“You sold the three emerald pieces.”
Genevieve’s belly clenched. She should be so happy. That sale alone would support her and Noah for the next several months. And if any of the other sets had sold she wouldn’t be conflicted. But from the moment she’d held that teardrop emerald she’d felt a connection to it.
It wasn’t the first time. And hopefully, it wouldn’t be the last. She always felt a kinship with the stones she worked with. She routinely spent days or weeks studying them. Analyzing them from every angle to determine the best way to put them on display.
But there’d been something very special about that emerald.
However, she couldn’t afford to keep a stone simply because she wanted to. She’d had almost fifty grand tied up in that emerald alone. That was one of the drawbacks of running her own design company. The materials she worked with were expensive. But they paid off when they sold.
She hadn’t sold a piece in a few weeks so this really came at a great time. That’s what she was going to focus on. Maybe after the collection launch she’d think about planning a trip for Noah to Disney next year. For his birthday.
“Genevieve? Did you hear me?”
Shaking her head, she brought her focus back to Eric, the owner of one of the boutiques she’d consigned with. “Yes, I’m sorry. That’s wonderful! Can you tell me who bought the pieces?”
She always liked to know something about the people who purchased her jewelry. It helped her complete the circle in her head. To imagine the look of excitement, or shock and surprise, on a woman’s face when her husband presented her with one of her pieces. She liked to know if there was a story behind it. Was it to commemorate the birth of a child? Or fifty years together?
It gave her a sense of pride and happiness to know something she created could give those feelings to someone else.
“I don’t know much. Denise didn’t get a lot of details. A gentleman came in, but he wasn’t certain what he wanted. He chose the emerald pieces as soon as she brought them out, though.”
Well, that was something. Maybe the person who’d purchased them had connected to them as much as she had. That gave her a little bit of comfort.
“Can you send over the name and address?”
She liked to send her customers a personal note of thanks. It was something she’d done in the beginning and many of her customers had made repeat purchases, partly because they liked her style, but also because they appreciated the personal touch.
It was one of the few downsides to expanding her business. She wasn’t certain how she would maintain that same connection.
The upcoming collection had the potential to make a huge splash. Her partnership with Mitchell Brothers Jewelry, a major chain within the southeast, was already receiving some amazing press. It was nice to have that kind of experience and marketing behind her collection.
In a matter of weeks, she would go from having her pieces displayed in a handful of boutiques to appearing in over fifty locations in twelve states across the South.
It would mean more security for Noah. She’d simply have to find a way to keep the personal touch she’d become known for.
“Absolutely,” Eric said. “I’ll email the information to you. And we’ll send the direct deposit within the week.”
“Thanks, Eric. I appreciate it.”
Genevieve hung up and walked back into the studio where she designed. Noah was with Nicole, the woman Genevieve had hired to watch her son while she worked. Nicole was a college student, which was convenient for Genevieve, who often worked weird hours when she was in the middle of a design. She had at least another two hours before she needed to be home.
She stared at the stones spread across the table before her. They were gorgeous. A perfect example of alexandrite, a rare semiprecious stone known for color shifting based on the light. She’d been studying the seven stones for the past few days, trying to decide what they were destined to be.
The biggest was slightly over a carat. Three more were roughly three quarters each. The other three varied, but were all just below a half. It would make sense to set the largest stone in a necklace, two of the smaller as stud earrings and then a bracelet of some kind.
That would be logical. But that wasn’t what her instincts were calling for her to do. The problem was, no alternative was coming to her, either.
She let her fingers sift across the stones, enjoying their cool surface and the way they rolled beneath her touch. She could feel the hard edges. See the brilliant fire trapped deep inside.
Scooping them into her palm, she rearranged them once more, hoping inspiration would hit.
Nothing.
She’d sunk a lot of money into these stones and really needed to finish it before the opening. Frustration tightened her shoulders until they pulled up close to her ears.
The ding of an email arriving on her phone cut through the unhappy silence of her studio.
Perfect. She needed a distraction.
Snatching up her phone, Genevieve unlocked the screen and pulled up the email from Eric.
A growl escaped when she read the information he’d forwarded.
She was going to kill Finn.
Finn was naked when the doorman buzzed up to let him know he had a visitor—a female—waiting for him downstairs. The only woman who had his address was Stone’s girlfriend, Piper. And he couldn’t think of a single reason she’d stop by. Especially without calling.
A half smile twisted his lips. That just left Genevieve.
The familiar edge of excitement shot through his veins. Whatever brought her to his doorstep at seven at night, it wasn’t likely to be because she wanted to rip his clothes off.
