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Author Nicole Getridge's Biography
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Background Information |
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At the age of fifteen author, Nicole Getridge, began exploring what careers she wanted to pursue. Her first choice was a Medical Assistant. But one rainy Sunday afternoon all of that changed. She sat down at her desk in her bedroom and began what would later turn into more than just a hobby. On that rainy afternoon the beginnings of a series of Young Adult books was born, basing the characters on other young adults she attended high school with.
By the end of the first book she knew in her heart what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. Write stories. But her dream was put on hold when at the tender age of nineteen she became pregnant with her first child. This put off any dreams of becoming a published author.
For the next three years she dedicated her life to taking care of her two kids and her husband. But in February 1999 she picked up her pen once again and began writing the stories she'd left to collect dust in the closest. By February 2003 she had finished the 11th book in her Young Adults Series and decided to try her hand at writing Romance Novels, thanks in large part to inspiration she'd found from reading romance author Nora Roberts books.
In April of the same year she took a chance and submitted her first romance novel to Publish America. Two weeks later her book was accepted for publication. And now her first novel, Shielded Heart, is available thanks to Publish America.
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E-mail Me |
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Nicole Getridge was raised in Maugansville, MD. She graduated from North Hagerstown High School in Hagestown, MD in 1994. Her maiden name is Wallech. She was married on April 24, 1997 to Bradley Getridge. She has two children~Zachary Wayne born January 2, 1996 and Jessica Nicole born June 11, 1998.
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My second book in my Heart Series, Captured Heart, is due for release on December 4, 2004. I have finished two more books in the series, Shatterd Heart and Bleeding Heart and am currently working on the final two books in the series, Enchanted HEart and Sheltered Heart. I am also preparing my young adults series for publication. Below you will find an excerpt from Shielded Heart and Captured Heart. |
Shielded Heart
Chapter One
She sat starring out the window of the moving bus, wondering how her life had spun so out of control. Nothing made sense anymore. Nothing was as it should be.
She’d had the perfect husband, a career she loved and a baby that she’d wanted so desperately.
And now it was gone. Her perfect husband had turned out to be a monster. The child she wanted so badly, gone. Everything that had mattered to her had been ripped from her in one moment. The only thing she had left was her career and her personal belongings. Which fit neatly in two large suit cases.
She’d sold most of her things. The house she’d called home for the last five years, her furniture that had been a wedding present from her parents, her car. Every piece of jewelry he’d ever bought her she sold, including her bridal set. The only thing she was taking with her was the clothes she’d packed neatly in her suit cases and the simple gold bracelet that had been her grandmother’s.
She wanted to make a fresh start. And there was only one way to do that. Go home.
West Virginia where she had lived for the past five years had never really been home to her. Home was New York. Her birthplace. Her family still lived there. It was the only home she’d ever known.
And now she was going back. Back to her roots. Hoping to put the past behind her. To make a fresh start. To find her balance. And to take back what had been stripped from her. Her sense of self.
Weary, Charity Parris shut her eyes and drifted off to sleep. Praying the dreams that haunted her would hold off.
“No Greg. You can’t believe I would cheat on you. I love you.” Charity had pleaded as tears slipped from her eyes.
“Don’t play innocent with me. I saw you with your arms around that guy. You were laughing and his hands were all over you.” Greg Monroe, her husband, shouted.
“Greg it was an old friend. You remember Jimmy. We went to school with him and his hands were not all over me.” She argued.
“Your nothing but a lying bitch and you deserve to pay for making a fool of me. For making me look like an asshole while you went behind my back spreading your legs for any man who gave you a second look.”
Greg grabbed her by the arms and slammed her against the wall in the hallway in the upstairs of their home. Her head literally bounced off the wall, her vision blurring from the pain. He ripped her shirt away and his hands were bruising on her body. She cried out for him to stop but he continued to rape her.
And when he was through with her, and she was lying weeping on the floor he kicked her and beat her. Like he had done countless times before.
She begged him to stop for their babies sake, but he just snarled and said the little brat she as carrying probably wasn’t even his. He walked away leaving her on the floor crying out for him to help her.
