Reluctant Romance Read online

  ###

  Risa walked back to her office with a heavy heart. It was obvious Connor didn’t see the value in the clinic and company culture.

  Rounding the corner to her office, her mood lifted when she saw Meredith holding out a large diet soda. Her favorite. Meredith always knew just what she needed. She accepted the soda with a sig. She’d hate it if Dunn International took over and changed things, even little things like this.

  “Thanks,” she said with a rueful smile.

  Meredith followed her into the office, taking the guest chair. Risa lowered herself into her office chair and twisted the cap off the soda. The fizz made a welcoming sound as she lifted the bottle to her lips and took a big gulp. Bailey sat up and put her head on Risa’s lap. She reached down and stroked the silky fur on the dog’s head for her comfort as much as for Bailey’s.

  “How did it go?” Meredith asked.

  Risa felt her heart plummet in her chest. “Not too good.”

  Meredith cocked her head to one side. “Oh?”

  “I don’t think Mr. Dunn was very impressed with the clinic." Risa took another long drink from the soda bottle. Leaning back in the chair, she looked out the window. “I think if the acquisition goes through, he’ll probably shut it down.”

  “But that’s your pet project!”

  Risa nodded. The truth was, she didn’t care about running the company. The only reason she had agreed was because her father had begged her. The consolation was that she got to open the clinic, which was subsidized by company money.

  Without it, she’d have no reason to stay. Well, no reason except for the people. She’d become very close to the employees at Healthy-Pet over the years. They were almost like family. She couldn’t let them down by allowing Dunn International to come in and change everything.

  “Your father wants you to call him.” Meredith pulled her from her thoughts.

  Risa made a face. He probably wanted an update on how her tour with Connor Dunn had gone. Her stomach sank at the thought of having to tell him she didn’t think Dunn International would do right by the company.

  “Okay, thanks." Risa picked up the phone. Meredith discreetly got up from the chair and left the office, closing the door behind her.

  Another glance at the gorgeous sunny day outside her window told Risa her father would probably be on the golf course, so she dialed his cell phone. Looking down at her lap she saw Bailey’s warm brown eyes staring up at her as if to let her know everything was going to be okay.

  “Risa! Did you meet with Connor Dunn yet?" She ignored the mischievous hint in her father’s voice.

  “Yes, Dad, he’s already left.”

  “How did it go?”

  “Okay…I guess.”

  “You don’t sound so sure. What’s the matter?”

  “Well, it’s just that I don’t think Dunn International is a good fit for Healthy-Pet.”

  The silence from the other end of the phone sent a pang of guilt through Risa’s heart. Her father really wanted the acquisition to go through. After all, it was his company. He had built it with years of sweat and sacrifice. Who was she to try to throw a wrench in the works?

  “Why do you say that?” he asked.

  “I got the impression they don’t have the same commitment to pet health and community that we do. Connor seemed like he was more about the bottom line and nothing else.”

  “Now Risa, I don’t think that’s the case. Tristan Dunn has assured me they value all those things and the company will come out of this better than it is now. You’ve always had an aversion to big corporations - are you sure that’s not clouding your judgment?”

  She let out the breath she didn’t realize she had been holding. She had hoped she could get her father to rethink selling if he saw how it would change the company, but his tone told her his mind was set.

  “I don’t think so, Dad. But we’ll see how it goes. Today was just a preliminary tour; there’s still more to go over.”

  “Now that’s my girl! Think positive!"

  Risa could hear golfing sounds in the background and knew she was about to be dismissed.

  “Okay, Daddy.”

  “Oh, I almost forgot. Tristan is in town, so I’ve arranged for the four of us to have dinner at the country club tonight…to celebrate the acquisition.”

  “The four of us?” Risa could feel her stomach roil at the thought of being forced to have dinner with the Dunns.

  “You, me, Tristan, and Connor. Surely you can tear yourself away from the clinic for one night. You hardly ever socialize.”

