Falling Into You (Geek to Chic) Page 7

  “Well, I can only say is that you will just have to have a little faith. See if the other shoe drops.” Gracey smiled at her.

  Roni smiled back. “Says the girl who had given up on men.”

  Gracey laughed. “Oh, and try not to injure or kill him. It would be such a waste with how hot he and his friends are.”

  “Oh, so you do still notice the opposite sex?’

  “When they look like those boys from last night, I notice every last one of them.” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. Both girls burst out laughing. At that moment Roni’s iPhone rang. “Oh, I bet that is boy wonder now. Which means it is time for me to make my way home.” Gracey stood, kissing Roni on the cheek as she walked out yelling goodbye to Lizzy.

  Roni ran for her phone. “Hello?”

  “Hey baby, how are you feeling? Do you need anything?” Derek’s deep voice rang through the phone. Roni had to hold in a groan. Even his voice was sexy as hell.

  “I’m good. Thank you for everything last night. I am sorry our evening ended that way.” Her voice was small.

  “No apology needed honey. I am just glad you are ok. Plus Alex crashed our night out anyway. Next time we go out it will be without our childish friends and without stitches.” He chuckled, but she heard something more in his voice. Almost longing.

  “That sounds perfect.”

  They talked for the next half an hour or so. Derek regaled her with tales from another night of drinking with the guys. Poor Alex never did seem to kind his video game mojo. They had spent most of the night, making fun of each other while playing video games. Apparently the guys were becoming quite the posse. “After a few beers, we did talk business. Those guys know their shit. We could really use them. Collin is coming by our headquarters next week to take a look around. I want to show him that CPST can take their programs and ideas to the next level. With his ideas and our contacts we would all be set to make a huge sum of money.”

  “That would be great for both companies. Plus, your employees would benefit as well from the merger. And I guess money is always a good thing right.” She laughed at her last part.

  “Yeah, it would be great for the employees. We always share the wealth with the employees who have helped us earn it. We would also be in a position to bid bigger contracts. Do even more corporate security since we would have a larger executive staff to pitch ideas to interested clients. The security programs and hardware Collin and I started to work on last night would stop a lot of corporate espionage. Collin even….” Derek sounded very excited over this promising merger. Roni had to cut him off there though.

  “Wait a minute, you were all hanging out, picking on Alex, drinking, relaxing and you and Collin worked? For how long?” She asked him.

  “I feel like I should tell you it was only a few minutes with the tone of voice you have, but that would be a blatant lie. I am actually driving home from his place now.” Derek answered in a sheepish voice.

  “You two worked all night! You Derek Callaway, have a serious problem. You are a workaholic. You should be able to kick back every so often and enjoy life. When was the last time you took more than oh, I don’t know five hours off?” Even though she was laughing at him she knew this had the potential to be a real problem.

  “I take five hours off every day, I have to sleep from time to time.” He answered with sarcasm.

  “Smart ass you know what I mean. The night I make you dinner you are not allowed to work or even think about work. Your cell phone will be off, as well as any other electronic toys you use to communicate with the work world.” She stated firmly.

  “Do smoke signals count they are not electronic and I am sure I could get the guys to learn them this week.” Again with the sarcasm.

  “Sure, you teach your team to read smoke signals and you can stand out back all night talking to them.” She quipped back.

  “So…. when is this dinner going to happen? I would really like to be alone with you…. soon.” Derek’s voice was laced with lust.

  “I don’t know can you fit it in between work and your workaholics meetings?”

  “Right now I would sell off my company to be with you.”

  That statement took her breath away. “Since I am busy Friday and you are busy Saturday, how about next Sunday?”

  “Perfect. What are you doing the rest of the weekend?”

  “Usual, cleaning, errands, getting ready for my new job.” She smiled at the thought at being able to see him Monday morning. “What about you?”

  “I don’t want to tell you.” He said childishly.

  “Let me guess. Either Collin and you are running away together, or you are working.” She couldn’t help the smart ass remark.

  “You’re right, Collin and I have a connection beyond words so we are running away so we can be together. Don’t tell Alex he will be so jealous. He’s had a thing for me for years.” Derek stated with no hint of humor. She laughed at Derek’s comment.

  “So you would rather the girl you are interested in, think you are gay and therefore she is definitely not your type than admit to being a workaholic? You know, lying about your addiction is just another sign of how much you need help.” She said through her laughter.

  “I could be gay.”

  She laughed. “Oh, then I guess this isn’t going to go beyond cuddling. Though, I do like having gay friends.”

  “Ok, you caught me, I’m heading home to shower, change and grab my laptop. I will be in the office the rest of the weekend most likely. Once I get an idea I tend to have a single minded focus. I need to see it through to the end in one time span.” Derek explained with a sadness in his voice.

  “I get it, sometimes I get like that too. Blocking out the entire world to finish one task. But you need to learn to live life too. You have already achieved so much more than most people ever even plan to do.” Roni felt that feminine nurturing part of herself want to go and save him from his existence. No one could live on, work alone. She would show him he didn’t have to hide in his office.

