Bachelor Unforgiving (6 page)

When he didn't say anything, she pressed on. “My recommendation is for you to be seen at a lot more of those types of events. Several of the major corporations around town will be getting together for a back-to-school extravaganza. I believe your company will be giving away book bags. I suggest you put in an appearance there instead of sending one of your executives.”

Again, he didn't say anything, as if mulling over her suggestion. “Okay, I can do that.”

“And there's a 5k walk for cancer research next month. I suggest you sign up for that, as well.”

“Fine. Prepare a list of such activities you think I should participate in and pass the information on to my administrative assistant to add to my calendar.”

Her next recommendation wouldn't go over so well with him. “I did my research and you've garnered quite a reputation around town with women.”

She quickly held up her hand. “And before you try giving me that same spiel you gave your father about being single and dating whomever you please and not being accountable to anyone, you might want to rethink that assumption.”

“Why should I?” he asked coolly.

“Because your image as a womanizer is hurting your company. It's giving Marv Hilton the ammunition he needs to make you seem worse than you really are. I agree that as a single, unattached bachelor you should be free to date whomever and whenever you want. However, to curtail what Hilton is saying, you need to tone down your social life.”

“What do you mean ‘tone down my social life'?”

“I strongly suggest that, for the next few months, you're seen around town with the same woman and no one else.”

Chapter 6

V
irgil's glacier-cold eyes narrowed. “That's not going to happen. There's no way I'll establish an exclusive relationship with any woman. Ever again.” And he figured she knew the reason why. She had been the first and the last woman he'd claim exclusivity with and look where it had gotten him.

“It won't be permanent, Virgil. You've dated a lot of women over the years. I'm sure there's one you wouldn't mind being seen with for a while on a regular basis.”

“There's not a single one. Besides, I don't want to give any one of them ideas that our relationship might one day go somewhere.”

“Then we can hire a woman from a legitimate escort service. I happen to know someone who owns such a discreet company out of DC. She only hires educated women, some who speak several languages. They are poised, classy, sophisticated and—”

“No. There has to be another way. I just won't date as many women as I've done in the past.”

She shook her head. “In order for this plan to work, Virgil, you will need to restrict yourself to being seen with one woman. It's a lifestyle change you temporarily need to make. Men feel threatened by you and want to keep their wives, sisters and daughters away from you. Some of those same men are potential clients. Is that what you want?”

“No. Hilton has become a pain in the ass that I plan to take care of.”

Kara lifted a brow. “Take care of how?”

“Two can play his games.”

“What do you mean?”

“I'm using York's investigative firm to dig into Whitney Hilton's past. Like I said. Two can play Hilton's game.” Marv Hilton hadn't known the mistake he was making by messing with him. Virgil had never hesitated to retaliate before and he certainly wouldn't now.

“Digging up information on Whitney might serve your purpose of stopping Hilton from spreading his lies, but it won't help the issue of your image. You need to do something now even if it's nothing but a temporary fix.”

He leaned in to make his point clearer. “Dating any woman exclusively for any amount of time is out of the question.” He sat back when the waiter brought their meals and quickly departed.

“All I'm saying, Virgil, is you should think about my suggestion.”

He picked up his fork and put an end to the conversation. “There's nothing to think about.”

* * *

Virgil had finished his steak before he noticed conversation between him and Kara was nonexistent. And he was okay with that. He'd needed to gather himself anyway. As much as he didn't want them to, memories of other times they'd shared a meal were nearly suffocating him. Granted they'd never dined at this particular restaurant, but there had been others.

He glanced over at her and saw she was looking everywhere but at him as she ate. That was fine because he had no problem looking at her. And he did so as he took a leisurely sip of his drink. A spike of intense awareness shot up his spine. He wasn't surprised by the sudden reaction, just a little annoyed. How could he still desire a woman who'd hurt him the way she had? Slowly inhaling a deep breath, he drew her scent into his nostrils and the lower part of his gut ached with the familiar scent. And why was he concentrating on her lips?

She glanced over at him and caught him staring. She didn't say anything for a minute and then she smiled and asked, “How are your godbrothers?”

