Page 6 of Coming Home

But once I have sealed this new deal with Heatherstone, I will be able to take a small breather. It is the largest deal I have ever done, and I have a lot riding on it being a success. It is a chance for both businesses to expand significantly. I need to remain focused and push it over the line. I don’t need distractions, I think to myself as I steal another glimpse of Scarlett, who actually looks to be sleeping during Marco’s presentation. I smile and laugh to myself.

The fact that she is in this room, listening to the presentation from one of America’s most successful businessmen and she is asleep gives me a good indication of what she might be like. Confident, sassy, fucking sexy, and perhaps hard to please? Not one for bowing to pressure or what people want; she runs her own life as she pleases. She has good people around her, not only is there the guy who is cuddling her, but on her other side is a woman who seems just as close and protective of her. Clearly, it isn’t just me who has a protective feeling toward Scarlett. It is nice to see and makes me slightly jealous.

As Marco is finishing up his presentation, my mind races on how to talk to her. This room is full of people, no doubt some of them see me and want to talk to me, but I can’t let her slip away without speaking with her. I have to see her. At the very least, I want to look into her eyes to see if this connection I feel toward her is reciprocated. I need to know that it isn’t just one sided. I just need her.

I watch her intently, waiting to see where she will go. I need to get to her.

8

Scarlett

Katie and Tony are practically dragging me around this Business Summit. I have talked so much that my throat is sore, but I have met some amazing people. Everyone is so friendly and eager to introduce themselves to me, which is really nice of them. I would feel totally overwhelmed if I didn’t have both Katie and Tom and my security team, who are positioned strategically around the room so as to not bring attention to themselves.

We all have one more session of the day before I can leave and go home to catch up on much needed sleep. I seriously don't know how I am keeping my eyes open, and I try to stifle another yawn, the hundredth for the day. "I can’t believe you flew across the world only a few days ago, jet lag is a bitch and hits me hard every time I travel," says Tony. "The next session is Marco Marshall, so you need to come, otherwise, I would suggest you go home now, and we can fill you in," Katie says with a wink.

I smile, I love my two friends. I think about skipping this last session, but encouraged by Katie, and the fact that I am here now, I decide to stay and see what it is all about. There have been a variety of businesses here today, and for someone like me without any contacts, it has been a great way to learn more and make new connections. While I do need to spread my wings one day, I will work with Uncle Ray for a while and ease myself into the Boston business scene before making any firm decision on what I want to do long term.

I yawn again as we walk into the room and Tony looks at me. “Don’t worry, you can sleep on my shoulder, and I will wake you up if anything important comes up.” I look at him and smile. As we take our seats, Tony wraps his arm around my shoulders tucking me into his side.

“Good thing Tom isn’t here to see you two cuddling; you actually look like a cute couple.” Katie smirks, clearly wanting in on our cuddle action as she shimmies closer to my side. The three of us sit together like sardines in a can, and I am so grateful to have them in my life. Touch is clearly our love language.

I can literally feel my energy waning and my eyes wanting to close. Tony’s shoulder gives me an instant cushion, and my head slowly relaxes against it. Giving me a quick prod, he whispers, "Darling, I will nudge you every time you snore, and do not dribble on my Gucci sweater. Oh, and you totally owe me a coffee tomorrow. But for now, you can sleep!" I laugh. I love Tony. The presentation, although interesting, doesn't catch my attention. My eyes wander the room, there is such a variety of people here it is amazing. Perhaps it is my senses on overload, I haven’t been in a room this full of people in a very long time. I both love it and loathe it. Love it as I feel normal, and the energy bouncing off others is seeping into me and giving me a spark that I thought had long ago gone out. I loathe it because I am still scared. Running and hiding has deeply affected me, and I think I will forever be looking over my shoulder.

I spot a small group of people at the front from the presenting business. A devilishly handsome man seems to suck up all the space in the room. He is clearly important and oddly somewhat familiar. I know that I haven’t met him before, yet I feel like I have seen him somewhere. Perhaps he is a model or I have seen him in some business magazines or newspapers recently? He actually looks a lot like the man from the plane I saw when I flew into Boston. Clearly, my eyesight is affected by my jet lag, and now my mind is playing games with me. That would be too coincidental. I have been daydreaming about him since I landed in Boston, and the chances of him being in this room with me is next to none. I am going crazy and really need some sleep. With that thought, I rest my head against Tony’s shoulder.

