Savannah laughed out loud as she grabbed a delicate glass of champagne from a circling server. The liquid was slightly sweet and fizzy, and she thought again of the mysterious stranger who had sent her heart racing.
As if conjured straight from her thoughts, Mr. Mysterious and Slightly Familiar, appeared outside the tent. A small gaggle of women pouted as he moved past them. Savannah’s breath caught in her throat and she tried to compose herself and act normally as her skin heated up from his mere presence.
“Elijah!” her father exclaimed, rising to shake the handsome man’s hand. Mr. Mysterious, or should she say Elijah, shook her father’s hand, smiling broadly at him. Savannah studied Elijah’s perfect face and saw that it was attached to an equally perfect body. He was dressed in an expensive looking pair of dark grey pants with a sleek black button down shirt open at the collar. He oozed sex appeal and Savannah imagined herself pinned under his muscular body.
“Elijah, meet my Savannah.”
Her father’s voice pulled her out of naught reverie and she jumped to her feet, somewhat clumsily, as she reached her hand out to Elijah.
“Yes, we’ve met,” he said smoothly, shaking her hand as he gently squeezed her fingers provocatively. Savannah’s eyes widened, but again, Elijah’s smooth face gave nothing away.
“Actually Elijah, I bet you and my daughter would have a lot to talk about. Savannah is trying to get into the TV industry.”
At her father’s words, realization hit Savannah like a ton of bricks. Elijah looked familiar because he was Dr. Elijah Preston, a new and upcoming face in the world of medicine. He had been featured on the Today show and other talk shows in medical segments and Savannah had
seen his face plastered across her father’s medical journals. He had made some type of breakthrough in studying the heart; she had heard her father speak of him on numerous occasions.
After her shock had worn off, Savannah realized that Elijah, or Dr. Preston, was studying her intensely, his eyes almost glowing in the darkening light as he watched Savannah. Patrick O’Hara chuckled and walked away leaving Savannah a speechless fool before Elijah. Savannah
became conscious of the fact that her hand was still in Elijah’s large and smooth hand and she pulled it away quickly as if she had been bitten. Elijah simply raised his eyebrows but said nothing.
Savannah reached her hand up to touch her hair self-consciously. She had piled it on top of her head and accented her outfit with small gold earrings. She watched as Elijah’s eyes followed her hand up to her head and then ran slowly down the entire length of her body.
Savannah wanted to moan with her nearly uncontrollable lust for this man as she imagined what Elijah was like in bed.
He looked strong and muscular under his clothes and he had an amazing presence of power. She nearly cried as she thought of Elijah taking charge in the bedroom and pushing her down roughly on the bed before climbing atop her slender frame. Men as good looking as Elijah had to be amazing in bed.
“You’re interested in television,” he said. It was more of a statement than a question.
Elijah’s statement broke through Savannah’s x-rated daydream and his voice was full of the authority that he commanded just by standing there. Nodding stupidly, Savannah fidgeted with her earrings.
“Yes. I’ve been interviewing a lot around the city. I’m sure something will work out soon,” she said, forcing her voice to sound positive and confident. She thought she saw a ghost of a smile play along Elijah’s lips and she had the sudden urge to smack him. He didn’t buy a word of what she had just said; he probably knew how damn hard it was to get hired on a television show in New York.
“Perhaps I could help,” he said slowly, his words dancing across his tongue as he slowly sipped his white wine. Savannah watched as he brought the smooth glass to his mouth as his lips parted deliciously to welcome the sweet liquid. For a fleeting moment she wished his mouth was parting in such a way between her legs. Embarrassed by her wayward thoughts, she shifted awkwardly next to Elijah.
“I doubt it,” she said somewhat coolly, “and I’ve asked my father not to pull any strings.
I’m trying to do this myself. He’s already offered to talk to Matt Lauer anyway, so while I appreciate the offer, no thank you.”
Elijah cocked his head, studying her in his intense way that made Savannah feel young and silly. She hadn’t slept with many men, but she would bet money on the fact that Elijah was a fuck that most women didn’t forget.
“Well, I’m sure Matt Lauer could help, but that’s not what I was thinking of.”
Savannah stared at Elijah blankly. She knew she had seen him on the Today Show a number of times, especially when they did those panels with medical professionals debating hot button topics like vaccines and autism.
“I’m debuting my own talk show next month. I’m sure we could use an extra PA on the set.” His eyes flickered over her mouth and then he looked her directly in the eyes.
Feeling like a moron again, Savannah remembered hearing that Elijah had gotten a talk show. Maybe her father had mentioned it over a dinner last spring? She had been so busy with graduation that the entire spring had been a blur. She thought Elijah lived in LA, and she had no plans of moving across the country. Not to mention she wouldn’t accept any help that came indirectly from her parents’ friends. She let them pay for her unbelievable apartment in the West Village, but she wasn’t going to let them find her a job too.
“Well congratulations,” Savannah said, feeling her heart quicken as heat radiated off her body. While she didn’t want to leave Elijah, she needed someone to come rescue her before she melted into a puddle of hot desire before his sea-blue eyes.
“Your pupils are dilated,” Elijah whispered, leaning towards Savannah, sending her heart into a frenzied dance. His breath was hot and steamy against her face and she closed her eyes briefly as the sensation washed over her. His words registered and her eyes popped open.
“Hmm?”
“Your pupils are dilated. It’s a sign of arousal.” His voice was a low and dangerous whisper. Savannah felt exposed and humiliated.
“They are not,” she said defensively, as she blushed and looked away. Elijah reached out and touched her chin so she was forced to look at him; she thought she might orgasm right there in front of everyone.
“Yes they are and I like it,” he said softly, caressing her chin. Savannah’s blood sang in her veins and she felt her entire being fill with her carnal lust for this unbelievably good-looking man. She stood there, helpless, her chin still in Elijah’s hand as he appraised her vulnerable body.
“Savannah! There you are!” Bianca’s voice was an ice bucket of cold water and Savannah wrenched herself from Elijah’s hypnotizing grip.
“Mom,” she choked as her mother stepped into the nearly empty tent. Savannah thought
it strange that no one else had entered the tent during her exchange with Elijah.
“I wonder why no one is over here,” she wondered distractedly, as she came over to see Savannah, her trim figure showcased in her plum colored sheath. “You look beautiful, honey,”
she said as she took in Savannah’s appearance.
“Elijah! I didn’t even notice you!” she exclaimed, kissing Elijah’s cheek.
“Mrs. O’Hara, so lovely to see you again,” he said speaking directly to Bianca, but keeping his eyes fixated on Savannah.
“It was a pleasure, Savannah,” he murmured softly, before slipping out of the tent.
Hearing Elijah use her name sent her body into a tailspin and she sank into the chair behind her, as she buried her head in her hands.
“Savannah, what’s wrong?” Her mother was quickly at her side, her cool palm resting