She was definitely part of the fashion world.
Her dark hair was exactly as I pictured it, deep like midnight and shiny. It was pinned away from her face, but the strands were loose enough that the look softened her features. With high cheekbones, almond-shaped eyes, and a slender neck, she possessed all the beauty of the models that hit the runway. But she had something they didn’t.
Experience.
It was difficult to discern her age, but she wasn’t in her twenties. She must be her in her late thirties or early forties. There were faint lines in the corners of her eyes and mouth, but her obvious beauty wasn’t diminished by her age. A lot of women in the industry resorted to plastic surgery because they needed to retain their looks as long as possible, but Scarlet Blackwood hadn’t. She had aged gracefully on her own, obviously taking care of her skin and physique in natural ways.
I noticed all of those things in a matter of thirty seconds. She approached my table with a soft smile on her lips, confidence but also genuineness in her look.
I rose to my feet and extended my hand. “Nice to see you, Ms. Blackwood.”
“The pleasure is mine, Mr. Hunt.” She squeezed my hand with the same strength before she dropped it. “I appreciate your time. I understand you have a lot going on in your life right now.”
I pulled out her chair for her before I moved to the other side of the table.
She paused for just an instant, seemingly caught off guard by my politeness. Then she sat down and placed her clutch in her lap. Self-assured, she possessed a professional charm that was innately comfortable. “I hope Ms. Titan is having a successful recovery. It’s an absolute travesty what happened to her. I’m glad she shot that horrible man, but I also wish he was rotting in jail for the rest of his life.” The sincerity in her voice was unmistakable. It didn’t seem like she was just trying to find something to talk about. She was invested in the story, probably because it was on every news station nearly all of the time. People had pestered me for an interview, but I always declined.
“She’s doing very well. She just left the hospital recently, and the rest of her recovery is taking place at home. She’s up and about, and the pain is manageable. But she’s not in good enough shape to head back to work.”
“Of course not. But I’m glad to hear she’s back on her feet. I met her once a few years ago. Very nice woman.”
“She’s incredible.” The pride that I felt for my own sons had extended to Tatum. I’d seen her as a daughter long before she agreed to marry my son. There was something about her that resonated with me. Isabella had always wanted a daughter, but it had never happened for us. Perhaps that was why I felt such a connection with Tatum. She also reminded me of Isabella in a lot of ways. If I had a daughter, I imagined she’d be a lot like Tatum.
“You’re fond of her?” She tilted her head slightly, a smile on her lips.
“My son couldn’t have picked anyone better.” I meant that from the bottom of my heart.
Her eyes roamed over my face before her smile faded away. There was still a spark in her eyes, a light that naturally glowed even if the sun was gone. “Diesel is wonderful too. I did a spread with him a few years back. Easy to work with and always respectful.”
“That’s how he was raised.” I’d raised all of my sons to be powerful men, but Isabella had given them everything else they needed, like compassion, respect, and gentleness.
“It sounds like a perfect arrangement. But it’s terrible their happiness has been put on hold because of this tragedy.”
“It is. But that won’t stop them for long.” I’d known of Diesel’s love for Tatum long before he ever spoke it. Anytime they were in the same room together, his eyes were constantly on her. I could feel his adoration even in a crowded room filled with hundreds of people. It was intense, powerful, and unyielding.
“I’m sure it won’t.”
The waiter arrived and took our drink orders as well as our entrée selections. He disappeared a moment later, leaving us to nothing but our conversation. I dealt with people one-on-one like this all of the time, but something about Scarlet made me feel a little different. I wasn’t necessarily uncomfortable, but the obvious comfort was the culprit for my rigidness. “What are your ideas, Scarlet?” The introductions had been made, and she’d broken the ice talking about my family. She hadn’t mentioned my estrangement with Diesel, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t further down on her list.
She sat with perfect posture, holding herself like she could be photographed any moment. She removed her black jacket from her shoulders and placed it over the back of the chair. She had slender arms, rounded shoulders, and a feminine collarbone. “I received a new line of suits from one of my favorite designers, and they’re so magnificent. I wanted to showcase them in a powerful way, and I couldn’t think of a better man to show them off. Platform obviously targets a female audience, but that audience consists of personal shoppers, designers, and wives. When they see a man like you showing them off, it’ll be a big hit. Not to mention, you’re one of the most fascinating bachelors in the world.”
I didn’t consider myself to be a bachelor, not when I wasn’t interested in marriage.
She pulled her phone out of her clutch, and her fingers started tapping against the screen. “I would have brought one here today, but I didn’t think it was the best location
