All He Needs. Shirley Hailstock
ago. You wouldn’t hug someone you’d just met. So consider me that someone.”
Carter took a step back. For a long moment he stared at her as if assessing who this new woman was. Renee withstood his scrutiny.
“I thought we’d go to Mile’s End.”
“My last wedding was today, and I’m leaving early. Would you mind eating here?” She gestured toward the restaurants that were at the back of the building on the ground floor. “I’ve already made us a reservation.”
Carter shrugged and smiled. Renee understood that she’d thwarted his plans. She had plans of her own, and traveling to a place they’d spent time together wasn’t on her agenda.
“I must admit, I was a little surprised to find you on the other end of the phone asking me to meet you for dinner,” Renee said when they were seated.
He smiled. It didn’t reach his eyes.
“I’m glad you came.”
“Why is that? What do you want to talk about? I was sure we’d settled everything last night.”
He took a moment to gather his thoughts. Renee wondered if this meeting had something to do with them as a couple. There was no them. There had never really been a them. She’d thought there was, that there could be, but obviously Carter had other plans.
“Your name has come up several times in the last few days,” Carter said.
She didn’t react. She waited for him to go on. “Come up where?”
“Along the avenues of publisher’s row. There’s a rumor going around that you’re going into competition with me.”
Renee leaned forward. “With you?”
“With my company.”
“What kind of competition? There are several different kinds of businesses you’re responsible for.”
“Magazines,” he said. “Specifically bridal magazines.”
Renee smiled. She picked up her glass of wine and took a sip. Then she replaced it and sat back. “Not a rumor,” she said.
“It’s not a rumor?”
“Can’t be a rumor if it’s true.” She waited a moment, then asked, “Weren’t you listening last night when Blair mentioned my new job?”
His brows rose in surprise. “I didn’t think she was serious.”
Renee stared at him. “And the notice in the trades?”
She knew Carter read all the trade publications that detailed news about the various magazines Hampshire sold. He had a huge capacity for remembering and recalling what he read, and Renee knew he wouldn’t miss the small paragraph bearing her name.
“You are serious?” he asked rhetorically.
“Don’t look so surprised. I’m fully capable of running a magazine. You should know that. I ran Hampshire’s division for three years.”
“You’re very capable.”
“So, why are we here?” She spread her hands.
Again Carter waited a long moment before speaking. Renee wondered when he’d picked up that habit. He was usually decisive, in control, always knew what to say, how to act.
“I want you to come back to Hampshire Publications.”
“You have got to be kidding,” Renee said, her voice breathy and low. “We’ve already talked about this. I’m perfectly happy where I am. Why would I come back to Hampshire?”
“It’s a profitable company, and it’s a place where you fit in. You know some of the employees and they all respect you.”
Renee looked at him. She knew Blair Massey. But with three years gone, she might not know most of the people anymore. Magazine publishing was a place that lent itself to turnover.
“Is Hampshire in trouble?” He’d said it was profitable, but that didn’t mean the bridal division was afloat.
Carter shook his head. Renee looked for any sign of slowness, any inkling that he was hiding something. She found nothing to make her believe he wasn’t telling her the whole truth.
“You’re great at seeing what works and what doesn’t in the magazine. Your ideas are always good and sales took an upward climb when you put your mark on the magazine. You could have the whole package with us. I can’t imagine you would want to compete with us.”
Hackles went up on the back of her neck. “I’m just a little business,” Renee began. “In fact, at this point, I’m still scouting out the business. You’re a conglomerate with magazines, textbooks, novels, comics and a score of peripherals. You can’t be afraid of me.”
“It’s not fear. Hampshire wants you to be comfortable, and we don’t want your reputation to suffer with a start-up.”
“Well, that takes the cake. You believe that nothing outside of your control is worthy of doing?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Didn’t you?” She stopped and narrowed her eyes. “You said Hampshire wasn’t in trouble. What about the bridal division? Has there been a dip in sales?”
Again Carter sat forward and looked at her. “I’ll be frank with you. The division could do better. When you were directing it, it was at the top of the market. We’ve lost some market share—not enough to be concerned about. But we don’t want to lose any more. Bringing you onboard would ensure that.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, but—”
“Don’t answer yet.” He stopped her with one hand up. “Think about it overnight. Give yourself time to get used to the idea. We can meet tomorrow.”
“I won’t be here tomorrow,” she lied.
“Renee, can’t you give me a few minutes, lunch or dinner? Princeton can’t have that great a need for you that you can’t spare an old friend a few hours.”
Renee felt guilty, although she had no reason to. She wasn’t actually leaving until Sunday, and other than additional planning, she had a morning appointment tomorrow. After that, there was no one she could call, no arrangements she could make until Monday. But she didn’t want Carter to think his presence influenced her in any way.
“All right, Carter,” she said. “I’ll meet you tomorrow. After lunch,” she emphasized. He wasn’t going to convince her to return to Hampshire Publications over a New York steak or a salad at lunch.
He smiled. She saw a little of the old Carter in that smile. A momentary flash of the man who wrestled the sheets with her burst into her mind. The same man who’d told her he was leaving and not interested in pursuing a relationship.
That was Carter Hampshire.
* * *
Carter paced the floor of his spacious apartment on Fifth Avenue overlooking Central Park. The view was spectacular, but Carter wasn’t interested in it today. He punched the button on his cell phone disconnecting the call. Walking to the windows, he looked out on the traffic below. Was she down there? Renee Hart wasn’t registered at the Westley Hotel. She hadn’t been registered there and checked out. She’d never been there. Yet he’d taken her inside, seen her get on the elevator to go to her room. They’d had dinner in the restaurant last night, but she didn’t have a room in that hotel. Why had she let him think she did?
Where was she?
They were supposed to meet today. Carter glanced at his watch. He wouldn’t be able to meet her—he’d gotten word that his father was in the hospital and he needed to go to the Hamptons. His train left in an hour, but he hadn’t been able to reach Renee. She hadn’t answered her cell, and when he’d tried the hotel’s