Acquire Your Touch

by Hadley Raydeen

  Trish!

  If she did this, Savvon would have her ass. But, she sounded just as surprised as her best friend on the phone. So, if it wasn’t her, who could have...

  She could feel the heat rising on her skin as he spoke again. “Nice to meet you, Savvon. I’ve heard so much about you and the firm from your boss here,” he said, still holding her hand. The heat that spread between them was fire. He noticed it too as she saw a flicker in his eyes.

  “All good I hope?” her tone was breathy, and his gaze went from her eyes to her lips where the words left her in a whisper.

  “Nothing but…” he responded with a small smile that held a promise she’d like to know more about.

  Eustace cleared his throat, and the two of them jumped apart like they’d been caught with both hands in the cookie jar. Savvon resisted the urge to look down where his hand had touched her, as she was sure her palm was red from the heat.

  “Of course I did nothing but sing your praises, Savvon. You are my most senior scout here. Big Dog would be lucky having you find amazing talent for their team,” Melanie gushed, totally unaware of the situation in the room. She was too busy trying to lay it on thick. But, as Savvon turned to Tristan to shake his hand, she saw that this man saw through Savvon and Nathan. He regarded her with a knowing, raised brow.

  Her hand wasn’t the only thing hot as her face flamed with embarrassment. This was the last thing she wanted to happen at this meeting. Fawning over the new client in front of one of his executive team members was not a good look..

  But, hey he started it. Right?

  She jutted her chin out a bit in defiance. "Mr. St. Clair, it is a pleasure to meet you and Mr. Phillips. I truly look forward to finding innovative ways to staff your team.”

  “Please call me Tristan. And, it is nice to meet you, Savvon. It appears my colleague may know you from someplace else; is that so, Nate?”

  She turned to Nathan, dropping Tristan’s hand like a hot potato.

  “Oh, yes, that’s right. Your assistant mentioned you were referred or heard about Savvon through a friend?” Melanie piped up. “Your good work here precedes you.” She beamed at her employee.

  “Oh, really? And, what friend is that, Nate?” Tristan pushed the issue.

  The look Nathan shot his associate was not lost on her. Savvon wanted to know who it was too. And, if he said Trish, so help her…

  “DeKemper & Paulson has come up in more than one conversation at tech conventions and other such events. Savvon’s name came up as the recruiter that has worked on a few of those accounts,” Nathan answered with ease as he stared down Tristan, almost daring him to ask any more questions. “Shall we get started, Melanie? I’m interested in hearing more, and we do have other appointments later this afternoon.” He glanced at Savvon briefly before turning his attention back to Melanie. Savvon took that minute to look at her hand; she could still feel the warmth from the way he gripped hers, brief but solid. She could have sworn a jolt went right up through her wrist and tickled every womanly spot she had. Damn. Is all she could think. She sat in the plush, black leather chairs and crossed her legs and let Melanie gab about all things DeKemper & Paulson. She wasn’t really paying one ounce of attention to what was being said after she saw Nathan standing there in that suit. She’d better start paying attention in case she was asked any questions. She’d start taking notes, so she wouldn’t have to think about how attractive he was sitting across from her...looking all shades of fine.

  She looked up once when a question was directed to her. She caught his eye and looked away quickly. God, were her cheeks red? What was he thinking?

  “I’m the direct employer contact on this account, Ms. Stephens. You will be working directly with me.” She looked up at him. His voice was sexy and deep, not James Earl Jones deep but definitely sexy enough to make you wet just hearing it. She liked it. “Please call me Savvon or Savvy.” She smiled. He returned the smile. “Here is my card.”

  He reached for the card she slid across the table. Their fingertips touched with the exchange, and they quickly looked at each other. Was her arm on fire with the flashpoint being her fingers?

  No, that is crazy.

  But, she saw it in his eyes; he was thinking it too. There were other people in the room, they were watching this exchange. She smiled again and pulled her hand away. She looked back at Melanie, hoping her always vocal boss would say something to help her out and stop the silence. She raised a knowing brow and looked back at Nathan to continue the meeting.

  Savvy was totally busted.

  Chapter 10

  This woman, Savvon’s boss, Melanie, or whatever her name is, would not shut up. Okay, they would help them find people to staff the office, but did that warrant a forty-five minute meeting with her droning on and batting her fake eyelashes at Tristan, who was looking more and more pissed by the minute. He’d have to run recon on that later. He owed Tristan a drink or five after making him sit in this meeting. He would not be happy when they walked out of here. He wasn’t a fan of this firm the first time they’d set foot in the door and by the look on his face, he was ready to tip Melanie over in her chair and walk right back out that door.

  Nathan couldn’t blame him. He really just wanted to take off his suit jacket and get a beer. The only thing that kept his butt in the seat was the beautiful distraction sitting across the table from him. It made listening to Melanie’s annoying voice almost easy when Savvon Stephens was sitting directly in front of him.

  Savvy.

  He tried the nickname on for size. She’d let him use it. That was saying something. Because last night, she was acting like she didn’t want him to even look at her. But now, Savvy Stephens would be working for him closely. That opened up a few doors. Maybe... hmm maybe he could ask her to dinner… Drinks… Maybe he could cook for her…

  Whoa, slow down. You’d have her married and knocked up if you keep up this line of thinking.

