She just wished he could connect with his nephew, who was so lovable and accepting. Maybe if he held Troy, he’d be swayed by the baby’s sweetness.
When the phone rang, she grabbed her chance.
“I should get that. Here, take Troy for just a minute.” She plopped the boy into Rick’s arms and reached for the phone, carefully keeping an eye on the pair as she spoke.
He skewered her with a glare. Though he seemed uncertain, he instinctively cradled Troy against his shoulder, looking more as if he held a fragile piece of spun glass than a living, breathing child.
Why did a single man holding a baby always look so sexy?
Of course, Rick always looked good. Her first week of work she’d had a serious talk with herself about keeping her eyes off the boss.
Yeah, right. The man was serious eye candy so that didn’t work.
But she wanted this job and that did. So yeah, her ambition helped her keep her hormones in check. That and Rick’s workaholic habits and stern demeanor.
Today none of that seemed to matter. Not when he looked so vulnerable, strong yet gentle, with the baby cuddled in his arms.
Not wanting to press her luck, she wrapped up the call. “Sorry about that.” Savannah took a step toward Rick. “I’ll just take him back—oh, baby!”
Troy burped up, all down the front of himself. And Rick.
“Sh—” Rick broke off a curse. His reflexes in holding the baby out and away had not been quite fast enough to save himself from a nasty dousing, including on his shiny black loafers.
Troy’s brow puckered up, and Savannah grabbed the wet cloth from his seat and rushed forward to clean him up before he started to cry.
“It’s okay, sweet thing, you’re fine, you’re good.” Once she had the baby all mopped up, she turned to Rick and swiped at his white shirt. After she got the worst of the mess off the front of him, she lifted her gaze and met his blue eyes, which were much closer than she had anticipated, and were focused on her with a mixture of irritation and awareness.
“Sorry, that’s the best I can do,” she said, her voice huskier than normal.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice calm and controlled, his gaze holding hers. “I think you should take him until Jesse returns.”
“Of course.” She hastily stepped forward, almost tripping over her own feet as her nerves tingled. A ring sounded through the open door and she paused. “Oh, there’s the phone on my desk.”
“Let it go to voice mail,” Rick ordered. “I need you to take Troy while I change my shirt.” Without waiting for her response, he passed the baby into her care.
The phone on her desk stopped, and his began to ring.
Even as he picked up the receiver the other hand went to the top button of his shirt. He made quick work of both the call and stripping to the waist.
Savannah swallowed hard, tempted by the sight of bronze skin and hard muscles. A taut, lean torso supported broad shoulders and narrowed to lean hips. The ocean-kayaking he did with his twin showed in the defined muscles of his arms.
“Savannah.” Her name was a buzz in her ears until he thrust the phone into her hand. “Take down the details of this conference call for me. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Of course.” She watched his strong back disappear into his private bathroom before turning her attention to the task. Easily juggling baby and receiver she jotted down the information from the manager of the San Francisco branch.
When Rick returned a few minutes later retucked and retied she pushed the memo slip into his hand and, carrying Troy, began to back toward the door.
“I’ll just go find Jesse.” She made her escape.
At the door she snuck a quick peek back. Rick sat behind his desk. Once again at work, once again in control.
The sight sent a longing through her she couldn’t explain. And couldn’t afford. Not when she still tingled from the tempting view of his hot body.
She loved her new job; the work interested and challenged her. And she’d learned a lot. But suddenly she looked forward to Rick’s upcoming trip to Europe. Thank goodness for the international deal he’d closed.
After the moment of heated awareness between them, having a full continent and an ocean dividing them for a week seemed like a really good idea.
Troy smirked at Rick over Savannah’s shoulder as if happy to have her to himself. That drew a reluctant grin out of Rick. The boy was a true Sullivan.
Savannah was another matter. Rick had never known the irrepressible Ms. Jones to be so skittish.
Why he found her quick retreat so fascinating he couldn’t say. Maybe he just liked seeing her flustered. She deserved it after tossing the baby at him and then standing so close that the sweet scent of her hair teased him even over the stink of baby burp, sending a spark of awareness streaming through his blood.
The shock of watching the gold flecks sparkle in her green eyes triggered an inappropriate physical response inside him he had no intention of acting on.
The last thing Rick wanted or needed were lascivious thoughts about his assistant. What a train wreck that would be.
Better to be annoyed than aroused by her.
The best thing would be if she quit. Hmm, he mulled the idea over. He saw two problems with that option. Gram would blame him, citing his promise, and Savannah wouldn’t be so easy to get rid of. She actually seemed to like her job.
She might talk too much, but she didn’t jump if he said a sharp word, unlike the temps before her. And she didn’t squeak at the long hours unless there was a conflict with a family event.
He understood family obligation. One of six brothers, Rick had a large, close-knit family that liked to get together on a regular basis. He participated because of Gram and because it was expected, but he often felt isolated even when he was part of the crowd. It’d been that way since he was a kid.
He loved his brothers, but he’d never found it easy to share, except with Rett, of course. That had always been enough for him. Especially after his broken engagement in college.
Losing people hurt. In his opinion, loneliness was a small price to pay for peace.
“Hey, Rick.” Jesse strolled in, her baby in her arms. “I really appreciate you and Savannah helping with Troy. Rett and I came up with some great ideas for Gram.”
“I’m glad.” They exchanged a few pleasantries as she efficiently strapped Troy into his carrier.
“I’m sorry to have to run off, but I have to get Allie from preschool,” Jesse explained.
“No problem. I’ll walk you out.” Rick saw Jesse into the elevator across the hall from his and Savannah’s offices. “See you later.”
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Jesse stopped the doors from closing. “Do you know your grandfather’s birthday? We need to know his birthstone for Gram’s gift.”
Rick frowned as he raked his mind. “No. Sometime in the summer, but I don’t remember when.”
“I have it,” Savannah said, and he turned to her in surprise. “It’s in Molly’s history file. There are biographies on all the past presidents, including dates of birth and dates of death.” Her fingers clicked at the keys of her computer as she talked. “Charles Sullivan was born July 23. Do you need the year?”
“No. This is wonderful.” Jesse beamed. “You’ve saved me. I thought I was going to have to pump Gram without tipping her off about the party. Can you let Rett know?”
“Sure. I’ll send it to his email.”