Page 56 of The Roadie
Another week went by before Brett returned to New York. Kira wanted to pick him up at the airport, but the board meeting at Falcon Records coincided with his flight arrival time. It was hard to concentrate on market analyses and projected profits when she knew she’d be seeing Brett in a few short hours, but she put on her best corporate executive face and pushed her romantic fantasies to the back of her mind.
One hour and forty-five minutes later, company business concluded. She tossed spreadsheets and file folders into her Louis Vuitton laptop bag and pushed her chair back, hoping she didn’t look too eager to run out of the conference room.
“Are you meeting Brett now?” Audra asked Kira, as they headed for the door.
“He should be landing any minute.” She tried to tone down her smile but couldn’t help checking the time on her phone. “Ten more minutes and we’ll be in the same state. I swear this day has felt as if it were a thousand hours long.” Her father was a few feet ahead, and she quickened her pace in order to catch up to him. “Daddy, I’m heading out for the day.”
His brows raised in surprise. “At 3:45? Is anything wrong? Are you feeling ill?”
“No. Nothing like that. Brett’s visiting this weekend. His plane is landing at JFK in a few minutes.”
“You two are quite the jetsetters, flying back and forth.”
“We’re making it work.”
He stopped walking and turned to face her. “I’m happy for you, Kira.” He gave her a small smile. “I don’t want you to be a workaholic like me. I’m happy that you’re making time for someone who is important to you. Live your life. The company doesn’t always have to come first.”
Her heart melted at her father’s words and advice, and she hugged him. “Thank you for saying that.”
He patted her back gently. “Go. Meet your beau.”
She smiled at the old-fashioned word. “I’ll see you Monday.”
As soon as Kira dropped her handbag on the couch in her apartment, her cell phone buzzed. “Finally!” she exclaimed, as her happiness soared.
BRETT: On the way! 46 minutes. Can’t wait to see you! ♥
An excited laugh bubbled in her throat at the idea of seeing Brett in under an hour. It was silly, she knew, since she’d only seen him five days ago, but it was too long. A day felt like a week, and a week felt like forever. She hated that they were doing the long-distance thing, but, as she told her father, they were making it work.
KIRA: I’m so happy you’re here!! It’s all I could think about all day! Miss you tons! Let me know if you hit traffic. xoxo
BRETT:?Me too. See you soon. xoxo
After she showered, she contemplated greeting him at the door in lingerie but decided against it. Instead, she wore jeans and a tank top because that was what she was most comfortable in. She wasn’t the seductress that dressed up in thigh-high stockings with matching panties and bra or a lace teddy. She was just a girl happy to see her guy.
She suddenly remembered the coffeemaker. Shit! Brett still didn’t know that she was keeping it at Audra’s, and she ran across the hall to retrieve it. Without bothering to knock, she raced into the apartment and almost collided with Jimmy.
“Whoa!” He jumped out of the way. “Where’s the fire?”
“No time!” She scooped up the coffeemaker, ran out of the kitchen, ran back to get the grinder and the beans, and raced back out. Jimmy jumped out of her way again, and she breezed past him. “Sorry!”
Her phone dinged just as she was plugging the machine into the outlet on the backsplash to her kitchen counter, and she hastily read the message.
BRETT: Traffic.?
Kira’s shoulders slumped. Damn gridlock.
KIRA: I should have sent a helicopter!
BRETT: LOL.ETA 20 minutes.
KIRA: Can’t wait! Love you!
BRETT: Love you too.
Kira paced through the apartment until his next text came through.
BRETT: I’m downstairs. ETA 2 mins.
