Two
Kinga stared at him, her fists bunched, cold with shock and dismay.
Because really, there was no way she’d heard him right. There was no way healreadyhad an offer, because she’d explained to her grandfather, in precise detail, why hiring Griff was a terrible idea. Callum was hardheaded but he wasn’t stupid...
Could the stubborn old goat have done this? Already made the deal? Set her up? Would he really put her in such a tenuous and unacceptable situation? Sure, he wouldn’t have thought twice about it.
What the hell was she going to do?
And why the hell did her heart triple-thump and her lady parts thrum every time her eyes connected with Griff’s?
He was a very good-looking guy, she accepted that. She liked his messy hair, square jaw covered with three-day-old stubble, his straight nose, the small scar on his right cheekbone. She knew, from pictures, that he had two delicious dimples, but despite his practiced smiles, she’d yet to see them.
His body was fantastic: wide shoulders and chest, a trim waist and big arms that strained the fabric of his expensive T-shirt. But it was his eyes that enthralled her. Kinga could lose herself in the deep green, the color of fir forests on a cold winter’s day.
Highlighted by dark brows and thick lashes, they held a million secrets, none of them good. The thought occurred to her that his easy manner and relaxed demeanor lulled people into believing he was the devil-who-didn’t-care, an unrepentant bad boy, but his eyes reflected an unexpected intelligence. They suggested there was a lot more to the man than his wild exploits.
Kinga gave her herself a mental slap and reminded herself that it didn’t matter who or what O’Hare was; he wasn’t suitable to be the headline act atherball.
O’Hare performing at the ball would cause the press to sit up and take notice of the charity event, sure, and then Callum would take credit for being the visionary who’d given O’Hare a second chanceifGriff behaved himself and turned in a decent performance.
If he messed up, Callum would blame her for the bad publicity, for hiring him. She’d be the one in the firing line. Family or not, Callum looked after himself first.
Kinga looked down at her bunched hand and released her cramping fingers. No, hiring Griff was too risky and she was risk averse. Bad things happened when she stuck her neck out and deviated from the norm. As she very well knew.
“So, to be clear, you haven’t signed the contract yet?” Kinga asked, her voice, annoyingly, shaky.
“No, but I probably will. It’s a classy event, a decent amount of people, and it’s for charity, which will make me look good.”
“Does that mean you are donating your fee?” Kinga demanded, leaning forward. Maybe she could make a little lemonade from lemons...
He grinned, white teeth flashing. “No, Ryder International will pay me for performing.”
“Marvelous,” Kinga muttered.Jerk.She sat back and folded her arms across her chest, vibrating with annoyance. “I intend to get my grandfather to change his mind.”
“I think you know you won’t,” Griff told her, sounding amused, “but feel free to try.
“Oh, and good luck explaining to the press why you rescinded your offer to hire me,” he added.
Kinga snapped her head up, her eyes colliding with his. “What the hell do you mean by that?”
“If you make this process difficult, I will send a press release to the mainstream media, telling them that I am thrilled to announce my comeback, starting with a performance at your ball.”
Kinga linked her hands together and squeezed. “You can’t do that without my permission!”
Griff leaned forward, his gaze intense. “Understand this, Ms. Ryder-White. I do not need your damn permission to do or say anything. I received an offer from the head of your organization, with a contract for the gig. I am going to accept that offer. This is my career, not yours.”
“But it’s my ball, dammit!” Kinga hotly replied. “And I’m pretty sure you don’t want to work with me.”
“If you become too annoying, I’ll ask Callum to make someone else my liaison. Callum mentioned your temper and suggested I might prefer to work with your sister.”
Tinsley was sweet, nice, quiet. And how stupid was it that she felt hurt at hearing Callum’s words on Griff’s lips. She looked down at the table and hoped he hadn’t noticed her expression.
“Look at me, Kinga.”
Kinga reluctantly lifted her eyes to his, hoping hers held fire, not pain. Griff stared at her, his expression impassive. “I’m your headline act—you might as well get used to it. Callum wants me, and from what I’ve read, he normally gets what he wants.”
He was, unfortunately, right. And once Callum made up his mind, there was little hope of changing it. And, like his rare collection of illuminated manuscripts, the ring that once belonged to Marie Antoinette and his rare 1953 Jaguar, Griff was another shiny object to collect, use and forget about. He’d get the praise and publicity for luring Griff back into the spotlight and he’d enjoy that momentary thrill. It didn’t matter that hiring Griff might not be in Ryder International’s best interests. It would be up to others, like her, to manage any potential fallout.