by J. M. Madden
Chapter Seven
‡
Sarah settled into a routine over the next couple of days. In the mornings, she would have tea with Faust, then breakfast with Clayton and Tory. After Clayton left for work, she and Tory would cocoon themselves in the solarium and work for most of the day. There would be several breaks for returning phone calls and doggy playtime, but then they would work into the late afternoon, almost until dinnertime. Sarah had not seen Mrs. Gallagher or even Tory’s mother for a couple of days. When she asked Tory where they had gone, she shrugged her shoulders and smirked. “Probably off shopping somewhere again,” she said, sounding offhand, as if this was nothing unusual.
So, dinners were also spent with Clayton and Sarah relished all the time she could spend with him. After dinner on Tuesday and Wednesday, she went out for a long play session with Gracie. Clayton eventually joined her there. On Wednesday, Gracie was in a particularly playful mood and in an unguarded moment, she tackled Clayton to the ground. Sarah was at his side in seconds, but he was already rolling over and climbing to his feet. To her amazement, he began chuckling and shaking his head, then ruffled Gracie’s baggy skin on her neck, pushing her away playfully. Sarah stood back against the fence and watched them play. She was ecstatic that Clayton was actually playing. She wished she could take a video of him, because she had a feeling this was one of the few times in his life he had actually let himself go like this, and she felt honored that he felt comfortable enough to let loose with her.
Gracie had her big doggy butt in the air, tail waving furiously, as she jumped from side to side. Sarah wasn’t worried that she would bite him. The big dog seemed to know all she had to do was run into somebody to get them down.
Sarah gasped as Clayton suddenly lunged and swept the dog’s feet out from under her. Gracie struggled for a moment as Clayton held her down, but then she submitted, wagging her tail happily and licking any part of him she could reach. Masculine laughter tickled up and down Sarah’s spine as he patted the dog on the belly roughly then stood up, brushing ineffectually at the knees of his khakis. Turning to Sarah, he shook his head and brushed his hands together, and she noticed he was a bit out of breath. But for the first time, he was smiling unreservedly.
“She really likes to play doesn’t she?”
Sarah nodded, reaching out to brush grass off his right shoulder. “Yes, she does. And it takes a lot to tire her out; you did a good job.”
They both looked at the reclining dog, who also dragged in great draughts of air. Holding the gate open for Sarah, Clayton waited till she stepped out, then latched it securely behind them.
“I’ve never really played with a dog before,” he said musingly. “That was … interesting.”
He still had a smile lingering on his full lips, and Sarah found herself envying the dog for her ability to get that kind of reaction out of him. He still seemed stiff and formal around her. He was starting to warm up, but not to the extent he had with Gracie. Maybe she just had to stick her butt in the air and wag her tail too. She grinned at the thought, and when he looked at her in question, Sarah shook her head. “Nothing.”
She was surprised when Clayton pulled her to a stop outside the rear entrance to the kitchen area. “I wanted to thank you for…” he hesitated, looking off to the distance. “For expanding my horizons. I believe I have been in a rut for a while, a long while.”
Sarah wanted to tell him his entire life, but that would just be mean. His family had been responsible for how he had been raised, not him. “No problem at all. I enjoyed seeing you play with Gracie. I have a feeling that was a side you don’t show many people, and I appreciate that you let yourself go with me.”
That was an incredible understatement, but Sarah let it stand. It would do her no good to appear too forward. The man had already shut down her advances once. If she had to start with being a friendly acquaintance, that would be where she would start. He did not need to know that watching him had made her heart melt, and made her want things between them to be this free and easy for a lifetime.
Hooking her elbow in his, she let him walk her into the house.
*
Breakfast the next morning was unexpectedly intimate. Since Sarah had given Tory the morning off, it was just she and Clayton at the dining room table. The elder female Gallaghers were apparently still in bed or not even in the house. Sarah actually had not seen either woman for a couple of days and she was beginning to relax and enjoy her time working.
Clayton also seemed relaxed, but perhaps he was just becoming used to her presence as well. The lack of arguing every day and the addition of some laughter to his life seemed to be doing him good. Not that Sarah was about to take credit for it, but a small part of her heart hoped she was responsible.
The stubble of beard had darkened, filled in along his jaw, and she wondered if he knew how damned good he looked.
“How soon are you going in to the city?”
Helping herself to several pancakes from the sideboard, Sarah waited to answer until she was seated, trying to hide a smile. “I thought I would see if I could hitch a ride with you, since you were going in.”
Clayton nodded, his head still damp from the shower. “Of course. I planned on offering anyway. It only makes sense for you to ride with me. The car will be at your disposal for the day.”
“Oh, I don’t need the car. I’ll do fine without it. I can ride the subway.”
Frowning in disapproval, he shook his head. “Humor me, please. Use the car. I know you won’t be mugged in the limo.”
Sarah eventually agreed and they finished breakfast. Gathering a few things in a carryall that matched her stylish summer dress and flats, Sarah hurried down to the car. Clayton was already inside waiting, as she knew he would be. A thick manila folder was in his hand, and his briefcase was on the seat beside him. Sarah tucked herself into the corner of the limo with her seatbelt on and settled in for a long quiet drive. Clayton apparently wanted to work on the way in to work. It seemed to be something he did regularly.
