Gifts of Love

by Natalie Ann

  He threw his head back and laughed. “I won’t tell you the number of takeout places I’ve got on speed dial. I’m not sure why you would make that comment.”

  She felt the heat fill her face, knowing she put her foot in her mouth. “Guess I’m just not used to this. It seems you are pretty popular in the area.” Though she wouldn’t admit she didn’t know who he was until Ryan told her.

  “Not much to get used to.”

  “If you say so.”

  He walked over to a drawer and pulled out a menu. “Figure out what you want. As for my house, that is all it is, just a house. Yes, it’s grander than what I grew up in, but not as grand as others I’ve been in.”

  She wanted to argue, but the truth was she had no clue and it wasn’t like he was the only millionaire in the area. Just because it was a first for her to be in something like this didn’t mean he didn’t rub elbows with the rich all the time.

  Though looking at him you’d never know and it was so hard to wrap her head around that.

  She picked up the menu and looked it over for something to think about for the moment, then placed it back down. “I’m not fussy. What are you in the mood for?”

  “Sausage pizza and wings sound good?” he asked.

  “Works for me.”

  He pulled his phone out and placed the order. “What can I get you to drink? I’ve got just about everything.”

  Not surprising. “Any diet soda works.”

  He opened a large double door stainless steel fridge and she saw he wasn’t kidding, then pulled out a can of diet soda and placed it in front of her with a glass.

  “What if I asked for wine or beer?” she said once she opened the top and poured it from the can.

  “Then I would have opened the beer fridge and told you what I had. The same with the wine.”

  She got up and walked to the other side of the island where he’d been and saw the wine fridge and the beer one next to it under the island. There she was feeling silly again, more so when she saw the twinkle in his eyes.

  Taking a sip of her soda, she watched as he grabbed himself a beer and poured it into a glass. “Are they okay over there?” she asked as the two dogs were chasing each other and balls on the floor.

  “Are you always so nervous of a person?” he asked.

  “I just don’t want my dog to damage something in the house.”

  He moved over and sat next to her at the island, his hand going on top of hers. “Relax. They are dogs and they may knock something over or break it. We’ll clean it up if that happens.”

  “Do you clean anything up yourself?”

  He laughed. “You think I’m some spoiled rich guy that probably doesn’t even do my own grocery shopping.”

  She grinned. “Do you?”

  “Not usually. I’ve got a house cleaner and she does that for me too. Sometimes she cooks and leaves me meals, but for the most part I do the rest.”

  “Your own laundry?”

  “That’s kind of personal.”

  “It was. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be, I’m kidding. I’ve been known to throw a load of towels in. I wasn’t always wealthy. Just the opposite. Like you, I was middle class and worked to get where I am.”

  And she knew that, which didn’t explain why she was being so defensive over everything. She’d looked into his background this week.

  “Sorry. Again, I seem to put my foot in my mouth a lot.”

  “Why is that?” he asked.

  She wasn’t sure she wanted to tell him but had to give some explanation. “I’m just not a very trusting person when I’m out of my element.”

  8

  Temporary Working Relationship

  Brendan didn’t need Holly to tell him she was out of her element. Or that she wasn’t very trusting. Wasn’t that why he wanted her here, so that she could ask him questions? So that he could get her to trust him?

  He was thinking that might not happen though. At least not tonight.

  “So ask me anything you want. How can I get you to trust me?”

  “Why do you want me to? It’s just a temporary working relationship.”

  “Maybe I’m wondering if it could be more.” Which surprised him to hear those words out of his mouth since he’d given up on relationships or finding that one person he felt he could trust fully that was only with him for him and not his money.

  She snorted. “I find that hard to believe.”

  He picked up his beer. “Why is that?”

  “I just said I was out of my element. We have nothing in common.”

  He looked at her in jeans and a sweater, ankle boots he was willing to bet she put on to come here. They were dressed equally in his eyes.

  “I think we have more in common than you want to admit. Take my wealth out of it. Do I look like I’m flashing it?”

  “Not the way you’re dressed, you aren’t. Your house and car speak for themselves.”

  “Well, I do want to enjoy some of the fruits of my hard work. Nothing wrong with that.”

  “No,” she agreed. “But I’m sure you’ve got flashy classy women throwing themselves at you all the time. I just find it hard to believe you want to get to know me better.”

  “Maybe that is why I want to. Because I’ve got women throwing themselves at me and you didn’t. You aren’t. You don’t trust me. You don’t want much to do with me.”

  “So this is to see if you can win me over?” she asked. “Like a conquest?”

  He was making a mess out of this. “No. It’s that I’m not interested in what is thrown at me but would rather go after what I want.”

  “And you want me?” she asked.

  There was a fire in her eyes making his own blood burn in his body. He hadn’t felt this kind of attraction for someone in a long time.

  “I’m attracted to you. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t feel some of the same.” Why not throw down a challenge and see if she accepted it or not.

