Blind Attraction (10 page)

“Honestly, I’m just surprised James is actually with someone like that,” the first woman continued in a blasé tone. “He usually has an eye for quality.”

“Teresa.” There was a wealth of warning in the second woman’s increasingly familiar voice. Victoria knew she heard the woman before; she just couldn’t remember where. It was recent; maybe a customer? Or maybe the bank loan manager?

“Oh, of course!”
Teresa snapped her fingers. “He’s blind; no wonder he’s with someone with her obviously inferior breeding.”

“She’s not inferior, Teresa,” the second woman’s voice was considerably chillier. “I like
Victoria; I think that she’ll be good for my boss.”

Of course – Catherine.
Victoria couldn’t seem to slow the out-of-control beating of her heart or the slight trembling in her fingers. She should really let the two women know that she was there and could hear their private conversation. With a shaky breath, she squared her shoulders and walked around the thin wall. Victoria looked at the two gorgeous women: Catherine with her sleek, pale blond hair and gleaming, blue eyes, and Teresa with paler blond hair and pale gray eyes; both strangely reminiscent of Taylor.

“
Hi ,” Victoria said cheerfully, sitting down on the chaise next to Catherine, who smiled broadly at her arrival. Teresa looked displeased, her eyes narrowing as she glared contemptuously at Victoria. Forcing her smile to remain in place, Victoria was determined to make polite conversation. Looking at Teresa, she said, “It must be thrilling working with someone like James; he’s very inspirational.”

Catherine covered her mouth, her eyes sparkling, as Teresa sputtered, “Do I look like I work? I’m here with my boyfriend; he’s the one that works for James.”

Victoria glanced at Catherine, her brow furrowing; something James said coming back to her. “This is James’s company?”

“Oh, please,” Teresa scoffed, not buying
Victoria’s innocent act one bit. “Everybody knows who James Templeton is; you are so obvious.”

“Yes,” Catherine said, shooting a glare at Teresa before turning her attention back to
Victoria. “He started it up with Philip and Tony.”

“Wow,”
Victoria breathed thoughtfully. James’s comment about owning his own business made a lot more sense; of course it was his company. He really was too good to be true and sooner or later she was going to wake up to discover it had all been a dream. Moistening her lips, already knowing the answer, she asked, “And he’s successful?”

Teresa sneered, “As if you even need to ask; he’s a Templeton.”

“What does being a Templeton have to do with anything?” Victoria asked, obviously confused. Right; James’s last name was Templeton – that’s what he told her the first time they met. But, honestly, what did that have to do with anything? True, they were sitting the lavishly appointed bathrooms at the Templeton Conservatory, but it was totally possible that the names were just a coincidence.

“He’s a Templeton,” Teresa repeated as if talking to someone who was obviously too stupid to live. “In fact, he’s
the
Templeton; the area’s prime catch: extremely gorgeous, extremely single and extremely wealthy. You are not worthy of licking James’s Italian leather shoes and sleeping with him won’t get him to propose.”

“
Victoria’s a hell of a lot more worthy than you, Teresa,” Catherine effortlessly defended Victoria, who realized the fact that Teresa probably had slept with James, something to which Philip had alluded: gorgeous girls looking to see and be seen with the biggest fish of them all. Taylor was going to freak out. “How many men have you slept with in the hopes of getting one of them to propose?”

“Well, I’m not the only one,” Teresa said
snootily, staring pointedly at Catherine, before standing abruptly and storming out of the bathroom, leaving Catherine and Victoria in her wake.

Victoria
swallowed, ignoring the butterflies that were stampeding in her stomach. One would think that butterflies couldn’t do a lot of damage but when there was a whole herd of them… flock of them?… they could turn a normal belly into a full blown earthquake. She turned to Catherine and blurted, “You’ve slept with him, too, haven’t you?”

The older lady laughed, rich and husky.
“A long, long time ago, sweetheart, when I first became his assistant.”

Victoria
squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to know more but absurdly curious, “How can you continue working for him?”

“Because he was 22 when I became his assistant and even at that age he had this charisma that drew people to him
. It was humbling to be working for someone nearly seven years younger than myself but he was so driven, so… passionate.” She grinned deprecatingly, “It only lasted a few months and he was a generous lover but I prefer the way things are now. Besides, I’m a very happily married woman now and only want the best for him.”

Victoria
’s brows furrowed in consternation; from what she had seen of high society she knew that this wasn’t going to work, no matter how powerful the
zing
. James really needed someone posh like Taylor, not an off-the-rack shopper like herself. She didn’t just shop off the racks, she shopped at outlet malls and was sometimes known to check out flea markets for vintage items. If what Teresa said was true, Taylor definitely suited James better than Victoria ever could. Looking at Catherine, she shook her head, standing on unsteady legs, “This isn’t going to work.”

“What on earth are you talking about?” Catherine asked,
bemused by the expression in Victoria’s eyes. Standing, she looked at the girl who brought so much joy into Jimmy’s life, despite the short time of their acquaintance.

“I’m pretty sure there’s been some mistake,”
Victoria continued, suddenly needing to get out of there; to retreat to the safety of her apartment over her store. “Let him know that I wasn’t feeling well, or something, and I had to leave.”

“I know I haven’t known you for very long,” Catherine said haughtily. “But I didn’t take you for a coward.”

Victoria smiled ruefully, “Until I met James, I wouldn’t have either. But, I know how his world works, Catherine; I really don’t want to be a part of it.”

“Even if it mean
s being with him?” Catherine asked, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

Victoria
closed her eyes and sighed, “If only he weren’t so tempting and irresistible.”

Catherine chuckled, “You do know that I’ve done my research on you; you’re not completely out of his league.”

