Once I arrive at my building, I’ll call the office and let them know I’m not returning today. Maybe my SIM card will dry out in a few hours and I’ll be able to get a new cell.
No longer feeling like I’m about to collapse from the day’s events, I emerge from the cab and enter my building. A few people mill about, but it’s not nearly the bustling hive of activity that Tony’s building was.
On the far side of the lobby, I spot a familiar shaggy head of dark hair. Holy crap! It’s Tony, sitting at a little table near a sofa grouping, wearing jeans and a t-shirt. The fabric pulls across his chest, emphasizing his rugged build. He stands when he sees me enter and his face splits into a grin. His faded jeans hug his thighs and draw my gaze to his crotch. Damn, he’s fine.
What the hell is he doing here? The thought paralyzes me, freezing me in place. Where has my courage and conviction from a few minutes ago gone?
I open my mouth to say something, anything, but nothing comes out.
He folds my stiff body into a hug, pulling me close. His musky scent mixes with my body wash, reminding me of our shower this morning. The angst and emotional build of the week spills out of me and tears leak down my face. I’m so confused, I don’t even know where to start.
“Shh…don’t cry.”
I pull away and sputter, “I broke my phone.”
Wow, I get the man fired and the first thing I blurt is about my phone.
Tony runs his hand down my arm and links his fingers with mine. “I wondered why I hadn’t heard from you.”
“How did you know to come here?”
He kisses my cheek. “Just a hunch. I knew you’d show up here eventually.”
Eventually—like he would have waited for me all day.
I swallow a huge lump and ask what’s been on my mind for hours. “Did I get you taken off the deal and fired?”
He shakes his head. “I was replaced last week when I made the suggestion to increase the offering bid.”
“Why are you shaking your head ‘no’? That is my fault! I’m the one who coerced you into a higher number. Why didn’t you tell me?”
He shrugs. “It was the best thing that could have happened.”
I put a hand over my middle, trying desperately to take a deep breath. “Really? How?”
“For one thing, I wouldn’t have been able to be with you the past ten days. No matter what promises we made to each other to not talk about work, we both could have been sued for being intimately involved when such a huge deal was in the balance.”
Truth slaps me. He’s right. It was naive of me to think otherwise.
“You don’t look good, honey. Come sit down.” Tony leads me to the small table and holds out a chair. He sits across from me and pats my hand. “Change is good, trust me.”
His calm expression eases the knot in my gut. If he’s not frantic then I shouldn’t be. “Was proposing the higher deal why you were fired?” I turn my hand over to clasp his. “Or did my actions in your office put you on the outs with your boss?”
“Nope and nope. And those were ‘our’ actions, not just yours. If anything, it helped to open my eyes a little better.”
Holy cow, open his eyes? Could he mean about us?
My stunned expression must be amusing, because a full-bellied laugh rips from him. “And I wasn’t fired.” The tension I always see in his face while wearing a suit is missing. “I resigned.”
“You did what?”
Tony leans in, draws my hands across the table, and kisses the tips in that wild, seductive way he has, lingering longer than he should until I blush. “I gave my notice on Monday. They kept me ‘til yesterday, making me promise I’d consult with them a few times over the next month to transition deals I was working on.”
“Holy cow.” All this time I was worried for nothing. I could have spilled my guts to him at any moment. Shame courses through me at my own duplicity and lack of trust. If I’d just opened my mouth and talked to the man…
“The lack of stress also helped me figure out what you were hiding.”
“Me?” I squeak out. “What are you implying?” Oh my God! He knows I plotted all week behind his back!
A perceptive look crosses his face. “Uh-huh. Thought so.” He smiles, pride in his eyes. “You saved Parkerson from the merger, didn’t you?”
Heat suffuses my face. “How in the hell could you know that? Did Marcus text you after the meeting?”
“Nah. I’ve been around the block a few times.” He draws circles in my palm with his thumb, making me hyper aware of him. “There aren’t many reasons you’d work your finance team late, unless it was to solve a problem.” He winks. “Banker’s hours and all that.”