Page 18 of Landry
Putting his glass aside, he reached for her hands, disturbed to find them trembling. One of the things he had always admired about his sister was her self-control. Nothing fazed her, at least not since that awful time when that bastard had broken her heart. Now he was back and causing havoc. Kyle had a mind to charge into that lofty building of his and beat the crap out of him. He was doing it again; he was hurting her.
"What will you do?"
"Throw something when I get home, go for a run, scream and get it out of my system. One thing I won't do is run. I'm not a quitter."
"That's my girl," he said approvingly, squeezing her hands. "I ordered pizza."
"Extra cheese and mushrooms?"
Grimacing, he nodded. "You're lucky I love you so much. The things I put up with."
"Kyle?"
"I'm not asking them to add ham; that's where I draw the line."
She laughed and shook her head. "I love you too."
He grunted, but the sound of her laughter had him smiling. "Grab some plates."
***
He was decidedly weary. After putting on a front when he returned to the office, giving reports on the meetings, he went through the rest of the day keeping himself busy, working on the plans for the airline that had to be approved by his father and the board. Then he had quietly taken his leave and driven around for an hour. He had answered his sister's call, assuring her that he was quite all right and had some work to do.
Now he was home. Shrugging out of his jacket, he strode into the bedroom and stripped. Standing beneath the jet sprays, he closed his eyes and allowed himself to relax. The tension in his shoulders was like knives slicing through his flesh. Setting the temperature as hot as he could stand it, he stood there for several minutes and emptied his mind.
Touching the knobs, he turned off the sprays and rubbed over his skin. Feeling halfway decent, he went out on the balcony with a glass of scotch. He contemplated drinking the entire bottle to get rid of the memories. But nothing, no amount of liquor was going to erase her image from his mind.
She was beautiful, he thought achingly. Kady-Ann Simone Klein had always been a looker, but the years had added to her beauty. Reluctantly, he allowed the memories to come. As soon as he opened the floodgates, they came washing over him.
He and his sister had been sent to a private boarding school since they were six years old. It was a place for the very wealthy and privileged and they had both hated it. The rules were rigid and the tutors were pretentious and frightening. It was like they were at boot camp.
When he turned sixteen, they were transferred to a semi-private school that was much different. He was a gangly and awkward teenager with an unhappy home life, and coming from a boarding school background, he was often shy and tongue-tied around females.
From the very first day of his arrival, the teacher had paired him with Kady-Ann. And just being near her had scared the hell out of him. She was popular and sociable. Everyone liked her. She was also an overachiever. Besides which, she was head cheerleader, head of the debating team and an A student. Shewas also dating the captain of the football team, a cocky boy with a rude disposition.
The instant Landry's eyes met hers, he fell hard and fast. They were paired up in chemistry and were lab partners. Her vivacious manner and the habit she had of making people feel at ease made him feel comfortable around her.
Two months after he started, she dumped the jock and they started dating. Walking over to the rail, he used his free hand to grip the iron, ignoring the cold, his expression bleak as he stared sightlessly at the encroaching darkness.
From that point on, they became a couple and his life took a turn. He started experiencing a joy that he never knew existed. He laughed freely and got involved in sports. She would tease him about being rich and entitled and only interested in sports like golfing and hockey. She was a daredevil and fearless.
She changed him for the better and included his sister in most of what they did. And he was her first. It had shaken him to the core that she had never done it with anyone before; it made it all the more special. She had been his first as well.
He closed his eyes as he recalled how he had fumbled around, terrified of hurting her. And how she had kept reassuring him, giving him encouragement. He had held her to him, his heartracing, his young body so flushed with pleasure that he could hardly bear it. He had pledged to love her until he drew his last breath.
They made plans. Like most teenagers with the first blush of love, they had been completely naïve and foolish. Life was black and white. His parents never disapproved of her, but even so, he never felt comfortable taking her to his home. They spent most of their time at her place because her parents were often out.
Then his world fell out from under him one year later.
Just like that, he had to leave. Lifting his glass, he tossed back the drink, grimacing as it hit his throat and burned a path to his stomach. Putting the glass down, he gripped the railing and stood there as the chilly air washed over him until he started shivering. Only then did he turn and walk back into his large and depressingly lonely bedroom.
***
"What?" Kady looked up with a distracted frown from the document she was scribbling on to see her assistant standing just inside the doorway.
"He's on the phone again."
"Tell him I'm busy."
