Читать книгу A Leap of Faith - Lenora Worth, Rachel Hauck - Страница 10

A motorcycle.

Autumn stared out the double windows of her father’s office, watching as Campbell lifted his long legs off a big black-and-chrome motorcycle. He wore a business suit and a red helmet. And those irritating suede sneakers.

“Does he always arrive in such a showy manner?” April asked her father’s secretary, Janice Duncan.

No one knew how old Janice was, and no one ever dared ask. She’d been a fixture at Maxwell Financial Group since Autumn was a baby. She’d had the same sensible short-clipped platinum hairstyle for as long as Autumn could remember. She never aged and she never, ever spoke about work or her personal life outside the office. Inside the office was another matter, however. She knew how to settle office squabbles and she knew how to peg new hires, and she didn’t mind telling the Maxwell clan when she thought someone wouldn’t make the cut. Autumn ranked Janice right up there with her own mother, trust-wise. So she knew she could depend on Janice to give her the goods, straight up, on Campbell Dupree.

“What’s he driving today?” Janice asked, her green eyes never leaving the computer screen in front of her.

“Something Harley-Davidson, I think,” Autumn said, careful to stand back so Campbell wouldn’t look up and find her spying. “It’s huge and shiny.”

“Oh, that’s nothing,” Janice said, eyes smiling through her black-framed glasses. “He also owns a vintage Corvette and an overhauled Chevy pickup that he says used to belong to his grandfather back in Louisiana.” Then Janice grinned. “He’s part Cajun, you know.”

“No, I didn’t know.”

Autumn watched as Campbell greeted the president of the Chamber of Commerce as both men arrived for work, his whole body stance animated and sincere. Since the chamber was right across the street, it figured that Campbell would get to know the staff there. Friendly fellow, she thought. Waving to everyone in town, laughing and chatting it up on Main Street. Probably mostly for show.

“Is he from Louisiana?” she asked Janice, following the other woman into the next room so Janice could grab papers from the buzzing printer.

“That’s what he told us. Grew up dirt-poor in some backwater bayou near the Gulf of Mexico.”

“Hmm.” Autumn gained a new respect for Campbell. He sure didn’t look dirt-poor now. His suit was well-made and fitted him perfectly. The fancy monster bike he’d parked out front had to have cost a pretty penny. “I guess he’s done okay for himself then.”

“I’d say,” Janice replied, her mind obviously on all the work she had to get done today. “He went to Tulane and Harvard, something about two different degrees. He’s worked for some of the top firms in the South—one in that other Atlanta—you know, the one in Georgia that our town is named after.”

“I’ve heard of the place, yes,” Autumn said, grinning. “Where else?”

“Houston, Baton Rouge and New Orleans.”

“Why does he move around so much?”

“Can’t say,” Janice said, stopping to stare at Autumn. “Why are you so curious?”

Autumn shrugged, then poured herself a cup of water from a nearby cooler. Her throat was dry this morning. “Well, I’d hate for him to run out on Daddy. What if he doesn’t last? I mean, we’re different here. Things move at a slow pace. I’m sure he’s not used to that.”

Janice gave her a wry smile. “Well, neither are you, city girl.”

“Okay, I get it,” Autumn said, smiling. “Enough questions, right? You have work to do and I’m hindering you.”

“You used to do that on a regular basis, remember?” Janice said, her smile good-natured.

“I guess I did. After school, on Saturdays, during tax season.”

Janice held up a hand. “Don’t mention tax season, please. We don’t have to worry about that until next spring.” Then she gave Autumn a wide smile. “It is good to have you back, though. All grown up, but still Daddy’s little girl.”

Autumn heard the double doors of the reception area opening. “Well, Daddy’s little girl is about to throw her weight around.”

Janice lifted her eyebrows. “What? All one hundred pounds or so?”

“I weigh more than that,” Autumn retorted, tossing her shoulder-length hair back off her neck. “But I hope I carry more weight around here than Campbell Dupree.”

Janice grinned. “I do believe things are about to change. Glad I didn’t retire along with your daddy.”

“I’ll make it worth your time, I promise,” Autumn told her as she pulled at her navy blazer. “Just watch.”

“Oh, I intend to,” Janice said to her departing back.

Campbell tossed his briefcase on one chair and his bag with two piping hot Danishes on the other, then stared at the woman standing by his desk. “Autumn? What a nice surprise. I think.” He arched his neck, looking around toward the other office.

“My father’s not here, if that’s who you’re looking for,” Autumn said, her arms crossed, her eyes full of fire and dare.

Campbell braced himself, taking his own defensive stance while he took in her crisp tailored suit and even crisper white cotton blouse. Her shoes were a matching navy leather. Pumps. He’d always admired women who wore pumps.

Except this one had obviously come dressed to kill. And he had the distinct feeling he was the one she was gunning for.

“So what can I do for you on this lovely fall day?” he asked, quickly moving his battered brown briefcase so she could sit down. If she wanted to.

She didn’t. “Can the charm, Dupree. You and I have a few things to settle between us.”

