One Night Standards Read Free

that one. “Older or younger? Your brother and sister,” she asked.
    It was an opening, so he took it. “My sister, Dana, is younger by three years. My brother Jeff is older by two.”
    â€œYou sound close,” she noted.
    â€œWell, you must be close to your family, if you’re working with them,” he said. “How do you manage without going crazy?”
    She smiled. “We do go crazy. Mom’s a bit of an absentminded professor,” she said, and her expression was soft, unguarded. “Lydia’s a creative type. She’s younger by only about ten months…a total ‘oops’ baby. She acts like she’s older, though.”
    Mark nodded, encouraging. “And you’re not the creative type?”
    â€œI’m the business type,” she said. “Numbers, strategy, you name it. That’s what I—” She stopped short, as if she realized that they were, indeed, having a conversation about her company. “I must be boring you, with all this talk,” she demurred.
    He gritted his teeth. He’d need to try another tack.
    She shifted in her seat to face him. “Listen, can I be blunt?”
    â€œPlease,” he replied easily, shifting gears. Whatever it took to keep her talking.
    â€œI know who you work for. It’s right there on your product boxes.” She crossed her arms. “You’re my competition. You know that.”
    Now he did sigh. He doubted she would have missed that, but he didn’t know that she’d put together that they were competitors. “Well, yeah. But that doesn’t mean we can’t, you know, talk.”
    â€œActually,” she pointed out, “it does. At least, it means I can’t talk to you, about business.”
    â€œIt’s not like we’re even in the same league,” he replied. “No offense intended.”
    â€œNone taken,” she said, her words edged in ice.
    â€œI mean, Trimera is huge. Global. From the sounds of it, your company…What’s the name of it, anyway?”
    â€œDiva Nation.”
    Good name, he thought absently. “It’s a small start-up. You’re too small for us to be worried about.”
    â€œReally?” she said sweetly. “And I suppose mentioning the Marion & Co. meeting did nothing to cause you concern.”
    She had him there.
    â€œYou can’t honestly tell me that you’re asking about my company out of the kindness of your heart,” she added. “I mean, you seem nice enough, but you’ve been trying to pump me for information since you got on the road. Don’t kid a kidder. I used to work for a big company, too. Nothing’s too small to be a threat. You’re looking for an angle.” Her voice was bitter. “I remember what it’s like.”
    He realized she was right—and her comment made him feel ever so slightly slimy. “It was just business,” he said, knowing it was a lame defense.
    She shook her head, her curls twitching in response. “It always is,” she murmured.
    â€œHow old are you?” he asked.
    She blinked in surprise. “Twenty-nine,” she responded. “Not that it’s any of your business.”
    â€œI just thought—you’re awfully young to be that jaded.”
    She sighed. “You’re right. But I’ve had some bad experiences.”
    â€œWhy don’t you tell me about them?”
    â€œWhat are you, a bartender?”
    He chuckled. “You don’t have to tell me about your business now, if you think it’ll compromise you,” he said. “But you could tell me about your old job, right?”
    Glancing over, he saw she was staring at him through narrowed eyes. “Are you trying to soften me up?”
    â€œYeah,” he admitted, and was rewarded when she laughed. “But I am interested.”
    â€œKnow thy enemy, huh?”
    â€œWe’ve got another five hours ahead of