“But you do design for Brant Computers?”
“I bring new technology to proof-of-concept phase. Sometimes that means creating a working prototype, sometimes not. Once I turn it over to the design team, I'm pretty much out of it unless they get stuck.”
“I hear your design team is one of the top in the industry.”
“We like to think so.”
“Extant Corporation has some of the most innovative design engineers in the country as well. Can you imagine what the two could do if their resources were pooled?” Surely that was one of the benefits to the merger that would appeal to him.
He frowned. “Forcing the two teams to work together could just as easily destroy the effectiveness of both.”
“Why should it do that?”
“New product design is a creative process.”
He'd finished his soup before she realized he wasn't going to add anything else. She waited until Jacob had taken away the bowls and laid down plates with their main course before speaking again. “So why does it being a creative process mean it would be bad to bring the two teams together?”
“I don't know that it would be bad. It's a possibility.”
“But why is it a possibility? I would think the more brain power the better.”
“Haven't you ever heard the old saying,
too many cooks spoil the broth
?”
“Simon, we're not talking about cooking here.”
“But we are talking about the possibility of adding too much of a good thing to the mix.”
“What exactly are you saying?”
“One of the reasons I work here is that I have complete creative freedom. That makes it possible for me to try things I wouldn't or couldn't in a corporate environment. Other people don't always spark creativity, sometimes they stifle it. Maybe they've tried something similar before and it didn't work.”
“But that could happen in the groups now.”
“That's true.”
He did it again. Went silent.
“Is that all you're going to say?”
“For now.”
Jacob came out bearing a tray with two crystal dishes filled with fresh strawberries topped by heavy cream and a mint garnish.
She gave the old man a dazzling smile just to confound him. “Dinner was fantastic, Jacob. Thank you. And dessert looks sinfully delicious.”
“Nothing sinful in fresh berries, missy.” He refilled their wineglasses before leaving, the dishes from dinner now on the tray in his hands.
The strawberries were so juicy, they slipped across her tongue with a burst of sweet sensation. “Mmmm,” she hummed with pleasure as she took another bite.
She looked up to find Simon watching her, a curious expression on his face. “They're locally grown.”
“They're yummy.” She scooped another berry out with her spoon, making sure it was coated with the heavy cream. As she went to put it in her mouth, she realized Simon was watching her with disconcerting intensity.
Were his eyes really trained on her lips, or was that her imagination running away with her good sense? She was so attracted to him, she wanted to believe the attraction was reciprocal, but he'd done nothing so far to indicate it was.
More likely he was wondering why a woman with her figure hadn't foregone dessert. If she'd been with her parents or her ex-husband she would have.
“Aren't you going to eat?” she asked, waving her now empty spoon toward his crystal bowl of fruit.
“I'll eat it later.” He looked at the hi-tech watch on his wrist and grimaced. “I need to check on my timed experiment.”
“But we're not done discussing . . .” She didn't finish the sentence, seeing as how she was already talking to his back.
“Simon Brant, someone needs to teach you some manners.”
He stopped at the door and turned. His expression registered a vague sort of chagrin. “I'm sorry, but three days of experiments will be wasted if I don't go to my lab right now.”
At least he'd stopped to explain. She nodded, but didn't bother to ask if he'd be back down. He wouldn't.
She allowed herself the luxury of finishing her dessert in peaceful silence, the summer evening air cooling around her and bringing out goose bumps on her skin.
“The last ferry sails in thirty minutes.” Jacob's voice came from behind her.
She turned to face him. “I guess I'd better be on it.”
“Unless you want to spend the night.”
“I can't see myself borrowing your pajamas.”
The older man shrugged. “Suit yourself, but if you're wanting to talk to the boss, you'd do better to move in here than try to catch him like you've been doing.”
She laughed. Right. Move into Simon's house, just so she could be there to talk to him when he surfaced from his lab.
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Three days later, she wasn't laughing. She'd called Jacob each day, leaving a message for Simon to call. According to the housekeeper, Simon hadn't been out of his lab in all that time.
He certainly hadn't called her.
When the phone rang, she couldn't help hoping it was him.
“Hello.”
“How's it going, doll?”
“Jillian! Your new story line is to die for.”
Jillian's husky laughter echoed across the phone lines. “Yeah, ain't it just? Even the Grand Dame complimented me on yesterday's takes.” The words fairly gurgled with happiness.
“I'm so glad, sweetie. I wish my job was going so well.”
“The resident geek still giving you trouble?”
“Simon's not a geek.” He was way too sexy to fit that label. “He's a genius. He's also a Grand Master black belt in Tae Kwon Do.”
“You're kidding me. The computer nerd is a Chuck Norris wannabe?”
“Simon isn't a wannabe anything. He's completely his own man.”
Silence crackled for several seconds.
“You sound really impressed by this guy.”
“I am. I'm also totally frustrated.”
“Are we talking work frustration here, or something more exciting and totally alien to your lifestyle for the last three years?”