She crawled to the phone to call for help but he had torn the phone from the wall. Gathering all the strength she could muster she got to her feet and attempted to walk down the stairs.
But her legs were weak and the sharp pain in her stomach was too much. She slid helplessly down the stairs, just as her mother in law, Grace Monroe, walked through the door.
Grace quickly called 911. Charity was rushed to the hospital where she lost the baby girl she had been carrying. Later when she was able to speak to the cops, she told them what Greg had done to her. He was arrested and three months later was sentenced to ten years in the state prison. And Charity had filed for divorce.
Charity was jerked out of her dream when the bus pulled to a halt and the driver called out for everyone to depart.
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she rose to retrieve her bags. She stepped off the bus and took in the sight of her home. Nothing seemed to have changed she thought as she lugged her suit cases to the waiting car she had rented.
She opened the trunk and sat the suit cases inside and then climbed behind the wheel of the blue Ford Taurus and drove through the city of her birth like she had never left.
“Parris in my office now.” Chief of Police, Spencer Parris called to his son.
“Some body’s in trouble.” Detective Mark Bannon smiled.
“Cut the crap Bannon.” Detective Brian Parris rose from his seat.
Being called into the Chief’s office was never a pretty sight, even if it was his own father. And by the tone in his father’s voice he had a feeling Bannon was right.
“Chief.” Brian said closing the door behind him as he entered what was known as the lion’s den.
And the lion was a big burly man with wiry gray hair that had once been a mossy brown. His eyes were a deep brown that were set in a face that was hard as stone and a voice to match. His nose had been broken years ago in the line of duty and had healed crooked in the center of a face that had managed to remain handsome despite the aging process.
Now he sat in his big brown chair with a scowl on his face he only reserved for when he was annoyed with one of his detective’s. And right now it was reserved for his only son.
“Sit.” He pointed to one of the leather chairs that faced his desk.
“Something wrong Chief?” Brian asked cautiously.
“Is something wrong Detective? Why yes I believe there is. It seems that one of my officers decided he was going to play the good Samaritan and let some hooker of the hook last night. Now can you tell me who that officer might be?”
“I have not a clue.” Brian smiled innocently.
“Cut the crap Parris. I know it was you.” He pointed a finger at his son. “Tell me what was your reason behind letting..” He said checking his files. “Ms. Candace ‘Sweet as Candy’ Randall off.”
“I went to school with her and she promised me she was going to clean up if I didn’t throw her in jail. She’s a good person Dad. I mean Chief.” No matter if he was Brian’s father, he always respected the title his father earned so graciously.
“Son she was found in possession of three grams of cocaine and I’m not even sure how much marijuana she had on her and you think she’s a good person?” Spencer asked shocked.
“Well at least she was when we were in school.” Brian smiled. But the look on his father’s face had him wiping it from his face. “Sorry.”
“Son you can’t let everyone you know who’s committed a crime go just because they gave you their word they won’t do it again. I’ve got the Commissioner breathing down my neck and let me tell you it’s not fun.”
“I know and I’m sorry. Do you want me to go find Ms. Randall and bring her in?” Brian sulked.
“Yes and while your at it go pickup your sister at the bus station. Her bus arrives in an hour. So that should give you enough time to bring Ms. Randall in and meet your sister.” Spencer said perking up at the mention of his little girl.
“I can’t believe Charity’s coming home. It’ll be nice to have her around. Now maybe you’ll get off my back some.” Brian muttered the last part.
“What was that?”
“Nothing. I’ll be back shortly with Ms. Randall.”
Brian stepped back into the bull pen and was greeted with applause for his safe journey through the lion’s den.
“See your still alive.” Josh Muldoon, a fellow detective and Brian’s best friend laughed.
“Yeah for the time being.” Brian scowled. “Now I’ve got to go arrest Candy and pick Charity up at the bus station all in the same hour.” Brian shrugged into his jacket.
“Right Charity’s coming home today. You siked?” Josh asked as he followed Brian to the elevator.
