The Heart of Tomorrow (Book Two) (The Tomorrow Series 2)

by Nugen Isbell, Megan

  “Of course,” he said, turning to me. “I’ll be right back, Natalie.”

  I nodded and watched as Drew and Mya left. He wasn’t gone long and I’d barely had a chance to check out the office anymore when he returned. I could tell his mood had been soured by the look on his face.

  “Is everything okay?” I asked and he sighed.

  “I’m so sorry to do this, Natalie, but I think we’ll have to cancel our drive up the coast today.”

  “Why?” I asked as the disappointment washed over me.

  “Something’s come up with the project Mya’s working on and I need to fix it.”

  “Why do you have to?”

  “Because I’m the boss, Natalie,” he said curtly. “This is the first project with the Taylor and Saben name on it in California and it’s got to be perfect.”

  I didn’t like the tone of his voice. He was never short with me the way he’d just been. He must’ve seen the surprise on my face because he took my hands.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I shouldn’t take my stress out on you.”

  “It’s okay,” I said, trying to be understanding of what he was dealing with.

  “It’s not okay and I’m sorry,” he said, brushing his fingertips over my cheek and then kissing me softly. “I’ll make it up to you. You didn’t come all this way to hang out by yourself.”

  “It’s fine, Drew. Truly it is. I’ll be fine.”

  He reached into his pocket, handing me the car keys and his credit card.

  “Take the car. Go wherever you want. The address to the hotel is programmed in the GPS.”

  “Do you know how long you’ll be?” I asked and he shook his head.

  “I’ll get back as soon as I can. Thank you for your understanding.”

  He kissed me again, but not so innocently this time and when he pulled back, I could see the need in his eyes.

  “I shouldn’t have done that,” he said.

  “Why?”

  “Because now all I can think about is ripping all your clothes off and throwing you onto my desk.”

  “Go ahead,” I teased and he shoved me away playfully.

  “Don’t tempt me, Natalie,” he said, taking my hand and leading me back to the lobby. “Drive safely and I’ll have my phone on me if you need anything.”

  “I’ll be fine, Drew.”

  “I know you will and again,” he said, squeezing my hand. “I’m sorry about today.”

  “It’s only one day,” I said with a smile and he kissed my cheek.

  “I love you, Natalie. I’ll see you as soon as I can.”

