Page 12 of Landry
“I will need full details on the meeting.”
“Naturally.” With an inclination of his head, Landry made his way out, closing the door behind him.
Leaning on the solid oak, he took a deep cleansing breath.
“You survived.”
His eyes flickered open to see his sister coming towards him, the diaphanous robe floating around her slender frame. Tucking a hand through his arm, she drew him towards the spiral staircase. “I didn't hear any shouting.”
“Crenshaws are a civilized lot. Where're we going?”
“I need your opinion on something.”
“If it has anything to do with shopping, I'm out.”
She poked him in the ribs and used her free hand to push open the door to her suite. Color exploded and merged, giving the appearance of moving objects. Shaking his head, Landry looked around the room. “You changed everything.”
“Mother is having a cow.” Kathy grinned in delight. “I did it in a fit of pique when they refused to let me take control of the art gallery.” Letting go of his arm, she glided towards the bed draped in filmy red and blue, and dropped down on the side. Her smile disappeared, replaced by a haunted expression. “It's something I'm passionate about, and they refuse to let me do anything.” She lifted delicate pink-tipped nails in despair. “I feel as if I'm suffocating.” She trained her jade green eyes on him. “You can talk to mother. Father is on the verge of succumbing, but mother refuses to budge. She has a soft spot for you.”
He came to sit next to her and took her hands in his. “Perhaps it has to do with the fact that you've changed careers too many times to count.”
Chapter 4
"You're supposed to be on my side," she accused him with a pout of her lips. "Remember? Us against the mighty 'rents'?"
He chuckled at that, tweaking the ends of her hair. "I'm always on your side, but I have to err on the side of caution."
Tilting his head to the side, he considered her lovely face. "Ask yourself this: is it because you're bored and restless that you have the sudden urge to manage a gallery? Or are you seriously into art? You have degrees in entrepreneurship, literature, history, and science. Darling, you're a classic professional student, one who cannot settle on a particular career. You change your mind at the drop of a hat."
"If I needed a lecture, I would have gone to the parents." Her lips were sulky and petulant, reminding Landry that despite her twenty-seven years of age, she was still basically a sheltered child. They had been closeted and protected because of what had happened.
Their parents had been forced to relinquish the chokehold they had on him, because he had bucked against it, but she was still in the midst of it. He had to feel sorry for her.
"How serious are you about the gallery?" he asked her quietly, tightening his hold on her hand as she made to move away.
"Very serious." Her expression turned earnest, and a light came into her eyes. "I was talking to Jackson just a couple of days ago and checking out his latest collection of paintings. Landry! The man is magnificent. His style is so damn unique and bold.
"I want to be in that gallery of ours and be able to look my fill. I also want to be able to tell people the selling points. I know enough about art, having studied it in college. Yes, I hop from one thing to another, but that's my coping mechanism." She shrugged her slender shoulders.
"I just want to do this: to do something. I'm not like you." Her eyes pleaded with his. "You've known from the very beginning what you wanted. To be CEO of the company. That's all well and fine for you, because one day you will be in charge of it all.
"I have to skip around until I find my footing, and I think I have. Will you run interference for me?"
His hand lifted to cup her cheek. It had been the two of them all along. When he had found Kady-Ann, he had neglected her, neglected his duties as her big brother.
They lived in a household where there wasn't much love or physical intimacies. She had been known to climb into his bed in the middle of the night if there were 'monsters' in her closet, and they would spend time talking and laughing quietly.
He had to be there for her now. Had to put aside his own worries and tend to hers.
"I will. If you're sure it's what you really want to do."
"I am." Her expression cleared up, the dazzling smile coming quickly. Throwing her arms around his neck, she hugged him tight.
"I know you have your own thing." Easing back, she studied his face. Landry had learned to keep his emotions at bay. He wasn't as easy to read as before. "Are you all right?"
He touched his lips to her brow and rubbed her back. "As I'll ever be."
"Landry?"