“You bet. I’ll be glad to have her close enough to keep an eye on her.” Brian punched the down button for the elevator.
“I still can’t get over what Greg did to her. Hard to believe we actually hung out with the guy.” Josh said as they stepped onto the empty elevator.
“He turned out to be a pretty sick ticket. And what I can’t get over is that Charity let it go on like that for years. She’s a cop she should’ve known better.”
“Yeah. But sometimes it’s hard to turn in the one you love.”
They stepped off the elevator and walked out onto the busy streets of downtown Manhattan. Just as they did a blue Ford Taurus pulled up to the curb and a tall blond emerged from behind the wheel.
Josh froze as she turned and locked her gaze on him. Her hair was a sun streaked blond with gold around the edges, that flowed just to her shoulders. Her skin was milky white and her face was well proportioned. Her nose was long and came just to a point.
Her eyes were hidden behind the shaded glasses she wore but he knew when she removed them they would be a cobalt blue. Her chin was well rounded and her mouth, oh God her mouth was full and ripe. And he wondered how it would fit against his. Her body was clad in tight Levi’s that show cased her tight butt perfectly and a snug, cotton T-shirt that was tucked into the waist band.
He was still drooling when she stepped onto the sidewalk and wrapped her arms around Brian.
What the hell was he thinking? This was his best friend’s sister. Not some broad in a bar he had no ties to. This was the same skinny girl with pig tails and braces that use to follow him and Brian every where they went. What the hell happened to that girl?
“It is so good to see you. But I thought you weren’t getting in for another hour?” Brian said holding Charity at arms length.
“I changed my plans and took an earlier bus.” Charity smiled. “Where are you headed?”
"Dad just ordered me to go re-arrest a hooker we busted last night. And to pick you up at the bus station. But since you’re here at least one of my duties was done right.” He laughed.
“Playing the do gooder again I see?” Charity asked.
Her brother was known for his soft heart. And the woman seemed to flock to him. And it wasn’t hard to see why either. With his chestnut brown hair and Caribbean blue eyes he was a hell of a catch for the right woman.
“Yeah. But it was a mistake. And one I don’t plan to make again.”
“Yeah I know the feeling.” Charity smiled knowing he meant Greg.
“Well since I’m pretty much invisible here I’m going to head out.” Josh said turning to leave.
“I didn’t forget you were there Josh.” Charity laughed and hugged him.
Her arms were like silk wrapped around him. His blood pressure raised considerably and his heart beat faster. He took in her scent and wished like hell she didn’t smell that good.
“It’s good to have you back Charity.” Josh stepped out of her arms. And since his hands weren’t steady shoved them in his pockets.
“Thank you. It’s good to be back. How’s Rachel?” Charity asked.
“Miserable. But I know when she sees you she’ll perk right up.” Josh smiled thinking how difficult his sister’s pregnancy has been.
“I can’t wait to see her again. Are you coming tomorrow night to my welcome home party?”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“You have to. With out you there, there won’t be any sane person I’ll want to talk to.” Brian begged.
“Okay. What time?”
“Six. At mom and dad’s.” Brian said checking his watch. “I’ve got to get going if I want to find Candy and bring her in before dad has a fit. Josh will you be a pal and take Charity up to the lion’s den.”
“Uh, sure.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you guys later.” And with that Brian was off. Leaving Charity and Josh standing alone on the busy street.
“I’ll take you up to see your father.” Josh said nervously.
“Okay.”
They walked back into the building that housed the precinct. When the elevator stopped on the third floor, Josh stayed back to let Charity step out first. As she breezed by him, her scent filled the air like a sweet perfume. The blood in his head drained into his loins.
He silently warned himself to stop thinking of her like that. It was a line he had no intention of ever crossing.
Josh opened the door and they stepped into the chaos known as the bull pen. Phones rang, computer keys clicked as officers typed up their daily reports. The air smelled of stale coffee and sweat.
A man in his late forties sat hunched in a chair along side one of the officer’s desk. He had sandy brown hair and his face was pale and his eyes were sunk into his head. As they approached Charity overheard the conversation.
