Nailed (3 page)

“Exclusive rights—”

He held up his hand. “Don’t worry. They have a guaranteed minimum order for a collection for all four seasons, plus a holiday collection. And exclusivity is only guaranteed for one year. After that you can continue the arrangement or choose to supply other stores. You can really go either way. With them you’ll be established as a high-end product and can charge whatever you like for your polish. Probably in the thirty-to-fifty-dollar range. If you open up to other stores, you’ll probably want to drop your price, or come out with a more affordable line for department stores, but keep a more exclusive line for Rapture.”

Her heart was in palpitations and her breathing uneven. Here he was casually talking about her polish being sold by
Rapture
 … and she was still getting over the shock that such a thing was even possible.

“I don’t know how … I mean … they’ll really carry my polishes?”

*   *   *

Kane’s heart swelled at the sight of the subdued joy in her eyes. She blinked, clearly in disbelief.

He leaned forward and took her hand, pleased when she didn’t jerk it away.

“Yes, River. They really will.”

“But…”

He thought he saw tears shimmering in her eyes, but she blinked them back.

“Why did you do this?”

He compressed his lips. “I want to make up for what happened between us.”

Now she snatched her hand from his, her head shaking. “You can’t … this won’t…”

He took her hand again, and held it tight enough she couldn’t pull it away. “But it’s a start.”

She stared at him, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. He released her hand and she leaned back in her chair. She picked up her glass and finished the liqueur. As soon as she put it down, he refilled it.

“I’ll have to work quickly,” she said. “They want five hundred bottles?”

“Actually, seven hundred. For now. Then they want you to deliver another five hundred within a month after that.”

“Seven hundred bottles,” she said, her voice a little shaky. She stared at her hands, then nodded. “Okay. I’ll get going on that. Thank heavens I already have three hundred ready to go.” She raised her gaze to his. “I’ll get it done.”

“I know you will. And if there’s anything I can do to help…”

She tipped her head. “You want to help mix nail polish and fill bottles?” she asked doubtfully.

He laughed. But in fact, the thought of spending countless hours working by her side, sleeves rolled up, helping her achieve her dream held a certain appeal. Especially the idea of being alone with her.

“I’m happy to do that, but there are more efficient ways I could be of use. Like supplying staff to help you get the work done.”

She shook her head. “No, that would increase the expenses. I don’t have enough up-front capital.”

“It’s not a problem if I pay for them.”

She frowned. “Get this straight right now. I will not accept charity from you.”

“Fair enough. But if I’m your partner, it’s not charity.”

“What? No. No way. You are not my partner.”

He shrugged. “The only way to get the deal with Rapture is if I’m a partner. Francoise won’t make a deal like this with an unknown entity. She knows me and knows if I’m involved, she has no worries about the product being delivered on time and being of the highest quality.”

His heart ached at the disappointment etching her eyes.

Her hands clenched around the armrests and she pushed herself to her feet. “Well, I should have known it was too good to be true.” She started across the room. “Good night.”

“River, wait. Are you really going to walk away from this deal for such a small thing?”

She spun around, glaring at him. “Small? Giving up control of my company to you?”

He stood and walked toward her. “Sweetheart, I’m not taking over your company.”

“Don’t call me sweetheart,” she said through gritted teeth.

“I’ll simply be an investor. You will control the company.”

She planted her hands on her hips. “I don’t believe you.”

“Why would I want to run a nail polish company? Can’t you just accept that I want to help you?”

“To pay me back for what you did? Well, that will never happen. It’ll never be enough.”

She continued to the door.

“River, just think about it. We can meet again in a couple of days.”

She hesitated, her hand on the doorknob.

“Don’t let your dream slip away. Meet me at Hades on Tuesday evening.”

Hades was a trendy uptown bar. The irony wasn’t lost on him that she would feel she was making a deal with the devil.

She sucked in a deep breath. “I’ll think about it. But don’t expect a yes.”

“No worries there. I never know what to expect from you.”