  “Maybe I don’t want to tick you off and have my family mad at me if I ruined this opportunity for us.”

  “I believe that is part of it too,” he said. “And that you are honest enough to bring it up.” He liked her straightforwardness.

  She took another sip of her drink, gathering her thoughts, he could see. He put her on the spot. “I’m not convinced completely that we could have anything in common after the toy drive. I just want to make sure that you know upfront that I’m not going to be used for the short term for you to entertain yourself.”

  “So noted,” he said. “I’d like to say the same thing. That I don’t want you to use me either.” She laughed like she didn’t think that was a possibility. “You think I’m joking?”

  “I thought you were, but I guess if I think about it, you probably have to worry about it a lot. I’m more concerned about...never mind.”

  “Sex?” he asked. She was being blunt; he was going to be.

  She lifted her chin. “Yes. No one is using me for sex.”

  “I’m not the type of guy to use anyone for anything. It’s not who I am and I sure the heck don’t need to use it for sex. Or do I buy sex.”

  “I’m not trying to insult you.”

  “I don’t think you are. I think you are just vulnerable and don’t want anyone to know. Least of all me.”

  She lifted her chin, trying to prove him wrong. “You said I could ask you questions. So, tell me, why do you give back so much?”

  He sighed, knowing he pushed as much as he could and knew enough when to back off. “I have a lot to be thankful for in life. I said I came from middle class and I did. But we weren’t poor even though there were times money was tight because of medical expenses.”

  “Medical expenses?” she asked.

  He wasn’t sure he wanted to say much, but it wasn’t really a secret if she wanted to gather information on him.

  “When I was a teen we found out I had a heart condition. There were a lot of things done and nothing worked until I
had to have surgery. I was the recipient of Make A Wish Foundation and it just touched me. I’ve wanted to give back ever since then.”

  “I had no idea,” she said.

  “I don’t broadcast it.”

  “I feel bad questioning your motive.”

  “You thought I was doing it so that I could give myself a good name for my business?” he asked, grinning at the flush on her face. She looked absolutely adorable with the pink tint on her cheeks, making him want to yank her in and kiss her. Her light eyes were downcast, the remorse over her words evident.

  “I wouldn’t say that,” she said.

  He laughed at her. “I think there is a part of you that did think that, but you don’t have to admit it if you don’t want to.”

  “A tiny part of me wondered if it was a promotional thing. Something to get people to buy your games.”

  “The kids asking their parents to buy my games don’t care that I donate to charities or have a toy drive,” he admitted.

  “Valid point.”

  “So what other questions do you have for me?” he asked, wanting to clear the air as much as he could. He wanted her to relax and wasn’t sure if he was accomplishing much of it.

  “I don’t know. I didn’t come with a list.”

  She was smiling and it was transforming her face. He was glad her brown hair was tucked behind her ears giving him a good view of the emotions she so easily expressed. “Good thing. I’m not good with lists. I’ve got a question for you.”

  “Go ahead,” she said.

  “Would you be put off if I put my lips to yours? If I lowered my head and tasted you the way I wanted to? If I held you in my arms and held you tight?”

  There was no missing the shiver that came over her body. The way her brown eyes darkened and grew wide, or when her lips parted, waiting.

  He wasn’t going to let either of them wait any longer.

  He dipped his head down, put his lips to hers, pulle her in like he said he was going to.

  She was soft.

  She was warm.

  She was clinging to him, her hands on his shoulders.

  She was spinning him up and ready to toss him out.

  Her mouth opened under his and his tongue slipped in tasting her. Feeding off of her.

  Feeding off of each other.

  There were noises around them, tapping and barking. The dogs either approved...or didn’t. He didn’t care. He wasn’t stopping until he was damn good and ready and it didn’t seem like Holly wanted him to either.

  A few minutes had gone by, and Holly lifted her head, her eyes a bit glossy, a stunned looked on her face. “Any more questions for me?” he asked.

  “Can you do that again?”

  9

  Analyze Things

  Holly had no idea what came over her.

  She arrived here today firm on what she wanted to say and what she planned on doing.

  Kissing Brendan had not been on that list.

  Now the dogs were making all sorts of racket around them.

  She pushed out of his arms. She wanted to apologize and then realized she had nothing to be sorry for.

  He kissed her. She kissed him back.

  It was mutual and it was fabulous.

  But it was short lived when the doorbell rang and dinner had arrived. It was probably better that way, as this would give her a chance to cool her overheated body down.

  When was the last time a kiss had warmed her up like she was standing in front of a roaring fire in four layers of clothing with a cup of hot chocolate in her hands?

  Never, that’s when!

  She waited at the island while Brendan went to get their food. The dogs had left to follow along, barking the entire way.

  To make herself useful, she stood up and started to open some cabinets and drawers, hunting down plates and silverware.

  “Ready to eat,” he said when he noticed the two place settings.

  “Sorry. I should have asked first, but figured I’d get it ready.”

