Page 38 of The Focal Point

I thought I hadn’t heard him correctly for a moment, but when he took out his wallet to give his card to the gallery owner, sudden tears blurred my vision.

“You really shouldn’t. It’s way too much,” I said, trying to hide my tears and knowing full well that telling billionaires they couldn’t afford a single necklace was ridiculous.

“If you have to, think of it as a thank you for all the work you’ve done,” he replied as the gallery owner disappeared into the back to run the payment.

I turned to him, my hand brushing the pendant, unable to believe it was mine. “You already paid for the re-design.”

He stepped closer, so close enough that I had to crane my neck to look into his face. It was always a surprise to me just how tall he was, a realization that always started up that pulsing warmth I was desperate to ignore. “Okay, think of it as a bonus for doing such a good job.”

His voice was quiet, his eyes hooded and soft, and when the kiss came, I was entirely, jubilantly ready for it.

Chapter 15

Liam

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“DID YOUR MORNING MEETING go that well?”

I looked up to find Gloria standing beside my desk with a folder in her hand and her eyebrows close to her hairline. How long had she been waiting for me to notice her?

“Oh, no. Not really.” I took the folder and placed it on my desk. “They decided to go another way.”

“And you’re happy about that?” My assistant’s eyebrows rose higher. “I was wondering why Thomas was stomping around today.”

Shrugging, I realized I had stopped halfway through writing an email. What exactly had I been thinking about? Probably the same thing I’d been thinking about all morning—my afternoon and evening with Bailey.

It had been everything I had hoped for and more. Watching her move around the gallery, entirely in her element, had been the highlight. I didn’t think I could ever get enough of seeing Bailey when she was that happy and content, surrounded by what brought her joy. And at dinner, we had talked for so long, we had practically closed the restaurant down.

I had almost asked her to stay before I had dropped her off at her apartment, but I held myself back. The last thing I wanted to do was rush things. I would go at her pace, whatever made her feel comfortable.

“Not really, but others will come along. I know Thomas was counting on it, but—” I shrugged again. What else could we do? This wasn’t the first time we had lost a bid, and it wouldn’t be the last. The company would survive, and we would find the next one.

Gloria gave me a look that I knew well and one I was sure she gave both her grown kids and grandkids—she knew there was more to the story, but I wasn’t ready to share. Not yet. One date didn’t mean anything, even if it had gone exceptionally well.

Even if it was all I could think of. Even if the feeling of her hand in mine, her lips moving against mine, still echoed across my skin until the reverberations centered between my legs.

“Thanks, Gloria. I’ll take a look at this,” I said, hand on the folder as I dragged my thoughts away from things unsuitable for an office.

She gave me a final look, her lips a line, and walked out of the office with a “See that you do.”

I chuckled and returned to the email, knowing this place would fall apart without her. I hadn’t finished a paragraph when my phone rang. I answered it on speaker without looking at who was calling.

“This is Liam.”

“Hey, Liam.”

My fingers stumbled, and I had to delete the word I had just typed as Bailey’s voice echoed over the phone.

“Hey, what’s up?” I hoped I sounded more nonchalant than I felt, but this was the first time Bailey had called me for something other than work. And the morning after our first official date.

“Are you busy?” she asked instead.

“No. I mean, I’m at work, but I can talk. I’m working, but I’m free. But working.” I rolled my eyes at the words tumbling unchecked from my mouth. Yet again, she had reduced me to a bumbling teenager instead of the CEO of a billion-dollar tech company. I was just glad Tom wasn’t in the room because I would never hear the end of it.

Bailey’s laugh echoed over the line, and I smiled despite myself.

“So what’s up?” I asked again.