  I smiled and walked out, and even though I never turned around, I knew he watched me the whole way.

  ~~~

  Driving around L.A. was no fun by myself. I didn’t know where I was going or what there was even to do and I’d never seen traffic so bad. After being stuck on the interstate crawling at a snail’s pace for a half an hour, I decided to exit and head back to the hotel where I stayed holed up for the rest of the day, only leaving to grab some dinner in the hotel restaurant.

  Drew texted me a few times throughout the day, apologizing for not being back yet. I couldn’t deny I was a little annoyed by the whole situation, but I also knew it wasn’t his fault. He had to work and unfortunately that interfered with our plans.

  It was nearly nine o’clock, but I’d changed into my pajamas early, parking myself on the bed where I’d been all afternoon and was half-way through a movie when I heard the door open, the light streaming in from the hallway.

  I looked up to see Drew standing there, apology written all over his face. He walked to the edge of the bed and sat down.

  “I’m so sorry, Natalie. I didn’t think it’d take that long.”

  “Did you get everything taken care of?”

  “No, but I wasn’t going to stay away from you any longer.”

  “So, you have to go back tomorrow?”

  “Yes, but it shouldn’t be long.”

  “Can I ask what happened?”

  “The blueprints Mya drafted were all wrong and the client wasn’t very understanding of the situation. They’ve got a deadline to meet and this creates a setback for them.”

  “Isn’t Mya an experienced architect?”

  “Yes and she’s a very good one, but there’s a reason we were able to takeover this company and this screw up is just one reason why.”

  “You’ll be able to fix it,” I said, taking his hand and pulling myself closer to him.

  “You always have such faith in me, Natalie.”

  I smiled as he placed his palm on my cheek, smiling at me with his eyes. I loved when he looked at me like that, with nothing but total adoration.

  “I hope you don’t mind, but part of me fixing this problem is having to attend a fundraising gala tomorrow night,” he said, taking my hand. “I was hoping you’d be my date.”

  “A gala?” a said with a terrible British accent. “I don’t think I’ve ever attended a gala.”

  “I, unfortunately, have attended too many,” he said with a laugh. “They’re horribly boring, but then again, I’ve never attended one with such a hot date. We could have a little fun.”

  He was grinning at me and I wondered what his idea of a little fun was.

  “Perhaps we could,” I teased.

  “I know you didn’t bring anything to wear to a black-tie dinner, so tomorrow while I go into the office, use my credit card and go out and buy yourself something.”

  “I feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, except for the whole prostitute thing,” I said with a laugh.

  “Wait? You’re not a hooker?” he joked and I slapped him playfully on the arm. “Please get something incredibly sexy, so that all I can think about while we’re there is taking it off you. Something with a long slit would be nice,” he said, his hand landing on my upper thigh and then slowly inching higher. “I’m not opposed to you showing a little cleavage either.” He took my shirt by the neckline, pulling me toward him and peeking inside. “Yes. I could look at this all night.”

  I started laughing, yanking his hand away and then wrapping my arms around his neck, pushing him down onto the mattress. I climbed on top of him, stripping off my shirt and smiling down at him.

  “Is that all you want me for, Mr. Saben? My body?”

  “No, Natalie. There are a million reasons to want you. Your body is just the icing on the cake.”

  He reached up, placing his hands around my neck and pulling me down so my chest was smashed against his. His greedy mouth was on mine a moment later and as he reached for the waistband of my pants, inching them off, my lonely afternoon away from Drew was forgotten.

  Eighteen

  I’d spent the last forty-five minutes trying to get my hair just right and I thought I’d finally done it. I’d used my curling iron to tighten the curls in my naturally wavy hair and it hung loose down my back. I’d purchased some new makeup while dress shopping and as I stared at my reflection in the mirror, I was certain Drew would be pleased with the whole package.

  It’d taken longer than I anticipated to find the right one and as I tried on dress after dress, my mind drifted to my first trip to Bloomingdale’s to find something to wear to my interview at Taylor and Saben. It’d been different this time though. Back then, I was spending money I didn’t have to make money I wanted. This time, Drew had handed over his American Express card without any restrictions. I didn’t want to take advantage of him though and I tried to be frugal with my shopping. I still ended up spending nearly $400 on the dress I eventually chose. I considered that a good deal when most of the acceptable dresses were at least $700.

