Twenty minutes later, she arrived at the Paxton Building. She stopped in the ground floor café for a steaming cup of green tea and made her way to her office, hoping that Felicia wasn’t an early bird like her.
Autumn hung up her coat, replaced the files in the box and chose a new stack. She piled them on her desk and powered up her computer, with the plan to review some now so she wouldn’t have such a big stack to take home later. It was just after seven so it should be quiet for a while, as the official work day didn’t begin until eight o’clock.
She swiveled her chair toward the window to enjoy the view and sip her tea until her computer finished whirring.
The next thing she knew, there was a knock at the door and she woke with a start, realizing that she’d dozed off for a few minutes. Her face reddened with embarrassment and she quickly turned around just before Isaac cracked open the door.
“Good morning.” He popped his head into the room. “Mind if I come in?”
At the sound of his voice, her heart beat rapidly, quickly chasing away any lingering drowsiness.
Without waiting for her answer, he left the door open and straddled one of the chairs in front of her desk.
Isaac glanced at her desk. “Looks like you’re already pretty busy,” he commented. “What time did you get in today?” Autumn’s throat went dry. Had the doorman told him about their little deal?
“Just after seven, why?” she answered, pressing a button to wake up the computer. It had gone to sleep, just like her.
He whistled low. “You keep doing that and you’re going to make me look bad.”
He gave her a wide smile, his teeth as white as the snow that fell outside her office window, and she knew he was joking.
“I’d have to get here at midnight to make you look bad,” she teased back.
His languorous smile was an acknowledgment that he knew he looked good, and he was glad that she noticed.
And, my oh my, did she ever.
He wore no suit jacket, so she had a better view of the way his crisp white shirt stretched over his expansive chest. Although he wore an undershirt, she thought she could still see the barest hint of his nipples through the fabric. And his gray tie? Well, that was like a one-way road to pleasure that ended at his belt buckle.
Isaac Mason was looking fine enough that morning to make her want to shut the office door and slam down his trousers.
There were a lot more interesting ways to conduct an investigation than reading a bunch of files.
The picture in her mind was so vivid her loins trembled and she crossed her legs. The friction it caused between her thighs made her stifle a low moan, which she covered up with a series of coughs.
Isaac tipped his chair against the desk. “Are you okay?” He grabbed the cup of tea from her desk and shoved it at her. “Here, drink this.”
She nodded, took a sip and almost gagged. “Ugh. Cold!”
The temperature of the liquid doused the flame of desire in her body like a cold shower.
He took it from her hand. “Do you want me to get you another one?”
She stared at him with surprise. “Sure, that would be great. Green tea, no sugar.”
“Be right back,” Isaac said, before leaping off the chair and heading out of the office.
Autumn shoved the files into a drawer and took out a mirror, praying she didn’t have a line of dried drool on her face. Everything was clear, thank goodness, and she carefully reapplied a light coat of lipstick to freshen up. Due to allergies, she never wore much makeup, so her morning routine was easy, especially since there wasn’t a man around to hog the bathroom.
She opened up her email and saw that she had a request from Isaac for an eight-o’clock meeting this morning. It had been sent late last night and marked urgent. She had accepted it to clear the message from her in-box when Isaac stepped back into the room.
“Thanks,” she said, taking the cup from Isaac. “I just accepted the meeting request you sent and, like magic, you’re here!”
She smiled brightly, but Isaac did not return her smile. Instead, he stood in front of her desk, looking uncomfortable. “Listen, the reason I wanted to meet with you this morning is because I’m going to request that Sterling assign someone else to work with you on the Witterman pitch.”
Her heart sank. What had gone wrong? Had Sterling decided to pull the investigation for some reason?
Wait a second, she quickly told herself. Isaac just said that he was going to request to be taken off the project. Nothing had been done yet. She still had time to not only find out why Isaac was so skittish but change his mind, as well.
She walked over to the door and leaned against it to shut it. The desire that had ebbed flamed once again as his eyes roamed up her legs all the way to her face like a white-hot spotlight. She curled her toes in her shoes, basking in his admiration, not willing to ignore it, if only for a moment.
Walking toward him, she decided to sit across from him in the other chair, instead of at her desk. She wanted nothing between them that could impede communication. Hopefully, their discussion would lead to information that would help her understand him better. Deep down, she knew that her need to know everything about Isaac Mason had nothing to do with the case and everything to do with her heart.
Crossing her legs, she gestured to the chair.
“Why don’t you sit down and relax.”
Isaac hesitated for a second, then straddled the chair as he’d done before.
“Tell me what’s going on, Isaac. Is it my background that bothers you? I know I’ve job-hopped a lot, but I promise I’m not going to jump ship on you. I really think Paxton is good fit for me career-wise.”
He regarded her for a minute, then shook his head.
“It’s not you, it’s me.”
She wanted to laugh out loud. How many times had she heard that line before, but hearing it on the job was a first.
