I stood and adjusted the cuffs of my sleeves. We shook hands and made the necessary introductions.
And then she rushed in behind him.
Tension crawled up my spine, tightening my back in a wave. A surprising rush of pressure hit my groin so fast, I almost grunted from the force of it.
“Mr. Calloway, I’m sorry, but you left your phone.”
Her soft blond curls were pulled up and she wore a dark blue wrap dress that showcased her delicious curves. She held out a phone to Calloway and her eyes darted toward me, then back, like she was trying not to make eye contact.
“Thank you.” Calloway took the phone from her.
Why was she here? Did she work for him? I’d never been jealous of another man in my life, but in that moment, I seethed with envy. He got to spend every day with her? With my Sophia?
Only she wasn’t mine, in any sense of the word, and the truth of that lit a flare of anger in my gut.
“You’re welcome.” Her eyes flicked to me again. “Sorry to interrupt. I just thought you’d want it.”
He slipped his phone into his pocket and gave her a nod, effectively dismissing her.
“She can stay,” I blurted out, then tried not to visibly flinch. Why had I said that?
If Calloway thought my statement was odd, he gave no indication. “If you don’t mind, Sophie.”
Sophie? Was that a term of endearment? Calloway was married, but what sort of man was he?
And why the fuck did I care?
Her eyes widened and she fidgeted with her handbag. “Oh. Yes, I can. Sure, no problem.”
“My assistant, Sophie Abbott,” Calloway said by way of introduction, then smoothly took a seat at the table.
Maybe that was simply her name. Had I misheard the other night?
Sophie took a hesitant step, tentatively reaching for a chair, but teetered on her heels like she was about to fall.
I quickly moved in and grabbed her elbow to steady her.
That put me close enough to smell her hair and it took a supreme effort of willpower to keep from visibly sniffing her. God, she smelled good.
It made me wonder what she tasted like.
“Nice to see you again,” I said.
A pink flush hit her cheeks and she slowly lifted her eyes, looking at me through thick lashes. “Hi. I mean, you too.”
“You know each other?” Calloway asked, a hint of suspicion in his tone.
Sophie pulled her arm away and wobbled on her heels again but managed to get herself into her chair. “Yes. I mean, no. We sort of ran into each other last weekend. It wasn’t a big deal.”
I loved that I’d flustered her, and I couldn’t help but bring to mind the sight of her hanging off that balcony. “I merely helped her out of a precarious situation.”
Calloway eyed me as I took my seat but didn’t ask any more questions.
Was he protective of her? Why?
And once again, why did I care?
I needed to focus on why I was here. I had far too much riding on this project to let a woman—even one who smelled that good—get in my head.
“Thank you for taking the time to meet with me.”
“I assume we’re here to talk about the Skyline project,” he said.
“You did your research.”
He nodded once.
Sophie quietly produced a notebook and pen out of her handbag and sat poised to take notes. Her gaze was on the table, not on me, but I caught her eyes lifting for a quick peek before she looked down again.
Sophie Abbott. Why was that name tickling at my memory?
I cleared my throat and slid a packet with the project specs across the table. “The Skyline project follows the lead of Lincoln Square in Bellevue, only we’re taking it further. Three buildings connected by skybridges, with a mix of condominiums, a high-end hotel, and retail and restaurant space. We’ve already secured the land and permitting is in process.”
Calloway thumbed through the papers. “What’s the timeline?”
“A conservative estimate is two years to opening. But it could be faster. The city is being unusually cooperative because of the potential for tax revenue. This neighborhood is in serious need of revitalization. Skyline would change everything in a five-block radius at least. And phase two would include affordable housing options.”
“The design looks good.” He flipped to another page. “Modern without being garish.”
“Exactly. We’re going for classic and sophisticated. A place people want to frequent.”
I waited, my eyes straying to Sophie, while Calloway looked through the information I’d provided. Her dress crisscrossed her chest, dipping low in the center, revealing smooth skin. What would it feel like to bury my face in those tits? Hike up that dress and grab her ass while she sank down on my cock? A tendril of blond hair brushed the side of her neck. I wanted to curl it around my finger while I licked her neck and bit—
“What’s the story with Dominic Coates?”
Calloway’s voice jolted me back to reality. I liked his directness. He could have asked why I was looking for new investors at this stage, but we both knew. He didn’t need to beat around the bush. “You’ve done your research, so I assume you saw the press coverage.”
“I did, but press coverage is usually bullshit.”
“True, although what they reported was correct. Apparently he had an affinity for snorting drugs off hookers’ asses. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have partnered with him to begin with.”
Calloway met my eyes. “You wouldn’t have?”
That was a surprising question. What the fuck did he care if I did business with a piece of shit who paid for sex? “If you have any concerns about me, I can assure you that’s not how I spend my free time.”
“Who I associate with matters.” His eyes bored into me, sizing me up. “And not just because of the money.”
Interesting. A man of both wealth and principle. “Agreed, which is why I called you.”
“This has potential,” he said, closing the folder. “Revitalization, job creation, not to mention the real estate’s increase in value when the project is complete. I need to do more research, but I’m interested.”
I let a small smile steal across my lips. “Excellent. My office can provide you with anything you need.”
“Good.” He turned toward Sophie. “Put a note in my calendar to follow up on the Skyline project next week.”
“Already done,” she said.
Calloway stood, and I followed. We shook hands across the table.
He’d been straight to the point. No bullshit. I appreciated that. “We’ll be in touch.”
Sophie got up, juggling her belongings for a few seconds before seeming to find her balance. There was something strangely delightful about her. And why did she seem so familiar? It wasn’t because we’d met the other night. There was something else and it was driving me crazy that I couldn’t figure it out.
Calloway started to leave, then paused to wait for Sophie. She tried to deposit her notepad and pen in her handbag but wound up dropping both.
I rushed around the table and crouched to retrieve them for her right as she did the same, and our foreheads collided.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry.” She stood and rubbed her forehead, leaving her things on the ground.