9
Tiny raindrops hit the windshield of Thomas Silversson’s car, reflecting the bright yellow street lights. Those shiny droplets reminded him of something he was not sure he liked to be reminded of. They were as lively as Enya’s freckles. He wasn’t sure why the sight of them turned him on so much.
“Perfect, now even the rain is about her,” Thomas was not sure how he liked that realization.
He liked beautiful women, in fact, too many of them. He adored edgy, smart and stubborn ones, though as sexy as such women were, Thomas valued his drama-free life too much to get involved with a complicated woman. That was not a rule or anything, he simply knew his priorities.
Enya Willams featured all of those qualities: stubborn as the wind, unpredictable as thunder, yet cute as tonight’s rain. All he could think about was seeing again her tonight. He could think of nothing but her since he woke up that morning. He had rescheduled several meetings just to give himself the time to collect his thoughts and figure out what he expected from tonight. Holding business meetings when Enya’s pretty face occupied most of his mind could not be exactly qualified as being cool-headed and he couldn’t afford being known as anything but that.
Thomas’ phone buzzed. His favorite personal assistant mobile app informed him that it was Daniel - his business associate. He had canceled this afternoon's meeting with Dan as well. Thomas considered not answering the call but knew better than that. If Daniel wanted to talk to him, he would not stop calling until he answered. He was surprised Dan had been okay when he canceled this meeting earlier today. Though apparently not as okay as he might’ve thought, being that he was calling again. Thomas answered the phone and turned on the loudspeakers.
“Daniel,” he greeted him formally as was expected from him.
“I hope I am not interrupting anything important,” Dan spoke in his flattering voice. This was going to be a long conversation; Thomas knew it from Dan's tone immediately.
“Driving. Has Meredith rescheduled our meeting to tomorrow morning? Can it wait until then?”
Thomas was trying to get rid of Dan and if he didn’t terminate the conversation quickly, that was never going happen.
“It can if you want to,” Dan did not sound very happy with that. Still, he knew disagreeing with the head of Silversson Industries was not a thing to do hot-headedly. “Let me just remind you that we are already one week behind our schedule. The deconstruction of the area for the shopping and entertainment center was to start last Monday. As of today, we still have one small shop declining every offer that we've made.”
“I’ve told you I will deal with that shop.”
“And I respect that decision, Thomas, you know that.”
“Then, I do not see the emergency of this conversation.”
Dan might’ve had a reason if the money was what mattered to Thomas. Supervising the finances was Dan's responsibility and Thomas could not be angry at him for wanting to do his job properly.
As the head of Silversson Industries, Thomas had things to consider other than just money. Sometimes, a week's loss was the least he could pay to have his future customer's loyalty and satisfaction. However, a week's worth of profit or costs was also not a joke. Luckily, Thomas L. Silversson could afford to pay that cost if that meant solid foundation for his new project. He could pay good money for not compromising his principles. That was how he had made it big before he was even thirty. That was how he kept his corporation flourishing for the next seven years. He was not changing any of it or having it any other way.
The fact that the one resisting stubborn business lady was also the woman who had stolen his breath from the very first moment he laid eyes on her was an additional challenge. He might’ve not wanted it that way but the challenge was worth the game.
He was early. Driving another circle around the neighborhood would be a good way to kill some time while enjoying the rain softly drumming against the windows of his car. A part of him, the introvert hidden deep behind the mask of the billionaire bad boy, wished he could spend this night alone. He would take a long walk wondering in the streets, laughing at those idiots who ran through the rain as if they had something more important to do. As if they could save themselves from getting wet. Not when the rain had targeted them and doomed to its wet embrace.
He could also have spent the night in his penthouse. He could have opened a bottle of fine red wine, turned off the lights and sat by the window as he watched the city be washed in thousands of shiny lights from every window around him. This was a fine night to be alone. Yet, he also couldn’t wait for the minutes pass by so that he could park in front of Enya’s shop and pick her up. This rainy night was an intimate thing to share with a woman. As powerful as Thomas was, he wouldn’t interfere with the decision the rain had made for them.
He drove past Enya’s shop for the third time. My fault for arriving so early. He could see several customers enjoying their after-work sweets. None of them hurried into the rain. Not when they could ask the cute shop assistant for a refill of their coffee or chocolate and enjoy another piece of those magnificent desserts. Enya was nowhere to be seen. He imagined she was inside, probably getting ready for him to pick her up, maybe looking at herself in the mirror and trying to choose shoes to go with her dress.
It took all the willpower Thomas had to make another circle around her building until it was the time to pick Enya up. He was glad for the rain. She would not feel his palms were slightly damp with nervousness.
“Beautiful!” Thomas greeted her; though he hated the scarf that she had wrapped around her shoulders. He knew he would have to get it off of her.
