“I’m not a stock option for your portfolio,” I rebuff.Sighing, I’m a little exhausted with his insistence that he can solve everything. Life isn’t always solved through money and human chess pieces. “It’s pointless for me to say anything. You already have your mind set.”
“You know me so well.” He flashes his eyes at me.
“Julian, I have nothing to hide about the way I’m beginning to feel about you. It can’t be one-sided, though. I’m hoping you're suggesting this means it’s not.”
It’s an almost whimsical smile and poise that causes me tobelieve that he doesn’t doubt his suggestion. “I can’t predict the future a year or two from now. I’m still a risk. Right now, however, there is a step that I think I want to explore.”
My lips press, and I search inside myself for any hesitation, but it can’t be found. “Obviously, if there was a way for us” —I point between him and me— “to not be so secretive and for my career not to sink completely, I want to hear it. Plus, gotta make the women in finance jealous.” I try to bury my truth in humor because what I want is so strong that it scares me.
Him. I want him. And he wants me, he’s chosen me.
“For someone who usually doesn’t hold back, today you are,” he muses.
I’ve been called out because he now sees me inside and out. Maybe not every nook, but most.
I hoist myself up to sit on the counter behind me. “Trust me, even I’m surprised how you have me in a chokehold that causes me to malfunction.”
Now his finger glides along my bare thigh. “Baby, this isn’t a chokehold. I can show you what one really is.”His one-track mind, of course. I cast my eyes to the ceiling, unamused, but I can’t help my smile. “But I’m very proud that I get the honor of turning your world upside down.”
“Gotta feed your arrogance, obviously,” I say, sarcastic.
“Alright. Back to the original question.”
We both turn serious because we’ve reached a point between us. One that is moving, and I’m beginning to wonder if slow is in his vocabulary. My ability to think with caution left me the moment I stepped through his door and faced his smug face.
“Secrets only tear things apart. Us being hidden from the world is one of them. I don’t want that to happen.” I accidentallyrelease my thought aloud, and my mouth parts open from the realization.
It doesn’t deter Julian. “Which means?”He’s coaxing me into my answer.
My body relaxes, and a ridiculous smile forms. “You’re right.”
20
JULIAN
Stepping off the elevator, my jaw ticks due to a smirk that wants to form. All because I notice Savannah smelling a single pink rose as she twirls side to side in her desk chair. Her subtle smile is angelic. I slow my pace toward her desk, and she’s oblivious to my arrival, and I kind of enjoy that. I get to see her lost in her own world.
I give my throat a quick clear to grab her attention. “Ms. May. What could you possibly be thinking right now?”
Her cheeks rise and her smile brightens to the brim. “That I arrived to find a single rose lying on my desk, but it’s a shame that I’ll have to get rid of it because my boss is a real pain. He hates flowers anywhere near my workspace.”
“Sounds like he’s a real ass.”
She sets the flower down near her keyboard. Her eyes do a quick glance in both directions of the hall. “He has a nice one, at least. But yeah, what’s a girl to do when he has rules?”
“Maybe your boss will make an exception. He wasn’t alone when he woke up on the right said of the bed this morning.” I give her a wicked grin.
“Hmm, okay. But I didn’t even get a note to know who gave such a kind gesture.”
“Probably some guy who was a coward once and used HR as an excuse to give you a necklace,” I own up.
It causes her to chuckle. “Well, he’s making up for it by being romantic.”
Our eyes pin to one another, and I’m hit with the thought of how lucky I am and that today she’s happy and it’s because of me. “He’s trying,” I whisper.
“He’s succeeding,” she softly voices back.
The corner of my mouth snags to a half-closed smile. “Good to know.” I check my watch and see the time. “It’s lunchtime, if you care to head out for lunch.”
