Rival's Desire

“Mmm…” Viv gestured, her dark eyes twinkling mischievously. “They sound very happy to have him here.”

“Humph. We are,” Sandra assured her. “Come on, lemme give you the fifty-cent tour and get you reacquainted with this place.”

“I understand you and Caesar are sharing the office?” Sandra remarked as she and Viv entered the break room—their last stop.

“Unfortunately, that’s true,” Vivian sighed, peeking inside the tall, chrome refrigerator.

Sandra folded her arms across her chest and leaned against the paneled countertop. “I know a lot of people who would gladly trade places with you.”

“They can have it.”

“Mmm-hmm. Put it in writing.”

The two of them burst into laughter. Then Sandra patted Viv’s shoulder and headed for the door. “Talk to you later, girl.”

“All right!” Viv called, inspecting the cabinets. “I’ll be out after I make a cup of tea,” she said, choosing a box of flavored herbal blends. She reached for a pot of hot water and filled a black mug.

“Is that Vivian Desmond I see?”

Viv turned to the doorway and screamed. “Ray Warren, I didn’t know you still worked here!” she cried, holding her arms out to the tall, brown-complexioned man who approached her.

Ray pulled Viv against him and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Girl, you know I can’t leave those two old women!”

Viv laughed. “Ha! You mean they won’t let you leave!”

Ray’s deep laughter filled the room. “Same difference.”

“I know.”

“So, how long are y’all gonna be working here?” Ray asked, his warm, dark-brown gaze questioning.

Viv shrugged. “We’re not sure. It’s up to the grannies.”

Ray chuckled. “Well, you and I need to have lunch or something before you jet off.”

“Hey, we should do it today. I really don’t know what the rest of my schedule will be like.”

Ray checked his watch. “I’m free around one.”

Viv thought for a moment. “Sounds good to me. Come by the office and we’ll head out.”

Ray leaned forward and kissed her cheek again. “I’ll see you then,” he whispered before heading out of the room.

Vivian collected her things and headed out a few minutes behind Ray. The president’s office was located around the corner at the end of a long corridor. When she stood outside the double polished oak doors, she took a deep breath and headed inside.

“Good morning, Caesar,” she greeted in an airy voice.

Caesar looked up from the folder he had been studying. His bright, deep-set eyes narrowed as they raked over Viv’s gorgeous figure in the flattering light blue suit. A long whistle flew past his lips, followed by a deep chuckle, when Viv twirled around for him.

“Very nice,” he complimented, reclining in the large black-suede chair he had requested.

Viv set her briefcase and mug on the desk and nodded. “You, too.” She took in the beige pin-striped suit he wore with a beige silk vest beneath and matching tie.

“I appreciate it,” he replied, his eyes still sweeping Viv’s body with heated strokes.

“I’m glad we didn’t have to argue about the desks,” Viv conceded, taking a seat.

Caesar’s brows rose as he turned his attention back to the files he’d been studying. “If I remember correctly,” he began, “I never really lost my temper about the whole thing. It’s you who always has an angry word for everything.”

“Me?” Viv breathed. “You lying dog. You almost ripped my head off when I mentioned havin’ this office to myself.”

Caesar leaned back in the chair and propped his legs on top of the desk. “I don’t think so,” he argued thoughtfully, scratching the line of his brow.

“Oooh! You make me so damn mad!” Viv clenched and unclenched her fists. Her blue pumps tapped the carpet methodically.

Caesar pressed his lips together to keep from smiling. He let Viv stew for a moment before making another comment. “You know, Plum, if you need me to handle the meeting, I can.”

Viv shook her head, curly dark tendrils dangling outside the sleek French roll she wore. “Why would I need or want you to handle the meeting?”

“Well, you still seem to be on edge from last night,” he told her, pretending to be engrossed with the contents of the folder he held. “I’m a lot calmer, so I’ll probably make a better impression with the Tydes and—”

“Forget it, Caesar Morrison,” Viv snapped, standing behind her desk. “If you think I’m gonna let you handle everything and look like Snow White for the grannies, you got another think coming.”

Just then, the buzzer sounded.

“Yeah, Sandra?” Caesar called into the intercom as he watched Viv standing before him with her fists braced on the desk.

“Caesar, Kitty and Derrix Tydes are here for your meeting.”

