Redeeming The Billionaire (The Sherbrookes of Newport Book 5) (14 page)

His words caused unexpected warmth to surge through her. Before she could answer, he came around the desk and kissed her. In response, her heart pounded an erratic rhythm as his lips moved against hers and she hoped her heart didn’t suffer any permanent damage.

“I wasn’t sure I’d make it back before you left the office,” Trent said after he pulled away ending their kiss. “It seemed worth a shot, so I raced back when my meeting ended.” He dropped into the seat on the other side of her desk and rolled up his shirtsleeves.

Addie reached for the iced coffee he’d brought her in an effort to keep herself from sighing like a lovesick thirteen-year-old at his thoughtful admission. “I don’t have a lot of time. The Meads are due at six thirty, but I’m glad you’re here.”

Trent picked up his own drink and raised it toward his mouth, her eyes following his every move. “Is that your design for them?” He pointed at the computer screen with his cup.

After a mental shake that refocused her thoughts, she looked at the screen. “No, this is my design for your kitchen. I wanted to have it ready to show you tomorrow. I also started the designs for the two master bathrooms. What do you think?” Beneath her desk, her foot twitched as she waited for his answer. She’d spent hours on the design. What if he decided it wasn’t good enough? No one wanted to hear that, especially after all the effort she’d put into it.

Trent stood and walked around to her side of the desk. “It’s fabulous,” he said from behind her as he examined the picture on the screen. “I hadn’t considered adding extra windows to the room, but those above the sink look as if they belong there. And I love the idea of the two islands.” He pointed to one of the islands in the picture. “If we put some stools at this one we can eat and enjoy the view from these windows.”

A new unexpected warmth spread through her when he insinuated they’d be spending time together in the kitchen. “What about the color of the cabinets. Are they too dark?” She heard the little wobble in her voice and hoped Trent hadn’t noticed.

Warm flesh came in contact with her arms as Trent’s hand settled on her upper arm. “No. They’re just right for the room. And the subtle carvings over here give the room just the right amount of elegance without going overboard.” With his free hand he pointed to the carvings on one of the islands. “I approve of the whole design.” Trent’s hand moved away from her arm and he spun her chair around so that she faced him. “I can’t wait to see what else you’ve come up with.” Taking her by the hand, he pulled her to her feet. “But remember what I said. I’m in no rush on this project. Work on it when you have the time.” Before she could protest he leaned in toward her. “The house isn’t going anywhere and neither am I.” His lips brushed against her as he spoke the last part of his sentence.

Addie leaned into him as Trent took full possession of her lips, caressing her mouth more than kissing it. As the kiss continued, she felt his heart thudding against hers and a different jolt of excitement shot through her. While she’d never considered herself ugly, she’d never thought
of herself as the type who could arouse a legendary playboy like Trent. Yet, judging by his kiss and his body’s reaction, he desired her just as much as she did him. When the need for air outweighed the utter enjoyment she experienced with Trent’s mouth on hers, Addie pulled back.

“What time will you be done tonight?” Trent asked, his deep blue eyes fixed on her.

Unable to look away, she shrugged. “I’m not sure. If they like my proposal maybe a little after seven, but if they want a lot of changes it could be later.”

“Will you come by my place when you’re done?” he asked, his voice low and seductive. “I don’t want to wait until tomorrow to see you again.”

“Are you sure? It might be late.” Although he looked as handsome as ever, Trent appeared tired and, thanks to their phone conversations that week, she knew he’d spent a lot of time traveling around New England for meetings.

“Positive.” He placed a kiss on her forehead. “It’s almost six thirty so I’m going to head out now. Just come over when you’re done.” His lips brushed against hers again. “Have a good meeting and I’ll see you in a little while.”

When the door closed behind him, Addie dropped back into her office chair, a giddy smile on her face. Trent had truly missed her. During their conversations he’d said as much, but she’d chalked it up as something he said to everyone. She could no longer do that. He’d rushed back to see her and invited her over despite their original plans to wait until tomorrow. And while she loved talking to him during the week, she’d reminded herself over and over that Trent wasn’t known for his long-term relationships, so she should be prepared for a fun but short-lived fling. Each time she reminded herself of that, she’d think of their time together so far and how his actions didn’t fit with his persona. Was it possible that he viewed this thing between them as different from his past relationships?
Either way is fine.
Addie repeated the same line she’d told herself all week. If her and Trent’s involvement ended up being short-lived, that was okay because she didn’t have time for a relationship right now anyway. On the other hand, if things lasted she’d be happy, too. She enjoyed her time with him, and if she was honest about it, he made her feel more alive than she had in a long time.

Reaching for the iced coffee he brought, she took a sip. Yup, whatever happened, happened. She’d be fine whatever path this thing with Trent took.
Liar,
a tiny voice in the back of her head whispered.
You want this relationship to last.
Addie took another sip from her drink and blocked out the voice calling her bluff, then turned back toward her computer and waited for the Meads.

Addie’s appointment with the Meads went so smoothly, she almost pinched herself just to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. The couple arrived right on time, both coming directly from work. Both loved her proposal for their kitchen and only asked that instead of a slider leading out to the deck that she have a French door installed, which required only a minor change to her plans. They’d even been flexible with their timetable, willing to wait until the end of the month for the work to begin. As a result, Addie was out of her office and in the private elevator up to Trent’s apartment less than two hours after he left her office.

The moment she walked into the lobby of his building the doorman recognized her and ushered her to the elevator that only accessed Trent’s floors. On her previous visit she hadn’t noticed that Trent used a special passcode to activate the elevator, but as it carried her up toward his floor it made sense to her. Trent’s apartment took up the top two floors of the building. No one else needed access to those floors.