  “I am starting to think you are right. Finally, there is something outside of work that has caught my attention.” Derek’s husky voice was back.

  “I guess you will have to leave your fortress of solitude to pursue what has caught your attention.”

  “Fortress of solitude? Now who’s the nerd?” They both laughed. “I’m home so I am going to hop in the shower. I will text you this weekend. Call me or text me if you need anything.”

  “Well as your assistant, you should feel free to call or text me if you need anything.” Roni said in her best seductive voice.

  “I will keep that in mind.” He stated in a jokingly seductive voice.

  With that, they said their goodbyes. Roni decided she needed a run to clear her head. Since it was only 35 degrees outside, she knew she would have to opt for the gym. Luckily, her gym was only a few minutes away. Once there she found her favorite treadmill, third row, second to the left, and start a nice warm up. Once she was nice and warm she cranked up her music and the speed. She needed to get lost in the movement of her run.

  Roni knew she was already insecure about relationships. After all the few long term relationships she had in the past had ended badly. Most guys loved the way she looked. Long blonde hair, big boobs tiny waist, every red blooded man’s dream. It was her personality they seemed to be put off by. For most guys she was too outgoing and nice. Yes, she had actually been dumped because she was “too nice to the world at large.” That particular boyfriend didn’t like the fact that he did not have 100% of her attention at all times.

  Most, however just could not deal with her constant state of injury. At first they all thought it was endearing. Some even said it made her “approachable”. Then they learned the extent of her mishaps. After a few weeks of being a clumsy mess in front of their friends and colleagues, the usual conversation happened. They would start by saying they were on a certain trajectory in regards to their career. They needed a woman that could at
tend cocktail hours and business dinners, heck, even family functions without risking an “incident.”

  ‘Incident’ became the code word for her many injury inducing mishaps. One time she had wavered on her heels while walking into a cocktail hour. Falling into a waiter carrying a large tray of champagne. The glasses fell, the waiter cursed, and her dress was ruined. Did her date come running over to ask if she was ok? Did he take her home so she could get out of the now very wet dress? No to both. Instead, he came over asked what she had done. Telling her that she had ruined the night with the partners. He then encountered her to the front door, and told her to get a cab home. That was the last of him. Many dates had ended with her being tucked into cab never to see the man again.

  She worried that with Derek’s high profile as the CEO of CP Security Technology, that he too would join that list of men. With that thought, she increased her speed. She thought long and hard about everything she being a clumsy mess had done to him. He did not seem angry, well for the most part, rather amused. Or more accurately relieved at her mishaps. He took care to see that she was alright. Laughed her off when she almost broke his nose or latte bombed his laptop. Derek acted as though everyone had these types of things happen to them. He teased her about them, but all her friends did. Maybe he was going to be the first man not to be embarrassed by her.

  She slowed the treadmill to a medium jog. Roni thought maybe, just maybe she had met the one man who would not run screaming the other direction when she tripped over nothing and her plate of food landed on the expensive blouse of the wife of some investor. Which had only happened once to her, ok maybe twice.

  Roni felt better about Derek excepting her clumsiness. Now she had to tackle the second issue that was swirling around her mind. Derek’s work habits. She knew that she herself could get tunnel vision when it came to an important project. However, Derek’s tunnel vision seemed to be over every small detail at work. She knew from their earlier conversation that once an idea popped into his head, he was determined to see it through to the end. Without interruptions. His dedication was incredible. A characteristic she admired in him. It was also a characteristic that scared her. She wondered if this relationship became serious if she would feel as though his work was his mistress. Roni looked down at the readout on the treadmill to see she had run 7 miles. She realized that this was not a problem, she could find the answer to one run. She slowed her pace to a walk to cool down, then turned the machine off.

  She was making her way to her car when her phone chirped indicating a text. She unlocked the screen to read the text.

  Derek: Thoughts of you are distracting me from my work J

  She giggled, realizing that her earlier internal tirade was obviously premature and overblown. She thought for a minute, then sent a text back.

  Roni: Glad to her that I am not the only one distracted today.

  Derek: And who has you distracted?

  Roni: My new boss, he is really hot for a geek.

  Derek: He must be something to have someone as gorgeous and funny as you distracted.

  Roni: He is. Even my attempts to cause him bodily harm have not dissuaded his interest.

  Derek: LOL your attempts may intrigue him since you are so perfect in every other way.

  Roni: Hmmm, maybe he is just scared I will snap and finally do him in with a chopstick or something.

  Derek: No, he is definitely intriguing.

  Roni: Good to know.

  Derek: What are you doing?

  Roni: Just finished my run. How is work?

  Derek: Good, getting stuff done.

  Roni: Did you eat?

  Derek: If I say no are you going to punish me?

  Roni: LOL no I think you would enjoy a good old fashion punishment. You need to eat. I can bring you something.

