Page 65 of A Heart So Savage

“And I thought those potential employees were simply interested in my sparkling personality,” Kingston teased.

“Well, I’m sure that’s a factor as well.” Linda flashed a grin at Ava. “We don’t talk about our employer’s good looks when he’s around. We don’t want him getting too full of himself.”

Ava giggled. “It’s probably too late to take such precautions. I suspect he already knows he has an unfair advantage over average men.”

“Linda, we stopped by so I could give Ava a quick tour before heading into the city,” Kingston said with a slight scowl now that the conversation shifted to talk of his appearance. Taking Ava by the elbow, he gave it a gentle squeeze while speaking to the other woman. “Give your parents my best. Michelle, too, if we don’t see her on our way out. And keep me up to date on the baby’s arrival. I’d like to send a gift when the time comes.”

ChapterTwenty-Five

Should you decide to fly

Just take my hand.

Ava followedKingston around the various offices, pausing at times to be introduced. What she found most surprising was the overwhelming number of women working for Winter Enterprises. They outnumbered the men two to one.

After about twenty minutes, he finally led her to his private office. A young lady not much older than Ava sat at a desk just outside it. She was very pretty, with dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. She smiled widely at Kingston and immediately stood up from her seat.

“Good morning, Mister Winter.”

“Good morning, Jane. Do you have those buyer reports ready for me?” Kingston asked, keeping Ava’s hand trapped in his.

Jane smiled brightly. “I sure do, sir. They are in a folder on your desk. I also took the liberty of sending a courier with a copy of the documents to your estate just in case you decided to fly home last night. They should be arriving right about now so you may also peruse them there at your leisure.”

“That was very astute of you, Jane,” Kingston murmured, and Ava felt a piercing stab of jealousy at the cool affection in his tone. Tugging her forward, he wrapped an arm around her waist in a display of ownership. Jane’s smile faltered a little, her brow creasing.

“Jane, this is Ava Blue. Ava, this is my very efficient personal secretary, Jane Becker.”

Jane extended her hand, her smile not nearly as vibrant as it was before. “Nice to meet you, Miss Blue.”

Ava returned the pleasantries while Kingston rubbed his thumb over the curve of her waist, reminding her of the pleasures his hands could deliver. She couldn’t help but wonder if Jane had enjoyed the same experience. The girl certainly appeared smitten, her blue eyes roving over Kingston’s form when she knew he wasn’t looking.

“Jane, see that I am not disturbed, please,” Kingston commanded as he touched an index finger to a pad on the wall. There was the sound of an invisible lock tumbling into place followed by a low beep. He pushed the double wood doors open, stepping aside so Ava could precede him into the room.

“Of course, sir,” Jane said cheerfully, but Ava recognized the sad jealousy behind her false gaiety.

The doors closed behind them with a soft snick. Kingston leaned back against them, watching Ava as she looked about the room, taking it all in.

The office was shaped like a triangle, with the wall facing Jane’s desk paneled in oak that had been stained a dark acorn shade. Behind a wide chrome and glass desk were two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows, joined together in the corner by invisible seams. It gave the illusion of a floating nest perched high in the sky. Or maybe the bow of a ship, the sharp angles slicing through a sea of clouds.

“It’s beautiful,” Ava said softly.

“It is. I’ve never seen anything more gorgeous.” Kingston’s voice rumbled behind her, and when Ava glanced back at him, she realized he wasn’t talking about his office nor the view from the windows. She was the only object in his sight at that moment, his gaze fixated on her.

He kept his casual position against the doors as Ava continued exploring. There were various decorative pieces on the built-in bookcases framing the double doors and expensive works of art hung on the walls. It was a masculine space, and she felt a little out of place. Like a bit of fluff that drifted in when no one was watching.

“You have so many women working here,” she commented suddenly.

“Do I?” Kingston shrugged his shoulders. “I didn’t realize.”

“Are they all from Doctor Abbot’s charitable foundation?”

“I leave the hiring to Linda, but it’s common practice to hire from there when it’s feasible.”

“Helping women like that… some people might consider it noble.”

“Don’t get all weepy about it, Ava,” he replied evenly. “It’s only admirable on the surface. I’m still a bad guy with plenty of irons smoldering in illegal fires.”

Ava’s cheeks burned with the blunt admonition. Kingston didn’t want acknowledgment for doing a good deed. Warning her away was a bristling act of self-preservation, and it made her heart ache a little.

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