Holiday Playbook--A Christmas workplace romance Read online

  “Then you know I’m a businesswoman, Mr. Starks, and maybe, just maybe if you’d given me some professional courtesy and kept our previous appointments, I wouldn’t have taken the drastic measure of accosting you at the gym.” She caught the way Wynn’s eyes roamed from her face down to the sports bra she was wearing and lower to her snug-fitting leggings.

  “I appreciate what you’re wearing, Ms. Lockett, as I’m sure every other man here in the gym does.” He quickly surveyed the room. “But that was your intent, right? You wanted to be noticed.” He walked past her to some shelving, which held rolled-up towels. He grabbed one and wiped the sweat off his face.

  “I want you to stop canceling our appointments and hear me out,” she responded hotly.

  “I’m afraid your actions have been for naught, Ms. Lockett, because I’m not buying whatever it is you’re selling.” Wynn had never shared his history of bullying with anyone in interviews, so Giana had no idea he was not a fan of football jocks. He went to walk past her, but Giana reached out and grabbed his arm.

  “Wait!” She glared up at him, and his gaze lingered on her. For a few brief seconds, Giana saw a shift in Wynn, because he’d felt it, too—a jolt of electricity zinged up her arm and Giana felt a rush of sexual awareness. Immediately, she pulled back her hand and cradled it close to her body, as if she’d been burned.

  She didn’t want to jeopardize their business with any pesky feelings. And Wynn’s expression quickly changed back to hostility, as if she’d imagined the moment of connection.

  “Won’t you at least give me a chance?” She had to get him to see she was more than a pretty face. “The Atlanta Cougars and our players can be a great resource to help build Starks Inc.’s recognition in the marketplace.”

  “I don’t need you or anyone else coming in here telling me how to run my company. I’ve done quite well on my own thus far,” Wynn stated. “Go home, Ms. Lockett.”

  Wynn left her standing in the middle of the gym.

  Scorned.

  Of all the pigheaded men Giana had ever dealt with, Wynn Starks was the worst. For some reason, he held a very low opinion of her, and she couldn’t fathom why. She’d never met him, but Wynn Starks certainly had a block where she was concerned, and for the life of her, Giana couldn’t figure out how to break through it.

  Two

  “You ready for that drink?” Silas asked once Wynn came out of the shower room with a towel wrapped around his waist. Silas was already dressed in blue jeans, a button-down shirt and sneakers.

  “Hell yeah!” Wynn said. “Give me a few minutes.”

  “No problem. I’ll wait for you outside. Then you can tell me why you gave Giana Lockett the brush-off.”

  Once Silas had gone, Wynn dried off. He couldn’t explain why he’d been rude to Giana—only thing he knew was as soon as he’d seen her jet-black hair in a sleek ponytail and her skimpy outfit clinging to those perfect round breasts and curved hips, he’d lost his mind.

  Giana had been wearing sexy clothes to tease him. To get a rise out of him. And she had. In more ways than one. When she’d touched his arm, a current of electricity had shot straight to the lower half of his body, reminding Wynn it had been a long time since he’d been with a woman.

  Was that why he’d felt the frisson of electricity spark between them?

  Wynn didn’t care what it was, because he didn’t want to do business with the Locketts. Josiah Lockett had a reputation for being a hard-ass, although he had taken a back seat recently to allow his son Roman to take over as general manager. Nonetheless, Wynn wasn’t a big fan of football after his bullying experience in high school and preferred working with other athletes to represent his brands.

  After he changed back into his jeans and T-shirt, he met Silas outside where he was leaning against his Ferrari 812. “Ready to head to the bar? We can get that drink. I can bring you back for your bike.”

  Wynn slid inside, and once they were on the road, Silas got right to the point. “So, what’s up with you and Giana Lockett?”

  Wynn frowned. “There’s nothing between us. I hardly know her.”

  Silas chuckled and glanced at Wynn. “You could have fooled me. The vibes you two were giving off were definitely of the sexual variety.”

