sighed and met Savannah’s gaze to see an understanding gleam of amusement.
“Yeah,” Savannah agreed as she went back to the papers in front of her. “You love to see them. And you love to see them go.”
“Huh.” She’d nailed it on the head.
It felt strange to have her read him so well. Strange for anyone to make the effort with him. People tended to avoid rather than interact with him. Generally that suited him fine, but the moment of connection warmed him in an odd way. Turning back to his office, he rubbed absently at his chest.
She still talked too much.
The next afternoon the ringing of the phone summoned Savannah as she approached her cubicle after a late lunch. Rushing to answer, she expected the call to be business-related but was surprised to find her sister, Claudia, on the other end. A very excited Claudia.
“Oh, my God, Savannah. I love you. I love Mrs. Sullivan. I love Rick Sullivan. I love all the Sullivans.”
“Hold on, slow down.” Still catching her breath, Savannah struggled to understand her sister’s chatter. “What are you talking about? What has Rick done?”
“I just heard that because I’m going back to Paradise Pines after I graduate, they’re going to give me a bonus scholarship to help me get settled as I start my new job. That means—”
“Wait a minute.” Savannah sat down, setting her purse on the desk. “You’re telling me the Sullivans gave you more money?”
“Yes. Savannah, I’ll be able to get my own apartment, and a new computer. And a new wardrobe. I need to thank a Sullivan. I need to thank them all. Mrs. Sullivan didn’t answer her phone so I thought of Rick. Is he in?”
“I don’t understand.” Savannah felt thick-headed, but this was so huge. “You mean even though you’ll be out of school, they’re giving you another five thousand?”
“Yes!” Claudia’s excitement reached squeal proportions, dimmed only slightly by the distance of the phone. “This is so amazing! Can you believe it?”
Yeah, Savannah could, when she got past the shock enough to take it all in. One of the things she admired most about the Sullivans—including Rick, the whole doughnut incident notwithstanding—was their generosity.
“You deserve it. You’ve worked really hard these last four years,” she told Claudia.
“I’m overwhelmed. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank Rick.” Just when she had him pegged as all work and no play, Rick did this. Something so thoughtful and sweet it showed what a truly decent man he was. And she knew he was involved because Mrs. Sullivan had told her he had the final say over the scholarships.
“I do thank you. You’ve always been there for me. And of course, Rick, too. Is he there?”
Savannah glanced up at his closed door. “He’s on a conference call. But I’ll tell him you called.”
“Oh, okay. I know you’re busy so I won’t keep you. Promise you’ll give Rick a big kiss from me. Love you lots. Bye.”
“Claudia!” Savannah protested.
But her sister hung up, leaving Savannah with the image of kissing Rick. A visual she really didn’t need. After the incident with Troy yesterday it was easy, way too easy, to imagine how he’d taste, how he’d feel against her.
She’d never known a man like him, so physically fit, so stern in demeanor. All male, he made the men she’d dated seem like boys in comparison. Not that there’d been that many boys. Her high-school years had been spent caring for her mother instead of flirting.
Savannah never quite recaptured those flirty, experimental years. And, ever since, she’d felt one step behind in the game of love.
Unfortunately, Rick really made her wonder what she’d been missing.
A few minutes after Rick’s conference call wrapped up a knock sounded at his door. He looked up as Savannah peeked around the edge.
“Good, you’re free,” she said, stepping into his office. Her fitted skirt showed her legs to advantage as she made her way toward her usual chair in front of his desk.
Even then she didn’t stop. She kept coming, clear around the desk.
At the determined look in her eyes, he surged to his feet. When she leaned toward him, he leaned away. But she kept on coming, lifting onto her toes to touch her lips to his cheek. Instead of pulling away, he bent over her, breathing in the soft scent of honeysuckle.
Now why hadn’t he guessed she’d start the afternoon with a kiss?
“That’s from Claudia,” she said, now intent on avoiding his gaze as she rose on her toes again and her lips caressed his other cheek. “And that’s from me.”
Her hair brushed his cheek as she moved back. He clenched his fist to keep from pulling her closer.
“You Sullivans have been incredibly good to her. She’s over the top about the bonus money for returning to Paradise Pines.”
Ahh. Rick resisted the urge to shift restlessly as he resumed his seat. “The scholarships are my grandmother’s purview.”
“And she told me you always participate in the final decision,” she countered.
Caught, he shrugged. “Paradise Pines needs young professionals. We’re just doing what’s good for the community.”
“Claudia will be great for the community and she’d be returning to Paradise without the incentive, but thank you.” She hesitated, as if she might say something more. Or kiss him again. Instead, she nodded and turned to return to her desk.
Today she was calm, collected, with no sign of the flustered woman from yesterday.
Perfect. Cool and distant were good.
He could use a little indifference himself. Watching her long-legged retreat on red-hot heels, he fought the urge to loosen his tie, the airy room feeling suddenly overly warm.
He should be happy to be back on a professional footing, but for some reason he wasn’t.
“Savannah.”
“Yes.” She stopped at the door to look back at him, her leaf-green gaze wary.
Right. No point in embarrassing them both. Which meant no more inappropriate thoughts of Savannah, short skirts and his desktop.
He pulled a legal pad toward himself. “I’m glad your sister is happy.”
CHAPTER THREE
“YOUR DESIGN IS LOVELY.”
The next Monday after work, Savannah stood in Rett’s pristine workshop for their regularly scheduled lesson, watching as he held her sketch, turning it this way and that to view it from all angles.
“The setting will look great in gold, intertwined but independent with the classic emerald anchoring the middle. The symmetry is aesthetically beautiful. Your sister is going to love this piece,” he told her.
“Thank you.” Satisfaction and excitement made her giddy. But anxiety kept her grounded. She intended the pendant and earrings as a gift for Claudia’s graduation, so Savannah needed it to be perfect. “You don’t think it’s too ambitious?”
He hit her with amused blue eyes. “You passed ambitious when you decided to design the pieces in the first place, so don’t get wimpy on me now.”
“I’m not.” His approval of her design only made her more determined to finish the project. “But my skills are pretty new. I played around with beading when I was younger but this is the first time I’ve worked with precious gems.”
“Relax, you’re a natural. Your