Chapter 6
When Claudia finished work on Wednesday, she found John waiting for her just as he had the two days before.
“You’re spoiling me.” She smiled at him. “Three days in a row?”
“Mr. Callahan is very clear with his direction.”
“Well, I appreciate it.”
“Would you mind if we made a pit stop today?” John opened the door for her.
“Of course not.” Claudia liked riding around in the car. She’d close her eyes and let the hum of the road lull her to sleep. She’d get her afternoon nap in and the time she was saving by not having to take the bus allowed her to enjoy more of the evening at home.
She had so many plans. She wanted to paint the small second bedroom in her apartment. It really wasn’t a bedroom. It was more of a walk-in closet, but it would do for now. She didn’t have many clothes anyway and the baby would need a place to sleep. She measured it out last week and discovered she could fit a crib and a changing table in there. She saw a beautiful nursery set in one of the magazines she’d bought. The wood was cherry and the dresser had a matching hutch over it. She thought she could put little trinkets and stuffed animals in it. Even if the room was big enough, she could never afford that kind of furniture. She didn’t have enough for the crib as it was, so a full nursery was definitely out of the question.
She could still make it special. Money was tight, but she hoped to save enough for a pretty bed set. Maybe she could swing a rocking chair into her budget. Images of her rocking her little one to sleep flooded her mind and helped her to forget how much trouble she was really in.
About a half an hour later, the car stopped. She opened her eyes and noticed it was dark. They must have been in an underground garage. John opened the door. “We’re at Callahan Industries. Mr. Callahan would like for you to come up.”
“Brody is back?” That little flutter invaded her belly again. It seemed she wasn’t the only one excited he was home. She’d been thinking about him for days.
“I picked him up from the airport two hours ago and then he asked if I could bring you back here.”
“Oh, well sure.” Claudia looked down at her gray t-shirt and black yoga pants. Angela didn’t require her to wear a uniform when cleaning, so Claudia went for comfort. She also didn’t like anything restricting pressing against her stomach these days. “I think I might be underdressed.”
“I’m sure Mr. Callahan will understand. You’ve just come from work.”
They took a back elevator from the garage and Claudia assumed it was a service entrance. They walked down a long hallway and to a set of double doors. As they entered the modern offices, she continued to follow John down the hall. People smiled at her as they went past them. John occasionally said hello.
“Hey, John,” a petite redhead said when they got to a large area in the back of the building.
“How are your boys, Autumn?” John asked.
“Keeping me busy.” The woman smiled at Claudia. “You must be Ms. Samson. I’m Autumn Jennings, Brody’s assistant.”
“Brody’s lifeline,” John said. “He’d be lost without you.”
A tinge of jealously came over Claudia when she thought about Brody relying on a woman for his every need. Why was she territorial over a man she had dinner with one time?
“He’s expecting you, Ms. Samson.”
“Please call me Claudia.”
She walked around her desk. “I’ll show you to Brody’s office, Claudia. He said to bring you in when you arrived. I think he missed you.”
“Oh?” Had Brody mentioned Claudia to Autumn? Why would he?
“Of course, he’d fire me if he knew I told you that, but he’s been buzzing me every five minutes to see if you were here.”
“Blame it on me,” John said. “There was traffic.”
“He’ll be glad you made it,” Autumn said.
“Okay.” She looked at John. “I guess I’ll see you later?”
“I’m sure you will. I’ll probably be driving you and Mr. Callahan home when you’re through here. I’ll be in the lobby.”
”Thank you.” She followed Autumn down a small hallway and to a set of mahogany doors. “You’ve got John at your disposal. That’s new. Brody doesn’t lend John out easily.”
“He picked me up from work while Brody was in Boston. I’m sure now that he’s back, John will have other things to do.”
“I think you should get used to John.”
She wasn’t sure why Autumn was so concerned with her transportation arrangements.
“Brody told me you’re interested in architecture. They’re working on a new resort and spa for a big developer in St. Thomas.”
“That sounds interesting.” Claudia would love to get a peek at those plans. A warm tropical island where she could escape to sounded perfect even if it was only in her dreams.
Autumn opened the door and said, “Brody, Claudia is here.”
“Perfect.” He looked up from his large, mahogany desk and smiled. “Autumn, you can leave for the night.”
“Sure.” Autumn smiled at Brody, and Claudia swore she had missed something. “Nice meeting you, Claudia.”
“You too.”
“Hey.” Brody walked toward Claudia. “How are you?”
“I’m good. How was your trip?”
“Tiring.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Come have a seat. You must be exhausted. How is the evil one treating you?”
“Same as usual.” Claudia giggled. “She’ll never change.”
“No, I’m afraid she won’t.” He shook his head and took a seat on the sleek, leather sofa. “But you handle her well.”
“She’s my boss. What choice do I have?”
“I can give you another choice.”
“Is that why you brought me here? To talk about your offer about me coming to work for you?”
“Maybe.”
“Your office is spectacular.” She glanced out the huge picture window and saw the river below. The building overlooked a marina. “How do you get any work done with that view?”