“So why’d you do it Mr. Watts.” The officer asked.
“I already told you. She was nothing but a whore and a slut and she deserved to die.” The man scowled.
“No one deserves to die sir. Especially the way you killed your wife. Was it really necessary for you to shoot her eight times, point blank in the chest?” The officer stated.
Charity stood frozen. Her heart raced as she pictured the man sitting before her pumping eight rounds of ammo into his wife.
Josh quickly steered her away from the scene. “I’m sorry you had to hear that. Are you sure you want to come to work here?”
“Yes. My career is the one thing Greg can’t take away from me.” She stood her ground.
“You’re a lot stronger than I gave you credit for. Here’s your dad’s office. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.” Josh turned to leave just as the door to the Chief’s office opened.
“Charity.” Spencer’s voice filled with delight and relief as he hugged her close.
“Daddy it’s so good to be home.” Charity nuzzled her face into his chest and breathed in Old Spice.
“My baby girl. Let me look at you.” He stepped back and held her at arms length. “You look pale. Have you been eating and getting enough sleep?”
“Yes daddy. I’m fine.”
“Did you have a nice bus ride?” He asked pulling her into his office.
“Yes.”
“Where’s that bother of yours?”
“Out re-arresting Ms. Randall sir.” Josh spoke up.
“Ah, Muldoon. I’m glad you’re here. There’s something I need to discuss with you. Actually both of you.” He said gesturing Josh inside.
“What about sir?”
“Sit.” He said motioning for them to sit. “I just got off the phone with the Commissioner and he’s quit impressed with your track record Charity and yours as well Muldoon.”
“Well thank you sir.” Josh said taking the gratitude to heart.
“And that’s why he’s asked me to team you two up.”
“Me and Josh?” Charity asked surprised.
“What for?”
“He feels you two will make great partners. But if you think you’ll be uncomfortable working with one another then I’ll call him up and tell him you declined.” Spencer said hopefully. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Josh Muldoon, hell he’s known the boy all his life. He just didn’t want his only daughter off with the officer who had the reputation as love ‘em and leave ‘em Muldoon.
“I don’t see where they’ll be a problem. Do you Josh?” Charity smiled at him.
God he wished she wouldn’t smile like that at him. “No. None at all.” He heard himself say.
“Good. Great.” Spencer said wringing his hands. “I’ll call the commissioner and let him know. And starting Monday you two will officially become partners.”
“Sounds good. Now if you’ll excuse me I have some errands to run.” Josh said standing and extending his hand to the Chief.
The contact of hands was firm but there was a message behind it as the Chief’s hand squeezed on Josh’s. And he got the message loud and clear.
Once Josh had left the office Charity let out the breath she’d been holding since the moment her eyes fell upon Josh Muldoon’s face. He definitely wasn’t the same skinny foolish boy she remembered who ran around with her older brother.
No, that boy was long gone. And in his place was a man. A very attractive man with dark hair that just skimmed his collar, dark brown eyes that you could spend hours starring into. His face was rugged as was his physique. And a mouth that could seduce a woman into giving up her most prized procession. Her heart.
She wondered just how many woman had surrendered their hearts to him. And just how many had he surrendered to in return.
“Charity.” Spencer broke into her thoughts.
“I’m sorry. Did you say something?”
“Are you ready to go see your mother?”
“Oh yes.”
Spencer could only pray she hadn’t been thinking about what he thought she was thinking about. He knew what it was like to be a young single cop and be thrown together with a beautiful partner.
After all that was how he’d met his wife of thirty five years. Spencer had just been promoted to sergeant when he was assigned to a rookie cop. And to his surprise it had been a woman. A woman who had soon become the love of his life. They’d married a short time after their initial meeting and were now working on their thirty six year together.
While Spencer and Charity were heading to her mother’s office, Brian was lying collapsed a top Candy. He’d found her exactly where he knew he’d find her. In his apartment.