  Wynn rolled his eyes and stared out the window as Silas took them to one of their favorite bars a few miles away. “Well, you got it wrong.”

  “If you say so, but I think you’re protesting a little too much.”

  “Why are you so quick to talk about my love life anyway? Up until a couple of months ago, you and Janelle were on opposite sides of the world.” Silas and his supermodel wife, Janelle, had been estranged and living apart for years. They’d only recently reunited.

  “Which is why I know bachelorhood is not for me,” Silas returned. “I missed my wife, and I can tell you we are making up for lost time.”

  Wynn laughed heartily. “Good for you, but marriage isn’t for everyone.”

  “C’mon, you were happy at some point with Christine, right?”

  “Initially, things did go well, and I enjoyed the sense of belonging to another person, but then Christine showed her true colors. I’m telling you, marriage and relationships are off the table for me.”

  “I thought time was supposed to heal wounds?”

  “I’m living proof it’s a damn lie,” Wynn responded with a snort.

  Silas pulled his Ferrari into a parking space outside. The place was busy with the happy hour crowd, but he and Silas managed to squeeze in at the bar. Wynn ordered a bourbon while Silas ordered a whiskey.

  “So why is Giana sweating you anyway? What does she want?”

  Wynn sipped his bourbon before answering. “My guess is she wants an endorsement deal for one of her players.”

  “And would that be such a bad thing?” Silas inquired. “The Atlanta Cougars are having an amazing season now that they have Curtis Jackson. There’s even talk they could go to the championship.”

  “Yeah, but have you forgotten what happened to me in high school? The terrible bullying I received at the hands of those football jocks? Because I haven’t.”

  “Of course not, but you can’t blame every football player for the actions of some bad apples. Don’t limit yourself. Having a player as popular as Curtis Jackson with his clean-cut image would be great for LEAN.”

  Wynn frowned. LEAN was his baby. He wouldn’t turn that over to just anyone. “I hear you.”

  “Do you? And what about Giana Lockett? If you ask me, you should be trying to get to know the lady better. She’s a beautiful woman, and if you don’t want her, someone else will.”

  “From what I’ve learned, Giana is currently single.”

  “You interested in her?”

  “No, I’m not.” But even as Wynn said the words, he knew they were a lie. The air between them had been charged with sexual tension. He’d had a visceral reaction to Giana the moment he’d seen her from the boxing ring.

  But he would have to forget her beautiful bone structure, smooth mocha complexion, almond-shaped eyes and sensual mouth that promised sin. Wynn couldn’t afford a dalliance with another rich girl and reminded himself Giana Lockett was off-limits.

  * * *

  Giana wasn’t happy with how the afternoon had gone. She’d thought going to one of Wynn’s favorite places and talking to him in person would produce a different result. It hadn’t. Instead, he seemed more determined than ever to thwart her at every turn.

  Dejected, Giana walked to the main house of her parents’ estate in Tuxedo Park to raid the freezer for her favorite moose tracks ice cream.

  When Roman had married and bought a house in Buckhead with his new wife, Shantel, Giana had used the opportunity to move into the guesthouse and finally get out from under her mother’s discerning eye. She could have moved out sooner, but her mother liked having her ch
ildren near and as the only girl in the family, Giana had acquiesced.

  But Giana was terrible at shopping for herself. There wasn’t much in her fridge other than a bottle of champagne and a leftover charcuterie plate from one of her charity events. And she desperately needed a sugar fix to drown her disappointment. She knew she’d find what she was looking for at her parents’ house.

  Giana was grateful when she opened the stainless steel freezer and found their butler, Gerard, had stocked it with her favorite ice cream. Gerard had been with the family for as long as she remembered and always spoiled her.

