Chapter Five #2
I let go of him and tilted my head. The way he’d said that was interesting.
He winked at me and then asked Holly what he could do to help.
I pitched in as well. It was like old times, except that I was fretting on the inside worrying about Ian showing up.
For Boss’s and Holly’s sake, I needed to put on my game face.
I didn’t want them worrying about me or their company when they should be relaxing and enjoying retirement and their family.
I could be a big girl about this. I just needed to act as if the best year of my life never happened. Easy, right?
Just as we finished setting the table, the doorbell rang. It made me jump. I flexed my hands trying to relax and get my head in the game.
While Boss went to answer the door, Holly joined me at the table and took my hand. “Life has a way of giving us what we need, not always what we want; but, if we’re smart, we’ll realize that’s what we wanted all along.”
I didn’t have time to respond to her curious advice because Boss walked back with Ian. I closed my eyes for a split second, breathed in deeply, and put on a counterfeit smile that would pass for the real deal any day.
Ian immediately zeroed in on me with a tentative smile. In fact, everyone was looking at me and smiling. I could tell though that Boss didn’t quite buy my smile, but what could he say now?
After the greeting pleasantries, we were seated.
Ian and I ended up next to each other, whether by design or accident I couldn’t tell; but, no matter, I was concealing not feeling.
I smiled inwardly at my Frozen reference.
I couldn’t wait to tell Amanda. She was so tired of hearing the girls sing the songs from that film.
Now I could tell her about the real-life application and give her a laugh.
Dinner started a little awkward. I’m not sure anyone knew what to say right off.
Holly, though, was a gracious hostess. “Ian, tell us how you like Nashville so far. Have you found a place to settle yet?”
He lowered his glass “It’s been interesting, but I’m looking forward to getting to know the city better. And for the interim I’m staying at the Westin. I have an idea of where I’d like to land, but I’m not quite sure yet.”
I wondered if he was in one of the penthouses the Westin offered.
It was hard to imagine Ian in a penthouse.
I had always known he would be successful, but when I knew him, he lived in a small basement apartment with an untidy roommate named Jeff.
Ian only put up with him because he paid half the rent.
“I would be happy to put you in touch with a friend of mine that’s a realtor,” Holly offered.
“Thank you, but I don’t think that will be necessary.”
Maybe that meant he wasn’t planning on staying long. I tried not to get my hopes up too high.
Holly and Boss went on to tell Ian all of the great places he needed to go and where the best neighborhoods were.
I stayed mostly quiet, unless I was asked a question.
I knew Holly and Boss were trying to engage me because they talked about some of my favorite places, like Cheekwood, the nearby botanical garden, and the Grand Ole Opry.
All I offered up was my agreement that they were worth visiting.
Ian kept glancing my way, obviously hoping for more engagement.
I would flash him my fake smile. It was better than crying or screaming, because that’s what I really wanted to do.
I wanted to know why he couldn’t have loved me.
And why did he have to look so darn good?
And why, oh why, did he have to come here?
Then things got really interesting. “So, will your family be joining you soon? This is a great place to raise a family.” Holly winked at me.
From our earlier conversation in the kitchen, I got the feeling she already knew he didn’t have a family. What was she playing at?
Ian set his fork down and cleared his throat. “I’m sure it is, but I’m single.”
She placed her hand across her heart. “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought Gary had mentioned a wife?”
Holly looked at Gary, and Gary and Ian both looked at me. I’m not sure why.
Ian was definitely uncomfortable. His skin even pinked a little.
I tried to be unfazed by it. I was thankful I had googled him last night and already knew his marital status.
Ian spoke to Holly, but his eyes were on me.
I avoided looking directly into his deep dark optical pools.
Unfortunately, that meant getting a good view of his five o’clock shadow that was begging to have some hands on it.
Holy crap, where did that thought come from?
Um hello, my brain said, we have firsthand experience.
Remember how amazing it felt. My brain and I were having words later.
“No need to apologize. I’m divorced,” Ian hesitated to admit.
“Well, I’m sorry to hear that,” Holly said, but she didn’t look sorry at all. Her smile was so wide it showcased all her capped teeth.
“It was for the best,” he said it so matter-of-factly, I couldn’t tell if he was upset by it or not. Not like I cared. Right?
Not only did I need a change of subject, but I needed him to quit looking at me. “Holly, Boss said you got some new pictures of your grandbabies.”
That did the trick. Holly jumped right up and went to retrieve the pictures in the living room. Boss gave me a strained look that said he knew what I was doing.
Ian turned his attention to Boss. “How many grandkids do you have?”
Boss’s face lit up like the Times Square’s Christmas tree. He was ever the proud grandpa. “Three.” He went on to brag, and rightly so, about his babies, Sara, Ethan Jr., and Camden.
