The Boss's Surprise Son / Doctoring the Single Dad

“Right, Savannah.” The woman offered her hand with a genuine smile. “Gram speaks very highly of you. She mentioned something about you working with Rick.”

“Mrs. Sullivan is a doll,” Savannah enthused. “I really appreciate her putting in a good word for me with Rick. I’m very excited to have this opportunity.”

A fussy cry came from the carrier, and Jesse grimaced at Savannah before cooing at her baby. Once the fussing quieted, she looked up again.

“I have an appointment with Rett to discuss a gift for Gram for her eighty-fifth birthday. The guys are throwing a big surprise party, so they want it to be something spectacular.”

“She’ll love that. When is her birthday? I’d love to get her a little something to show my appreciation.”

“Oh it’s not for another few months.” Jesse rolled her eyes at herself. “I know, I’m way anal, but I like to start early. And we want a really spectacular gift so it’s only fair to give Rett plenty of time to work. But Troy is awake and alert now and wants attention. I was hoping Rick would take him for a few minutes while I consult with Rett.”

“Oh, well …” Watching a baby, even his own nephew, didn’t sound like a Rick activity, but Jesse must know her brother-in-law better than Savannah did. “How long do you expect to be?”

“Only about twenty minutes. That’s all Rett could squeeze in today, but we wanted to get started and at least discuss what we want to do.” She bounced the carrier when another cry sounded. “Never mind. I know Rett won’t mind—he loves the kids. We just won’t get as much done as we’d hoped.”

Savannah glanced at the hourglass; most of the sand had already fallen to the bottom half. Rick rarely took a full hour for lunch. “He should be back soon. If you like, you can leave Troy here with me and I’ll watch him until Rick gets back.”

“Really? That’s so nice of you.” Relief brightened Jesse’s features. “He’s fed and newly changed, so he shouldn’t be any trouble.” She set the carrier on Savannah’s desk. “Thank you so much.”

“No problem. How old is he?” Savannah asked.

“Five months.” Jesse handed over Troy’s diaper bag. “I’ll be as quick as I can.” With a wave, she rushed off.

“We’ll be here, won’t we, baby?” Savannah talked to Troy, smiling gently. Babies liked her. She figured they had her number. She was mush in their tiny hands and they knew it.

She spent a few minutes getting acquainted before lifting the little boy from the carrier. She cuddled him and then settled him in her lap, bouncing him lightly while she went back to the numbers.

That worked for ten full seconds. Troy’s tiny fingers wrinkled the paper. She just got that away from him and he knocked her pen to the floor. Rescuing that as well, she turned him around and sat him on the desk facing her.

“You’re a busy boy. Are you trying to be like your uncle Rick and work, work, work?”

Troy grinned at her and then promptly burped up.

“Oh, baby.” She reached into his bag and pulled out a cloth to clean him up. “That’s better, but let’s see if we can get you rinsed off.”

She lifted Troy to her shoulder before setting the diaper bag in the carrier and carrying both into Rick’s office. He had a private bathroom. She set the carrier in his empty in-basket and took Troy into the bathroom to clean him up.

Rick strolled into his office after lunch and froze in shock just inside the door. A baby carrier sat in his in-basket. With a frown he glanced back at Savannah’s desk. It was empty.

What was going on? He moved to his desk, but the carrier was empty, too.

What was Savannah up to now? Babysitting no doubt. People here already had her pegged as an easy mark. Well, he’d put a stop to this. There was a limit to his patience. And babies topped the list. His brothers popped them out on a regular basis; well, their wives did, and more power to them.

Rick preferred to keep his distance. Not that he was nervous or anything, it was just that babies were complicated. You had to hold them just so, bounce them a certain way, make sure they didn’t touch things. Feed them, change them, burp them. Yes, definitely complicated.

A baby’s cry shot tension straight up his spine. There was no ignoring that wail of displeasure. A moment later Savannah walked out of his bathroom with a baby boy in her arms.

“So there is a baby here,” he said, looking from her to the boy in her arms, ready to take her to task for wasting time. Wait, the kid looked familiar. “Does it belong to one of my brothers?”

“Yes, he is your nephew, Troy.” She bounced the boy gently. “Do you think five months is too young for an apprenticeship?”

“Oh, yeah, we’ll just put a nanny on staff.” He opened his top drawer and tossed his wallet inside. “Where are Brock and Jesse?”

“Jesse is downstairs going over preliminary designs for your grandmother’s birthday gift with Rett.” She shifted the baby. “Do you want to hold him?”

“No.” He took an involuntary step back.

Savannah lifted both brows at his reaction. “No? With your large family I’d think you’d be used to kids.”

“Yeah, well, kids aren’t really my thing.”

“Really?” His answer shocked Savannah. “How can you resist such a charmer?” She turned Troy to face him. “He’s adorable. And babies are so easy to reach, all you have to do is smile and coo.”

