God, he’s sexy! She wanted to jump across the table and kiss him. But Taddy didn’t.
Covering her mouth, she bit down on a bean with a crunch and swallowed. “Great.” Taddy dabbed the napkin around her lips and stated, “I’ve read about Truman Enterprises, but can’t say I’ve heard much on your private life.”
“I grew up in Newport, where my parents still live. I have one brother who’s a year younger—”
“Lucky you, I always wanted to be a big sister. What’s his name?”
“Sheldon, he’s thirty-two going on sixteen and is…a handful.” He sipped his water, perhaps questioning if he should share more. “I have an apartment in Paris and spend time in New York.”
“Manhattan?”
“Yes.”
“Why haven’t I ever seen you out and about?”
“I’m in Tribeca. You?”
“Aaah…you’re a downtown man. That explains it. I live on the Upper East Side. Most of my friends do.”
He winked, as if to say, “Of course you do, Taddy Brill.” “Single?”
“Huh?”
“Are you dating anyone?” Warner clarified.
“All these questions. You should meet my friend Vive. She’s a journalist and is always asking a lot about everything.”
“Are you passing me off on your friend Vive already?”
“God no!” She felt her skin getting hot. “I’m flattered you asked. I’m not exclusive with anyone at the moment.” Taddy hoped he’d buy that vague answer, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone on a real date. Sitting across from her butler at the dining room table after he’d made dinner didn’t really count as a date.
“So then, we’re both single.”
“I’m surprised you’re not married. With your fortunes, women must fall at your feet.”
“My wife passed away a few years ago.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.” She’d never met a widower as young as Warner before.
“Thank you.”
“How long were you together?”
“About ten years. Jacqueline was my first.”
“Oh, your first love?”
“Yes and the first woman I ever made love to.”
“That’s really beautiful, Warner.” Taddy thought his late wife must’ve been a remarkable woman. “I know how it feels to have someone taken away from you, especially when they’re all you’ve ever really known.” Taddy could tell by the look on his face he was a private person. When he did share something about himself, he probably regretted his transparency. With no desire to pry, she added, “You never get over the pain but you find ways to move forward. Truman Enterprises must keep you busy.”
He frowned. “Perhaps…” Warner sipped his water then said, “I turned my grief into a charity in my late wife’s name.”
“That’s commendable. I host an annual fundraising ball every year for various programs in need.”
“Yes, I read about them online. They look like a lot of fun.”
She thought it was odd she’d never read about him in the papers. “You don’t do any personality profiles on yourself or the charity?”
“I don’t grant media interviews. I was raised to work hard but not crave the spotlight,” he answered matter-of-factly, not hiding anything. “In addition to reading up on your business I also did some research on your personal life.”
“Really?” Her voice broke. Please don’t tell me you caught my online video riding a horse at my Arabian Nights Party—naked.
“You’re quite the socialite and a Brillford to boot. Your family is powerful in New York. I can see why you holiday under an alias as Red.” His smile broadened in approval. Perhaps he wasn’t threatened. Most men ran for the door.
Throughout history, the Brillfords had risen as a significant royal house in Europe. Renowned in the late 1700s for their work in math and science, Taddy couldn’t recall the name of the exact patent her great-grandfather owned but remembered whatever it was remained important. Just not to her.
“My family came from Austria and later Germany. Around the mid-1800s is when they arrived in the US.”
“You have a prominent name in American society. Why don’t you use Brillford?”
“Brill is what I’ve gone by since I emancipated.”
Eyes wide, Warner asked, “How old were you when you did that?”
“Sixteen.” It was during her junior year at Avon Porter. “My friend Vive talked me into it. It’s a long story.”
“Sorry, I didn’t know.” His face turned bright red.
“The courts found it in my best interest to separate from my parents. And so did I.”
“I don’t know what to say. I didn’t intend to—”
“It’s okay. Feels like it was another lifetime ago, ya know? I don’t think about it much.”
“Because you don’t want to?”
“It’s too painful for me, Warner. I try to get on with my life. I’m grateful for what I have now.” Taddy didn’t want to talk about herself any longer. “You must feel the same way. Yes?”
“I have days where I’m still angry that she’s gone. Then…I have days where I’m not as angry as I am sad. But I’ll see her again, one day.”
Taddy was going to cry. Here his love had gone and her parents were still here, on this earth, living in the same city as she was. She doubted she’d ever get to speak to her parents again. “Your ability to speak about your past is admirable.” She forced a smile, hoping to set him mind at ease. “Maybe someday you can teach me how to talk about mine without fire coming from my mouth.” She twisted her napkin under the table to release the frustration swelling in her throat. “I’m happy to discuss my PR firm.” Warner smiled for her to continue. “I started my agency while attending Columbia University with my childhood friend Blake Morgan. He’s my family. I’m fortunate to have my friends in the city, who are my chosen relatives. If that makes any sense.”
“Sure it does. Friends can be better than siblings at times.” Warner reassured her that she could share whatever she was comfortable with. “If you stay the week with me, here in Cannes, I’ll tell you more about my family.”