“I’m very focused.” He stretched out his legs. “That’s probably why my office is the only one that has this view. I wouldn’t trust anyone else to get any work done if they had this sight to stare at all day.”
“Especially this time of the year,” she said. “Do you eat lunch out there?”
“I suppose I could, but I haven’t.”
“I think I would every day. I love boats.”
“If you came to work for me we could have lunch together.”
Lunch with Brody sounded divine, but as tempting as his offer seemed, she didn’t see how she could take him up on it.
“Do you sail?” he asked.
“I’ve never been on a boat before but they look so peaceful. I walk along the water whenever I get a chance.”
“I own the marina and most of the boats in it are mine. I can take you sailing anytime you’d like.”
“I’d probably get sick.” Claudia was still battling morning sickness.
“If you’ve never been on a boat, how do you know?”
“I have a weak stomach.”
“I wouldn’t mind taking you,” he said. “I think you would like it.”
“Maybe someday.” She hoped she’d get the chance to sail with him. “I wanted to thank you for allowing John to take me home from work. It definitely beat riding the bus.”
“I’m glad it worked out. I’ve asked him to be available for you every afternoon.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to do it, and I’m thinking he can probably swing by and grab you in the morning, as well.”
“Really?”
“Yes, but I’m hoping he won’t be taking you to the main house.”
“Why not?”
“I want you to come intern here. Would you be willing to try it?” He was determined.
“I don’t know.” His offer was a wonderful opportunity but how could she accept an internship knowing she wasn’t going back to school anytime soon. “I haven’t made any plans for my future, yet.”
“Maybe you should start today.” He reached out and stroked her cheek. “I missed you.”
She closed her eyes and leaned into his hand. She missed him too, but she wasn’t sure she should tell him. This whole relationship was wrong.
“I like you, Claudia.” He scooted closer to her. “I can’t stop thinking about you. It’s extremely distracting.”
“Sorry.” She opened her eyes and fought the urge to run her hand along the fresh stubble of his jawline. He was always so put together. His suit was perfectly pressed and his tie was still in place. There were no signs of the long day he’d had or the fact that he’d just flown in from Boston except for his five o’clock shadow. It was sexy.
“Don’t apologize. I like having you on my mind.” He moved an inch and his lips were touching hers. “Can I kiss you?”
She stared into his ice blue eyes, too mesmerized to speak, so she nodded.
He placed one hand behind her head and drew her to him, closing any space between them. She could feel the buttons of his dress shirt pressing against her thin t-shirt. As he deepened the kiss, she reached up and placed her palm on his face, rubbing it against his stubble. She couldn’t resist.
The kiss was slow, but sensual. Every nerve ending in Claudia’s body was on edge. A tingle coursed through her and landed between her thighs. He slipped the rubber band out of her hair and ran his fingers through her locks.
“When I found you sleeping, your hair was spread out behind you.” He kissed her again. “You looked like a princess. I had never seen anyone so beautiful.”
She ran her fingers through his hair. “How long were you watching me?”
“A few minutes.” He nipped at her bottom lip. “I wanted to wake you with my lips, but I didn’t think that would be very appropriate.”
Her arousal spiked when she thought about him wanting her. In her groggy state she thought he was there to rescue her from the castle that afternoon. There was something about him that set him apart from the other men she’d encountered. He was different.
They kissed for a few minutes, but once he moved his hands down her neck and to her breasts, s she had to stop him. It was too much, too fast.
“Brody.” She wiggled out of his hold. “We shouldn’t.”
“I’m sorry.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’ve thought about you for days. I thought I could stop at one kiss, but apparently I was wrong.”
“It’s okay.” She ran her thumb along his lips, wiping her lip gloss from them. “I liked it, but I need to go slower. I’ve made some mistakes in the past.”
“I understand.”
“No, you don’t.” She glanced down at her lap. He had no idea.
“Hey.” He tilted her chin, so she had to meet his intense stare. “Your past is yours. If you want to share it, I’ll listen. If you can’t, that’s okay too. Nothing you could tell me would make me stop what I’m feeling for you right now.”
“I don’t think…” She wanted to tell him. But how?
“I want to see where this goes.” He smiled at her. “Can you do that?”
I know how it ends.
“No pressure.”
“You’re not pressuring me.”
“You might think otherwise when it comes to business.” He stood and extended his hand for her. “I want to give you a tour and show you the development area. I think you’ll like it and agree to work here.”
“You’re persistent, aren’t you?” She took his hand and let him pull her up from the couch.
“I usually get what I want. I’m a great negotiator.”
“What is it you want with me?” This was a dangerous road to travel down.
“Everything.”
“Oh.”
“In moderation, sweetheart. I won’t scare you away.”
“It might be me who scares you away.”
“I seriously doubt that.” He ran his lips along hers. “I plan to have you running toward me, never away.”
She indulged in his kiss. It wasn’t as intense as the one of a few minutes ago, but it was no less passionate. He made her knees buckle. She flattened her palms against his chest and gently pushed away.
“You were going to give me a tour.”
“Indeed I was, Ms. Samson. So, if you’ll follow me, we can get to the task at hand.”
I think I’d follow you anywhere.