Page 6 of Save Me the Trouble
“I know.” If possible, his expression darkened further, only emphasizing the annoyance in his tone. “I told Robin to reschedule.” And then he turned and walked into his office, leaving me gaping for a long second until the heavy door almost closed in my face.
Not today, Satan.My palm slammed on the wood, adrenaline blotting out the sting as I pushed it back open and strode in after him.I had this. I HAD to have this.
The huge partner’s desk in the center of the room dominated the space. Just like the windows dominated the exterior walls and the dark paint dominated the ambiance. It was a cave. A very expensive work cave for a man who wanted to be a recluse.A gorgeous recluse who dominated my senses.
He stood behind his desk, staring down at an iPad, his brows intently furrowed.
He knew I was standing here, right? Waiting for him?
I steeled my spine. “Well, I’m here now.”
My announcement made no difference; his attention didn’t even flicker from the screen. Plastering the most sickeninglysweet smile on my face, I walked right up to the leather chairs that faced his desk like interrogation seats in front of the executioner and nonchalantly took a seat in one.
Thatgot his attention.
“I don’t have time for any interview today.” He pressed a button on his desk phone and picked up the receiver. “Send Mr. Walton in.” He hung up and glared at me. “You can email Robin your questions, and she’ll respond. Have a nice day, Miss…”
“Johnson,” I ground out, too fed up to do anything but blurt out, “You know, like slang for penis.”
He choked on his next breath, wheezing as the door to his office opened as Robin escorted inside an older man wearing a suit and round glasses and carting a briefcase.
Robin rushed forward, her chest practically leaping from her shirt to reach him. “Are you okay, Mr. Crown?—”
“Fine,” he growled, lifting a hand to prevent her from coming closer.
I covered my mouth with my hand, trying to hide my smile by pretending to rub my nose.
“I can escort you out, Miss…”
“Johnson.” I beamed at her. “You know, like slang for?—”
“That won’t be necessary, Robin,” Mr. Crown interceded quickly. “Miss Johnson, come with me. Robert, I’ll be right with you.”
He rounded the desk, and as soon as I stood, his hand firmly gripped my elbow, guiding me to the stand-alone bookcase on the side wall. With a gentle push, the Murphy door opened into an adjoining room that looked nothing like the office we’d just been in.
“Wait here,” he ordered with a low voice of displeasure.
“O—” The door shut “—kay.”
“Sorry about that, Richard…” His voice quickly dissolved the farther he got away from the door, and that was fine with me.
I had plenty to distract myself with.
My gaze roamed the smaller study.
Unlike the furniture in his office, the sofa and desk chair in here were well-worn. The leather held impressions from the weight of hundreds of ideas born in its seat.
Thiswas where he worked. Not in the massive office behind the imposing desk in the commanding chair. But here. In a cozy, light-lit study, at a small desk that faced the windows, with pictures of flowers on the light blue walls.
And a Chihuly chandelier.
Were the ones in the lobby his idea?
I mulled over the idea, wondering if something as simple as a room had made me question my perception of Killian Crown.No, of course not,I assured myself and went to the smaller bookshelf.He was still a royal asshole. A cold, callous businessman.I pulled out a volume from the shelves.Atlas Shrugged.My fingers traced the title on the cover.
Here, the books weren’t leather-bound or even hardback. They were well-loved paperbacks, the covers clearly having been folded back by someone who was focused on absorbing their knowledge, some pages wrinkled in corners where work had forced a pause in his study.
I looked to the couch and imagined the gorgeous man I’d just met lying on the couch, his features relaxed instead of ruthless, his clothes rumpled instead of rigid, and this book splayed over what I was sure was a very fine chest, his eyes shut as he tried to shrug off the weight of his persona out there and rest in true form in here.
