Chapter Twelve #2
Oakley readied to leave. “Good thing we’re putting in a temporary nursery.
I’ll see you in the office tomorrow morning, little one,” He leaned and made a razzing sound that made Allie clap her hands.
Turning back to Rachel, he gave her a warm smile.
“And I’ll see you, too, and have everything set up by the time you get there. ”
As her heart swelled, Rachel simply nodded and trailed him to the door. “You’re too kind.” He was Mr. Perfect, and she longed to tell him, to touch him…
He paused as if wanting to say something but shrugged it off. “See you in the morning.”
Rachel locked the door behind him. She had to get these roller-coaster feelings under control. That proved easier said than done, especially when she saw firsthand the next morning how Oakley had transformed the office.
First, he had installed an intercom system.
The exit door to the hall would remain locked at all times, and visitors who arrived would push a button.
Once Rachel saw who was at the door, she could buzz them inside.
This way Allie would not be disturbed and random people could not simply walk in.
There was a doorman downstairs, but it was a busy office building.
Next, Oakley had a carpenter set up a temporary barrier that divided Rachel’s office into two parts.
The part closest to the kitchen and bathroom became a small nursery fitted with a crib where Allie could nap, and a changing table.
He’d installed a camera so Rachel could see Allie, and he’d had the entire office babyproofed.
A high chair was crammed into the small kitchen, and in the main area, Allie’s playpen was near Rachel’s desk.
There was also a new bookcase covered in toys.
Rachel found the biggest distraction was that Oakley kept coming out of his office to play with Allie. He adored her daughter. He loved holding her, and had even done so during a video call with Clark. Since the door was open, Rachel had heard everyone laughing.
Now, as Oakley came into the doorway, he smiled at Rachel and Allie, who was crawling across the cleaned carpet. “Sorry, tonight will be a late one,” he said. “I’ve got dinner set to be delivered around six.”
“It’s okay.” She’d known about the late meeting for several weeks, long before Taylor’s accident.
A group of investors had approached Oakley about doing a rodeo showcase in Japan.
When the call connected at 7:00 p.m. Texas time, it would be 9:00 a.m. the next day in Tokyo.
It was an incredible avenue to broaden Oakley’s market share.
“It’s an exciting opportunity,” Oakley confessed as he ate his pasta. “My mom always wanted to go to Japan, so it’s almost like fulfilling a dream if I do.”
“You’ve done well for yourself.”
“I try. As long as Mom wouldn’t chide me about being a workaholic or refusing to relax. In fact, the last time I relaxed was in Dallas, with you.”
Rachel felt her cheeks heat. She remembered Dallas as if it had been yesterday. “Your mom would be very proud of you.”
“I hope so. The way I was brought up is one of the reasons for my drive and nonstop work habits,” he admitted.
“I always worry about bringing my dad up when I’m with you, but I have to for you to fully understand why I’m the way I am.
My dad’s adoptive family might be rich, but they believe you make it on your own.
They’re not giving Clemons any money until they pass, if then.
Trouble is that my dad is not good at business.
He had all these silly get rich schemes, and not one ever took off, and raising six kids was expensive.
He just got by financially when he and my mom got married, and it didn’t get better, until he started suing everyone in sight and made his first real fortune.
In the first lawsuits he had some justification. In yours, he didn’t.”
“No, he didn’t.” Rachel ate some of the delicious pasta con broccoli.
“After my mom passed, and as he got worse with his absurd litigations, I’ll admit to being embarrassed by my dad’s actions.
I wanted to build my business and fortune differently from how he made his.
In order to put my business in the black, I became a workaholic.
I was determined to prove that, unlike my dad’s failures, it could be done. ”
She resisted the urge to reassure him by touching his hand. “Your efforts paid off. You’re about to embark on your biggest enterprise to date. Japan sounds fantastic. I’ve always wanted to go there.”
“Well, if I get this, I’ll be sure you get that chance. You’ve been my right hand, and I wouldn’t be here without you.”
