by Jenna Brandt
“Thank you for spending the evening with me. I can tell you are nervous at times, but you shouldn’t worry about anything,” Wade reassured her.
“That’s easy for you to say, it’s not your job or reputation on the line. If I let something happen between us, I’m the one who’ll pay the price.”
“You can’t help how you feel,” Wade pointed out, stopping underneath one of the trees and turning towards her. “If you can tell me you don’t have any feelings for me, I’ll end our time together right now.”
Tara’s eyes moved up to meet his. She was shaking and instinctively, he reached out and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her.
“I can’t do that,” she whispered, her voice trembling. He knew it wasn’t from the cool night air, but from the attraction she wished she could deny.
His head drifted down until his lips were only inches away from hers. “I want to kiss you, Tara, but only if you want me to. Tell me you want me to.”
“I do,” she gasped out, prompting him to close the final distance between them. Her lips felt like pillows of perfection, soft like satin. He deepened the kiss, enjoying the feel of her in his arms as he claimed her mouth with his own.
As quick as the kiss happened, it ended, causing Wade to almost think he had imagined it. Tara pulled back and stepped out of his embrace. “I shouldn’t have let that happen.”
“Why? We both wanted it to.”
“It doesn’t matter. I still have a job to do,” she said firmly. “We both need to get some rest because tomorrow afternoon, we’re flying out for the final part of your surprise.”
“There’s more?” Wade asked with shock. “I thought today was the end of my celebration.”
Tara shook her head, causing her blonde curls to flounce around her face. “I saved the best for last.”
Wade couldn’t imagine anything being better than today; but so far, Tara hadn’t disappointed him. Well, except when she pulled away and stopped their kiss. “Until tomorrow, then.”
As he watched her walk away, he realized that despite her protests, Wade was going to find a way to convince Tara to take a chance on him.
Chapter Six
“Are you ready for today?” Tara asked as Wade approached her in the lobby. “I see you packed an overnight bag like I asked.”
He nodded, placing it down at his feet. “I’m ready.”
“You could have had the bellhop pick that up and deliver it to the limo,” she reminded him.
“I know, but I’m fully capable of carrying my own luggage.”
She shrugged, realizing there was no point in arguing. “All right then, follow me,” she said, turning around to head out of the hotel.
They climbed inside the waiting limo and quickly sped off down the road.
“Aren’t you going to ask me where we’re going?”
Wade shook his head. “I’ve learned by now, you don’t give out details. I figured I would just sit back and enjoy the ride.”
A smile spread across Tara’s face. “I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.”
“Hey now, who are you calling an old dog? From what I can tell, I’m only a couple of years older than you.”
She laughed. “That’s true, but can I help it if you seem to have an old soul?”
“It’s probably the artist in me,” he conceded. “I can’t help it.”
They arrived at the private airport where the Gulfstream jet was waiting for them. Once they boarded and took seats in the lounge area of the airplane, Tara asked, “What would you like to do? We have a long flight ahead of us.”
“What are our options?”
“We have an onboard masseuse and chef, as well as two flight attendants who can bring you whatever you like. We have a suite with a bed and a Jacuzzi tub if you’re tired and would like to relax. There’s also a movie theater and this lounge is fully stocked with whatever you would like to drink.”
“Movie theater, you say?”
Tara nodded. “You can watch any movie you would like. We have access to everything that has ever come out, even movies that are in the theater right now.”
“Well, I think a Star Wars movie sounds perfect.”
“Which one?”
“Your pick; surprise me since that seems to be your favorite thing to do.”
“All right, follow me towards the back,” Tara said, standing up from one of the chairs.
Wade did as she requested. They made their way down one of the sides of the plane until they arrived in a room with six recliners and a large movie screen.
“Take a seat, and I’ll pick out one of the movies,” Tara said with a smile.
She made quick work of it, deciding on The Phantom Menace. She figured they might as well start at the beginning. Just as she took her seat next to Wade, the iconic music started to play and the words scrolled up the screen.
A couple of Star Wars movies later they were both ready for a break. “Ready to have a bite to eat?” he asked, gesturing to the other part of the plane. “I figured we could relax in the lounge.”
“That sounds great,” Tara agreed, standing up and following him down the hall. They took seats at one of the tables and the flight attendant came and took their order. As they ate their dinner, Wade asked her how she got started as a concierge. Tara asked him about his career, what he liked and didn’t like about it. Though he only mentioned what he enjoyed, she could tell he was purposely leaving out what he didn’t.
The flight attendant returned and removed their dishes, filling their drinks once more before leaving them alone.
“You seem to be happy with how well everything is doing from your TV show to your bakeware line, but I can tell there’s something you’re leaving out. What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing, there’s just…I don’t know how to explain it,” he said, setting his glass down on the table.
“Why don’t you try?” Tara coaxed.
