Nah, how could that be?
She stared as much as he did. There was something there, he knew it. He hoped it that she was shy, he hadn’t been any better in that area. Their professional lives took center stage every day and with him being the owner of the company, he didn’t really have personal relationships with his employees. It wasn’t against the rules though. There wasn’t anything about it in the code of conduct or company bylines.
Okay, you schmuck, do it now.
Balling his fingers up into fists, he propelled himself from the elevator wall toward the control panel consisting of floor buttons, a fire key lock, and an emergency phone. Then big as you please, the red STOP button. The very one that could change his life forever. He’d played this part on repeat so many times in his head, now it was really happening. Could he really go through with it? He’d have to if he wanted to be with her.
No time like the present.
As he stood in front of the panel, her reflection stared back at him in the silver-plated doors. She’d straightened her stance and watched curiously, her eyebrows raised. In total awe of her beauty, he couldn’t wait to touch her, to smell her, to even just talk to her. He placed his briefcase on the floor and knew he had her complete attention.
After a moment, he mustered up some more courage. His hands were shaking and he could feel the sweat beading on his forehead. Suddenly the small empty elevator seemed like a sauna and less airy than when it was crowded with people. Did he wish all those people were back in there with them? Oh, hell no!
“Just do it, damn it,” he mumbled. His hand rose of its own accord, as if his body reacted with his mind in some sort of auto pilot and like an out-of-body experience as he firmly hit the red button. The elevator jolted to an abrupt halt. He gripped the hand rail to steady himself, and noticed she did the same.
Finally, he turned, looked directly into her eyes, and grinned at her. If this went badly, he could be the laughing stock of his whole company. She could even bring up sexual harassment charges against him. He’d never pegged her as that kind of person but what did he really know about her other than that she could do her job.
It was too late now to back out. They were alone and he’d stalled the motion of the elevator so he had to do something.
Chapter Three
Why is he smiling? And why in the world did he stop the elevator?
Panic rose within her. Maybe he knew something she didn’t and they were in danger. Wait…would he be smiling if they were about to plunge to their deaths? That would be seriously sadistic but maybe he was some mass murderer masked as the owner of a corporation. But wait, if that were true, wouldn’t there be a high turnover rate with the employees? She’d seen the same people day in and day out for as long as she could remember.
Oh no, he was going to fire her, that’s it!
Well crap, that’s even worse.
What could she have done that was so terribly wrong? Her boss never complained about anything. She liked her job ninety-nine percent of the time and couldn’t afford to lose it with a dog to feed and an apartment to pay for. It wasn’t the greatest place but it was a roof over her head and gave her no complaints.
She would just have to look for another job….
No way could this really be happening to her? She knew for a fact she hadn’t done anything wrong or she would have heard about it before now. Unless there was some smaller-than- small print, or unwritten rule somewhere, the only thing she was guilty of and it was not against the law as far as she knew, was to look at another person in an elevator—even if said person was the owner of the company and she secretly harbored the desire to rip off his clothes and do unspeakable things to him on the elevator floor.
Right?
Is it getting hotter in here? She almost giggled because it made her think of that wrap song about it getting hot and them taking off all their clothes. Not that it was an appropriate time to think about that, and not that she would do anything like that in a public elevator.
Damn her dumb luck, the air probably stopped circulating when the elevator stopped moving. Just what she needed tonight, death by suffocation. Before she got too emotional or weepy, Melanie needed to demand knowing what the hell he was thinking. She never imagined being claustrophobic but it was apparent it could quickly become a very big problem.
“Uh.”
Oh crap, her voice did one of those high-pitched squeaks. She cleared her throat and tried again.
“Mr. Summerlin?” He stepped closer to her in the cramped space.
Okay, whoa now handsome, that was not meant as an invitation— But regardless, coming closer was exactly what he was doing.
“Mr. Summerlin, I don’t understand, is there something wrong with the elevator? Have I done something wrong?” Was that her trembling or the elevator shaking? Just lovely.
“Well, Miss Chambers… That sounds so formal. May I call you Melanie?” He didn’t wait for her to give the okay, only continued talking. “Technically it’s after work hours so can we forgo the formalities? Please call me Grant.”
“Ok, Grant. Why did you stop the elevator?”
“Well, I thought it would be the best way for us to talk uninterrupted.”
He took another small step toward her.
“What did you need to talk to me about, did I do something wrong?”
“Oh, no you didn’t actually, you’re a great employee. Mr. Parrish has no complains; therefore I have none either.”
“Okay so what else is there?”
He closed the rest of the distance between the two of them, stopping so they were only breaths apart but not yet touching her. He smelled good. It assaulted her senses having him this close and she could do nothing but revel in it.
“Melanie…” he whispered, reaching for her fingers, holding them loosely. His hands were warm and the roughness of his fingers surprised her and excited her at the same time. She could only imagine how good they would feel running over every part of her body.