*   *   *

River got on the bus and took a seat near the middle doors. She stared out at the passing cars as the bus drove.

Why? Why did it have to be
him
?

At the memory of the embarrassment and humiliation he’d caused her so many years ago, heat rose to her cheeks. She’d been devastated. When he’d asked her out, she’d thought he’d actually been attracted to her … she’d definitely been attracted to him. But to him the whole thing had just been … nothing.

She should have known. Right from the beginning, her best friend had warned her. But she’d thought Luanne had just been overprotective and maybe even a little jealous. River and Luanne had both been those girls that nobody quite got. Quirky and a little too strange. Certainly not someone the most eligible, attractive guy at school would be interested in.

First year of college—Spring semester

River stared at the symbols in her chemistry textbook, brushing back her hair as the breeze fluttered it across her face. The sun shone brightly on this warm, spring afternoon. She’d rather be doing anything other than studying, but the final exam was tomorrow and chemistry was her worst subject. She had to ace it to keep her scholarship.

She breathed in deeply, the fragrance of the lilacs tempting her to sit back and enjoy the sight of the campus around her. For a while, a few guys had been playing Frisbee on the grass beside her, but when a few of their friends joined them, they sat on the grass and chuckled then talked low amongst themselves. She ignored them, keeping her gaze on her book. They were probably rating the girls walking by.

She turned the page.

“Hey, studying for the exam tomorrow?”

She glanced up from her book to see Kane Winters standing by the bench. Her breath caught.

He was stunningly gorgeous, as usual. He wore dark denim jeans and a casual blue shirt with alternating darker and lighter blue stripes, and enough buttons open at the neck to give her a glimpse of his muscular chest. His dark hair was slightly longer than his friends’ more close-cropped styles, yet combed neatly into place. The thick waves gleamed in the sunlight. And the smile he flashed her was heart-stopping.

His deep blue, almost purple eyes were locked on her and she felt … exposed.

He sat down beside her and she pushed herself straighter, her back stiffening. He’d never said a word to her before—in fact, she’d been sure he didn’t even know she existed—yet now here he was, sitting beside her. Talking to her.

“Yeah. And you?” she asked.

Oh, God, that was stupid. Of course he wasn’t studying. He’d just been sitting with his friends. And he always pulled off As in chemistry. And every other class she was in with him.

He shrugged. “I’ll look over my notes tonight.” Then he smiled. “If you’d like some help studying, maybe we could get together.” He sent her a disarming smile, a definite glint in his indigo eyes. “Chemistry is my specialty.”

The seductive tone in his voice sent tremors through her. She was pretty sure the chemistry he was talking about was not the same as in the textbook. God, was he actually coming on to her?

“I don’t know…”

“We could grab some dinner first. There’s this great place on Main. Donatello’s. Know it?”

She frowned. “I can’t afford a place like that.”

“My treat.”

“No, I’m sorry.”

“Okay, we can just grab a pizza at this place called Stefano’s on Kilburn, then go back to my place to study.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Come on. You have to eat, right? And you’re going to be studying anyway. Why not with me?”

Oh, God. She didn’t understand this and she didn’t think she wanted to. Because she feared if she did understand why this popular, sexy stud was talking to her—inviting her out—that she wouldn’t like the reason.

She wanted to take him up on his offer. To live like someone who wasn’t a misfit. To know what it felt like to be accepted.

And because she was wildly attracted to him. She had been from the moment she’d first set eyes on him in September on the first day of classes. But she’d known right then and there that he was someone she’d never get to know. Never date.

But now here he was, asking her out. How could she say no?

Then he flashed her that smile again and her barriers withered.

“Okay,” she said.

“Great. I’ll pick you up at five.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll meet you there. Five-thirty?”

“Sure.”

He stood up and she watched him walk back to his friends. A few of them were chuckling and whispering amongst themselves, but when he returned, they got up and started tossing the Frisbee again.