“Thanks, Sandra, we’ll be right out,” he replied, standing behind his desk, as well. “So? Are you ready?” he asked Viv, his sleek brows rising in challenge.

Viv grabbed her portfolio and walked around the desk. “I pray we get through this meeting without a scuffle.”

Caesar laughed and offered her his hand. He smiled when Viv accepted it.

“Let’s do this.”

A short, brown-complexioned couple waited in the quiet, cozy lobby outside the president’s suite. They stood when Caesar and Vivian walked out to meet them.

Sandra had just arrived with a tray of coffee and smiled when she saw everyone. “Caesar Morrison and Vivian Desmond, this is Derrix and Kitty Tydes of the Tydes Inn, Kingston.”

Caesar and Viv stepped forward to shake hands with the brother and sister. Meanwhile, Sandra poured four cups of coffee and headed into the office.

“Your grandmothers told us they had beautiful grandchildren, but they did not tell us how beautiful,” Kitty remarked, her brown eyes twinkling merrily.

“Thank you,” Caesar and Viv replied in unison.

“We hope you’re as interested in our proposal as your grandmothers are,” Derrix stated, his expression clearly questioning.

Viv stepped forward and placed her hand in the crook of the handsome, older man’s arm. “Our grandmothers gave us plenty of information regarding your proposal. We assure you we’re very interested.”

Caesar nodded in agreement before smiling down at Kitty. “Shall we?” he asked, waving one hand toward the office.

“Mmm. This coffee is delicious!” Viv exclaimed later when they were all seated in the office.

Kitty Tydes practically beamed. “Thank you, dear. It’s a blend we serve in our inn.”

“Well, if the coffee’s this good, I can imagine what the food tastes like,” Caesar said, placing his cup and saucer on the coffee table.

“It used to be served in the gourmet coffee shops, until we convinced the owner of the recipe to let us serve it exclusively,” Derrix informed them.

Viv’s striking dark eyes widened. “And they gave it to you?”

Derrix shrugged. “For the right price.”

“But,” Kitty interjected with one raised finger, “he was happy to do so, since he has a lifetime pass to the inn.”

Everyone laughed and nodded at the man’s reasoning.

“Sounds like a fair trade,” Caesar said.

Derrix shook his head. “I don’t know about that. Do you know how many new visitors we’ve had since we brought this coffee in? The revenue in our little café has more than tripled.”

“Because of this coffee?” Viv asked, taking another sip of the delicious brew.

“Initially,” Kitty replied, “they come for coffee and wind up ordering everything else on the menu.”

Caesar grinned and propped his elbow along the arm of the high-backed leather chair he occupied. “And now the two of you want to add dolls to the list?”

Kitty nodded, her eyes never leaving the handsome face before her. “We met your grandmothers two years ago at a black entrepreneur’s convention in Hawaii. I was so taken by the collection of dolls they had on display, I stopped to talk to them.”

“At first, we proposed showing the dolls around our lobby,” Derrix informed them, pouring himself another cup of coffee, “just for decoration, but Francine and Carlotta suggested selling them in our gift shop.”

Vivian, who was seated opposite Caesar in the other white armchair, chuckled. “That’s Francine and Carlotta, always thinking about the sale.”

“Well, it’s good they did,” Derrix replied. “We took a shipment of fifty dolls with us to the inn. They sold out in less than a week.”

Caesar and Viv exchanged impressed looks across the coffee table.

“Well, Derrix,” Caesar began, clearing his throat as he leaned forward, “Viv and I have gone over the numbers one-on-one and with our grandmothers. We’re very impressed with everything we’ve seen.”

“Does that mean you’re ready to get the ball rolling with full-scale production?” Kitty asked, leaning back against the leather sofa.

“We’re more than ready,” Viv assured her.

Kitty clasped her hands together and smiled brightly. “Oh, that’s wonderful! We can’t wait to get started working with the two of you!” She said this to both of them, but her eyes were solely focused on Caesar. “I think you and Vivian should come visit us at the inn.”

Caesar could not hide the smile tugging at his lips. He had noticed Kitty Tydes’s obvious interest in him since the meeting began and glanced at Viv to see if she had caught on to that. To his disappointment, she was engrossed in conversation with Derrix.

“That sounds good, Kitty. I think we could arrange something.”