As he said her name again, he leaned in, their breath mixing together as he whispered, “I love how your name rolls over my tongue.”
Good Lord, she loved how he made it sound; she couldn’t think of a time she’d liked hearing hear name more. It made her feel sexy and wanted. She had no response; only a soft moan escaped from deep within. Then he released her hands and smoothed them up and over her wrists, her arms and back again, creating goose bumps across her entire body.
“Melanie, you’re making me crazy.”
Before she could react, he lowered his lips to hers, brushing ever so softly—but effectively—shooting fireworks through her entire body. He retreated mere centimeters to peer into her eyes, making her feel like she’d finally come home.
Could she be so lucky? She’d waited a lifetime just to talk to this man but relationships had never been one of her strong suits. She wasn’t daring or outgoing. She did easily talk to people she worked with but it wasn’t really a social setting. They were all there to do a job.
How is it that a man who had everything and could get any woman he wanted, want her?
Melanie moved her hand from his shoulder, not sure how it got there to begin with and touched her lips where his had been. She questioned herself: If this is just another dream, will I wake up still lonely and wanting?
“You’ve dreamed of me?”
She gasped, “Oh God, I said that out loud?” She tried to hide her face by looking away, feeling horribly, horribly embarrassed.
“No, please…don’t.” Grant cupped her cheek, moving her to face him again.
“I don’t want you to be embarrassed. I love hearing that you dream of me. I swear I’ve thought of nothing else but you, day and night for months. I sit at my desk and avoid my work, trying to come up with some logical reason I need to speak with Joe just so I can see you again.”
She projected a look of disbelieve; could it really have been that easy all along?
“Why didn’t you ever say anyt
hing?” she whispered.
“I couldn’t. You were always so professional and aloof, I thought you hated me. The best fantasy I’ve ever had was trapping the two of us in this very elevator but I never imagined it would actually happen.”
Melanie shook her head at him.
“I thought you never noticed me. I wanted to die every time you came to my desk or called for Joe.” Then she smacked his arm. “I thought you were going to fire me in this elevator for God’s sake.” They both chuckled.
She rested her hands on his chest, where he could feel the warmth radiate from her. His rapid heartbeat pounded against her palms.
“I didn’t think I was even your type.”
He couldn’t help but smile at her innocence.
“Lady you have no idea how perfect you are for me. I want you so much. But I don’t just want you, want you, physically I mean, well I do…but not just that way. I want to know every little thing there is to know about you. I’ve wondered what you do when you leave this place and what you dream about when you’re alone in your bed.” Grant’s faced then turned red. “Or at least I hoped you’re alone in your bed.”
Melanie smiled shyly and nodded.
“Maybe it’s crazy and I know we don’t know much about each other yet—but hell, it’s Christmas Eve. No better time for a miracle. Why not take a chance? I’ve driven myself crazy watching you. Do you think it’s possible to fall in love with someone without really knowing them first?
He wiped away the tear slipped down her cheek.
“Oh, Grant it has to be possible because I fell in love with you months ago. You’re my boss, technically, so I guess I thought I never really had a chance.”
“Well, then…”
Grant thought silently for a minute.
“Will you give us a chance to see where we can take this? Maybe spend a lot of time together, have dinner and dates together…any chance I can convince you to spend Christmas with me?”
He loved the excited look that flashed across her face. She threw her arms around his neck. He held her tight, circling his hands her waste. His heart overflowed with happiness.
Never had the holiday held so much promise for two people. She kissed him so gently, he could barely contain himself. When she broke away, she leaned closer and whispered into his ear.
“Why don’t you pop that red button over there, Mister, and show me how persuasive you can be?”
Grant pulled that button like his life depended on it, and as the elevator started its descent, they whispered against each other’s lips, “Going down!”
Chapter Four
As Melanie waited at the stoplight, she was completely unaware of her breath as it floated in front of her frozen face. She could barely feel her fingers even with lined gloves on her hands. Her car seemed displeased as it spit and sputtered, refusing to push warm heat out of the vents. Chicago was cold in the winter and she knew better than to jump in the car and take off. She was lucky it was still running. If she had been anywhere near the vicinity of her right mind, she would have remembered to warm the car for a few minutes first when the outside temperature was hovering in the twenty degree and below range.
She remained however, blissfully unconcerned with anything but thoughts of Grand and the unforgettable kisses still warming her lips. The incessant honking from behind startled her out of the elevator replay in her mind.
“Goodness, so sorry I’m keeping you.”
People were impatient. Waving her hand because she was too embarrassed to look in the rearview mirror, she hit the gas, propelling her Chrysler through the green light toward home.
She couldn’t help bit giggle just thinking of the way he’d held her close to him. His hands on her body was a dream come true. She could still feel each and every spot he’d touched and wished they were still back in that small space. As if the holidays weren’t already lonely enough, just the thought of going back to her apartment alone was depressing. She was excited to see her puppy of course, but it wasn’t quite the same.
