I’m not really the black-tie kind of guy. You can totally pull off the exclusive angle.”
Grace nibbles on her lower lip. Another subtle play of emotions moves across her face. She finally gives the slightest shake of her head as she comes to a decision.
“Fine. Friday it is. I don’t know what I have to wear, but I’m sure I can come up with something. Send me the details, and I’ll meet you there.”
“No need for that. I’ll be in Napa on Friday visiting my brother. In fact, that’s a good time for him to take a look at what you’ve got. We’ll meet in the morning and go over everything. Mark, if it’s okay with you, I’ll have you show Asher around while Grace and I go over the books. We’ll break for lunch, then I’ll pick you up around four in the afternoon. It’ll be a beautiful drive into the city.” At least two hours where I’ll have her all to myself. I’m already thinking about that drive and how to use it to my advantage.
“I wouldn’t want to put you out.” Her resistance remains, but some of it fades.
“Nonsense. I have to drive back anyway. My mother’s promised to introduce me to her new boyfriend. I’m very eager to meet him.” That’s a total lie, but I’ll make it work. If I give Grace any wiggle room, she’ll find a way to worm her way free of me. That can’t happen.
Mark slowly comes around, warming up to the entire process. There’s something about him. I’d say it’s simple discomfort from being forced into a process he doesn’t understand, but I feel like something else lurks below the surface.
Lunch is done, and I can no longer draw out my time with Grace. I hate leaving her and try to think up another excuse to get her to stay. I convince myself I only need five more minutes of her time. The thing is, I’ll never get enough. I send a note to Katy and pay the bill.
“Before you leave, if you would walk back with me to my office. My assistant is preparing the background documents for you. They state our general terms. By close of business tomorrow, we’ll send over the official contracts for you to sign, but this way you’ll have a chance to look at our boilerplate. Any questions, just call.” I give Grace my business card, then lean in. “That’s my personal line. Call me for anything.”
She takes the card and puts it inside her purse. I practically jump for joy because I expected her to rip it to shreds.
We head back to my office, and I smile inwardly at Mark’s fear of heights. Grace walks beside him, shielding him from the openness of the atrium while I hang back and admire the curves of her figure.
The open atrium design was my idea. I love having the gardens down below and personally designed the series of waterfalls and meandering streams. Hawke added the koi to the ponds because he loves the flashes of color. Most days, that’s where I go for lunch, brown-bagging it like a kid.
It’s the simple things in life which matter.
We head to my office to wait while Katy gathers the boilerplate of our standard contract. She can send it by email, and will, but I needed an excuse to keep Grace with me for a little bit longer.
Despite what Grace said earlier, she walks right up to the floor-to-ceiling windows to stare out over the city. We’ve got the best view of the bay and Golden Gate bridge. Mark takes a seat on one of my couches, staying as far from the windows as possible.
I leave him there and move to stand beside Grace. We’re close, closer than strangers would stand. I very subtly invade her space. It’s a statement. She can’t deny my interest. If she moves away, she admits I’m making her uncomfortable. If she stays, she acquiesces to my display of dominance.
“It’s really good to see you again.” I keep my voice low, too soft for Mark to hear. This is a private conversation between the two of us.
She doesn’t look at me but continues to stare straight ahead.
“I’ve missed you.” I shift slightly closer, feeling the electric charge between us building. We’ve got impressive chemistry. It’s been forever and a day since a woman’s elicited such a strong reaction from me. With Grace, I can only describe it as carnal, animalistic, and raw.
“I don’t see how