  Risa caught the sarcastic tone in her father’s voice. He was always getting on her for spending too much time working and not enough out socializing and “trying to find a nice man”.

  “Sure, Dad. What time?”

  “Seven o’clock. Gotta run, sweetie. I’m holding up the course.”

  Risa heard the line go dead. Hanging up her own phone, she rubbed her temple, trying to stem the headache that was building behind her eyes.

  Reaching for her rolodex, she thumbed through until she found the extension for Caitlyn Barnes. Her stomach did a flip-flop as she lifted out the card and held it in her hand. She hoped she was doing the right thing.

  Picking up the phone, she dialed Caitlyn’s extension.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Caitlyn…it’s Risa. I have a problem and I need your help.”

  Chapter Three

  Risa didn’t care that her five-year-old Toyota Corolla looked out of place among the brand-new Beamers, Lexus’s, and Mercedes in the valet parking area at the country club. She could easily afford one of those cars, but status symbols didn’t impress her. The Toyota was a practical choice, and she was nothing if not practical.

  Unfolding herself from the car, she handed the valet the keys and made her way toward the double glass doors of the country club, wobbling just slightly on high heels she wasn’t used to wearing.

  She caught her reflection in the glass doors and felt a flutter of approval, then admonished herself. What did she care how she looked?

  Still, she had to admit her slim figure looked great in the not-too-tight-but-tight-in-the-right-places royal-blue dress and the two-inch matching royal-blue heels with rhinestone accents helped add to her statuesque appearance.

  The summer humidity threatened to wilt her composure and frizz her hair. She tucked a stray curl back into her French braid and opened the door.

  The cool air of the country club foyer blasted through the thin silk of her dress, causing her to give a little shiver. She rubbed her bare arms with her hands. On the right, the dining room looked moderately crowded. She could hear the clink of silver utensils on fine china. The smell of roasted meat made her mouth water.

  Well, at least I’ll get a good meal. Risa wasn’t much of a cook. She subsisted on a diet of pizza and peanut butter sandwiches. The food at the club was top-notch, but it would be a small consolation for what she had to endure.

  She scanned the room and caught her father waving to her from a corner table where he and Tristan Dunn were already seated with half-empty drinks on the table in front of them.

  Risa nodded as she walked past the maitre d’. Pasting a fake smile on her face, she navigated the room to the corner table.

  “Risa, dear, you look wonderful." Her father stood up to pull out her chair.

  “Thanks, Daddy." Risa stretched on her toes to give him a peck on the cheek. Even though her heels added two inches to her five-foot-six frame, she was still a head shorter than her father.

  “You remember Tristan Dunn…Tristan, my daughter Risa.” Dan Kennedy waved his hand between the two as they shook hands and mumbled greetings to each other.

  “Connor should be here shortly,” Tristan said. “Seems he’s having a bit of a hard time remembering how to navigate the streets here.”

  Or lost track of time with his latest floozy, Risa caught herself thinking.

  The waiter appeared at Risa’s elbow.


  “Can I get you a drink?”

  Risa pursed her lips considering it. She didn’t drink much, but maybe a little cocktail would help take the edge off of being forced to act nice when “nice” was the last thing she was feeling. Glancing down at the back of the menu, she noticed a list of fancy martinis.

  “I’ll have a pomegranate martini,” she blurted out. How much harm could a fruity martini do?

  She looked up to see Tristan smiling at something over her shoulder.

  “Here’s Connor,” Tristan said.

  Risa turned in her chair. Connor Dunn made a stunning appearance in a well-tailored navy-blue suit. She noticed several of the female patrons staring at him as he sauntered over to their table.

  “Risa, Dad…Mr. Kennedy." Connor nodded greetings to all, stretching across the table to shake hands with the older men. Risa couldn’t help but notice how the blue silk hankie in his top pocket highlighted the deep sapphire color of his eyes. Her heart gave a little flutter and she bit the inside of her cheek. Such thoughts about Connor could only cause more problems for her.