When he had seen her standing there by the window in his living room, the lust he felt for her went into over drive. They’d taken each other on the floor. Each time they got together it was like this. Wild and exotic.
“Candy I hate to spoil the mood but I’m afraid I have to take you in. Orders.” He said into her hair.
“I was afraid of that.” Candy laughed.
“God I love it when you laugh. Do it again.” Brian laughed himself.
“No.” But she found herself giggling as he teased the curve of her neck.
Brian lifted his head to look at her. Her honey blond hair was a tangled mass around her face. He could see the girl he’d known in high school in those deep green eyes. It was the same girl he’d taken in a giddish teenage rush to loose their virginity.
He wanted so desperately to save that girl from the life she was leading. To be able to take her home and tell his family he was in love with her. Had been since that wild night in the back seat of his dad’s Buick.
“I wish I didn’t have to do this.” Brian said putting his weight on his elbows.
“I know. But I did the crime so I have to do the time.” Candy looked into his eyes and saw all the things she wanted in her life shining in those eyes. “I love you and I promise I’m going to quit. I’ve already made arrangements to go into a program.”
“Seriously?” Brian asked hopeful.
“Yes. And I’m going to stick to it. For you. For me. I want a life with you. I want to be able to hold my head up when you take me home to meet your folks. I want to have children with you. I want to feel them growing inside of me.”
“I love you.” He said and lowered his mouth to hers. And lost himself in the hope they’d be able to have the life together he so desperately wanted.
“Honey. There’s someone here to see you.” Spencer poked his head into his wife’s office.
“Who’s..” Meredith started to say and stopped when her only daughter walked through the door. “Charity.”
She rushed to her and embraced her. Held her tight. Then stepped back to examine her.
Just as Spencer had deducted she looked pale and was too skinny. But that would change. All she needed was some tender loving care and some fattening up. And Meredith was the woman to do that.
“You look tired dear. Are you feeling well?” Meredith asked as she ushered her into the big leather couch that stretched along the far wall.
Meredith Parris was the best District Attorney New York has ever seen. And her office showed it. The desk in which she worked at was a deep Mahogany brown and the chair matched. The walls were littered with awards and degrees. Photos of family and friends sat on her desk and hung on walls also. The walls themselves were a deep brown.
“This is such a lovely office mom.” Charity said taking the conversation away from her.
“Don’t change the subject Charity. You haven’t been eating right and getting enough sleep have you?” Meredith asked knowing what her daughter was up to.
“Yes I’ve been eating, and no I haven’t been sleeping well.” Charity admitted.
“Still having those dreams about Greg and the baby?” Meredith asked.
“Yeah. But their getting better.” Charity lied. The dreams weren’t getting any better. In fact they were just as bad as ever.
“Good to hear.” Spencer said from his spot by the door.
“Then let’s get you home. Get some decent food in you.” Meredith said rising and going to call her secretary. “Marge. Please cancel my afternoon. I’m going home with my daughter.”
“Yes Mrs. Parris.” The pudgy secretary’s voice billowed through the intercom.
“Now that, that is taken care of let’s go.” Meredith grabbed her purse and briefcase. Then she linked arms with her husband and daughter and headed home.
Captured Heart
Prologue
James Millbrook, Jr. knew this was it. He was seconds away from dying. And he was helpless to stop it. His body was already beginning to feel numb as he lay in the pool of blood on his office floor.
He never would have thought that the man who had put the bullet in his chest would ever have betrayed him. He had considered the man a part of his family. Now he stood over him with the .22 Magnum he had pumped into his chest , with a sick, gleeful smile on his face.
His mind began to wonder as he drifted in and out of consciousness. He could see his whole life flash before his eyes. He saw his wife when they had first met, their wedding day. The birth of his only daughter, watching his mother die of cancer. The most precious and cherished moments of his forty-five years passed through his mind
While he struggled to stay conscious, the man who had wanted him dead laughed at him and said that once he was dead he would take over James’ life. Everything that James held dear would be his.
James struggled to stand, but the pain and numbness took over. He could not let the man he had called family take what he loved. Nevertheless, how could he fight when his body wanted to slip into the darkness and feel no more pain?