By bus, it would take her at least forty-five minutes to get to Kilburn Street. Sometimes she cursed her own stubbornness at not accepting things from others.

She saw Luanne walking toward her, her gaze on the guys. She slumped into the seat beside River.

“What were you doing talking to him?” Her tone sounded accusing.

“I don’t know. He just came over and invited me to study with him tonight.”

“You’re kidding, right?” Luanne said.

River shook her head.

“You’re not going, are you?”

At River’s silence, Luanne’s brown eyes widened. “What the hell? Are you crazy?”

“He’s good at chemistry and I could use the help.”

“You don’t really think he’s interested in studying, do you?”

“Well, I doubt he wants to
do
anything with me. I’m not exactly his type.”

“That’s true. But it wouldn’t stop him from having sex with you if he got the chance.”

“What if that was okay with me?”

“It’ll be okay with you if he nails you just to show he can? ’Cause maybe he’s going slumming, or just wants some variety?”

“You’re being pretty insulting, Luanne. You don’t think he might actually like me?”

Luanne snorted. “Based on what evidence? Up ’til now you’ve been totally invisible to him.”

River closed her textbook and pushed it into her backpack. Luanne could be insensitive and callous sometimes.

“I’m heading home.”

When she stood up, Luanne grasped her arm. “Riv, just be careful, okay?”

River glanced at the concern in Luanne’s brown eyes and nodded. Her friend was just looking out for her.

“Of course. I’ll see you later.”

*   *   *

River arrived at the restaurant at five-thirty to find that Kane had already ordered a pizza for them and a couple of sodas. She felt awkward as she sat down at the table across from him.

“I got the special,” he said. “You aren’t vegetarian, are you?”

She shook her head.

The waiter brought their pizza and set it on a metal stand.

Kane placed a slice on her plate, then one on his, then he took a bite.

She watched his full lips move as he ate. Desire coiled inside her at the thought of those lips moving on hers. Of his masculine hands gliding along her skin. Of him undressing her and …

“River?”

She snapped to attention as she realized he’d just said something.

“What?”

“Don’t you want any pizza? I could get you something else.”

“No, that’s okay.” She picked up a piece and bit into it. It was warm and cheesy, with a spicy flavor from the Italian sausage.

“So what do you plan to do when you graduate?” he asked.

She shrugged. Graduation was a long way off. “I’m not sure yet.”

All she knew for certain was that she wanted a better future than her parents had offered. Her dad had been in and out of jail when she’d been growing up—she’d never known why—then finally her mom had left him. Her mom was an exotic dancer and worked until all hours of the night. River used to be afraid sleeping in the apartment all by herself, always relieved when she finally heard her mother come in at night.

Unless she’d had a man with her.

Kane raised an eyebrow. “No idea?”

“I’m taking a broad spectrum of classes to keep my options open. I like math but I also like art. I’m taking sciences to keep more avenues available, but I like physics better than chemistry.”

“So you’ll just figure it out as you go along?”

She nodded and took a sip of soda. “It’s hard because the courses I like aren’t very practical, but the ones that are practical don’t interest me much.”

He picked up another piece of pizza and put it on his plate. “What do you think is practical?”

“I don’t know. Being an accountant … going into law.”

“But you don’t like those?”

She shook her head.

“I know you’re taking at least one business course. What about that? An MBA will help you get a good job.”

She glanced his way. He’d noticed she was in his business class, too?

“Sure, but I won’t be going to graduate school.”

She would have a hard enough time paying off the student loans for the expenses her scholarship didn’t cover.

She pushed aside her plate. “What about you? You probably have it all planned out.”

“Pretty much. I’ll be getting an MBA, then I’ll start my own company. A friend of mine who’s in computer science has some great ideas. I have money in trust from my grandparents to start a business, so we’ll be partnering to do a start-up.”

River was sure he meant Will Anderson, a studious, almost nerdy guy so unlike the frat boys he usually hung around, yet they seemed to be best buddies. Will was in the one computer science class she took and he always pulled off As.