  Derek: I most definitely need a punishment (I would love to see you, but I need to focus. I will order something, I promise.

  Roni could not help the disappointment she felt over not being able to see him. That feeling that his work would always come first crept up the back of her brain again. She chooses to ignore it, for now.

  Roni: Well, you better order something and promise you will sleep. Even geniuses need rest.

  Derek: Promise I will get a few hours. I better get back to work. I will text you later.

  Roni: Ok, I am holding you to that promise. Have a good day with your computers.

  With that she knew he was already back in the zone. She sighed and continued on to her car, heading home to clean up. Even though part of her wanted to turn around and do another seven miles. Running was the only sport she could do without hurting herself or others. It also had the added benefit that a run calmed her, put her life into focus. Obviously Derek didn’t need to run a marathon to focus, he only needed his brain and a computer.

  Chapter Nine

  Derek’s fingers flew over the keys. All four of his monitors lit up as his latest creation came to life. Some people worked with paints or clay, Derek worked in code. His art was never pretty, instead it was functional. Offering people security and safekeeping their secrets.

  His art would never be seen in museums judged by acclaimed critics. Rather, his art would be tested by hackers. Even though his art was code, he was still akin to a temperamental artist. Like many of the great artists over time, he would lock himself away for days on end. Focused solely on the task at hand. Typing and retyping in order to get the art to work correctly. He could lose himself to a computer for hours without realizing the amount of time that passed.

  If it was not for people in his life, like his sister and Alex, forcing him (sometimes physically) to leave his office he would surely wither away in this room. Computers made sense to him. He could control the outcome. People, well people never made sense to him. It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried to be social. It was that most people did not accept him in all his nerd glory. He was not good at sports, nor did he enjoy watching them. He did not read books, beyond those published in the tech world. The only part of pop culture, he could relate to was a handful of TV shows. Most of which were all geeky and only had a select audience. All of these traits left him with little to talk to others about.

  He had made the best of the small world he lived within. Now his world was tilting, more light being let in. Roni was the reason behind that. He had watched her, listened to her speak to others, inhaled her scent because that was all he could do. Now he knew her. Had her in his arms.

  He laughed every time he thought of how they had met and how amazing it was that the two of them had made it through the last few days alive. Her clumsiness was a power to be reckoned with. Of course Derek had been witness to her small mishaps here and there in Starbucks. A few spilled tears, one small fall outside. Although those mishaps drew him to her more, they did not prepare him for the sheer magnitude of her clumsiness. Maybe it was really a super power like Alex and she had joked. Derek laughed to himself and turned up his music.

  Several hours passed, Derek’s iPhone beeps startling him out of his hyper focus. He looked up to see that it was almost eleven at night. Crap last time he looked at the clock it was barely three in the afternoon. He had meant to text Roni much earlier. He grabbed his phone, opening the lock screen to view his texts.

  Roni: Good night tech mogul. Remember your promise to me.

  Derek smiled, now how was he going to get around this promise. He knew that sleep would elude him even if he tried. His brain was far too engrossed in his work to simply stop. He also knew she would never understand if he told her that once he started a masterpiece, aka a new code, he had to finish at least the skeleton before he took a break. He was hours and hours from even that point.

  Derek: Of course I remember and I still promise to sleep a few hours this weekend… at some point.

  Roni: Not to sound like your mommy here, but you need to eat and sleep to be productive.

  Again, how did he explain that for most people that statement was true, just not for him? He
could go days with little or no sleep. Living off of Dr. Pepper. He knew he should just cave and give her what she wanted. After all what she wanted was for him to take care of himself.

  Derek: Online right now ordering pizza and I will sleep for a few hours after that. Does that complete my promise to you?

  Roni: I believe it does J

  Derek: How was your day?

  Roni: Boring, cleaned the house.

  Derek: Please tell me you were careful with your hand.

  Roni: LOL you know I tried to be careful. Being careful doesn’t always end well for me.

  Derek laughed, knowing that was the truth. He paused mid laugh, wondering if that meant she had injured herself in the process of cleaning the house. Briefly, he thought maybe he should close up shop for the day and go take care of her, she could have really injured herself after all.

  Derek: You didn’t add an injury to the list did you?

  Roni: Depends what do you define as an injury?

  Derek: I’ll take that as a yes. Now what damage was done?

  Roni: Only a bruised hip from running into the table, a small bump on my head from banging into the cabinet as I put dishes away and a possible broken toe from trying to kick the door open when my hands were full. See not so bad J

  Derek: A possible broken toe is not that bad?

  Roni: Not when you’re me. I’m used to them by now.

  He laughed again. This girl was seriously a walking hazard zone. He had to talk to Rocco about that safety suit. He liked her and kind of wanted to keep her around for a bit.

  Derek: Can you safely get into bed or do you need help?

  Ok, he knew it was a cheesy line, but hey, he was a nerdy guy.

  Roni: Hmm, do you have anyone in mind who can help me?

  Derek: I know one guy who would love the job ;)