Running From Forever (24 page)

My next phone call and request was made to my
long-term nanny growing up. Truly had been our nanny since the day
I was born and had retired on the day I left for college. I had
heard that she struggled with countless nanny positions in the four
years I attended college, so I decided my first large paycheck
would go to the woman that helped raise me into the man I was. She
was the best damn cook in all of New York, and just a couple years
ago, I assisted Truly in opening her very own café. It was the same
café that I took Kayla to last week. Although I hadn’t told Kayla,
bringing her to Truly’s café was like bringing a girlfriend home to
my meet the parentals. Getting Truly’s approval in a prospective
girlfriend meant more to me than almost anything else. At times, I
felt more of a connection to Truly than my own mother. In the years
of charity events, galas, and benefits, I was home with Truly more
than my own parents, building a forever relationship that I would
always cherish.

I sat back in my office chair with my right foot
rested on my left knee as the phone rang. After a few rings,
Truly’s friendly voice came on the line, making a warmth and
comfort spread throughout my body. I wish I had time to make this
order in person; as juvenile as it seemed, a hug from Truly was
exactly what I needed right now.

“Good morning, Truly. It’s Miles,” I greeted, a
grin slowly appearing on my face.

“What do I owe the pleasure?” she answered in
her bubbly, familiar tone.

“I have a bit of a request for you,” I
began.

With no hesitation, she answered, “Of
course.”

“It’s in regards to Kayla. Do you remember her
from last week?”

“Beautiful woman, yes, indeed I recall her. Your
girlfriend?”

I snickered, hearing her praise Kayla with such
joy. “Well,” I sighed, “It’s a little complicated at the moment. I
care deeply for her; however, there was a situation that conflicted
our relationship.”

“I’m not one of your business execs, love, be
forthright,” she scolded. “Tell me what happened, and I’ll be sure
to help in any way possible.”

I smiled again. No, Truly wasn’t on the
executive ladder. She was family; one that wouldn’t take complex
English, and one of simplicity…humbling. I didn’t need to be anyone
other than myself to her. “Do you remember Seamus’ younger
brother?” I asked.

“Yes, the lad that covered for you years
ago.”

“Yes, him,” I agreed. “Well, he came looking for
his favor; his IOU.”

“Okay,” she responded in almost a huff, knowing
the story wouldn’t be pleasant.

“He was Kayla’s ex. She left him for the city,
for her new position at ETV, working under Connie.”

“Oh dear,” she sighed. “He was looking for
redemption?” she questioned even though her tone sounded more of a
statement. She knew very well where this story was going.

“Precisely, but I couldn’t do it, not after I
met Kayla.”

“Oh yes, my love. The connection between you
both was endearing. A blind man could see it.”

I chuckled. “Yes, the connection was strong,
obvious, and one that I’ve never felt with any other woman,” I
agreed, feeling the rise of emotion slowly penetrating my body.
“But I wasn’t honest with her. She wasn’t aware of my association
with Trevor—she didn’t know about the underlying arrangement.”

“And shit hit the fan,” she said bluntly.

“In the worst way possible.” I sighed, feeling
the regretful clench in my chest, remembering that evening. “He
went too far and sought out her innocent sister. Took advantage of
her for Kayla to see.”

“Oh, sweet Lord!”

“Indeed.”

“So now we win her back,” she declared with a
cleansing breath. “How can I help, love?”

“Today, I’m retracing our relationship, making
her remember the way we fell in love.”

“What a sight, Miles. It makes me happy seeing
you like this over a girl,” she said whole-heartedly. Knowing Truly
and her huge heart, I wouldn’t be surprised if her eyes were
brimming with tears.

“I am, Truly. Painfully and hopelessly. I can’t
lose her.”

“And you won’t, darling. Have faith. Miss Truly
will cook that girl up the finest lunch she’ll ever eat, warming
her soul to the core.”

Although my chest was caving, my lips turned to
a grin. I knew Truly would help; I knew she would be there for me
like she always had. “I’ll have our service pick it up by 11:30 so
she can have it for lunch at noon.”

“Oh, no you won’t, silly boy. This will be a
personal delivery made by yours Truly. I’ll have Colby watch the
café in my absence.”

Colby was Truly’s son, handyman, sous chef,
helper, and whatever else Truly needed assistance with. Truly had
told me once that I would follow him everywhere when we were
younger. Though he wasn’t much older than I was, I thought he was
coolest kid around.

“I owe you one,” I told her, chuckling to myself
that I had to decrease the times I spoke that sentiment. They were
catching up with me and not so pleasantly.

“Miles Blackwell, I owe the world for the gift
you have given me. It’s my pleasure to help you in any way
possible.”

I had told her countless times that my gift to
her, opening the café, was a selfless act in conjunction to the
years of her putting up with my mindless behavior; never would she
ever pay me back or owe me in any way, but it was useless to argue
the point. She wouldn’t hear it. In the years since assisting her,
I’d been disputing the topic; however there had been no advance in
her accepting it, she would forever feel in debt to me. That was
just the kind heart she was.

We continued to work out the menu she would be
delivering to what I decided would be Kayla’s entire department and
I ended with the win—her troubles would be financially compensated.
I wish I could see the look on Kayla’s face seeing Truly deliver
lunch to everyone. As a final request, I asked Truly to write
“Love, Miles” on some part of Kayla’s specific lunch so that it
could be visibly seen. Hopefully that would gain another smile.