“Well, I do hope so. The two of you should really come down to see first-hand how and where the dolls will be displayed,” she told him, her eyes raking the width of his shoulders and chest.

Viv glanced up in time to catch the wanton stare Kitty Tydes sent in Caesar’s direction. She heard the woman’s offer for them to visit the inn, and shook her head at the effect of Caesar’s charm. After a moment, she cleared her throat and caught their attention. “Um, Derrix and I were over here discussing ideas on how to present the dolls. We think it would be good for them to be shown with more looks and outfits. What do you two think?”

Caesar sent Viv a knowing look as the conversation returned to business. The duration of the meeting was quite productive. Kitty and Derrix were pleased and excited by the new venture. An hour later, Caesar and Vivian were escorting them to the elevators.

“We did it!” Viv cried the moment they were back behind the closed doors of the office.

“One down, two to go!” Caesar replied, referring to the other deals they had to close.

The two of them were so excited and relieved after the success of the important meeting they pulled each other close and hugged. Viv slid her arms around Caesar’s neck as his encircled her waist. The rush of sensation the closeness provided was completely unexpected. The seemingly innocent hug only lasted a few seconds.

“You know…” Caesar cleared his throat as he headed to his desk. “We should go out and celebrate,” he suggested, trying to dispel some of the tension that filled the room.

Viv thought she should refuse. Of course, she wasn’t quite ready to let go of the joyous moment, either. “We’ll go out after work.”

Caesar and Vivian got right back to work after the meeting. They hadn’t realized it was time for lunch until Viv’s stomach growled, signaling its approach.

Caesar could not stifle his laughter.

Viv sucked her teeth at the deep, rumbling sound.

“Do you want to order in or go out?” he asked, once he had calmed himself.

Viv was about to reply when a knock sounded on the door. “Um, I’ve already made plans,” she told him, moving from behind the desk.

Caesar tapped the pen he held against the glass top of the desk and watched Viv bounce across the room. When she opened the door to Ray Warren, the pen ceased its tapping.

“Hey, Ray, you ready?” Viv said, pulling the man inside the room. “Caesar, you know Ray Warren, right?” she asked, walking back to the desk to retrieve her purse.

Caesar stood and shook hands with Ray. “What’s up, man?” he asked coolly enough, though his temper was raging.

“I’ll be back soon!” Viv called, missing the stony look on Caesar’s gorgeous face.

When the door closed behind Vivian and Ray, Caesar glanced down at his hand. The pen he held had been crushed to pieces. Laughing softly, he sat behind the desk and brushed the remnants of the pen into the wastebasket. As the shards of broken pen sprinkled into the wooden bucket, Caesar shook his head. Why are you suddenly so upset about her going out with another man? he asked himself. Of course, it didn’t take long for him to find an answer. He had never been around Vivian enough for it to bother him. He was glad, because he didn’t like it.

“I’ll try to get down there in a few weeks.”

“Man, will you relax? This place could probably run itself.”

“I’d like to see that,” Caesar replied, laughing as he spoke with Simon Harris, the manager of his restaurant in Atlanta.

“I’ve got this place runnin’ smooth as butter,” Simon assured him. “You just have fun in New York playin’ with your dolls.”

Caesar threw his head back and laughed. “Yeah, I see right now. I need to make a run down there for a good ass whippin’.”

“Bring it on, man,” Simon goaded.

The office door opened just then and Viv stepped inside. The easy mood Caesar enjoyed vanished as his cool, light stare turned hard.

“Um, Simon, man, I’ll call you back later, all right?” Caesar said, not waiting for a response before he set the phone down. “I wish you’d told me how long you planned to be gone,” he snapped.

The edge in his deep voice was clear and Viv was surprised by the attitude. “I’m sorry,” she slowly replied, putting her purse in the bottom desk drawer. “We had a lot of catching up to do.”

Caesar closed his eyes, running one hand through his blondish-brown curls.

“Besides,” Viv sighed, taking a seat behind her desk, “the Tydes meeting was the only one we had today.”

Caesar slammed one mighty fist to his desk and stood. “That’s not the point, Viv! We got a lot more to take care of, or didn’t you realize that?”

Vivian’s lovely eyes were wide with confusion. “I didn’t know you needed me to stay through lunch,” she softly replied. “It won’t happen again.”

“See that it doesn’t,” he ordered, jerking into his beige suit coat.

