Chapter 12
R ae felt surprisingly happy as she entered her office the next morning.
Over coffee, she had called Cameron and related some of how Brody had acted the previous night.
Enough to explain why Rae thought Cameron should take Brody’s desire for therapy as both real and valid.
The conversation left her feeling almost weightless.
As if she had sent Brody an unexpected Christmas gift.
Lana was in a Friday state of mind, earpods in place as she worked her computer, bouncing slightly and humming to a melody Rae did not recognize. When Rae’s shadow fell on the desk, Lana pulled out one pod and said, “Can’t help but love the Black Eyed Peas.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“Brody Reames called. Something’s come up and he urgently needs to meet. Your morning was pretty free, so I’ve booked him in first.”
“Good. You just saved me a phone call.”
“Yeah, I kinda figured you wouldn’t mind another dose of that guy. And Amiya has called twice. She says to tell you she is growing angrier with every passing minute.” Lana offered an impish grin. “I love how that lady sings her words even when she’s mad.”
Amiya was one of Rae’s closest friends, and a lady with every reason to be angry. Rae asked, “What’s got you so happy?”
“My folks collected the kids for the weekend,” Lana replied. “Soon as I’m done here, Carl and I are heading out. I forget where. Doesn’t matter. Away is enough.”
“Go now.”
Lana’s normally bright nature became incandescent. “Really?”
“Absolutely.” Rae flipped through her phone calendar. “I’ve got Brody in an hour, the Dixons after lunch, the rest of the day is your basic catch-up on all the paperwork I haven’t accomplished this week.”
“You sure you won’t wither and die without me?” The concern was turned mocking by how she had already gathered up her jacket and purse, stowed her pods and iPlayer, and was heading out. “Say the word and I’m happy to—” The closing door cut off whatever fake offer she’d been shaping.
The resulting silence was, Rae decided, just what the doctor ordered.
She left her office door open so she could watch for new arrivals.
She rounded her desk, settled in her chair, and just sat there.
Feeling almost content. It was such a rare sensation, she took time to try and give it a name, if not a reason.
Hard as it was to admit, it all came down to Brody. The guy she had always assumed was as close to heartless as a man could come, he was the one who caught her when she fell. And did so with the care and concern of, well …
She might as well go ahead and say it.
Last night he had held her with a lover’s gentle strength.
Rae watched dust motes do their ballerina dance in the sunlight and wondered at the changes contained in this admission. Brody Reames. The man who looked at her with a special light in his gaze. The man who knew what she needed and gave with a totality that left her, well …
Weightless.
Rae rose from her chair and walked to the corner kitchenette in Lana’s office. She poured and doctored a mug of coffee, returned to her desk, and picked up her phone. What this moment called for was a friend who might help her put this item in proper perspective. Maybe.
The only reason why Rae’s relationship with Amiya Morais wasn’t comical was that they loved each other like sisters.
Amiya was daughter to the retired chief executive of the Fortunate Harbor’s parent company.
She now voted his stock and held his seat on the board.
Which effectively meant Amiya was also Rae’s biggest client.
Along with her fiancé, who served as president of their North American operations.
But wait, there’s more.
This fiancé happened to be none other than Curtis Gage. The man who had been Rae’s very own first true love. The same man who broke her young heart.
Which under any other circumstances would have defined uncomfortable. But with Amiya and Curtis, it simply bound them more tightly together. Friends for life.
Amiya answered the phone with, “Why was I forced to learn about Emma’s health through my father?”
“That’s an easy one,” Rae replied.
“I’m listening.”
“I’ve got too much going on just now to totally break down and sob.”
A quiet moment, then, “All right. I accept that as at least partly valid.”
“Anyway, it didn’t work. Last night it finally hit me, and I totally lost it.”
“Oh, Rae.”
“In front of a new client, no less. Just collapsed into his arms and bawled.”
Amiya replied, “I should probably not be smiling.”
“I’m not nearly done.” Rae was enjoying herself now, despite everything. No one on earth could get her going quite like Amiya. “This particular client is also a former flame.”
“Now you’re joking.”
“A while after Curtis and I broke up, Brody arrived on the scene.” She leaned back in her chair, stared at the ceiling, and remembered. “He was just exactly what I needed at the time.”
“Are we talking new love?”
“Hardly. Love was the last thing I wanted. More like, a double dose of salsa.”
“So … Handsome?”
“Think buccaneer with dimples.”
Amiya laughed out loud. “How long has it been?”
“Eight years, give or take.”
“Who broke things off?”
“It wasn’t like that,” Rae replied. “Brody left for the autumn racing circuit, and a week or so later, I went back for my senior year at university.”
“Racing?”
“He’s been a fanatic sailor since forever. He’s also Morehead City born and raised. I’ve seen him around every now and then. We’ve stayed on good but distant terms.”
“Now he shows up, asks you to represent him, and you just leap into his arms?”
“Not exactly. First, he asked for an appointment, and we talked shop. Then yesterday, I walked into Emma’s and he was sitting by her bed, reading to her.