  He needed to be smart about this. The last thing he needed was to scare this woman away before he got to know her and see what made her…Savvy. He glanced at her as inconspicuous as possible. She had her head inclined toward her boss. She was gorgeous. The natural hair she had pulled into a bun last night, now fell to her shoulders and she flipped it out of her way, exposing the smooth chocolate skin of her neck on the right-hand side. His fingers itched to touch that small patch to see if it felt as silky as it looked—like perfection. He watched her write frantically in her notebook as if it was something she was used to doing while Melanie talked and talked. He didn't know if she was actually taking notes of what her boss was saying or her own notes to keep her on task for later. He’d have to ask her since they’d be working so close. She stole a glance at him, but she caught him looking at her. He swore he saw her skin heat under his gaze, and he wanted to know just how hot he could make her. Getting her to look up at him is what he needed to see those brown eyes. He got her to smile too, more than once. You could cut the sexual tension between them with a knife when their hands touched earlier. He knew she felt it too. When she’d snatched her hand away, he just wanted to grab it back and pull her to him. But, with Tristan Melanie and Eustace’s meddling ass in the room, that was not happening—not right now. But, it would, as soon as he could get her to himself. Maybe he would suggest she join him for lunch or dinner or…

  He cleared his throat and adjusted his tie. She looked back up at him briefly. What was she thinking? He needed to talk to her; this was driving him wild.

  ‘Call me Savvon or Savvy’ she had said. With the way she looked, he wanted to do more than just say her name. He wanted to yell it out while he was inside of her, while his face was buried between her thighs. And, there were even more ways he wanted to think of her saying his name while he pleasured her.

  Cart before the horse, Philips; calm your ass and get to know the woman first.

  He sighed at the thought and lowered his head. Yes, he definitely needed a beer and it was barely 11:00 AM.
>
  Chapter 11

  “What was that?” Melanie hissed when they stood to exit the conference room. “What?” she asked, knowing full well what her boss wanted to know

  “That little exchange between you and the hottie client.” She sliced a glance over at Nathan. He hadn’t heard her.

  “What are you talking about?” Savvy feigned innocence when she was anything but. They’d shared more than a moment or two in that room. Just the touch of his hand, and the way he undressed her with those green eyes, was enough to set the whole damn conference room ablaze. If anything, Melanie, Tristan and Eustace’s evil eye were just playing the role of the fire extinguisher. Not a damn thing was gonna happen with all those eyes on them. Melanie with a little too exuberant over Tristan and Eustace’s look of disapproval, she didn’t quite like, was enough to kill the mood.

  If Big Dog was one of his clients, she knew he could kill the deal with Melanie’s firm if he felt like something was amiss. Savvon would really like to have them as a client, her attraction to Nathan aside. She knew she needed to keep this professional because if Eustace said one thing to Tristan, who already didn’t seem one bit on board. He seemed to know what Savvon was up to, eyeing his good friend like a snack…nope the whole damn meal. She’d have to reign that in. But, she knew, ultimately the choice would be Nathan’s; it was his company after all. She wondered if he’d pick their firm to work with. Would he use the phone number Trish’s meddling ass gave him last night? She also wanted to know how it was he was here. Of all the firms in the city…he found hers. There were so many things she wanted to ask.

  Melanie cut through her thoughts by clearing her throat, sure to keep her voice down as Nathan and Tristan were deep in their own conversation just outside the conference room, and Eustace was on a call on the opposite side of the room.

  “Hmm. Everyone in this room could tell you what I’m talking about, Savvy. Don’t play coy. It’s not a good look. Are you two hot on each other?” she lowered her voice, even more, looking over at the men to make sure they weren’t looking or hearing her. “Is he an ex or something? Have you slept with him?”

  “No!” Savvy shook her head. “Of course not, Melanie.”

  “No late nights get’n it in, Savvon; you hear me?” Melanie winked.

  “Stop it!” Savvon answered, feeling her cheeks warming. “No, it never happened…I just met him.”

  Not that she wouldn’t want any ‘get’n it in’ time with him. He looked like he’d give her a run, or two, for her money. But, that was nothing she wanted to share or discuss with Melanie’s perv ass.

  Melanie left the room shaking her head. Obviously, she didn’t get the goods on whatever was going down with Savvy and Nathan that she wanted.

  Nathan stole a glance at her as Melanie joined them in the hallway, shaking both their hands.

  Savvon walked into the hallway, Eustace following after her. She shook Tristan’s hand and then Nathan's. He kept hold of her hand, looking at her and then down at her business card he still held in his hand. “When I call, should I use your work number or your cell?” he asked, so she was the only one that could hear him, and with meaning, she would only understand, as Melanie had taken up conversation with Tristan and Eustace again. Margo magically appeared back in the hallway and both women were now taking, with their merciless and unprofessional flirting.

  Savvy knew what he meant with the cell phone comment. It was the number Trish had given him at the grocery store.

