Читать книгу The Boss's Surprise Son / Doctoring the Single Dad: The Boss's Surprise Son / Doctoring the Single Dad - Marie Ferrarella, Marie Ferrarella - Страница 10

“I’M THINKING OF GOING BACK to school for a teacher’s degree,” Savannah announced to her sister the next afternoon. When Claudia had learned Savannah was traveling to London, she’d insisted on a shopping trip to update Savannah’s wardrobe.

Claudia rounded the rack of dresses in a stylish boutique at the mall and gave Savannah a once-over and then, totally serious, nodded her head and said, “I think you’d make a really good teacher.”

“Really?” Savannah couldn’t hide her wistfulness. “You’re not just saying that because you know it’s what I want to hear?”

“Dude, you know that’s not me. I don’t do pretty little lies. And in this case I don’t have to. You’re smart, patient and creative, all great traits for a teacher. I think you should go for it.”

“You don’t feel I’m too old to bother now?” Savannah asked.

“Phff. There are people of all ages at State, but if it bothers you, try online classes. These days you can practically get your degree without ever going to the classroom.” Claudia absently pushed a few hangers along the rack. “But isn’t this kind of sudden? What brought this idea on?”

“I’ve always wanted to go to college, but I didn’t really know what I wanted to study. Something Rick said last night really started me thinking. Teaching feels right. But it’s been so long since I was in school.”

“What did he say?” Of course, Claudia snagged on the Rick element.

“I was telling him about some of the seminars I’ve attended at dinner last night, and he said I made something ridiculous sound interesting.”

“At dinner you say?” Claudia wiggled her dark brows.

“Oh, stop. It was a reward for putting in a long day.”

“It sounds like you had a good time.”

“Yes. I mean, no. It wasn’t like that. And believe me, I put my foot in my mouth before I was through.” She went on to tell her sister how she’d tried to change the subject when it got too uncomfortable.

“You asked him about his dating rules?” Claudia smirked at Savannah over a rack of cocktail dresses. “How brave of you.”

“The conversation was getting heavy.” Savannah shook her head at the red mini dress Claudia held up. The color would clash with the red in her hair. “I was trying to lighten things up.”

“Right.” Claudia eyed the red dress, shrugged and draped it over her arm. The color would be stunning with her own coffee-brown hair, green eyes and pale skin.

“Ohh, look at this.” Claudia held up a black dress and the breath caught in the back of Savannah’s throat. It was fitted from the hips up, with wide bands of material that wrapped the dress, crisscrossing each other over the breasts and then flaring out to create short, off-the-shoulder sleeves. A full, flirty skirt would swirl several inches above the knee.

“It’s beautiful, but I can’t. This is a business trip. I’ll have no occasion to wear a cocktail dress.”

“You never know. It’s always good to have a little black dress along on a trip just in case. And this material will travel really well. Come on, at least try it on.”

Giving in to temptation, Savannah disappeared into the fitting room. Of course, she loved the dress. It fitted like a dream, making her feel pretty and special.

She stepped out to show Claudia.

“Oh my.” Her sister circled Savannah, practically purring. “You have to buy it. If you don’t, I’ll buy it for you, and I can’t afford it.”

Savannah did want it. “It has no sleeves. It’ll be too cold to wear in England.”

“My roommate is from New York. She has a beautiful black wool overcoat you can borrow.”

“I can’t borrow your roommate’s coat.”

“Sure you can. She never wears it unless she’s going home. Come on, Savannah, you know you want it.”

Savannah grinned. “Yeah, I do. But probably not for England.”

“Please. Wear this to dinner and Rick will forget all about his rules.”

“Oh, no. No.” She shook her finger at her sister. “He can keep his rules. I just didn’t want him thinking I was looking to get married and leave Sullivans', or that I was desperate for a man.”

Claudia laughed as she went back to shopping. “Instead he probably thinks you were hitting on him.”

“Oh, my God.” Appalled, Savannah rounded the rack and caught Claudia’s arm. “Is that what it sounded like to you?”

“Calm down.” Claudia pried Savannah’s fingers loose. “I was just kidding.”

“No, you’re right.” Weak as the events of last night replayed through her head, Savannah sank into a chair outside the fitting room. “I was trying for light and sophisticated, but it sounded like a proposition.” She mimicked a stab to the heart. “Just kill me now.”

