“Yeah. Casey, Kyle, and I grew up together. They are more like siblings who don’t get along. I think Kyle gets a kick out of annoying her. At one point, it was his hobby of sorts.”
“That’s pretty cute.” When my eyes flittered back to his, I noticed his business-casual blue button-down, opposite to what I had seen him wearing this morning. “So, where’s the candy-cane uniform?”
“It’s at the dry cleaners.”
That smile. It was actor beautiful, and curiosity ate at my insides.
“Mmhmm, sure.” I waved a hand in the air. “If you aren’t the spokesperson for Colby’s, what department do you work for?”
His eyes widened right before he said, “I’m in charge of the marketing team.” He coughed, and the coughs kept coming until he took a sip of his beer, most likely to take care of the tickle in the back of his throat.
Marketing? I wouldn’t have pegged him for working in marketing. Maybe research and development.
“That’s pretty impressive. Sometimes, I wish I had taken that route instead of the path I took.”
If I’d majored in marketing, I could have been unleashing my creativity somehow, using the skills I loved to use on a daily basis.
He leaned into me, his face so close to mine that my breath caught. “Charlie, the girls are right. You’re definitely in the wrong field.” His stare was all-consuming and heated everywhere he took me in. “You’re talented, Charlie.”
I couldn’t help but smile because of the way he’d said it. He barely knew me, yet there was so much power behind his words.
“I can guarantee you that my marketing team would not have thought of this.” He plucked the sketchbook, opening the page to the Funch candy bar. “How did you come up with this?”
I laughed. “We were just messing around. I mean, if you look at the current branding, it’s outdated, and it kinda sucks, doesn’t it? Be honest.”
After a beat, he spoke, “You’re right.” His eyebrows pulled together, his gaze so intent on mine. “But where did you come up with the idea?”
I shrugged. “It just came to me.” Having a highly creative mind, even as a kid, an endless amount of ideas filtered through my head. “The girls were talking about the company coming up with new products in the following year and a new look, so …” My ears felt impossibly hot at his stare, and when he inched closer, I moved further against the wall, giving myself some room to breathe.
His finger jabbed at my sketch. “This would have taken my marketing team weeks to come up with, just this simple concept, yet you came up with it in a few minutes.”
“Thanks.” My voice was shaky, soft, even to my own ears.
“Now, tell me”—he angled even closer—“this morning, when we were by the candy wall and you said we should brand toward the essence of family, can you expand on that further?”
I pulled at the collar of my shirt, feeling my body temperature heighten.
“I’d love to hear your thoughts. I can take them back to my marketing team and implement them.”
His eyes burned with this fevered passion that made me shift in my seat. Good God, was this man serious about his job.
“Um …” I blew out a breath and reached for my beer to take a sip, but the bottle tipped over. “Shit!” I jumped, the bottle rolling off the table and dropping to the floor but not before the liquid spilled everywhere—on the table, on Connor’s shirt, and on his pants.
“I’m so sorry.” I grabbed the napkins from the table, wiping up his shirt and the liquid at his waist.
“I’m fine.”
Fine? That was an understatement. He was the finest man I’d ever laid my eyes on.
I swallowed, noting the way his blue button-down firmly hugged his arms, as though his muscles were cold.
“I’m such a klutz. Seriously, I’m so sorry.”
When I grabbed more napkins, he reached for my hand, stilling me in my spot. I could feel the sexual magnetism that made him so self-confident.
“I’m fine. Really.”
Our eyes locked again, for what seemed like forever.
One … two … three seconds passed by until he let out one heavy breath.
“Hey, guys.”
Our faces flipped to Kyle’s.
“You guys wanna join us? Alyssa doesn’t want to play.”
I swallowed hard, already scooting out of the booth, giving Connor a playful shove. “Yeah. Let’s play.” I needed out of this booth before I passed out from heat exhaustion.
“Connor, let the girl out.”
Connor threw his brother a look, clenching his jaw, and then he slowly moved out of the booth.
“Who wants to make a little wager?” Kyle’s smile widened.
“No. I’m done making bets with you,” Connor snapped.
Kyle threw an arm over my shoulders, wiggling his eyebrows. “He’s a sore loser. But heads-up, don’t make a bet against me. I always win.”
“Let go of my friend, you womanizer!” Casey yelled, walking toward us. “Charlie, stay away. You’ll catch his STD, just standing by him.”
Kyle held both of his palms up, almost running toward her. “Don’t worry, Pigtails. I only have eyes for you.”
Her scowl was comical, and I stifled a laugh in my throat.
Connor bumped his shoulder against mine. “You know how to play?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“You’re on my team.” The way he said it brooked no argument.
“Okay.”
His eyes appraised me, and he was doing that little intense-gaze thing that made my cheeks flame.
“Is there anything you can’t do, Miss Charlie?”
Yep. I can’t stop staring at you.
That little tidbit I kept to myself.
Chapter 5
Connor
The marketing plans were lying in front of me, scattered on my desk.
A few nights ago, I hadn’t exactly lied to Charlie. I was indeed the head of marketing while I was working at Colby’s on a temporary basis. But I didn’t include the fact that I was the head of all the other departments as well. My words had flown out as though I’d been born a natural liar.
But I knew why I’d lied. I’d lied because the attractive, talented woman didn’t have preconceived notions about me, being the son of the CEO. There was a natural ease between us that I knew wouldn’t be there if she found out. Though I didn’t want to admit it, I’d also lied because of selfish reasons. I’d wanted to pick her brain, get more ideas on where to take this new look for Colby’s rebranding initiatives.
I’d already met with the marketing team, laid out my plans for the rebranding, and they’d come up with a few specs this morning.
Charlie’s original idea was spot-on. I wanted something clean and that spoke to families and children and future generations.
Our brand could be our family, given that we were a family business. Even if we weren’t on the best of terms, the rest of the world didn’t need to know that.
I wanted a modern, good brand, which meant new packaging and a new logo. We needed a new brand that people could relate to, a feeling related to Colby Chocolates.