She might talk too much, but she didn’t jump if he said a sharp word, unlike the temps before her. And she didn’t squeak at the long hours unless there was a conflict with a family event.
He understood family obligation. One of six brothers, Rick had a large, close-knit family that liked to get together on a regular basis. He participated because of Gram and because it was expected, but he often felt isolated even when he was part of the crowd. It’d been that way since he was a kid.
He loved his brothers, but he’d never found it easy to share, except with Rett, of course. That had always been enough for him. Especially after his broken engagement in college.
Losing people hurt. In his opinion, loneliness was a small price to pay for peace.
“Hey, Rick.” Jesse strolled in, her baby in her arms. “I really appreciate you and Savannah helping with Troy. Rett and I came up with some great ideas for Gram.”
“I’m glad.” They exchanged a few pleasantries as she efficiently strapped Troy into his carrier.
“I’m sorry to have to run off, but I have to get Allie from preschool,” Jesse explained.
“No problem. I’ll walk you out.” Rick saw Jesse into the elevator across the hall from his and Savannah’s offices. “See you later.”
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Jesse stopped the doors from closing. “Do you know your grandfather’s birthday? We need to know his birthstone for Gram’s gift.”
Rick frowned as he raked his mind. “No. Sometime in the summer, but I don’t remember when.”
“I have it,” Savannah said, and he turned to her in surprise. “It’s in Molly’s history file. There are biographies on all the past presidents, including dates of birth and dates of death.” Her fingers clicked at the keys of her computer as she talked. “Charles Sullivan was born July 23. Do you need the year?”
“No. This is wonderful.” Jesse beamed. “You’ve saved me. I thought I was going to have to pump Gram without tipping her off about the party. Can you let Rett know?”
“Sure. I’ll send it to his email.”
“Thanks. And thanks again for watching Tr—” The elevator door cut off Jesse’s words.
Blessed silence descended on the office. Rick sighed and met Savannah’s gaze to see an understanding gleam of amusement.
“Yeah,” Savannah agreed as she went back to the papers in front of her. “You love to see them. And you love to see them go.”
“Huh.” She’d nailed it on the head.
It felt strange to have her read him so well. Strange for anyone to make the effort with him. People tended to avoid rather than interact with him. Generally that suited him fine, but the moment of connection warmed him in an odd way. Turning back to his office, he rubbed absently at his chest.
She still talked too much.
The next afternoon the ringing of the phone summoned Savannah as she approached her cubicle after a late lunch. Rushing to answer, she expected the call to be business-related but was surprised to find her sister, Claudia, on the other end.
A very excited Claudia.
“Oh, my God, Savannah. I love you. I love Mrs. Sullivan. I love Rick Sullivan. I love all the Sullivans.”
“Hold on, slow down.” Still catching her breath, Savannah struggled to understand her sister’s chatter. “What are you talking about? What has Rick done?”
“I just heard that because I’m going back to Paradise Pines after I graduate, they’re going to give me a bonus scholarship to help me get settled as I start my new job. That means—”
“Wait a minute.” Savannah sat down, setting her purse on the desk. “You’re telling me the Sullivans gave you more money?”
“Yes. Savannah, I’ll be able to get my own apartment, and a new computer. And a new wardrobe. I need to thank a Sullivan. I need to thank them all. Mrs. Sullivan didn’t answer her phone so I thought of Rick. Is he in?”
“I don’t understand.” Savannah felt thick-headed, but this was so huge. “You mean even though you’ll be out of school, they’re giving you another five thousand?”
“Yes!” Claudia’s excitement reached squeal proportions, dimmed only slightly by the distance of the phone. “This is so amazing! Can you believe it?”
Yeah, Savannah could, when she got past the shock enough to take it all in. One of the things she admired most about the Sullivans—including Rick, the whole doughnut incident notwithstanding—was their generosity.
“You deserve it. You’ve worked really hard these last four years,” she told Claudia.
“I’m overwhelmed. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank Rick.” Just when she had him pegged as all work and no play, Rick did this. Something so thoughtful and sweet it showed what a truly decent man he was. And she knew he was involved because Mrs. Sullivan had told her he had the final say over the scholarships.
“I do thank you. You’ve always been there for me. And of course, Rick, too. Is he there?”
Savannah glanced up at his closed door. “He’s on a conference call. But I’ll tell him you called.”
“Oh, okay. I know you’re busy so I won’t keep you. Promise you’ll give Rick a big kiss from me. Love you lots. Bye.”
“Claudia!” Savannah protested.
But her sister hung up, leaving Savannah with the image of kissing Rick. A visual she really didn’t need. After the incident with Troy yesterday it was easy, way too easy, to imagine how he’d taste, how he’d feel against her.
She’d never known a man like him, so physically fit, so stern in demeanor. All male, he made the men she’d dated seem like boys in comparison. Not that there’d been that many boys. Her high-school years had been spent caring for her mother instead of flirting.
