Page 36 of Free to Dream
No dots moving. Holy shit. She has no idea how alluring she is with that hair, those curves and legs? And her eyes are mesmerizing. My frustration simmers and I begin to type furiously on my tablet, ignoring the intrigue from my seatmate across the table. And then I remember what I know from the file and I calm slightly. I backspace the infuriated remarks I had originally typed and replace them with:
Caleb: No, Cassidy. It’s not because I can’t remember who you are, or your height.
Cassidy: ?
Caleb: Look upTree of Four Seasons, Josephine Wall. I imagine if the fairy in the painting looked at me, her eyes would be yours.
While I wait for Cassidy to search for the fairy artwork online, I look at Keene. “It’s more than just getting laid. She’s…different.”
Keene checks at his watch. “You held out for 36 minutes. I’m impressed.”
“Fuck you, brother. I wasn’t going to say anything at all, but I need to talk this one through.”
He sits up a little straighter. “Why? Thinking of bringing her home to Ry?”
“Ry’s already met her,” I inform him when I hear the ding.
Cassidy: That’s a lot to take in before a first date, Caleb. But thank you.
Cassidy: Being likened to something that stunning is quite possibly one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever received.
Caleb: It’s a striking piece of art with a lot of layers. A lot like the woman I’m talking to.
Needing to get this conversation back on lighter tones, I quickly type back to her.
Caleb: So, is this the point of the conversation where I ask what you’re wearing? Or should I just ask for your address and drive over after my plane lands? ;)
Cassidy: LOL. Pig!
Caleb: You know, Pixie, you’re making what would be an otherwise dull flight interesting. :)
“How did Ry meet her?” Keene asks.
Halfheartedly focusing on him, a smirk still lingering on my face caused by my back and forth with Cassidy, I make a distracted sound.
“How did Ryan meet her?” Keene enunciates each word deliberately. Clearly Keene doesn’t respect the concept of ignoring someone. “Were you out to dinner or something?”
Distracted, I answer, “She’s the answer to his prayers. She’s his wedding planner.” I look at my iPad, but not before I hear Keene’s sharp intake of breath.
Cassidy: What am I going to do with you?
Caleb: Are you leaving that question to me? Because I have a few suggestions. But I really do need your address.
I fail to mention I already have it from the files I have on her family.
Cassidy: Scroll up a bit to farm animal reference…
Cassidy: I want to ask how your trip was and why you were out of town. I mean, you know what I do, but I don’t know anything about you other than what’s reported in the society pages.
At that moment, a hand reaches across my iPad, pushing it down. Before I can knock it away, Keene is leaning forward, in my face, with an incredulous and angry look on his. “Are you out of your fucking mind? Does she know you know everything about her going into this? She was a damn client of the company we bought, Caleb!”
Earlier in the week, I explained what happened when I pulled the background investigation on Ryan’s wedding planners, Charlie coming to my office, and what I found out about my family. Because Keene has known me since I was a kid, he immediately understood how enraged I was, and how he’s no longer the only one with a broken home.
Keene and I have a long background together. We went to school together from Kindergarten all the way through Harvard. We were together when Keene’s sister was kidnapped when she was four years old. I helped him grieve through that loss and try to live a life after. I was there when his mother died, and his father checked out. Hell, I think we lost our virginity the same weekend at our senior prom.
We joined the Army together after Harvard. We’ve shed blood for each other, and shored each other up through the worst of times. And now he owns part of Hudson with me. Aside from Ry, there’s no one in the world whose input I value, even if it often differs from my own.
Keene always proved to be an incredible asset; he sees things in black and white. In business, that’s invaluable. He’s able to cut through the crap to get to the most important issues.
