Tangled in Tulle: Tulle and Tulips, Book 1 Read Free Page A

interested in those kinds of details?”
    Her monotone question wasn’t the reaction he’d hoped for.
    “It’s my wedding too, but my mind can easily be swayed by the bride I’ve chosen. And I guess with only fifty people we could do with only one cake.” He smiled slowly and captured her milk chocolate gaze with his. “There’s nothing about her I don’t want to know. Nothing I don’t love.”
    “She’s a lucky woman.”
    He didn’t blink or look away. “I’m a lucky man to know her.”
    “Do you want to talk details now, or at another meeting?”
    His vote was now so he could spend more time with her, but going for later gave him more time to plan. This was one merger he couldn’t afford to miss a step on. “It’s going to have to be later.”
    “Fine.” Lori stood and smoothed the seam of her pleated slacks. “I have someone waiting for me, and you and I need to finalize the business deal first or I have no reason to plan anyone’s wedding.”
    “Of course.” Except this one. He followed her to the door, almost placing his palm at the small of her back, just a small touch, but he resisted the suggestive intimacy. “I’ll contact you as soon as the contract is drawn up.”
    “I look forward to hearing from you.” Without a trace of personal meaning in her words, she shook his hand tersely, then strode to the elevator.
    He couldn’t see her face, but the rise of her ears and the shift of her scalp told him she grinned. It wouldn’t be the last time he put happiness on her face, and she wouldn’t always hide it from him.
    “Lori.”
    She stopped, but didn’t turn. “Yes?”
    “Would you begin sketching a dress? Anything you would love will be more than suitable.”
    If she found his request for sketches odd, she kept it to herself and only nodded once. “Of course.”
    Smiling, as much from the sad quiver in her voice—he’d bet on jealousy—as from seeing her again, Trevor turned to his new assistant. “Gina, would you get Bill from legal and Randy from maintenance up here? Warn Bill we’re possibly in for a long afternoon and let Randy know her maintenance team is in for some overtime.”
    He had the perfect space for Lori’s shop and it was conveniently located. For him.
    “Yes, sir.”
    “And once they’re here, take the rest of the day off. Maybe go to a salon for a massage or facial or something. Use the company card. You’ve put in your share of long afternoons lately.” They both had since he’d taken the company back from Breck, because no matter how fancy his degrees or how great his intentions were, his best friend was better suited for leading his FBI team than for running a large corporation.
    And since returning with a new drive and hiring Gina, Trevor had been intent on erasing the damage Edwin had caused the company—publicly and internally. Thankfully, things were smoothing out, new securities and policies were being implemented. He was still scouting for the right person to head up security, but now was as good a time as any to shift some of his focus to Lori.
    She wouldn’t see him coming.

Chapter Three
    “Ms. Mullins.” Damien Spencer, her attorney for the last fifteen years, smiled as he held her hand in his firm and slightly over-friendly grasp. Because he’d been privy to some of her secrets he thought he knew her and mistakenly believed they’d make a sensible merger. “I’m not sure where you found Mr. Masters, or how you got this deal put together so quickly, but you couldn’t have asked for better terms.”
    Except the part where I now have to deal with him on a permanent basis. “He’s been more generous than I’d hoped.”
    “Well, congratulations. Let me know if I can do anything else for you.”
    “I will. Thank you for being available today.” Extricating her hand as casually as possible, she nodded and pushed the down button on the elevator. Damien’s work here was done, but Trevor had asked her to stay—probably to talk about