Page 35 of Gifted

“You’re cute when you sulk,” I teased, wanting to alleviate his funk.

He growled, and I giggled.

“Look, I have to go,” I said, doing my best to sound upset about it. “I need to deal with…” I looked up at the company sign. “With Logistics, then I’ll talk to you. Just give me a few minutes. You’ll be free?”

“Yeah. I don’t have anything planned for the afternoon other than spreadsheets.”

“Okay… I’ll talk to you soon.” Very soon. Because I’d been lying to him the past week while this surprise had been planned. His parents knew and had arranged the flight for me on the company’s plane. Unbeknownst to Noah, all my things, including this car had already been shipped here, to Denver, days ago.

Hanging up my cell, I slipped it into my purse next to the test I’d taken this morning. With a deep breath, I climbed out to the car and breathed in the crisp January air.

This was it. I was here for my man.

Dressed in slim-fitting jeans and one of my fuzzy red sweaters, I strode toward the building then to the elevators that would take me up to Noah. To my surprise, no one stopped me. Apparently, security wasn’t a big deal in this building, located on the outskirts of the city. Although, when I considered it, I bet Noah’s dad had let the guards at the desk know I was coming.

Butterflies careened around my belly, growing stronger with each floor the lift ascended. When the doors parted on the fourth level, I was almost shaky from anticipation.

It really had been hell the past month. I’d missed Noah more than I would have ever believed. And through it, I’d battled with fear he’d change his mind. All his messages and calls assured me he hadn’t. He missed me just as much.

For the most part, Rutgers had avoided me, thank God. Other than a few disgusted looks, he’d steered very clear of me. Noah told me it might have something to do with the huge donation from the Kessler family. Money talked. Which I should have thought of. I could have done the same thing.

But that was over, and I was here. After checking the wall directory for his office, I headed down the corridor, hoping I didn’t get lost in a maze on the way. But Noah actually had an office suite where clients came to see him, so his location was fairly well marked. In moments, I stood before the double wood doors.

Noah Kessler, VP Operations, was emblazoned on a brass plate in the middle of one of them. It made me proud to know he’d taken his place with the family, and maybe I’d even had a little to do with it. Pausing, I took a deep breath to settle my nerves. Try to anyway.

My hands ran over my clothing before settling on my still-flat stomach. I had a bigger surprise for Noah than me showing up here. We had another happy gift.

Steeling myself, anxious to see my man, I reached for the knob and let myself inside the brightly lit suite. I clocked the area quickly. A polished woman sat behind the desk straight ahead from me; a reception area lay to my left, with Noah’s office door to the right.

“Can I help you?” she asked icily while I looked around. Her tone drew my eyes back to her, and I studied this woman who spent so much time with my fiancé. She had auburn hair cut into a sleek asymmetrical bob. Her makeup was flawless, emphasizing her amethyst eyes that couldn’t possibly be natural. Couple it with her emerald dress, and she was gorgeous and classy. I felt completely out of place.

Her head tilted when I didn’t answer, and her lips parted to repeat her question or ask something else. I didn’t give her the chance.

“I’d like to see Noah,” I blurted with a mental shake.

“Do you have an appointment?” she asked, sounding as if she were speaking with a misbehaving child. That ruffled my proverbial feathers.

I don’t think so, lady.

She knew I didn’t have an appointment, but I also knew that didn’t matter. He’d told me himself that he didn’t have anything scheduled this afternoon.

“No, but I’m sure he’ll see me.”

“I’m afraid Mr. Kessler is—”

My feet were moving before she could say busy or unavailable. “Not busy for me.”

“Hey! Stop! You can’t—”

Ignoring her, I flung open the door to his office and walked right in.

“Macy, I said—” He stopped as his head came up from where it had rested on his hand, and he jumped to his feet. I couldn’t mistake his surprise, happiness and instant desire. Every bit of my nerves flittered away as reciprocal happiness and desire met his.

I grinned at my mischief, so pleased I’d pulled this off.

“I tried to stop her,” the assistant said while he came around his desk and made a beeline toward me. “I’ll call security.”

“Don’t. She can come in whenever she wants.” He stopped in front of me, his dark eyes pinned to mine. “We were just on the phone,” he murmured, reaching out to lightly curl his hands on my upper arms. His palms caressed up and down while he devoured me with his hungry stare. We’d facetimed and even had phone sex, but being in touching distance, breathing in each other trumped that a million times.

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