“Tomorrow then.” I lift her hand to my mouth and press a kiss to the back of it. Then I see myself out, my heart in my throat.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Camryn
Blinking into the bathroom mirror at the historic Waldorf Astoria hotel, I heave in a deep cleansing breath.
One more night.
You’ve got this.
It feels impossible, but I have no choice in the matter. I have to survive one more dinner with Sterling, and then if things go according to plan, tomorrow he’ll meet the woman he’s supposed to be with and they’ll begin dating so that he can meet his marriage deadline. And I’ll go back to my lonely existence.
I never would have imagined when I took on this project the depth of feelings I’d develop for the deliciously sexy lawyer Sterling Quinn.
Anna and I went over the plan again today. I’m ready for this. She was right. We had to move it up, force his hand at this, and we each need to move on.
The event is to take place at this very hotel tomorrow morning, in a ballroom on the second floor. I suggested we meet here tonight as a dry run for tomorrow.
I press my lips together, blotting my vibrant berry-colored lipstick, and then head out. As I walk toward the steakhouse located just past the hotel lobby, I smooth my black shift dress over my hips. Fall in New York is my closet’s favorite time. This dress is comfortable with its long sleeves and pockets, while still flattering, and I’ve paired black opaque tights and my tallest black heels. The only color I’m sporting is my lipstick, and the effect is sexy while still being understated.
Once inside the restaurant, I spot Sterling at an out-of-the-way table for two, and start toward him. When he spots me, he rises from the table. His gaze roams up and down my entire body, from my sky-high heels that make my legs look great, to my kissable lips.
Eat your heart out, Mr. Quinn.
We’re here to cover the details for the event tomorrow. Not to stare into each other’s eyes and fantasize over something that will never be.
That’s what my pep talk in the bathroom was all about. No more falling for his swoony charms, sweet smiles, or his positive outlook on life. No more. My goal is to get him married—to someone else—then collect my bonus and move on with my life.
“You look . . . stunning,” he whispers, pulling me in close for a quick peck on my cheek.
“Thank you.”
I take a step back and allow him to pull out my chair. I refuse to comment on how over-the-top sexy he looks. I mean, yes, I’d like to fuck his brains out, but that’s beside the point. Tonight I’m playing the role of professional Camryn. In fact, I keep my eyeballs trained on the floor just so I don’t stare.
We sit down and glance over the menu.
I plan to order the biggest, juiciest steak on the menu and a loaded baked potato, with plenty of red wine to wash it all down. And, fuck it, I’m even getting dessert. That mountainous slice of chocolate cake I saw on the dessert cart when I came in was practically calling my name. After all, there’s no sense in watching my calories now.
Our wine is delivered and we each take a sip. It’s delicious, full-bodied and aromatic with hints of cherry and plum.
Then I pull out my file folder containing the details for tomorrow.
Sterling clears his throat, and I expect him to comment on the fact that I’m all business tonight, but he doesn’t. He simply pushes the flickering candle aside and leans in to look at the itinerary I’ve set out.
“The festivities kick off at ten in the morning with an hour break for lunch at noon, and then we’ll continue right on through until five p.m., unless you find your Cinderella early. In that case, I have no issues with wrapping up sooner.”
He nods once, his gaze downcast onto the paper.
“The hotel will provide security to keep the line manageable, and of course, assist if anyone gets unruly. The women will proceed from their place in line to one of two tables. They’ll meet briefly with either me and Anna, and if we get a sense that she’ll be match for you, Anna and I will ask them to wait in a holding room for their meeting with you to begin.”
“Sounds good,” Sterling says, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I hope there’s not too many surprises. Anna and I already spent the last few weeks prescreening the women. And we’ll arrive early to make sure everything is set up and running smoothly. You’ll have a conference-style room to conduct the one-on-one speed dates in. The setup will be simple—a table and two chairs. I hope that’s okay.”
“Thank you. This is . . . more than I was expecting.”
I nod, accepting his gratitude. “It’s fine. I’m just doing my job.”
His eyes narrow on mine, like there’s something he doesn’t like about me calling him a job.
Silence grows around us, and though I’ve never been at a loss for words around Sterling before, I am now. He’s looking at me like I’m a puzzle he’s trying to solve. The server returns with our food, saving me from the awkward moment of silence that seems to stretch out into forever.
Seared steaks with sautéed mushrooms and goat-cheese crostini. Two fresh glasses of red wine. We managed to order the exact same thing again.
“I feel a little foolish. I’m sorry I was babbling on like that, and now we’re done discussing everything before the entrées even arrived.” I look down at my plate, wishing we’d just wrapped this up with an e-mail, wishing I didn’t feel all the conflicted emotions crashing through me.