  I’d gone for a classic look, keeping his requests in the back of my mind as I decided on the form fitting black dress, complete with a slit to my upper thigh and a plunging heart shaped neckline that revealed a healthy dose of my cleavage while still looking classy.

  “Does this meet with your approval?” I asked Drew when I finally
stepped out of the bathroom.

  He was just finishing putting on the jacket of his tuxedo and he turned to me, his eyes instantly moving over my body. They moved slowly and a satisfied smile spread on his lips.

  “You’re pure perfection, Natalie,” he said, straightening his tie as he walked towards me.

  I felt his fingertips on my skin, tracing the neckline of my dress, making its way deep into my cleavage while his other hand found its way inside the slit, slowly inching higher and higher. My breathing was picking up. I couldn’t help it when he touched me like this. His touch was like a drug to me and with him this close, I wanted nothing more than to overdose.

  “Do you really expect me to focus on anything but you tonight with you looking like this?”

  His voice was low and gravelly as he placed his lips, warm and wet, at the base of my throat, his tongue making a slow trail up to my chin. I could almost taste him as his mouth was only inches from mine.

  “I was only honoring your requests,” I whispered, trying to maintain my control, which was becoming increasingly difficult.

  “And I thank you for that,” his deep voice said before pressing his lips hard against mine, his tongue plunging into my mouth. I could tell this situation was quickly getting out of hand, especially since we had somewhere to be. I didn’t care though and I pulled him even closer to me, my hands burying deep within his hair.

  His phone went off just then, totally destroying the mood. He rolled his eyes, finally pulling away from me. He got himself together while I straightened my dress and went to the mirror to make sure I didn’t look like a complete mess. Luckily, aside from a few hairs out of place, I looked fine.

  “Andrew Saben,” Drew said, finally answering his phone. “Okay. Thank you.”

  “That was a quick phone call,” I said when he’d hung up.

  “Our car’s here to take us to the fundraiser.”

  “A car?”

  “Only the best for you, Natalie.” He grinned as he joined me at the mirror. “How do I look? Can you tell I almost just got laid by the hottest girl in L.A.?”

  I couldn’t help but blush at his comment.

  “You look like you stepped out of one of those ridiculous cologne ads you see on TV, so stop worrying.”

  “You think I’m attractive then?” He grinned playfully, continuing to straighten the tie of his tuxedo while looking in the mirror.

  “You’re all right,” I teased, running my finger over his jaw line.

  “Yeah, you’re all right too,” he grinned. “Shall we?”

  He gestured toward the door and after I grabbed the new clutch I’d purchased to match the dress, I nodded, linking my arm with his.

  “This is the best start to one of these things I’ve ever had. Perhaps it’s a good sign,” he said as we made our way to the elevator. “You think we might be able to pick up where we left off after this thing is over?”

  “I think we might be able to arrange that,” I said, grinning over to him when the elevator doors closed.

  “Let’s hope for a quick end to this little party then.”

  “I’ll keep my fingers crossed.”

  I grinned slyly and I watched as his eyes traced my body, obviously thinking about what he planned to do to me when we got back.

  Nineteen

  When Drew said our car was waiting for us, he failed to mention that car was a limousine. I’d never been in a limo before, but Drew sat casually as if it were no big deal, holding my hand as we drove through downtown Los Angeles. Unlike New York City, which you could never prepare yourself to see in person the first time, L.A. didn’t seem nearly as impressive as it appeared on TV. We passed the famous Grauman’s Chinese theater and the Capital Records building and then pulled in front of the grand arched entrance of the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. The limo stopped and a few seconds later, the door was opening. Drew got out first, offering his hand to me. I saw him slide a tip into the driver’s hand and then we linked arms, heading inside.

  “So,” I said quietly as we made our way through the lobby. “What exactly is this fundraiser for?”

  “Cedars-Sinai Hospital. We’re poised to design the new pediatric wing, unless the president of the hospital decides to pull us off the project thanks to Mya’s screw up.”

  He sounded bitter and I knew he’d rather be somewhere else instead of trying to clean up her mess.

  “I’m hoping our little show of support, along with a donation will play in our favor.”

  “I’m sure everything will work out with the president, unless he’s a total ass.”

  “She.”

  “She?”

  “The president is a she, not a he.”

  “Then that makes your problem even easier to solve.”

  “And why’s that?” he said, stopping just as we were about to enter the ballroom.

  “Because no woman can resist your sex appeal. Use it to your advantage,” I smiled as I brushed the lapel of his tuxedo jacket.

