“Absolutely not.” Yes. Desperately.
His grin was quick, evil. “So there’s something else I can do for you?”
He twitterpated her so much she had to shake her head to remember why she’d sought him out. “I need to do some work. So if the offer of using the garage apartment is still open, I’d like to take you up on it.” Having separate spaces was more important now than it had been an hour ago. After his teasing invitation, she’d never be able to think as long as they were under the same roof.
“I’ll walk you over.”
She hurried back to the living room ahead of him so their bodies didn’t come into close proximity. And then she followed him out the sliding glass patio door and across to the former barn.
The upstairs space blew her away. It wasn’t a tiny office—it was more like an artist’s studio, with wide-open spaces and massive windows that allowed plenty of sunlight. The honey-colored wood floors were divine. There was a comfortable-looking couch, a daybed, and an anti-gravity gaming chair behind an L-shaped desk that offered her more workspace than she’d ever enjoyed before. “This is as big as my apartment.”
“You’re pleased?”
“It’s spectacular. Really. The views…” The windows were massive, and he’d been right about the natural light that filtered in.
“There’s an attached deck, through that door. Make yourself comfortable while I bring over the computer.”
After he left, she took his advice and explored her temporary work area. There was a small powder room and a tiny kitchenette, complete with a small refrigerator that was stocked with water bottles and splits of champagne. This apartment couldn’t be any more perfect for her.
Then she walked out onto the small deck. It was only big enough for a bistro set and a single Adirondack chair, but it overlooked the meadow and Saddle Mountain. It was a perfect place to escape with a cup of tea or an evening sip of bubbly.
Jacob returned with the box containing a sleek, space-agey titanium-encased tower. It was not just functional, but a work of art with the company’s famous curved lines.
Awed, she trailed her fingers down the side. “I’ve never seen anything this beautiful.”
“Not sure I have either. I’m told it’s next year’s Elite Pro model. And it’s been upgraded with an additional twenty thousand dollars’ worth of graphics cards.”
“I’m…” Speechless. This was the stuff of dreams. She couldn’t afford the base model, let alone the upgraded pro one. “Wow.”
“Apparently Bonds said that you’d appreciate something this…” He cleared his throat.
Elissa waited.
“Sensuous.”
Heat seared her cheeks. The mysterious Julien Bonds knew far too much about her. “He said that? Or are you making it up?”
“I assure you—sensuous is not a word I would have associated with a computer.” He tucked the unit beneath the desk. “The monitor is significantly bigger.”
“Do you need help?”
“You can hold the doors.”
A few minutes later, in the apartment, he opened the box. Even though he was a big, muscular man, the thing was massive.
“Bonds included these.” He handed her two smaller packages with her name on them, then read the enclosed note aloud. “Gadgets he thought you’d enjoy.”
“This is like Christmas.” Only better. She opened the first gift. “Oh my God. Drool-worthy.”
“What is it?”
“Pen tablet.”
“That means something to you?”
“I can draw free hand on the pad, and the image will appear on the screen. It’s a much better quality than the one I already have.”
“And the other thing?”
She tore open the gift and blinked. “It’s an editing console, which means I don’t need a mouse or keyboard to manipulate images.” With her right hand, she showed him the wheels and buttons. “For example, this one is for contrast. No clicking on anything separate.”
“Time saver?”
“Huge.” It was impossible to believe that Julien Bonds had put all of this together for her.
Jacob placed the monitor stand on the desk. “Want to give me a hand with the screen?”
He sliced through the cardboard with a pocketknife, and then she jiggled the foam packaging loose.
Once she caught a glimpse of the frameless monitor, she gasped. “I’ve only seen things like this in museum displays and when I’ve watched videos of the big electronics show.” It took both of them to secure it in place. “I’m just flabbergasted.” The screen was at least fifty-five inches. “It weighs a ton.”
“Sixty pounds or thereabouts.”
Within minutes, he had the entire thing put together and connected to the internet.
The Bonds logo winked into view in the middle of the see-through glass, and the crispness took her breath away. “This is unbelievable.”
“The tag says it displays over a billion colors.”
“That shouldn’t even be possible.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “I can’t believe I get to work on this.” But she was afraid she’d never want to give it up when she returned to her real life. Even monthly payments on this would be equal to a car. “I’ll leave you to enjoy your new toy.” After pointing out where panic buttons were located, Jacob programmed his phone number into her new cell phone. “As I stated earlier, there are agents on the property. I have one stationed at the gate, and two on perimeter patrol. However, you’re not likely to see them. Anything else?”
“I think this more than covers it. I couldn’t be happier. I mean, you know…”
“Given the situation?”
“I don’t want to sound ungrateful.”
“Being at a safe house is always an adjustment.”
And that was exactly what this was. “Thank you. Not for bringing me here, but for—”
He held up a hand. “Let’s leave it at thank you. And you’re welcome.” With a curt, dismissive nod, he excused himself.
She paced to the window and watched him until he closed the patio door behind him.
For the first half hour, she played with the computer, learning her way around before opening her design program, then clicking on the icon for her client’s collateral.
After making a few adjustments, she let her mind wander.
The new machine—combined with the surroundings—should have been enough to inspire her for weeks. Yet she couldn’t concentrate.
Elissa grabbed a bottle of water from the tiny refrigerator. A loud whinny captured her attention, and she paced to the window. Seconds later, Jacob rode into view on horseback, tall in the saddle, wearing a cowboy hat. Even though he was far away, there was no mistaking the rope attached to the saddle.
Again, unbidden, his soft threat from the night before teased the edges of her memory.
He continued on, and soon two other men galloped toward him. When they were close, each rider pulled up and formed a semicircle. Because she wanted a better view, she went out onto the deck.
The impromptu meeting lasted for at least ten minutes, and she watched every moment, shamelessly drinking in the masculine and commanding sight of him. If only they’d met under other circumstances…