After they’d cleared the dinner plates and moved into the living room to dig into the delicious chocolate truffles that Rafe’s fiancée Brooke had made, Ian’s father walked in carrying a large bottle of champagne.
Standing by the fire where the family dog was snoring contentedly, Max said, “It’s been a heck of a great year for us Sullivans. First, with Rafe and Brooke getting engaged, and then, Mia and Ford finding each other again.” Max gave a warm smile to the man who would become his son-in-law and Mia blew her father a kiss. He popped the champagne cork and poured the fizzing liquid into the glasses Claudia had brought out, waiting until each of them was holding a full glass before raising his. “Tonight, I’d like to make a toast to Ian. We all missed you while you were living in London, and we’re very glad you’re back home.”
Ian hadn’t said much all evening, but even so, it was easy to see just how much he enjoyed being with his family. Now, as he smiled at his mother and father and said, “It’s good to be back,” Tatiana’s heart just about stopped in her chest.
Ian Sullivan had the most beautiful smile she’d ever seen.
Why, she thought as she stared at him in helpless wonder, didn’t he smile more?
The realization that his happiness already mattered so much to her had her hands shaking slightly as she reached out to clink her glass against the others’.
Though Tatiana had become accustomed to often being the center of attention over the years as her roles got bigger and her fame grew, she was glad for a big group to temporarily disappear into while she worked to regain her equilibrium.
Of course, that was right when Max said, “I’d also like to raise a toast to Tatiana for joining our family tonight.”
All eyes turned to her, and she wondered if she was as much an open book as she felt. Claudia, and likely Max, already knew how she felt about Ian. But could Mia, Dylan, and Adam see how breathless being around their brother made her?
“You’re always welcome here, Tatiana, and Claudia and I both hope you’ll consider ours to be your second home whenever you’re in Seattle.”
“Thank you, Max. Thank you, Claudia.” Her words thickened with gratitude for their welcome. “I’ve had such a wonderful time tonight. It really does feel like being home.”
“Don’t forget, I’ve also got plenty of space at my place if you need it,” Dylan offered in his charmingly wicked way.
“Thanks for the offer,” she said, grinning right back. “Hopefully the owner of the condo I’m renting won’t suddenly up and decide to kick me out, but if she does, I’ll keep you in mind.”
“At least let me take you out for a sail tomorrow.”
She wasn’t all that great on moving things like boats and planes and trains, but during her years of traveling around the world for work, she’d learned how to tamp down her natural inclination toward motion sickness. “I’d love to go sailing with you, Dylan, but I’ve got to head to Los Angeles tomorrow morning for the weekend.”
“What about Monday then?”
“She’s busy Monday.”
Everyone turned to Ian in surprise—partly because he’d interrupted their conversation from out of the blue, but mostly because of his tone. One that could quite easily be described as possessive.
Extremely possessive.
Dylan asked, “You are?” at the exact moment she thought, I am?
Though they were surrounded by his family in the cozy living room, when Ian looked at her it felt to Tatiana as if they were the only two people in the world. “My first meeting on Monday is at seven a.m. The details will all be on the schedule my assistant will email you.”
Dylan looked back and forth between the two of them with raised eyebrows before settling his questioning gaze on Tatiana. “Why are you going to be hanging out with Ian on Monday?”
“The character I’m playing in my next film inherits a really big company, and even though everyone is certain she’ll fail, she’s determined not to. Ian is so nice that he’s agreed to let me shadow him for a couple of weeks so that I can learn what it’s like to actually be a CEO.” She knew her smile was likely too big, too happy, too giddy. Borderline goofy, even. But maybe if she didn’t worry about holding back her own smiles, it would help Ian realize he didn’t have to hold in his, either.
Dylan raised an eyebrow in his brother’s direction. “That is mighty nice of you, Ian, to let Tatiana spend two weeks with you.”
Mia smacked her brother on the arm. “I think shadowing Ian in the office is an absolutely fabulous idea, Tatiana. Although, I swear that place feels like walking into the CIA sometimes. After you’re done with your stint at Sullivan Investments, you’ll have to fill us in on all his little secrets.”
“Oh no, I would never do that,” Tatiana said with utter seriousness. “Whatever happens in his office will stay in his office.” She hadn’t yet signed an NDA, but even without one, she would never break his confidence, business or otherwise, with anyone. Not even with his family.
Fortunately, Ian clearly had no intention of letting the conversation grow any more awkward, because he drained his glass, then rose and said, “Speaking of the office, I’m sorry to have to eat and run, but I’ve got a great deal of work to take care of tonight.”
Like a finely oiled machine, all of the Sullivan children insisted their parents continue relaxing by the fire while they took their dishes into the kitchen. And even though she worked with rich, famous people all the time, Tatiana got a kick out of watching one of the world’s biggest rock stars wash dirty dishes, then hand them to a near-billionaire CEO so that he could dry them. Less than thirty minutes later, the six of them were done cleaning up the kitchen and dining room and had said their good-byes.
As they drove away, Tatiana spoke to Ian in a soft voice that only he could hear in the backseat with her. “Thank you for changing your mind about me shadowing you. I’m really excited about Monday.”
She couldn’t see his expression in the darkness of Ford’s car, but she could feel the heat of his gaze as he turned to look at her. Instead of saying anything in response, he spoke to Ford. “I’d appreciate it if you’d pull over here to drop me off.”
Mia turned all the way around in her seat as her fiancé pulled over to the side of the downtown Seattle street. “We’re a good dozen blocks from your building, Ian.”