They had briefly mentioned spending the holidays together and that he would call her but that was a phrase she’d heard more than once in her past. The guys always said they’d call but she never got that call and never saw the guy again.
Having that happen would surely make going in to work after the holidays a tad bit awkward.
Another honk from behind reminded her she wasn’t the only one on the slushy roads this evening so she picked up her speed a little and hoped the person behind her would turn off in another direction soon.
The car behind her continued on in the same direction as well, maintaining a safe distance apart. He knew her head was too far up in the clouds to notice he was following…
Grant sat in his car, still smiling long after Melanie pulled away from the parking lot. It didn’t hardly seem real but at the same time, he could still feel the impression of her lips on his.
She was amazing. Her lips were heavenly. Her body was warm and comforting and the feel of her pressed tight against his was true perfection. He knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep until he saw her again.
He knew her address by heart and in the last few months wanted to stop so many times when he was out jogging in her neighborhood. He wasn’t real sure that she’d see him for anything other than a stalker so he just kept going. He was used to getting dumb looks because who ran in the winter? He did. It kept him healthy and the fresh air cleared his head. Lord knows he needed it. His level of distraction lately had been an understatement. He was surprised he got any work done at all.
Maybe she would still be up if he just stopped over for one last kiss or two. He could also find out what her holiday plans were since he wouldn’t be making it to his parent’s this year. They were vacationing in the Keys and while he’d previously been jealous but the most recent turn of events had him staying right where he was.
If he did stop, maybe he could convince her they could have Christmas dinner together since neither of them had plans. She’d never said as much but his Vice President Joe Parrish, had already clued him in. He already knew she liked to cook because she brought snacks and desserts in all the time for their co-workers to eat.
With his head in the clouds again, Grant cursed himself for missing the first drive into Melanie’s apartment complex.
“How stupid can I get?”
His car should have been trained to drive there without his help. He just been there a couple days ago, except he parked in the clubhouse parking lot and jogged by her building at least twice in his two-mile run. It would be a bit odd pulling into a parking slot right in front of her building this time.
He stood in the tall evergreens outside her living room window listening to the damn dog barking. How he’d like to strangle that mutt. Knew he’d either have to get her to let it outside somehow or befriend it. He despised dogs, loud dogs, any dogs really, they were all annoying. There had to be a way around it, if he just waited patiently in the shadows.
Chapter Five
Melanie looked out the front window for the third time since she’d gotten home. Her lab had barked so much he sounded hoarse. He had his nose stuck through the blinds, bending them in every direction but the right one.
“Come on Wilson, please stop barking, there is nothing out there.”
She pulled at his collar, dragging him away from the window. He’d claimed the perch on the back of the couch cushion where he could see without much effort.
“Good lord dog, do I have to put you on a diet already? I can barely move you.”
She was only slightly exaggerating. Wilson was nine months old and he already weighed more than half of his adult weight. She’d gotten to see his parents when she picked him from the litter and didn’t remembering them being too awful large.
She didn’t think she was overfeeding him. The veterinarian advised her to follow the food chart on the back of the dog food bag so that’s what she’d been doing. She fed him twice a day, splitting the total a
mount of food in half. After she’d first brought him home, the amount of food he was allotted to eat at his age and size seemed like too much. He scarfed it down so fast that he choked and threw half of it back up.
She learned pretty quickly that there were no rules to raising a puppy. This was her first attempt at owning a dog since she was a little girl but her parents had done all the work then. So far, he’d stayed out of her closet full of shoes and surprisingly, he also hadn’t shredded the presents under her Christmas tree. She should probably still put them away for now. Her parents would hopefully visit after the holidays when they were back from their Caribbean cruise.
For now, she only wanted to crawl into her pajamas, relax and enjoy her quiet Christmas eve.
He watched her pull the dog away from the window and walk toward her bedroom because the curtains masked his view. Seconds later the bedroom light flashed on. Good thing there were evergreens outside that window too. Eventually she would think the dog just barked to be barking. Another couple minutes by his watch and she’d be opening her bedroom window a couple inches to let in the cool night air. Then once she let the mutt out the front door, he’d be free to make his move.
Before Melanie changed into the nightie she’d laid out, she walked toward the front door, hollering for Wilson to go potty and chase whatever stiff breeze was blowing him all out of joint.
“Wilson, come on…outside now, please.”
She shouted as she unlocked and opened the front door before turning to look outside. She almost screamed before she realized it was Grant standing on her doorstep smiling, holding out a single rose and a bottle of wine.
“Awe, thank you.” She grabbed for the items as Wilson made a beeline out the door between them. Pointing after him she explained.
Whispers of Winter: A Limited Edition Collection of Winter Romances Page 142
