Inching away, she went with a more direct brush-off this time. Youll have to excuse me, Hugh. I see my boss over there, and he wanted a preview of my acceptance speech.
By all means. He didnt reiterate his prediction of winning, but his smirk conveyed the message all the same.
She ground her back teeth together as she walked away. Tuxedo, eight hundred and fifteen dollars. Cost of admission to ADster Awards Dinner, ninety dollars. Hugh Brannons ego, limitless.
AND THE GOLD ADSTER goes to Tessa St. Martin, a curvy woman in a short sequined dress, opened the envelope.
Hugh waited along with everyone else for the winners name.
Kimmerman and Kimmermans Life in Motion campaign for ATC Tires! Hugh Brannon, account supervisor.
He shoots, he scores.
The crowd didnt exactly go wild, but all around the table, Hughs co-workers began congratulating him. Individual awards were given out for specific creative contribution, but recognition for an overall campaign went to the person whod coordinated the clients branding with the agencys work. In this case, Hugh. His friend Mike Denton slapped him on the arm, and Kimmerman Sr. himself reached across the table to shake Hughs hand.
Standing, Hugh nodded his thanks, but his mind drifted for a second to a fellow nominee across the room. He knew without seeing her that Jocelyn would be smiling graciouslyas if she were actually happy for himand clapping along with everyone else. He also knew she was crushed by her perceived failure.
Shes got to learn not to take these things so seriously, he thought as he walked to the onstage podium.
A competitive man himself, he didnt mean to be hypocritical about Josss drive. He loved to win, and he was glad for the accolades. It wasnt easy to make all-terrain tires memorable and entertaining, and hed worked hard to integrate his teams ideas with the clients needs. But Joss worked hard at everything. If she kept up her pace and intensity, shed have an ulcer.
Or worse.
His smile faltered at the dark thought, but he reclaimed it as he took his trophy and kissed Tessas cheek. Reciting his speech, he checked his impulse to look for Joss. Seeing her earlier tonight had been as galvanizing as the bell ringing at the opening of a boxing match, except fighting wasnt what he wanted to do with her.
Not the only thing, anyway. Thered been a time when their verbal sparring had been a prelude to mind-blowing sex.
Despite telling himself he wouldnt seek Joss out, he continued to subconsciously scan the crowd as he acknowledged the creative team hed supervised. Ahthere she was, as gorgeous as ever and forcing herself to smile. Looking at her genial expression, no one would ever guess her fondest wish was to see Hugh shish-kebabbed on an open flame.
Last year, shed shocked him by walking over from Mitmans second reserved table to congratulate him. It had been the only time shed voluntarily spoken to him between his landing the Stefans Salons account and their parting of ways during the investigation of Mitman.
He and Joss had worked in client recruitment, in no way associated with the departments accused of selling falsely manufactured data and using exaggerated focus-group numbers to cut costs and research time. But in spite of her blamelessness, after the industry scandal broke, Joss had become even more determined to prove herself than beforewhich he hadnt realized was possible.
Knowing there were other awards still to be presented, Hugh wrapped up his remarks. There are doubtless others I could thank, but you all dont want to listen to me drone on when there are more important people in the room. He winked at Tessa, who stood stage left.
Tessa was attractive, but she was no Joss McBride.
He returned to his seat, managing not to look in Josss direction again, but her features were already etched on his memory. She was wearing her hair back tonight, but he preferred it down, softly framing an oval face with a stubborn chin. Her slim nose and high forehead added classic elegance, but her smoky jade eyes and full mouth promised untamed sensuality.
If her face had left an indelible print on his mind, it was nothing compared to the impression her body had left on his. Joss could be as cool and tart as iced lemonade when she wanted to be, but he knew from the three glorious weeks hed spent in her bed that the woman burned like living flame. Unfortunately for him, her passion also led to grudges, and when hed won the account shed been eyeingand the resulting promotionshed refused to forgive him.
Her uncompromising stance was a prime example of her taking something personally. Hed been doing his job! Sure, shed been interested in the account, but her pitches hadnt accomplished anything, and rivalry had always been part of their relationship. He certainly wouldnt have kicked her out of bed if the situation had been reversed. He wouldnt have kicked her out of bed for selling state secrets to foreign governments.
