We chitchatted about the latest trends in fragrances, which were likely to last and which would be summer fads. We were halfway through our lunch when I saw Carter walk in with a large group. He winked at me before choosing to sit in a chair from which he had a direct view of me.

I winked back as discreetly as possible, then focused on Davis, continuing our conversation. I felt Carter looking at me, though. Out of the corner of my eye, I spied on him from time to time, and every single time, he met my gaze. Did the man not care that the others at the table could notice? Evidently not. I felt very flattered by that... but all those scorching-hot gazes he was sending me were messing with my focus. I trained my attention on my future business partner, who was now telling me all about his grandson and how he’d groomed him to take over when he retired because his son had no interest.

I was doing so well, concentrating on our small talk, ignoring those scorching-hot looks a certain someone was sending me. But then my phone pinged with an incoming message. I had it on the table, out of habit, and saw the message.

Carter: I’ve missed you.

It was bad form to answer, so I tried to ignore it, but something fluttered in my belly. A second message arrived a few minutes later.

Carter: You’re a knockout in those clothes.  I can’t wait to take them off you.

The flutters migrated south. I pressed my thighs together on reflex. Oh, Carter. Where were his manners now? Seducing me when I was in the middle of a business lunch.

I discreetly pushed the phone away and even more discreetly sent Carter a glare across the restaurant. The joke was on me when a few minutes later, the screen of my phone lit up with another message. I couldn’t see it, and I was dying to know what it said.

I clasped my hands together to keep myself from reaching the phone. When lunch ended, Davis asked for the bill.

“It’s my treat,” I said.

“Oh, no, no, no. When an old man like me goes out with a young lady, he never lets her pay.”

“I insist. I was the one who wanted to meet at a restaurant.”

He chuckled. “Fiery. I can’t wait for my grandson to meet you. He’s quite a fiery personality himself.”

I squinted my eyes. Was he trying to set us up?

“You’d make a great pair.”

Oh my God, he was. I laughed at his brazen attitude but wasn’t surprised. Davis was known for doing things his way and not caring one bit about business protocol.

We shook hands as we stood up, and I glanced at the screen of my smartphone before slipping it into my purse.