He opened the file and looked at the check requests, signing them. Handing her back the file, he grunted.
“If this is the last of them, then hopefully everyone will get back to work and focus on the real work at hand around here.”
“Oh, come on now. Why are you such a party pooper? You know how much everyone looks forward to the company Christmas party each year. It’s a fantastic celebration,” she chided him.
“What they look forward to is free alcohol and time off from work,” he countered. Besides that, our productivity drops significantly. Everyone is too worried about shopping and decorating. It drives me crazy,” he huffed as he entered the password to his computer.
“Please tell me you don’t really believe that, at least not about most of us.”
Her voice had lowered significantly and vibrated with an emotion she couldn’t quite define. His head snapped up, and his eyes sought hers questioningly.
Sighing, he set his pen down. “Look, okay. That was harsh. It’s just, this time of year everyone goes a little holiday-crazy. I’m just ready for it to be over with so we can get things back into normal mode of operation. That’s all. It’s not my favorite time of year.”
Not one to mince words, Mia threw it out there.
“I know you miss your dad, Noah, and that’s okay. He was a great man. Everyone loved him. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t celebrate Christmas. That isn’t what your dad would want for you, is it?”
The instant fury that rose into his now-sea-green eyes confirmed that she’d crossed the line with him.
He stood slowly. Mia was certain the windows were going to fog shortly from the fumes coming from him.
She took a step back.
“Let’s clarify a few things, shall we, Miss Benedetti?” His lip snarled over the edge of his teeth. “You didn’t know my father, so your opinion is solely based on the feedback from others. Secondly, if I wanted your advice, I would ask for it, which I don’t. Thirdly, my personal life is none of your business. Lastly, it’s Mr. Westbrook. Is that clear?”
He might as well have slapped her. The impact of his words felt the same as if he had.
Her chin jutted forward as she closed off her emotions to him. Staring at him dead on, her voice void of anything but a monotone response, she replied, “As a full moon starry night, sir. My apologies. Won’t happen again, Mr. Westbrook.”
Mia promptly exited his office and stood for a moment in front of her desk, still stunned by his response. She needed a few minutes to clear her mind and shake off that conversation.
She headed down to Finance to drop off the check requests.
“Hey, Mia. I was just going to call you. A few of us are going out for drinks after work. Wanna come?” Sandy had become a close friend since she had started working at Westbrook.
“I wish I could, but we’re working late tonight,” she told her friend.
“Mr. Scrooge burning the midnight oil and dragging you along with him, huh?” Sandy teased.
“This new contract is a big deal, Sandy. I don’t mind. It’s important.”
“You’re a better woman than me, especially dealing with Mr. Perfectionist up there. I would never make it. I don’t know how you do it, but we’re all glad you do.”
“I appreciate that, Sandy. Thanks for the vote of confidence. I needed that today—just between you and me.” She winked at her friend.
“Remind me never to play poker with you, girlfriend. You’d play us all under the table I think,” Sandy laughed as Mia headed back upstairs to her desk.
She was stopped at the elevator by Alex, who said he had some papers for Noah and asked if she minded carrying them up. She was gone about an hour from her desk by the time she had made her rounds to the mailroom and come back up. When she came back, she found Noah pacing back and forth in front of her desk.
“Where have you been? I thought you’d left,” he said heatedly as she reached him.
“I went down to Finance, remember? Then Alex stopped me and asked me to bring these to you, then I stopped for the mail…is something wrong? Do you need something?”
He was acting very strangely.
“I thought you’d left,” he said again.
“It’s two o’clock in the afternoon. Why would I leave work?” she asked him, staring in confusion. Then a light bulb went off.
“Wait, you mean you thought I quit? Is that what you meant?” she said, dumbfounded.
He pulled at his tie uncomfortably, trying to loosen it.
“Yes, that’s what I meant. You wouldn’t be the first to…well, you know…” his feet shuffled, his stance shifting from side to side.
This was a side she hadn’t seen before. Noah Westbrook was uncomfortable. Interesting.
“Well, I’m still here. Unless that disappoints you, then I can leave if that’s what you want. I…”
“No! That’s not what I want,” he practically shouted. He stopped and took a calming breath.
“Look, I came out here to apologize. I didn’t mean to be so harsh with you earlier. You know my privacy is important to me. Work is work. I like to keep it that way.”
Mia had never heard him apologize for anything before. That was because he was generally in the right, and this time, she had truly overstepped her boundaries.
“While I certainly appreciate the apology, Mr. Westbrook, it was I who crossed a line. For that, I am sorry as well. As I said before, it won’t happen again.”
Noah nodded his acceptance and returned to his office. He’d said his peace and apologized. He could admit when he was a jerk. She’d accepted his apology. Everything was good again. So why did he suddenly feel like a wall had been built between them? Why did the sound of his surname on her lips sound like a brick being spit at his feet? And why did the sound of his given name sound so sweet on her lips when she’d used it earlier, so much so that he kept hearing it replay in his mind, over and over?
CHAPTER 3
Mia stretched her weary muscles. She had long ago shed her jacket, leaving her arms exposed in the red silk sleeveless button-down blouse.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. I had Geno deliver Kung Pao. I’m going to go warm it up for us.”