He watched the way her soft dark curls fell against the white collar of her prim blouse, giving her a look of pristine disarray. “Can I have my Danish and coffee first?”

Right on cue, Janice entered with a steaming mug, grinned at them, then left the room with raised eyebrows.

Autumn watched Janice beat a hasty exit. “Suit yourself.” She didn’t move a muscle, and her eyes never left his face.

“Look,” he said, holding his hands out, palms up, “I know we didn’t get off to a very good start the other day, but…you’re here now. Let’s start over.”

She stood there like a pretty doll, looking as if she might break if he touched her. So Campbell went about the business of lacing the coffee Janice had placed on his desk with two heavy creams. Then he set his strawberry cream cheese Danish out on a napkin, cut it down the middle, then sat down to stare up at her. “Want half?”

He breathed a sigh of relief when she sank down in one of the black-leather high-backed chairs across from his desk. She eyed the messy Danish with disdain. “No, thanks, I’m not hungry. And why didn’t you take my father’s office?”

That question threw him. “Because it’s still your father’s office. That won’t change.”

She pushed at the sensible silver clip holding her hair back off her face. “I can’t believe he retired.”

Campbell felt something deep in his heart turning as mushy as the inside of his Danish. “More like, you can’t believe he retired and didn’t tell you.”

“That, too.”

“That must have made you angry.”

“More like, hurt.”

“Well, don’t be.”

“Actually, I’m more hurt and concerned that he had a heart attack and told you instead of me.”

“Only because I work for him.”

“Right. But that’s not the issue. The issue is his health and well-being.”

“Yes, of course. And just to set your mind at ease, he’s taking care of himself. Your mother is making sure of that.”

“So she tells me.”

“You don’t look convinced.”

“I’m kind of that way—I have to see something with my own eyes to believe it.”

“I’ll make a note of that.”

She settled back against the chair, then crossed her long legs. Campbell caught a brief glimpse of her feet, and admired her shoes again. He almost missed the days of working with heavy-bellied, gray-haired, golf-playing executives back in New Orleans. Almost.

“I’m not going back to New York,” she told him in an I-dare-you voice. “I’m going to stay right here and work. With you.”

That sounded like a challenge, and he could never turn down a good challenge. So he stated the obvious. “With me.”

“That’s what I said.”

“But you really don’t want to do that, do you? I mean, work with me.”

“No, not really. But then, we don’t always get what we want, do we?”

“Amen to that.”

They sat there staring across the mahogany desk at each other until Campbell once again offered her half of the Danish. He held it out, hoping she’d see it as a truce. Besides, he had another whole one for later in his bag.

Autumn took the flaky concoction, grabbing it and the napkin before the strawberry filling could fall out on her skirt. Then she eyed his coffee.

“Want some?”

“I could use a good strong cup. But I like mine black.”

He got up. “I’ll file that away for future reference.”

“Where are you going?”

“To make you a pot of strong black coffee.”

He thought he saw admiration flickering in her eyes. And he couldn’t help the smile that split his face as he headed down the hall to the break room.

Two hours later, they had talked about everything from 401(k) accounts, penny stocks and mutual funds to overhauling Social Security. They’d covered real estate investments, capital gains, market losses, asset management and property and estate taxes.

They’d just polished off the second Danish—this one apple—and a whole pot of coffee.

Campbell sat back in his chair, his hands clasped at the back of his neck. “Okay, you win. I haven’t been able to trip you up on anything financial.”

“Were you trying to trip me up?” Autumn asked, comfortable with him for the moment. She’d sure had fun discussing work with him. Too much fun.

“Weren’t you trying to trip me up?” he retorted, his winning smile almost winning her over.

Almost. But not quite yet.

“I just wanted to make sure you—”

“You wanted to make sure I wouldn’t run your father’s company into the ground,” Campbell finished for her, his eyes glistening like diamond chips. “I can appreciate that.”

“Wouldn’t want it any other way, right?” Autumn countered, enjoying the back and forth of their conversations. That should irritate her, but it didn’t. Not a good sign. That and the fact that Campbell Dupree was right on target with his financial savvy and his math skills. She couldn’t find anything else to nitpick about.

“That’s right.” He leaned forward in his chair, his hands dropping over the stacks of clutter on his desk. The man obviously didn’t believe in organization. “I wouldn’t have taken this job if my only purpose was to do in Maxwell Financial Group, Autumn. That wouldn’t do me any good, now, would it?”

She caught the hint of Cajun in his words. It was in the inflection, in the way his eyes gleamed, in the way he tilted his head to one side. Lethal. If this man really wanted to turn on the charm, she knew it would be killer.

Why was he showing so much restraint around her? Well, she was the boss’s daughter. And he was minding his p’s and q’s, no doubt.

“No, I guess you want to make money right along with the rest of us,” she said in answer to his question. “And you seem to be very good at your job.”

“I try.”

“Will my being here bother you?”

He gave her a look that made her think he was already bothered with her being here. And then he confirmed that notion. “Most definitely.”