Vivian cleared her throat and attempted to concentrate on the files lying on her desk. Her hands were shaking so badly, she could not focus.

“Are we still on for tonight?”

Viv jumped at the sound of his booming voice and nodded. “Yeah,” she assured him, her voice barely above a whisper.

Caesar nodded, his penetrating eyes shooting her a loathsome look. The office door closed with a vicious slam.

Vivian watched the door several minutes after he left. She realized she was holding her breath and rested her head against the desk. Caesar was right, she thought. He had never really lost his temper with her. She had never seen him act that way before and she hoped she never would again.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with him, Grammy. I never saw him so angry.”

Carlotta smiled as she listened to her granddaughter on the phone much later that day. “And he just started acting this way when you got back from lunch?”

“Yes!” Viv cried, still on edge from the earlier scene. “He seemed fine when Ray and I left for lunch.”

“You and Ray?”

“Yeah, Ray Warren.”

“I know Ray, dear. Caesar knew the two of you had a lunch date?” Carlotta asked.

“Yes,” Viv replied. It never occurred to her that Caesar could have been upset by her going out with another man.

Carlotta sighed, shaking her head at how clueless Vivian was. “Well, honey, I don’t know what to tell you,” she said, deciding to offer a listening ear and nothing more.

Just then the door opened and Viv saw Caesar. “Grammy, he’s back. I gotta go,” she whispered, pulling off her glasses. She watched him drop his keys to the bar and pour himself a glass of juice. “The grannies said ‘hey,’” she told him as he headed to his desk.

Caesar’s low chuckle filtered through the room. “How are they?” he asked.

“In Hawaii and having a ball.”

“Damn, they didn’t waste any time,” Caesar noted, walking around Viv’s desk and leaning against the edge.

Viv’s lashes fluttered as the crisp scent of his cologne drifted beneath her nostrils. “I guess they knew the company would be in good hands.”

Caesar swallowed his juice, before setting the glass aside. The humor in his entrancing, light brown stare faded to a more serious look. “Plum, I’m sorry about the way I acted earlier.”

Viv shook her head, a few loose curls slapping her cheeks. “No, Caesar. I really should’ve given you some idea about when I’d be back. I should’ve told you about my plans earlier. It was very irresponsible.”

Caesar tapped his fingers against his mustache and smiled. “I can’t believe I’m hearing you apologize.”

“Well, enjoy it because it won’t happen often.”

“I realize that,” he said, leaning down to bring his handsome face close. “I’m sorry anyway,” he whispered, cupping her small dark oval face in his massive hands. He pressed a quick kiss to her mouth and Viv gasped, her lips parting instantly. A low growl rumbled in Caesar’s throat and his tongue slipped inside the dark cavern of her mouth. Vivian whimpered as the slow, rhythmic thrusts of his tongue deepened. Her hands reached up to cover his where they cupped her face. She returned the possessive kiss eagerly as though she were starved for his kiss.

Suddenly, Caesar pulled away as though he was shocked by what had just happened. “Are you ready to get dinner?” he asked, moving away from her desk.

It took Vivian a moment to move from the edge of her seat. “I, um, I have my car, so I’ll…just meet you at Tony’s.”

“See you there,” Caesar called over his shoulder.

Vivian pressed her fingers against her lips and watched the door close behind him.

Chapter 4

Ican’t fall for him, but I’m not doing a very good job of resisting. Viv had been telling herself the same thing since she left work. As she parked her Porsche at Tony’s, a small sports bar not far from the office, she began to chant the phrase. She checked her reflection in the rearview mirror. Clearing her throat, she made a silent decision to try harder to resist Caesar Morrison’s potent charm, unique good looks and undeniable sex appeal.

Meanwhile, Caesar was inside the restaurant ordering himself to do the same thing. He told himself he couldn’t afford to let Viv into his heart any more than she already was.

He tossed back the rest of his beer and looked up just in time to see her walk into the dining room. He shook his head slowly and asked what it was about her. Sure, she was the most sultry member of Intrigue, she was smart, lovely and strong-willed, but she was just too quick-tempered and nerve-racking for him. At least, that’s what he told everyone. The truth was he enjoyed bickering with Viv—mainly because it was usually all on her side. Caesar knew if they started on a serious relationship, the one-sided bickering could easily turn into something more intense. Sooner or later, they would have shouting matches about her and how her fame was upsetting the relationship or vice versa. It would be too much and he would probably lose her all together. There was no way he could allow that to happen, best to keep things the way they were.