  Her father and Tristan were already seated on the other side of the table which left the seat next to Risa for Connor. Her stomach burned as he pulled out the chair. By the look on his face, he was about as happy with this dinner as she was.

  The martini appeared in front of her. Risa took a long sip, then, straightening her back, she settled in her chair and prepared for battle.

  ###

  Risa’s stomach grumbled as the waiter placed the bread basket on the table. She’d ordered a large steak, garlic mashed potatoes, and a salad, but since she hadn’t eaten in almost eight hours, the bread had an irresistible appeal.

  She grabbed a piece, slathered it in butter, and bit in. The creamy butter and savory, rustic bread tasted like heaven. She hoped it would counteract the effects of the martini, which coursed through her veins at a dangerous speed.

  Across the table, her father raised his glass. “A toast to the marriage of Dunn International and Healthy-Pet!"

  Risa almost choked on her bread. Marriage? Reluctantly she raised her pomegranate martini, shoving it into the middle of the table to clink glasses. She noticed Connor seemed just as reluctant to raise his bottle of beer.

  “So, how did the tour go?” Tristan looked from Risa to Connor.

  “Umm…well, it was just a preliminary tour. I showed Connor the offices and our clinic." Risa glanced at Connor, noticing a nervous tic in his cheek. Apparently Connor thought it went just about as well as she did.

  Connor cleared his throat at his father’s expectant look. “It’s still early in the process."

  “I’m not sure I was successful in conveying how important the clinic is to the company, though. I hope it’s not going to be a casualty of the acquisition,” Risa said.

  Tristan raised his eyebrow at Connor. “What about the clinic?”

  Connor lifted his beer, taking a long swig. “Well, it doesn’t seem to be a profitable piece of the puzzle. I still need to look into the finances though."

  “Oh, I’m sure it will all workout fine!” Dan’s voice was jovial. “Drink up, we should be celebrating!”

  “It is a little premature to celebrate.” Connor raised his eyebrows, looking from Risa’s father to his.

  “Don’t be silly,” Tristan said. “The evaluation is just a formality, right? I’m sure you’ll find everything is in order. Dan and I really want this to go through, don’t we, Dan?”

  Tristan turned to Dan, who nodded. “Yes, absolutely. I’m sure you kids will make it happen.”

  Risa stared across the table. Dan and Tristan were looking at her and Connor as if they were children who had no choice but to obey.

  She dropped her gaze, picking at the edge of the napkin in her lap. It was clear neither her father nor Tristan would change their minds.

  Her only hope was to get Connor to convince his father the company was a bad investment.

  “What kinds of things would you be looking for?” she asked, glancing sideways at Connor, then at his father.

  Connor shrugged. “Good solid profits, an aggressive five-year plan, proper accounting practices. You know, that sort of stuff.”

  “What about the employee packages, benefits, and such?”

  “Yes, well, that all figures into the financials.”

  Risa tore a piece from the bread on her plate and cut her eyes over to Connor. “Anything specific that you look for?” If she could find out what exactly he was looking for, maybe she could make sure he didn’t get the answer he wanted.

  He looked at her with furrowed brows. Risa pretended to be more interested in her bread than what Connor had to say, popping the piece into her mouth then dusting the crumbs onto her plate.

  Connor opened his mouth to speak. Risa’s ears went into hyper mode, straining to hear what he had to say…but he never said a word. The waiter picked that exact time to appear with their dinner plates, interrupting the moment.

  The table fell silent while everyone dug into their meals. Risa finished off her martini. A pang of guilt stabbed her while she thought about her father’s dreams for retirement. He wanted the money from the sale of Healthy-Pet so he could travel the world, golfing and just enjoying life. She didn’t want to deny him that, but she couldn’t let the Dunns turn their company into something that was just about money and profits.

  Digging into her steak, she felt a blanket of reluctant resignation settle over her. She would have to do whatever it took to make the company look like a bad investment. But she’d have to be smart about it.

