Better than Sexy (The Sexy 3)

“I can’t shower here and put these clothes back on. Gag. So you’re right. A little powder and freshening up and it’s as good as it’s going to get.” She pushed open the door and they walked into the women’s locker area.

“Want me to join you?” Ellie asked.

Vivi nodded. “A second set of ears is always good. I might miss something.”

They pulled themselves together as best they could. Thanks to the items the gym set out on the counters, Vivi used dry shampoo in her hair and piled it up into a messy bun and spritzed vanilla body spray on her when she finished washing, touched up her makeup, and called it a day.

A little while later, she and Ellie walked into Owen’s office. Anya, his secretary, greeted them with a smile. “Hello, ladies. He’s expecting you. Go on in.”

Vivi knocked once and opened the door, letting them inside.

Her agent remained seated but another man rose from his chair, and Vivi couldn’t take her eyes off him. Tall, broad shouldered, with sexy scruff covering his face and incredibly blue eyes, he was, in a word, gorgeous. His hair was a dark brown, the front dipping lower on his forehead. And that full mouth was made for sin.

“Vivienne, did you hear me? This is Landon Bennett,” Owen said.

She’d been caught staring, and a knowing grin lifted the other man’s sensual lips. Because his eyes had raked over her spandex-clad body and said body had reacted in a very obvious way, she didn’t feel bad. It would have been even more awkward if she wrapped her arms around herself and covered her now perky nipples, so she somehow kept them at her sides.

“A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Zane,” he said.

“Hello, Mr. Bennett.” Her voice sounded huskier than normal.

“Call me Landon.” He stepped forward, extending his hand.

“I’m Vivi.” She clasped her hand in his larger one, and a jolt of awareness licked through her veins.

Was it her imagination or did he hold on a second or two longer than was necessary? For sure when he released her, she felt the loss.

Ellie nudged her in the side and Vivi coughed. This man seriously had her off-kilter. “This is Ellie Roberts, my personal assistant.”

“Nice to meet you, Ellie.”

Even his voice was smooth and perfect, Vivi thought, and when he smiled at Ellie, as ridiculous as it sounded, Vivi was jealous he’d turned that megawatt grin on someone else.

“I’m sorry to have dragged you away from your workout.” His gaze once again slid over her body, this time in a much more blatant appraisal.

Owen cleared his throat. “Now that the formalities are finished, we can move on to business,” Owen suggested in his not-so-subtle way.

“Ladies?” Landon gestured toward the two open chairs, and they settled into their seats. Only then did he follow.

The man had more manners than her agent, she thought.

“So Vivienne, Landon owns Club TEN29 in Tribeca. I’m sure you’ve heard of it.” Owen picked up his pen and tapped it against the desk.

She nodded. “You just had the live reunion concert for Tangled Royal.” She’d read it in the trade blogs and sites online.

“That’s right. We saw your viral video and we’d like to offer you a summer residency.”

She blinked, certain she had to be hearing him wrong. “Residency?”

“Yes. Your agent has the contract.” He tipped his head toward Owen, who had dollar signs in his eyes and was practically drooling on his desk.

Her heart squeezed in excitement; however, she heard her lawyer mother’s voice inside her head. Never show your hand, Vivi. Always say you’ll think about it, then take the time to go over the contract. Show it to me. Don’t rush in your excitement to grab a deal. Her mother, Anne Marie Zane, who’d always believed in her.

“I appreciate the offer, Mr. … I mean Landon,” she said, doing her best to remain calm when all she wanted to do was scream, I’ll take it!

“As I told you before Vivienne arrived, we have certain requirements,” Owen said.

They did?

“Vivienne requires an upscale place to stay, food and beverage comped, and a rider with her list of particular items she will need on hand.”

Ellie gasped, then covered it with a cough.

“Owen, these are all things we need to discuss first.” She had an apartment in Manhattan. True, it was a month-to-month shithole, and she lived on tap water and whatever was on sale at the local grocery or bodega. She couldn’t believe Owen was discussing her contract as if she were somebody.

Of course, that was what she paid him for, but she didn’t want Landon to think she was a spoiled celebrity out to milk him for all he was worth. The things she wanted from this contract weren’t frivolous or meant to make her look like a diva. They would help establish her future and pay off any debt she had now. But she’d get into her needs when it came to dealing with her agent. Negotiating with the man was Owen’s job. She just didn’t want him to make her look like a diva.