“Can’t wait.”
I do the rounds with the sisters, and they’re not nearly as bad as I thought. They’re polite, but protective of their brother. Understandable. I see them throw a couple thumbs up Ben’s way when they think I’m not looking and take that as a good sign.
“These are the guys,” Ben says, exchanging handshakes and fist bumps with three men in shorts and T-shirts. “Sean, Mitch, and Dan. I’ll refrain from using their nicknames in hopes they’ll pay me the same courtesy.”
“Fat chance, Biscuits.”
“That’s not your nickname,” I chuckle, clutching his arm sympathetically. “Tell me it’s not.”
“He came by it honestly,” Dan announces. “Won a county fair contest and everything.”
“So much for no nicknames,” Ben says, punching Dan’s shoulder. “I was much better to you when you brought Sally around for the first time.”
“You were pretty good to all our wives,” Sean admits. “We should go easy on him. He made a great groomsman too.”
“You were in their weddings?” I picture Ben in a tux standing at the end of the aisle and feel my stomach flutter with excitement.
“Always the bridesmaid,” Ben says pitifully.
Bianca comes around and hugs each of them as though they’re family. A tight, familiar embrace with little jokes between. Another sister, Becky I think, comes by and hands out some beers. They all resemble each other, and I’m working hard to keep them straight. The sun is bright and the conversations are loaded with old stories and endless belly laughs.
Dan, Mitch, and Sean are all lounging around the now-cleared picnic table, nursing beers and ribbing each other.
“So Kylie, you don’t mind dating a nerd?” Dan asks, looking perfectly serious.
Always quick with a quip, I dive right in. “I had my reservations but my computer jammed the other day and having a nerd around turned out to be pretty handy.”
“I wasn’t such a nerd that time you started a bar fight in Dallas. I saved your ass.”
“I’ll give you that, you’re always good when punches start getting thrown.” Sean clinks his beer against Ben’s. “If you weren’t already named Biscuits we might have called you Slugger.”
“Should we really get into names McGroin?” Ben gives a smug smile as everyone seems to surrender.
The kids are chasing bubbles and screeching each time they’re successful in catching one. You don’t usually get any sort of warning when you’re about to do something for the last time. There’s no party. No parade. No acknowledgement at all. I rarely get nostalgic. But today with the sounds and sights of an easy day at the park, I try to replay some of the memories of my “last times.”
“You did well planning this date,” Ben whispers into my hair as he slings an arm over my shoulder. The goodbyes begin and much to my surprise I get hugged by just about everyone. More hugs than I’ve allowed in years. But it’s nice.
“Everyone seemed really nice,” I say as we drive back toward the Tower.
“They are nice. We should meet some of your friends sometime.”
“When I make some I’ll invite them.” I rest my head on his shoulder and laugh. “You really trust them?”
“Do I trust my family and my oldest friends? Yes.”
“You’d trust them with what?”
“With my life. My family. Anything.”
“Like your bank account numbers and pin codes?” I ask as though it’s laughable, but he doesn’t hesitate.
“Dan is my financial advisor, and I give him access to anything he wants. I got sick of putting all the information together so he goes in and gets it himself.”
“You’re not even the least bit worried by that?”
“No.”
“How?”
“Because three years ago my sister Becky and her kids were in Florida. A hurricane came through and it was bad. Fifteen people were killed. Flooding. Becky’s husband was on business and not supposed to meet them until the weekend. Power was out, and we couldn’t reach them.”
“That’s terrifying.”
“It was. I didn’t know it, but Dan was in Georgia visiting his in-laws. He heard the girls were down there and called me when he was halfway there. I had been trying to get a private flight anywhere even close. I kept striking out and was planning to start driving that way from Boston if I had to.”
“He just went? You didn’t even ask him to go?”
“I didn’t have to.”
“And he found them?”
“The hotel was flooded and evacuated. It took him four more hours to track them down. They lost all their suitcases in flood water; they were scared and tired. Dan scooped them up and drove them back to his in-laws in Georgia. They took them in for the rest of their vacation and made it special.”
I don’t reply because I don’t know exactly how to marry my skepticism with that obvious act of love.
“Mitch’s dad was diagnosed with colon cancer. It didn’t look good for him. My sister’s husband works at the hospital and got him into a clinical trial. Saved his life. We’ve all been through our shit. There is almost always something you can do to help if you try. It’s nice to have people who keep trying.”
“You’re lucky.”
“Mitch, Dan, and Sean are good men.”
“You fit right in.”
“I’ve been successful, but I know if that wall crumbles, my life will be full. They’ll still be there.”
“That must be a nice feeling.”
“Kylie, you can absolutely make it through life alone. You’re living proof of how successful you can be on your own. But I think it’s important to know you don’t have to. It’s not a fork in the road where you have to choose one way or the other. It’s not self-preservation or loyal friends. You can have both. As a matter of fact, you can find people who are watching your back so every now and then you don’t have to have your guard up.”
