Billionaire Blaze, page 15
“Thank you. I normally pride myself on taking care of others. I know Sarai has already shown you some of the area. When you have some free time, I would love to take you to some of my favorite parts of the city and buy you a drink or dinner or something to make up for my prior behavior.”
“I would like that. I would really like that.”
There was no stopping the grin as it spread across my face. After all my fears and worries, here was Kit, wanting to make sure I wasn’t upset and more than willing to hang out. Daniel and Henry’s advice was everything it needed to be.
“I usually finish up here at eight, and I think Sarai wants to go for dinner today, but shall we figure out a possible date and time we could meet up off-site?” I asked, beginning to get into business mode. I needed to make sure I wasn’t holding George and Henry up. And we were going to see each other again later.
Immediately, she was flustered again.
“Uhhh…sure. Later. I should get back to helping Sarai and going over the designs for the first few huts.”
“And whatever was in that heavy box. Seemed exciting and important. I’m sure Sarai will love to look at it now that the crisis is averted.” Again, I smiled at her, but this time I forced myself to walk away.
I wanted to look back, but I had Henry a hundred yards or so down the freshly made path between the huts waiting. As I came into view and he looked up from his phone, he grinned and gave me a thumbs-up.
“What’s that for?” I asked.
“She’s adorable and good-looking and smart and talented, and how the hell did you spend three days with her on an island and not even get her number?” Henry replied in one rushing breath.
“It was four days, actually.”
Henry rolled his eyes as I walked past him toward the footprint of the hut we needed to focus on next. George was already there and talking to his men, so we didn’t interrupt him, but I got Henry to make notes for me on what I could see of the foundations, where we had expected to be, and questions to ask George.
Thankfully, the foreman didn’t take too long, and he came over to us with a few of his men for us to talk further. The changes to the materials had created a few differences here and there, but it was going to be fairly easy to adjust everything, and we needed to change the flow of which part was worked on more than any other changes.
The men made notes as well, helping to confirm we could work on the huts in the new order and would have what we needed on site in terms of equipment and people. It helped that Henry was with us. He had a handle on the full schedule even better than I did. He quickly came up with a few options based on the restrictions we had and everything Sarai had told us to give the foreman and his team more of an idea of what it meant for them and the build itself.
By the time he was done, I was exhausted, and my feet hurt from all the standing up and walking around the site. It was already coming along well, but the foreman eventually excused himself, and Henry and I were left to our own agenda.
“We should look over the huts closer to being finished and check the snagging and if they’re ready for the fitters and Kit’s furniture and design to be put in and implemented.” Henry pointed at the hut that was the most finished, and I happily followed him. The sooner we finished this part, the sooner we could stop for dinner.
And that meant seeing Kit again.
Focus, I told myself. You can’t do a bad job just to get to dinner faster. This is supposed to be a fun extra, not a distraction from the work.
But no matter how much I tried to remind myself that my work was more important than taking a girl on a date and finding out if she was genuine, I kept thinking about her. Eight that evening couldn’t come soon enough.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
“Your mind really isn’t on this, is it, boss?” Henry asked as I missed yet another defect that would need to be fixed in snagging. This wasn’t a normal task for someone who stuck to the architect role entirely either, but Sarai wanted me to oversee this, and I had promised that I would deliver a final build I was proud of.
When you were known for being the best in the area, you had to make sure that everyone was up to your standard or do it yourself. And that meant being on site and making sure each hut was as perfect as possible. Sarai’s reputation depended on it, and that meant mine did, too.
I sighed and looked at the lists we had already. Henry had managed to pick up on a good three-quarters of the snagging and things to check with the foreman, and only a quarter were mine. It was normally the other way around.
Given the list and whom we were working with, I felt confident that we had caught everything of importance, but so my conscience could rest clear, I went around again and checked the entire hut again. I spotted one very minor crack that might not even be considered major enough to do anything about, but I noted it anyway.
“Done?” Henry waited by the door, his list in his hand.
Although I wanted to give him some kind of smartass answer, I didn’t and simply nodded.
“Great. I’m about ready for that dinner Sarai promised, and even if you’re not there for the food, I plan on enjoying it.”
“Oh, trust me, I’m also there for the food. I don’t know how Sarai does it, but she always finds us great places to get something to eat. And she’s never backward about picking up the bill.”
“Saves you paying for us both when we work late.” Henry took my list to add to his, and we made our way to the site office again. Every step brought a new level of anxiety and desire with it. I still couldn’t quite believe that Kit had come over to say sorry to me when I had been a total asshat to her.
Still, I had the chance to make it up to her, and while we were walking over, I took the opportunity to send a quick text to Daniel and let him know the good news. I’d made sure I had another shot at this, and after he took the time to listen to me, he deserved to know that I had done my best to follow his advice, and so far, so good.
