The Unwilling Executive Read online

  “Thanks,” he said, heading to a corner table where he’d left his phone to charge.

  “I asked him to convince Jade to go to Greg’s party with him.”

  Lucas whirled around to gape at his mother.

  “He said he’ll make sure of it,” Ruby continued.

  “That’s what he said?” he asked with raised brows.

  “Yes. At first he sounded like he didn’t know what I was talking about. I think he was fully expecting that Jade was already going and was surprised that she hasn’t made up her mind.”

  Lucas hid his grin. He could count on Rick to read the situation and act accordingly.

  “So are those two dating?”

  He snorted. “You know that Rick’s not the dating kind, Mum. They’re just friends.”

  “Good,” Ruby said. “Jade doesn’t strike me as someone who’s into the fun-and-games-only relationships that you and Rick prefer.”

  “No,” he agreed.

  “I wonder if I’ll ever know what’s it’s like to have a daughter-in-law?” Ruby said with a big sigh.

  He laughed.

  Ruby would be relieved if he found himself a proper girlfriend. Every so often, his mother would express concern that her past with Thomas was the reason Lucas shied away from relationships.

  Lucas guessed there was some truth to that. His own father abandoning both him and his mother, and pretending they didn’t exist, were hardly the stuff that inspired belief in love and happy endings.

  But Ruby didn’t have anything to feel guilty about. She hadn’t done anything wrong, and Lucas was fine with his chosen lifestyle.

  “Remember what you told me before?” Ruby asked. “You said that the time I decide to get married is the time you’ll think about settling down. Well, it took me decades to stumble upon my soulmate, but I’m engaged now, am I not?”

  “I have thought about settling down, Mum,” he said.

  Ruby spun to face him, her eyes round. “You have?”

  “Yes. And the answer is no.”

  Ruby rolled her eyes, and he chuckled.

  Dante, his mother’s fiancé, was a man who’d popped into her shop to ask for directions. Getting engaged to him was another one of the reasons why Ruby had become quite vocal in her desire for Lucas to find ‘happiness’ with a special someone.

  “So is Dante still on track with moving here in December?” he asked, hoping to change the topic.

  “Yes, although that’s not soon enough,” Ruby said with a sigh.

  Lucas smiled. Even though he’d questioned Dante’s sincerity and motivation in proposing to his mother after only three months of dating, he now approved of his future stepfather. He’d never seen his mother happier. Unfortunately, Dante still lived in Brisbane and was waiting to finish a work contract before he could finally move to Sydney to be with Ruby.

  “You know, darling, maybe you should try sticking with the same woman long enough. You move from one to another so quickly that you don’t give yourself time to develop feelings for anyone.”

  “That’s the way I like it.” His heart thumped as if it didn’t agree with that sentiment, just as Jade’s face flashed in his mind. He frowned. What was that about?

  “Oh well, I have hope for you yet,” Ruby said. “We do have a family history of shunning relationships—and then when the right person comes along, love happens in an instant,” Ruby said, snapping her fingers. “It happened to me. It also happened to your Uncle Syd and your Aunt Maria. We’d given up on love, then one day, bang! We’re right in it. I have a feeling the same will happen to you, Lucas, only much sooner than you think.”

  “Sure, Mum,” he said sarcastically. “I’m going outside to call Rick.”

  With some relief, he dialled Rick’s number. It was a good excuse to avoid the topic that, frankly, scared the hell out of him.

  “Hey, bro. So I’m supposed to take Jade Whoever-She-Is to Greg’s party, huh?” Rick asked.

  “Sorry about that and thanks for going with the flow,” he answered. “No, you’re not taking Jade Tully to Greg’s party. She won’t be coming. It was just an excuse we had to make up. My mum thinks you were just surprised to learn that Jade hasn’t decided yet whether to go with you or not.”

  “So who is she?”

  “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you when I come back in a couple of weeks.”

  “Interesting. Anyway, I called earlier to say have a good time in Belgium.”

  “Thanks. And if you happen to talk to Mum again—Oh, shit.”