Savannah never quite recaptured those flirty, experimental years. And, ever since, she’d felt one step behind in the game of love.
Unfortunately, Rick really made her wonder what she’d been missing.
A few minutes after Rick’s conference call wrapped up a knock sounded at his door. He looked up as Savannah peeked around the edge.
“Good, you’re free,” she said, stepping into his office. Her fitted skirt showed her legs to advantage as she made her way toward her usual chair in front of his desk.
Even then she didn’t stop. She kept coming, clear around the desk.
At the determined look in her eyes, he surged to his feet. When she leaned toward him, he leaned away. But she kept on coming, lifting onto her toes to touch her lips to his cheek. Instead of pulling away, he bent over her, breathing in the soft scent of honeysuckle.
Now why hadn’t he guessed she’d start the afternoon with a kiss?
“That’s from Claudia,” she said, now intent on avoiding his gaze as she rose on her toes again and her lips caressed his other cheek. “And that’s from me.”
Her hair brushed his cheek as she moved back. He clenched his fist to keep from pulling her closer.
“You Sullivans have been incredibly good to her. She’s over the top about the bonus money for returning to Paradise Pines.”
Ahh. Rick resisted the urge to shift restlessly as he resumed his seat. “The scholarships are my grandmother’s purview.”
“And she told me you always participate in the final decision,” she countered.
Caught, he shrugged. “Paradise Pines needs young professionals. We’re just doing what’s good for the community.”
“Claudia will be great for the community and she’d be returning to Paradise without the incentive, but thank you.” She hesitated, as if she might say something more. Or kiss him again. Instead, she nodded and turned to return to her desk.
Today she was calm, collected, with no sign of the flustered woman from yesterday.
Perfect. Cool and distant were good.
He could use a little indifference himself. Watching her long-legged retreat on red-hot heels, he fought the urge to loosen his tie, the airy room feeling suddenly overly warm.
He should be happy to be back on a
professional footing, but for some reason he wasn’t.
“Savannah.”
“Yes.” She stopped at the door to look back at him, her leaf-green gaze wary.
Right. No point in embarrassing them both. Which meant no more inappropriate thoughts of Savannah, short skirts and his desktop…
He pulled a legal pad toward himself. “I’m glad your sister is happy.”
CHAPTER THREE
“YOUR DESIGN IS LOVELY.”
The next Monday after work, Savannah stood in Rett’s pristine workshop for their regularly scheduled lesson, watching as he held her sketch, turning it this way and that to view it from all angles.
“The setting will look great in gold, intertwined but independent with the classic emerald anchoring the middle. The symmetry is aesthetically beautiful. Your sister is going to love this piece,” he told her.
“Thank you.” Satisfaction and excitement made her giddy. But anxiety kept her grounded. She intended the pendant and earrings as a gift for Claudia’s graduation, so Savannah needed it to be perfect. “You don’t think it’s too ambitious?”
He hit her with amused blue eyes. “You passed ambitious when you decided to design the pieces in the first place, so don’t get wimpy on me now.”
“I’m not.” His approval of her design only made her more determined to finish the project. “But my skills are pretty new. I played around with beading when I was younger but this is the first time I’ve worked with precious gems.”
“Relax, you’re a natural. Your designs are busy enough to have interest but simple enough to have classic appeal. Plus I’ll be doing the actual gem work.”
“I know and I really appreciate it.” She smiled sheepishly at him; it was strange relying on someone else’s opinion of her work. His praise felt good, but at the same time it was hard being judged. She focused on the positive. “Someday I want to learn to facet, too.”
“Why don’t you take it one step at a time? Here, let me show you something.” He walked across his work-room and unlocked a drawer under the counter running the length of the wall. He pulled out a small, clear box and brought it over to her.
“Open it.” He placed the box in her hands.
Through the clear container she saw a brilliant green. Curious, she flipped the lid. Inside nestled a set of emerald earrings. Round cuts in an intricate swirl of yellow gold.
“This is my design!” Her gaze flew up to meet his.
He nodded. “You left your drawing on the counter last week.”
“You made my design into real jewelry?” she demanded, both surprised and proud.
“That is what we do here at Sullivans’ Jewels,” he reminded her with a smile.
“Yeah, but I’m an amateur.”
“Yes, it is, and yes, you are,” a deep voice said from the doorway. Rick wove his way around the worktables in the middle of the workshop to reach them. “You’re working with novices now?” he asked his brother in disbelief.
“We all start somewhere. But don’t worry. She’s good. See for yourself.” Rett handed Rick the earrings. Turning back to Savannah he assured her, “This is a great design, but you may want to wait to make a decision on which design you use until after we’ve had a few more lessons.”
“Good idea.” Chewing her bottom lip, she watched Rick as he inspected her work. Talk about being judged. Rett, at least, was an artist, but Rick was all business, he’d look at her work from an entirely different perspective. She told herself she respected his knowledge and his taste.
And still she held her breath.
