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Interview with Love
Excerpt I
The
Premise
No nonsense consumer psychologist,
Sienna Lambert moderates focus groups to assist her clients with
marketing their products to target audiences. Her newest
client, Dexter Clothiers has developed state of the art men's
undergarments, Best Kept Secrets that become more comfortable the
longer they’re worn. Sienna interviews men from all
professions and all walks of life to get their opinion on the new
line.
When
adrenaline junkie, Vaughn Deveraux meets Sienna he takes her breath
away—literally. After a run-in at a client softball outing
Sienna assumes Vaughn is one of the new models for Dexter
Clothiers. Vaughn tells her he’s the Creative Director at the
company advertising the line and jokes that he leaves the modeling in
the very capable hands of his younger brother, Pierce, a retired
professional football player who’s had a great deal of experience with
women asking questions about his briefs.
Though
intrigued, Sienna keeps her distance when she finds out he works with
her client, but Vaughn’s fun nature and zest for living prove too
irresistible to ignore. Sienna’s once calm, predictable life
gets turned upside down when Vaughn shows her that sometime’s life is
better when you experience it instead of researching it.
The Excerpt
He was the kind of man that couldn’t
help but pique a woman’s interest; unless she was a nun. He
was above average height, his skin like a flawless piece of chocolate.
Sienna Lambert, PhD hadn’t missed the looks he had given her over the
last two hours. Picking up the usual signs, she had done her best to
shut him down. She was completely professional in her
interactions with him and the rest of the focus group
participants. Yet here he was—in all his not-so-covert
masculine glory.
“Miss
Lambert?”
It hadn’t been ten minutes since the session had ended and he was
back. Sienna lowered the notes she was perusing and looked
up. “Yes, Terrance? Did you have any additional comments
you’d like to share?”
He flashed a wide grin, “Not exactly. I thought we might be
able to chat for a minute. You know, without all the other
folks hanging around.”
Yes, she did know. Not again!
Sienna stood
up tucking her folder securely under her arm. She adjusted
her glasses. “Sure. What’s on your mind?”
“I just figured…um, are you local?”
She posted a very polite smile on her face. “No, I’m
not. I’m just here for another few days to wrap up.”
“Man, that’s too bad.” He twisted his mouth into a brilliant
smile.
Isn’t it, though? She thought to herself.
“I was just going to ask you if you’d like to accompany me to
dinner. I don’t normally do this, but I don’t care for eating
alone.” His tone dropped. “It’s surprising how
often I end up doing just that. I can’t imagine it holds much
interest for a woman as lovely as you.”
Sienna cast a glance back to the one-way mirror that separated the
screening room from the respondents. It was amazing how often
she got propositioned in front of her clients. It was equally
interesting how the men forgot that they were not alone and there were
people watching—and listening.
“I’m sorry Terrance, but I’m going to have to decline. I have
a quite a bit of work to do before tomorrow’s session and—”
“Well if you don’t have time,” he interrupted. “Maybe a quick
drink, or…whatever.”
Suddenly, Sienna’s Blackberry vibrated in her suit pocket.
She reached in and retrieved her telephone. “I’m sorry, I
have to take this.” She apologized turning away.
She hit a button on her phone and read the newly arrived text
message. Looked like you needed rescuing.
Sienna’s right thumbed tapped out a quick reply. Owe
you!! She turned back toward the eagerly waiting
man. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to leave.
It’s been a pleasure meeting you.”
His eyes skimmed over her before he replied, “Believe me, it was all
mine.”
After she collected the rest of her belongings, Sienna gave him a final
smile. With purposeful strides she walked to the exit at the back of
the room where her client was waiting—and watching.
Once the door closed securely behind her, Sienna sagged against the
barrier while taking a deep breath. Absentmindedly, she
smoothed her hair into its already secured bun.
“Amazing, wasn’t he?”
Sienna looked up to see Sherry Bradshaw standing nearby. A
quick glance around confirmed that the other executives observing the
session were already gone.
“I haven’t seen his equal in quite some time.”
Sienna confessed.
“He’d make a woman dizzy just looking at him.” The woman
sighed, loudly. She patted her heart over her navy blue suit
jacket. “It’s not too late to change your mind you know, he’s
still standing there.”
“What!” Surprised, Sienna pushed away from the door and
leaned to the left.
Her head was inches from the glass as she peered back into the focus
group room. Sherry followed suit. She lifted her
riotous red hair away from her face to stare through the
window. Sure enough the man was still standing there
confidently. His gaze traveled lazily over the mirrored
boundary. Twice he almost made eye contact with
her. She reared back as if he could actually see
her. “He’s persistent I’ll give him that.”
“Maybe he’s waiting for you to come to your senses.” Sherry
chuckled moving back away from the glass. “Are you sure you
wanted to turn him down?”
“Flat.” Sienna said, with firm conviction. She held
her index finger in front of her. “Rule number one:
Never date the respondents.”