“Beautiful yourself, Mr. Silversson,” her smile gave away the confusion and unease she still felt around him. Feeling that was not there when they first met. A meeting that she did not relate to their relationship and that hurt him more than anything else.
“Thomas,” he corrected. “We are not in a business meeting. No need to address each other so formally.”
He opened the door and she rolled her eyes at him before getting into the car. If she only knew how happy that little gesture made him feel. The ride to his grandma's place was surprisingly friendly. She did not blame him for ruining her dreams, he did not try to buy her business. It was as if the conflict between the pair did not exist. She was just a woman worried about meeting a man's grandmother on their very first date.
The second, he reminded himself bitterly.
Thomas surprised himself every time realizing how that little disappointment got into him. She could not see him, did not see through the mask he was wearing. Not the one he wore that night, but the one he had right now.
“Any hints on dos and don’ts when meeting your grandma?” Enya finally asked.
“Nothing to worry, my darling,” he enjoyed her misery.
And he could always add more to that by looking at her from the corner of his eyes, knowing how she flinched under the piercing gaze of his. He enjoyed how she shifted in her seat and started playing with the hem of her dress.
Beautiful.
Thomas found himself hating the steering wheel that he held in his hands. Despite it luxurious finish, it was not the touch he wanted in his palms. He hoped his hands would be elsewhere soon.
As soon as they arrived, Thomas rushed out of the car. He was so impatient, and uncharacteristically nervous, that he didn't open the door for her as he typically did. Once he realized his error he found Enya already standing next to him on the sidewalk approaching his Grandmother’s house. Thomas chided himself for the misstep, though he was sure she'd forgive her that small misdeed.
The pair approached the modest house and Thomas leaned in, opening the door. Enya paused, her eyes wide with surprise.
“Will it not be better to ring the bell?” she whispered.
“I have the key to this house too,” he simply said.
“But you are bringing someone to your grandma’s. Someone she does not know,” Enya still insisted.
Thomas seemed to ignore Enya’s comment and entered the home. He found the switch to turn on the lights in the corridor and invited Enya in. She hesitated but took his hand as she walked into the house. Something in this moment reminded Thomas of the very first time he had walked into this place and met the unfamiliar woman who was introduced as his grandmother. For a five-year-old boy, it was such a shock to discover he had a grandmother.
Shaking his head, Thomas worked to clear his mind; childhood memories were not the part of his plans for tonight. As soon as he closed the door, he knew he was probably pushing his luck too far, but couldn't resist hugging her waist from behind. It felt too good to finally have her soft body pressed against his chest again.
“What are you doing?” Enya asked in a terrified voice. She was whispering and that made him laugh in response. “Your grandma will come to greet us any moment now. What will she think if she finds us like this?”
“Don’t worry, beautiful, Grandma does not live in this house anymore.”
Enya turned to face him. His arms were still wrapped around his waist and she did not push him away. That is a good sign, he told himself. Her eyes, though, were narrowed at him, brows furrowed and those adorable freckles on her cheeks were two shades darker.
“You,” she poked at his chest, “You - Mr. Thomas Silversson promised me a date in your grandma’s house!” Her voice was threateningly low and again, he hated himself for using his willpower to resist silencing her with a kiss.
“True. Every word in that promise is absolute truth. This house belongs to by grandmother and I have spent my childhood here with her. The only little detail that I forgot to mention was that Olivia does not live here right now.”
Enya looked so furious, Thomas was afraid she would change her mind. When she leaned closer, he feared she was going to carve his eyes out of their sockets. What he did not expect was for her mouth to crash into his in a maddeningly possessive kiss.
“Let us go to my bedroom,” he whispered into her ear when she finally released his lips.
She was breathless. So was he as his voice was low and husky, with all the need that flowed through his body. There was a slight disappointment in her eyes, anger in her voice but enough thrill in her body that he knew every touch of him set her on fire.
She nodded.
There was one more thing Thomas needed to do. He pulled her scarf off her shoulders and leaned in.
“Will you allow me to blindfold you, Enya? Will you trust me enough to do that?”
His voice was so low; she could hardly hear his request. It was not even a question but a plea. Thomas knew how much he asked of her. He also knew this was not just a wicked game for him. He was not ready to bare his soul to her like he had done on that very first night they had spent together. Now, he knew he did not want her to recognize him and he was afraid that tattoos hidden underneath his suit, which were in the same style as his street art, would give him away. Thomas expected a no from her lips. Any woman in her reasonable mind would have said no.
“Yes,” Enya submitted to his crazy request yet again.
She was allowing him to play his little game and agreed to fulfill all his wishes. Thomas suddenly found himself wondering who was playing whom? This woman had his little dark heart wrapped around her finger and that made him happier that he had ever felt before.