Grabbing a pair of sweatpants, Finn slipped them on, but didn’t bother with a shirt. Padding across his penthouse loft, he rubbed a towel across his wet hair as he went. Pulling open his front door, he left it wide-open and wandered back into his living room.
No doubt she’d find him.
It didn’t take her long. He heard the sharp tap of her feet against his floor. She was wearing heels. He loved when she wore heels. They made her calves and thighs look amazing.
His front door slammed shut and her voice hissed behind him, “How many times do I have to say this? I don’t want your money.”
Finished with the towel, Finn tossed it onto the arm of the sofa before taking his time to turn. His gaze traveled slowly down her body. It wasn’t intentional. He simply couldn’t stop his response to her.
She was even more gorgeous when she was pissed.
Her green eyes spit fire and twin flags of color stained her cheeks. Her hands were balled into fists and set high and tight on her hips. Her entire body leaned toward him even as she maintained about ten feet of distance.
“You’ve made that clear.”
“And yet, that didn’t stop you from pulling a stunt.”
“Stunt?” Finn decided to play dumb, although it probably wasn’t going to get him anywhere. But he’d learned a long time ago not to admit guilt unless he knew for certain he was already caught. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, don’t feign stupid. We both know you’re not. You’re always five steps ahead of everyone around you.”
“Thank you?” he asked, pretty certain she hadn’t meant her words to be the compliment they were.
“Return the pieces.”
Finn shrugged. “No.”
“You don’t want them or need them. And I refuse to take your guilt money. Noah and I don’t need it.”
He’d been in a perfectly jovial mood until that moment. Dropping the affable facade, Finn quickly closed the gap between them. Genevieve apparently realized her tactical error because she scrambled several steps backward. However, she’d miscalculated because that move brought her up hard against the exposed brick wall.
He heard her body hit with a thud, but he didn’t stop until both his hands were spread on either side of her head. The rough brick edges scraped across his palms. His thigh brushed against hers. And he tried not to notice the way her breath stuttered in her lungs.
“Let’s make one thing crystal clear, Genevieve. Guilt has nothing to do with anything I’m doing. You’re raising my son and there’s no reason for either you or he to go without.”
“I’m perfectly capable of providing for my son, Finn.”
“Yes, I’m aware. I’ve seen your tax returns for the last three years and have a detailed financial report for your business. I know exactly how much money you have tied up in materials and inventory. I know you’re stretched thin preparing for this opening, but we both know you’ll be fine once that happens because you’re a brilliant designer. The world just doesn’t know it yet.”
Genevieve blinked. Her mouth thinned with irritation, but he didn’t pause long enough to give her a chance to voice it.
“However, there’s no need for you ever to be in a position to worry. I have enough money to support a third-world country.”
“Then by all means, give them a check for a million dollars.”
“I have.”
She tilted her head sideways, a tell indicating he’d just surprised her. Which shouldn’t surprise him, but it did. It also hurt a little. He wasn’t a heartless monster, dammit.
“You wouldn’t accept my help any other way, so I found a way you couldn’t refuse.”
“I won’t let you purchase those pieces.”
“Genevieve,” he murmured, disappointment filling his voice. “We both know I’m already in possession of the emeralds.”
“Then give them back.”
“No. They’re mine.”
“What are you going to do with them?”
“None of your business.”
Her teeth ground together, frustration and something more personal filling her gaze.
“I’ll simply refuse the money from Eric.”
Finn used his height advantage to crowd even farther into her personal space. Genevieve shifted, but there was nowhere for her to go so the gesture simply had her body brushing tantalizingly against his.
Every cell in his body lit up. The driving need to touch her, taste her, take her was a pounding tattoo deep in his blood. Instead, he gently cupped his hand beneath her jaw and brought her gaze to meet his.
“Don’t do that,” he said. His words might have been soft; however, the order beneath them was anything but.
“Or what?” she challenged, eyes flashing fire.
Her mouth was so close he could feel the heat of her breath against his skin. Her lips, parted in anger, practically begged him to touch.
A temptation Finn couldn’t deny. His fingers slipped across the silky texture of her cheek. It had been so long since he’d touched her. Too long.
And this moment wasn’t nearly enough. Not when memories of Genevieve, writhing beneath him in pleasure, filled his brain.
His grip on her tightened. Finn pulled her mouth to his, the driving need to steal a taste of her too much to ignore.
The moment his lips touched hers it was all over. Heat and need claimed him. The emptiness he’d been carrying around for so long began to ache. That throb only she’d ever been able to touch.
Any good intentions he might have been able to scrounge up burned to ash. And he simply began to take. Opening his mouth, Finn released a sigh of relief when she did the same, unconsciously letting him in. Her hands gripped his shoulders, not pulling him closer, but not pushing him away.