  She shook her head, careful to make sure her boss or coworker didn’t overhear her. “Oh God, I know. I’m so sorry about that.”

  “Why?”

  His question surprised her. Okay, should she not be sorry… “Why? Um, because my…Trish can be overbearing at times over stepping and going out of her way to embarrass the living hell out of me…trust me, I didn’t ask her to do that.”

  “I’m glad she did, Savvy.”

  She stood with her mouth open, ready to respond to anything but that. “What?” she asked like a buffoon. Had she heard him correct? He was okay with…

  “I’m glad she did,” he said again. She watched his lips when he said it this time, and she knew he meant it. The desirable face hole, from which he spoke, convinced her, he meant it. She licked her lips, feeling parched all of the sudden.

  He stepped toward her, so that anyone looking, would think they were saying their thank-yous and goodbyes.

  “What are you doing for lunch?” he asked.

  “I.. I have another meeting after you leave. I was going to take a late lunch and eat at my desk.”

  He dropped his hand so the extended handshake wouldn’t turn questionable.

  “How about a drink after work? See where that goes, maybe dinner?” he asked.

  Her heart fluttered. “Drinks... dinner?” she stuttered

  Dinner with Nathan…

  There was no excuse for that. She really had to stop stuttering. She sounded like a complete moron. The man just asked her out, though, at her job, in front of her boss and coworker and his coworker. They weren’t really listening though. But, Tristan seemed to peek at them every once in a while as he switched his gaze between his phone and them as they talked about God knows what.

  “You should answer soon, Savvon,” he said quietly. Your boss is boring my friend to tears. He just text me, so we can go.

  “Yes,” she said quietly. “To drinks and maybe dinner,” she muttered. As if the two things were a new concept only brought to life by his gorgeous self.

  He smiled. “Excellent,” he said loudly. “I was thinking about starting with an Administrative Manager, and they can assist me with the hiring of the other support staff. If you could send a couple resumes my way, via e-mail that would be great, and we can start from there.” He reached in his coat pocket took out a pen and scribbled something quickly on the back and handed her his card. The others in the hall quieted and turned to watch the fake exchange.

  She placed his card in her folder. “I will get right on that. I have a few candidates in mind.”

  “Great. Then, I look forward to hearing from you soon. Melanie, thank you for having us back and being so open to taking us on as a client. I appreciate the time and the quick turnaround,” he said, extending his hand to her boss.

  Oh, he’s good.

  She watched as Melanie lead them to the door. She thought about the possibility of a date with him drinks, dinner maybe both. He looked at her over his shoulder before Melanie whisked them to the elevator. She looked down at the card in her possession, wanting to know what he wrote.

  I left my file in the conference room. Bring it down to me. I want to talk to you…

  She looked up through the double glass doors as the elevator doors shut.

  He winked at her.

  Chapter 12

  She broke the speed barrier back to the conference room to look for whatever file he left. She didn’t even have a minute for her heart to flutter before Margo entered the room right behind.

  “So, what was that little exchange you shared with Mr. Phillips?”

  Savvon looked up at the woman eyeing her from the doorway.

  “What are you talking about? He was just talking about some of the positions he needed to fill right away,” she lied, retrieving the file folder from the conference room table. She didn’t have time to play this game with ‘Melanie Junior’ right now. She needed to get out of this office and down the elevator before Melanie came back because she was sure this same line of questioning would continue once her boss could corner her again. She knew what she and Nathan had shared was so palpable everyone around them could feel it, but she didn't need to be questioned about it from the peanut gallery. Could they just let her live and enjoy this connection between her and that gorgeous man?

  “It looked like more than that to me.” Margo raised a brow at her. “You have something going on with this client?”

  Savvon could feel her skin growing warm. She slid the card back into the
file without causing much attention to herself. She knew the office rules, no fraternizing with clients. She wasn’t going to get caught up with this line of questioning from Margo, who would run and tell Daddy and have Savvy in the unemployment line.

  “I don’t know how it looked, Margo?” She stood her ground.

  “Do you know him?”

  Technically, she didn’t. She’d just seen him the night before at the grocery store. That didn’t count as knowing him. She hadn’t said a word to him other than ‘hi.’ Trish technically talked to him more than she had.

  “Not before today’s meeting.” That wasn’t entirely a lie.

  “Just be careful, Savvy,” Margo said with a knowing glare. “You know Melanie will be all over you like white on rice if she thinks you are sleeping with one of the clients.”

  She internally groaned. Being watched was never a good feeling. She hated that. And, wasn’t this like the pot calling the kettle black since both Margo and Melanie flirted mercilessly with clients all the damn time. Hell, if Tristan would give Melanie the green light, she was fairly certain her boss would have no problem riding the brakes off of that man in her office right now. She couldn’t blame her for appreciating an attractive man.

  But, Margo liked to act like she was always playing by the rules, never giving her any slack and trying to pick up brownie points with Melanie and her dad any way she could. She was not going to give her coworker any ammo to use against her with her bosses, that was for the damn truth. Margo didn’t need to know about any attraction she had to Nathan Phillips. Savvy wasn’t willing to lose her job over a fling, or maybe more, with this man. She’d play this thing smart.