Page 52 of Landry
The very last thing Merva Goode-Klein expected when she arrived at the Tea Room was to see her daughter already there. What took her aback was the fact that she was with none other than Landry Crenshaw. She had a reputation for being extra early and controlling the room. They had taken one with a door that prevented curious eyes from looking in. She didn't like that one bit. She was further surprised to see her son already there.
“What is this then?” she inquired as soon as she was escorted in.
“Mother.” Kyle rose along with Landry, then came over to pull out her chair. “You're looking lovely as usual,” he said smoothly, before going back to his seat.
“We have an announcement.” Kady took Landry's hand as soon as he sat back down. “Would you rather we did it now or after the meal?”
“Now, of course.” Merva glanced at the linked hands, her curiosity aroused.
“We're getting married next Saturday.”
Unhurriedly reaching for her glass of sparkling water, Merva took a fortifying sip before responding. “What's the hurry?” Sheaimed an icy look at the man sitting next to her daughter. “It's only been what? Fifteen years?” She swung her gaze back to her daughter. “What lies has he told you to get you to agree to this insanity?”
“Mother-”
“No.” Landry squeezed her hand gently. “Mrs. Klein, what I'm about to say to you has to be kept in the strictest confidence. I would like to explain everything before you say anything. Would you afford me that courtesy?”
Merva had to admit that the young man had manners and being rich as Croesus did not make him out to be arrogant and entitled. And he obviously adored her daughter. “Go ahead.” She waved a hand as she took another sip of her water, her interest piqued.
At first, she showed only mild interest, but as he went into detail, she stared at him with shock in her eyes and could hardly wait until he was finished.
“I hurt your daughter.” Lifting her hand, he kissed it before pressing it to his cheek. The gesture was so intimate and poignant that the other two at the table felt as if they were excluded. “Unwittingly. Even back then, I would have cut off my right hand to prevent that from happening. But I made apromise to her and to myself that I would never hurt her that way again.”
Merva had no doubt that he meant every word and for a moment, she felt the pang of longing for someone to look at her like that. Her husband had loved her, but theirs had been a quiet kind of settled love. What she was looking at now was heated and scorching. It was as if the two were as one.
“And this Massey asshole, no sign of him yet?” Kyle spoke for the first time. “Has he been in contact with anyone else?”
“Kathy,” Landry said quietly.
“I see.” It took all of his willpower not to react. He had not heard from her in a couple of days and decided not to get in touch. Meanwhile, her life was in danger. It was a hell of a situation he found himself in. Because for the past two days, he found himself longing to hear her voice. “Is she all right?”
“Yes.” Landry sent him a grateful smile, and Kyle decided that he wasn't such a jerk after all. And the proof of the man's love for Kady was there for all to see. The naked adoration on the man's face was astounding. “We're doing all we can to find out where he's holed up.” He brought their joined hands to his lips in an automatic gesture that was profoundly touching. “But we're not willing to wait on any of it to get married.” He turned his headand, for a minute, simply stared at the woman who held his heart in her hands. “We want to begin our lives together.”
“How can I get in the middle of that?” Merva's eyes glistened. “I wish you all the best.”
“And I'd say congratulations are in order.” Leaning forward, Kyle kissed his sister on the lips. “You're happy, that's all I ever wanted for you.”
“You're next,” she told him with a grin.
“Bite your tongue,” he shot back lightly, feeling his chest tightening. “Would you excuse me for a bit? I have some calls to make.”
***
“Meet me somewhere,” he said without preamble as soon as she answered the phone.
“Who's this?”
“Don't play games with me. You don't want to test me right now.” He was sitting in his car, fingers drumming on the steering wheel. “You could not find the courtesy to tell me your life was in danger? Am I just a sex toy to you? An itch to scratch?”
“Damn you to hell!” Her soft voice had gone steely. “You would dare talk to me like that after two whole days of complete silence?”
He had the grace to feel ashamed. “The phone works both ways,” he muttered.
“You said it's just sex.”
“You said the same thing,” he shot back. “Look, can we meet or not?”
“There will be guards.”