  “What?” Rick asked.

  “Mum’s probably going to ask Jade if she’s spoken to you. Damn.” He raked his hair. This had become unwieldy. Somehow he had to warn Jade.

  “What’s it all about?” Rick demanded.

  He sighed. “Could you come and meet me at the pub next door to the Bilton Machineries building at five this afternoon?”

  “Bilton Machineries building?” Rick asked with obvious surprise.

  “Yes. I told you it’s a long story.”

  “I’ll be there.”

  “Thanks, buddy.”

  Lucas hung up, rubbing his face. What an incredibly frustrating turn of events!

  But he felt something else too.

  Excitement.

  He was going to see Jade again. Much sooner than he’d thought. Great.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Jade stepped out of the building, still smiling from one of her officemates’ comment that she had a hot boyfriend. Apparently, her colleague had seen Lucas walk her to the office earlier. Unfortunately, she’d had to set the record straight that she and Lucas weren’t together.

  Ahh, Lucas. When would she see him again? She was already looking forward to the dinner he’d promised.

  She hadn’t expected to have coffee with him last week, much less have lunch with him today, but she was certainly thrilled. She wouldn’t go so far as calling them dates, but things were looking promising.

  In her eyes, Lucas was the perfect boyfriend material. Seeing how much he cared about his mother boosted his desirability factor multiple times.

  Was he already taken? He didn’t seem to be, considering how he’d been flirting with her. Surprising that he was still available, but it appeared to be the case.

  Would Ruby approve of her as a potential girlfriend for her son? And if she did, would Ruby be willing to play Cupid?

  Ooh. That was an appealing thought. Maybe she could—

  “Jade!”

  Her heart skipped. There was Lucas, coming towards her from the pub next door.

  “Hi,” he said, rushing to her.

  “Hi,” she responded, aware that her faced sported a wide grin—probably too wide to be cool but darn, she couldn’t help it.

  “Do you have time for a drink with me?” Lucas asked.

  Her smile widened. “Sure, I have time for a drink.” Heck, she’d have dinner with him if he asked.

  “Great.”

  Lucas briefly placed his hand on the small of her back to guide her to the pub, but that two-second touch was enough to make her nerve endings tingle.

  “My friend Rick is in there too, waiting for us,” he said.

  “Rick? The one who’s supposed to have invited me to Greg Carmichael’s party?”

  “Uh-huh. I left my phone at the shop to charge when I helped you carry that big bunch. Rick rang and Mum spoke with him. She asked Rick to encourage you to go to the party.”

  “Oh, no.” And here she was thinking Lucas just wanted to see her. How disappointing.

  “Yeah,” Lucas said with a sigh, escorting her to a table where a man was grinning at them.

  “Hello, Jade.” The guy who was obviously Rick greeted her with a kiss on the cheek and a quick hug as if they were already friends.

  “Hi, Rick. Good to meet you,” she responded, warming immediately to the man.

  “So I’m taking you to Greg’s party, hey?”

  “I don’t think so,” she said with a laugh, glancing
at Lucas.

  “No, he’s not taking you to the party,” Lucas answered with a comforting smile as he pulled out a chair for her.

  She murmured her thanks and looked expectantly at the two gorgeous men.

  “What would you like, Jade?” Lucas asked.

  “Just orange juice, please.”

  “No alcohol?”

  “Not today, thanks.” Truth was, she was starving. Alcohol had always gone straight to her head at the best of times. Better avoid the risk of making a fool of herself.

  “Anything to munch on? I heard they make mean Buffalo wings here. I’ve got to try those.”

  “Their Buffalo wings are to die for,” she confirmed, her mouth salivating. “Their sweet potato chips are good, too.”

  “Coming right up,” Lucas said with a wink before turning to Rick to get his order.

  “Whatever you’re having, bro,” Rick said. “And an extra serving of the wings.”

  “I’ll be back soon. Behave while I’m gone,” Lucas said with a pointed look at Rick.

  Rick smirked and an unspoken message passed between the two.