“You’ll think it sounds silly,” he said, letting his eyes drift down to the table where his glass sat. He moved it between his hands, back and forth, as if debating whether to say anything else.
“I promise, I won’t judge. You can tell me.”
Wade took a deep breath, then let his eyes move back up to meet hers. “Even though I have fame and all the money anyone could ever want, I still feel like something is missing.”
“How did you feel yesterday while you were painting?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Everything,” she stated emphatically. “I think you feel like that because what you care most about, the very thing that defined you for years, you just gave up. You haven’t let it be a part of your life ever since.”
He seemed to be genuinely thinking about what she said. For a few moments, she thought he might be upset from the sullen look on his face. A softness crept into his eyes, however, revealing that there was merit to her observation.
“You’ve given me a lot to think about,” he mumbled, before standing up. “I think I’d like to rest for the remainder of the flight.”
Tara nodded. “I’ll have one of the attendants wake you when we’ve arrived.”
“Thank you,” he said, before turning around and heading out of the room.
She could tell he needed some space to think about what she just said. Having her point out something he couldn’t see would be difficult to process. Though it could help him acknowledge a long hidden truth, she could imagine it was also painful to acknowledge.
Tara spent another hour going over the itinerary for Wade’s final surprise, then decided to get a couple of hours of sleep on one of the couches in the lounge. Her sleep wasn’t the easiest given what she was sleeping on, but she made the most of it, knowing that when she woke up it was going to be a long day.
She woke to a gentle shake, and noticed for the first time she had a blanket over her. Someone must have slipped it over her while she slept. She shifted her head to the side until her eyes
met Wade’s. He was kneeling down beside her. “You ready for breakfast? I had the chef cook us up a feast.”
She sat up and slung her legs off the couch. “You’re awfully cheerful for so early in the morning.”
“What can I say, I’m a morning person.”
“I usually am, but sleeping on a couch kind of put a wrinkle in my morning,” she reached up and rubbed her neck, adding, “and my neck.”
“Here, let me help with that,” he said, coming around and leaning over the couch. She could feel his hands on her shoulders and neck. The strong rubbing motion of his fingers along her sore flesh felt good, and she was tempted to let it go longer until she remembered he was her guest.
She pulled away and stood up. “You didn’t have to do that; we have a masseuse on board for that.”
“Even though I can have everything done for me, it doesn’t mean I want to,” he countered as he came around to stand in front of her. “I wanted to do that for you. I just wished you would have let me finish.”
“Like you said, the chef made a big breakfast. Let’s enjoy it.” Tara moved towards the table on the other side of the room that was set with all the food. “I can’t believe I slept through them setting all of this up.”
“You must have been very tired.”
“I was, but I’m fine now.”
They took seats at the table, then served themselves from the many offerings from Wade’s preference list. It was nice that they had similar tastes in food. Tara decided on the eggs Benedict with smoked salmon and a side of fresh fruit. Wade had the same, but added a giant scoop of diced potatoes to his plate.
Tara’s eyes grew wide with the first bite. “This is delicious,” she gushed after swallowing it. “The chef onboard outdid himself.”
“You’re acting as if you’ve never had breakfast before.”
“I usually only have a smoothie or protein bar for breakfast because I need to get to work,” she explained. “But if I was going to pick a breakfast dish, this would be it.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
Just as they were finishing up their meal, the pilot announced they were arriving at their destination. The jet touched down and within a half hour, they had disembarked and were inside another limo.
“I don’t recognize where we’re at,” Wade said, glancing out the window.
“That’s because you haven’t been here before. I know everywhere you’ve traveled.”
“You are a rather sneaky woman, aren’t you?”
She let out a laugh. “I’ve never been described that way, at least out loud where I could hear it. I suppose it’s true. Even as a small child, I liked to sneak around and see what I could find out. I would listen to conversations, look through the mail, search the internet for information about anything that I wanted to know about. I guess I was just born curious.”
“It must help in your current line of work.”
She nodded. “Knowing as much as I can about a guest proves very useful. The more I know, the better the experience I can give them.”
“Are we going on a tour of a castle? Are we in the UK somewhere?”
“You’re on the right track, but it’s not what you think.”
They climbed out of the limo and made their way up the steps. They knocked on the door, which swung open to reveal Ian Campbell on the other side.
“Ian? What are you doing here?” Wade asked in surprise as his eyes settled on his idol.
“Where else would I be? This is my home, after all,” the elderly man said with a chuckle. He opened the door wide and gestured for them to come inside. “Welcome to Sìle Tàillear.”
As they entered the massive stone castle, Wade was completely taken aback. The grandness of the place was not lost on him. There were gorgeous tapestries and breathtaking art on the walls. Antique furniture was strategically staged around the castle.
“Your home is beautiful, Ian,” Wade said in awe.
“Thank you. I’m so excited to have you here and give you a private tour of my home. Is this your first time in Scotland?”
