I don’t know why, but I expected an immediate response. He usually replied straight away, and he’d been waiting on this news. But two minutes passed, then five, then ten, then twenty. I assumed he was busy and I put a dent in my emails and was on my second coffee when Natalie walked in.
She still had her phone to her ear but was wrapping up a conversation that apparently she had to do in my office. I kept typing until she disconnected the call. “Morning,” she said, the way she did when she expected a full run down to follow.
“Morning. Good news on the Schroeder job. Mortimer accepted the proposal and wants the paperwork. I’m just waiting on Mr Schroeder to return my call. I’m assuming his legal team will want to see any contracts before it’s official. Oh, and the Ling project on Pitt Street is moving forward, which is also good news. Roser Enterprises wants another three-year lease extension but at a reduced CPI. I’m meeting with them at eleven.”
And then, of course, my phone rang.
The name SAF scrolled across the screen and I picked it up before Natalie could see it. “Michael Piersen speaking.”
“Well, you sound all formal. Is that your professional phone voice?” Then he paused. “Oh, someone’s in with you right now, aren’t they?”
“That’s correct, Mr Schroeder.”
“Is it Natalie?”
“Yes, yes, that’s fine.”
He chuckled. “It doesn’t sound fine.”
“I have some draft contracts that I require some more information to complete. Is now a good time?”
“That depends. If I said no, would you have lunch with me so we could discuss it?”
“That won’t be necessary,” I replied, trying not to smile. “I can have my assistant send it to you.”
“Hm, assistant. I really need to get me one of those.”
“Or two.”
Natalie was growing suspicious, and thankfully Bryce decided to be serious. “All jokes aside, Michael, that’s excellent news about the store. I’m actually really freaking excited. I’ve spoken to my banker this morning regarding the changes, and to my design team. I’ll need all the paperwork you can give me.”
“I’m happy to hear that. We’ll email you everything we have this morning, and I’ll be in touch.”
“So we can’t meet for lunch?”
God.
He added, “It’s just that after these contracts are signed, I’ll be dealing with Natalie, right? So this could be our last chance for a working-lunch, so to speak.” Then, because the sultry timbre of his voice wasn’t enough, he added, “Please?”
I cleared my throat, because that was better than groaning or sighing or calling him an arsehole in front of Natalie. “Sure, I can arrange a second inspection of the site for you. I’ll double-check the renovation team is okay with another interruption, but I can meet you there at twelve thirty? If you confirm any details in the email this morning, I can bring some paperwork to make it more official.”
“So I’m meeting you at my store at half-past twelve?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“You didn’t take much convincing . . .”
“Goodbye, Mr Schroeder.”
I ended the call, still trying not to smile. I met Natalie’s curious gaze. “Everything okay?” she asked.
“Yeah, it’s fine. He just wanted one more site inspection before he finalises his design fit-out. Should have signatures for you by the end of the day.”
“Signatures for me?” she pressed, her head tilted.
“Yes. I’ve explained to Mr Schroeder that it was your listing. I’m happy to instigate the agreements on your behalf, but the job’s yours.”
Meaning so was the commission . . .
Her brows furrowed. “Why are you handing it back? You’ve done the groundwork . . .”
She was suspicious and I didn’t blame her. I would be too. “I don’t have time,” I replied, which wasn’t exactly a lie. “My schedule is full, especially with the new Cynex listings. I only stepped in because you were caught in traffic, and I told Mr Schroeder this from the very start.”
Natalie studied me for a second, scrutinising, and she was as adept at reading people as I was. So I added, “If you’d rather I see it through to the end—”
“No, it’s fine,” she replied.
“I’ll take him to the property after my eleven o’clock and finalise any details, and when he comes in to sign off on it, I can introduce you.”
Thankfully Miah, Natalie’s assistant, poked her head through the door. “Ah, Natalie, the developer for the Castlereagh job is on line two for you.”
Natalie gave me a nod and followed Miah up the hall. I let out an almighty sigh of relief and Carolyne appeared and gave me a knowing smile. She slid two phone call message notes on my desk. “I’ve emailed you the job file for Schroeder.”
“Thank you,” I replied, opening the email in question. I asked her to forward all paperwork to Mr Schroeder, and then my phone rang with another client, and then another, and after stomping out spot fires all morning, it was time for my meeting at eleven. And that meeting was more spot fires and more of a mediation session, which wasn’t too uncommon.
But soon enough, I was on my way to meet Bryce.
This would be the fourth time in three days, and we still had plans for tonight. But the closer I got to his store, the more nervous I was getting. Yes, nervous . . . anticipation, excitement, and a rush of familiar warmth pooled low in my belly.
He was fast becoming a habit I wasn’t sure I wanted to quit.
I rounded the corner to find him standing there, a folder in his hand, his phone to his ear. He was talking and nodding, but when he saw me, his smile was immediate and just for me.
“Okay, I have to go. He’s here. Yep, see you soon.”
His eyes never left mine as he pocketed his phone, and that smile aimed right at me turned my knees to jelly. He was wearing dark jeans and a Grateful Dead T-shirt that was frayed around the neck and had a hole in it. It was so wild to me that he was worth literally millions of dollars and still wore vintage clothes. If it weren’t for the fact his boots were worth about a cool grand, I’d have thought he looked like a broke uni student.
“Mr Piersen,” he said, holding his hand out for me to shake. “It’s so good to see you again.”
“Mr Schroeder,” I replied. “Full of charm and sarcasm this afternoon.”
He squeezed my hand. “I’m not being sarcastic. Is that suit new? I haven’t seen it before.”
I rolled my eyes and went to the door, unlocking it, top and bottom, with the key. “The reno guys are done,” I said. “So it’s just us today.”
I held the door open for him, then followed him in. When I locked the door behind us, he pushed me up against the boarded-up front glass windows. “Are there security cameras in here?” he breathed.
“Not operational during demolition,” I whispered, and he crushed his mouth to mine.
The kiss was deep and dirty and hotter than hell. “Sorry, but you’re so fucking sexy,” he murmured. “And that suit . . .”
“What is it with you and suits?”