The Gift, Book 3 (The Billionaire's Love Story) (5 page)

“For how long?”

“I don’t know.” The meeting with Briony wasn’t so formal, but more of a casual chat. “Maybe an hour?” She knew it wouldn’t last that long, especially since she and Briony had covered most things but Savannah wanted time to prepare herself before seeing Tobias. She had a feeling that he was anxious to talk, she’d sensed as much yesterday when, once again, the timing hadn’t been right. Her heartbeat had already sped up—an effect, she was sure—of the cross currents of electricity that she felt between them.

This morning’s sultry dream hadn’t helped. Still, at least she had made a little effort to spruce up her appearance today.

Briony looked up. “We’re done, pretty much.”

“It appears you’re done,” Tobias reiterated, making her wonder if he had bionic ears. “You’re free to come and see me now.”

She bit her lip, unsure of why she was being summoned. “I’ll be over in five minutes,” she replied, her stomach churning as she put the phone down.

“Who was that?” Briony asked, scratching her nose.

“Tobias.”

Briony drew her brows together and stared at her. “What did he want?”

“He-uh, he had some problems with his Word templates last week and I helped him out.”

“Hmmmm.” Briony got back to her notes and scribbled some more. “Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?” She asked. Savannah had a lot of things she wanted to talk to her about but it didn’t seem as if Briony was in a position to give her a solid answer. The decision was not hers to make. “No. I’m fine for now.”

Briony got up and hugged her file to her chest, crossing her arms over it. “I think it would be a good idea to do this every Monday, don’t you? A quick weekly meeting where you and I can catch up.”

“Sure,” replied Savannah and waited for the door to close once Briony had left. She needed a few moments alone, to get herself together.

Chapter 6

Was that a new skirt, he wondered, raking his gaze over Savannah as she walked in.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning.” Her voice was shaky, almost like a floating whisper, and she looked more casual and sexy, he decided, his eyes taking in her appearance from top to bottom. Her face was flushed and his gaze quickly dropped to her snug top which fit like a second skin. He looked away and tried not to wonder how those breasts might feel between his fingers…

Get over yourself, Stone.

He stared down at his diary, at the random scribbles he had made, then swallowed and glanced back at her again.

“Was it a problem with your Word template?” She’d jumped right into it, making it about work right from the get go and stood tentatively in front of him, choosing not to sit down as she normally would have.

“Take a seat, please.”

“I—,” she seemed unsure, as if she couldn’t wait to get away, and those shimmering hazel eyes of hers glanced at him briefly before she nodded at his screen. “There was something you wanted me to fix the other day,” she began, sitting down slowly.

“That’s right.” As well as things he needed to say and questions he wanted to ask her.

“Can I fix it now?”

“Go ahead,” he replied, getting up and moving out of the way so that she could access his computer. She seemed to be so concerned about the goddamn Word templates that if it helped to put her at ease, then so be it. He sat in the chair she had vacated, enjoying the vantage position and the view it afforded him—one from which he was better able to observe her discreetly. So far neither of them had mentioned yesterday, the fact that they had spent time at the park, unintentionally and accidentally, but still—they’d eaten hotdogs together.

“How’s Jacob?”

The corners of her eyes and her mouth lifted upwards. “He had a great time yesterday.”

“I did too.” He let the moment stretch out and when she said nothing in return, he added. “He’s a good skater.”

“Kids seem to pick it up so much quicker. I think it’s something to do with their center of gravity being lower.”

“Is that what it is? I thought it was because they weren’t afraid of getting hurt.”

“That too.”

She typed away on the keyboard, allowing him the luxury of letting his gaze roam along her side profile. He felt he had come to know her, that she wasn’t merely ‘that temp’ anymore. And yet he didn’t know her.

But he wanted to get to know her better; had been trying to get a moment alone with her for days so that he might glean some idea of what
this
was. His interest in her had deepened from wanting to help her, to something more, and even though he couldn’t understand or explain why—for their interactions had involved no glitzy nightclub, nor a dimly lit bar, no drinks, no sexy dress or flirtatious talk—he found himself drawn to her. Things were getting to the point now where he couldn’t stop thinking about her.

“It was strange, wasn’t it?” he asked, drawing in a long breath. “Running into you both at the park.”

She nodded, still staring at the computer screen as she typed away. She seemed to be weighing her words carefully before answering. “It
was
strange. Jacob liked seeing you and eating hotdogs. He had a great time.”

“I had a great time too.”

“What were you doing around there?” She asked, slowly turning to face him.

“I went for a walk.”

“Do you live around there?”

“No, I live on the Upper East Side.”
You should come over some time.

“That was a long walk,” she exclaimed.

“I needed to clear my head.”

He waited for her question but instead she said, “All done,” and got up quickly. “I can show Candace what I did to fix it.” She passed by the desk then hovered near him.

“I prefer to call
you
each time I have a problem.” Surprise flickered across her face, and her brow furrowed. “But I thought—” She stopped, as if deliberately holding back what she wanted to say.

“You thought what?” He got up slowly. “Say it.” He stared longingly at her lips, full, and pink, and more than a little appealing right at this very moment. His breathing quickened, making him feel like a teenager in high-school again and he found himself caught in a spell which slowed down time. When the phone rang, he didn’t move. “Aren’t you going to answer it?” She asked.

“No.”
More goddamn interruptions.
“What were you going to say?”

“I—” the ringing continued and she frowned when he still refused to answer it. “It’s Candace,” she said, reading the caller display screen.