  “So, Jade. You’re a friend of Ruby’s?” Rick asked when Lucas had gone.

  “Yes. I’ve been a loyal customer for more than four months now. Occasionally, I hang around her shop and have coffee with her when she’s not inundated.”

  “Did you meet Lucas there?”

  “No. Hasn’t he told you how we met?”

  “Not yet. I just got here myself and we haven’t had the chance to talk. All I know is that his mum is keen for me to convince you to go to my cousin Greg’s party. Ruby seems to think you and I know each other.”

  “We’re supposed to. But I’ll let Lucas tell you the story.”

  “I have a feeling this has something to do with Thomas Bilton. Otherwise Lucas wouldn’t be so stressed about it, and we wouldn’t be meeting right next to the Bilton Machineries building.”

  “Yes. I’m Mr. Bilton’s new PA.”

  “Oh, are you?” Rick asked, his eyes rounding. “And I suppose your boss has asked you to contact Lucas?”

  “Yes.”

  “And that’s how you two met?”

  “Yes,” she said reluctantly, hoping she wasn’t divulging something Lucas didn’t intend to tell Rick.

  “Interesting,” Rick mused, his curiosity evident in the way he was staring at her.

  “Why do you say that?” she asked.

  “Because Lucas has refused to entertain any request from Bilton or his people in the past. You must have had some effect on Lucas for him to have agreed to see you.”

  She chuckled dryly. “I’m sure Lucas would tell you how he got roped into meeting with me.”

  “I’m dying of curiosity.”

  “You and me both! I don’t know anything about the conflict or whatever it is that’s going on between Mr. Bilton and Lucas, even though I seem to be right in the thick of it.”

  “You don’t know anything?”

  “No.” She scrunched her face to show her disappointment at the fact.

  “Well, we’ll see what we can get out of him tonight then.”

  She nodded, trying not to look too eager. “If you asked, he’d tell you, wouldn’t he? I haven’t had much luck in that department.”

  “Haven’t you? I’m sure Lucas would tell you anything if you ask him nicely,” Rick said, grinning.

  “I’ve already tried.”

  “I’d say you just haven’t tried hard enough. Just keep batting your eyelashes at him and he’ll eventually give.”

  She reddened. Darn it. Was it obvious to Rick that she was crushing on Lucas?

  “I see Rick has been misbehaving,” Lucas said dryly, coming back with their drinks.

  “Hey, I wasn’t,” Rick said. “I was just telling Jade she’s the kind of woman who could inveigle information from you.”

  “If she keeps on looking so cute blushing like that, I just might tell her what she wants to know,” Lucas said, winking at her before clinking glasses with them.

  “Well, I’m still blushing. So spill away, Mr. Renner,” she said lightly even as her flush deepened.

  “First things first,” Lucas said. “My mum will no doubt ask if you’ve decided to go to Greg’s party the next time you see her. We three should have the same story about why you can’t go.”

  “I think first things first is why we need to lie to your mum, Lucas,” she said softly.

  Lucas ran his hand through his hair. Then he took a couple of gulps of beer, looked at Rick, then sighed. He was obviously reluctant.

  “If you don’t want to tell me, then it’s okay,” she said. “But I didn’t mention before that Mr. Bilton has promised to let me know some details. I think you should know that.”

  Lucas narrowed his eyes. “He has, has he? Why would he do that?”

  “Because he wants me to keep trying to get you to talk to him.”

  He pursed his lips and was quiet for a moment. “I don’t trust that Thomas will tell you the whole truth, Jade.”

  “Then why don’t you tell me the whole truth?”

  He shook his head. “No offence, but it’s not for anyone but the people involved to know. I’ll make a deal with you, though. If you tell me what Thomas discloses to you about me and my mother, I’ll tell you what I know.”

  She looked at him with dismay. “That might be a problem, Lucas. I happen to want to keep my job. Talking to someone else about confidential information could jeopardise it—even if the involved party is you.”

  “Then tell him you’ll be talking to me about it. See what he says.”

  “Hm. Okay. If Mr. Bilton doesn’t have a problem with that, then we have a deal.”