There was nothing left for him to do but die. As the grandfather clock in the corner of his office struck midnight, James Millbrook, Jr. did just that.
Chapter One
Some might say she was haughty, arrogant, mean-spirited, conceited, and more often than not, a bitch. She just chalked it up to being a shrewd business executive. She loved the thrill of landing a new deal. She knew she was good at her job. Wait, good was not the appropriate word to describe her. Outstanding was more like it.
Why else would her firm be the number one art dealer in New York. Millbrook knew how to pick out the new up -and-coming artist from the want-to-be artist. She knew what the art world deemed worthy and what they found appalling.
From the time she was born, she was bred to take over the family business. She was taught what to do and what not to. She’d known how to tell the difference between an authentic Leonardo De Vinci to a reproduced Picasso at the age of four. She had majored in art and philosophy at Yale. Wandered the tidy streets of Rome and Paris all before her twenty-first birthday.
Now at the tender age of 25 Piper Millbrook was the head of the family empire. Of course, she had only taken over six months ago, after her father had been found dead in his office. The police had called it suicide, but Piper knew her father never would have left her and her mother that way.
No one had questioned her Grandfather when he had handed the reins over to his only grandchild. No one would have dared questioned any decision James Millbrook Sr. made. And when they dared , it only took one look from him to have them clam up.
He was a man who knew his art and what was best for his company. He had only signed artists he felt were worthy of having Millbrook represent them. And now Piper was taking over that duty. And she planned to up hold the family tradition. That was why she was so eager to sign Tyler Quinn.
She sat in the chair that had been her father’s before her and studied the file she had lying open on her desk. The black and white photo of the rising artist starred back at her. She liked the look of him. His hair was coal black and fell just to his shoulders. Though she couldn’t tell what color his eyes were, she imagined they were a blue of some sort. He had a strong face accented by strong features. It was the only way she could figure to describe him.
She put the picture aside and read the data she’d managed to snag on him. He was thirty, single. He’d graduated in the top five in his class from the University of Maryland and had grown up on Maryland‘s Eastern Seashores. He came from a big family. One brother and two sisters. His parents were both retired Professors from the University of Maryland. Dr. Reginald Quinn and Dr. Gail Quinn had been highly respected Psychology Professors at their alma mater. Their children had followed example , except for their oldest son, who had been determined to make a big splash in the art world. They couldn’t have been more proud, an article in the New York Times had quoted them.
Piper knew what it was like to have a parent look at you with pride shining in their eyes when you either followed their path or forged your own. And it was that pride she’d seen shining in her father’s eye that drove her to strive to be the best at her job.
She ran through the file on Tyler Quinn two times before she was confident she knew every thing there was to know about him. She prided herself on knowing things , personal and non-personal, about a potential client. She did a complete background check on every potential client, just as her Grandfather before her had done. It was another of those traditions she was determined to uphold.
Piper stood to look out at her view of the city she loved. She wouldn’t have traded a week in Paris for this she thought. She loved New York, the excitement, the people. She imagined there were people who would think she was crazy for choosing to live in New York , to living in Paris or Rome. Oh, sure, she liked those cities, but they weren’t home. Not like New York was.
She loved knowing that if she wanted to go to the Opera or a Ballet that she could just hop over to Broadway and catch one. She loved the feel of the city. She couldn’t imagine herself anywhere else for long periods.
As Piper stood looking out the window just behind her something appeared from out of now where. A women in her early twenties stood behind her, a bright light illuminating her. She watched as Piper looked out the window and she thought to herself, “You might not know it Piper, but today is the day that will change your life forever.” And then she was gone.
Piper felt a cold chill run over her as she turned back to her desk. And the sweet scent of sun kissed raspberries hung in the air. She shrugged off the eerie feeling that someone else was in the room with her and checked the gold Rolex on her left wrist. She noted it was just shy of ten a.m. when her secretary buzzed her.
“Ms. Millbrook, your ten a.m. is here.” The bubbly voice of her secretary came through the intercom.