Noah looked down at his watch. It was after eight. Come to think of it, he was hungry—ravenous actually. He shook his head. He certainly wouldn’t be winning any boss of the year awards anytime soon.
It wasn’t long until Mia returned with a tray laden with food. Noah couldn’t suppress his chuckle.
“I guess you weren’t exaggerating about your hunger level,” he teased.
Mia looked over at him from where she was setting out the food on the small conference table.
“We joke about many things, but we Italians never joke about food.” Her smile lit up the room.
“I will admit tonight I am very appreciative of that fact.” As he rose from his desk to join her, his stomach picked the opportune time to voice its agreement in the form of a very loud rolling growl of hunger.
They were both still for a moment, the noise echoing in the quiet office. Then they were both laughing, Mia bent over holding her sides.
“You better get over here and eat before you collapse it sounds like.”
They filled their plates, and Mia took a seat on the sofa next to the table. The only sounds heard for the next five minutes were of chewing and slurping as they devoured their first few bites.
“Oh my God! This is soooo good.” Mia’s tongue licked sauce from the corner of her mouth as Noah watched her obvious enjoyment of her dinner.
His stomach tightened watching her. “Umm, you have a little something on…”
“Where?” Mia asked anxiously. She started wiping her mouth, her chin, her cheek. “Did I get it?” She looked over at him, quizzing.
“No, um, it’s right here on your blouse.” Before he realized what he was doing, he reached down with his own napkin and wiped a
dab of sauce from her blouse just above her breast.
Heat spread through Mia at his touch. She could feel the blush across her cheeks and looked away.
“Thanks,” she said quietly, and then laughed trying to break the tension. “Sometimes I get a little zealous when I’m hungry. When you grow up in a house full of boys, you learn to dig in or starve.”
“Seriously?” Noah was shocked a family would behave in such a manner. He’d been to boarding school, and certainly couldn’t relate to such actions.
Noah’s shock caused Mia to double over in laughter once again. Tears ran down her face.
“I don’t see what’s so funny, unless you’re just making that up.” Noah’s voice was stern and his back straight.
“Oh, don’t go getting all prickly on me. Of course my family wouldn’t let me starve, but it is a frenzy around the dinner table to say the least. Nothing was ever quiet or calm in my house growing up. We were boisterous and loud all the time. You would think a war was going on, but it was just the way we communicated. It was great, honestly. Wouldn’t change a thing.” She was grinning from ear to ear. Pleasure lit her big, brown, beautiful eyes.
Mia felt the shift in Noah instantly. Something flashed across his face, but before she could ascertain what he was thinking, he closed himself off. Business Noah was back in place.
He stood and collected his plate and other trash, disposing of it in the trash bin by the door.
“Unless we want to sleep here tonight, I think we’d better get back to it. Shouldn’t take us much longer.”
With an inward sigh, Mia cleaned up the remaining trash and food containers.
“Alright, where were we?” She, too, could put her game face on.
It was an hour-and-a-half later that Noah signed the last document he had been reviewing and said, “And that’s a wrap.”
He stretched and looked over to Mia, his arms stopping in mid-air. She was sound asleep. He had been so engrossed in reading the final report, he hadn’t realized she had dozed off.
He stood to wake her. Coming around his desk, he made his way the short distance to the sofa where he just stood there, staring down at her. Her raven hair was spread across the arm of the leather sofa. She had taken her red high heels off at some point, her stocking feet tucked up underneath her. What nearly stopped his heart was the way her sleek black skirt had ridden midway up her thigh, revealing her luscious thighs.
He swallowed what felt like a golf ball in his throat as he reached out to gently rouse her. With his hand on her shoulder, he called out to her.
“Miss Benedetti, wake up.” She didn’t move. She was apparently a sound sleeper. Not to mention the fact he’d kept her here until after ten.
He tried again. “Miss Benedetti, you need to wake up.” He knelt down beside the couch, not wanting to frighten her as she awoke.
“Mia. Wake up. It’s time to go home. Mia.” He shook her a little more aggressively and saw her eyes flutter.
“Noah,” she whispered. Her hand came up to cup his cheek while the other arm wrapped around his neck. Before he realized what was happening her lips were on his. A spark shot through him, straight to his groin. Her lips were like soft velvet and tasted like sweet wine.
Her soft purr was almost his undoing, but he shook the fog from his charged-up brain and reined in his revved-up libido.
She wasn’t completely awake. Maybe she thought he was someone else. Wait. She’d said his name. He’d think about that later.
He slid his arm underneath her back to help her sit up and to fully wake up.
“Miss Benedetti. Wake up. You fell asleep. Do you hear me? You need to wake up.”
She was awake now, rubbing sleep from her eyes. She’d been having the most wonderful dream. “What? Oh my goodness. I’m sorry. What time is it? How long have I been out?” She was a beautiful disheveled mess.
He couldn’t stop the smile that claimed his face. “Not long. Can you forgive me for keeping you so late?” he asked. He truly had not meant to keep them there so late.