“What do you mean?” she asked. “Has something happened?”
“Yeah,” he replied. His eyes caught hers, dropped down to her lips, and suddenly she knew.
She put her fingers to her mouth in shock.
“Don’t do that,” he commanded. “It only makes me want to kiss you more.”
He reached for her fingers and clasped them in his hand, and it was warm and strong and rough all at the same time. And if their chairs had wheels, she was sure he’d roll her to him, bringing her close enough to feel the heat from his skin.
But both old-fashioned chairs stayed stolidly on the ground, while her heart pumped so hard that she was sure he could see it right through her sweater.
“I’m more attracted to you than I have a right to be,” Isaac admitted, grasping her hand even tighter. “In fact, you’re all I’ve thought about for the last twenty-four hours.”
Autumn hitched in a breath at the combination of desire and worry in his voice. She opened her mouth to speak, to tell him that she’d thought of him, too, but she could only tremble.
“That’s why I have to ask Sterling to reassign someone else for this pitch.”
Isaac leaned in close and ever so slowly brushed his lips along the ridge of her knuckles, daring her with his eyes not to react, not to feel the complexity within that simple caress.
She closed her eyes and tried not to succumb to the river of tingles he was invoking along her skin. But Isaac’s lips were so firm, yet gentle and insistent, as they dwelled in those moments upon a part of her hand that she rarely noticed but would never dismiss again.
Autumn heard herself moan softly and it was like a wake-up call she wished she never had. What was wrong with her? She was supposed to be investigating this man, not wanting him to make love to her. She sat back suddenly and Isaac dropped her hand.
“I’m sorry, I—” she sputtered, her
head felt as if it was on planet WTF Just Happened.
“Did you enjoy that?” he asked, his tone hopeful, without a touch of ego. “I just had to touch you, and I wanted you to like it. Did you?”
She felt herself nodding. Oh yes, very much, she wanted to say, but the knuckles on my other hand are jealous, can you take care of them, too?
But instead, she grabbed her tea and shut up. She didn’t want to give him any ideas that she hoped he’d take her up on.
“Good.”
His smile was kind and it made her insides swoon even more. Then his voice dropped to nearly a whisper.
“Because it can never happen again.”
Autumn stood up without looking at him and walked around the desk to the window. She knew what he said was true, but she didn’t want to hear him say the words, didn’t want to see the need disappear from his eyes.
There was something about a man wanting a woman, a man wanting her, that made a normal, dreary January day seem like summer was right around the corner. And maybe, just maybe, love was there, too.
She could feel his eyes on her back as she pressed her hands against the cold glass. The snow had ceased, leaving only droplets of water that showed a world upside-down.
How could she have lost control so easily?
She’d never given up on an investigation and she wasn’t going to start now, no matter the outcome.
Autumn swiveled on her heel and faced him. “You’re absolutely right, Isaac, and I agree with your recommendation. I think it will be better for both of us. When are you going to talk with Sterling?”
Isaac stared at her as if he was shocked by her sudden turnaround. He dug his phone out of his pocket and stood.
“In about fifteen minutes.”
“Okay. Let me know what happens,” she replied, indicating the door with her chin.
He took the hint a few seconds later.
“Guess I’ll be having dinner with someone else tonight,” she added with a wry smile, and from the look on his face before he shut the door, he didn’t like the thought of that at all.
Autumn sank into her office chair and covered her face with her hands. She picked up the phone, with the intent of calling Sterling to warn and advise him how to handle the conversation with Isaac so he wouldn’t accidentally blow her cover. The man seemed a bit overwrought, but she decided against it.
Although she didn’t want Isaac to leave, the more normal things appeared to him, the better. Otherwise, if she pushed to remain on the Witterman project with him, she feared he might become suspicious. Or worse, he might figure out that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
* * *
Thirty minutes later, she was logged in to the Paxton network, reviewing some of Isaac’s most recent deals, when she saw an email notification pop up.
Guess what? You ARE having dinner with me tonight. Meet me at La Vie at 5:30.
—Isaac
She closed the email and smiled. The plan was still intact.
Attaboy, Sterling.
* * *
Isaac drummed his fingers on the table. Autumn was fifteen minutes late, and he was getting antsy. Not only did he want to see her, but he didn’t have much time. Luckily, Devon and Deshauna were both at a friend’s house for dinner, but they would be home soon and he wanted to be there before they arrived.
He sat back and toyed with his drink, a club soda for now, wondering if Autumn had received his email. She hadn’t replied; nor had she spoken to him again all day, even though he was in his office, with the door open for most of it. Her door had remained closed, making him wish he had X-ray vision so he could see what she was doing.
He picked up his phone and shook his head at the irony.
