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The Tessarae Inn |
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Dreams In Amber Refrains
CHAPTER 19 Todd glanced up from his desk as Arthur Briggs walked, if walk was the right word, into his office. “Why the hell are you tipping, Briggs? Think I couldn’t hear your big feet?” “You looked busy and I didn’t want to disturb you but I think you better see this.” “What is it?” “Tabloids. Newspaper. New York….City.” “What they find a fifty foot albino alligator in the sewer system again?” “Possibly but that didn’t make it to the first page.” “What did?” “Think you better see for yourself.” Todd reached out and took the newspapers. The image of Blair looking more radiant than he ever remembered seeing her jumped out at him from the paper on top. She was standing next to Jake Travis who had his damn arm hooked around her waist. Damn him. The headline jumped out and punched him in the face: HAS JAKE TRAVIS FINALLY FOUND LOVE? Since I Fell For You May Be More Than A Song Title!!! Oh, damn. The next paper had a similar photograph with Blair looking even more beautiful if that was possible with the headline: JAKE TRAVIS’S MYSTERY LOVE UNCOVERED! And She Is A Sight to Behold! “Get out of here, Briggs. I’m busy.” Briggs headed toward the office door at double speed. “I suspected as much.” Todd hit speed dial. The phone rang and rang and rang. Damn it to hell where was she? In Travis’s bedroom? Left her cell phone in “her” room. Damn it. Damn it all to hell. Finally, he heard someone pick up and say, “Hello,” in a sleepy, cottonmouth voice. “Are you having fun? I hope the hell you are having fun.” “What? Todd? What’s wrong? What time is it?” “It’s time for you to come home.” “I just got here. What’s wrong?” “You tell that chirping asshole to keep his damn hands off of you. Is that clear? If I see any more pictures like that…” “Pictures? What are you talking about?” “So you and he didn’t get the morning papers with your breakfast in bed together?” Blair exhaled loudly. “You know what? If you are so worried about me, then come on up here and get me. I’m tired of hugging my pillow. I’m used to something harder and warmer.” “Don’t talk like that, babe. It’s not fair with you so far away.” “You want to tell me what the problem is then?” “Tell him to keep his hands to himself. You’re mine and I will not share you. Just want to make sure that’s clear.” “To who? You think I don’t know who’s the love of my life?” “Sometimes I think you forget.” “Never. Now, tell me how much you miss me.” “I can’t get you out of my mind. A week is longer than I thought.” “Is this really a problem? Do I need to catch a flight this morning?” Hell, yes. You need to be on your way to the airport this damn second. He looked down at the portfolio from Shuttlesworth. He just needed another day or two. Then… “Just take care of yourself. And get a cattle prod. That’s something that jerk will understand. I’ll be there for the show.” “You better be. I miss you.” When he hung up, he felt such a sense of loneliness that he reached into the desk drawer and pulled out his car keys. He could make it to New York in a couple of hours if he kept his foot to the pedal and avoided the heaviest traffic and… “Todd.” Cassie was standing in the office. “Do you have a minute? I’d like to talk about last night. I took a chance that you would be here this early.” He stood up and walked around the desk. “Sure come on in. Just talked to Blair.” “Is she okay?” He reached behind him and grabbed the newspapers and handed them to Cassie. She studied the front pages for a minute with wide eyes. “She looks wonderful and she and Jake Travis look stunning together.” He snatched the papers from her and slammed them back on his desk. “Yeah, well, whatever.” Cassie looked at him with that gentle understanding smile she had that drove him crazy so often. “Jealous?” “I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him. He wants her bad.” “Does she want him?” “Nope. She wants me.” “Bad?” He smiled and let his head drop for a second. “What do you want to talk about, Cassie?” “Thank you for not letting on that we are related last night.” “We’re not really, you know. You’re Blair’s cousin not mine. Not that it would matter. I wouldn’t acknowledge ninety-seven percent of my family either.” “Carl says you and he are working on a business deal. He didn’t say what and I don’t want to know but I wanted to say that he thinks really highly of you. Told me last night that you’re the kind of son he always wished he had.” He looked at Cassie for a second then glanced away and studied his hand. “Why are you keeping him such a secret from everybody?” “You know mother. When she thinks someone is not right for one of her girls, she…” “Cassie, I’m in a fairly good mood even with that picture of Blair and all but let’s not start talking about Dorian or every ounce of good will I have left will evaporate like a water drop in the Florida sun.” “I guess you see why I wanted to leave mother out of my relationship as long as possible. Just seemed easier to leave everybody out of it.” “You think I’m going to tell her?” “Well, I just need a little more …” “Look, I spend as much time as possible trying to avoid Dorian. In three weeks or so we are out of that house she still likes to think of as hers and if I have it my way, we’ll never see her again.” “Lots of luck with that.” “Yeah, well I’ll try. Is that it?” “There is one other thing. I know what Carl thinks of you but what do you think of him?” “Does it matter?” “I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.” He shrugged. Why do people always claim not to mean to do exactly what they mean to do? Cassie pressed her hand to her mouth then looked at him with doe eyes. “I’m just a little gun shy these days. If you know something about him that should raise warning flags I would really appreciate it if you would tell me. His daughters last night were a little scary. Am I missing something about him?” What was the damn likelihood that Cassie would end up dating Carl Shuttlesworth? Sweet, neurotic, perpetually innocent lamb Cassie. Then what was the probability that she would come to him for his opinion? Damn it all straight to hell. What were the damn odds? He took a deep breath. In for a dime, in for a dollar. This was no time to get righteous. All he needed was a couple more days. Nothing would happen to Cassie in two damn days. “His daughters are spoiled and territorial. He’s a very wealthy man so I’m sure he’s no saint but I’ve found nothing that says he’s any better or worse than the average businessman.” Cassie smiled and then rushed over and hugged him. He tried not to shudder but he stepped back quickly. “Thank you. I was worried. That Heather one had me thinking second thoughts.” “She has that effect on people.” “I’ll leave you to your work. Thanks again, Todd.” “You’re Blair’s family.” “Yes I am. And, despite your protests, yours too. And I have to tell you that you make Blair very happy. I’ve never seen her glow the way she has lately.” “Keeping her happy is part of my job description.” Cassie bit her lower lip and looked at him with soft eyes. She touched her chest then turned and walked away. Women. He stared at the keys on his desk and thought again about heading to NY to get Blair and letting the rest of it be damned. Was he crazy sending her off with Jake Travis? Was this stupid football team worth losing her over? No. But then he no intention of losing her. Just two more days at the most. “I’m dizzy from breathing this rarefied air up in these parts.” Todd smiled at the round ball of a man with the mane of white hair who glided into his office as if a hockey player on ice. “What are doing up here, Duke?” “Good to see you too, Manny. I need a bit of sunshine every now and again.” “I’ll buy you a damn sunlamp.” “Got any questions?” “Nope.” “Did you even read it?” “Most of it.” “If you want my opinion…” “I don’t.” “Stay away from them, especially the old man and his first spawn. They are soulless creatures. Always on the prowl for what they don’t have.” “Reduced to melodrama?” “Whatever works.” “I’ll be okay but thanks for the concern. I take souls, I don’t give them up.” “Hubris, Manny. It always precedes the fall.” “I’ll try to remember that. It’ll give me something to think about while I’m battling the fires of hell for an eternity or two.” Chapter 20 Dreams In Amber Refrains FAN FICTION
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