“Did we finish what needed to be done? I remember sending you the last contract to review. Do I need to change anything in it?” she asked, concerned she’d missed something.
“Not to worry. We’re done. Everything is ready to be sent out in the morning. Right on schedule.”
He stood and held out his hand to assist her in standing. She looked surprised at first, but didn’t hesitate. Holding his hand, she slipped her shoes back on her feet and grabbed her jacket.
“Good. I’m glad. Not bad for an honest day’s work, huh?” she nodded her head in satisfaction.
He admired the hell out of her for her work ethic. “Yes. Not bad at all. I agree. Now let me give you a ride home. I know you’re wiped out. Leave your car here, and I’ll have Robert pick you up in the company car in the morning.”
He was putting his laptop in his briefcase as he spoke.
“No. That isn’t necessary. I’m fine to drive home,” she insisted.
“I’m afraid I insist, Miss Benedetti. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you after keeping you here so late. Humor me.” He wasn’t giving in. She knew that much by the determined set of his chin. She’d seen it many times before.
“Okay. If you insist.” She was actually relieved to not have to drive home. She was beat, but she wouldn’t admit it to him.
As they rode the elevator down to the main lobby, he proved to be full of surprises tonight when he leaned over and said, “If I haven’t told you lately, I appreciate all you do for me and the company. You are a valuable asset. There are few people I trust more.” Her jaw dropped. Giddiness filled her with excitement at his praise.
“Oh. One more thing. When it’s just you and me, I’d like you to call me Noah.” He was looking at her strangely, like he knew something she didn’t. Whatever it was, she was touched and wasn’t going to overanalyze it.
“Thank you, Noah.” His name rolled off her tongue softly as she tested the waters. “That means a great deal to me.” More than he knew.
They rode in silence as George drove them toward Mia’s home in the Oakwood neighborhood. Mia’s mind was still reeling from Noah’s compliments. She glanced over to find him reading his emails on his phone.
“Don’t you ever just relax?”
He glanced over at her, his lips twitching upward. He chuckled.
“Not when I’m with you.” His eyes never left hers.
A zing of awareness zipped through Mia. What did he mean by that? Knowing Noah, he was probably talking about being on the clock.
“Well, I give you permission to relax, Noah. Even you need to.”
Turning in his seat to face her directly, he asked, “And just what is it you like to do when you relax, Mia?” His eyebrows lifted.
Mia though she might hyperventilate. She felt her face flush at the underlying innuendo. What was happening here? Who was this sexy, appealing, and flirting man next to her?
His question ran through her mind again. Focus, Mia, and suddenly, a brilliant idea came to mind.
“I have a couple favorite ways to relax and enjoy myself. Listen, if you’re game, I challenge you to come with me for a couple hours each day next week. I’d rather show you than tell you. Let you experience it for yourself, and then you can tell me what you think.”
“Mia, I don’t think I have time…”
“We can work a few hours a day into your schedule. I promise. If you hate it, then it just proves everyone else right and me wrong.”
Frowning, he asked “Everyone right about what?”
“You’ll have to wait until the end of the week to find out.”
The stopped in front of Mia’s 1920s white bungalow.
“Aww. This is me. Thank you for the ride. I do appreciate it, Noah. See you in the morning.”
Noah got out of the car with her.
“What are you doing? You don’t have to…”
“Humor me, Mia. I want to know you got inside safely.”
“I’m a big girl, ya know. I’ve been walking myself in alone for several years now.” Her sarcasm lit up her face.
The stood at her front door as she dug out her keys from her purse.
“Why is that exactly?” He surprised her by asking.
“What? That I’m alone?”
He nodded.
“Well, it may sound old-fashioned, but I haven’t met the guy who will carry me over the threshold yet. Plus, my job keeps me pretty busy. My boss is kind of a workaholic. Not much time for a social life,” she teased.
“Good night, Noah. Get some rest.”
She, on the other hand, was up most of the night putting her Operation Noah plan together for next week. This would either get her a raise or get her fired, but she believed it would be so worth it.
CHAPTER 4
“Miss Mia, it’s so good to see you. How are you, sweetie?”
Noah watched as a woman practically ran up to Mia and wrapped her in what could only be described as a bear hug.
“Joyce, it’s good to be back. I’m doing well. I hope you are, too. How’s Tom? I’d ask if he was behaving himself, but I already know the answer to that question.”
They laughed together. “Oh, honey, you know how stubborn that man is. I can’t keep him off a ladder, even though the doctor told him if he fell again, he might not be able to walk. Now, who is this good-looking young man you’ve brought with you today?”
“I’ve recruited some extra help, Joyce. It’s my pleasure to introduce Noah Westbrook of Westbrook Industries.”
“Oh my! John’s son? Really?” Tears sprang to her eyes, and she surprised a stiff Noah as she gathered him up in one of her bear hugs.
Mia’s smile spread across her face. She knew he wasn’t used to public displays of affection.
“We loved your daddy so much. They don’t make many men like him. Miss him tremendously. It’s truly a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Westbrook.”
Noah was speechless. His dad had spent time here?
“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Mrs...”
Christmas in the City II Page 45