If she said both, Jillian would be on the next flight out of LAX for Seattle. “I still haven't given him the complete presentation, much less convinced him of the advisability of merging with Extant and I've met with the man three times.”
“That does not sound like your usually super-efficient self. Are you sure there's nothing else going on here I should know about?”
“Positive.” She didn't want Jillian deciding Simon was the answer to Amanda's lack of a social life. “It's just that he's so wrapped up in his work, it's hard to get more than five minutes of his time. I had to play his Tae Kwon Do sparring dummy to get him to listen to the marketing estimates.”
“You played a sparring dummy?” Shock laced Jillian's voice. “I don't believe it.”
“In my skirt and blouse no less.”
“No way!”
“Yes. You know how important this is to me, Jill. I'd do anything to get this merger tied up.”
“And what kind of anything does Simon want you to do?” The suggestive tone of Jillian's voice made Amanda laugh.
“With an eccentric inventor, your guess is as good as mine. I was totally disbelieving when he wanted me to play the dummy. He even insisted on working on my Tae Bo form.”
“He did, huh? I gotta tell ya, Amanda, things are sounding pretty interesting around there.”
“That's one word for it.”
“Have you considered camping on his doorstep until you get his attention?”
Amanda didn't laugh like she knew Jill expected her to. “I'm thinking about moving into his house for the duration.”
Jillian sucked in a shocked breath. “Tell me you're kidding.”
“It was his housekeeper's idea and I think it has merit. How else am I going to get this deal closed?”
“You mean Simon won't mind you just moving in?”
“I don't know, but at this point, I'm willing to risk it. Daniel has been calling nonstop wanting a report on my progress. He's threatened to come up here. If I don't do something, I'm going to get taken off the negotiations.”
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Telling Jillian she was moving in with Simon and doing it were very different animals, Amanda discovered the next day as she nerved herself to press the red button on Simon's gate call box.
“Hello, Ms. Zachary.”
“Hello, Jacob. Could you release the gate, please?”
“You got an appointment?” He was back to playing belligerent-butler again.
“No.”
“Mr. Brant invite you?”
“No.”
“You got a reason for coming?”
“Yes, Jacob. Now, are you going to open the gate?”
“Maybe.”
She was on to his tricks and she wasn't going to lose her cool this time. “Open the gate, Jacob.”
Then before he could reply, she pressed the up button for her window and just waited. He kept her waiting for a full minute before the black iron gate slid open.
She rang the doorbell a minute later, her laptop, briefcase, suitcase and toiletries bag stacked beside her on the porch.
The door opened to reveal not Jacob, but Simon and he looked terrible. His eyes were bloodshot, he had several days of stubble on his face and his skin had the pallor of a sick man.
“Amanda.” He shook his head. “Was I expecting you?”
She stepped inside and laid her hand on his arm before thinking. “Simon, are you all right? You look ill.”
“I'm not sick. Just tired.”
“Hasn't slept more than a few minutes at a time since you was here last.” Jacob's irascible voice reached her from further down the hall.
“That's terrible. Simon, you need to be in bed.”
He wasn't listening. His focus was on something behind her. “You brought a suitcase.”
She sucked in air and courage with the same breath. “Jacob invited me to stay awhile. I'm taking him up on it.”
Simon craned his neck around to look at Jacob. “You invited Amanda to stay?” He sounded so confused, she felt sorry for him. He was too tired to understand what was going on, but he wasn't too tired to toss her out on her ear if Jacob gave lie to her bold claim.
“I may have said something to that effect.”
She let out the small breath she'd been holding.
Simon stepped back. “Come in then. Jacob, will you see that Ms. Zachary's things are put in the guest room?”
Jacob's wizened gaze caught hers as she passed him and he winked.
It surprised her so much that she stumbled and crashed into Simon. Even tired, he had the reflexes of a trained warrior. He caught her and set her back on her feet without taking so much as an extra breath. “You okay?”
“Yes. Thanks. I'm clumsy today.”
Simon covered his mouth and yawned.
“You need to go to bed, Simon.”
“I'm hungry. I think Jacob's going to make me something to eat. I don't remember.” He was so rummy, his words were slurring.
“I made some beef stew. It's simmering on the stove. Ms. Zachary, you could see the boss gets some while I'm busy with your things.”
“No problem. Come on, Simon.” She led him to the kitchen where she could smell the savory aroma of simmering stew and recently baked bread.
Simon sat down at the small kitchen table and she served him in a bowl Jacob had left sitting on the counter. She also sliced and buttered some of the bread.
Simon ate in silence while she watched over him like a broody hen. He really did look awful. There was no way they were going to have any sort of intelligent conversation before the man had gotten a good night's rest.
He finished and laid down the spoon. “Can I get you anything, a glass of wine maybe?” he asked her politely, just as if he wasn't practically dead on his feet.
“No, thank you. Go to bed, Simon.”
He nodded and stood, swaying slightly on his feet.
She rushed forward and put one arm around his waist. He draped his arm over her shoulder, but didn't put his whole weight against her. For which she was grateful. He let her lead him out of the kitchen.