The Beauty and the CEO

“There’s a slight emergency at Lexi’s shop. Dad, is your car here?”

Frank shook his head. “It’s at the new garage downtown. I took an Uber today.”

Will’s chest swelled with pride with the chance to save the day. “I drove here. I can take you wherever you need to go.”

CHAPTER 7

Driving through the quaint little neighborhood only reminded Zoe of the life she wanted. Children played on their neatly manicured green lawns. Husbands washed their cars in the late afternoon. Smoke billowed from lit grills in the backyards. A faint smell of hot dogs on coal filled the air.

With the car’s top down, Zoe heard the unmistakable splash of people in the pools behind the homes, as well. This was so different from what Zoe saw from her condo balcony every day. There were no lawns where she lived, unless you counted the sprinkle of green nestling under the sign with the name of her building. The beaches were always covered in half-naked men and women. Tanned bodies stretched on oversize towels or beach chairs. At every corner there was always a party going on.

“What’s that smile all about?” Will asked Zoe. Of the four cars at the stop sign, Will appeared to be the only experienced driver. Pimply faced boys on the left and the right of them gunned their engines, and a girl with headgear was directly across from them. All three drivers had older males, whom Zoe assumed were their fathers, seated in the passenger’s seats and pointing at the stop sign. Will, being last at the stop, waited. In Miami, she would have been gone by now.

Watching the fathers with their children reminded her of her father. Zoe glanced back at Will. “Care to tell me what you and my dad were talking about?”

Will inhaled deeply, contemplating her question, and then let out his breath. “I can’t. Does that negate whether or not you’ll tell me what’s on your mind?”

“Have you ever thought about looking for Octavia?”

“You’re seriously thinking about Ravens?”

Zoe shrugged her shoulders. “When am I not?”

“I appreciate your dedication to the family,” Will said. “But for the record, my grandmother looked for Octavia for years after she disappeared.”

“Does anyone know why she left?”

Will shook his head. “Not to my knowledge.”

“So no one even knows if she’s dead or alive.”

Will blew out a long breath. “No. I wish for my grandmother’s sake that she would make contact with someone from the family.”

“I bet anyone in the family would be interested in hearing from her,” Zoe commented.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you said there’s a divide between you and your cousins, whether or not to close the company doors. Her vote could help.”

“Or hurt,” Will said with a nod. “So was my family really what brought that beautiful smile to your face? If so, I might need to consider keeping you around more.”

“You need to keep me around because I’m what’s best for Ravens Cosmetics.”

“There you go. Now, why don’t you tell me what else was on your mind. Are you worried about what your father said to me?”

Knowing how persuasive Frank Baldwin could be, Zoe shrugged her shoulders. “I was thinking about home.”

“Miami home or here in Southwood?” asked Will.

“No,” Zoe answered. “I was thinking about my place in Miami.”

“Yes, your Miami address,” Will nodded. “I am going to need to know that information.”

It was on her résumé, but Zoe decided not to bring her future at RC up right now. They’d crossed the threshold of any work relationship they might have again just then when Will reached over and squeezed her thigh. She bit her lip to fight back the excitement. Where would things have gone between them had they not been interrupted in her bedroom? One thing was for sure, Zoe’s insides were awakened and she couldn’t wait to have another chance of seeing where things would lead. “I live at the Cozier Condominiums.”

Will let out a long whistle and began driving again. “Swanky.”

After all the teasing she’d given him about growing up privileged. “Be quiet. I am leasing it from a former client.”