Chapter 11
The tantalizing aromas of grilled margarita chicken, sautéed broccoli and carrots, and smashed baked potatoes peppered the air in Keir's kitchen. Seated at the cocoa-colored marble top counter, swirled with beige, orange, and silver flakes, Ryan sighed contentedly, pushing her empty plate aside before pulling a half full glass of white wine closer. Her fingers stroked the moisture from the long stem of the glass.
“Dinner was delicious. You are one fantastic cook.” Ryan patted Keir's shoulder and leaned close, inhaling his unique scent, giving him a leisurely kiss on the lips. A hint of garlic and the tangy taste of lime lingered.
He tilted his head in silent acknowledgment. “Thank you and I told you so.”
“As I've mentioned before, you're so humble.”
He chuckled softly, spinning the liquid in his glass.
“I'll get the dishes,” she added. She slid off the chair and lifted the dishes from the dark counter.
“Works for me. Don't bother with the pots and pans. There's only a few. I'll take care of them tomorrow.”
Nodding, Ryan moved past the custom-built solid-wood cabinetry, stainless steel range, and wall oven. She crossed the marble flooring to the dishwasher, placed the dishes and cutlery inside the machine, and shut the door before returning to the spot next to him.
“Do you think I can come back tomorrow for another meal?” she asked.
He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the palm. “Mrs. Mitchell, you're welcome anytime.”
“Thank you, Mr. Southhall. I might take you up on it.”
“Do.”
Surprised, she studied Keir's expression. He was perfectly serious.
Ryan sank deeper into her chair, thinking about how her life had changed in such a short time. After three years of cutting off her emotions and focusing exclusively on her work and career, Ryan felt alive and eager to explore every angle of this new relationship. Weeks ago she was alone. Now she had a wonderful man in her life, with similar interests.
Stroking his cheek, Ryan asked, “What are you going to do when we shut down next week? Are you planning some sort of getaway with Adam and Emily?”
“They're in a summer program at school. I'm not going to bother them. What about you?” Keir sipped from his glass.
“Eight days without going to work. It's going to be heavenly. I thought I'd clean my dirty house and then work in the garden.” With a devilish little smirk, she added, “The producer on this show I work for is a difficult taskmaster. He keeps everyone so busy. I haven't had time to do anything.”
“Is he now? Maybe I should talk with him on your behalf.”
Her face scrunched into a playful frown. “I don't think it'll do any good. He's one serious slave driver.”
“There has to be something I can do.” Keir stroked his cheek as the twinkle in his eyes grew brighter. “Let me think a minute. After all, we're in the same business.”
Ryan folded the chocolate cloth napkins into perfect squares and placed them on the marble surface. Keir didn't need to know all of her plans. There were a few personal things related to her husband and marriage she needed to conclude.
He draped an arm around her shoulders, pulled her against his side, and kissed her forehead. “Poor baby. You need a real vacation.”
“Mm-hmm.” She pouted remorsefully. “I'm so overworked and underpaid.”
“I can't help you there. You signed a contract.”
“Spoilsport.” Ryan poked a playful finger at his chest.
Chuckling, Keir said, “What about a trip out of town?”
“What about it?”
“Some exotic locale with lots of sun and sand,” he suggested, massaging her shoulder with one hand.
Gazing at Keir, Ryan teased, “You're talking the talk. I don't see you walking the walk.”
Without a word, Keir rose, circled the island, removed an item from a drawer, and tossed it on the counter in front of her. It hit the surface with a distinct thump. “How about a vacation to Hawaii?”
Gasping, Ryan slowly inched her hand across the counter. A thick orange, black, and white Fodor's guide of Hawaii, a Sheraton Waikiki brochure with a list of the amenities, and two round-trip, first-class plane tickets sat on the marble surface.
“Well? How about it?” he asked impatiently.
Elated, Ryan hopped off the chair and rounded the island, flinging herself into Keir's arms. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” She punctuated each yes with a kiss. This man was wonderful. How had she gotten so lucky?
Keir ran the back of his hand across his forehead, wiping away imaginary beads of sweat. “You had me scared for a minute.”
“No, I didn't. You knew I couldn't resist a trip like this,” Ryan responded between quick, light kisses.
“It was touch and go for a minute.” He wrapped his arms around her and drew her against his warmth.
Laughing softly, Ryan flipped through the pages of the brochure, studying the hotel confirmation. All of the good cheer of a moment ago evaporated. A heaviness in her heart replaced her previous excitement.
No!
she screamed silently. “Eleven days! Wait a minute. I can't go away for eleven days. Shutdown is only eight.”
“Yes, you can,” Keir stated in a certain voice.
“Seriously, I can't.” She shoved the sheet of paper between the brochure's pages. Guilt was added to her feelings of disappointment. “The construction crew works for a couple of days before the rest of the studio returns. Generally, Glo expects someone to stick around to answer questions. If they're working on my designs, then normally I show up, and Glo does the same.”
Disbelief dulled Keir's green eyes. “What?”
“I can't go.”
“Oh yes, you can, Mrs. Mitchell. I've planned this trip. We are getting on that plane Friday morning.”
Ryan sighed sadly. “It's not that I don't want to go. I have obligations on the set of
your
show.”
“Are you saying you'd rather be at work instead of with me?”