“What do you mean?” Victoria asked, opening her eyes and staring at Catherine.

“I
n order to best protect his interests I always investigate the women in James’s life,” she said matter-of-factly. “I know that you attended Wesmore Lakes on scholarship and graduated third. It’s a very prestigious school, Vi; as I’m sure you’re well aware.”

“I am,”
Victoria nodded slowly, her world tilting to the side a little. Part of being a brilliant businessman was surrounding oneself with brilliant people; James was even amazing in that area.

“I’m sure it took a lot of courage to go to a school where wealth and prestige dictate social standings, especially when you have neither,” Catherine said carefully. “I figured a girl who can accomplish something like that would be… braver.”

“Fine,” Victoria grimaced fighting a grin and liking Catherine immensely, despite the emotional blackmail. “I’ll say goodbye in person.”

“Excellent.” The tension in Catherine’s expression eased a bit as she left the bathroom with
Victoria. Taking her by the arm, Catherine slowed the pace so the two of them could have a few more moments to chat. “Don’t pay any attention to anything Teresa said; she’s just envious because James was never interested in her beyond a few nights.”

Victoria
swallowed past the tightness in her throat. “I think it would be very difficult to return to a normal life after being with someone like James.”

Catherine snorted, surprising
Victoria with the very unladylike sound. “Don’t put him on a pedestal, Vi; he’s just a man, just like any other.”

“I’m not sure what that means,”
Victoria murmured as she spotted James across the room standing in the middle of a small group. Everyone seemed to hang on his every word, nodding their heads in agreement to whatever her was saying. His relaxed manner and his friendly smile seemed to be at odds with her idea of a ruthless businessman. It was hardly relevant; just the sight of him had her insides trembling and her body responding. “He’s amazing.”

“He’s still just Jimmy,” Catherine said with an indulgent smile, her pride in James obvious. “Sometimes he can be a little… stubborn when it comes to what he wants. It’s obvious to everyone that he wants you.”

Victoria wasn’t sure why Catherine felt it was necessary to say something like that; it felt almost like a warning. Looking at Catherine, she didn’t see any malice, anything to suggest that she disapproved of Victoria. With a frown, Victoria said, “Well, I still think it’s best if I leave now.”

Catherine laughed, “He’s not going to let you go that eas
ily, Vi.”

“He can’t keep me here,”
Victoria protested, aware that Catherine was talking about something else altogether. But it wasn’t a matter of letting her go or keeping her; it was a matter of her being able to fit into his world. It was a lifestyle that she hadn’t wanted since she was seventeen and was humiliated at a pool party for wearing an off brand swimsuit. A few of the girls had ridiculed her with cruel words and then they ruined the suit as they tore it from her slightly more curvaceous body. She had been forced to wear her clothes while everyone else was frolicking in their skimpy bikinis. Taylor had been furious when she had finally shown up at the party, tearing the girls apart with her scathing words and cutting them dead socially.

It had been a sight to behold.

Hesitantly, Victoria made her way through the crowd, coming to a stop next to James. “I’m back.”

“
Victoria,” he said with a smile, finding her elbow and slowly moving his grasp down her forearm until he held her hand. “I was worried you abandoned me.”

Victoria
looked towards Catherine; did the two of them share ESP or something? How could he possibly know that she was going to leave without saying anything? Catherine simply smiled and offered a jaunty wave before turning away and wrapping her arms around an attractive blond Viking; most likely her husband. “Of course not.”

“Good,” James smiled, squee
zing her hand. “There are a few people I’d like to introduce you to; the St. Germaine’s have just hired our firm to remodel their estate and Terrance Parker is a potential investor; they will all be interested in meeting you.”

Victoria
hesitated, not eager to linger when she made a huge production out of leaving; not eager to meet Terrance, a friend of sorts from high school. He had been incredibly gorgeous and he had enjoyed making Victoria blush at the most inappropriate times with his blatantly sexual innuendos. During their senior trip to Daytona, he encouraged Victoria to drink as much tequila as possible, flirting with her as he out drank her two to one. Although she refused to drink until oblivion overcame her good senses, that didn’t stop Terrance from over-imbibing and trying to convince Victoria to sleep with him. He ended up sleeping with Taylor. Again.

As if sensing
her reluctance, James looked down at her and asked, “What is it?”

“I didn’t know that this was
your
company,” she blurted, tightening her grip on his hand and unconsciously revealing her uncertainty. She wasn’t going to mention her previous acquaintance with Terrance; there really wasn’t a need since she hadn’t seen him since she graduated from high school and got the heck out of Dodge. “Or that you’re apparently
the
Templeton; whatever that means.”

His lips quirked up in a half-smile, “It means absolutely nothing,
Victoria.”

“Okay,” she said, taking him at his word.  With a breath, she found a smile and decided that it was worth the risk. “Then I
will stay.”

His expression darkened, “You were planning on leaving?”

Leaning into him, she laid her head against his shoulder, “Well, I was thinking about it because it was a little bit intimidating realizing you’re kind of a big deal. But then I realized that I am the one here with you and I’m all right with you being
the
Templeton.”

Tugging at her hand, he grinned,
“Come, let me introduce you to a few of my friends and clients.”

“As comfortable as I am with your status I kind of want to keep you to myself for a while longer; would you mind?”
she asked as the first notes of a slow song started to play. Despite her resolve to stay, she had no desire to reacquaint herself with the boy she had a crush on in high school.

“I would like nothing more,” he said softly, reaching up and touching the smooth skin of her cheek.

“Will you dance with me?” she murmured, gently pulling him towards the floor where no one was dancing despite the beautiful music playing.