Climbing Mountains
Daniel
“What do you think about all the shit going on around Faulkner AeroTech?”
I’ve just wrapped up the meeting with a company we work with. They specialize in structural components and airframe manufacturing of aircraft and are a similar business to Faulkner.
Dad never did like to put all his eggs in one basket. The aviation business focuses a lot on big ticket companies when it comes to larger commercial aircraft. We like to work with smaller but highly skilled manufacturers when it comes to the light, private aircraft we contract on our smaller airfields across the country.
Precision Aviation is in direct competition with Faulkner. We’ve walked a careful tightrope with them making sure they know we’re not replacing them. We’re just growing the business.
Fortunately, I went to college with Robbie who is president of Precision, and we’ve partnered with them for over a decade.
“Is that bar trying to ruin them? They’re doing a good job if they are.”
“That isn’t what is going on,” I say, more sharply than I intended.
It somehow got out that Faulkner is suing the bar. Blue wouldn’t have done it, that isn’t her style. The news only caused more indignation from the public. It’s throwing a spotlight at Faulkner that no one wants.
“It’s a smart move and if it takes out my competition, I’m all for it. Is it causing trouble with your deal?” He smirks and takes a sip of his gin and tonic.
Now the business discussions are over, we’re catching up with a drink. I’m antsy to get going because I don’t want to be late for Blue.
She never agreed to the date but I’m banking on her being too intrigued to stand me up. I don’t like Robbie’s insinuation that she would ever willingly want to do what is happening now. She’s protecting her business. Faulkner is the one in the wrong.
Robbie has hit the nail on the head though. The bad publicity surrounding Faulkner is going to have some effect on us. I’ve talked it through with dad, but he doesn’t know my relationship with Blue’s Hideaway didn’t stop at that night.
“We’re not worried. I’m sure it will all be cleared up in a few days.”
“Well, you won’t hear me complaining if it all falls through.”
“Yeah, millions of dollars down the toilet. Great, thanks for that.”
“Hey, you cheated on me.”
“Fuck off,” I groan.
Luckily, Robbie laughs it off. “What is really going on though? Reed Faulkner is a prick, we can both agree on that. Hasn’t he got better things to do with his time than try to take down some small bar in Chicago?”
I’ve known Robbie a long time, way before we got to be where we are in our businesses now. He sits quietly while I fill him in on what is going on.
“You realize you’re walking a fine line there, right?”
“I know,” I sigh heavily.
“That is a huge conflict of interest. You’re hanging out with the owner of the bar he’s suing, and he’s partnered with your firm.”
“He fucking punched me in the face. I don’t give a shit about him.”
“On a personal level, maybe. But this is business. It is a multi-million-dollar deal. Don’t get me wrong, I’d celebrate if the deal fell through. In fact, I’ve been watching this with unadulterated glee. But you and her. Damn Dan, that’s not the greatest of ideas.”
“Honestly, I encouraged dad not to sign the deal. I thought making an official statement about me not believing Reed might have changed things, but it was all done behind closed doors, dad kept out of it. It’s too big and been in the works too long for him to walk away.”
And I fucking hate knowing it, but don’t say that.
“Does he know about your relationship with the girl?”
“No one does. And she’s a woman. All they need to do is back down and retract the lawsuit,” I tell my friend.
“If Faulkner finds out you’re sleeping with the woman he’s suing, Dan, it could get ugly. And in terms of backing down, the thing with us rich folk, we always want more money. And we don’t like to lose.”
“Speak for yourself.”
“Just watch your ass,” he says, after a moment. “If it’s just about pussy, have your fun and walk away.” He watches me closely. “Oh fuck, this is different.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Your poker face has always been shit. You like her?”
I turn my head away rather than answer. Everything he is saying is true.
Is this just about pussy? Jesus, no, I’ve never thought about women like that, and I won’t start now. We might have fallen into bed the second time we met but it isn’t anything like what Robbie is insinuating.
