Chapter 31 Savannah
SAVANNAH
I’m not sure I appreciate that Julian is trying not to sputter a laugh as I stand before him in his office. As silly as it may be, I want to do it my way, even if it is only mental gratification.
He leans casually against his desk with his arms crossed and his closed mouth stretched to one side. It’s that swagger in him that displays he is waiting for me to take the lead.
I glare at him to get it together, ignoring any temptation to veer off course.
“Mr. Haven, I respectfully resign. That is not the same as quitting.”
“Right. It’s the classy way of quitting, basically.” Is he doing this to rile me, or is this Julian being serious? For once, I’m not sure of his humor level of the day.
“Well, I’m a classy lady.” My palm flies up to stop him as his mouth is about to open.
“Except quitting that one time, which does it count? Because there were extenuating circumstances.” My voice entwines with a question.
“Anyway, I resign, which means you will need to find a replacement for me, and I will no longer be reporting to you.”
“No. You’ll be under me,” he retorts.
I roll my eyes, but I feel the droll smile on my mouth.
He pushes away from his desk and takes a few steps in my direction. Always a dangerous move. Only made worse when his hands lightly take hold of my upper arms. “I don’t accept your resignation.”
“You have to. We can’t maintain our professional dynamic this way. Too many gray areas, and I really don’t want to be in a foul mood when I’m cooking you bacon for breakfast, all because you forgot to read your very organized calendar.”
The corner of his mouth turns up into a soft, comforting smile. “You are staying in your role, and I’m promoting you.”
My body sinks into exhaustion. “No. No. No, you are not. That makes it even worse. That screams that I’m sleeping with the boss and got my role. So not a solution.”
“It would be to a different department. Away from me. Back to Charles’s area and whoever takes his role,” he tries to bring reason, but it fails.
I shake my head but smile affectionately at him for his effort.
“You know, I’ve been thinking about it, and it’s really important that I have no ties to Haven, other than you.
It’s better for us. Also, I found something that I think I could enjoy, and it’s been playing in my head.
Recruitment for finding the perfect personal assistants. High-end and a boutique style.”
“Might want to rephrase the high-end part. Some men can take that in a different direction.” I continue to hold my smile. He tips his nose up and studies me. “But I could see that career suiting you.”
I splay my hands out. “Problem solved.”
He takes hold of my hand with his and gives me a chaste kiss on the back of it, almost tongue and cheek. “I guess so. But only if you’re not making this decision because you feel you need to.”
I push my lips out and nod. I’m positive. The last few days, it has danced in my mind, and I might as well take the jump.
The step closer that he takes brings our bodies tightly entwined. “You are going to have to hire someone,” I point out.
He hisses a breath. “Don’t remind me. I mean, my last assistant was a pain in my ass, so I’m sure anyone will be a step up,” he jokes, and my response is to pinch his arm, and he fakes pain. “Okay, she wasn’t that much of a pain. Still, kind of irreplaceable.”
“Maybe it never worked with anybody because you were cranky, and it was because your personal life was in shambles, but now you have me and you’re a bit more chipper these days, so you’ll be a great boss.”
He stares blankly at me. “Let’s not use the word chipper.”
I giggle at his counter-reply. “I promise. You still need to find someone to replace Charles. That’s turning into a dire situation. I heard him mention he wants to join a pickleball team, but he needs his Tuesday afternoons back.”
“All I need is a signature on paper, and it’s solved, but enough logistics chat. There is one thing I’m not sure you realize.” He begins to smirk slyly, and his eyes dance with mine. “We have no reason to keep it professional within these walls anymore. That means only one thing…”
“Which would be?” I coo.
In one swift move, his hands move to my waist, and he hoists me up. “I can finally have you on my desk.”
I laugh, and my head falls back as I smile. “One-track mind.”
He sets me down on his desk and slides items to the other side near his laptop, ensuring nothing falls to the floor. His haste increases, and I fall back and rest on my elbows as I watch him loosen his tie. I’m very happy that I wore a skirt today.
“Still highly inappropriate,” I chide.
Julian raises his brows, intent on calling me out. “Yet, in a few seconds, when I touch your pussy, it will only prove that you’re along for the ride.”
I shake my head but take hold of his loose tie and wrap it around my knuckles to pull him closer until he hangs over me. “Please, shut up and kiss me.”
“Say no more. We’ll have to make this quick if we want to beat the afternoon traffic out of the city to Everhope.”
I titter a laugh. “You really want to go?”
The way he shrugs like I’m crazy is cute, but I’ll never tell him that. “Why not? Plus, maybe we should look at some properties. I want to buy something as an investment. Make things easier when we want to escape this place.”
Everything inside me melts because everything he says is deeply earnest and with a depth of care that I never imagined he had. And I get to experience all of it—every morning, afternoon, evening, and in between.
Which is exactly why I yank him to me and crash my lips onto his.
At ease with the direction of where we’re heading.
It’s promising and right.
Most of all, our hearts used to clash in a tug-of-war of dislike before they crashed, and all the pieces are ours, only we get to touch.
That’s what we are.
And it makes sense.
Only to us.