  “Not a problem. I’ve got people in the house all the time going through my things.”

  “Doesn’t that bother you?” She couldn’t imagine that.

  “Not really. It’s normally employees and I like them to feel comfortable. They help themselves. It’s best to keep them fed and full of drink when we get on our marathon coding sessions.”

  “So only a few people do the work?”

  He burst out laughing. “No. It’s not like that. I get a vision; I share it with my lead programmers, but there are hundreds of people that do the coding for just one game.”

  She couldn’t wrap her head around something like that. “I’m sure it’s interesting.”

  “Or boring for most. I’m positive it would be for you too.” He opened up the box of pizza and pushed it toward her, then grabbed a slice for himself once she had one. “I’ve been called a nerd for years.”

  He sure the hell didn’t look like one to her. “I’m not sure if that is any better or worse than being called a bean counter.”

  He’d taken a bite of his pizza and then grinned at her. “So you went to college for accounting? Or just started working there and found your place in the office?”

  “College,” she said. “I’ve always liked numbers and business. I like to analyze things and see how the numbers fall. Too bad they don’t always fall the way I want them to.”

  “A successful business takes time and dedication.”

  “Oh, I know,” she said. There was no need to bore him with the amount of time and effort her family had put into Lane’s. That they were still putting into it.

  “So did you always figure you’d end up working for the family business?” he asked.

  “I did. I mean I could go anywhere and almost did. But the person that was in the office before me was old school. Someone who just worked there for years and what he did was so antiquated. It’s not like the family was going to replace him, but he ended up leaving and it seemed like a no-brainer for me to step in.”

  “Are you the bad guy?”

  She laughed. “Always. My family wasn’t used to being handed budgets and spreadsheets. They got their paychecks and when money was tight and someone couldn’t get a check they made do so the other staff could. Or supplies had to be cut back, more hours worked. You name it, they sacrificed. Then I come along and say ‘this is how you should do things’. It was a lot of changes at once.”

  “From what, the youngest member of the family?”

  Boy, he was good. “Yep. Sometimes they listened. Other times they humored me. But the longer I worked at it and the more the numbers went from red to black, they started to believe in me.”

  Too bad those black numbers didn’t last very long. At least not long enough, but family took care of each other when they needed to and Granny got sick and there were bills to pay.

  “I’m sure you could be pretty convincing.”

  She wrinkled her lip. “Not always convincing enough.”

  “Like the pricing.”

  She sighed this time. “Yeah. I can’t get anyone to increase the pricing. Not even a small amount. Some of our products haven’t changed in price in five or ten years. That’s crazy when our costs are going up.”

  “They are hoping to keep the loyal customers?” he asked.

  “Yes, but I’ve tried to explain that you don’t find as much loyalty as you used to. Not only that, we aren’t a supercenter or a grocery store. People don’t come to us weekly; they come seasonally, if that. Most of our big business is landscaping or work people do every few years. And they can get a lot of that from chain places too.”

  “You’ll just have to keep working on them.”

  “Yeah. I’m not someone who gives up easily,” she said. She’d finished her slice of pizza and went to get a few wings. Her soda was empty so he grabbed another can and put it next to her without her asking.

  “I heard about your grandmother.”

  She stilled. She didn�
�t think anyone knew about something as personal as her grandmother having her life savings swindled out of her. “What did you hear?”

  “That she was sick a few years ago.”

  “Oh. Yeah.”

  “She’s better now?”

  “She is. She was diagnosed with cancer. She had a lot of medical bills and the business absorbed a chunk of it. How did you hear that?”

  “I make it my business to look into those I’m going to partner with. I’m glad she is doing well.”

  “Partner with,” she asked. “Is that what we are doing?”

  He reached his hand over and laid it on hers. “We could do a lot of things. I guess it depends on what you are going to allow me to do.”

  “Not much more than kissing tonight,” she said.

  “I figured as much.”

  She looked down at the dogs who were both sitting there staring at her and Brendan, hoping for some food. She wasn’t handing over any table food and hoped Brendan didn’t either. “Do you feed Rosie from the table?”

  “No,” he said. “The only thing she gets is some meat or eggs in her food bowl. Never anything from my hand while I’m eating. That is a firm rule I have when the guys are here too. Even at the office they know not to feed her from their hands. I don’t want her begging.”

  “Same here. Mae was very firm on that.”

  “Mae?” he asked. “Reese’s breeder?”

  “Yeah,” she said. “How would you know that?”

  “When is Reese’s birthday?”

  “March 5th,” she said.

  “No way,” Brendan said, laughing. “I think we’ve got siblings here.”

  “Not possible.” She’d gotten Reese from a breeder two hours from here. Not only that, someone like Brendan would probably want a top of the line breeder. Not that Reese’s breeder wasn’t great, but there weren’t any champion bloodlines there either.

  Brendan stood up and walked out of the room, leaving her to wonder what he was doing. He returned two minutes later with AKC papers for her to look over.