Virgil placed his glass down. Her smile was unexpected and for a quick second it threw him off-kilter. He rebounded quickly.

“Everyone is fine. Even the married ones.”

“Why wouldn't they be? Even the married ones?”

“No reason.”

“They seem happy.”

He lifted a brow. “You've seen them with their wives?”

She shrugged and his gaze moved to her shoulders. He recalled the times he had kissed those shoulders and how they had felt beneath his lips and hands.

“Only from a distance,” she said. “At that party six months ago.”

Virgil nodded. “Yes, they are happy and I am happy for them. They married good women.” He figured he would leave it at that, deciding not to add that his godbrothers had married women who trusted them. A hell of a lot more than she'd trusted him.

“And how are your parents?” he asked, trying not to recall the last time he'd spoken to her father and the names the man had called him.

“They're fine. In fact I talked to Dad last week. I hadn't known he'd called you when we broke up. He said he tried calling to apologize but couldn't reach you. You'd changed your number.”

“Yes, I changed it.” He didn't explain that he did it to end all ties with her.

“Yes, well... Dinner was great, Virgil. I hope we were able to agree on a number of things.”

“We did. Once my personal assistant provides me with that list of events you prepare, I'll see how many I can add to my calendar.” He gestured to the waiter for the check, then turned back to her. “As far as the other suggestion, I think there has to be another way, so cross that one off your list.”

* * *

Virgil had barely made it inside his condo when his cell phone rang. It was Xavier. “Yes, X?” he asked after clicking on the line.

“Just checking in with everyone about next month when Winston comes home. He's arriving a week before the party so all of us can hang out. You game?”

“Yes,” Virgil replied, pulling the tie from around his neck and removing his jacket. “Zion and I should be asking if you, W, Y and U are game since you four are married and have to check in with your wives.”

“Don't be a smart-ass, V.”

There was a pause and then Xavier asked, “So what's this I hear about your company hiring Kara to do an image makeover for you?”

Since he hadn't mentioned it to anyone but Winston, he figured Winston must have mentioned it to the others. “It was Dad's idea.”

“Um, makes perfect sense. She's good at what she does. Cameron has used her firm to do group training for his employees on more than one occasion. He thought she did a fantastic job. Has she come up with a game plan?”

Cameron Cody was the founder and CEO of Cody Enterprises. Xavier was not only the executive attorney for Cody, he was considered Cameron's right-hand man and the two were very close friends. “Yes, she came up with a game plan,” Virgil said, kicking off his shoes. “Her recommendation that I become more visible around town during charity events is doable.”

“You do that already.”

“Not to the extent she thinks that I should. I do a lot of black-tie affairs. I'm never seen walking marathons for charities or in the soup kitchens helping to feed the homeless. She thinks that's a good way to improve my image in the community.”

“I agree. Cameron and the Steeles are always visible that way. It's good PR. There're a lot of new businesses moving to town, and when they're new to the area and want to size you up, their best level of measurement is how well you're thought of in the community. What else did she recommend?”

“The other thing she suggested is something I won't go along with.”

“And what's that?”

“To began dating exclusively for a while to give the impression that my bachelor days are winding down.”

“That might not be a bad idea, V. If you did that then you'll appear to be more focused on your company and not so much on seducing women.”

Virgil put the phone on speaker as he removed his shirt, frowning. “I'm a single man with a healthy appetite for women, X. Why should I change my routine?”

Xavier's deep chuckle sounded through the phone. “Healthy appetite for women? Admit it, V, since your breakup with Kara you've taken the word
player
to a whole other level. Granted, you're up front with the women and let them know you're not into anything serious, but still, you're out there quite a bit. It's like you're afraid to give another woman the time and attention you gave Kara.”

“I'm not afraid, just cautious. Once you get burned you're smart enough not to play with fire again.” He picked up the phone again. “Anyway, I offered Kara a compromise.”

“What was your compromise?”

“That instead of dating one woman exclusively, I decrease the number of women I'm seeing.”

“What did she think of that?”

“I could tell she wasn't thrilled with the idea.”