When the elevator stopped, the doors opened with a ding. Before stepping onto the gleaming floor in the foyer, she smoothed down her skirt. Thanks to the blended materials the skirt resisted wrinkles for the most part, but even so after wearing it all day a few were visible.

The sound of her heels on the tiles echoed in the silent space, and she took a moment to appreciate the beauty around her. Whoever designed and decorated the building made certain every part of it looked gorgeous, not just the apartment itself.

Ringing the bell, Addie waited for Trent to answer. When several minutes went by and he didn’t answer, she reached into her purse for her cell phone. It made sense that in a place like this everything would be kept in working order, but things did break. Maybe the doorbell wasn’t working or he hadn’t heard it. From memory she dialed Trent’s cell phone, but before she hit send the door swung open and Addie forgot her name.

“Sorry, I was in the shower when you rang the doorbell,” Trent said, dressed in nothing more than a faded pair of jeans, his hair wet and his feet bare. “Come on in.” He took a step back and pulled the door open wider.

Addie unglued her feet from the floor and took a step forward, unable to look away from the tiny drops of water on his chest and stomach. She’d seen plenty of pictures of gorgeous men with bodies like Trent’s in magazines and on television but never in person. As if her hand had a mind of its own, she reached out and wiped away a droplet of water near his nipple.

“I’m glad your meeting didn’t take long.” One of his hands covered hers while the other pulled her closer.

Before he could say anything else, she pressed her lips against his, the instigator of their kiss for a change. “So do you always answer your door dressed like this?” she asked, pulling back from their kiss.

Trent gathered both her hands in his and raised them toward his mouth for a kiss. “Only when I know it’s you,” he said, the warmth of his smile echoing in his voice.

The warm kiss he placed on her hand traveled up her arms and throughout her body. “I bet you say that to all the women who show up on your doorstep.” She kept her voice light and teasing.

“You’re the first woman, other than my sister and cousin, to ever be here.” He looked right at her as he spoke.

There was no mistaking the tingle of excitement that leapt to life at his words. With her hand still locked in his, Trent led her away from the door. “Make yourself comfortable while I grab a shirt.” He stopped next to the sofa in the main living room.

You don’t need to do that on my account.
Addie nodded and watched him walk back toward the stairs that led up to the bedrooms on the second floor. Rather than sit, she wandered toward the windows overlooking the city. All day the sky had been gray. Despite the ominous weather predicted, the rain and thunderstorms hadn’t made an appearance. Now though, the sky appeared darker than it should and, judging by the trees below, the winds had picked up. Wind and rain she could handle. It was the thunder and lightning that scared her.

Upstairs Trent grabbed the first T-shirt his hand landed on. All week he’d looked forward to seeing Addie again and not because Marty insisted he keep to the timetable he’d set. In fact, he’d pushed Marty’s plan to the back of his mind. Only after his conversation with the advisor that week had it made an unpleasant appearance and kept him from sleeping.

Instead, he looked forward to spending time with Addie for the simple reason that he liked her. He enjoyed their conversations both in person and on the phone. She made him laugh. Unlike other women he’d dated, she never put any pressure on him. Not once had she demanded to see him. She’d accepted and understood that he had work obligations during the week. Addie never sucked up to him either. When she didn’t agree with him, she let him know. She even
attempted to convince him to see things her way. And now after a long week, he had her all to himself. When he left for his meeting in Hartford that morning, he resigned himself to the fact he wouldn’t see Addie until tomorrow. However, when his last meeting ended early, the only thing he’d been able to think about was getting back to Providence early enough to see her. Her agreement to stop by after her own meeting only sweetened the day.

“Not much to see out there tonight,” Trent said when he re-entered the living room and found Addie by the windows. “Usually you get a great view of the sunset from that window.” Trent stopped behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her against him.

As if they’d done it a hundred times before, she rested her head against him and placed her own hands over his. With the simple action, a sense of pure contentment struck him and he envisioned them standing like that every night watching the sunset over the city.

“I’d love to see it sometime.”

She’d made a clear statement, but he detected the question in her voice. “You will.” He didn’t want there to be any doubts in her mind as to his intentions. “You’ll enjoy the sunrises from up here, too.” If she hadn’t been in his arms, he would’ve missed that she held her breath for a moment at his mention of sunrises. “Since there’s not much to see out there tonight, why don’t we find something else to do? We can put on a movie. Or if you’re hungry we can see what’s in the kitchen?”

Turning in his arms, Addie smiled at him. Then before he could make the first move she placed a gentle kiss on his mouth. Although gentle and over all too soon, the single kiss warmed his very soul, and Trent could do nothing but stare at her when she broke contact, his mind busy processing the change in his emotions.

“I’m not hungry, but go ahead and eat if you are. A movie sounds good, though.”

Oh, he was hungry all right but not for food. He wanted her naked in his bed more than he wanted his next breath. However, that wasn’t something you told a woman like Addie, at least he didn’t think so. A statement like that might send her running all the way back to her own place. “I’m all set for now, but how about some wine?”

Trent took her by the hand and led her into the kitchen. After looking through his selections they settled on a Cabernet, and then he led her back to his entertainment room with its movie projector. Walking in, Trent pressed the button on the wall to lower the screen. “What kind of movie do you feel like? A comedy maybe?” he asked as he hit the button that controlled the shades on the windows.

On the other side of the room, Addie kicked off her heels and settled herself on the leather sectional that occupied most of one wall. “How about something with some suspense?”

Trent ran through his list of movies in his head. “Have you seen that thriller Mia Troy did? I bought it last month but haven’t watched it.” He heard the first onslaught of rain hit the windows as he sat down. Immediately, he recalled the weatherman’s forecast for the evening and Addie’s reaction the last time there had been a thunderstorm. “If not, I also just got Anderson Brady’s last movie.” As he spoke Trent pulled Addie closer.