“Such drama. That’s more me than you.” Claudia squeezed Savannah’s shoulder. “Sister mine, I love you, but we both know the flirting gene skipped you.”

Tragic, but true. Still Savannah shook her head. “He doesn’t know that.”

“Okay, so what did he say? What are these famous rules?”

“He didn’t answer. The waiter came with the check and the moment was lost. And that was the end of dinner.”

“He just left?” The notion clearly outraged her younger sister, who’d been wrapping men around her little finger since infancy. Even their father responded to Claudia. Of course she was the shining image of their mother, which helped.

“No. Rick is too much of a gentleman to do that. He walked me to my car. Oh, gosh, and then told me I could have today off and he’d see me at the airport. Oh, this is bad. First the kiss and now I’ve propositioned him. I’ll probably get home and find a message telling me I’ve been traded with Tammy from accounting.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Stop right there.” Claudia dropped to the floor to sit cross-legged in front of Savannah. “You never mentioned a kiss. Spill! I want all the details.”

Heat rose in a tide from Savannah’s chest to her hairline. “It’s your fault. You told me to thank him for the extra money from the scholarship.”

“You actually kissed him?” Claudia demanded. “On the mouth?“

Savannah blinked at her. “Of course not, on the cheek, but you’re missing the point here.”

“Right, right. I see the problem. In the last two days you’ve kissed him and hit on him.”

Savannah groaned. “That’s it. I’ve cost myself the perfect job. And a trip to Europe.”

“He’s really got you twisted up. I’ve never seen you so flustered over a man.”

“He’s not a man. He’s my boss.”

“Oh, sweetie,” Claudia admonished her. “He’s all man and if you’re trying to ignore that, no wonder you’re in trouble.”

“You’re not helping,” Savannah said.

“Helping? Right, you want to know if he realized you were hitting on him.”

Savannah gritted her teeth.

“Hmm.” Claudia tapped her lip while she thought. “Did he revert back to business?”

“No.” Savannah perked up, seeing where her sister was going. Work would be an instinctive barrier for Rick to throw between them if he felt she’d gotten too familiar. “He asked how the plans were going for his grandmother’s birthday. That’s good, right?”

“Yeah, I think you’re safe. He’d have played the work card if he wanted to shut you down. He probably just didn’t want to talk about his love life.”

“There’s no love in his relationships.” With a relieved breath Savannah pushed to her feet, helped Claudia to hers. “That’s what the rules are about.”

“Another reason for him not to answer you. Nobody that knows you could see you in a loveless relationship.”

Savannah’s plan as she strapped herself into her business-class seat on the airplane was to act as if it were business as usual when Rick arrived. No talk of rules or relationships. Or anything else. She’d guard her tongue if she had to bite it off.

This was one time when his lack of talking would be welcome.

Where was he anyway? She leaned over the aisle seat to glance up the companionway but there was no sign of her stalwart boss. She’d been surprised when he wasn’t waiting for her in the departure area, but as the boarding passengers began to dwindle, she began to worry.

There shouldn’t be any traffic at this time of night. They were taking the red-eye to New York and would catch an international flight out of JFK in the morning.

Frowning, she looked at her watch. Oh, God, what if he didn’t show? Did she fly or get off the plane?

Just as she reached to ring the flight attendant to ask if he’d checked in, he strolled through the door.

And— oh my.

Rick in a business suit was controlled elegance, a man who knew what he wanted and how to get it. Rick in jeans and a navy T-shirt was big and broad and just a little rough around the edges, a man who took what he wanted and enjoyed the challenge.

She couldn’t take her eyes off him the whole time he stowed his gear and took his seat.

When he met her stare with his take-no-prisoners blue eyes, she blurted, “I was about to flip a coin to see if I should fly without you or get off the plane.”

He didn’t apologize, simply said, “Rett drove me to the airport.”

“Oh. And he was late?”

“He wouldn’t think so.” Rick grimly stated what sounded like an age-old argument between the brothers. He tucked a newspaper in the seat back in front of him. “Rett and I have a difference of opinion about how much lead time you need when you’re flying.”

“Why do you let him drive you then?”

“As he pointed out, I haven’t missed a plane yet.”

“Well, this wasn’t the one to start with,” she informed him, still a little on edge at the close call, a feeling that nudged up a few notches when the plane door closed.

“Settle down, Ms. Jones. I’m here safe and sound.”

“Let’s hope you stay that way,” she muttered under her breath.