For a moment Xavier was quiet, and then he said, “Do me a favor, V, and let Kara do her job. I agree with her that total exclusivity would work better in your case, especially with that Hilton guy trying to be an ass. Fathers get real crazy when it comes to their daughters. In this case the justification for the craziness isn't there, but still. We all agree you need to clean up your act for a while. You're not talking about forever.”

“Forever or not, like I told Kara, there's not a woman I can start seeing steadily who won't get crazy ideas she might become permanent. I'd rather not deal with that kind of foolishness.”

“I know just the woman who might fit your needs. You've dated her before and the two of you hit it off. You won't have to worry about her getting any crazy ideas and she's definitely a looker.”

Xavier had piqued Virgil's curiosity as well as his interest. “Who is she, man?”

“Kara.”

Virgil nearly dropped the mobile phone out of his hand. “Kara? Are you crazy? Why in the hell would I want to start seeing Kara again? For any reason?”

“Dammit, V, I'm right here. You don't have to yell. What are you trying to do? Destroy my eardrums?”

“Better than getting in my car and going to your place to kick your ass.”

“Calm down and think about it, V. First of all, according to you, there will never be anything between you and Kara again.”

“There won't be.”

“In that case, what are you worrying about? Kara is a well-respected and well-liked young woman in the community, who also happens to be a savvy businesswoman. When people see you together, they will think it was a smart move on your part. And like I said, she's a looker so it will squash any man's notion that you'd be after his wife, sisters or daughters. There wouldn't be a need when you have a woman like Kara who has both looks and brains. Besides, the two of you know it's only for show, to clean up your image. You don't have to worry about Kara getting any designs on you or you on her.”

Virgil knew Xavier had made some valid points. But... “I don't know, X. I could barely tolerate being with her at dinner tonight.”

“Why? You claim you don't feel anything for her.”

“And I don't. I finally told her tonight that I accept her apology. But before you get any crazy ideas about me and Kara rekindling anything, forget it. I'm telling you the same thing I told her. Forgiving doesn't mean forgetting.”

“It should. You need to forgive and forget, V.”

“Don't think that I can. She believed her sister's lie.”

“We all make mistakes. Farrah doesn't have a sister but she and Natalie are best friends. Had Natalie told Farrah she saw me checking into a hotel with another woman, I can bet you Farrah would have believed her.”

Farrah was Xavier's beautiful wife and regardless of what he said, Virgil knew she would not have believed her husband guilty of being unfaithful. “Kara should have known I would not have cheated on her. Hell, I gave up that lifestyle for her and gave her no reason to think I would be unfaithful. I loved her, X.”

Virgil wasn't sure why he was trying to convince Xavier of anything. He'd had similar conversations with all his godbrothers. They had liked Kara and felt he'd been too hard on her.

“Kara loves her sister and she had no idea what Marti was capable of doing. Fortunately, I did. If you recall, Marti and I dated for three weeks. That's all the time it took for me to see Marti Goshay was bad news. I honestly think she has this thing against men.”

Virgil shook his head. “I can't believe you'd suggest Kara as the woman I should be seen with exclusively.”

“Think about it. It would sure piss Marti off royally if she thought you and Kara had gotten back together. It would serve her right.”

Yes, it would
, Virgil thought. Whenever he had run into Marti she'd smiled at him as though she'd taken great pleasure in ruining things between him and Kara. To this day Virgil didn't have a clue as to why. How could one sibling do something like that to another? It was crazy.

“Now that I think about it, you and Kara as a couple might not be a good idea after all,” Xavier said.

Virgil lifted a brow. “Why?”

“You might run the risk of falling for her again.”

“That won't happen.”

“It might.”

“It won't, X. I could never love Kara again.” There was no need to tell his godbrother that the only thing he felt whenever he saw Kara was lust. The same degree of lust that he felt for any other good-looking woman.

Virgil glanced at his watch. His favorite television show would be on soon. “I need to go, X. I'll talk to you later.”

“Hey, wait! There's a reason I called.”

“It better be good. You've wasted twenty minutes of my time already talking about that Kara foolishness.”

“It's good,” Xavier said chuckling. “Farrah and I are having another baby.”