More recently, Kristine Dillinger, a woman from his neighborhood, occasionally shared Hughs bed. Athletic and easygoing, Kristine was always up for a great weekend, whether it was going to a bed-and-breakfast in the country with early-morning hiking, or pizza and a leisurely night at his place. As long as they were both single, they got together when they felt like it and owed each other no phone calls or explanations in between. Their friendship was as comfortable as it was casual.
No where-did-he-see-himself-in-five-years, what-kind-of-provider-would-he-be analysis. He hated dates that felt like job interviews. Maybe she didnt set off the internal bells and whistles that Joss had, but time spent with Kristine was a helluva lot more relaxing. He would have invited her tonight, but she would have been bored. He was bored by now, and he was one of the evenings honorees.
A few months ago, he mightve taken tonight more seriously, but hed learned to loosen up. Unlike some people.
When the awards presentation ended, he found himself trapped in conversation with a gregarious copywriter from WOW Concepts. Hugh nodded at the copywriters predictions about the Dallas economy, but his focus was really on Joss as she moved through the throng of well-wishers. Shed taken off the scarlet-and-gold jacket shed worn earlier, and the smooth curves of her exposed shoulders left him wanting to see more. His body hummed with awareness as she drew closer.
And whats another word for that awareness? Tension. Joss was often intense, or tense, period. He didnt need that in his life.
But needing and wanting were different. He knew from firsthand experience that, in the right circumstances, her intense focus was pretty damn hot.
Having abandoned all pretense of being involved in the conversation, Hugh glanced back at the copywriter. Im sorry, I just noticed an old friend trying to get my attention. Would you excuse me?
He freed himself, but hadnt taken two steps in Josss direction before she reached him.
Hugh. Her expression, both regal and grimly determined, called to mind heroic martyrs of bygone eras. Joss of Arc. I just wanted to say congratulations.
Thanks. He spared her the condescending crap about how, win or lose, it was an honor to be nominated and how her campaign had been deserving, too.
Well. She shifted her weight. Guess Ill see you again next year.
The Dallas advertising community wasnt so big that they never ran into each other, but she certainly didnt seek him out. She was only speaking to him now because she felt obligated, the way football rivals shook hands after the game. Over her shoulder, Hugh noticed her boss, Wyatt Allen, shaking hands with Robert Kimmerman Sr. Graciously accepting second place must be in Visions mission statement.
The Dallas advertising community wasnt so big that they never ran into each other, but she certainly didnt seek him out. She was only speaking to him now because she felt obligated, the way football rivals shook hands after the game. Over her shoulder, Hugh noticed her boss, Wyatt Allen, shaking hands with Robert Kimmerman Sr. Graciously accepting second place must be in Visions mission statement.
Having fulfilled her obligation, Joss turned to go, but Hugh found he didnt want to give her up yet. Shed always sparked something inside him, for better or worse, and hed forgotten just how alive he felt around her.
WaitI never did buy you that drink. Even as the words left his mouth, he wondered what he was doing. The woman detested him.
So you have nothing to lose. Besides, she might surprise him. Nostalgic interludes between ex-lovers happened all the time, and if she recalled their three weeks together with the same
She narrowed her eyes in a scowl that brought his happy train of thought to a screeching halt. You have got to be kidding me, Brannon.
What? A drinks harmless.
Harmless, my butt. She crossed her arms over her chest. Youre getting that look. Dont even try to deny it.
It had been worth a shot. I seem to recall your liking that look, he said with an unrepentant grin.
I was young and stupid.
You were twenty-six. Youre barely twenty-eight now. And, Jocelyn, youve never been stupid.
For a fleeting victorious moment, he had her speechless. But nothing good lasted forever.
Everyone makes mistakes, she quipped. You were just an easy way to meet my quota.
You wound me.
I try.
Didnt he know it. Whether it was taking Southwestern cooking classes, futile attempts to train her cat or fleecing everyone else at the table in high-stakes poker, she exerted the same level of effort. Why couldnt she have unproductive noncompetitive fun once in awhile?
And what degree of control-freak insanity did it take for someone to try to train a cat?
Hugh sighed. It wasnt that he had no work ethic, it was just that his brother Craigs heart attack had been a startling wake-up call. Take care of yourself, J.
IYou, too. She regarded him curiously, then shook her head. Within moments, shed merged into the crowd, a flash of red among less colorful individuals.
