Stroke of Sapphire by N.J. Walters

Sapphire’s apartment rather than call her. They could go out if she wanted to, or they could order in if she wanted to stay home. Either way worked for him.
    He let himself into the lobby and hit the buzzer for her place. She answered a few seconds later. “Yes.”
    “It’s Jake.”
    “I thought you were going to call.”
    “Figured this was easier.” He waited a few seconds. “You going to let me come up?”
    “Oh yes. Right.” The buzzer sounded and he pulled open the door.
    He was just stepping into the elevator when his phone rang. “Yeah.” He absently hit the button for Sapphire’s floor.
    The voice on the other end was the one he’d been waiting to hear from all day. “So far your boy is boring. Gregor went to work, had lunch with a couple of guys from the office. I’m sending you pictures. After work, he went home and hasn’t gone out since.”
    “Keep on him until you’re sure he’s not going out.” Even though he was with Sapphire, he’d rather know where Gregor was.
    “Will do.”
    “Thanks, man. I deposited your fee into your account this morning.”
    “Got it.”
    The line went dead. Neither of them liked talking on cell phones. You never knew who might be listening.
    The elevator door opened and he stepped out. His heart was beating faster at the thought of seeing Sapphire. He’d missed her today. Squaring his shoulders, he knocked on her door. It opened almost immediately and there she was, a vision in dark-gray trousers, low-heeled shoes and a long-sleeved sweater the color of oatmeal. Her long curly hair hung down her back and her makeup was minimal.
    There was his Sapphire. “Hey.” He leaned down and dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “How was your day?” He stepped inside and shut the door.
    She shrugged. “Good. Had a meeting with Topaz this morning and spent the afternoon working on designs and some new pieces.”
    “Can I see?” He loved her work. It was so feminine and beautiful and innately Sapphire.
    “You want to see it?” Her surprise was almost funny, but it made his gut clench.
    “Of course I want to see it. You do great work, babe.” He knew her jewelry sold incredibly well at the boutique, and she’d even had an independent line at a major department store.
    “Okay.” She turned and went down the short hall to the room on the left. He tried not to look into her bedroom as they passed by and remember what they’d done there last night.
    “Have you decided if you want to stay in or go out for dinner?” Jake watched the sexy sway of her ass as she walked in front of him.
    “Out. I even changed out of my work clothes.”
    Her wry comment amused him. The last couple weeks aside, he knew Sapphire much preferred to be wearing jeans or leggings instead of trousers and heels. “You look amazing, babe.” He didn’t care what she wore. She always looked good to him.
    She turned just inside her studio door. “I thought a lot about us today, Jake.”
    “And.” Tension crept into his body and his voice.
    “And, we spend all our time at my place. I wouldn’t even know where you live if Topaz hadn’t given me John’s address when she moved in with him.” Hands on her hips, she appeared solemn and thoughtful. “I want to know more about you. I need to know more if this thing between us is going to have a chance.”
    She didn’t know what she was asking of him. He’d always been secretive, closed-mouthed about his private life, but that had grown almost into obsession over the past twenty years. He also knew he had no choice. He had to let Sapphire in, had to let her see all of him if they were going to have a chance in hell of making it.
    He only hoped that she could accept him as he was and that learning more about him wouldn’t scare her off. He was no clean-cut businessman. He was the guy other people went to when the hard jobs needed doing. And he was damn good at it. In fact, Uncle Sam had wanted him to stay on as an instructor, teaching the new