Before I could continue with my everyday work, I
had to put my final plan for the evening in motion. This one would
take a great deal of preparation and strategic planning on my part.
Calling in assistance would be necessary. Coaxing Kayla to be at a
specific place at a specific time would need much more than just my
love and devotion. I needed someone that could
make
her be
some specific place at some specific time. I needed Connie.

Knowing that Connie was busy this morning with
meetings, I rang her at just after one in the afternoon.

“Hello?”

“Hello, sister,” I sang.

She went straight to the point, per usual. “What
did you screw up or what favor are you asking?”

“How was your lunch?” I momentarily dodged the
request.

“I figured that was your doing. It was
delicious, as Truly’s meals always are. Another fight for the top?”
she asked inquisitively.

I chuckled. “Indeed. I took Kayla to Truly’s
last week, actually,” I told her. “Did she enjoy it?” I had to ask.
It was odd having to rely on Connie as much as I have lately, but
she was my most direct source to Kayla and I was envious of the
amount of hours a day she was able to interact with her.

She paused. “I couldn’t be sure,” she said with
a knowing tone; one that I didn’t like.

“Pardon?”

“She wasn’t here for lunch, Miles. A gentleman
picked her up just before noon.”

Immediately leaning forward in my chair, I
rested my elbows on my desk, a gutted feeling knotting my stomach.
“She…she went to lunch with someone?”

She sighed. “I really shouldn’t be speaking to
you about my assistant’s personal life. It shouldn’t be something I
divulge, family or not.”

“Connie!” I shouted, but caught myself, changing
my tone back to a reasonable one before continuing. “Please, I need
to know.” I hated how much my voice sounded like I was begging, but
I couldn’t control it. I felt the world drop from beneath my feet
again. Having to compete with another man was never something I
thought I would have to face. But I would. I would do anything for
Kayla, this just wasn’t something I had expected to get in my
way.

Exhaling, caving to my plea, she answered, “I’m
not sure who he was. Sami and others in the office seemed to. A big
guy, tattoos that I could see on his arms, short brown hair and
eyes…”

“The bartender,” I answered, but more to
myself.

“You know him?”

“Of him,” I corrected, rage beginning to fill my
veins, heating my nerves to no end. It was all coming full
circle—the reason for his actions Saturday evening—he had some kind
of connection to Kayla! I had noticed his gaze linger when speaking
to Kayla on Tuesday and Thursday, but I wasn’t aware of any
previous relationship. I would find out, though. I would make damn
sure there was nothing more than friendship there.

***

Instead of carrying out
the remainder of the evening I had planned for Kayla, I decided to
get something else understood first. I needed to make an unplanned
stop to a bar I was suddenly becoming more familiar with. I had
dinner with a client, then stopped by McShane’s on the way home.
Being a Wednesday evening, the bar was slow; only a few patrons
occupied stools. It didn’t take more than two minutes for him to
notice me, eyes narrowing immediately, his stance becoming visibly
broader. He stood noticeably larger than me, more toned and
muscular than I could imagine, but it wouldn’t intimidate me. I
walked in confidently, my grin kosher but with an added business
style lift, providing an air of authority. He met me at my stool
from the other side of the bar, exactly as expected.

“Drink?” he asked through gritted teeth. He
didn’t want me there, just as he hadn’t the other night, but the
difference between then and now was I knew he was hiding something.
I knew he was linked to my love somehow and I wouldn’t be leaving
tonight until I found out what the hell was going on.

“Gin and tonic, if you would?” I asked, placing
my card down on the polished wood counter.

He didn’t muster a reply before leaving to the
other end to pour it; his eyes stayed locked on mine, neither of us
wavering an inch. When he returned, he didn’t waste any time with
getting down to it. “What’s your deal, bro?” he asked, leaning
forward, both hands gripping his side of the bar, his weight
pushing on them.

I glared, intrigued. He could feel the
challenge, as could I, but I wouldn’t cave; I wouldn’t act
inferior. I remained calm with my reply. “I’m having a drink after
a long day of work. Is there a problem?”

He leaned back, resting his back on the other
side of the bar behind him, arms crossed over his chest. “I know
your type,” he observed. “I know what you’re about and I don’t like
it.”

“I wasn’t aware that I was categorized with a
specific group,” I responded coyly, my arms casually resting on top
of the smooth wood, my right hand cupped around my drink.

He wasn’t amused, and certainly not backing
down. He held his glare and stance with a no bullshit expression
upon his face. “I don’t trust you,” he said, paying no attention to
my statement. “Especially with her.”

I paused before answering, swallowing hard
before I did. This was where things would get interesting. The cat
was out the bag, the underlying problem between us revealed. He
knew why I was there, and he knew I knew about his connection with
Kayla.

Licking my lips first, I leaned in closer. “You
know nothing about me,” I reminded him, my tone changing to one of
control. “And you know nothing about my feelings for Kayla.”

He stood, repositioning himself to his previous
stance, hands gripping the bar with his weight forward, removing a
large portion of distance between us, with only the bar as our
separation. “I know how you fucking played her. I know how you tore
her apart, and I know how you use women at your disposal.” He
inched closer, our faces only a measly foot away from touching.
“And I know that I don’t give a fuck who you are.”