Since he hadn’t promised me that the dates would go well or anything other than I would have an excuse to go places that were no fun alone, he had every right to consider himself successful. Of course, Henry did, too, but he was already enjoying watching the situation with Kit play out before his eyes.
When we walked into the site office again, there wasn’t anyone there. I frowned, having just worked myself up about seeing Kit again, only to not see her.
“Is the car still here?” Henry asked, but he was already walking back to the door to find the answer to his question for us both.
I headed that way, too. There was no point in either of us waiting inside the building. It was beginning to get dark, and this was about the time Sarai had suggested we go out together. Had we somehow missed the group?
When we got to the parking lot and saw the cars, all the usual ones were there. No one had left yet. At least, no one whose car we recognized.
Before we could go anywhere else, however, Kit and Sarai came out of another of the not-quite-finished huts. It was one that wasn’t yet ready for snagging but close. One of the women handling the purchasing of bulk items like bed linen and toiletries was with them, and she was talking to Kit while Kit explained something.
They hadn’t seen us yet, which gave me an opportunity to study her for a moment. She was absorbed in her conversation and animated. Sshe used her hands to gesticulate while she talked, but they weren’t over-the-top gestures and appeared to be part of her talking.
Still, it drew attention to her slender, delicate fingers and small, pale wrists. I found myself imagining them in the leather restraints I had at home. It had been a while since I felt the desire to properly dom a woman, but Kit was reawakening it within me. She was bringing out the part of me that enjoyed controlling the pace and attention in the bedroom.
While I was considered a dom, pain wasn’t a strong turn-on for me. It was much more about being trusted and earning that trust. It was why I was so angry at myself for being unkind to her without considering that there were plenty of reasons why she might be acting the way she was.
I wanted to earn back that trust and faith and then show her all the pleasure and heated desire that her submission to my control could bring her. As I imagined what I might do to her, I grew more turned on than I would have liked in public.
Hoping no one had noticed so far, I turned away from the approaching women and looked around for the foreman. If George was around, I couldn’t see him anywhere.
However, it gave me something else to focus on, and I calmed my body down again. This was going to get awkward if I couldn’t keep my thoughts under control. I was supposed to be the disciplined one.
“Lukas, Henry.” Sarai’s voice cut across the parking lot, and I was forced to turn back and engage in conversation. Kit looked tired, but she was still with Sarai and met my gaze for a fraction of a second before she looked away and blushed.
As I reached them, I had to fight the urge to put a finger under her chin and lift her face so I could look into her eyes. I wanted to see what she was feeling. Maybe even make her blush some more.
Henry coughed, bringing my attention back to the group. Everyone was staring at me as if I had missed something, and I gulped for a moment. Finally, Kit dared to look up at me herself, her eyes wider than normal. Even she was expecting me to do something.
“Sorry, I must have missed that,” I said, trying not to show any embarrassment. I had been entirely distracted by Kit.
“I asked if you had done everything you needed today,” Sarai replied. The corner of her mouth lifted in a brief smirk, and she glanced at Kit before looking at me again to see if I would finally answer her question.
“Oh, sure. We left our list of snagging and things to sort in the office ready for George tomorrow. We’re both starving now, aren’t we, Henry?” I deflected some of the attention to my assistant, hoping that he would take over and talk for me for a while.
Instead of rescuing me, Henry just gave a thumbs-up and waited for someone else to do something. We all paused, no one moving as we stared at each other. I didn’t know who was going to walk or talk first, but I didn’t plan to and didn’t know what else might generate conversation. All I was good for was staring at Kit.
Everyone had noticed, and I saw no point in hiding it any longer. I wanted her, and by the end of the night, she would know it.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Kit
Although I felt great and anxiety-free when I started the day, seeing Lukas and having him stare at me the way he did unraveled me faster than anything else. I’d gotten through the one meeting and been able to focus on business. But since then, it was as if everything and everyone conspired to make me think of him.
Once Sarai had seen me blush when mentioning his name, she had wanted to know about any feelings, and although she was being friendly about it and not trying to pry too much, she had picked up on him staring at me after work.
I was more than ready to be in a car with her and leaving the site by the time we extricated ourselves from the awkward conversation. I climbed into the passenger seat and closed my eyes for a few seconds, concentrating on breathing slow and deep.
“You okay?” Sarai asked as she slipped behind the wheel with far more grace than I had ever managed.
I nodded and tried to smile at her, but I wasn’t sure I really succeeded at either. My palms were sweaty, and I had to fight the urge to obviously wipe them on my pants.
“I think he likes you, too.” Sarai drove off, everyone following her to the restaurant she had chosen. Although some evenings she had gone off to do her own thing with Richard, this had been the pattern for the day more often than not. All the major players on the site went and ate together.
Although I appreciated not having to worry too much about food, I also enjoyed having a car and driver and being able to go where I wished to eat or explore. That seemed to be something Sarai organized for me only when she wasn’t around, and I hadn’t yet plucked up the courage to ask for a car or driver to go out independently if she didn’t offer.