“I don’t think dating is what he had in mind.”
“Rule number two: Don’t trip the light fantastic with your test
subjects.”
“Don’t what? I’ve never heard of that one.”
“It means don’t sleep with them.” Sienna clarified.
“Oh. What’s number three?”
“A bad idea never, ever looks better after a few drinks.”
The woman’s eyes widened considerably. “Dr. Lambert, are you
serious with all these rules?”
Sienna watched the living Adonis she’d just turned down shrug his
shoulders and saunter out of the room before turning her attention back
to her client. His move clearly signaled that he thought it
was her loss. She felt not one twinge of regret.
“Absolutely.”
“I can’t argue with logic like that.” Sherry mused before
changing the subject. “I wanted you to know that we truly
appreciate your flying here to conduct the focus groups. Our
collective schedules this week would’ve made travel kind of hectic for
us, especially Mr. Dexter. You’re coming to the corporate
office made it much more convenient for him.”
Sienna hadn’t thought twice about flying there to accommodate the chief
executive officer, Antonio Dexter. The president and CEO of
Dexter Clothiers, Antonio was an older gentleman with an olive
complexion and a bright smile. He was very personable and
instantly put those around him at ease.
He had dark
hair and light-brown eyes that hinted at both intelligence and good
humor. Sienna was amazed at how tall and athletic he
was. She’d heard he was in his late fifties, and she noted
upon meeting him that he wore it well. She hadn’t been able
to meet his brother Eduardo, the chief operating officer of the company
because he was out of country on business.
“It was no
problem.” Sienna spoke up realizing she hadn’t answered
yet. “The facility here is working out wonderfully.
Besides, I’m always thrilled to visit New England. It’s
beautiful here.”
“I love New Hampshire, too. Then again North Carolina is
beautiful as well. I’m sure you must miss it.”
“It is and I do.”
“Actually, the younger Mr. Dexter has property in North
Carolina. I’ve been there on a few occasions. He
spends a great deal of time there when he’s not traveling.”
“It’s beautiful country. I never tire of looking at it.”
“I wouldn’t doubt it. So do you have an idea when you’ll be
finished your report?”
Sienna scanned her portfolio. “Since the last group is
tomorrow afternoon I should have it to you on Tuesday. Will
that be okay?”
“That will work just fine. I’ve got three ad agencies
pitching for the Best Kept Secrets campaign. We should be
done by the end of next week. I’d like to go over your
findings before then. I’ve got to tell you I’m very excited
about this product.”
“It’s worth being excited. Men’s undergarments more
comfortable the longer they’re worn? They sound truly
state-of-the-art.”
“They are. You should see the team that created
them. Some of them look like they’ve never seen the light of
day.”
They both laughed. “Well, it’s an exhilarating proposition to
men everywhere and from all walks of life.”
“Don’t we know it.” Sherry replied. “And not just
men, Dr. Lambert, women the world over will be reaping the benefits,
too.”
Later that
evening Sienna sat cross-legged on the bed in her hotel room.
After a long, very hot shower she put on her comfy cotton
pajamas. Her hair was swept up into a loose pile on top of
her head. A style she rarely wore in public. Papers
and a plate holding a half-eaten turkey club sandwich arched out in
front of her. Glancing over at the nightstand clock, Sienna
stifled a yawn. It was well after midnight. Though
her next group wouldn't start till six o’clock tomorrow evening, she
still wanted to give herself plenty of time to prepare her questions
and go over any last-minute details.
When she caught herself nodding several times Sienna knew it was time
to call it a night. She eased her glasses off and placed them
in their case on the nightstand, and then reared back against the plush
hotel pillows to stretch languidly.
Rubbing the
sore muscles at the nape of her neck, she laughed aloud as she recalled
her respondent’s pick up lines. He was supremely confident
that she would eventually change her mind and go out with
him.
“It’ll take much more than a hot physique and a smile to get me to
break one of my rules.” She quipped rolling off the
bed. Sienna gathered the papers and slid them back into her
laptop bag. The next stop was the table where she deposited
the plate of food. Lowering the metal lid back over the
plate, Sienna padded to the bathroom to brush her teeth. She
retrieved a small hour-glass from her toiletries bag, flipped it over
on the sink and commenced her two-minute brushing regime.
As she rotated the motorized toothbrush around in her mouth, her mind
wandered. The living Adonis that tried to pick her up earlier
popped into her mind. Sienna didn’t doubt for a second that
he had recovered himself and was bestowing his charms on the next
lady-in-waiting. It wasn’t hard for her to imagine him
wearing a new pair of Best Kept Secrets, or that they would fit like a
second skin. Sienna almost felt sorry for the unsuspecting
ladies. She had no doubt seeing his handsome physique parade
around in new underwear would be the equivalent of a superhero sporting
a shiny new red cape.
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