hello, Winter.” He gave her a quick once-over. If she had blinked, she would have missed it. “Yes, I was hoping now was a good time. But if it isn’t, we can schedule something else.”

“No, this is fine. How about we head to my design studio.”

The short walk to her studio was filled with awareness of him and she wished he didn’t have to smell so good. Hmm, I wonder what cologne he’s wearing, she thought as she remembered that day in his bedroom. Maybe it’s the Kenneth Cole.

When she walked into her studio, she motioned for him to enter. He lightly brushed past her, filling her senses even more. Or maybe it’s whatever was in that silver bottle. Regardless of what cologne he was wearing, it was driving her crazy. The type of crazy that made a woman want to place tender kisses all over a man’s neck and get lost in his scent.

He stopped in the middle of her studio and did a three-hundred-sixty-degree turn. “You have a nice studio. I bet you create lots of lingerie pieces in here.”

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