“What were you going to say?” He demanded but two knocks were followed by the door opening.

“Tobias you didn’t—”

He turned around quick as a shot. “Not now.”

“But,” Candace stuttered. “It’s—”

“I said
not now
.” His words dripped cold venom and he gave her a look that could easily leave a bruise. Candace backed away quickly, then glanced at Savannah before she closed the door.

“You seem nervous this morning, Savannah.” He lowered his voice and took another small step towards her. She braved a smile. “Nervous? Me?” She shook her head. “I thought that Candace was—”

“You worry too much about Candace,” he told her, sliding his hands into his trousers before he accidentally tucked the stray curl that now grabbed his attention, behind her ear. The more he looked at her, the more he wanted to touch her face and run his thumb along her lip.

“There’s something I wanted to say to you last week, before you left.” He noticed that her gaze trailed to his lips before darting back up to his eyes again; the quick motion wasn’t lost on him, and it gave him hope, as weak as it might have been.
Jesus.
He had never been in this position before and it was something he wasn’t used to.

“It sounds as if people need to see you urgently,” she said, her voice still a whisper.

“This is more important.” But two more knocks followed on the door. “I said ‘NOT NOW!’” he bellowed. She seemed frightened and shrank back just as Matthias walked in.

“I’m sorry,” Matthias began, holding out his hands as if to calm Tobias’s temper.
Fucking unbelievable,
thought Tobias, biting his tongue to stop himself from shouting out. “I’m
busy,
” he barked at his colleague and didn’t miss the incredulous look on Matthias’s face. There was something else too, the element of surprise, perhaps, something Tobias couldn’t yet fathom, as the other man looked at them both slowly.

“I didn’t mean to
interrupt
you,” said Matthias slowly, before acknowledging Savannah. “Hello, Savannah,” he said. “Sorry Tobias, but this is urgent. Xian Yanling wants to talk to you now. This could be a game changer.”

Xian Yanling?
Tobias squeezed his eyes shut. “Put him through.”

“He’s
here,”
Matthias said, tightly, as if his teeth had been wired together. “As in he’s staying at the Four Seasons.
”

Tobias stared back in surprise. “He’s in New York
?”

Matthias nodded. “He’s requested a meeting with you.”

“See when Candace can fit me in.” Tobias kept his hands firmly entrenched in his pockets. The man was in New York and he expected them to come running to him?

“Tobias, this could be a deal maker.”

“I’m busy. Set it up for tomorrow.”

“But—” Matthias looked at him in surprise.

“I’ve finished,” Savannah said in a quiet voice and nodded at both men as she walked towards the door.

So much for clearing that up,
thought Tobias, in irritation.

“Set it up,” Tobias told him.

“I thought you wanted this deal? This could be huge.”

“Then set it up.” Tobias repeated slowly, grinding his teeth together.

“You don’t seem keen to meet with him.” Matthias remarked. “I thought you had big plans for this year?”

“My plans haven’t changed.”

“He said he can meet in the next half hour.”

“I’m ready.” Tobias replied.

“Then we need to discuss a few things now before we meet with him.” Tobias sat back down in his chair and smoothed his fingers over his slate gray silk tie.

Chapter 7

She sneaked away with relief, glad to be out of his office. Being witness to Tobias’s anger up close was an eye-opener, even though she hadn’t been in the direct line of fire this time.

Yet just before that she’d felt something else—a simmering heat, not anger, more like a magnetism that pulled her towards him. He’d held her captive the way his intense deep blue eyes had bored into her, reeling her towards him and reminding her of the dream she’d had earlier. And just like the dream, he’d left her with a slow burning fire in her belly just now.

Even while she’d been fixing his templates, she sensed that he was watching her. She could almost feel the heat of his stare while she had tried to look busy but the tingling in her skin had heightened her alertness. It was as if he had taken a feather and traced it along her naked body.

That was what being in a room alone with Tobias felt like.

“Hi,” Candace snapped, breaking her reverie as Savannah walked past the elevator bank. She carried a bundle of files in her arms and a handbag on her shoulder. “Hey.” Savannah smiled quickly and attempted to walk past but Candace had stopped in front of her and for a moment Savannah was transfixed by the silver gray thick Russian fur hat she wore. It was if a fox had curled up and fallen asleep on her head.

“What were you doing in there?” Candace asked, the tightness in her lips noticeable. “Where?” asked Savannah, feigning innocence.

“In Tobias’s office—or was it Matthias you’d gone to see?”

“Are you keeping tabs on me?” She asked, wondering what it was that had ruffled Candace’s feathers.

“Whatever for?” Candace replied, her voice sweeter than honey.

“You seem to be overly concerned about me. Or are you usually that nosy?” Savannah was fully aware that Candace had never liked her from the start. The woman narrowed her eyes at her.

“If you really must know, Tobias wanted me to look at something,” said Savannah, revealing enough to keep her guessing.

“What?” Candace’s tapered fingers slid over the files she was holding.

“You’re really worried, aren’t you?” Savannah replied, trying to figure out if it was Tobias Stone that Candace was after or if she was worried about her job. Then, relenting, “If you must know, it was some documents. There was a problem with a few Word templates. Why do you need to know every little thing? Does it bother you that he asked me?”

“Careful, Savannah. You’re only a temp. Don’t go getting any high and mighty ideas about your role here.”

“I have no illusions about my role, or my position. I know I’m a
lowly temp.”
She wondered what Candace would make of it if she knew that Tobias had joined them, purely by accident, yesterday at Bryant Park. She had to stop herself from grinning. “