Free Suddenly Beautiful (Entangled Covet) by Boone Brux Page B

pair of straight-legged black pants and an untucked blue button-down shirt. He held out his hand. “Morning. You feeling better?”
    “Much better.” Though the evening was foggy, Tor did remember saying he hadn’t been feeling well. When did reality morph to fantasy? Had Creed really been flirting with Nikki? The thought stirred Tor’s ire, but he pushed it away, rationalizing that it was still an effect from his vivid dreams. “Thanks for shifting your schedule for this.”
    “Don’t mention it. I haven’t really settled into the job yet, so nobody is clamoring for my time.”
    “Enjoy it while it lasts.” Tor motioned toward one of the leather chairs. “Please, sit.”
    Nikki strode to the couch and sat down, her leather binder open and pen at the ready. . He couldn’t ignore the way that green dress hugged her curves. It was as if his erotic dreams had transformed to reality. Another surge of desire raced through him.
    Damn this stupid hard on.

    Tor also couldn’t help but notice that her posture was a little rigid.
    She looked up and gave him a tight smile.
    “Is anything wrong, Nikki?” Something was definitely bothering her.
    “I’m fine.” Her voice came out unusually high. “Just waiting to take notes.” She tapped the point of the pen against the paper. “It’s what I live for.”
    Okay, she was clearly irritated about something. Maybe it was her time of the month. He’d heard women got cranky and unreasonable. Tor took a seat on the other end of the couch. “So Creed, last night you said you had some ideas for the Goddess line?”
    “Oh, you remember that,” Nikki muttered.
    Tor glanced at her, but she didn’t return his stare.
    “Yes,” Creed said, drawing his attention back to the conversation. “Kythera Cosmetics has been a strong force in the industry for decades. The products have distinctive packaging and a loyal following. From the market research done a few months ago, it looks as though the biggest consumer age group is thirty-five- to fifty-year-old women.”
    “Kythera caters to career women who are dealing with signs of aging and have the money to invest in their beauty regimen.” Tor crossed his legs, resting his ankle on his knee. “It’s been very successful.”
    “Exactly. Since Kythera already controls this target group, I think the best approach for Goddess should be to focus on the younger women who are just coming into their own. They would still get the Kythera guarantee of a great product, but something trendy that speaks more to their lifestyle than their mothers’.”
    “A whole new age group.” Tor cupped his chin, rubbing his thumb back and forth across his lower lip. So far the ideas pitched by the marketing team had been nearly indistinguishable from that of Kythera Cosmetics. He had hoped that Creed would be the creative inspiration the campaign needed. Obviously his instincts about him had been right. “I like it. What else do you have in mind?”
    Creed smiled. “New packaging. Bright—trendy—but still classy. And I think Goddess should have its own face.”
    “What do you mean?” Nikki asked.
    “Ms. Stephanos has been the face of Kythera for decades, which is fantastic for the main line, but Goddess needs a younger face our target buyers can identify with.”
    “Makes sense.” Tor nodded, really liking the idea of not having his mother’s signature smile anywhere on his project. “Do you have anyone in mind?”
    “Actually I do.” Creed sat forward in his chair and folded his fingers together. “Nikki.”
    Tor frowned and shook his head. “Nikki who?”
    “Nikki Triano.”
    He hooked a thumb toward the other end of the couch. “This Nikki?”
    “Yes.”
    “My assistant?”
    “I know it’s an unusual request, but I think she has the perfect look for the line, and let’s face it, she comes from good stock.”
    Nikki crossed her legs and began rapidly bouncing her foot up and down. “I don’t think my mother—”
    “But