“Thank you. Send him in.”
When the door opened and she got her first real look at Tyler Quinn, her first thought was….well to be perfectly honest every thought in her head drained out. And the quick liquid pull of lust in her belly surprised her. Her first impression of him had been completely wrong. The black and white photo of him that lay in her file didn’t do him justice.
And his eyes, as she had suspected, were a clear blue. His hair was indeed coal black, but was now much shorter than in the picture. His body was clad in snug Levi’s and a crisp navy blue shirt with a tie that she imagined was best suited for a high school teacher. He wore Docksides on his feet that she assumed were new by the fresh smell of leather that floated in the air.
The smile that spread across his face as he strode towards her reached all the way to his eyes.
“Ms. Millbrook. I’m Tyler Quinn.” He reached across the desk to clasp hands with her. His voice had a hint of an Irish accent.
“Hello Mr. Quinn. Thank you for coming.” She gripped his hand and felt heat spurt up her arm.
“Thank you for meeting with me.” Tyler said as he released her hand and sat down in one of the leather chairs in a deep burgundy.
He watched as she did the same. He was use to getting the same reaction he had gotten from her , from other women. It wasn’t unusual for him to have a woman, even an incredibly beautiful woman as Piper Millbrook was, to go from being very intellectual, to being struck dumbfounded. But with other women he’d found it insulting. With Piper, he found it to be intriguing.
He liked the look of her. The way her deep chestnut brown hair was swept up in a twist at the nape of her neck. The deep green of her eyes. He’d always heard the expression-“Her skin was like alabaster”- but this was the first time he’d ever seen it. He liked the way her gray suit fit snug against her trim body. He found himself yearning to find out what went on underneath it.
“Yes, well, shall we get down to business.” She folded and unfolded her hands in her lap.
“Yes lets.” He smiled again just to see her reaction to it. And she didn’t disappoint him.
“Here are the contracts I negotiated with your agent, Ms. O’Connell, over the phone. I just need you to read over them and sign on the last three pages.” She handed the stack of papers over to him. “I’m sure you’ll find everything to be in order.”
“I’m sure I will.”
He scanned the papers and was pleased to find everything in order and all the stipulations of the contract he’d demanded his agent fight for. He hadn’t doubted she would agree to all of his demands. She was under the impression that he was the best and her firm was the best. And together they would be at the top of their game.
He signed where she had indicated and then passed the papers back to her.
“You will be required to give interviews with various magazines at your convenience. You are to attend galas and parties of different sorts. You will be expected to produce at least ten pieces a year that will then be displayed at our Art Gallery.”
“No problem.”
“Your first showing as a Millbrook client will be held in two months. There’s a Gala being held for one of our current clients next Wednesday night at the gallery if you would like to see how Millbrook represents their clients, you are more than welcome to attend. If so, you will be expected to arrive no later than eight thirty. Are we clear on that?” She was beginning to get her bearings back when he smiled at her again.
“Yes. Very.”
“And if you would like I would be honored to go ahead and display a painting or two in our gallery that way those who attend Wednesday’s showing can see your work.”
“The honor would be all mine.” he said watching her intently. “And will your grandfather be attending the Gala also?”
“Yes he always attends a client’s party. Why do you want to know?”
“I’m very anxious to meet him. I‘ve heard a lot about him.”
“Oh, well do you have any further questions Mr. Quinn?”
“No.”
“Good. Then we’ll see you Wednesday night. Welcome aboard Mr. Quinn.” She rose and extended her hand.
“Tyler.” he said rising also and grasping her hand.
“Excuse me?” she asked a bit confused.
“Call me Tyler. My father is Mr. Quinn.”
“Well I’m not sure that’s very business-like, but if you prefer I call you Tyler then I will.”
“Good. I’ll see you Wednesday night Piper.” He smiled and then turned and left the office.
Once he was on the other side of the door Piper let out the breath that had clogged in her lungs the moment their hands had touched. She had a feeling she was gong to have to be careful with that one or else she’d find herself flat on her back.
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