Lovely Dreams

by Danielle Stewart

  “Yes.”

  “Then I want some residual trust points. They are transferable. Be ready in the morning. Dress casual. I’m going to show you what a real break feels like.”

  “I’m not sure this is a good—”

  He disconnected the line and tossed his phone onto the bed. She’d be raging on the other end when she realized he hung up on her. Something about that only heightened his desire.

  When his phone buzzed again, he assumed it was her. “Don’t like being hung up on?”

  “Who did you hang up on?” His mother’s voice sounded concerned. “It’s a rude habit.”

  “Sorry, I thought you were someone else.”

  “I was just calling to check in. How did it go with Layla Kinross?” The hopefulness made his stomach churn.

  “They seem like great people.”

  “Who you could see yourself working with?”

  “I already have a company. A life. And it’s not in Boston. You know that, Mom.”

  “I do, but I hate to see you limit yourself.”

  “We are very, very wealthy people, Mom. We’re limited by next to nothing. I like my life. I don’t intend to change it.”

  “I hope you give it some consideration.”

  “I will,” he lied. “How is everything else?” He pondered telling his mother about Lauren. Did she know Talia had a daughter? A daughter who worked closely with Gloria? There was something more to this mystery, but he knew enough not to show his hand yet. His mother was a quiet woman. In some ways she was secretive. But he’d always given her that space. Everyone deserved their own private spot to keep the parts of their lives they didn’t want to share. But now he wondered if there was more going on here than he originally knew.

  “Talia is very nervous. I think there’s a chance she won’t go.”

  “She has to.”

  “You know how she is.”

  For the first time he realized he didn’t. Talia was an enigma. A woman with a cool, quiet voice and a breathy laugh. She wore bohemian clothes. Feathers in her hair. His mother and her friend could sit endlessly at a café and watch the world go by. As long as that café was within a five-mile radius from their homes.

  “Remind her I’m here. I’ll even meet her at the airport. I think it’s important she comes.”

  “Why?” His mother’s skepticism was fair. Tray never meddled. A day ago, if he’d heard Talia wanted to cancel her trip and he was off the hook, he’d have been delighted. He’d have the family jet fueled up and ready to take him to the next tiki hut filled with cold beers and his favorite thing. Quiet. The crashing of waves was the only sound he ever craved. But now how could he ignore what fate had hurdled in his path?

  “I just think she should come. I know how hard she’s worked on this gallery opening. It would be a shame if she missed it.”

  “That’s sweet,” his mother cooed. “I’ll tell her you said that . . . and about your offer to meet her at the airport and get her settled. I’m sure that will do the trick. Now tell me, what are your plans for the night? Something exciting?”

  “Already in my room. I have some acquisition papers to review and then I’m heading to bed.”

  “You always liked Boston when we were there.”

  Tray thought back to his childhood. When had his mother become such a recluse? So uneasy and skittish in the outside world? When he was young, they traveled around with his father to his different military posts. Since he died, it was a chore to convince her a short road trip was worth it. That had been so long ago. “Do you miss it here?”

  “In Boston?” His mother sounded shocked.

  “In the States. Or anywhere that isn’t Paris. Do you miss traveling?”

  “Are you all right?” His mother’s voice rose with concern. “You’re never this chatty or inquisitive.” She had him there. It had been ages since he’d asked her anything like this.

  “I’m fine. I just drove by that little restaurant we used to go to when we lived here. It made me think of all our travels. It had me wondering if you miss it.”

  “I did enough traveling for ten lifetimes when you were young. Now I like to stay put. It’s not like I never go anywhere. You know I go to our house in Italy at least twice a year. That’s all I need.”

  “Why don’t you come with Talia? I’ll be here. We can all spend some time together. See some of our old haunts. Remember that park we used to go to, with the big tire swing? Was I about eight?”

  He was met with only silence, and he could practically see her wrapping one of her long blonde curls nervously around her finger. There had been times he’d seen her nearly yank it all out with worry. “That does sound lovely. It’s been so long since you and I had time together. And we could certainly reminisce in Boston.”

  “Then come.”

  “Are you ill? Did you get bad news from a doctor or something? Since when do you want to hang out with your mother?”

  He thought of the day his father died. How broken she had seemed, and how it made him want to run from her and not toward her. As much as he always felt compelled to bail people out, it had been different with his mother. The more she needed, the less he gave. He was only a child himself, but in some ways she’d lost them both at once. “I’m not sick or dying. I just figure if I have to be here it wouldn’t be bad for us to be here together.”

  “I’ll talk to Talia. I’m sure she’d like the company. There would be so much to do though. I’d have to find someone to care for the house. I do have some other engagements.” That was her tactic. Plans were a ball of yarn and she’d unravel it with her worry and excuses until there was nothing left.

  “You’re coming. It’ll all work out. If you think of a single reason not to come, call me and I’ll fix it.”

  “And we’ll maybe go down to the beach for some shells like we used to? Is everything beginning to bloom?”

  “Yes. It’s lovely. Better than I remember it. I’m going to get to work. Call me tomorrow when you decide you aren’t coming, and I’ll remind you why you are.”