I want to tell him that is pie in the sky, magical thinking. But I believe him. In spite of myself and all my life experiences up to this moment, I believe him. And that scares the hell out of me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Ben
I knock on Kylie’s door thinking I’m being cute. She’ll be on her way to my place in a few minutes, but I can’t get the thought of those jerks bothering her in the hallway. Instead I’ll give her a personal escort even though she’ll think it’s corny.
“What are you doing up here?” Kylie asks, barely opening the door as she sticks her head out.
“I thought we could take a long romantic stroll to my place.”
“I’ll be down in a minute.” The flush in her cheeks and the way her eyes dart away has me instantly concerned.
“Are you all right? You’re being all dodgy and weird.”
“I’m always weird,” Kylie insists. “I’ll be right down.” The door closes in my face, and I’m left staring at the wrong side of a peephole.
“You’re good?”
“I’m fine.”
I step back and head down the hall until I hear another door open. “Hey Ben, I thought I heard someone out here.”
Penny has her gym bag over her shoulder as she closes her door and joins me on the way to the elevator.
“Is Kylie coming?”
“She’s in her apartment. I came to get her but she wouldn’t let me in. Is that normal?”
“Normal normal, or normal for Kylie? There’s a difference.”
“I don’t want to invade her space or anything, but it’s not like I haven’t been in there before. You had me over when you were staying there. Maybe she just likes her privacy?”
“I’m sure that’s it.” Penny has an oddly similar reaction, with darting eyes and flushed cheeks that has my antenna up. We ride together in silence and hop off on my floor.
“You’re doing great, Ben. I’ve never seen her so happy.” The door closes between us, and I stand here, trying to figure out what might be keeping Kylie from
letting me in. I don’t care if she prefers to keep her space her own, but it seems like more than that. Like something could be wrong. I’m not insulted. I’m worried.
It’s only about ten minutes before Kylie is down at my place and doing her best to act like nothing strange happened.
“We finalized that new manufacturing relationship today.” She’s thumbing through the takeout menus and trying to look thoroughly distracted.
“That’s great. So everything at work is all right?” I eye her closely for any sign of distress.
“It’s good. Surprisingly, spending time with you hasn’t ruined my career. You were right. Do you want to work on the programming together for List to Leisure tonight? I think you can add some options for very brief meditation sessions. Just five minutes or so, something for beginners.”
This part doesn’t get old. We plan our evenings around these types of things the way other people plan what restaurant they want to go to, or what movie they want to see. A night in or out, usually always ends up with an impassioned discussion about something we are working on or hope to work on someday.
“Five minutes might be too long to ease people in.” I pull up my laptop and start jotting down notes. I tamp down the nagging voice of worry and assure myself that Kylie has made it this far on her own, and she’s well in control. “With your help this might be the fastest I’ve ever gotten an idea from conception to sale.”
“Sale?”
“Yeah, once I cement the idea and test it thoroughly, I’ll sell it. Some tech firm will slap their name on it and pay me out. Then I’m on to the next thing.”
“But this idea is so you. Can’t you invest in it yourself and take it directly to market? Why sell it?”
“It’s what I’ve always done.”
“Have you ever wanted to do it differently?”
“I’ve never given it much thought. It’s been relatively easy to find buyers for my developments.”
“Because they are amazing.” She lights with pride as she talks about my skills. “You’ve been on the cutting edge of countless creations in the last five years. Corporations must clamor to throw money at you when they know you’ve got something new.”
“My phone starts ringing, that’s for sure.”
“You could do an amazing launch of your own products from creation right through distribution. I can pitch in if you wanted me to.”
“That would be great,” I say, considering what a partnership between the two of us might look like. That’s what Kylie brings to my life that I’ve never found before. She challenges what has always been done in pursuit of what could done be better. Her hurricane-force perseverance is contagious. And her body in those jeans is sexy as hell. The whole package.
“Thai food?” she asks, waving the menu at me and smiling. “I promise this time I won’t say I want something small and then eat all your food. I really only want some noodles. I swear.”
“But I should probably get the curried coconut chicken I love?”
“And you do like the pork in peanut sauce too.” She smiles and nibbles her lip with a flicker of mischief in her eyes.
“But just noodles for you?”
“That’s all.”
“You are so lucky you’re cute.” I tap her nose with my finger.
“Oh you better get yourself the vegetables with the jasmine rice too. Just so you have enough. You don’t want to go to bed hungry.”
“And just the noodles for you?”
She nods and makes a little cross over her heart.
“You’re hopeless. But I wouldn’t change a thing about you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Kylie
Luther Green is different. Better at covering his tracks than most of the other tenants in Bachelor Tower. It’s not impossible to take him down, but it’s requiring a hell of a lot of digging.
One lead has nagging at me for a few days, but I’ve been too cautions to move forward with it. My contact in the building said he’s still getting the information together for me and I should wait. Waiting is my worst nightmare.
Inaction allows a threat to grow. I’m more certain than ever this is the guy who is trying to make life at work miserable for Dalton. Every deal he disrupts is less security for Penny’s future. I won’t have that. I’ve pressed Penny a couple more times, but she won’t tell me anything more, only that it’s wearing on Dalton.