“What does that mean?” Of course he’d heard her.

“Nothing,” she evaded, her attention focused out the window at the city lights as the plane began to roll.

Now Rick had arrived, there was nothing to distract her from the fact she’d soon be taking to the air in a very heavy object. Biting on her lower lip, she reminded herself thousands of people flew across the country every day.

Suddenly a strong, warm hand closed over hers on the armrest, stilling her tapping fingers.

She followed the reverse angle from hand to hair-dusted forearm, to muscular biceps, to strong neck, stubborn chin and eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“Don’t tell me you’re a nervous flyer,” he accused.

“I don’t know.” She pulled her hand free. “This is my first time flying. I’m sure I’ll be fine, but right at the moment, yes, I’m a little nervous.”

“Huh.” The suspicion backed down to mild irritation. “Don’t you have a Valium or something you can take?”

Now that was just rude.

“I don’t need to be medicated. I need a distraction.” She almost changed her mind about that as the plane picked up speed rushing down the runway and she felt the wheels lift.

Okay, oblivion may not be such a bad thing.

She cleared her throat and concentrated on the conversation. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to jump into your lap or anything.”

“That’s good to know,” he said as he dug her nails out of his arm.

“Sorry.” She smiled weakly, and, reclaiming her hand, she sought her own distraction in her carry-on. The first thing she pulled out was a plastic zip bag of home-baked chocolate chip cookies—nothing distracted or soothed as well as chocolate—and the second thing was the newest novel by one of her favorite authors. Rick had his paper so she didn’t need to feel bad about reading her book. And once she started reading, she’d get caught up in the characters, mystery and romance.

After tucking her tote back under the seat in front of her, she dug out a chocolate chip cookie. Taking a healthy bite, she settled back in her seat and sighed, feeling the tension leave her body as she chewed.

Next to her she heard Rick sniff the air. From the corner of her eye she saw him slowly turn in her direction.

“Are those chocolate chip cookies?”

“Yes. But you wouldn’t hold my hand so you can’t have any.”

“A tad cranky tonight, aren’t you?”

“It’s the nerves. I want to fix it, but I just have to get through it.” Because she wasn’t mean, she turned the open bag of cookies toward him. “Peace offering?”

He took a cookie. “You still can’t jump in my lap.”

She grinned. “Spoilsport.”

“But I suppose I can sacrifice a hand occasionally if you feel the need.”

Her insides warmed at the offer, evidence the grouch did have a heart. But, oh, not good. Warm feelings for Rick were too much of a distraction. She’d better stick to the chocolate.

“Thanks.” She held up a second cookie. “But I’m feeling better already.”

“Good. Because it’s a long flight. Do you think you’ll be able to sleep?” He licked a smear of chocolate off his finger, a sensuous move she followed with her eyes.

This relaxed Rick fascinated her, which made him very dangerous indeed.

“Savannah?”

“Huh?”

“Do you think you’ll sleep?” he repeated.

“Oh. Eventually. I can sleep anywhere.” She zipped the bag of cookies and tucked it in the seat back in front of her. “How about you?”

“I’ll doze.”

“Maybe you need the Valium.”

He laughed. A hearty sound she realized she’d not heard from him before.

How sad, she’d worked closely with the man for close to two months and had never heard him laugh. She immediately wanted to make him laugh again. He really needed lightness in his life, but this was another thing she couldn’t fix, not without putting herself on the line emotionally, something she couldn’t risk. And it didn’t even have to do with the job.

She couldn’t risk opening her heart to a man obsessed with work.

The loneliness, the lack of support, the disappointments—she wouldn’t, couldn’t go through that again.

So, instead of continuing the conversation and coaxing another laugh from him, she said, “Do you mind if I read for a while? I think it’ll relax me.”

The laughter faded from his eyes and he shook his head. “Go ahead. Will it bother you if I work?”

“Not at all.”

With a curious sense of letdown, she lowered her tray table and opened the hardback to page one. Luckily, the characters soon drew her into the action and before long she was caught up. Flying, Rick, the sound of him typing all faded to the background as she outright giggled at what she was reading.

Rick couldn’t sleep. Not with the soft scent of honeysuckle tickling his senses, a constant reminder of the woman occupying his companion seat.

At least she finally slept. She’d read for a while, and had a great time of it, too, if the musical sound of her laughter was any indication.

