“I’d love to hear more,” she said.
He responded with a laugh. “I knew you would. Now the only question is, how soon can we meet? The situation is a bit urgent, I’m afraid. My current project manager is due to have a baby soon. Would you be available tomorrow?”
Indie bit her lip. Tomorrow was good but today was even better. The sooner she could get a face-to-face meeting with Stone the sooner she could start working her plan…or, more accurately, Tessa’s. They didn’t have much time. “What about today?”
“Sounds good to me,” he said without hesitation. “The sooner, the better.”
“Is five o’clock too late? I could be at your office by then.” Indie was feeling pleased with herself at how easily she’d pulled off an early meeting when she looked over and saw Tessa. Her friend was frantically shaking her head and mouthing the word ‘later’.
“Wait, five o’clock may not work. What about seven?” Indie backtracked but meanwhile she was glaring at Tessa. What was wrong with her?
“We could meet at Palmetto's, that great restaurant on Maple Avenue.”
“That’s fine,” Indie said, feeling totally distracted. Tessa was signaling something else and she couldn’t figure out what two fingers pointing to the lips meant. She was so preoccupied with Tessa, if Stone had suggested they meet under a bridge she would have agreed. “I’ll see you at seven,” she said then hung up.
“What?” She gave Tessa a look of annoyance. “Didn’t you see I was trying to set up the appointment?”
“Yes, and that’s the problem.”
Indie narrowed her gaze. “The problem? I thought that was the plan.”
“It was at first but then I thought, why settle for an appointment when you can get a date?” Tessa gave her a grin of triumph. “And it worked! Now we have exactly five hours to get you ready.” She ran over and grabbed Indie’s arm. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?" Indie pulled back, unwilling to get caught up in Tessa’s whirlwind of excitement.
“To the mall, of course. We have to get you a dress, shoes, a nice purse, makeup. Oh, and your hair. We’ve got to do something about that hair.”
Indie lifted her hand and ran her fingers through her black strands. “What’s wrong with it?”
Tessa rolled her eyes. “You’re seriously asking that question? It makes you look like a boy. Now once my hair stylist gets his hands on you, you’ll be a new woman. He’ll layer the strands, get your hair to softly frame your face and soften those lines, then he’ll-”
“All right, whatever.” Indie grabbed her keys from off the desk and stuffed them into her pocket. “Let’s go.”
Tessa almost bounced out of the room, she was so eager.
Indie could only sigh. For years Tessa had been trying to ‘beautify’ her with manicured nails, fancy dresses and jewelry. She’d resisted every attempt until now. But fate – or maybe just her desire to get the fourteen million dollars – had led her straight into Tessa’s hands. Heaven help her.
They jumped into the Land Rover and sped off to The Burlington Mall where Tessa took Indie on a whirlwind shopping spree, dragging her into at least eight stores until they found the perfect dress, an emerald green sheath that showed off her long legs and svelte frame. Then, a quick dash to Julio’s, where the expert trimmed and feathered until Indie’s hair caressed her nape, emphasizing her slender neck and tickling her cheeks. When he spun the chair around so she could look in the mirror she almost didn’t recognize herself. If she should admit it, she could actually pass for a beautiful woman. A model, even. When Tessa said Julio had talent and could transform her, she wasn’t kidding.
“Now for the shoes.” Tessa dragged her off again, and this time it took three shoe stores before they found a pretty pair that made Indie’s size nine feet look dainty.
An eyebrow and upper lip wax and a manicure later, Indie was out of pocket a few hundred dollars but actually quite pleased with her new look. It was a far cry from the rugged, outdoorsy look she usually sported.
“It’s a quarter to six,” Tessa said, pointing to the clock on the salon wall. “We’ve got to get you ready.”
It took them exactly eighteen minutes to get to Indie’s house which was thankfully only three blocks away from Tessa’s. At least she wouldn’t have to drop her friend home before rushing off to her date. Tessa could easily walk. It took Indie another twenty minutes to shower and dress and twelve whole minutes for Tessa to do her makeup. Indie had thought the haircut was transforming but when Tessa was done she could truly say she was a new woman. Move over, Lois Lane. Indiana Lane is ready to snag herself her own Superman.
At the door she drew in a deep breath, tucked her gold purse under her arm and gave Tessa a slightly less than confident smile. “Wish me luck,” she whispered, not feeling at all like her usual self-assured self but more like the wishy-washy women she normally scoffed at. Now, with her mission being to capture the full attention of her target, she had become one of them. Her lips curled in self derision. The things people did for money. Although, in her case it would all go to worthy causes. She didn’t intend to spend a cent of it on herself. That is, assuming she even got it…
But even as she walked to her vehicle Indie knew deep down that this wasn’t all about the money. To her chagrin she was beginning to realize that there was a part of her that really wanted this – the date, getting to know Stone Hudson and maybe, just maybe, getting him to feel something for her, possibly attraction, maybe even…love.
She shook her head. Get your mind out of the clouds, woman. This is business. She started the engine and pulled out of the driveway then headed off to her date with Stone Hudson. With her purse full of notes from Tessa, instructions on how to mesmerize the man in question, the night promised to be interesting, to say the least.
CHAPTER FOUR
Stone strode into Palmetto's where he was a well-known and valued patron. He was immediately ushered to the private lounge reserved for special guests. He’d left instructions for Indiana to be escorted to this private dining room immediately upon arrival. He hated to keep a lady waiting and had made sure to get there over ten minutes earlier than the appointed time.