After several miles of interstate, he surprised her by asking about her family, and Sarah happily launched into a conversation that lasted the entire drive into the city. Clayton asked many questions and seemed genuinely interested in how she grew up and what made her become an artist. A couple of times, Sarah tried to turn the conversation back to him, but he was very evasive about how he grew up. It seemed like no time at all had passed when they pulled up in front of the glass building that housed the Clarion corporate offices. There was a pregnant pause as the driver opened the door and waited for Clayton to get out. He leaned forward, about to say something, then changed his mind. “Have a good day,” he said simply.
Sarah would have preferred a goodbye kiss, but she understood that was too much to hope for. “See you later. You have a good day, too.”
Sarah settled back into the seat and watched him stride into the building. Oh, what a good-looking man. She wasn’t the only one to notice, either. Several other women eyed him, as well. Clayton seemed oblivious though, and had already fallen into conversation with another man walking into the building.
Directing the driver to her apartment, Sarah settled back into the leather seat and thought about their talk on the way in. Clayton was amazingly easy to talk to, though their lifestyles could not be more different. He drew her out as if he had been talking to her for years, rather than just a few days. Although, he was very closemouthed about himself. For every ten details she threw out about herself, he grudgingly might give her one, and that was only after she dragged it out of him. She understood why he was so hesitant to expose himself, considering how his mother behaved. That woman redefined barracuda in Sarah’s book—any weakness was immediately exploited.
But even the silences with Clayton were nice. She’d never felt that with another man.
Sarah wanted more. A lot more.
*
Sarah’s apartment was fine, as she had known it would be. She watered the plan
ts and grabbed a few personal items, then left her neighbor a note telling him she had been in and not to water the plants for a few days.
Mitch, the driver, was very friendly, so she rode in the front seat with him to Moments in Time, where she browsed for only a few minutes before finding exactly what she was looking for. The dress, of antique rose silk chiffon would fit Tory’s cute little frame perfectly. The gauzy layers floated as Sarah swished the hanger around and she knew the layers of fabric and delicate color would paint beautifully, too.
Thanking the shopkeeper, she climbed back into the car with her purchase, relieved to be done. Looking at her watch, she saw it was only a little after eleven, but she wondered what Clayton would be doing for lunch. On a whim, she called Meredith, Clayton’s executive assistant.
Meredith was happy to talk to her, but seemed surprised that Sarah had ridden into the city with Clayton.
“I wasn’t aware you were seeing Mr. Gallagher, Sarah.”
Sarah could hear the reserve but also the curiosity in the woman’s voice. Clayton had apparently not told anybody she was at Hillcroft House.
“I just rode into the city with him, Meredith. I’m doing a portrait of his niece, Victoria.”
“Ah, I see.” Sarah thought she heard disappointment in her voice. There was a rustling in the background and Sarah knew Meredith was flipping open her ever present day planner. “No, it doesn’t look like he has an appointment for lunch. I believe I heard him mention something about a sandwich from the cafeteria.”
“Okay. Can you put me through to him?”
“Absolutely. It was nice talking to you, Sarah. Stop in for lunch with the girls one of these days.”
“I will, definitely.”
Lunch with the girls meant going to a local Italian place and everybody ordering something different, then sharing bites from everybody else’s meal. It was incredibly fun and Sarah always felt very welcome with Meredith and the other administrative assistants. They were working class women, like she was.
After a couple of clicks, she was patched through to Clayton.
“Gallagher.”
Sarah was suddenly attacked by nerves. Should she be inviting her boss out to lunch? He’d probably just shut her down. Buck up, girl.
“Hello, Clayton. I checked my apartment and found the perfect dress for Tory, so I’ve done everything I needed to. I thought I would see if you’d like to go to lunch somewhere.”
Her breath stalled in her lungs as she waited for a response. The seconds drew out. What was taking him so long? He’s trying to come up with a reason to blow you off.
*
Clayton tried to control the excitement that made his heart race. “I would like to go to lunch with you,” he told her finally. “Where?”
“How ’bout I pick you up in the car, and we’ll decide then?”
Clayton hesitated for several long seconds, but then castigated himself because he was worried about not having a plan. Just go, enjoy your time with her.
“I’ll be down front in twenty minutes.”
“Okay, I’ll see you then.”
Clayton could tell she was smiling, he could hear it in her voice. Was she that happy he was going, or was she laughing at his awkward hesitation? Shaking his head, he started gathering his paperwork and returning calls. Quit second-guessing yourself, dammit.
Meredith was unsuccessful in her attempt to hide a smile as he swept past her desk.
He paused and regarded her critically. “What?”
The woman smiled fully at his defensive tone, and shook her head.
“I think Sarah would be wonderful for you, that’s all.” And she turned back to her computer.