  Connor was no dummy. It would be disastrous if he figured out she was purposely making things look bad for the company. If anyone found out, she’d be risking her reputation, her relationship with her father, and the company she was so desperately trying to save.

  ###

  Connor savored the last bite of his cedar plank salmon. A gourmet cook himself, he wondered if he could get the recipe from the chef. He was always looking for good recipes to add to his collection.

  He glanced sideways at Risa. Wisps of curls that had escaped from her braid, framed her face making her look young and vulnerable. Connor felt his heart beat faster when she looked over at him with her wide hazel eyes. He looked away, pushing the unwanted feelings aside.

  His eyes narrowed as he thought about the earlier conversation. Was Risa fishing to find out exactly what kinds of things he was going to look at in order to determine if they should buy Healthy-Pet? And if she was…why?

  “…remember how we used to barbecue on Sundays?” Connor heard his father asking Dan Kennedy.

  Dan laughed. “You used to burn the hot dogs every time!”

  “Do you kids remember that?” Tristan asked Risa and Connor.

  Risa smiled. “I remember catching hell for eating all the watermelon.”

  Dan laughed. “You always did love watermelon.”

  “And I still do.”

  “Dan, I can’t believe you still live in the same house,” Tristan said.

  Dan nodded. “Now that Angie’s gone, I can’t bear to move. Seems like the whole life we built is in that house."

  Tristan put his hand on Dan’s arm. “I know what you mean.”

  Connor felt his heart clench remembering his own mother. She’d passed right around the same time Angie Kennedy had. It was still a raw wound for both him and his father. He imagined Risa and her father shared the same feelings.

  Connor looked across the table at the two older men. When their families were young, they had lived in the same neighborhood and had been friends. The Dunns had moved two hours away once Dunn International started to grow, but Tristan and Dan had remained friendly. The death of their wives had brought them even closer together these past two years, causing the men to form a strong bond.

  Dan brightened. “The neighborhood is still great, though. And so convenient to everything.”

  “It is a great location,” said Tristan. “Good-sized lots,
close to shopping, the highway and the airport. I bet it looks even nicer now with mature landscaping.”

  Dan nodded. “Hey, I thought I saw your old house was up for sale.”

  “Oh, really?" Tristan chuckled. “That was a great house. I bet they’re asking a lot more than what I sold it for twenty years ago.”

  Connor thought back to his boyhood home. It was a great house. A center chimney cape with a big yard. Just what he was looking for now. Maybe he would take a ride by while he was in town. Just for a look.

  The waiter appeared peddling dessert and coffee. All four passed on dessert but took him up on the coffee.

  “So, how long do you think the evaluation will take, Connor?" Tristan asked.

  “The usual time as any acquisition. About a week. Barring any unforeseen circumstances.” He shot a sideways look at Risa. “Hopefully everything will be ready for us and easy to access. That will make things go faster.”

  Risa nodded.

  “Great, I’d like to get this wrapped up as soon as possible.” Tristan rubbed his hands together.

  Connor focused on his coffee, adding cream from a miniature pitcher and stirring. Beside him, Risa blotted her lips with a napkin.

  “Excuse me,” she said. Pushing back from the table, she stood, grabbed her purse, and walked toward the bathroom.

  Connor couldn’t help but notice her dress clung to her in all the right places accentuating her slim waist and generous breasts. As she walked away, he noticed she wobbled a little. Probably unsteady on those high heels, he thought. Like she wasn’t used to them, which he found very appealing in contrast to the high-society girls and models who were usually thrust upon him by well-meaning friends and business associates.

  Connor turned back to his coffee with a sigh. Risa Kennedy was attractive. And smart too. But smart could be dangerous. He had a funny feeling she was up to something. He could think of only one reason why she would be fishing to find out exactly what the evaluation would entail - the company had things to hide and she needed to know just which ones to cover up.