  Since she was little, she’d always been given anything she ever asked for, be it a pony when she was eight, a brand-new Porsche when she turned sixteen or an expensive debutante dress, because she had been a daddy’s girl. However, when it came time for her to step out of the shadows and be her own person, her father had been surprised to learn she had a mind of her own. Giana didn’t want to be the conventional rich man’s wife. She wanted a career, and she’d fought tooth and nail for her success. Wynn Starks would not stop her. Her father wanted the account and pleasing him had always been of utmost importance to her. She supposed it had to do with proving she was as good at business as Roman.

  She sank her spoon into the sweet, creamy mixture and sighed in bliss as the sweetness hit her taste buds.

  “That good, huh?” her brother Xavier said from behind her. She swiveled around on the bar stool. Xavier stood well over six feet and had a deep brown complexion, eyes the color of cognac and short, curly hair cropped close to his head. With his beard, broad nose and full lips, the ladies had gone wild over him during his quarterback days.

  She grinned. “Yeah, it is.” She ate another spoonful. “What are you doing here?”

  “I was hoping you might be interested in catching dinner, but I see you’re having dessert instead.”

  “My afternoon was an epic failure, so I figured why not death by chocolate.”

  “Surely it can’t be that bad,” Xavier said, walking to the cabinets across from her and pulling another spoon from the drawer. He joined her at the oversize quartz island and dipped his spoon in the container for a heaping portion. After tasting it, he too let out a sigh.

  “See—” Giana pointed her finger at him “—it’s good. And the reason I’m annoyed is because I’ve failed yet again to get Wynn Starks on board with letting the Atlanta Cougars represent his brands.”

  She didn’t like failure of any kind, and neither did her father. He was a hard taskmaster, and he would accept nothing less than success. She wanted to show her father there wasn’t anything she couldn’t do and she was just as good as Roman when it came to business.

  Xavier shrugged. “Then move on. There are tons of other endorsements out there for someone as popular as Curtis. I remember when I was a quarterback...” He stopped midsentence and didn’t finish.

  Giana understood. Xavier didn’t like talking about the period when he’d been the Atlanta Cougars’ star quarterback. After winning a Heisman trophy in college, he’d gone pro and had been the best in the business. His future had been bright until the terrible game when he’d injured his knee. It had ended his playing career and caused him to walk with a slight limp to this day. Ever since he was a little boy, Xavier had always had a football in his hand. It had been his life’s blood. It had been hard losing that, but he’d finally moved on and was doing well as a commentator for a sports network.

  “I know I should find an alternate company,” Giana responded, “but Daddy seems focused on Starks Inc. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because Wynn refuses to give us an audience. I mean, today, I went to a lot of trouble to get his attention, and still nada.”

  Xavier frowned and set aside his spoon. “What did you do?”

  “I showed up at the gym where he works out to confront him.”

  “You did what?” His voice grew loud.

  Giana rolled her eyes. “Oh, don’t give me that no-she-didn’t look. I’m not someone who takes no for an answer.”

  “And I take it you were turned away and came home with your tail between your legs?” Xavier said with a laugh. He grabbed his spoon to continue eating.

  “Maybe.”

  Wynn might have dismissed her, but he didn’t dislike her. He liked her moxie even though he tried to hide it. There’d been a flicker of interest lurking in those dark brown depths, and truth be told, she’d felt the sizzle, too, but she wasn’t going to exploit it. This wasn’t personal. She would try one more time to get him to listen and see what a great partnership Starks Inc. and the Cougars could have. If he didn’t, she would go with another company.

  “So, what next?”

  “I’m not giving up, if that’s what you mean.”

  “Of course not. It’s not in your DNA.” Xavier laughed. “I doubt the poor bastard knows what he’s got into for refusing you.”

  Giana smiled. She was used to fighting to get what she wanted. Her father had been dead set against her going to college and being away from the family. He’d seen Giana in a traditional role of wife and mother and going to a finishing school like her mother had, but Giana had had other ideas. She deserved the same Ivy League education as her older brothers Roman and Julian, and she’d persevered.

  Wynn Starks would be no different.

  He had a weakness, and she would find it.