Clayton continued on automatically, although he felt warmth suffusing his body at his admin’s words. Although she had been with him for years, he could count on one hand the times they had spoken of anything of a personal nature. The monthly executive assistants and admins’ lunch was not a secret, and Clayton knew for a fact that Sarah had gone to many when she was working here. It was no surprise that Meredith knew her, and fairly well, it sounded like.
The car waited in its usual spot when he exited the doors, but the driver did not get out to open the door. To his surprise, Sarah hopped out of the passenger side door with the chauffeur’s black cap covering her long loopy curls, and held the back door open for him with a big smile. He hesitated for only a second before slipping inside and scooted across the seat to make room as she slipped in behind him, dress flaring around her shapely thighs. He dragged his gaze to her face in consternation, but found he couldn’t keep a chuckle from escaping. She grinned playfully.
Clayton watched as she tugged the cap off and flipped it through the dividing window to the anxious driver. The man was clearly nervous about her prank, but Clayton waved a hand at the man. “Don’t worry about it, Mitch.”
In bemusement, he turned back to the woman beside him. What would she have lined up next?
“Do you like pizza?” she asked.
Clayton pursed his lips in thought. Although it had been several years, not since college actually; he’d had pizza, albeit the European version. After long consideration, he could not come up with any other instance, and told her as much. He was unprepared for the sad expression on her face.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked defensively.
She shook her head sadly, and then leaned forward to tell Mitch where to go.
“I can’t believe you work in the city every day and have never tasted good, authentic New York pizza. That just shows me a terrible gap in your education.”
Clayton secretly agreed, but decided not to tell her that. Instead, he settled back for the ride and actually began to relax, even though it was the middle of a workday. Other than his cell ringing several times as they drove, he really enjoyed himself. Sarah must have called ahead with their order, because the pizza shop had the order ready when the limo pulled up. Sarah instructed Mitch to find a quiet place to park, then proceeded to pull several canned beverages out of the bag on top of the pizza box. He had no particular preference, so she set aside two of the cans then sent the last and something wrapped in foil up to the front to the driver. Clayton was impressed by her thoughtfulness; he would never have thought to get the driver anything, but Sarah had.
Everything about this woman showed her to be a good, truly kind person. Clayton felt like a bit of an ass because her inherent kindness was pointing out his natural inclination to keep the world at arm’s length.
Clayton’s first bite of a real New York pizza was a revelation. Never before had he had anything that tasted so good, but made him feel so guilty. He could almost feel his arteries hardening even as he chewed and swallowed. The grease on top of the pizza was a bit revolting, but not enough to make him stop eating it. Sarah showed him how she blotted at the top of the pizza with a napkin before lifting it out of the box and Clayton found it was much more agreeable that way.
When he finally felt full, he was mortified to see he had eaten most of the pizza. Sarah had two crusts on the napkin beside her on the seat. Clayton had eaten all of his crusts, and he knew he had eaten at least six pieces of pizza. Sarah laughed at his face when she saw him looking at the box incredulously.
“I guess you like pizza,” she chuckled.
Clayton could not help but smile back. “I guess I do.” Absently, he rubbed a hand over his taut stomach. Who could have guessed he would enjoy junk food that much? It had been forbidden in the Gallagher household, as well as at boarding school. He remembered when he was ten years old, he’d snuck out of school and visited a small shop in the village nearby where he bought his first commercial chocolate bar. The chocolate had been amazing, he remembered, and well worth the three demerits he’d received when he returned to school. He felt the same sense of rebellion now. He had no desire whatsoever to return to work. Actually, he thought, he was so full and so relaxed, it wouldn’t be hard to curl up and take a nap. He never took naps. G
lancing at his watch, Clayton was amazed to see it was well into afternoon.
Sarah nodded her head at him. Her startling, bright green eyes were resigned. “I know. You have to go.”
Clayton found himself wanting to erase the resignation from her face. Was she actually that sorry to see him go? For a moment he relished the thought of somebody caring that much about him. Was there anybody in his life he could not do without? Tory was just about the only one who came to mind. But even as he thought it, he realized he was lying to himself. The woman next to him was gaining ground quickly. After only a few days in the house, she had accomplished more than any other woman he had ever come in contact with. Sarah Tyler had caught hold of his interest and held it.
*
When they pulled up to Clayton’s office building, Sarah quickly reached over and gave him a short hug. “Thank you for being adventurous. I appreciate the effort.”
Clayton eyed her thoughtfully as he slid across the seat to the open door.
“I do believe it is getting easier.”
Sarah beamed. “We’ll be here when you call. Actually we’ll be on Broadway, but we’ll be here soon after you call.”
Clayton nodded his head and was gone, and Sarah once again watched him stride away. What a scrumptious man he was, and he didn’t even seem to be especially aware of it. Her heart ached at the thought of everything he seemed to have missed in his life. He’d been raised to be a machine in business. That was all he knew.
She leaned forward and gave Mitch the address of her favorite art supply store, Pearl Paint on Broadway, then slouched back down in the corner. Smiling, she thought of the look on Clayton’s face when he realized he had eaten most of the pizza. He had enjoyed every bite, because there had been very little conversation as they consumed the junk food. There was a certain satisfaction to corrupting the uncorrupted, she thought with a grin.