Wade nodded. “I’ve always wanted to visit since my last name is Scottish, but I rarely travel for any reason other than work.”
“That’s a shame,” Ian said, glancing over at Tara in a pointed manner, he added, “but perhaps that will change in the future, especially with some newfound inspiration coming into your life.”
“I appreciate your opening your home to us today, Mr. Campbell,” Tara said with a smile. “Wade had no idea we were coming here.”
“Remember, you are to call me Ian, lassie. How you address me doesn’t change simply because we’re in a different country,” he teased. “We are all friends now, after all.”
“Indeed, we are,” Wade agreed, glancing from Ian to Tara with his own smile.
“Now that you are here, I will start with the first thing I wish to show you. Come, come,” he said, motioning for them to follow him up a staircase. They weaved through several halls and came to a stop in front of a door at the end of one. Ian pushed the door open and ushered them inside. “I want to share my studio with you.”
Wade glanced around the room and marveled at how perfectly it was set up. There were easels by the windows so they had plenty of natural light, there was a large wooden table in one corner, as well as a light table in another. He had a sink with a counter and cabinets in one area near an inspiration wall. Soft jazz music was playing in the background, creating a warm atmosphere.
“I love how you have everything set up,” Wade praised. “It makes so much sense, yet also allows for flow and freedom in design.”
“Thank you, I feel having a sacred space—a sanctuary if you will—is a necessity for every artist. A place where I can think about what inspires my art with no distractions. I can lose myself in my process. It’s a place where I can enjoy the experience of bringing forth what my art is and what I want it to be.” Ian moved over to one of the easels and gestured for them to follow. “This is the piece I’m currently working on. It’s an abstract loosely based on the marshes outside my home.”
Wade marveled at the painting that was filled with a mixture of giant strokes and small brushes of rich browns, dark greens, and faded blues.
“Did you go to the marshes when you started this piece?” Wade inquired.
“If you follow me out here, I can show you that I have an amazing view of the marshes from my balcony.”
The three of them exited through the double doors. The cool air brushed across their faces, greeting them as they settled in against the wooden rail. True to Ian’s word, there was a fantastic view of the Scottish marshes.
“This is gorgeous,” Wade marveled. “It makes me want to buy a place here.”
“You could you know. There are several properties in this area for sale. I would be honored to have you as a neighbor,” Ian said, patting Wade on the back. “You shouldn’t limit anything you do. Everything is possible because you’ve worked so hard to make it so. You should take time to enjoy life now.”
The three of them stood out on the balcony, staring at the Scottish wetlands for several minutes. Wade thought about Ian’s art studio and what he said inspired him to design it the way he did. It felt like the final piece as to who Ian Campbell was, finally fit into place.
“Come on, I have something else I want to show you,” Ian said, breaking the silence.
They weaved back through the halls and ended up on the other side of the castle. Ian pushed open a double set of wooden doors. “This is my private art gallery.”
Wade couldn’t believe his eyes as he walked into the massive room that was filled with one-of-a-kind art. He marveled at the countless rare and priceless works. Piece after piece, the most famous names popped off the canvases, with familiar works by Matisse, Picasso, and Monet, among others. He also had a few pieces that had been rumored to be “lost” in the art world. No one knew where they had disappeared to or why. There were also a mix of lesser known art
ists and even a few Wade had never heard of.
Out of the corner of his eye, something drew his attention. On the far wall, in a place of prominence was something that took Wade completely by shock. “How did you get this? Why is it here?” Wade choked out, stunned by the presence of his singular piece that had been sold nearly a decade ago.
“I saw it several years back at a fellow artist’s home. I fell in love with your use of variations of blue to create the sad tone of the painting. I was obsessed with it, knowing that a truly talented artist must have painted it. I asked if I could buy it. He told me it wasn’t for sale. When he had bought it, he thought the artist would be an up-and-coming name in the industry, but that the show he attended was the only one you ever had. When I came home, I looked up your art show, even went as far as to contact the reporter to see if I could view the original photos. I wanted to know if it was just the one piece, or a true gift. Every single one of the pieces I saw were spectacular. I couldn’t believe you only did the one show, and wished you hadn’t quit. Then I found out that you had moved on and were creating your baking empire. I didn’t think it would be right for me to insert myself in your life and tell you that you had made a mistake. On my following birthday, my friend sent me the painting. He said he had thought about it and since I loved it so much, I should have it.”
“Did you know about this?” Wade asked, turning towards Tara.
She shook her head, her eyes wide with shock, made it clear she was telling the truth. “I had no idea.”
“She didn’t. When she approached me to see if I would be interested in participating in your birthday celebration, I immediately recognized your name. I’d always wondered what happened to you and why you quit painting. I decided to jump at the chance to meet you.”
“I don’t understand. Why did you want to meet me?”
