Page 20 of Landry
"Landry-"
"No." He shook his head decisively. "I'm as prepared as I'm ever going to be." He checked the time, and when he spoke again, his tone was brisk. "I need a quick meeting with the finance department. Set it up, please."
"Of course." Taking her cue from him, she gathered her notes and rose. "I will prepare a detailed file for you to take along with you."
"Thank you." He offered her a brief smile before returning to the screen in front of him. As soon as she closed the doors, he settled back in the soft leather chair, his expression brooding. He was not prepared, of course. He was taking a chance venturing onto her territory and being alone with her. It was a mistake, but he did not have a choice.
What they had to do couldn't be done over the phone and dammit! He had to face her sometime. It might as well be now. They were going to be working together, after all. He was going to have to take the emotions out and try and work with her. Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes as the weariness descended like a thick fog. Now more than ever, he was starting to wish he had stayed in Europe; it had been less complicated then.
***
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" She had caught him between surgeries, and he was taking ten minutes to revive and reboot. Kyle lounged back on the narrow bed in the on-call room and closed his eyes wearily. He was going to have to fortify himself with a gallon of coffee before going into that operating room. And the sandwich he had hastily swallowed this morning was a distant memory.
"Good or not," he insisted.
"Well, technically he's your boss."
"Please don't remind me. I've been avoiding him for a week."
"And you're going to be alone with him."
"There will be guards downstairs."
He had to laugh at that. "You make it sound like you're preparing for an attack."
"No. No." Kady sighed and rubbed her forehead slowly. She kept looking at the clock, and it seemed like the time was ticking by so quickly when she wanted it to slow down. "It's just going to be business. He has plans for the airlines and that's going to be the only priority. I have to move away from the past and that's what I'll do."
Kyle opened his mouth to say something, but decided against it. His sister was spiraling and certainly did not need him to add to her stress. His telling her that it would not be that easy was only going to make things worse.
Instead, he decided to brighten her day. "Jason asked after you a few minutes ago."
"Kyle." He smiled as she sighed.
"He's a catch."
"I'm sure that's why he's still single at the age of forty, as well as divorced."
"His ex-wife hated his long hours. You're accustomed to being holed up at the office for long stretches. You would be perfect for each other."
"I don't need you matchmaking for me."
"Just looking out for you," he told her mildly. "And if you had a man, it would get mama off your back. She's reminding us about the benefit next Saturday."
"I just remembered that I have plans."
"If you dare to make me endure that tiresome evening with only our mother as company, I will never forgive you," he warned.
Chuckling, she felt her dark mood dissipating. "You could always ask that blonde doctor who's always panting after you."
"She found someone else to pant after: an intern." The disgust in his voice had her laughing.
"I'm sure it's not too late for you."
"Not interested." His expression sobered. "Are you going to be all right?"
"Yes," she told him decisively. "I'll be fine."
Chapter 6