Autumn was the first woman in a long time that he was interested in calling, yet he’d forgotten to get her personal cell number. That was a sure sign he’d lost his touch since becoming a father. But he had no regrets about adopting his children. He wanted to give them the life he never had growing up. He just hoped Devon and Deshauna would grow to love him as much as he loved them.
Isaac scrolled through photos of his kids and was so engrossed that he didn’t see that Autumn had approached the table.
She cleared her throat and he quickly slid his phone back into his pocket. Perhaps one day he could tell her about his children, but not now.
He stood up, his fingers grazing her soft red sweater as he helped her out of her coat. She shivered, but he wasn’t sure if it was from his touch or from the wintery bluster from which she’d just escaped.
A waiter approached to take their drink order.
“Is a bottle of red okay with you? It’ll go great with that sweater.”
Autumn’s smile alone made her worth the wait.
She nodded and settled back in her chair. “So, I take it that the reason I’m here is because the meeting with Sterling did not go well.”
Isaac blew out a breath. “No, it didn’t. I think he would have thrown me out of his office if he could.”
“Wow,” Autumn said, shaking her head. “Has he always been uptight?”
“Yes, but it’s never been this bad,” he admitted. “But I bet having Felicia for a daughter doesn’t help.”
Autumn tried to stifle a giggle and failed. “That’s mean. And I guess since it’s only my second day at Paxton I shouldn’t agree with you, but I think you might be right.
“I probably have no right to ask you this,” Autumn said, tilting her head. “But is there anything going on with you and Felicia?”
Isaac almost choked on his wine. “No, nothing,” he lied, now sorry he’d brought up her name in the conversation. Lately, he’d started to believe that Felicia was the one turning everyone against him at Paxton, including Sterling. He just didn’t have any proof.
Autumn’s eyes seemed to twinkle with some secret knowledge, and it made him nervous.
“Why, did she say something to you?”
She took a sip and shrugged. “Not particularly.”
He set his wineglass on the table and decided that Autumn was just being coy.
Perhaps, instead of having information, she was digging for some. Maybe because she was interested in whether he was available or not. If she was, then it would be more difficult than ever to work with her. Feelings would start to develop on his part, and then what would he do? What could he do but break her heart?
There was only one way to find out. Maybe it was time to take a risk on more than the stock market. Maybe now was the time to take a risk on Autumn.
“You look beautiful tonight,” he ventured.
One look at her face told Isaac she was not fooled. “Thank you, but you’re changing the subject,” she said drily. “Besides, I’m wearing the same thing I wore today.”
“I know and I wanted to tell you earlier, but you had your door closed all day, for one.”
“And the other?”
“The office wasn’t the appropriate time or place.”
She smiled and glanced around. “And this is?”
“Maybe,” he replied nonchalantly. “It depends on how you feel about me.”
She didn’t speak for a while, only sipped her wine, and he began to feel like a fool for putting himself out there.
She set her wineglass down. “Listen, we should probably talk about the pitch, before we say or do things we really don’t mean.”
Now he really felt like a fool. He was thankful that she was acting as if she hadn’t just dealt his ego a huge blow. It made it easier to shrug off her reaction as if he didn’t care.
“Sure, but let’s order some food first. I’m starved.”
Autumn perused the menu. “I’m not really hungry, but I could go for some appetizers.”
They ordered Thai sca
llops on a bed of mixed greens and fried tofu with homemade peach chutney.
Autumn opened up her bag and pulled out her tablet. “Let me share what I’ve learned so far. I’ve actually started a rough draft of the presentation.”
He nodded his approval. “You’re very proactive. That’s one of the many things I like about you.”
“Isaac. We’re supposed to be talking about the pitch,” she replied with the barest of smiles, and he could tell she was trying not to look pleased.
He grinned. “What? There’s nothing in the Paxton handbook that says I can’t compliment a coworker.”
“I haven’t read it so I’ll have to trust you on that one.” Autumn laughed. “Anyway, I took a look at the diamond market and I think it may be a good opportunity for Eleanor.”
Isaac rubbed at his jaw. “Hmm. That’s great, because when I suggested it, I was only kidding.”
She put one hand on her hip. “Now you tell me?” she said, putting her hand on her hip. “I’ve spent hours researching.”
He held up his hands. “Sorry, okay? Just let me know what you’ve found out.”
Autumn docked the tablet and pulled up the presentation.
“Diamonds really have been the investor’s best friend.” She pointed to a graph. “They’ve outperformed equities since 2000. Plus, there are some new funds cropping up that could provide a way to invest without going direct to the wholesaler.”
Isaac folded his arms across his chest and leaned forward. “Interesting. What else do you have?”
Autumn swiped her finger across the screen to advance to another slide. “Despite Eleanor’s aversion to technology, I think investment in that sector is still a smart move. Plus, anything that involves green technology, such as hydroelectric engineering, is really hot right now.”
The only hot thing he cared about was Autumn. But she made it clear for a second time that she wasn’t interested.
When Morning Comes Page 6