” Rae’s smile crimped at the edges. “She looked genuinely happy for the first time since forever. Emma invited him to move in to one of her cottages.”
Amiya’s laughter was bell-like. “Does Santa have something special to put under your tree?”
“I wish I knew.”
“Girl, for real?”
“It gets worse. You remember Holden?”
“The man who helped save our company? Puleese.”
“He’s made his intentions clear in the romance department. Sort of.”
That silenced Amiya.
Rae offered a shortened version of the two most recent less-than-perfect exchanges with the man interested in, well, bonding. She finished with, “The simple truth is, I don’t think Holden is ready to commit to the sort of relationship I’m after.”
“Which is?”
“Fifty-fifty. With no secrets on the professional front.”
Amiya’s smile was still there in her voice, shimmering in the December daylight. “You did right.”
“I wish I could be so sure.”
“Rae, listen to me. This sounds better than good, what you’ve done, and what it represents.”
“I can’t tell you what it means, hearing you say that.”
“Maybe you should have it tattooed on your forearm. The next time Holden starts pressing, you roll back your sleeve and show him just how permanently serious you are when it comes to the fifty-fifty arrangement.”
“Okay, number one, I’m not into body ink. And second, I’m not sure there will be another time.”
Rae half expected Amiya to offer advice, assurance, maybe even say she should insert herself into the equation. Instead, she asked, “What about this buccaneer?”
She was about to say that even thinking about a future with Brody left her queasy, when her personal phone rang. “I have to go. Emma’s on the other line.”
“Rae, wait. I’m coming down late tonight for a quick visit with Daddy. Can I go see her?”
“Of course. She’ll love that.” She hit the other phone, told Emma, “Hang on just a second.” Then back to Amiya with, “Are you staying through Christmas?”
“I want to, but we’ll see. Curtis is due back today from his regular battle with the Delhi board. He’s meeting me at Daddy’s. Everything depends on what he won’t discuss by phone.”
“See you tomorrow,” Rae promised, then switched phones and asked, “What’s the matter?”
“What an utterly dreadful way to say good morning,” Emma replied. “Nothing’s wrong.”
“Really?”
“Child, yes. I’m feeling much better today. Which is why I’m calling. Will you do something for me?”
“Is that a joke?” Rae could hear the lift to her voice, like a weight had up and floated away. “Yes, Emma. Anything.”
“I’m scheduled for another exam. Now that I’m feeling better, I don’t want that doctor coming anywhere near my house.”
“I’ve met Dr. Asher, and I couldn’t agree more.”
“The warmth of his bedside manner approaches absolute zero,” Emma said.
“I hope you told him.”
“Twice. It was like bouncing rocks off a bulletproof vest.”
“When is your appointment?”
“Four, this afternoon.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Bring your gentleman friend. I may need help with the maneuvers.”
Rae started to offer the knee-jerk response, how Brody was a client, nothing more. But the day was too fine for myths. “No problem.”
“Thank you, dear. But that’s not why I wanted to speak with you. Well, it is. But not really.”
“You’ve lost me.”
There was no reason why Emma’s request would offer her heart such wings. None at all.
Brody entered while she was still on the phone with Emma. He returned her wave through the open office doorway, then planted himself in front of her painting. For such a strong and handsome man, Rae thought he possessed a fragile air. Something she could definitely understand.
As Rae cut the connection, Brody offered the painting a solemn nod.
She found that oddly moving. Rae had loved the artwork from her very first viewing.
A couple in art deco finery danced along the seashore, accompanied by a few other distant pairs.
The idiotically romantic scene spoke to her of love’s impossible moments, the rapture of taking time for the splendid grandeur of affection. No matter what.
As she entered Lana’s office, something about his expression had her wondering if perhaps Brody wished himself into the scene. Rae focused on the print and tried to recall the last time she’d observed it with anything other than bitter regret.
Brody said, “You called Cameron. About me.”
“First thing this morning,” Rae confirmed.
“I can’t tell you what it means, you and Olivia asking her to become my therapist.” He still had not looked her way. “After everything I’ve done, all the wrong moves …” He took a long breath. “Thank you, Rae.”
They might have stood there for hours, sharing the unspoken. But there simply wasn’t time. “You needed to speak with me about something?”
“I do, yes. Shepphard Creighton, head of the Creighton Fund. He texted and requested a conference call.”
“Is that really his name?”
“Yes. A viscount, no less. He jokes about how it took six generations to lose everything except his silly title.”
“So, he’s British.”
“He is, but minus the stuffiness. His fund is based in Atlanta. The biggest in the southeast by some measurements. Jacob despises him. We’ve met a couple of times at conferences.
He’s actually a nice guy, by all accounts.
” Just the same, talking about this man elevated Brody’s tension to where Rae could almost count the stress lines. “I think he wants to offer me a job.”
“When is this supposed to take place?”
“Eleven.”
She glanced at her watch. Plenty of time to slot that in. “You want me to handle it, correct?”
“Rae, yes, absolutely.”
“Fine.” Rae touched his arm, trying to calm him. She thought it was like settling a nervous horse. “There’s something I need you to do.”