Emergency Ex Read Online Free Page B

Brenda indulged. She even drank a half cup more of coffee.
    Lars swallowed before speaking. “We have profited together. Don’t lose sight of the fact that our cocoa beans are an essential part of your brand.”
    So he was going to play that card, was he? Brenda replaced her cup with a tad more force than strictly necessary and bared her teeth. “Much as I appreciate the fine quality of your beans and your customer service, you have that wrong.”
    He frowned and, accomplished bluffer that he was, looked momentarily confused before collecting himself. “Wrong?”
    “The word essential . We’ve formulated our recipes so that no one supplier’s ingredient is essential . Saves wear and tear when any supplier gets the wrong impression about his importance for our product.” She swallowed the last of her bagel.
    Lars gazed at her for several beats and blinked. “You have to be aware that expenses have risen.”
    “I’d have to be hiding under a stack of mattresses not to.” The memory of her most recent time on top of a mattress with Keith flashed through her mind. Wrong image, but thank goodness Lars wasn’t a mind reader. She wrenched her mind back to the negotiations. “But raising your prices fifty percent? That’s not an increase I could pass along to my customers.”
    He made a derisive sound. “Come on, Brenda. People queue up to pay through the nose for your product. Do you seriously think anyone would balk at an increase? Fifty percent or more. Get it while the market’s hot.”
    She shot to her feet. “That’s not how I treat my customers. They know what they can expect from me. They get what they pay for—a quality product that doesn’t come cheap. Still, their willingness to pay more for my chocolate than other lesser brands is not a license to steal. I expect the same treatment from my sources. In light of your higher costs, I’ll pay a ten percent increase. Take it or lose me.”
    She almost felt sorry for Lars when she heard his piteous groan. Almost. “You drive a hard bargain.” He extended his hand for their traditional shake, which they’d follow up with the appropriate paperwork.
    She drove a hard bargain all right. With Lars Hinkleschmidt and all her other business contacts. The little internal voice she often tried to ignore was urging her to be equally strong in expressing her needs to Keith.
    After a difficult but successful meeting, Brenda deserved a break before she went back to her office. It had been too long since she’d spent an hour breathing and stretching in her favorite yoga studio. A few downward facing dogs seemed the perfect way to de-stress and prepare for whatever came next.
    She’d just gotten into position when a business idea struck her. Along with raising her prices for her customers, she’d give them a little gift. “‘Love is the emotional chocolate of the universe.’” K.C.’s words came back to her. Books and bonbons—a perfect pairing. She’d create an out of this world confection, feature K.C.’s saying on the package and, if she could negotiate the deal, include a coupon for K.C.’s book! That might just take the sting out of the price increase. Brenda’s creative juices began to flow. She couldn’t wait to run the idea past K.C. and her own promotional people.
    Nothing better than a great new idea. Almost as good as sex. Almost. Her thoughts turned to Keith and how she could feel as good about the two of them as a couple as she did about “‘Love is the emotional chocolate of the universe.’” And quality chocolate.
    * * *
    Considering the previous long, hot night, Keith managed a smile on his face and a spring in his step even before his first life-restoring coffee. Brenda seemed to be back to her usual self. After her recent mood swings, he’d started to worry that maybe she’d want to move things ahead at the speed of light. He already felt as if too much was changing too fast. But, last night was one of their best—just the way