I look, and I see a man completely enamored by me, taking possession of my body. But the way he touches me is an element of more. This isn’t merely physical between us.
It’s a struggle as my senses have surrendered to him because everything tonight has caused me to feel safe around him as it seems the game is over. We won each other.
And that only makes me elated.
17
JULIAN
Dragging the back of my finger along my upper lip as I sit back behind my desk, I read over my screen. I’m not sure if I like the direction or wording of the document.It’s a stiff minute before I drag my sight up to face Savannah standing in front of my desk, patiently waiting for my reaction.
To my surprise, well, utter amazement, really. When we’re in the office, we are simply two people at work, and we leave our personal dynamic at the door. I should pat myself on the back that I haven’t attempted to bend her over my desk even once, and it’s been a week since our trip.Hell, even that flirtatious banter that we had before I knocked on her door has vanished.But it all comes down to one reason.
I have her.
I shouldn’t have shown up at her bedroom door, not with the risk hanging between us. One that neither of us had prepared for. But I showed up because I couldn’t stop myself. Inside me, there’s been a thin layer of fragile ice. I’ve built up my walls for reasons, yet with Savannah, they’re wearingthin. All the more reason to be guarded, but that policy sits in the back of my mind.
Every time our feet leave the office, she’s in my life differently.An instant switch where professional us gets left behind and we do whatever the hell we please.
Right now, though? I’m going to be critical, and I won’t have a shred of remorse.
“Rewrite the second paragraph, the schedule doesn’t make sense, and if I have to repeat once more that I don’t want Harold from accounts in on the meeting, my level of pissed-off will reach new heights.”
We have a new client meeting tomorrow, and a simple agenda has turned into a headache because they’re so demanding. Every single person in middle management feels they need to be present, and senior management wants to give them a chance.
She rolls her eyes and grumbles to herself, “Compromise. Give them a nibble of the big fish.”
Creases form on my forehead, and I’m not sure if it’s because of her odd reference or the fact that she used nibble and big in the same sentence. “No,” I affirm my wish tersely.
She throws her arms up into the air.“Fine. I’ll be the bad guy and email Harold and his boss. Because that’s not going to make him go home and complain to his wife at dinner about how he isn’t understood.” Savannah is a little annoyed and satirical.
I straighten my back and shut my laptop screen. “You know, delivering my thoughts to others in a tactful way is part of your job, right?”
“Of course it is. If we had you doing that, half the company would be in tears.”
I’ve often heard that having a woman in one’s life could soften a man. Unfortunately for the world, ruthlessness is tooimprinted inside me.I don’t even glance at her; instead, I sweep my eyes to my phone to check the time. Tonight can’t be a late office day, as I have places to be.
Noticing that Savannah hasn’t left aggravates me, as I don’t need any delays. My eyes peer up at her unimpressed look. “Chop, chop, Savannah. The clock says you should let them know now before the end of the business day.” I lean back and rest my elbows on the armrest while I steeple my fingers. “Again, I expect everyone at Haven Crossroads to be a 9-to-5 kind of employee.”
Her brows rise. “Wow. You really are a piece of work this afternoon.”
“And?” I merely reply.
She sighs, and her cheeks puff out. “Fine. I’ll go be the messenger of doom.”
I plaster on a fake smile for her. “Much obliged.”
The next hour, I managed to work my way through three calls. One of which lasted only a minute when I cut them off because I wasn’t going to listen to another word. I quickly type a message to my driver so he knows to wait for me downstairs. I grab my suit blazer from the coat rack next to my door. When I open the door, Savannah takes no notice of me, as she is focused on writing something on her pink Post-It note. Walking to her desk, Igrab some fruit snacks from her jar, and she still ignores me.
“Ms. May, I believe it is time to leave the office.”
She glances up, but her pen continues to write on the paper. “Sure. Give me a sec. Need to remind myself that when I arrange coffee for tomorrow’s meeting, I should be careful not to use the jar of poison that I sometimes contemplate using for your drinks.” Her little quip makes her grimace to herself, and I fight my smile.
“Now, you wouldn’t do that. You have many reasons notto,” I remind her lightheartedly. Maybe that's enough of a cue that it’s time to leave the day behind.
Savannah drops her pen and neatly moves a few things on her desk. “Fine.”
“See you in five,” I tell her, and then routinely leave.