Holly rejoined us, passed out the pictures, and bragged along with Gary.
Camden was just starting to walk, Ethan was the star pupil in kindergarten, and Sara, the eight-year-old, played the piano, just to name a few of their many wonderful qualities.
I oohed and ahhed at the adorable pictures, and fortunately the grandkids took us all the way through dinner.
As soon as dinner was over, I jumped up. “Please, let me clean up.”
“I’ve got it, honey.” Holly stood. “Why don’t you just relax?” Holly picked up one of the serving dishes.
I wasn’t taking no for an answer. I would be more relaxed at my annual gynecologist appointment than I would be sitting there with Ian.
My limit for concealing had almost expired for the evening.
I hoped the longer I was around Ian, the easier it would get to completely hide my true feelings around him.
While in the kitchen, Holly sidled up to me. “Wow is he handsome. Did he look like that when you knew him?”
“He’s a better dresser now, and he used to wear glasses, but he’s always looked nice.”
Nice was an understatement. He looked like he stepped out of the pages of GQ.
Tonight, he was wearing designer jeans, a perfectly pressed shirt, and a canvas jacket that looked tailored to fit him.
He was definitely eye candy, but like I said before, I missed the boring khakis and polos, and even the glasses.
I had to quit thinking of the past. I didn’t know the man who was impeccably dressed.
The man who was now my boss. The thought made me want to cry. Why did he have to be the new director?
“No wonder you were attracted to him.” Holly placed a plate in the dishwasher. “He seems nice, too.”
“Uh-huh.” He was nice—or at least he used to be—it was one of the reasons I fell for him.
He could have made me feel like a real idiot when he tutored me, because, for some reason, calculus was difficult for me to understand.
But he was patient and took the time to explain it until I got it, even if it took several times.
“Are you okay, sweetie?” Holly took the plate from me I’d just rinsed off.
I came out of my memory. “Who, me? Of course.”
“You were awfully quiet at dinner.”
“That’s because that pasta dish was so amazing. I need the recipe.”
She laughed. “You’ve always been a terrible liar.”
“I’m just trying to adjust. But seriously, I want that recipe.”
She tapped my nose. “I’ll give you the recipe, but you know I’m here if you need to talk.”
“I know.” Too bad it couldn’t have worked out with their son.
They would have been the best in-laws ever.
And pictures of my cuties would be on their fridge too.
If only Luke could have gotten his act together, he would have been the director.
It was Boss’s hope to turn over his company to his son someday, but Luke, unfortunately, was the poster boy for substance abuse.
Holly and I put dessert together: strawberry shortcake. When it was ready and plated, we each took two and brought them out to the dining room. Holly served Gary. That left me to serve Ian.
Ian touched my hand when I set down his dessert in front of him. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I whispered. My hand tingled, and I felt a tad warm from the touch. I took a breath and reminded myself to conceal, not feel.
As soon as I sat down, Ian turned toward me. “Gary told me the good news. You’ve rescinded your resignation.” He sounded more than pleased.
I gave him a close-lipped smile.
Gary raised his glass of water to me. “To our girl.” He looked between Ian and me. “May this be the beginning of the most successful chapter Chandler Media has ever known. I’m expecting great things from this partnership.”
Ian raised his glass to me. “I second that.”
I ignored him and raised my own glass. “To Gary—the best boss a girl could ever ask for.” And that’s where I slipped.
A single tear escaped. I wiped it away, but not before Ian noticed.
I wasted no time in turning to my dessert for comfort.
I tried not to focus on the conversation going on around me.
I was ready to go home, and it wasn’t too long after dessert that I made my move to do exactly that.
Unfortunately, Ian had the same idea. We ended up walking out at the same time.
His car was parked behind mine, so he followed me. “We should celebrate. Let’s go get a drink,” he suggested.
Was he for real? “I’m not a big social drinker.” I reached for my door.
He walked toward me grinning. “I didn’t say it had to involve alcohol.”
“Hmm . . . Thanks for the offer, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
He stepped closer.
It made me all sorts of uncomfortable. My senses were drawn to him. And the way his cologne lingered in the air was my undoing.
“Why not, Kelli?”
I bit my lip. “Because you’re going to be my boss.” Okay, so I lied.
“I just saw you kiss and hug your current one goodbye.”
“He’s like a father to me.”
“I remember someone telling me once or twice that I sounded like her dad.”
I forced myself not to smile at the memories. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
His smile faded. “Why can’t you acknowledge we knew each other and that we share a past?”
“In my experience, it’s not good to dwell on the past. Good night, Ian.” I opened my door.
He gently grabbed my arm before I could get in. “So, you’re saying you don’t remember anything?”
I pulled my arm away from him. “No. I’m saying I remember everything.”