To show him, she smiled at the five-month-old.

Troy shyly smiled back.

“See?” She glanced up at Rick and got caught in his watchful gaze.

“Pull yourself together Ms. Jones. I never coo,” he said firmly.

“Well, that’s a shame.” The baby squealed and bobbed in her arms. She felt bad for Rick, that his icy reserve prevented him from finding joy in his infant nephew. “Maybe you should try it sometime. Babies love unconditionally, you know. It’s kind of a win-win situation.”

He cocked a dark brow, reminding her silently that she was speaking to the boss.

“Right. What was I thinking?” She backpedaled a bit. She needed to leave the room before she said something she’d regret. She knew she talked too much. Her sister, Claudia, said it was Savannah’s biggest weakness and her biggest strength; she tended to say too much, but she also had the power to put people at ease.

Rick tolerated her chatter fairly well, though he rarely spoke himself. Rather he observed and directed, often without saying a word. He orchestrated her comings and goings with the crook or staying motion of a finger. For the first week she’d felt as though she danced to the tune of the puppet master. Now she appreciated the efficiency of their system.

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.”

“Thanks. And thanks again for watching Tr—” The elevator door cut off Jesse’s words.

Blessed silence descended on the office.

Rick sighed and met Savannah’s gaze to see an understanding gleam of amusement.

“Yeah,” Savannah agreed as she went back to the papers in front of her. “You love to see them. And you love to see them go.”

“Huh.” She’d nailed it on the head.

It felt strange to have her read him so well. Strange for anyone to make the effort with him. People tended to avoid rather than interact with him. Generally that suited him fine, but the moment of connection warmed him in an odd way. Turning back to his office, he rubbed absently at his chest.

She still talked too much.

The next afternoon the ringing of the phone summoned Savannah as she approached her cubicle after a late lunch. Rushing to answer, she expected the call to be business-related but was surprised to find her sister, Claudia, on the other end. A very excited Claudia.

“Oh, my God, Savannah. I love you. I love Mrs. Sullivan. I love Rick Sullivan. I love all the Sullivans.”

“Hold on, slow down.” Still catching her breath, Savannah struggled to understand her sister’s chatter. “What are you talking about? What has Rick done?”

“I just heard that because I’m going back to Paradise Pines after I graduate, they’re going to give me a bonus scholarship to help me get settled as I start my new job. That means—”

“Wait a minute.” Savannah sat down, setting her purse on the desk. “You’re telling me the Sullivans gave you more money?”

“Yes. Savannah, I’ll be able to get my own apartment, and a new computer. And a new wardrobe. I need to thank a Sullivan. I need to thank them all. Mrs. Sullivan didn’t answer her phone so I thought of Rick. Is he in?”

“I don’t understand.” Savannah felt thick-headed, but this was so huge. “You mean even though you’ll be out of school, they’re giving you another five thousand?”

“Yes!” Claudia’s excitement reached squeal proportions, dimmed only slightly by the distance of the phone. “This is so amazing! Can you believe it?”

Yeah, Savannah could, when she got past the shock enough to take it all in. One of the things she admired most about the Sullivans—including Rick, the whole doughnut incident notwithstanding—was their generosity.

“You deserve it. You’ve worked really hard these last four years,” she told Claudia.

“I’m overwhelmed. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. Thank Rick.” Just when she had him pegged as all work and no play, Rick did this. Something so thoughtful and sweet it showed what a truly decent man he was. And she knew he was involved because Mrs. Sullivan had told her he had the final say over the scholarships.

“I do thank you. You’ve always been there for me. And of course, Rick, too. Is he there?”

Savannah glanced up at his closed door. “He’s on a conference call. But I’ll tell him you called.”

“Oh, okay. I know you’re busy so I won’t keep you. Promise you’ll give Rick a big kiss from me. Love you lots. Bye.”

“Claudia!” Savannah protested.

But her sister hung up, leaving Savannah with the image of kissing Rick. A visual she really didn’t need. After the incident with Troy yesterday it was easy, way too easy, to imagine how he’d taste, how he’d feel against her.

She’d never known a man like him, so physically fit, so stern in demeanor. All male, he made the men she’d dated seem like boys in comparison. Not that there’d been that many boys. Her high-school years had been spent caring for her mother instead of flirting.

Savannah never quite recaptured those flirty, experimental years. And, ever since, she’d felt one step behind in the game of love.

Unfortunately, Rick really made her wonder what she’d been missing.

A few minutes after Rick’s conference call wrapped up a knock sounded at his door. He looked up as Savannah peeked around the edge.

“Good, you’re free,” she said, stepping into his office. Her fitted skirt showed her legs to advantage as she made her way toward her usual chair in front of his desk.

Even then she didn’t stop. She kept coming, clear around the desk.

At the determined look in her eyes, he surged to his feet. When she leaned toward him, he leaned away. But she kept on coming, lifting onto her toes to touch her lips to his cheek. Instead of pulling away, he bent over her, breathing in the soft scent of honeysuckle.

