“Thank you again for dinner.” Tyler waited while she pulled his coat from the closet.
“You’re welcome.” The best way to a man’s... Iris cut off the thought. It wasn’t productive. “Good luck with your presentation. I’m sure the executive team will love it.”
“They’re a tough crowd.” Tyler managed a smile though she could still see the heat in his eyes.
“You’re not that easy to please, either. If you like it, I’m sure they will, too.”
“I hope so.” He hesitated a moment or two longer.
Iris waited for him to say whatever else was on his mind. Instead he pivoted toward the door. In one fluid motion he opened it and walked out.
“Good night, Iris.” He tossed out the words as though they were an afterthought.
“Good night,” she responded to his back.
Iris locked her door, then wandered back to her kitchen. Her mind wove a rich fantasy. What if she and Tyler had met some other way? How would they have spent the weekend? Iris grew warm with the possibilities. Based on her body’s reaction to Tyler’s kisses, it would have been a weekend to remember. She shook her head as she packed her dishwasher. She’d been open to love—and the joke was on her. Love seemed to have shown itself at the worst possible time. But when “Osiris’s Journey” released July 10, her contract with Anderson Adventures would be fulfilled. That was nine weeks from today. They could wait until then, couldn’t they?
Chapter 8
“They’re more interested in the free food than your speech.” Donovan pounded Tyler’s shoulder.
“That’s not helpful.” Tyler winced.
Three weeks later, Donovan and Xavier claimed to be keeping Tyler company backstage during the internal game launch. Tyler tugged at his tie in an effort to ease the choke hold at his neck. Was he the only one who felt as though the past four weeks had sped by? He was tense with nerves as the minutes counted down to his presentation. Tyler was tempted to tell Xavier and Donovan to rejoin the associates on the ballroom floor. Neither vice president was scheduled to speak. They were only with him to lend moral support. However, their brand of moral support was making him more anxious.
Foster already had made his remarks, which had officially started the launch more than an hour earlier. He’d then invited everyone to enjoy their lunch. Now the associates were finished with their meal. The servers were clearing the dishes in preparation for Tyler’s presentation and the conclusion of the event. The disc jockey they’d hired was still mixing tunes.
Tyler sneaked a glance through the curtains again to observe the crowd. Several associates were chair dancing to the music pumping through the speakers. What if they hated his speech? What if they booed him off the stage or asked the DJ to turn up the music? Even worse, what if they didn’t respond at all? So much depended on the event’s success.
Where is Iris? He’d insisted on picking her up at her home and driving her to the convention center this morning. But he hadn’t seen her since the event started. She’d checked on the audiovisual equipment for the presentations, then followed up with the catering staff, then...she was gone, off somewhere else. Was she avoiding him?
He let the curtain drop. It had been almost a month since the night he’d shown up at her place unannounced and uninvited to ask for her help with his speech.
Almost a month since their kiss. But when he thought about it, he could still taste her, still feel her. That’s why he tried hard not to think about it. He needed to try harder.
“You’ll be fine.” Xavier squeezed his shoulder. It was the same one Donovan had just pounded. “Just stick to your script.”
At his cousin’s comment, Tyler suddenly couldn’t remember a single word of his speech. Dear God, where is Iris?
“Are you ready, son?”
Tyler turned to find his father walking toward him.
Aunt Kayla was at Foster’s side. “You’ll be fine.”
Tyler pulled the script from his pocket. He needed to practice it one more time. A hand reached from behind him and took the papers away.
“You already know this.” Iris held the script in her hand. “Besides this presentation isn’t about reciting words.”
“I—” Tyler reached for his speech but she secured the document in her purse.
“And when did you start wearing ties?” She started to reach for him, then dropped her hands. “Please take it off. You need to look approachable.”
Tyler removed his tie but his attention remained on his speech in Iris’s purse.
Iris addressed Foster. “Are you ready to introduce our next speaker?”
Foster rubbed his palms together. “Yes, I am. Let’s keep the show moving.”