He locked eyes with her and Rachel caught her breath. She ducked her head, breaking the contact first. She could not dare to dream.
“I better go freshen up and study my notes again,” he said.
“Good idea.” She rose and busied herself with cleaning the dishes, for escaping to the kitchen allowed her to get her heartbeat under control.
When it was time for the call, he closed the door to his office. He was still online an hour later when Rachel put Allie to bed. She’d hate waking her to move her into her car seat for the drive home, but it couldn’t be helped. Allie, though, was pretty good about going right back to sleep.
Around eight-thirty, Oakley opened the door. “How’d it go?” Rachel asked as she stifled a yawn. She’d finished most of her work thirty minutes ago.
“It went great. I need you to type up the notes I took and send them over to Dallas so they can review first thing and start drafting our proposal. Then let’s go home.
” Even though she knew he meant going to their respective residences, she liked how when he said “home,” it sent a quiver through her.
“Give me a few minutes and I’ll be done.”
“Thanks.” He went to check on Allie. He returned carrying two bottles of water. “Thought you might like some hydration.” He set a bottle on the corner of her desk and went inside his office.
She’d gotten used to reading his handwriting, and while she typed up his notes, she received several emails she’d been copied on.
He’d sent his executives a list of urgent action items, and also scheduled follow-up meetings with his Dallas staff.
She sent him his notes for review, and that email pinged into her inbox as well once distributed.
Ready to leave, she went to his office doorway and found him silhouetted in the dark.
He stared out the window at the night sky and street below.
He turned. “Sorry. I was just thinking. Mostly I was processing the implications of what my team and I discussed tonight. I’m trying to anticipate any roadblocks.
If we get this, we might need to hire additional staff and move the office early. ”
“That’s fantastic, isn’t it?” She could feel the waves of excitement radiating from him.
“It is.” He grinned as he crossed the semi-lit space. “I couldn’t have done it without your help. We make such a great team, you and I. The best. I’m so lucky to have you.”
All she’d done was type up notes, but the closer he came, the more of an electric undercurrent pulsed between them. His two computer screens created a blue-green glow, and a small green banker’s desk lamp created a pathway of illumination that seemed to lead Oakley to Rachel. “Rachel, I…”
“Oakley…”
Their use of each other’s names heightened whatever had been growing between them. “I’m not supposed to be feeling this way,” he said huskily. “But I can’t help it. Not touching you, especially after what happened in Dallas, not being with you is torture.”
“I agree. I’ve hated this,” she whispered, for kissing him again was as essential as taking her next breath. She reached to cup his cheek and bring his face lower. When their lips touched, the fireworks began.
Or maybe it was stars she saw. She certainly felt the chemistry flaring between them. It carried the kiss to the next level, as if a rocket raced toward the stratosphere. She wanted Oakley. She wanted to risk, to tumble into the oblivion and worry about tomorrow, well, tomorrow.
“Touch me,” she urged, and soon his hands were everywhere. He undid the buttons of her dress shirt. He fingered the lace strap of her black bra.
His breath hissed on the intake. “Beautiful. A sexy little surprise.”
“I bought it in Dallas. I wore it under the red dress.”
His caressing fingers hardened her nipples to points. “Had I known this was underneath we might not have made it to the cocktail party.”
“Good thing you didn’t then.” Her teasing was lost to the tantalizing movement of his fingertips.
“But I do now.” The straps went around her biceps, and then the pretty bra was no more, banished to the floor.
She felt a hint of nerves as he traced her skin.
After nursing for a few months, her breasts hadn’t regained their prepregnancy smaller size or perkiness, but when he cupped them in his hand, he declared them perfect, and then she was in his arms and he gently placed her on the couch and followed her down.
As his mouth found her neck and moved lower, Rachel realized that the intense sensations came from the rare and elemental connection she and Oakley shared.
This was more than meeting physical needs.
This joining was transformative and earth-shattering.
His tongue swirled over her nipples until her hands clutched his back and tremors shook her body.