I say it is.
Gage ground his teeth. Before he could snap, his brother caught his eye.
Look, its an easy deal, Devon said quietly, forking up a slice of turkey and swirling it through his buttery puddle of potatoes. Were launching that lingerie line. The merchandise is ready. We just need a platform. Marketing came up with a great idea.
Then why do you need me?
You know Rudolph department stores?
Dirty old man with the Midas touch and a handful of elite stores in California and New York?
Thats the one. His spring fashion launch is an exclusive deal guaranteed to put any line he includes on the map. Hes never missed. Whether its because he has a keen eye or because the fashion industry is a bunch of lemmings, waiting for him to call the next trend, I dont know. But if we get that lingerie contract, Milano is gold in the fashion field.
Gage shook his head. He was a marketing consultant. He specialized in consumer branding, digital management and online strategic development. Nothing in that description said anything about talking to eccentric billionaires about womens underwear.
Seriously, its not going to take up more than a few days of your time. Rudolph is announcing his choices next weekend, and the contract will be signed and delivered before Christmas. You go in, make the deal and leave. Before Gage could point out that anyone could go in and pitch this, Devon dropped his voice even lower and added, You can even add the time you lose on this to the New Year. Youll still get your five weeks off.
This isnt about the time off. Even though that was a part of it. Its about respecting our agreement.
Look, Ive had to set aside my projects to take on this new online store the old man wants to launch. Its not going to kill you to hit the beach a few daysor even a weeklater than youd planned.
So that was it. Lifting his pilsner glass, Gage gave his brother a dark look. Someday, one of them was going to be at the helm of Milano. The question was, which one? Marcus had made it clear that to run the company, his sons had to do three things: Be absolutely loyal. Prove they were more worthy than the other. And not piss him off.
Gage and Devon had realized a few years back that it was going to take building their own business success separate from Milano to prove their worth. The trick, of course, was doing that while not jeopardizing rules one and three. And more important, doing it faster and better than the other brother.
Or in Devons case, while sabotaging the other brothers chances of doing it first.
Youre playing dirty, Gage said decidedly.
Im playing to win.
Whatre you two muttering about down there?
Were talking about our tradition of breaking the wishbone, Gage shot back, not taking his eyes off Devon. Im thinking we should sweeten the pot. In addition to the 10K for the winner, I think the loser can take on this new project of yours.
Devons grin slipped. He couldnt talk his way around a wishbone bet. There were no cards to slip out of his cuffs. It was a straight-on deal with lady luck. And of the two of them, Gage always had better luck with the ladies.
Fine. You win, I take the deal. But if I win, I get to pick your costume for the Christmas party this deal requires you to attend.
Gage grimaced.
A Christmas costume party? What the hell kind of joke was this?
Appetite gone, he shoved his plate away.
Yeah. He hated the holidays.
1
HAILEY NORTH LOVED the holidays.
All the glitter and fun. Smiling faces glowing with joy, the secrets and excitement. And the gifts. Gifts and surprises always rocked. Especially hard-earned ones, presented at a fancy dress-up ball. Or, in this case, a ballroom packed with the rich and influential of the Northern California fashion scene all dressed up like holiday cartoons.
She should be ecstatic. Over-the-moon excited.
Tonight shed finally be sure that her lingerie company wouldnt be joining Father Time in waving goodbye at the end of the year.
Instead, she was afraid the past couple of months of financial worries and stress over keeping her company had sent her over the edge into Crazyville.
Here she was surrounded by male models and wealthy designers, many of the most gorgeous specimens of the opposite sex to be found in the Bay Area. And it was the six-and-a-half feet of green fur, snowshoes and a bowling-pin shaped body across the room that was making her hot.
Hailey squinted just to be sure.
Nope. There was absolutely nothing enticing about the costumed guy at the bar. But sex appeal radiated off him like a tractor beam, pulling her in. Turning her on.
Green fur, for crying out loud.
Wow. Month after month of no sex really did a number on a healthy womans libido.
Or maybe it was a year dedicated to the objective of making romance sexy. Of studying romantic fantasies, and finding ways to tastefully re-create them in lingerie form and show women that as long as they felt sexy, they were sexy.