“You know, Lukas could be a good option for you. You both work in similar fields. Could offer your services as a joint package. I know a lot of people say don’t mix love and business, but when you start with love and then go into business, it can really work.” Sarai grinned, no doubt thinking of her and Richard.
I nodded along, not sure what to say either way and glad that she didn’t appear to expect much more from me other than to listen to what she was saying. No matter what I thought when I wasn’t with Lukas, I had come to realize when I was with him, I could think of nothing else than wanting to be close to him.
The man felt safe, and warm, and inviting—and Sarai was right. He liked me. Or felt something that made him react to my presence as well.
Sarai pulled into the usual favorite restaurant she’d told me about. So far I’d only eaten here once, but the menu was simple and normal enough that I didn’t have a problem eating here again. Although Sarai had alluded to taking me to some more upmarket restaurants and needing to dress up for them, she hadn’t done so. It was something I was very grateful for.
The high-end world that most of the upper class everywhere lived in wasn’t my zone. I didn’t want to be in it, really. All I wanted was the simple things in life and a chance to do what I loved as much as possible.
We waited in the parking lot for the rest of the group, and even Richard joined us. He had been somewhere else, handling some paperwork all day, and he embraced Sarai for a moment, ignoring the rest of us.
It was sweet to see, but I looked away to give them a moment to themselves. In doing so, I ended up meeting Lukas’ gaze. He smiled at me and came straight over as if he had been heading in my direction already. For half a second, I felt like a deer before a lion, knowing I would be devoured whether I liked it or not.
“Are you hungry?” he asked. I didn’t answer, my mouth opening but my mind thinking of all sorts of other things and not processing his question. “I love this place, and it’s so close to the site. Have you been here yet?”
Despite him asking me two questions now, I still didn’t speak, but he didn’t seem to be waiting for answers. Instead, he told me all about the menu and the sorts of food I could order. By the time Sarai and Richard rejoined us, I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I had been here once already.
Henry walked in on the other side and pulled the door open for me and Lukas to go inside.
“We’ve got the usual table,” Sarai said, calling over my shoulder so Lukas would know where he was leading. I didn’t know if that was the table we were at the last time, so I let Lukas guide me.
He gently slipped an arm around my back and steered me toward a table near the back corner where there would be enough space for all of us, and we would be out of the way.
It wasn’t where I had been the last time, but this seemed like it would be better for us all. Lukas gave me no choice but to sit next to him. He pulled out a chair for me and then immediately sat down beside me. To my surprise, Henry kept up his role of fitting in on the other, which left me sandwiched between the two of them.
I tried not to panic as it appeared as if none of the others were going to sit with us, all of them delayed by something near the bar. I didn’t want to spend the evening sandwiched between Lukas and his PA with no one else to talk to. I might want to get to know Lukas a lot more, but I didn’t want it to be quite like this.
Thankfully, they came to sit with us a short while later, and I had Sarai opposite me, at least.
“How long are you going to be here for?” Lukas asked me as soon as we had ordered our food and drinks and had a moment to talk.
“I don’t know yet. At least until the project is close to finished. After I’ve done the designs, I could possibly leave before the final hut is completely sorted, just leave the required furniture and accessories to match the other huts in the same area.” I shrugged, not sure when that was likely to be at all.
Sarai had bought an open plane ticket for me, and I knew she had said I could be where I was staying as long as needed.
“You make it sound as if you want to leave as soon as possible,” Sarai added, frowning.
“Oh, not at all. But you don’t want to pay me or put me up longer than you need. I’m not going to overstay my welcome.”
Sarai reached out and put her hand on my arm. “You are far too sweet to ever outstay your welcome. Honestly, you’ve already done such a good job that you’re welcome to stay in any of our centers whenever you wish. You’re part of the family now.”
I smiled, acknowledging the sincerity in her words but not feeling as if I entirely belonged. She was very comfortable in a world like this, but other than her and Lukas, I hadn’t made that many friends or felt at ease. Then again, I’d only been on site a few days. Being liked by her felt good, and Lukas nodded along.
“You definitely shouldn’t rush off,” Lukas said, bringing my attention back to him. “There’s so much of the city and state you haven’t seen. You should stick around for at least a few days after the project is done. We should all go on a road trip or something as a reward for all the hard work and enjoy ourselves.”
The offer was one I wasn’t sure I could trust, but I nodded and enthused along with everyone else. Sarai immediately latched onto the idea, and within ten minutes, she had decided on a weeklong trip for us all after the majority of the project was done and even began picking out locations.
Although it passed the time and kept the conversation flowing, I couldn’t help but feel anxious about it. Sarai was already assuming that Lukas and I were a couple, and the more she implied the two of us would be traveling and sharing a room together, the more worried I got about it. Yet no matter what she said, Lukas didn’t seem to correct her, and neither did I.