He took everything she was willing to give him. Darting his tongue deep inside her mouth, relishing the sweet, spicy taste of her suffusing his senses.
Nope, he needed to get a grip.
Pulling away, Finn dropped his forehead to hers. He simply froze, trying to find his equilibrium...and sense. His harsh breaths mingled with her stuttered pulls of air.
Eventually, he put a little space between them. Just enough to be able to look her straight in the eye and say, “I don’t want to take anything from you, Genevieve. I promise. I just want to give. Please, let me.”
Shit, shit, shit.
She was an idiot.
Because she wanted to believe him. But her brain was screaming at her that she shouldn’t. She knew better. He’d fooled her once with his earnest expression and slick words.
But he also wasn’t wrong.
She really needed the money from the sale of the emeralds. She’d been eyeing some black opals that would make an amazing choker, but she just didn’t have the capital to invest in the stones right now.
There was a part of her that hated knowing Finn was going to be the one to own the emeralds, as well. And she refused to let herself contemplate him giving them to another woman. The expression of joy and surprise on that woman’s face as he leaned close to clasp the necklace around her slim neck...
Nope, Genevieve wasn’t going there.
Besides, her commission from the sale wasn’t anywhere near what he’d tried to give her a couple months ago. That check had smelled of guilt and she wasn’t ready to let him off the hook by accepting it.
This, however, was a business exchange. Nothing more and nothing less.
“Fine. Keep the emeralds. I’ll take the commission. As long as you promise not to buy any more pieces.”
Finn shrugged. “I promise not to buy any pieces for the sole purpose of giving you money, how about that?”
She couldn’t contemplate any other reason for him to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in jewelry right now, so... “Fine. Thank you. There are some black opals I’ve been coveting. I’ll be able to buy them and finish the last two pieces for my collection.”
“Mmm,” he murmured. “Black opals?”
Genevieve felt the excitement bubbling up inside her and couldn’t tamp it down. “They’re gorgeous. The play-of-color is...unbelievable, and they’re perfect for a choker I’ve designed but just haven’t found the right stones for. The shades of blue and purple against the black background...and they all came from the same rough stone. They’re just...”
She hadn’t realized how gushy she sounded until she looked up to find Finn staring at her. Slowly, the excitement leaked out. Genevieve literally felt her entire body deflating.
“I’m sorry. You probably don’t care.”
“Don’t,” he said, stepping closer. “I enjoy seeing the fire in your eyes while you talk about stones. Your passion for what you do is one of the things I like most about you, Genevieve, and always have.”
She shook her head, unsure how to handle what he’d said. What was she supposed to do with that?
Sure, she missed having someone to share her enthusiasm with. That was one of the things she missed most about working at Reilly. She’d been surrounded by people who understood her stupid obsession with hard bits of minerals and rock.
It was something she and Finn had shared before. For those few weeks he’d been a part of her life, she’d had a confidant who wanted to have a conversation about gemstones.
Of course, that was because he’d been trying to pull information from her so he could steal her family’s most prized possession.
Shifting away from him, Genevieve waved her hand. “It doesn’t matter. I hope whomever you bought the emeralds for enjoys them. Those pieces had a special place in my heart.”
Finn tipped his head sideways and his gaze narrowed. “I’m hopeful their new owner will appreciate having them.”
Something sharp pinched in the center of her chest. “No doubt.”
Crap.
“Well... I should leave.” Genevieve waved lamely toward the door she’d burst through only a few minutes ago. Where was the ball of anger that had fueled her then?
Incinerated by that kiss.
That stupid kiss that she was just going to pretend never happened.
Finn watched as she backed slowly toward the door. The way his gaze followed her, the corner of his lips tipped into a telling half smile, made her itchy and uncomfortable. He had the uncanny ability to make her feel unfettered and awkward at the same time. Like he saw something deep inside her that she wasn’t sure really existed.
Pausing with her hand on the knob, Genevieve fought against the weird desire to lock the door and stay on this side instead of walking away. “Call me later in the week and you can stop by to see Noah again.”
There was nothing suppressed about the smile that brightened Finn’s face. “I’d like that.”
A few days ago, she’d been worried about Finn’s ability to be a dad. But after watching him with her son yesterday, she was no longer concerned. Finn was a natural with Noah, possibly because in many ways Finn still acted like a child himself.
Although that didn’t precisely assuage all of her concerns. In fact, it only added a couple more.
Closing the door behind her, Genevieve found herself sagging against it, unable to walk away. Her knees were mushy and her legs next to useless.
And she was no longer confident in her ability to be in the same room with Finn DeLuca and not want him.