Or, possibly, it might have something to do with the glass of champagne shed knocked back for a little social courage when shed walked into a ballroom filled with high-powered movers and shakers, most of whom had more money in their wallets than she had in her bank account. And all of them here to impress Rudy Rudolph, a department-store tycoon with a wicked sense of fun and prized openings in his new spring fashion lineup.
She glanced at her empty champagne flute, then at the bar. She should trade this in for something nonalcoholic. Something that didnt make her go tingly over green, grouchy holiday figures.
Then the Grinch pushed back his fur to check the time. When the hairs on his fingers caught on his leather watchband, he yanked off the gloves in an impatient move, tossing them on the bar.
Thirst forgotten, Hailey stared at his hand as he reached for his own drink. Long and lean, with tapered fingers. Even from across the room, his palm looked broad. Her mind played through every hand-to-penis-size euphemism shed ever heard and came up with the only conclusion possible.
The Grinch was hung.
The only question was, did he go for cute elves? Or was he strictly a man-and-his-dog kind of guy? Maybe she should have dressed up like a Who?
Shed taken two steps toward him, her body desperate to find out, before she caught herself.
No. She was here for business.
She peered at the baggy, saggy, furry back and grimaced. Not for fun. No matter how big the funs hands were.
Hailey, darling.
Relieved, both at the distraction from lusting after the Grinch and at there actually being someone here who knew her name, Hailey turned.
Her social smile shifted to genuine delight at the sight of the man whod made this night possible for her. Jared Jones, assistant to the wealthiestand most eccentrictycoon in the department-store business.
Jared had taken her under his wing last summer when theyd met in an elevator. Hailey had been on her way to pitch her lingerie designs to the sales team and Jared had been bemoaning a rip in his shirt. Before theyd reached the sixth floor, shed pulled out some fabric tape for a temporary mend, earning his gratitude and his endless devotion.
Apparently, a fashion faux pas was, to some, the end of the world.
Jared, she greeted, leaning in for a hug but careful not to let him bump her head. Itd taken her twenty minutes to get the bell-festooned elf hat pinned to her curls in a way that didnt make her hair look like fluffy poodle ears.
I love your gingerbread-man costume. Is that your favorite holiday character? she asked, flicking her finger on one of his cheerful, oversize buttons. Her eyes widened before she laughed aloud as she noted the words Eat Me etched on the red plastic.
Edible goodness, thats me, he said with a wink. Then he shifted his head to the left and gave a little wag of his chin. And if all goes well, that drummer boy over there will be having a taste before the night is out.
Used to Jareds aggressive sexuality by now, Hailey gave the drummer an obligatory once-over before sharing an impressed look with her horny gingerbread friend.
But look at you, he gushed, his loud enthusiasm aimed as much at getting the drummers attention as it was appreciation for Haileys costume. You know, Ive seen at least a dozen elves tonight, but youre the best by far. You look fabulous. Is everything youre wearing straight from your lingerie line?
Everything but the skirt, Hailey confirmed, arms wide as she gave a slow turn to show off the goods. Her candy-cane-striped bustier with its red satin trim and white laces paired nicely with her red stockings and their white seams up the back that ended in clever bows just below the hem of her green tulle ballerina skirt. She was proof positive that the right lingerie could make any woman feel sexy.
Nothing like a year in the gym, a carb-elimination diet and a great tan to make a girl look damned hot in lingerie.
Too bad shed only hit the gym maybe four times in the past twelve months, loved carbs like she loved her momma and was closer to winter-white than sun-kissed tan.
But that was the beauty of Merry Widow lingerie. A girl didnt have to have a supermodel body to lookand feelfabulous in it.
Oh, darling, Jared breathed in admiration as he completed his inspection.
Hailey didnt have to follow his gaze to know where he was staring. After all, the guy might not be interested in what her lingerie was covering, but he was all about fashion.
And her boots were pure fashion candy.
The white Manolo booties were an early Christmas present from her father. Well, not really from him, since he never knew what to get her. But shed bought them last month with the holiday check hed sent, so that made them his gift to her.