  “Great,” Lucas said, offering his hand for a shake.

  She took it, electricity zapping her from his touch.

  “So when do you speak with Thomas?”

  “He said he’s waiting on a few things, then he’ll let me know.”

  “Do you think it would happen between now and when I get back from Belgium?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll remind him.”

  Lucas nodded.

  “Lucas, do you think my working for Mr. Bilton will affect my friendship with your mum? Will I be forced to stop buying flowers from her?”

  “Hey, don’t worry about that. I don’t see why this should affect your friendship.”

  “But I can’t even tell her where I really work!”

  “Jade, even I don’t tell her everything. But if she ever finds out, I’ll take the blame. I’m one hundred percent certain she’ll understand. Also, you don’t need to lie about what you do or who your friends are at work and all that. The only things you have to change in your conversations are the name of your boss and the company you work for. The rest could be facts.”

  She sighed.

  “Hey, I have an idea,” Rick piped in. “Why don’t I take Jade to Greg’s party? At least then she’d get to know some people and would have other things to talk to your mum about.”

  “No,” Jade said, horrified at the thought. “That would complicate things further.”

  “I don’t think so,” Rick said. “No one there would raise an eyebrow at me bringing a woman they’ve never met. I have a big circle of friends, and they don’t all mingle with each other.”

  “They’ll just be surprised that you’re bringing a date,” Lucas said with a snicker.

  Rick grinned. “So? You know I like shocking people. But I really think it will be easier for Jade if she met some of our friends. Then she’ll have something to talk to Ruby about without having to make up stories all the time.”

  Jade glanced at Lucas. He seemed to be considering it.

  “It would be too complicated,” she insisted, telling him with her expression she wouldn’t go for it.

  “I actually think it’s a good idea,” Lucas said.

  “Are you kidding me?” she asked.

  “No. The Biltons and the Carmichaels know each
other but they don’t socialise together. My mum would be very pleased if you do go. She’d have much more fun at the party if you’re there.”

  “And,” Rick said, leaning closer to her, “it’s a party that will be held in Greg Carmichael’s own backyard. Aren’t you the least bit interested in seeing his house from the inside? And wouldn’t you want to rub shoulders with some celebs who’d be around?”

  Jade stared at the two men. This idea was way outside her comfort zone. But who would want to turn down an opportunity to go to a Carmichael party and meet some fabulous people? More importantly, why wouldn’t she grab at the chance to spend some time with Ruby—who might just be the person to get her closer to Lucas?

  Her gaze went to the man she’d developed an insane crush on in such a ridiculously short amount of time. His smile was encouraging and his gaze was warm. Her heart fluttered, and her mouth opened to say okay.

  “Good!” Lucas said. “Mum will be so relieved to hear that. Now let’s get our stories straight.”

  Time flew by for Jade as she enjoyed chatting with the two hunks over delectable Buffalo wings and sweet potato chips.

  *

  “I gotta go. I have a dinner meeting tonight,” Rick announced. “I’ll see you on Greg’s birthday, Jade. I’ll pick you up at six.”

  “You know what?” Lucas said to Jade. “I’m sure Mum would be more than happy to give you a lift to and from the party.”

  “Sounds great! If that’s okay with you, Rick?” She’d much prefer going with Ruby than Rick.

  “Sure. I’ll still RSVP you as my plus one even if you don’t arrive with me,” Rick said as he got out of his chair. He leaned down to kiss her goodbye on the cheek, then clasped Lucas’ shoulder before walking out.

  Jade watched him leave, sorry that her evening with the guys was coming to an end.

  “I’m still hungry,” Lucas said, facing her fully. “Wanna continue our conversation over dinner someplace else? It’s getting noisy here.”

  Her heart hammered in her chest. “Sure,” she said.

  “Any preference?”

  “As long as it’s not eggplant, I’ll eat anything.”

  “What’s wrong with eggplant?”

  “I’m allergic to it. I get swollen lips.”

  Lucas’ gaze dropped to her mouth. For a long breathless moment he stared at it.