Page 37 of His Forever Girl

“Goodbye, Graham. Thank you for coming,” Frank said, once again grabbing the reins and becoming the man who didn’t bend.

Graham made his way to the car Frank had sent him, eyeing the big Easter basket sitting on the back floorboard beneath the new booster seat he’d bought for Emily. He hoped the bunny hadn’t melted and that his daughter would consent to riding in the seat she still needed, according to the state laws he’d looked up a few days ago.

Daughters were indeed hard to manage, swerving around feelings, tiptoeing around their dreams, hot-stepping out of arguments a father couldn’t win, but Graham wouldn’t trade his Emily for a billion dollars.

And he knew Frank felt the same.

Graham just wished things were different between himself and Tess, wished he could have a second shot with her. Even now, as hard as it was between them, he wanted her. Wanted to trace the curve of her stubborn jaw, kiss the corner of her delicious mouth, and gather all her sweet, hot wonderfulness against him.

But Graham had learned long ago he didn’t always get what he wanted, so he would shelve the desire for Tess and focus on what he’d come to New Orleans to do—be a better father to his daughter and kick ass as the CEO at Frank Ullo.

Those things he could do. He hoped.

TESSEYEDHERREFLECTIONcritically in the bathroom mirror. She’d twisted her hair into a messy knot—a look Cosmo said was professional but also revealed her playful side. Swiping a creamy nude lipstick across her lips and clasping a cool Norman cross necklace she’d bought during the French Quarter Festival around her neck, Tess blew herself a kiss and left the bathroom.

Her first job interview and her stomach was filled with jumpy frogs.

After leaving her parents’ house, she’d dropped by Cuppa Joe’s for a frappé where she checked her messages. To her surprise, she had two: one from Joe Rizollo who ran Mardi Gras Creations and one from Monique Dryden. Against a small niggle of doubt she’d smothered with the justification she’d been screwed by her father and Graham, Tess had followed through and sent her resume to Upstart and a few other of her father’s competitors. She’d half hoped no one would call so she didn’t have to step across to the other side. But when the bitterness edged in on her, when the hurt of Graham not calling and then taking over what she’d loved for so long surfaced, she didn’t feel so bad about interviewing for a position at Upstart.

She carefully placed the files of her best past designs inside the attaché case her mother had given her when she’d graduated from college. Fortuitously she’d re-created many of the designs with software because many of the hard copies were filed at the Ullo warehouse. Dave wouldn’t mind forwarding some to her, but she hadn’t wanted to ask. Half an hour later she pushed through the door of Upstart Float Design and Rental with the crowing rooster emblem centered in the glass. A man with a loud silk shirt and cargo pants sat kicked back at the desk. He snapped to attention when Tess approached.

“Hey, you must be the Ullo chick,” he said with a shy smile.

Ullo chick?

“Yes, I’m Tess Ullo,” she said with a businesslike nod.

“Yeah, I actually met you once at one of the balls. Endymion? I don’t remember. Anyway, Monique’s on a call right now. Negotiation’s her deal. Have a seat over there. Can I grab you a coffee? Water?”

Tess walked over to the small reception area and sat in one of the folding chairs, pressing her hands over her navy pencil skirt. “No, thank you.”

“Oh, I’m Josh, by the way. I’m Monique’s partner and husband.” He gave her another smile. Josh’s face looked lean and hungry, like a stray dog. He had an earring that dangled, a soul patch on his chin, and wore a newsboy tweed hat to complement his New Orleans artist look.

She might be biased but if Monique was stupid enough to trade Graham in for this guy, she might not want to work for the woman. Josh wasn’t unattractive by any means, but Graham made Josh look like the Shaggy to his buff Fred.

Some girls liked a Shaggy, but Mr. Uptight Naquin who performed magic with his mouth and had a butt she could bounce quarters off was definitely more Tess’s type. To each her own.

The office door opened, and Monique swept into the reception area like a queen greeting her subject.

“Ah, Tess Ullo. You actually showed up,” she said in a melodious voice.

Monique wore a tight pair of leggings beneath a bright sweater that dropped to midthigh. Her dark wavy hair brushed tanned shoulders revealed by the wide boatneck. Her flawless skin was enhanced by subtle makeup and large diamonds winking in her ears. Blood-red polish tipped her elegant fingers. She made Tess feel like an overdressed heifer.

“Yes, and I appreciate your replying to my inquiry.”

Monique gave a secret little smile. “You’re Frank Ullo’s daughter, and I’m thinking you’re a pissed off Frank Ullo’s daughter, so of course I’m interested, darling.”

Tess raised her eyebrows, struggling to her feet in the serviceable pumps, wishing she hadn’t dressed so formally. Fish out of water.

“Come on in. Josh, get us some coffees around the corner.”

“Aye-aye, Captain,” Josh joked with a salute.

In that instant Tess totally understood why Graham hadn’t lasted with Monique. Tess waited to see if the woman would mutter “good boy” before following her into the office.

Seconds later Tess sank into the armchair situated in front of Monique’s massive modern steel desk. Monique landed on her bright red office chair as gracefully as a butterfly and popped a pair of glasses on her nose. Extending her hand, she blinked at Tess.

Tess stared at her.

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