Vivian stopped by the bar and ordered a drink before making her way through the dining room. “Hey, Caesar,” she whispered, taking a seat at the secluded round table.

Caesar tilted his head back in greeting and watched Viv get situated.

Viv took in the quiet atmosphere of the practically empty restaurant.

Caesar looked around the dining room, as well. “I took a chance it’d be quiet around this time.”

Viv only smiled and turned her attention to her drink. She didn’t know what they should’ve been discussing: the deal or the kiss. Luckily, the waitress arrived with her drink and to take their orders.

“Let me have another Killian’s lager and I’ll have the chicken fettuccine with a lot of bread and salad.”

The waitress smiled at Caesar, nodding at his request.

“Let me have the T-bone steak, well-done, a big baked potato with cheese, sour cream and heavy butter, two rolls and a large tossed salad.”

“Thank you, Ms. Desmond,” the waitress replied, leaving the two celebrities alone.

“I guess the salad helps with the guilt, huh?”

Viv looked up at Caesar and frowned. “Excuse me?”

Caesar tapped his strong fingers against the table and shook his head. “I guess the salad is supposed to make you feel healthy after eating all that crap?”

“Crap?”

“Come on, Plum. AT-bone? All that red meat isn’t good for you.”

Viv couldn’t have been more surprised by his statement. “I know you didn’t just say that,” she scoffed.

Caesar shook his head. “And what about that potato? Cheese, sour cream and heavy butter? Are you tryin’ to kill yourself?”

“Well, considering the way football players eat, what I ordered was only a snack!” Viv snapped, her temper rising to full steam.

“All ball players don’t eat like that, Plum.”

“Humph, well then explain how most of you end up fat and sloppy?”

Caesar shrugged. “I didn’t say we all eat right, but the majority of us are in prime shape. We have to be.”

Viv laughed. “Mmm-hmm. You have to look good when you fumble the ball.”

Caesar threw his hands up in the air. “I don’t know why I even bother.”

The two of them retreated to their respective corners after that. Luckily, the food arrived quickly.

“Plum, I think we need to lay down some ground rules,” Caesar announced after they had been eating for a while.

Viv wiped her hands and sent him a cool look across the table. “Ground rules for what?”

“For the office. We got some issues that need to be addressed before we continue this…partnership.”

Viv took a sip of her white wine and frowned. “Caesar, what are you talkin’ about?”

“I’m talkin’ about you having lunch with Ray Warren.”

Viv groaned and buried her face in her hands. “I thought we had finished this conversation.”

Caesar’s brows drew close as he glared at her. “I don’t think we should have dates with the employees.”

Vivian’s gasp sounded loud in the quiet dining room. “What kind of stupid ground rule is that?”

“I think it’s an important one.”

“Ha!”

“Excuse me?”

“Caesar, cut the crap. You’re only making this rule because I beat you to the punch.”

“What the hell are you talkin’ about?”

Vivian’s glare faded into a cool stare and she smiled. “You’re only making this rule because my lunch date with Ray cut into whatever business you wanted to discuss with me and you’re still angry about it. If it was the other way around, you’d expect me to accept it. No questions asked.”

Caesar swirled his fork in the fettuccine and stabbed a plum morsel of the seasoned chicken. “I hoped we’d be able to agree on this.”

“Oh, we can,” Viv assured him, pushing her plate aside. Standing, she pointed a finger in his direction. “Let me tell you this, Caesar Morrison, if I see or even hear about you dating anyone in that office, you’ll regret the day you ever came to me with this bull.”

Caesar leaned back and toyed with the silky whiskers of his mustache. “I tell ya, Plum, you’re a hard one to figure out. I thought you’d like the idea of not having to see me with other women.”

Viv stood straight and planted one hand on her slender hip. “Why would I give a damn about who you see?”

Instead of responding, Caesar just watched her. His enticing brown stare raked her body suggestively. It was impossible to mistake the meaning in the gaze.

Vivian’s lashes fluttered slightly as images of the kiss they’d shared less than three hours ago came to mind. Shaking her head, she snatched her bag out of the empty seat.