“These are nice, very elegant. I’m impressed,” Rick said. He pinned Savannah with a pointed stare. “So this is what you two have been up to.”
Ignoring his comment, she focused on his approval: Rick’s words of praise made her feel like a diamond, valuable and brilliant.
“Why are you down here, Rick?” Rett asked, taking the earrings back.
“I received some news. The Emerson Group is pulling out of our international deal.”
“What the heck?” Rett exclaimed, his hands going to his hips in an automatic, challenging stance.
She understood his confusion. She’d heard how long and hard they’d worked on the international anniversary event and suddenly it was null and void?
“What happened?” Rett asked. “Jack Emerson seemed excited by the alliance. I can’t believe he changed his mind.”
“Jack suffered a heart attack last week. That’s why we hadn’t received the final documents. His board of directors invoked the rescission clause,” Rick said heavily.
“Oh, my God.” Savannah had talked to Emerson a couple of times; she’d liked the older man, finding his bluntness and honesty refreshing. “Is he okay?”
“He had triple bypass surgery. He’s home and doing fine, but he has some recovery ahead of him.”
“Man, I’m sorry.” Rett shook his head, showing his support with a clap on Rick’s shoulder. “You’ve worked so hard on this deal.”
Savannah knew months had gone into Rick’s plans to lease international sites for Sullivans’ Jewels. In the last ten years, he’d taken the family-owned company national by opening stores in Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Dallas, Chicago and New York. To celebrate the company’s one-hundredth anniversary, he intended to take the company international. That plan might be in jeopardy now.
“Too hard to give up now,” Rick answered grimly. “I’ve gone through the notes on our alternative choices. I like Crosse International as a close second. Albert Crosse has agreed to meet with me next Tuesday. That gives us a week to regroup and put together a new plan. Savannah, I need you to pull the notes from our earlier negotiations. I want a list of our points of agreement and dispute.”
“Of course. Rick, you know I’ll work over the weekend if necessary to be ready for the meeting.”
“Thanks.” Even distracted he sent her a brief glance of appreciation. “But we’ll be traveling over the weekend. Our meeting with Crosse is in London. Since I had the trip planned, he’s offered us a suite at his London hotel. You’ll need to cancel the other reservations.”
“We?” she exclaimed.
“Yes, I’ll need you to go with me.”
“London.” Stunned, Savannah sank onto a nearby stool, pictures of Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey flowing through her mind.
“Savannah?” Rick brought her back to the moment.
Everything was moving so quickly she had to stop and clarify. “You want me to come with you to England?”
“I’ll need you there, yes.” He leaned back against the work counter, his gaze running over her. Not that he saw her; his mind was clearly on business strategy.
“I can handle the change in reservations, but I’m not sure I can get on the same flight as you.” The thought of traveling with him gave Savannah mixed feelings. A trip to Europe thrilled her. Being alone with him really didn’t.
“Then change my flight.” Rick glanced at his watch. “Can you stay? I want you working on the Crosse deal full-time. If we’re going to meet our deadline of opening the first international store by November next year, this deal has to close by the end of December.” Leading the way out of the workshop, he outlined their timeline. “That gives us two weeks to finalize the negotiations and site the European stores.”
“I’ll get started right away,” she said.
Savannah couldn’t believe her luck. Being involved in these new negotiations really gave her a chance to prove herself in the job. And it would look really good on her résumé. Not to mention the exciting trip to England.
Okay so she’d be sharing a suite with Rick. But with so much on the line, surely she could control her hormones for a week?
Thursday night Rick sat brooding in his office. He’d had one ambition when he took over as CEO of Sullivans’ Jewels: to make the family business so strong it would never be vulnerable again.
As it had been under his father’s control.
And when Gram announced her retirement and handed the company over to him, he’d made the hard choice to put family first. He’d sacrificed his engagement in order to stay in San Diego and take over Sullivans’ Jewels.
Maybe when they celebrated the company’s one-hundredth anniversary in their first international store, he’d feel he’d finally succeeded where good old Dad had failed.
By rescinding their offer, Emerson had cost Rick six months toward the completion of his goal. Now, in order to meet his December deadline, he needed to hit the floor running.
Savannah had really come through for him these past few days. With her help he’d restructured the package for Crosse International, including acceptable concessions for being second choice. When they touched down in England, they’d take Crosse by siege.
A knock sounded at the open door as Savannah entered the room. He watched as she strolled toward him across the office floor.
“Here are the profit and loss statements for the past two years. Accounting is still working on the amended projections for this year. I set up an appointment with the CFO for tomorrow morning.” She handed him the files then sat and crossed her legs, waiting for a response.
With determined professionalism he looked away from the tempting sight of her navy skirt inching over her knees onto her thighs.
After reviewing the documents, he tossed the file on his desk. The action startled Savannah, catching her in the middle of a yawn. Sometime during the day she’d removed her jacket, but otherwise she looked as fresh and serene as when she’d walked through the door this morning.
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