  “Goodnight, Cutie Bear.” It had been years since she’d called him that. Maybe because it had been years since he’d acted like the sweet little boy who’d once earned that nickname.

  When he hung up the phone, he stared for a long moment in the bathroom mirror. What had made him ask her to come? To insist on it? Lauren’s face flashed in his mind. The idea that Talia had lived all these years without her daughter stirred something inside him. He could blame it on curiosity. Boredom. But the one thing he knew was that his own mother spent the majority of her time telling people about him. Bragging. Maybe even exaggerating how great he was. And in this moment, it made him grateful for his mother.

  There was no way of knowing what would be at the end of the fuse he was lighting. Or how much damage there would be from the blast. What would Lauren do if she saw her mother? What would Talia do when confronted by her daughter? The only thing he knew for sure was Gloria had put this in motion, and he was going to see it through.

  Chapter 5

  Lauren

  * * *

  Lack of control didn’t sit well with her. Deviating from her normal schedule wasn’t very appealing either. Her to-do list would be waiting for her when she returned to the office. Her emails would be piling up. But Tray had been right. When Layla heard he wanted to spend the morning with Lauren to learn more about the company and the role being offered, it was a done deal.

  “You sure you don’t mind?” Layla asked hopefully. “I don’t want to put you on the spot, but if he’s considering taking the job, I want to capitalize on that.”

  “I’m not sure what I could do to convince him,” Lauren said, trying to decide exactly how casual Tray meant when he told her the dress code for their morning. “He could come into the office and meet with you. That makes a lot more sense.”

  Layla giggled. “He obviously enjoyed your company last night. I’m not foolish enough to think he’s actually going to take th
e job. Why would he? He’s a playboy who has the world at his fingertips.”

  “Then why should I go this morning?”

  “Because he’s a gorgeous playboy with the world at his fingertips. If we’ve really sparked his interest, then you’re the perfect person to keep him engaged. If he is just trying to spend the morning with you, I’m all for that too. You deserve a little time off.”

  “Nothing about this feels like a vacation day.” Lauren laughed. “But I guess it is worth a shot. I’m still surprised Gloria was so insistent about Tray. I don’t get it.”

  “Honestly, I don’t either. But she always worked in mysterious ways. Every time I think I have something figured out, it turns out there’s more to the story. Little puzzle pieces I keep having to slide into place. Remember I told you about the storage space where she kept all those letters and pictures?”

  “Yes. You learned so much about your father and Gloria when they were kids. Are you still finding more?” Lauren slid into her favorite weathered jeans as she switched her phone over to the speaker. Tray was picking her up in thirty minutes, and she still had no clue where they were going.

  “It’s not that I’m finding new information but context. Little messages that didn’t make sense to me the first time I read something, but then I meet someone who comes to pay their condolences and a little more comes together. A story they tell, a name they mention. Speaking of that, Horace called me yesterday. He said you still haven’t been in for your individual reading of Gloria’s will. There must be something there for you. Am I really keeping you that busy?”

  “No, it’s not that,” Lauren admitted. “I’ve been putting it off.”

  “It feels so final doesn’t it?” Layla’s voice was soft and empathetic. She understood the loss, the hole it left behind.

  “Exactly. I promise I’ll call him back and go this week.”

  “She may have left you something time-sensitive. You never know what it could be. Gloria always had something up her sleeve.”

  “That might be the other reason I haven’t gone. I’m sure whatever it is, it’ll challenge me. I don’t feel up for a challenge.” It was a moment of honesty Lauren hadn’t often shared since Gloria had died.

  “I know.” Layla sighed sadly. “If you want me to go with you, just let me know. I’m sure Horace won’t stop calling until you do. He was probably given his marching orders from Gloria too. Now, forget all that for this morning. Go do something to take your mind off it.”

  “This morning is going to be all business.”

  “Sure,” Layla teased. “I saw the way he was looking at you at dinner.”

  “All he was looking for was an exit. I’m telling you he’s not taking this job offer seriously.”

  “Good, everything has been far too serious lately. Call me later unless you’re tied up. Maybe he’s into that kind of stuff.”

  “Maybe I’ll punch him and he won’t want the job.”

  “If he deserves a punch then I don’t want him for the job.”

  The call with Layla left a smile on Lauren’s face. Their relationship had morphed into something Lauren valued greatly. It hadn’t happened all at once, but gradually they realized there was more between them than boss and employee. Late nights turned into laughs. Early morning meetings gave them something to gripe about. Bad toupees on investors they giggled about. A bottle of red wine as they discussed the never-ending to-do list in front of them. Layla wasn’t a substitute for Gloria, but her presence kept Lauren afloat on the days she wanted to go under.

  Chatting had temporarily distracted her from how much she hated surprises. How much she was dreading where she and Tray might end up today. Were they about to go skydiving? To a rodeo? Birdwatching? Not knowing was torture. Mostly because it meant she didn’t have time to formulate a strong argument for why they shouldn’t do whatever it was.

  The buzz from her doorman sent her jumping and forced her to finally stop changing clothes, looking for the right outfit. He said casual. He’d be the one sitting across from her if she was underdressed. His problem now. “Miss Lauren, should I send a Mr. Hallenburn up?”

