‘Actually, I know it’s short notice, but I was wondering if you’re free tonight? Lucas Beechwood is in the city this evening and wants to meet you.’
Lucas Beechwood. As in the CEO of Coral? My mouth dries and my lips part.
‘I, err…’ My heart quickens. Why does he want to meet me? Does he meet all his brand ambassadors?
‘Savannah, are you still there?’
‘Yes, sorry, I’m just thinking. I don’t have any childcare.’ Typical.
My dads left for their cruise at five o’clock this morning. It’s a major drawback of being a single parent. If I had a husband or a partner, popping into the city to meet my new boss for a couple of hours wouldn’t be a problem.
I could ask Ashley to take the girls, but she’s already agreed to take them tomorrow so I can have my swimming lesson. She might be their godmother, but I don’t want to take the piss.
Though, if I don’t go, will Lucas assume I’m not committed to the contract or to Coral as a company?
I’d hate to lose this opportunity.
‘Oh, that’s a shame.’ Susie’s tone falters. ‘Lucas likes to meet all of his brand ambassadors in person.’
Ronan’s thick fingers tap my knee and a surge of electricity shoots up my thigh. ‘I can help you out with the twins if you’re stuck,’ he mouths.
I roll my lips, eyeing the curves of Ronan’s topless torso. ‘Sorry, Susie, can you just give me a second, please?’ I place a palm over the speaker and tilt my face up to meet Ronan’s.
‘Are you crazy? You’re seriously offering to babysit my girls?’ A tiny sliver of hope unfurls in my chest.
‘Yes. They know me. I’m vetted to work with kids. If youtrust me to take care of them, I’ll do it.’ He grabs a towel from a nearby chair and my eyes follow as he rubs it over his muscular chest and lower.
Not only do they know him, but they love him. Eden stares at him like he’s some sort of god. Isla clambers all over him any chance she gets, the lucky duck.
I hesitate, weighing up my options.
Basically, without Ronan, I don’t have any.
‘Why are you being so nice to me?’ I whisper, eyeing him warily.
‘I told you last week, I’m actually a nice guy.’ His gaze falls to my lips. ‘I also told you I want to f–’
Yep, I definitely didn’t dream up that conversation. A hot flush of longing crawls across my skin. That filthy mouth. I wonder if he knows what else to do with it…
Fuck. He’s driving me loopy with lust.
I thrust a hand up to silence him, eyeing my daughters at the top end of the pool. Isla seems to have convinced Eden to take a few risks for once in her life, because they’re dive bombing into the water holding hands.
Maybe I should take a leaf out of her book and take a risk or two myself.
‘It’s to meet my new boss,’ I explain. ‘I can’t imagine it’ll take more than a couple of hours.’
‘No problem.’ Ronan’s lips part into a sexy smile.
I peel my palm from the phone and raise it to my ear. ‘Sorry, Susie, are you still there?’
‘I’m here,’ she says.
‘A friend just offered to help, so I will be free to attend a meeting.’
A friend? More like the guy I’ve been imaging riding like a unicycle all week, balancing on one long, strong upright pole.
I cross my legs and hope my lace bra is thick enough tohide my pebbled nipples. If Ronan’s darting, dilating pupils are anything to go by, it’s not doing its job very well at all.