  Three

  A solution came the following day when Giana and Mara were sifting through her invitations. There were a lot to choose from; her social calendar was usually filled with work engagements or charity commitments on behalf of the Lockett Foundation.

  Her mother had started the organization a decade ago in the hopes the Atlanta Cougars’ platform could bring support and financial assistance to local community groups. As the charity grew, so had its commitments to the Salvation Army, as well as to nonprofits helping with multiple sclerosis, breast cancer, Alzheimer’s and autism. Giana was proud of her work, but it left little time for a social life.

  She finally found what she was looking for: an invitation to a gala for Wynn Starks’s favorite charity, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, coming up this weekend. In one of his rare interviews, he’d mentioned how he’d used their services in his youth. If they could connect on something close to his heart, it could be a real game changer.

  Which was why on Saturday night she found herself seated in the back of a limousine wearing a new gown that had cost a fortune in the hopes of garnering a few minutes of his time. It was a long shot, but she had to try.

  In her opinion she looked like a sparkly disco ball, but her stylist had insisted the silver metallic gown with a high halter neckline and major thigh-high slit was a showstopper. The back of the floor-length dress plunged into a deep V right above her waistline. The stylist had paired it with large silver and diamond earrings and metallic silver strappy Jimmy Choo sandals.

  It was certainly dramatic and might even raise a few eyebrows, but the rest of her look couldn’t be touched. Her hair had been styled into textured waves tucked behind one ear with a deep side part, and her makeup was perfection, with a sculpted brow, smoky eye and rosy nude lip.

  A small group of paparazzi was on hand when she exited the vehicle. Giana waved and stopped for photos before making her way inside the downtown hotel. Since it was shortly after Thanksgiving, the hotel had already put an enormous Christmas tree in the lobby covered with white and gold ornaments, poinsettias and garland.

  Giana took the elevator to the mezzanine level and upon her arrival was greeted by many acquaintances she knew from her charity events. But she was only interested in one person, and she quickly scanned the room.

  She found Wynn talking to the mayor and his wife. He was very animated and smiling, which was something he hadn’t done when he’d been around her. He had a great smile, and nothing could distract from his sex appeal. He was imposingly masc
uline, with powerful shoulders and a broad, strong chest in a custom black tuxedo with hand-stitched shoes.

  It took all Giana’s willpower to look away from such physical perfection. Her cheeks burned because she’d been riveted to the spot by him. She focused on the conversation she was having with one of the Boys & Girls Clubs directors. When the time was right, she would approach him and let the chips fall where they may.

  * * *

  Damn minx!

  Wynn couldn’t believe Giana Lockett had shown up to his charity event. Although he couldn’t say it was his, entirely; it was open to all the elite movers and shakers in town. He shouldn’t be surprised to see her, because her family was well-known in Atlanta for their charitable efforts, but he still was.

  He’d noticed her almost immediately when she’d sashayed that cute little bottom of hers into the room. How could he not? Her metallic dress shined like a diamond.

  He wasn’t supposed to be having feelings like this. He’d already had a go-round with a rich prima donna. He refused to do it again, but his libido had other ideas. He wanted to confront Giana, but as MC for the evening, his services were required.

  Wynn went onstage and performed his duties to the best of his ability. He spotlighted the great work the Boys & Girls Clubs had done and encouraged the guests to donate to the worthy cause. He expressed how much the organization had helped him during his youth. Because of the club, Wynn had a big brother to turn to who had helped him out during a difficult time. Unfortunately, Les Moore had died from prostate cancer a few years ago, but he’d had a profound impact on Wynn’s life.

  After his speech, Wynn settled in at his table, but he could feel Giana’s eyes boring a hole in the back of his head from where she was seated, directly behind him. Soon he would have to squash any hopes she had once and for all.

  * * *

  Giana was having a lovely conversation with Mavis Bradley, an elderly widow who’d inherited the lion’s share of her husband’s estate after he passed. Mavis was a wealthy benefactor of several charities, and Giana was telling her about the Lockett Foundation’s next event when she felt an ominous presence behind her.