Hailey, you have the best taste in footwear, he sighed. Those boots are perfect. And such a great touch to bring the outfit from cute to couture.
Thanks. Will Mr. Rudolph be arriving soon? she asked, shifting from one foot to the other. She wiggled her toes in her most excellent boots as a reminder that a girl could handle anything if she was wearing fabulous footwear. Since hes announcing his choices for the spring exclusives, shouldnt he do it before all the designers are drunk?
While she was still tipsy enough to use getting one of those prized exclusives as an excuse to seduce the Grinch.
Drunk designers only add to Rudys sense of fun, Jared told her with a sly grin. He didnt say a word about the contracts, though. She knew he knew whod been chosen. And he knew she knew. But they both knew she wouldnt ask.
Quit obsessing, Jared said, giving her a nudge with his shoulder and leaving a streak of glitter on her arm.
Maybe you should see if the drummer boys sticks are worth checking out. She tilted her head toward the guy hed been scoping. I cant clear my head enough to be fun company.
Darling, Im here to enjoy the party with my favorite designer. If there was anything I could do to set your mind at ease so you could give the party the appreciation it deserves, I would. But you know meI dont kiss and tell.
Giving in to her nerves, and reminding herself that shed taken a cab here, Hailey traded her empty champagne glass for a full one, then arched one brow at Jared.
Okay. So I dont spill company secrets. He hesitated, then wrinkled his nose and leaned closer. At least not the ones that could get me fired.
Then he looked past her again. This time when his face shifted, it wasnt into lustfully suggestive lines. Instead, he came to attention.
I dont think the news will be secret for long, though, he told her, twirling his finger to indicate she turn herself around.
Welcome, welcome.
Hailey, along with the rest of the ballroom, turned around and came to the same subtle attention that Jared had as a skinny Santa took the stage with two helpers dressed in swaths of white fur and a whole lot of skin.
She leaned forward, peering at the trio. The nerves in her stomach stopped jumping for a few seconds as she stared in shock. Wow. Mr. Rudolph sure looks different without his tie.
Or maybe it was the fact that the pervy old guy was shirtless under his plush red jacket. Wasnt he in his seventies? Now, that wasnt a pretty sight. Afraid to look at it too long, in case it rendered her blind, Hailey glanced at the rest of the crowd. Nobody else seemed surprised.
Thank you, everyone, he said, for joining the Rudolph-department-store annual holiday costume party. As you can see, my favorite character is Santa Claus. Appropriate since Im the man giving out the gifts tonight.
Fingernails digging into the soft flesh of her palms, Hailey puffed out a breath, trying to diffuse the nerves thatd suddenly clamped onto her intestines.
This was it. The big announcement.
She felt like throwing up.
This year, instead of simply awarding spring womens-line contracts, Ive decided to make things fun. Ive chosen two favorite designers in each department. Womens wear, shoes and lingerie. Those designers will compete through the holiday season for the top spot.
Haileys stomach fell. Competing? That didnt sound good. She wasnt the only one who thought so, either, if the muttering and hisses circling the room were anything to go by.
She gave Jared a puzzled look, trying to shrug off the sudden despair that gripped her. The contracts werent being awarded tonight? But she needed to know. Without that contract, she was going to lose her business.
Jared ignored her stare, tilting his head pointedly to get her to pay attention.
She dragged her gaze to the stage with a frown. Instead of looking abashed, the old man seemed delighted by the angry buzz. His grin shifted from wicked to a visual cackle as he held up one hand for silence.
It took all of three seconds for him to be obeyed.
So without further ado, here are the finalists in womens wear, he announced. A model featuring an outfit from each line crossed the stage behind him as he named the designer.
Hailey swallowed hard, trying to get past the tight worry in her throat. It wasnt as if shed irresponsibly put all of her hopes on this deal. It was more a matter of everything else falling apart until this deal was all that was left to hope for.
She shifted from one foot to the other, trying to appreciate the gorgeous shoes as Rudolph announced the designer finalists for footwear. But not even the studded black leather stilettos could distract her worry.
Then he got to lingerie.
She didnt even listen to the names.