  Heat rolled up her body as she imagined him coming upstairs to her place. It was early morning. She had nowhere to be. Why couldn’t her bed be their destination? At least the surprise would be off the table.

  Maybe she’d be on the table. They may not even make it to the bed.

  “No, I’ll be right down.” Her body might have been considering the perks, but her mind knew better. A man like Tray Hallenburn could weaponize those gorgeous eyes and destroy a girl. Derail her good sense. Ruin her well-laid plans.

  She headed down the elevator trying to formulate a good argument for why she wouldn’t jump out of a plane. Or how she couldn’t zip line because of a heart problem she was going to make up. When the elevator doors parted, Tray stood chatting with the doorman. If she was going to run that would be her last chance.

  “Don’t look so scared,” Tray said with a smile as he caught a glimpse of her stalling in the elevator. “Those doors are going to close, and you’ll look pretty silly.”

  He wasn’t wrong.

  She hopped off clumsily just before the doors closed. “I’m not convinced I’m going anywhere with you today anyway. I may not like your surprise.”

  “You will.”

  “How do you know?” She assessed his clothes and felt a bit better. He was in jeans and a light blue button-down shirt. His shoes were polished and expensive, but she could tell this was his casual look. At least he’d held up that part of the bargain.

  “It would be impossible for you not to like this.”

  “I’ve been accused of being impossible before.”

  “I believe it.” He winked and gestured like a royal guard toward his waiting car at the curb. “You like planes?”

  “Hate them.”

  “Good, we aren’t going on a plane. How do you feel about hiking?”

  “Nature freaks me out.”

  “Me too. Poison ivy is gross. How about heights?”

  “I get queasy.” She stopped abruptly before getting into the car. “So you don’t even have a plan? You’re winging it?”

  “Would that be a problem?”

  “I do like a plan.” She propped a hand on her hip and made it clear she wasn’t getting in the car just yet.

  “I have a plan. And you’ll love it.” He pulled the car door open and raised a challenging brow at her. “Trust me?”

  “Quit asking me that.” She rolled her eyes and pushed by him to get into the car.

  “I’m going to keep asking until the answer is a resounding yes.”

  Lauren scoffed as he slid into the back seat with her. The sleek, black town car pulled away from the curb and toward the unknown. Butterflies fluttered in Lauren’s stomach, but they were surprisingly fueled by excitement rather than fear. Tray’s cologne filled the car and his impressive thigh brushed against hers. She didn’t want to be excited. Turned on. Distracted. All of those feelings came tethered to another feeling. Guilt. Every time she felt happy it meant she wasn’t grieving. And when she was done grieving, then what?

  “You have that look again,” Tray said gently as he leaned closer to her.

  “What look?”

  “The one you had when I first found you in Gloria’s office. You’re all kinds of droopy.”

  “Droopy?” She couldn’t help but smile. “I don’t think I like that adjective describing me.”

  “Then don’t be droopy. I promise, you’re going to like this surprise.”

  “I should have warned you about all the things I don’t like. I’m barely human.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I don’t like animals. Seriously. Cute puppies. Zoo animals. Any kind of fluffy little thing. People never believe me, but it’s true. I got that from my father. I once saw him cross to the other side of the street to avoid a little kitten.”

  “Plenty of people aren’t animal pe
ople.” Tray shrugged it off, but Lauren pressed on.

  “Music. I can’t name a band to save my life. I never go to concerts. Too loud. I don’t even turn on the radio in my car. I like audiobooks. I’m a stick-in-the-mud with very few interests. I should have warned you. Ice cream. Not a fan. Carnival rides give me motion sickness.”

  “Wow . . . that is a long list.” The smile never left his face as he continued to appraise her affectionately.

  What is wrong with this guy?

  “You make it sound like that’s the whole list. I can keep going. You have no idea what you got yourself into. I’m a handful.”

  “I’m picking up on that.”

  “A real nightmare on a date. Hard to please. A pain in the ass.”

  “This is a date?”

  “You tell me; you planned it.”

  “If you call it a date, I’ll call it a date.”

  “That’s the temporary name until we start calling it a disaster.”

  “You’re probably trying to scare me off, but honestly it’s having the opposite effect.”

  “That’s because we’re just getting started. You haven’t told me what we’re doing yet, so I have a chance to ruin it.”

  “It doesn’t matter. Nothing on your list conflicts with our plans this morning.”

  “How is that possible? I hit all the major fun points. Animals. Music. Flying. Heights. Adventure. What else is there?”

  “You’ll have to wait and see. You won’t be able to ruin it.”

  “Challenge accepted.”

  Chapter 6

  Tray

  * * *

  He wished she was less endearing. Tray knew Lauren wasn’t trying to be adorable and sexy. She was actually trying to warn him off her. Listing all her quirks should have him running for the hills. It wasn’t working. The tiny freckles on her nose and the small pearl earrings in her nibble-worthy ears begged for his attention. The way her lashes fluttered when she laughed. How she touched her cheek every time she blushed.