Now why hadn’t he guessed she’d start the afternoon with a kiss?

“That’s from Claudia,” she said, now intent on avoiding his gaze as she rose on her toes again and her lips caressed his other cheek. “And that’s from me.”

Her hair brushed his cheek as she moved back. He clenched his fist to keep from pulling her closer.

“You Sullivans have been incredibly good to her. She’s over the top about the bonus money for returning to Paradise Pines.”

Ahh. Rick resisted the urge to shift restlessly as he resumed his seat. “The scholarships are my grandmother’s purview.”

“And she told me you always participate in the final decision,” she countered.

Caught, he shrugged. “Paradise Pines needs young professionals. We’re just doing what’s good for the community.”

“Claudia will be great for the community and she’d be returning to Paradise without the incentive, but thank you.” She hesitated, as if she might say something more. Or kiss him again. Instead, she nodded and turned to return to her desk.

Today she was calm, collected, with no sign of the flustered woman from yesterday.

Perfect. Cool and distant were good.

He could use a little indifference himself. Watching her long-legged retreat on red-hot heels, he fought the urge to loosen his tie, the airy room feeling suddenly overly warm.

He should be happy to be back on a professional footing, but for some reason he wasn’t.

“Savannah.”

“Yes.” She stopped at the door to look back at him, her leaf-green gaze wary.

Right. No point in embarrassing them both. Which meant no more inappropriate thoughts of Savannah, short skirts and his desktop.

He pulled a legal pad toward himself. “I’m glad your sister is happy.”

CHAPTER THREE

“YOUR DESIGN IS LOVELY.”

The next Monday after work, Savannah stood in Rett’s pristine workshop for their regularly scheduled lesson, watching as he held her sketch, turning it this way and that to view it from all angles.

“The setting will look great in gold, intertwined but independent with the classic emerald anchoring the middle. The symmetry is aesthetically beautiful. Your sister is going to love this piece,” he told her.

“Thank you.” Satisfaction and excitement made her giddy. But anxiety kept her grounded. She intended the pendant and earrings as a gift for Claudia’s graduation, so Savannah needed it to be perfect. “You don’t think it’s too ambitious?”

He hit her with amused blue eyes. “You passed ambitious when you decided to design the pieces in the first place, so don’t get wimpy on me now.”

“I’m not.” His approval of her design only made her more determined to finish the project. “But my skills are pretty new. I played around with beading when I was younger but this is the first time I’ve worked with precious gems.”

“Relax, you’re a natural. Your designs are busy enough to have interest but simple enough to have classic appeal. Plus I’ll be doing the actual gem work.”

“I know and I really appreciate it.” She smiled sheepishly at him; it was strange relying on someone else’s opinion of her work. His praise felt good, but at the same time it was hard being judged. She focused on the positive. “Someday I want to learn to facet, too.”

“Why don’t you take it one step at a time? Here, let me show you something.” He walked across his workroom and unlocked a drawer under the counter running the length of the wall. He pulled out a small, clear box and brought it over to her.

“Open it.” He placed the box in her hands.

Through the clear container she saw a brilliant green. Curious, she flipped the lid. Inside nestled a set of emerald earrings. Round cuts in an intricate swirl of yellow gold.

“This is my design!” Her gaze flew up to meet his.

He nodded. “You left your drawing on the counter last week.”

“You made my design into real jewelry?” she demanded, both surprised and proud.

“That is what we do here at Sullivans’ Jewels,” he reminded her with a smile.

“Yeah, but I’m an amateur.”

“Yes, it is, and yes, you are,” a deep voice said from the doorway. Rick wove his way around the worktables in the middle of the workshop to reach them. “You’re working with novices now?” he asked his brother in disbelief.

“We all start somewhere. But don’t worry. She’s good. See for yourself.” Rett handed Rick the earrings. Turning back to Savannah he assured her, “This is a great design, but you may want to wait to make a decision on which design you use until after we’ve had a few more lessons.”

“Good idea.” Chewing her bottom lip, she watched Rick as he inspected her work. Talk about being judged. Rett, at least, was an artist, but Rick was all business, he’d look at her work from an entirely different perspective. She told herself she respected his knowledge and his taste.

And still she held her breath.

“These are nice, very elegant. I’m impressed,” Rick said. He pinned Savannah with a pointed stare. “So this is what you two have been up to.”

Ignoring his comment, she focused on his approval: Rick’s words of praise made her feel like a diamond, valuable and brilliant.

“Why are you down here, Rick?” Rett asked, taking the earrings back.

“I received some news. The Emerson Group is pulling out of our international deal.”

“What the heck?” Rett exclaimed, his hands going to his hips in an automatic, challenging stance.

She understood his confusion. She’d heard how long and hard they’d worked on the international anniversary event and suddenly it was null and void?