Blue is different. All it will take is for Faulkner to drop the lawsuit. Then I don’t have to worry about seeing her.
There is no sign of her when I pull up outside the bar. It wouldn’t surprise me if she waited inside for me to come to her. The thought makes me smile.
Ducking so I can see through the passenger window, into the front window of the bar, I spot her sitting on a stool. She’s chatting with a man I’ve not seen before. It isn’t one of her workers. My jaw clenches and a pit opens in my stomach. Who is he?
Do I barge in there and drag her out? No, shit. I blink a few times and look away, nervously tapping my fingers against the steering wheel. Truth is, I haven’t done this in years. Dating someone wasn’t in my plans straight after the divorce. Not that we’re dating. Blue would laugh at me for even thinking it.
Why did she make me promise not to fall in love with her? I want to know. I want to know all the things about her. I could watch her for hours, the way she moves, her confidence and beauty. Fucking her again would also be welcome.
My dick stirs as I remember that night. The silken skin, her wet mouth on my dick.
The knock on the window startles the shit out of me and I bang my head on the back of the seat. Blue is looking in at me with an amused expression. Fuck. I unlock the doors, and she gets in.
She is wearing tight black leggings with sneakers and a plain white T-shirt with a waist-length jacket. She hasn’t dressed for a date. It works out well for what I have planned.
After leaving Robbie, I went home and changed into workout gear too.
“Thinking about me?” she asks. Her eyes lower to my lap.
Her throaty laugh is not making this any better. It’s best not to comment. The burning in my cheeks and the bulge in my pants tells her all she needs to know.
“Where are we going?” she changes the subject.
“How do you feel about physical activities?”
“The naked kind,” she arches a brow.
“Get your mind out of the gutter.”
Her laugh makes all the nerve endings in my body fire at once. I look her over and our eyes meet. “We’re going rock climbing.”
Her brows arch and I expect her to say, ‘hell no’. It’s not a typical date activity. I’ve got a back-up plan if she isn’t down for it. Deep down, I know this woman likes adventure, and she doesn’t disappoint.
We climb for two hours. She’s never done it before but gets the hang of it and after some brief tuition from a trainer and then with my guidance, she’s scaling some of the harder walls at the indoor mountain climbing place.
Afterwards, I take her to my favorite taco truck. It’s a static truck, with no wheels that is an established business with its own seating area.
We talk about growing up, how not so different our childhoods were despite our economic differences. Blue talks about the Hideaway and how it’s been a huge part of their family for decades, I get lost in the intensity and pride. Losing that bar would kill not just her, but her whole family.
I’m surprised when she asks about my divorce, but she is so easy to talk to, inquisitive but not intrusive. I tell her snippets, not wanting my ex-wife to be a part of whatever is between Blue and me.
“What about you?” I ask carefully. “Ever been married?”
She laughs. “Married, no.” Her smile fades a little. “But I’m no stranger to broken relationships.”
I’m dying to ask her what that means.
“I’ve trusted and fallen and been hurt, more than once.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, I came out the other side without too many scars,” she frowns at the tabletop, picking at the small cardboard float her taco came in. “Not all men are assholes. But in a sea of a million people, very few ever find their soulmate.”
“You sound like you’ve lost hope.”
“No,” she looks back up at me. “I just don’t believe everyone finds their one true love in their lifetime. And that is fine with me. The only person who can bring me true happiness and peace, is me.”
That’s a sad way of looking at life. Someone really hurt her, skewed how she feels about falling in love. In some ways she is right. I never thought I’d be a divorced man before I hit forty. Lauren was supposed to be my one true love. My soulmate.
It’s getting dark and Blue shivers. We toss our trash and get back into the car.
“Where to now?” she asks.
Thank God she didn’t ask for me to take her home. Things got heavy. I want to lighten them again, to take that faraway look she hasn’t realized she showed me, out of her eyes. “My place?”