I check my watch and remember how close we are to doomsday. Another hour before dinner at Penny’s with my mother. I gave Ben every opportunity to back out, but apparently, judging by his affection for me, he’s a glutton for punishment.
Closing my laptop and realizing there’s no last-minute escape hatch to slip through, I get ready for dinner. I slip into a dress when I should be looking for a shield and some armor. It’s essential to protect myself from the constant swipes my mother takes. She means well, or so I remind myself as often as is necessary to keep from swiping back.
I need to arrive at Penny’s early. She’ll be nervous, and as much as my mother wants me there for a buffer, I know Penny needs me more.
“Where’s Ben?” Penny yanks me inside and looks down the hallway expectantly.
“He’s coming closer to dinner time. I figured I’d see if you need any help.”
“But he is coming? I set a plate for him.”
Dalton rounds the corner and takes Penny gently by the elbow. “You need to relax. This is just dinner with your mom not the Queen’s coronation. It’s going to be fine.”
Penny looks at me and sighs. “I hope so.”
“I agree with Dalton.” I lie for her sake. “You’re no longer some little kid who doesn’t want to learn about business acquisitions. Let her get to know who you’ve become. She might surprise you.”
“Right,” Dalton agrees. “Exactly. Be the woman I love because she’s fucking amazing.”
Penny smiles.
I give Dalton credit. He says all the right things. Will the confidence he gives Penny stand up against our mother’s particular version of tough love and high standards?
“What can I help with?” Looking around the apartment, I see most everything is already done. The table is beautifully set. The food smells amazing.
“We need a code word,” Penny blurts out. “Kylie, if I need you to get me out of here, I’m going to say White Desert Rose.”
“Wait . . . why does she get to escape with you?” Dalton asks, looking concerned. “Does that mean Ben and I are left here with your mother?”
Penny scrunches up her face as though she’s giving this some serious thought. “You can come up with your own code for you and Ben.”
I chuckle and put a hand on her shoulder. “You’re not going to say White Desert Rose to get me to take you out of here.”
Dalton nods, looking relieved. “Thank you.”
I lean in and whisper, “That’s too long and too hard to work into the conversation. Let’s say baked chicken.”
“I heard that.” Dalton looks ready to demand his own code word when Ben knocks and lets himself in.
“Heard what?” he asks, looking at each of us. I know he’s been fighting off the worry that something is going on with me. The day he came up to my apartment I acted like an idiot. But he’d caught me off guard. My apartment is ground zero for the behind the scenes work I’m doing to knock out these bastards causing trouble in the Tower.
Dalton steps forward and anxiously explains. “They have a code word to get out of here if things get messy. I don’t like it.”
“Is it really going to be that bad?” Ben asks, tucking his hands causally into his pockets. “She’s a tough lady, I get that, but we’re four adults in healthy relationships. I think we can handle it.”
We all nod our heads, but it’s clear we’re less than convinced. Dalton grabs a beer for Ben and hands it over. “Our code words are let’s get the hell out of here.”
“No beer.” Penny swoops in and switches the glass bottle for a crystal c
hampagne flute filled with our mother’s favorite bubbly.
“Why?” Dalton asks, looking disappointed at his new drink.
I look at Penny and crack a smile, impersonating my mother’s voice as I explain. “Beer is for former frat boys and football fans.”
“I’m literally both of those,” Ben says, making a weak attempt to get his beer back.
The firm knock on the door has us all going silent and still as statues. There’s a moment that passes among us. An unspoken question. If we’re really quiet, will she go away?
The second, more important knock sends us all into motion.
“Coming.” Penny takes one last look around the apartment, shoves the beers in my arms to get rid of, and heads for the door.
I pour the beers down the sink and shove the bottles to the bottom of the recycling bin. I’m a grown woman. I run a Fortune 500 company. I have a coveted apartment and drive an expensive sports car. Yet I’m hiding beers from my mother like I’m a teenager who’s been left home for the weekend.
“Something smells delicious.” My mother is in a navy blue skirt and perfectly tailored jacket over a pinstriped blouse. Her neck glitters with gold and her nail polish is a muted natural pink. There is nothing about our mother that isn’t calculated and well thought out. From lipstick shade to the height of her heels, there is a meaning or a reason for everything.
“Thanks for coming, Mom. This is Dalton.” Penny presents him to our mother. She looks as nervous as I am for her. I know how much this means to Penny, but I don’t know how to help her bridge the gap between who she is and who our mother wants her to be.
“It’s nice to meet you. Should I call you Mrs. Fuller?” Dalton extends a hand, and my mother shakes it firmly.
“Elizabeth will do. The apartment is charming. Though I can see you let my daughter decorate some.” She gestures to some of Penny’s prized possessions that decorate the built-in bookshelves. It’s a hodgepodge of trinkets but ones she cares deeply about.
“She’s given character to the place.” Dalton puts a protective arm over Penny’s shoulder and squeezes her.