“No. No. Of course not. But I don't want to cause any problems or major upheavals at the studio with the people I work with.”
“Sounds like you're trying to find a way out of going with me.”
“Keir, Hawaii is my dream vacation. And I'd outrun you to the airport to hop on the plane. But I have to do the right thing at my job. Glo has to okay the extra days.”
“Want me to talk to her?” he volunteered.
“Absolutely not.”
“Why not? It's my company.”
“True. But Glo is my immediate supervisor,” Ryan pointed out. An image of Glo's angry face as she accused Ryan of trying to steal her job flashed through Ryan's head. Keir's two cents would make things worse. “Promise me, you'll stay out of it.”
“Come on, Ry.”
“I mean it,” she uttered in a soft, menacing tone. “Promise.” She waited.
“I won't bother your boss.”
“Thank you.”
Hugging her close, he kissed her long and hard. Ryan responded with all the emotions in her heart.
“Ry, we need this trip. Our lives are so busy. It's hard to devote the time to a relationship that we deserve. I don't want to ignore your needs. That was my mistake with Shannon. I plan to do much better with you.”
At that moment she realized how important Keir had become in her life. He wanted her to be happy, and he was actually making the time for them to be together so that they could solidify their relationship.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew his head down for a “thank you” kiss.
When the kiss ended, Keir asked, “What was that for?”
“For being so good to me. For understanding that we need time alone together. Most men don't see that as a problem.”
“I've got kids who require a lot of my time, and you're truly understanding about that aspect of my life. I want you to know that I appreciate you and the things you do to make our lives better.”
“I'll talk to Glo on Monday. After that, we'll know how much time I have. Okay?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“No.”
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Hours later, Ryan snuggled against Keir's hard, warm frame. The earlier euphoria had faded, and her restless mind refused to shut down. She mentally struggled with a volley of options about their trip and how it would effect the people in their lives.
Although their relationship was no longer a secret, Ryan still found it difficult to be open in front of her coworkers. She didn't plan to live her life in the public eye. No matter what Keir did, she deserved, and refused to give up, her privacy. To that end, Ryan continued to maintain a low-key existence.
Her first problem was Glo. Had Keir told the set director about the trip? Ryan hoped not. Things were difficult enough between Glo and Ryan. This trip might rub salt into the open wound and create more destruction. Most days Ryan tiptoed around Glo, but she didn't know how long that would last before her boss found some reason to turn up the heat and cause a ruckus.
Adam and Emily were another issue. Ryan didn't want the kids to feel as if she was taking their father from them. Leaving town might heighten their anxiety.
Ryan shifted on the mattress, searching for a comfortable spot and a way to turn off her restless thoughts. Keir pulled her closer to him and whispered into her ear. “You're worried, aren't you?”
“Little bit,” she answered honestly.
“Why?” He teased her arm with a gentle caress of his fingertips.
“The whole Hawaii thing.”
“What about it?”
“You haven't made an announcement, have you?” Ryan asked. “Told the people at work?”
“No. But, you've got to remember that I'm the producer, as well as the creator of the show,” he reminded. “I can't disappear for eleven days without leaving a number where I can be reached. Sometimes quick decisions are required. The studio needs to be able to keep in touch with me.”
“I know.”
“What are you suggesting?”
Ryan scrunched up her face, and her body tensed. It was going to be hell at work until Glo got over this bit of news. “I don't want the studio to think that I'm taking advantage of my relationship with you.”
“That's not a problem. You don't. As far as I know, you do your job and keep everything under control without a lot of fuss. So let's cut through the crap. Tell me what's really rolling around in your head.”
“Your kids and my boss,” Ryan answered promptly.
“Glo. What about her?”
“She can be real intense at times. There are days when she expects me to be at the studio even when there isn't anything going on. A good example is the construction crew coming back after shutdown. Generally, one of us stays on-site while the crew works. I don't want to put on airs and make her think that I'm too good to do these things.”
“You keep forgetting that I'm the boss. I can do what I want when I want. Don't worry about her. Glo is not going to be a problem.”
Ryan scoffed silently.
Famous last words
. When the notion hit Glo, she could be the biggest pain in the butt. Again, Ryan didn't want to resurrect Godzilla. What went on between her and Glo remained in their office and nowhere else.
Kier's next question broke into her thoughts. “What else is on your mind?”
“Your kids.”
“Emily and Adam? Why?”
“Do you think it's too soon for us to be taking trips without them? I mean, they just met me, and it's going to take a while for them to get to know me and for me to find my place in their lives. They might think I'm trying to take you away from them by going away on a long trip.”
Keir kissed the tip of her nose. “Honey, you have too many thoughts. The kids are fine. Don't worry about them. This is our time. We don't need to clutter it with imaginary problems.”
There was something else that Keir wasn't aware of. Emily hated her. Each time Keir brought his children around her, Emily defied every request the new woman in her father's life made. The little girl always ended with, “You're not my mother.” Ryan didn't want to upset Keir. But there had to be a way she could reach the kids without bringing Keir in to play the role of the heavy. She didn't want polite little robots who hated her.
There were so many issues involved in taking time off for this trip. “We can talk more about the kids later. Let's get back to Glo,” Ryan suggested. “How did she take the news about the trip?”