Tony, as promised, pinches me to ensure I am awake a few minutes before the presentation ends. I am pleased that I didn’t sleep or drool, which is a good thing as I don’t want to attempt to clean a Gucci sweater. I am not going to stick around, so as the speakers are taking Q&A, I think about my exit plan. Being in a room full of people, I had already planned my escape route before I needed it, you know, so I was prepared in case of emergencies, like killers storming into the room. I can see my security at the top of the hall on the level above me, and I really don't want anyone to notice that I am being followed. I just want to get home and have some space, perhaps even a nice bath and an early night. It has been a busy day, and I am beyond exhausted.

Most people seem really interested in this keynote by Marco Marshall and flood the front to ask questions. I say a quick goodbye to Katie and Tony, promising to catch up with them for a morning coffee tomorrow, and I manage to slip out and go around to the back doors before anyone sees me leave. It is the meeting point that security already briefed me on taking—they aren’t just the muscle but also the brains of my safety. They have a full view of my schedule, have full oversight of me and my friends, and take their jobs extremely seriously.

As I reach for the exit, a man appears from the other direction. He stops me just before I push through the door to get outside, and I gasp because I am not sure if he is friend or foe. I stand still, staring for a second.

"You’re running off early today, Miss..." he waits for me to answer. As I look at him, I realize it is the man from the front of the room, and now I can clearly see it is the same man from the plane. "Scarlett," I say as I extend my hand, "Scarlett Foster".

A smile comes on his lips. "Shaun Marshall, CEO of Marshall & Co," he says as he shakes my hand, and he looks at me as though I should know who he is, and I do. This is the man that Uncle Ray dislikes, vehemently. Shaun Marshall is the guy from the plane. What are the chances?

He has a slight arrogance and is certainly confident. While extremely good-looking, my brain is still trying to decide if I am in flight or fight mode–old habits are hard to break. My hand is dwarfed in his, and his thumb caresses my knuckles as we stand there, I am taken back to the time we stood next to each other on the plane and butterflies begin to take flight in my stomach all over again. I feel the electricity just as I did on the plane, and I become captivated by his eyes, pure green and full of energy. We stare at each other, not saying anything. I am content and immensely comfortable with my hand in his. It is such a simple touch, but I feel everything through it.

It seems like we stand there for hours, but it lasts mere seconds before the doors open and my security detail rushes in breaking our trance. Looking at the situation, I realize that the time it took for me to leave my seat and then not actually go through the door was enough time to warrant my security to become concerned. "Miss Foster, we need to go," Frank my head of security says sternly, clearly frustrated that he lost me for a few minutes. I look at Frank and nod silently. When I look back at Shaun, I can see confusion, intrigue, and perhaps a flit of anger at being interrupted crossing through his gaze all at the same time.

"Nice to meet you, I need to go," I breathe out, realizing that I have held my breath throughout our encounter. I turn and leave through the doors quickly with Frank close on my tail.

My heart is pumping, and my face flushes. His eyes took my breath away, and when we touched, I nearly melted into a puddle right there on the floor in front of him.

As I walk away, I don’t look back. It is one of the last things my father ever taught me. Don’t look back, you're not going that way, always look forward.

So, I do. Although, my mind and my heart are struggling with my decision.

9

Shaun

As I watch her walk away, I can hardly breath. Fuck, what is wrong with me around this woman? Her voice is like an angel’s and thick with an accent–she sounds Australian. Her accent has me even more intrigued. She isn’t local, that is for sure. Damn, she isn’t even American.

I smile to myself. She doesn’t seem to know me, which is interesting. Everyone has heard of me, but it appears that my name has no effect on her. Does she really not know who I am? My intrigue grows, and damn if it doesn’t make me want her even more.

I try to stay professional, but I feel like a horny teenager all over again lusting after my school crush. I remember her clearly—Sarah Morgan. She went to the private girl’s school down the road from my boy’s school, and I would watch her from afar, wishing I could kiss her and make her my girlfriend.

But I left it too long before approaching her, and my nemesis, James Scmidt, asked her out and the two of them dated for a few weeks before her family left town and James’ heart was left broken, just like mine was. But Scarlett has just arrived, and I am not going to waste any time in approaching her, just so another man can walk in and claim her as his own. I am well aware of the men in this town and what they are capable of, many of them here today have probably already spotted her and turned on their charms.

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