Acquire Your Touch

by Hadley Raydeen

  It was time to check Margo, and get her back in her place, before she thought she had any more to say on the matter. “So, thanks for the heads up, but I’ve been working here a bit longer than you. I already know what does and doesn’t fly with Melanie. I will be sure not to be unprofessional with my client.”

  She emphasized the fact that it was her client because her coworker had been known to weasel her way into things that had nothing to do with her before. She shouldn’t even know how she and Nathan were looking at each other. Why was she even out in the hallway in the first place asking these questions when she had her own caseload to be concerned about? She looked down at the file still in her hand. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go take care of this.” She walked away before Margo could say any more.

  Chapter 13

  “What in the world was that?” Tristan turned on him as Melanie sashayed back into the office building. Eustace was still pissing around with his phone and excused himself the minute they hit the street. He’d deal with that asshole later. He didn’t like the way he was looking at Savvy during the meeting. He’d get to the bottom of that later.

  For now, Tristan and Nathan stood on the busy sidewalks as Nathan loosened his tie and look up at the building and back at his friend.

  “What are you talking about?” Nathan asked, feigning innocence.

  “Oh shut the hell up, man. You made me stomach putting up with that pushy ass floozy Melanie for damn near an hour so you can chase after a skirt? I saw the way you were looking at Savvy. Is that why you were breaking your neck to get back down here after we decided against this firm? How do you even know her?” Tristan asked, side-eyeing him.

  He knew better than to lie to his friend. It wouldn’t serve him any good anyway. Tristan would see right through it. Technically, he didn’t really know her, yet. It was something he was trying to rectify. But, his best friend would laugh his ass off if he heard Nathan had spied this beauty by the citrus at the local grocery store during a late-night food run. No, he needed to make this a bit more interesting.

  “Really, I don’t know her, Tristan. I mean, it’s not like I wouldn’t like to get to know her. Look at her; she is hot as fuck.”

  Tristan narrowed his eyes, shaking his head. “So, you're telling me, you just randomly wanted to come back to this firm to have her recruit for us, because…why, Nate?”

  “I was researching a few of the places we met with—”

  “What prompted the research?”

  “Christ, man why are you busting my balls over this? If she can help us do some of the early heavy lifting with recruiting for some of the mid-level management, what is the harm in that?”

  Tristan was quiet for only a second before he conceded. “Fine. You’re the boss, bro. You go about this how you see fit. If you land a nice woman in the process, it might be good for your lonely ass.”

  “Geez, thanks,” Nathan said rolling his eyes.

  “I mean honestly, Erin was asking about setting you up again—someone from a mommy and me class?” Tristan said of his wife and their new baby girl.

  “She wants to set me up with one of the mothers from a mommy and me class?” Nathan chuckled. He wasn’t opposed to a woman who had children, but Erin didn’t know his type. He was more than sure some “woo” girl from a mommy and me class was not gonna do it for him.

  “Yea, I told her Rachel pigtails was not the girl for you. Plus, I think it was a whole messy situation of trying to make baby Dad jealous or some shit. I told Erin to let that go.”

  “Good looking out, man,” Nathan said watching the door.

  “Why do you keep looking at the door?” Tristan asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

  “I..um. I left a file folder up there…”

  Before he could finish his thought, he noticed Savvy at the door. In her petite hands was the file folder in question.

  “Oh, well looky-looky,” Tristan muttered. “If it isn’t your ebony cutie. You have me standing outside this building on purpose.”

  “Shut up, asshole. Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Nathan cut a look at Tristan as Savvy approached.

  “Oh no, this would be so much more entertaining—watching you trip over your words with a pretty woman.” Tristan teased.

  “Beat it, Trist.”

  The last thing he heard from his friend was his mischievous laugh as he turned and walked away.

  “Nice meeting you today, Tristan,” Savvy called after him.

  “Likewise,” his friend responded, as he turned to wave at Savvy over his shoulder, before continuing down the sidewalk, probably going to hail a cab.

  She turned back, looking at Nathan, her doe-like gaze crashing with his intent stare. She offered him a sheepish grin as her cheeks blushed, casting a glow on her chocolate skin. “Something tells me Tristan isn’t too happy to be working with our firm?”

  He regarded her from head to toe, careful not to take too long in his perusal. He didn’t want to come across as a creepier.

  His eyes locked on her plump lips, painted with a red gloss before he answered. “Tristan is never too happy about anything I do. He spends most of his time scolding me about something or other.”

  The smile that crossed her face, warmed his insides. She stood before him fidgeting like a schoolgirl. He wondered if he made her as nervous as she made him.

  From her movements, he guessed it was probably the case. As if she just remembered why she was down there, standing in front of him, she offered him the file in your hand. “I got your note on the back of the card.”

  He’d left that file up there on purpose; she had to know that.

  He took it from her, purposely letting his fingers brush hers. She looked up at him as they both still clung to the file. The electricity in one simple manilla folder was magnetic. If it wasn’t for the cool, spring air of the city he was sure they'd both instantly combust.