  He started laughing, kissing me on the cheek.

  “You want me to flirt with her?” he asked and I nodded. “That’s a tad immature, don’t you think?”

  “But it’ll work. You really don’t know how irresistible you are.”

  “I do know, but I only use it to get my way with you,” he said, raising an eyebrow at me before whisking me inside.

  There must’ve been at least three hundred people in the ballroom, all dressed in tuxedos and gowns. The whole situation instantly made me uncomfortable. This wasn’t who I was. I was Natalie Vasser, born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I was too ordinary to be on the arm of a man like Drew. He must’ve felt my apprehension because he pulled me closer as we got deeper into the crowd.

  Drew seemed to know where he was going and then I realized why. Mya and a man who seemed to be about my age were standing across the room. Mya looked beautiful in a dark green dress, her curly hair piled on top of her head.

  “You look lovely tonight, Mya,” Drew said when we reached them.

  “Thank you,” she said and then turned her attention to me. “Hello again. Natalie, right?”

  “Yes. Good to see you again, Mya.”

  “This is Anthony, my assistant,” she said, referring to the man who was sporting a tux similar to Drew’s and short dreadlocks. He held out his hand to me and I shook it.

  “Have you spoken to Dr. Reynolds yet?” he asked and I assumed he was talking about the president of the hospital.

  “Not yet. She’s been busy,” Mya answered and Drew started looking around. “She’s over there.” Mya was pointing across the room to a woman, probably in her mid-fifties, wearing a long white gown, her brown hair pulled back into an elegant bun.

  “She doesn’t look busy now. I’m going to go introduce myself,” Drew said and I looked at him curiously.

  “You haven’t met her?”

  “No. Mya’s been handling all the communication, but I think it’s time she meet the man behind the name in Taylor and Saben.”

  Drew started across the room and we all followed. Dr. Reynolds looked up from the cracker and pâté she was eating and I knew instantly she’d noticed Drew. I could also tell she was trying not to openly check him out, which she was failing epically at.

  “Ms. Mendez,” the woman said, acknowledging the only person she knew out of the group. There was no formal greeting and her voice had a hint of annoyance and I knew it was directed at Mya for her mistake.

  “Hello, Dr. Reynolds,” Mya said. “I hope we’re not interrupting.”

  “I was just getting a bite to eat.”

  “I wanted to take a moment to introduce one of the partners, Andrew Saben.”

  Mya gestured to Drew and even though it was subtle, I could tell Dr. Reynolds didn’t mind being interrupted by a man who looked like him.

  “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Dr. Reynolds,” Drew said, taking her hand delicately.

  “Likewise, Mr. Saben,” the doctor said and then her eyes dr
ifted to me and I decided to take the lead before Drew could blow this.

  “I’m Drew’s sister, Natalie,” I said, extending my hand and I saw the way Drew’s face contorted in confusion. “I’m just visiting from New York and he was nice enough to bring me along. I hope tonight is a profitable one for the hospital. Drew was telling me you’re working on building a new pediatric wing.”

  “We are. We’ve almost reached our fundraising goal. Tonight should put us over the top. We’re hoping to break ground within the next few months.”

  I saw her eyes drift to Mya, an obvious insinuation as to her being the reason that might not happen.

  “I was hoping we might actually be able to discuss that, Dr. Reynolds,” Drew cut in. “Do you have a few minutes?”

  “Of course,” she said and then Drew took her gently by the elbow, charm practically oozing out of him as they walked away.

  “Sister, huh?” Mya grinned when they were out of ear shot.

  “I figured she might be in a better mood if she believed he was unattached.”

  “Good plan,” she said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to use the ladies room.”

  I'd yet to even exchange two words with Anthony, but she was gone a moment later, leaving me alone with him.

  “I think your plan may save her ass,” Anthony said once Mya was gone.

  “I hope so. Drew said this is an important project. I want it to go well for him.”

  “I’m sure it will. He seems like a good guy.”

  “He’s a wonderful man,” I said, my eyes drifting to him.

  I could barely see them now, but I knew he was working his magic.

  “He’s getting our office in gear, that’s for sure. He seems all right to work for though.”

  “He’s a great boss,” I said and I could tell Anthony was curious. “I used to work for him. I was his assistant when I first moved to New York.”

  I wondered if he was judging me and I hated to admit I cared what he thought.

  “So,” he asked and I could hear the curiosity in his voice. “You started dating after you left the company?”

  “It’s complicated,” I said and he knew better than to press me for any more details.