Page 6 of Landry
Tucking them into her purse, she pushed the button for the elevator.
She had chosen this particular building because of its central location to the theaters and some very good restaurants. It was also a secure and sturdy building. She was a woman who lived alone and worked odd hours; one could not be too careful.
She was not helpless, not in the least. Her brother had seen to it, insisting she learn some sort of self-defense techniques. It had started out as a way to defend herself, but she had taken an avid interest in jiu-jitsu and was quite good at it.
Punching in the code, she pushed the door open and stepped into her narrow foyer. The scent of freshly cut flowers swirled through the air as the warmth from the central heating kicked in.
Shrugging out of her jacket, she hung it carefully on the coat tree and kicked off her shoes.
Not even waiting to see if her brother was following, she went straight to the kitchen and opened the wine cooler.
"Whiskey's in the cabinet."
"Wine will do." Kyle sat at the immaculate counter and watched as she fetched two glasses from the cupboard.
"You knew." She gave him an accusing look as she handed him the glass.
"I thought you were over him."
"You knew he was back and didn't say a word. I had to hear it from mother."
Sighing softly, he put the glass down and faced her squarely. He wondered if she was aware of how desolate she looked. "I thought you heard. I saw it in one of those society rags and didn't think much of it until Mother mentioned it."
"She did not 'mention' it, Kyle. She bludgeoned me over the head with that piece of news. How long have they been back?"
"Two weeks, at the most. I don't know." He lifted broad shoulders in frustration. "Why the hell do you care? And don't tell me you don't, because I saw the stricken look on your face when you heard.
"Christ Jesus, Kady! How are you still hung up on that low life? He left you with just a note sent by a servant to say it's over. It's been fifteen years, for God's sake!"
"You don't get to talk to me that way," she told him stiffly, feeling foolish, desperate, and ashamed. She should have been able to control her expression, but she had been blindsided.
"I get to talk to you this way because I was the one who had to pick up the damn pieces after he left and broke your heart in two. You could not function for months after he left. I had to be there for you, so don't bloody well sit there and tell me how to talk to you. Move on, dammit. I'm sure he has."
"I'm not-" She took a deep cleansing breath and wished he would just leave so she could process this devastating news. "I'm just in shock, that's all."
"Why?" he demanded. He knew her well enough. After all, she was a part of him. They had shared a womb for eight months, and there was no nuance, nothing about her expression he was not aware of. She could hide from anyone else, but he knew her too well, and he realized with a sinking heart that she might still be in love with that bastard.
No wonder she wasn't in a relationship. "This is their home. Surely you expect them to return to it at some point."
"It doesn't matter."
"Tell that to someone else." His expression was grim. "The way you looked when you heard he was back told a different story."
Picking up the glass, she took a sip and then another. "It's just shock." She glanced at her watch. "I have some calls to make-"
"You don't have to be subtle about trying to get rid of me." He glanced at his own watch. "I have to stop by the hospital to check on a patient anyway, or I would not leave." Draining his glass, he put it down and rose.
"A bit of advice. You will be seeing the son of a bitch pretty soon. I'd advise you to work on your poker face. I'll see myself out."
She sat where he left her and did not even stir when she heard the front door slam shut. Landry Crenshaw was back. The boy who had ripped her life into shreds was back in town. How could she not have known? Yes, she had been busy with some negotiations: the airline took up most if not all of her time, and it was in the middle of the busiest season. It was November and people had started traveling again as if to make up for the time when the virus had them grounded. She had implemented some changes and was working assiduously to get them off the ground.
Her hands were being held captive by a board made up of mostly old white men and an owner who preferred to party as hard as possible. So, she had been very busy. She was also not one to peruse society pages and had not been out on the town in several weeks.
Picking up her glass, she gulped the wine, for the first time, not making the effort to savor the vintage. He was back.
Memories crashed inside her mind like a clanging cymbal, sharp images of the tall, gangly blonde boy with the amazing jade-green eyes that seemed to see right through her. He had been her one true love, her epic love. Before she met him, she had often rolled her eyes at those statements, thinking them trite and childish when uttered by her friends. Then he came into her life.
He had been a transfer student, wealthy and complete with a chauffeur. It had been him and his sister, and the buzz had been all over the prestigious private school that they were coming there as students. She had not paid it much mind, because she was determined not to get bogged down in the celebrity nonsense.