He glanced at the book, wondering again what she found so amusing. Since she appeared dead to the world, he reached for the book and read the front blurb—and then the first page.

An enjoyable hour had passed when he next looked at his watch. Stifling a yawn, he returned the book to where she’d had it stowed.

To stretch his legs he walked to the restroom at the far end of the plane. When he got back, he stood looking down on Savannah.

She sat half-turned toward him, a hand tucked under her cheek, so young, so sweet, so lovely. Cinnamon curls caressed creamy-white skin while dark lashes fanned over her cheeks. She shifted in her sleep and a pretty pink tongue swept over full, bare lips leaving them damp and as inviting as the smudge of chocolate above the corner of her mouth.

Fatigue must be getting to him because he wanted to lick her, first to eat the chocolate beckoning to him and next to taste the plump line of her lips, to sink inside and share the treat with her.

What on earth?

He rubbed his eyes. Pull it together, man.

To escape further temptation he slid into his seat and stared at the boring weave of the blue-and-gray fabric of the seat in front of him.

What had possessed him to bring her on this trip? He’d have been better off with someone from legal, someone fifty and comfortably thick.

Okay, so she’d been a great help prepping for the upcoming meeting, but she was still more optimistic than organized, totally unpredictable and distressingly unafraid of anything. A little healthy trepidation would make her so much easier to control.

She had yet to meet a stranger. The woman made friends wherever she went.

When was the last time a woman had made him laugh? He couldn’t remember. More importantly, when had he become such a staid old man? So he cared about the business, cared about providing for his family. Did that have to mean he gave up on fun, gave up chasing all the enjoyable pursuits life had to offer?

Of course not. He determined to broaden his horizons when he got back. Spend more time with his brothers, read for pleasure and find a new woman friend.

Right. He closed his eyes and hoped by the time he got home—with the international deal sealed—the idea would hold more appeal.

The plane suddenly shook and then dropped, startling Rick out of a light doze. Instinctively, he grabbed the armrest before he even opened his eyes. His fingers closed around flesh and bone rather than hard plastic.

Savannah. Concerned, he glanced her way. She slept on but a slight furrow creased the fine porcelain of her brow. He pulled his hand back, granting her use of the armrest. She immediately became restless and the frown deepened.

He covered her hand again, twining his fingers with hers and she stilled and settled back into slumber.

She was as soft as he’d known she would be. Not that he allowed himself thoughts of her.

Another shake, a lift and then a sharp drop. Someone screamed and Savannah came awake with a start. She blinked at him.

“What happened?” Husky from sleep, her voice stroked along fine nerves, causing the hair on the back of his neck to tingle in aroused awareness.

“Just a little turbulence.”

“So I didn’t dream a scream or that the plane was shaking?”

“Ladies and gentlemen.” A calm voice came over the public-announcement system. “We are experiencing some heavy turbulence and the pilot has turned on the seat-belt light. Please remain buckled in your seats until he turns off the seat-belt light. Thank you.”

Savannah’s trembling fingers tightened on his. “Are we going to be okay?”

“I’ve heard no plane has ever gone down because of turbulence.”

“Really?”

“That’s what I’ve heard,” he said reassuringly.

“Right. Oh, gosh.” They were thrown back in their seats as the aircraft dipped and swayed.

“It shouldn’t last long.” He sought to relieve her distress. “The pilot will try to get either above or below the problem area.”

“That would be good.” Her agitation showed in the rapid rise and fall of her breasts. “That would be really good.”

She fell silent as the plane continued to rock and roll. And he watched her to make sure she didn’t hyperventilate. White knuckles defined the clasp of their hands, but neither fought to ease the hold one had on the other. He didn’t expect the plane to crash, but he wouldn’t deny he took comfort from the connection.

The flight evened out for about ten minutes, just long enough for everyone to begin to relax, when the shaking began again.

The drastic drop in altitude got to him, but the distressed whimper from the seat next to him was like a fist to the gut. Acting on impulse, he lifted the armrest between them and pulled her into his arms.

She clung to him and, lifting tearful eyes to his, pleaded, “Can’t you make it stop?”

In that moment he’d give anything to fix it, to bring the laughter back to her eyes. He couldn’t stop the turbulence, but perhaps he could take her mind off it.

“You have some chocolate on your face.”

She blinked. “Huh?”

“Right here.” He lowered his head and licked the corner of her mouth, sweeping the chocolate up with a flick of his tongue.