“But you will behave and help me adjust, right?”

“For sure.”

“And we both agree that my father is still in charge, even if he spends more time on the golf course now than in the office?”

“He’s the boss.”

“And we both agree that we only want the best for our clients and their investments, right?”

His eyes flirted while she spoke. “Absolutely.”

“And we can be equal partners. No special privileges just because Richard Maxwell is my father. We’re a team.”

“We are most definitely a team. I’m here to work for your father and our clients. I expect you to do the same.”

“Good, then. I think I can work with you.” She prayed. She hoped. She’d have to be careful with that throwing-her-weight-around stuff.

“I know I can work with you.”

His confidence was inspiring.

He stood up, reached out a hand. She took it and shook hands with him, very much aware of the warmth of his touch, of the firm, confident way he shook her hand. Very much aware of the way his eyes locked with hers in that bold, daring look. Campbell was willing to take her on, but she figured he was also willing to toy with her just a bit. Just to keep things interesting.

“I’m glad we talked this out,” he finally said, letting go of her hand.

Autumn felt warm and cold at the same time. Maybe this was a bad idea, after all. Just thinking about being here, day in and day out, with this man around, caused her to break out in hives.

“Work,” she said, clearing her throat. “We have to focus on the work, Campbell. Not our own agendas.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Are you listening?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Autumn got up, then stood with her hands on the back of her chair. “Okay, you have to stop that.”

He shrugged, shuffled some papers. “Stop what?”

She touched a hand to her collar, moved her head around. “That…that thing you do with your eyes.”

“It’s called looking.”

“Well, you can’t look at me that way.”

“What way is that?”

“You know what way. I’m not one of your conquests, Campbell. I’m… We have to be serious, focused, determined.”

“I am all of those things, I can assure you. And how do you know about my conquests?”

“Just a calculated guess.”

“Hmm.”

She came around the chair and leaned across the desk, her knuckles turning white as she balanced her hands on the cool glass-covered surface. “Okay, here’s the deal. I am going to stay here in Atlanta for a few months and work here at Maxwell. Only because my father needs me to do so, and only because I lost my job in New York and it’s lonely there without April and Summer. And only until I can decide what to do next. You are going to respect me, and confer with me, and treat me as an equal partner in all matters concerning this business. I go by the book and I follow the rules. I hope that’s clear.”

“Crystal.”

“And while we’re discussing this—I don’t bring personal business to work, I work hard and I work late. And if you buy breakfast, you might need to know I like my coffee black and I like half a bagel with a little fruit on the side. I don’t date coworkers and I don’t like flirting in the workplace. Is that clear?”

He got up, leaned his hands on the desk and brought his head down until they were face-to-face, nose to nose and eye to eye. “Very clear. Now let me tell you a few things about me and how I operate. I know how to make money for people. It’s a gift that I will never take for granted. I admire and respect your father, so you can rest easy that I will always put this company’s best interests first. I like to come in early and work late, but I also sometimes like to take long rides on my Harley, just to clear my head.”

“I assume you pay exorbitant insurance rates on that thing?”

“That and my Corvette, but I’ve got the funds to cover it and I enjoy my toys.”

“Suit yourself. What else do you want to tell me?”

He thought about it for a minute, as if there was so much more he had to say. “I like new experiences, and I like getting to know other people. I like my coffee heavy with cream, and I have a sweet tooth the size of this state. I don’t eat liver, but I do like gumbo made with duck or turkey, even though seafood gumbo is my favorite.”

She grinned. “Well, who doesn’t like gumbo? Go on.”

Campbell grinned right back. “So this is Campbell Dupree 101?”

“I’m learning a lot. Keep spilling it, Dupree.”

“You might not like what you hear.”

“I told you, I like to know things. I need proof.”

He gazed over at her, that challenge in his eyes again. “Okay, I have a weakness for King Cake and pralines, but I work off things like that by getting out and living a little, staying active. So don’t panic if I don’t jump when you say jump, or if it seems as if I’m not working when I really am.” He tapped a finger to his forehead. “I don’t always go by the book, but it’s always on, inside my brain.”

“Is that it?”

He nodded, still too close. “Oh, there is one other thing.”

She breathed in the scent of something fresh and clean. His shampoo or soap, and maybe a little strawberry. “What?”

His eyes moved over her face, touching on her lips. “I like to flirt. A lot. But I don’t intend to do that with you, because I am also a professional, and because I respect you way too much to make you feel uncomfortable. However, sometimes, I slip up and break all the rules. I just want to be clear on that, okay? So cut me some slack.”

Autumn stood straight up, casting her eyes down just so she could catch her breath. “I don’t like cutting people any slack,” she said, sending him a confident look in spite of the shaking of her hands. “I’ll just have to ignore that side of you—a lot.”

Then she turned and hurried out of his office, her back straight, her heels clicking a hasty path away from him and his rules he aimed to break.

He was just that kind of man—the kind who could cause a woman to break all the rules right along with him.

She needed another drink of water.