  She let go of the file as if it burned her, and his gaze dropped back to her lips as she spoke. “I should…” she threw a thumb in the direction of her building. “Plus, it’s chilly out here, and I didn’t grab a coat.” It was May it wasn’t too terribly cold, but he’d let her take the out. Her face was flushed, and he was sure she was feeling a lot warmer than she was letting on. He knew he sure was.

  He nodded, and she took it as her invitation to retreat. Before she could, he snagged the crook of her arm stopping her steps. She looked down at his hand on her arm. He didn’t remove it, locking her with his intent stare.

  “I look forward to working with you, Savvon,” he said using her full name and not just the nickname. “I hope you will still join me tonight for that drink, maybe dinner?”

  She opened her mouth to speak, and he watched her lips part, revealing a perfectly pink tongue he wouldn’t mind a good mouth wrestle with. He took a step toward her, wanting to say more, but knowing maybe now was a good time. He’d save it until they both had more time to talk. As if deciding for him, he felt his phone buzzing in his pocket.

  She looked down at his pants and back up at him. Her face flushed, even more, knowing where her eyes had landed. He liked it. It was the very part of him that reacted to her brief glance.

  Who could be calling him now, interrupting their chemistry? He didn’t have any other meetings this afternoon. He pulled the cell out of his pocket and inspected the number.

  Tristan.

  That asshole was probably down the street, snickering, knowing I was nervous as a high school boy asking a girl to prom.

  “I’m gonna let you take that…I have that meeting.”

  He looked as she was backing away. “Savvy.” he said her name sounding raspy, his throat dry.

  She glanced at him. “Yes?”

  “Um… Thank you.” He held up the file folder, but it was irrelevant; there was nothing in there he really needed. It was just a ploy to see her by herself with no snooping best friends or overly aggressive bosses and coworkers.

  She nodded, dazzling him with a smil
e he wouldn’t soon forget. “Of course.”

  “I mean not just the file folder.” He shook his head. “I meant being willing to help us recruit the best talent.”

  “It’s my job, Nathan. I’m glad to help.”

  The way she said his name made his jock clench even more. “That drink tonight?” He needed to set that in stone. He wanted to see her again.

  She nodded, ‘yes.’

  “I’ll text you the time and place,” he answered.

  “Sounds good,” she confirmed, offering that megawatt smile before she turned for a second glance and a half-wave. He noted the skip in her step as she walked back to her building, and he couldn’t help but think he caused that hitch in her giddy-up. Okay, that sounded extremely country and something he wouldn’t say in front of her during drinks.

  He only made it down the street a few blocks before his phone rang again. He was going to kick Tristan’s ass. He should just let it go to voicemail, screw him, but It could be important.

  “This better be good, you smart ass,” he said his usual greeting to his best friend without looking at the caller ID. As he strained to listen, he hailed a cab back to his office, He needed to put in a couple of hours of work before he met her for drinks later. Inside the cab, he could hear better. He gave the driver the address and sat back in the seat.

  “Hello? I’m sorry…”

  He immediately recognized her voice.

  Shit, shit.

  “Savvon?”

  “Yes, it's me.”

  “Sorry, I couldn’t hear you from the street. I just got in my cab.”

  “We only spoke briefly, and I'm a smart ass, now?” she teased.

  “Oh my… I’m sorry. I thought you were Tristan… That’s who called before. I thought he was calling back.” He cleared his throat, knowing he was rambling. He sounded dumb. She had him acting out of character. This is not the type of guy he usually was. He dragged a hand down his face before forging on. “I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon. I just said goodbye. You miss me or something?” He smiled as he listened to her cute chuckle.

  “The reason I’m calling is…”

  He waited with bated breath. He really wanted the reason to be that she missed him. That sounded sappy as shit. He would never mention those words again. Though, he probably would.

  But, she didn’t need a reason to call him. He was glad to hear her voice again. “I wanted to get back in my office before I mention this. With us going out for drinks tonight, I want to make sure this is on the table before anything happens… I mean not that I think anything is going to happen. Um…”

  He wanted to help her out because it sounded like she was struggling with whatever she had to say. He watched the cars and the city buildings pass by as they crept through traffic.

  “What is it, Savvy; talk to me.” He kept his tone even.

  She let out a sigh, and he imagined that sound in his bed as he pressed into her, her long legs wrapped around his midsection, her warmth enveloping him as he buried balls deep into her…

  The sound of her throat clearing brought him out of his reverie.

  Damn it, Nathan head out of the damn gutter, man. You barely even know this woman…yet.

  She continued, “I was just reprimanded for the possibility something may be going on between us, with you being a new client and all.”

  Nathan narrowed his eyes, and his grip tightened on his phone. “By whom? Melanie?”

  She hesitated, but answered, her tone hushed as if she was measuring the repercussion of her admission. “Yes, I was reminded that fraternizing with a client is a company no-no.