As he drove home later, Hugh told himself it was best Joss hadnt taken him up on his offer of a nightcap. Given their history, they would have ended up trying to outdrink one another, and alcohol poisoning was not his idea of a good time. Hugh may have gained new perspective since the collapse of his older brother, the attorney, this summer, but he still had a competitive nature thirty years in the making.
Growing up, he and his two brothers had competed over everything from athletics to academics to attention from their parents. There had been some frictionparticularly between Hugh, to whom many things came easily, and Craig, who resented losing to someone three years his juniorbut most of the brothers fighting had been of the short-lived lets-just-deck-each-other-then-go-for-beer variety. Overall, the pressure they put on one another had spurred them to higher achievements. Since college, no one had challenged Hugh quite like that.
Until hed met Joss.
Both ambitious junior execs on the fast-track to success, theyd been natural rivals for each other. Everyone said opposites attracted, but he and Joss mirrored each other, and hed never wanted a woman more. In some ways, hed been in peak form when working with her, but his time with Joss had also made him more like his workaholic brother Craig.
Hugh had once thought he and Joss brought out the best in each other. It was equally possible they brought out the worst.
DESPITE A BRIGHT NOONDAY SUN, the breeze that carried mist from the fountain in Williams Square was enough to chill Josss skin.
Emily, however, didnt seem to mind. She nudged Joss off the sidewalk, toward the nine bronze mustangs caught in a frozen gallop across the plaza. The fountain sculpture was one of Emilys favorite places, and they walked by anytime they had lunch in Las Colinas. Today, theyd shared stromboli at an Italian café overlooking Mandalay Canal. Joss had filled her friend in on the details of last night, and Emily had told her about the good book shed read after Simon blew off their date for a networking opportunity with one of the college deans.
Arent you cold? Joss demanded. She had on a long-sleeved henley, while her brunette friend wore short sleeves.
No, why?
Why, indeed. Joss freely admitted that, of the two of them, Emily was warmerinside and out. Which was why she deserved someone who fully appreciated her.
Hey, Emdo you ever think about what it would be like to be with someone besides Simon?
Emilys eyes widened. You mean like cheating on him?
No, I meant if things didnt work out. Hypothetically.
Why wouldnt they? Do you think Im doing something wrong?
Of course not! Like I said, it was strictly a hypothetical question. I didnt mean to alarm you. Seeking divine assistance, Joss rolled her eyes heavenward. Simons lucky to have you. Dont let him make you feel inferior.
Hes not making me feel anything. You know how I am, Joss. With a sigh, Emily sat on a shadowed ledge near the fountain. We arent all born with your self-confidence.
Born with confidenceor just born to a very determined mother?
A memory surfaced of an elementary-school choir recitalJoss had loved to sing, despite tentative pitch, and shed been looking forward to the concert. But when all the parents had filed into the auditorium, her knees had started knocking in time to the pianists metronome. Her voice squeaky with nerves, shed still managed to warble through her stage fright.
Shed been filled with a huge sense of accomplishment and renewed confidenceuntil her mother announced on the drive home that she wasnt about to let her daughter make such a public fool of herself again. If Jocelyn wanted to sing, Vivian would help her do it well. A week later, Joss had begun private voice lessons, with her mothers full support.
The kind of support that ensured job security for therapists.
Giving up the sun that hadnt been keeping her warm anyway, Joss sat next to her friend in the shade. Trust me, Em, there are plenty of things Im bad at. And youre selling yourself short. Not everyone can teach. Or write.
Sure. Emily pitched a penny into the softly gurgling water, and Joss wondered what todays wish had been. Put me on the other side of a piece of paper, or in front of a whole class, Im fine. Its one-on-one interactions that make me nervous.
This came as no surprise to Joss. The two women had met when Mitman did some publicity work for the university, and though theyd hit it off pretty quickly, Emily was shy. The middle child between two boisterous brothers, Em was known for being quiet and accommodatingqualities that had led to her being hurt more than once, but also made her a soothing person to be around. Joss, at the other end of the spectrum, knew she wasnt exactly lowkey, and appreciated the balance her friend helped provide. When Joss had first met David, shed hoped he might be the romantic equivalent of a male Emily.
Hed been more the romantic equivalent of a brick.