“I did try to tell you.”
She shrugged. “I wasn’t in the mood to listen. It’s a bad habit I have. I make up my mind about something or someone and that’s it. No second chances.”
“Yet you’re here, expecting me to forget all about what happened. Why should I?”
“Because I’m genuinely sorry and I really need this break.”
“Lucky for you, then, that I’m able to separate my personal feelings from my business decisions.” He tried to make it sound noble, but it came out smug. He only hoped it was true. Right this second he wanted very badly to hate her designs. He wanted to tell her she was incompetent. He wanted to make her feel as lousy and humiliated as he’d felt on Saturday.
Unfortunately the logo designs were impossible to dislike. He had to admit he was impressed, his eye immediately drawn to one that was simple and conservative. Elegant. He could see it on some nice gray stationery. Or maybe cream-colored. It would be very businesslike.
“I like this one,” he said, quickly settling the matter. “I’ll call John.”
Dana immediately began shaking her head, no longer the least bit meek or shy. “That one’s old-fashioned,” she said emphatically.
“We’re an old-fashioned company.”
“No. Don’t you see, the fabrics you create are rich and bold. They’re exciting. You need a logo that reflects that. This one,” she said, pointing to the one he’d instinctively disliked as being too brash, too much like Dana herself.
Unfortunately he had a hunch Brandon would agree with her. His grandfather was far more daring than he was. His father would only care how much it was going to cost to implement.
“Too expensive,” he countered, mouthing what he was certain would be his father’s objection.
“Actually, I don’t think so. I’ve costed it out,” she said and shoved a piece of paper toward him.
“What do you know about costing out something like this?”
“I work for a printer. We do jobs like this all the time. I figured in all the different ways you’d be likely to use a logo and what it would cost to get a new one implemented.”
Disconcerted by her thoroughness, Jason looked over the figures. They looked reasonably accurate. He caught the hopeful glint in her eyes and cursed the day he’d ever met her. She was going to win, though he wasn’t about to concede victory too easily. He stood and began to pace, trying to figure out his tactics.
“Okay,” he began finally, “if it were up to me alone, I’d consider this one, but…”
Suddenly he found himself enveloped in an impulsive hug. Whisper-soft wool caressed his cheek. The scent of spring flowers teased his senses. Every muscle in his body responded to the lightning-quick roar of his blood.
“Oh, thank you,” she said. “Your grandfather said…”
The words had the effect of dashing icy water over him. Jason stepped carefully away from her. His gaze narrowed. “That’s the second time you’ve mentioned my grandfather. When exactly did you speak to him?”
She looked miserable. And guilty. Damn the pair of them, he thought.
“Well, I…” she began.
“Never mind,” he said, cutting her off before she could offer him lies. “It’s clear that this entire meeting was a set-up. I’m sure the two of you will be very pleased to know that I will go along with your choice. Now, if you don’t mind, I have things to do.”
Before he could make his exit, the door swung open and his grandfather rushed in, looking harried. “Sorry I’m late. Are you two finished? Jason, what did you think?”
“I think you two are in cahoots,” he said bluntly. He glared at his grandfather, then let his furious gaze settle on Dana. “I still don’t know how you did it, but let me warn you. Stay the hell out of my way from here on out.”
Chapter Three
Stunned by the depth of anger behind Jason Halloran’s softly-spoken warning, Dana stared after him as he slammed the boardroom door behind him. Her heart pounded wildly as her own temper rose to match his. Of all the arrogant, condescending jerks! She hadn’t arranged this meeting. She hadn’t conspired with anyone. Didn’t he realize that she’d simply been told to show up, just as he had been? Couldn’t he see that she’d been every bit as shocked as he at finding them alone?
When her pulse finally slowed, she glanced at Brandon Halloran to see how he was taking his grandson’s outburst. Obviously he was the one who’d set them both up, but there wasn’t a hint of remorse in his expression. If anything, he looked downright smug.
“I thought it went rather well, didn’t you?” he said, sounding pleased.
Dana regarded him as if he were several cards shy of a full deck. “Well? You think it went well?” She shook her head. “Where was Lesley Bates? And where were you anyway? You promised to be here.”
“No,” he corrected. “I promised to take care of Jason. And I told Lesley not to come.”
“And what do you think you accomplished?”
He leaned back in his chair and beamed. “What I wanted to, and quite well, as a matter of fact. Jason almost never loses his temper.”
“Oh, really? Well, I have a news flash for you. He seems to make a habit of it around me.”
“Exactly,” Brandon said.
“Not that I blame him entirely,” Dana said before the full impact of Brandon Halloran’s comment registered. “You wanted him to lose his temper? Why?”
“The man’s bored. He needs a challenge.”
Suddenly Dana began to catch on. She didn’t like the implication one bit. “Oh, no,” she said, shoving designs into her portfolio with little regard to neatness. “Forget it. I’m not hiring on as entertainment for your grandson.”
“Of course not,” he soothed. “You’re an excellent graphic artist. John Lansing will be lucky to have you on staff.”
Suddenly the job at the printing company began to look better and better. She could stay on, do a few