  “Are you trying to tell me that drinks tonight isn’t a good idea?” His blood began to boil. How dare her meddling-ass boss tell her she couldn’t get to know a client. She didn’t know it was more than just work, and he was paying her a hefty sum to help staff his company. Better yet, how dare she judge? If either he or Tristan gave Melanie the green light, she’d have either one of them in her office with the lights down low.

  He shuddered at the thought.

  Hard pass.

  He waited as she hesitated, not answering at first. He stilled his voice, not wanting to sound annoyed as his irritation was in no way directed at her. He just wanted to get to know her.

  “Savvon?” he said her name, coaxing her to answer him. He didn’t want to take no for an answer on seeing her again.

  “I want to, Nathan; I do. But, it would be my luck my boss shows up for happy hour wherever we are. She frequents happy hour like it’s her second job.”

  He didn’t find that hard to believe.

  Savvon sounded bummed; that was at least a plus. But, he didn’t want to think this setback would put a kibosh on the whole evening. He had to think quickly.

  Chapter 14

  “What?” she exclaimed, her mouth hanging open. She clicked her cell on speaker and set it on her desk. She thought she’d heard him but… “What did you say?” she asked again.

  “I said let me cook you dinner tonight, Savvy. You would be at my house. Your boss or any meddling coworkers or Eustace can’t catch you there. Besides, what you do on your own time is your business. It’s insane Melanie is putting these restrictions on you. Now, she can’t tell you whose house you can visit. Just come over. We’ll have a good meal and talk business. If she does find out, and asks, it was just a business dinner.”

  He had a point; Melanie was a known flirt. She’d frequented many a lunch, dinner, happy hour and God knows what else ‘meeting’ with clients under the guise of business when we all knew she was getting her groove on. Margo was no damn better. The girl had only been there a few years to Savvy’s decade, and she’d already had several notches in her hoochie belt.

  Her assistant, Cara, had spilled the goods on both of them over their own happy hour talks. Savvon was due a rendezvous of her own. Right? Plus, She could mentally feel Trish kicking her ass if she said no to this dinner invitation.

  She pressed her fingertips to her mouth before speaking. “Okay.”

  “I mean, how about we call it a business dinner? You can talk about work if you feel uncomfortable accepting this as a date… Wait, did you just say...‘okay?’” he asked slowly.

  Her insides fluttered at the sound of his tone, deep and unsure.

  “Yes. I said okay to dinner at your house.”

  This was so far out of her comfort zone—the one who usually went to work, went grocery shopping, came home to reality TV and wine, was now saying yes to a dinner invitation at a client’s home.

  “I thought you would certainly turn me down after that meeting this morning. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

  This discomfort was not anything bad. He made her hot, bothered and tingle. Things she hadn’t felt in years. He could make her uncomfortable anytime he wanted.

  She was shocked he would go out of his way to offer dinner after their strange way of meeting and then her controlling boss...

  “I would like to help your company any way I can, Nathan. I don’t want to set you back at all. I’m here to help. Can I bring anything?”

  He was quiet as she waited a few seconds for him to answer. Oh, wait. He had mentioned not wanting to make her uncomfortable. She sounded like a robot just now.

  I’m screwing this up.

  Before she could course-correct he responded.

  “Just bring yourself, Savvon. I’ll text you the address?”

  “That works. I’ll see you tonight.”

  After securing dinner plans at his home, twenty-five minutes away from her own, she decided to stop by the store to pick up a bottle of wine, regardless of him saying she didn’t need to. She just had to get through the rest of her day with Mel’s incessant nagging and client’s bitching. Every time she thought she could focus on something else her mind went back to the fact she had dinner plans tonight with a sexy as sin man...at his home.

  Oh, God, was she crazy?

  She shot Trish a text, updatin
g her on what was going down.

  I’m insane, right?

  Why are you crazy?

  I don’t even know him.

  You will get to know him.

  I’m going to his home; no one else just me and him. He could kill me, and who would know?

  I would know to call the authorities if you don’t answer the phone, and if you don’t come home. For goodness sake, Savvy. Does he look like a killer?

  It’s those ones you have to watch out for…

  She paced her office floor. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. They should just meet at one of their offices during business hours. Cara could come with her to be a buffer—for what she didn’t exactly know. In case she flipped her lid, lost her mind and jump his bones? Who knows. She snorted at the thought.

  The sound of her phone beeping cut into her wayward thoughts

  I think you are making way too much out of this.

  Justifiably so, maybe I should call and cancel.

  My phone rang, and Trish’s number along with her picture at last year’s beach vacation popped up on my screen.

  Oh, Lord.

  She was about to hand Savvon her ass.

  Savvy tapped the speakerphone again.

  “Yes?”

  “I will cut your hand off if you cancel on that man.” Trish’s voice took over her office as Savvy rolled her eyes and sat back in her chair to let her best friend continue her tirade. “This is exactly why you have such a hard time landing a man. You second guess your choices. You never just let yourself go, have fun, be free. You treat every relationship like it’s a business deal. Okay, so you just met the man. He is gorgeous, obviously interested in you, smart, owns his own business. What are your hang-ups with this? Please tell me this isn’t about your ex. Don’t even get me started on that.”