Chasing Happy (Texas Desires #1)

by Rylie Roberts

  “You’re gonna be gone six days and two of those are traveling,” Kade mocked before making a terrible slurping noise from an empty drink.

  “This is what I’ve been preparing for my whole adult life. It has to be right. I have to be ready for anything that comes my way.” She didn’t bite at his attempt to add levity to the situation. This was too critical. She stepped back and studied her clothing before going back into her closet. She brought out all the jewelry she owned and began placing everything inside the case.

  “Did you buy out the store?” he asked, ignoring what she just said. He did that a lot.

  “Ha ha. It’s what the company requires. I really have to look like I know what I’m doing. I’m pitching these changes to a company that’s been in business for hundreds of years. I’ve got to get them on our side or we’ll fail miserably.” She stopped in the middle of packing and looked around her bed. “Kade, I don’t have shoes to match this dress. I should have gotten more. I knew it. I was trying to save the company money.”

  Lara was becoming a little frantic. Already close to nine at night and she only had a few hours before she boarded a plane for China. She let out a disgusted sigh. Kade came over to the bed, switched two pair of shoes, then switched another set, and Lara’s face lit up. “You did it! You’re a fashionista!”

  “Whatever. Go pack your bathroom. I’ll get this ready.” Kade began loading her garment bag and suitcases. She watched him for minute, making sure he packed her stuff with care before heading to the bathroom with the cosmetics case. She worked quickly, deciding to take everything before loading her curling irons and hairdryer.

  “You’re so tanned,” she said, bypassing Kade. She moved a few things around to add the cosmetics case to the already stuffed suitcase.

  “It’s not gonna fit,” Kade said, watching her work.

  “It has to fit.” She used both her palms to push things around, mashing her clothes down, trying to make more room. She pulled the top over to zip. Shit, it wasn’t going to close easily.

  “You have this whole other empty one,” Kade suggested, pointing to the last in the set they’d bought her for this trip.

  “But I’ll look ridiculous carrying three suitcases for a four day trip.”

  Kade began moving her toiletries over to the free bag.

  “You’re taking a company plane. It’s fine.” She didn’t fight him because, logistically, she was never going to get that bag closed.

  “Did you get shampoo and a toothbrush and those hair ties, so you can dump your hair on top of your head? Has Reed seen that sexy look you do yet? Hey, that could be y’all’s code for sexy time.” Kade was in rare form tonight. Lara turned and left him standing there as she left the room. She was so nervous, and he was teasing her, being his normal pain in the ass.

  “I used to really like you,” she called out, walking toward the living room. Seconds later, she began cussing him in Mandarin. She let the words fly the whole time she packed the rest of her things. When she called him the son of a goat—that had her chuckling.

  Kade met her in the living room with her luggage all hooked together like he was a professional traveler. His happy smile was gone, and she laughed genuinely this time. Not much got under his skin, but he absolutely hated not knowing what she was saying.

  “I’m ready,” she first said in Mandarin, then pronounced each word explaining what she’d just said. Kade’s brow cocked. The ceiling started knocking from her upstairs neighbor. “I’m not gonna miss that.”

  “No, I wouldn’t think so. Is he coming here?” Kade asked. She interpreted the “he” to mean Reed.

  “I’m going there. My laptop and briefcase are at his house.” She went to take the suitcase from Kade.

  “Did you get your phone charger?” he asked, holding on tight.

  “Crap, Kade! Think! What else am I forgetting?” She left him standing there and went for the charger. Desperation had her looking around the room one last time. What else had she forgotten?

  “You’re taking extra money. Prescott’s gonna be there for whatever you miss. It’s fine,” Kade called out. She came back down the hall, resigned. Kade was right. She wasn’t going to a third world country; she could get what she needed. The nerves of the presentation, along with the proper protocol of the country were really what fueled all this current anxiety. She took a deep breath to center herself.

  “Is that what you’re wearing on the flight?” The calm of a second ago faded. She looked down at her clothes, panicked. She wore dark slacks and a flowy type blouse with matching flats. Everything was new. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

  “Nothing. Seriously. I just thought it was gonna be chilly when you arrived.” She reached for the blazer on the coatrack by the door, then her new purse. The whole ensemble matched all the way up to the earrings she wore.

  “Okay, give me a hug. I’m heading over to Reed’s to see if I missed anything there.” She pulled her hair out of the back of the blazer and fixed the collar.

  “I’ll walk you over. See you off. You can’t manage this load by yourself, it’s too heavy.” She didn’t question the offer, but was thankful for it. Since all the suitcases were hooked together, Kade pulled the cases as she got the doors. For her, it worked out perfectly. They made quick time across the street. She’d spent almost every free minute with Reed over the last three weeks and had full access to his private quarters.

  They stepped off the elevator to find Margaret waiting by the doors. She started to enter as they were getting off. “I wondered if you’d left,” Margaret said, retreating as the doors closed.

  Margaret had been one of her greatest support systems in navigating Reed’s busy schedule. The one person she hadn’t yet met was Kade. His day shift schedule included long hours of training. Margaret was always gone by the time he got off. “Finally, you two get to meet. Kade, this is Margaret. She’s the one really responsible for my new look. She spent Reed’s money the day I fell.”

  “Money well spent,” Reed answered for his assistant as he came around the corner carrying her briefcase and laptop bag.

  “I agree, money well spent, and I believe my Christmas bonus should reflect my good job in this matter,” she added, causing everyone but Reed to laugh.

  “I have a feeling you’re responsible for assigning those bonuses,” Lara said, knowing how much Margaret did to keep Reed functioning every day.

  “Good point. Margaret, remind me to check your Christmas bonus before I sign,” Reed said, running a hand down Lara’s back before trying to take the load from Kade who fought him. His words caused the laughter to increase. Lara reached up and kissed his cheek.

  “Where’re your things?” Lara asked, looking around.

  “They’ve been taken down. We’re waiting on you,” Reed said, pressing the elevator button. The doors opened and everyone entered.

  “Where’s Cooper?” Lara asked. She linked her hands in front of her as her nerves shot to the surface again. She tried some of the techniques she’d learned over the years to calm down, but this was just too big a deal. She couldn’t get a hold of herself.

  “He’s downstairs. We’re waiting on you,” he said again, teasing her. He wrapped an arm around her waist, tugging her closer. Her eyes went to his, and she saw compassion there. He was getting good at reading her moods. Leaning forward, he bent in for a quick kiss.

  “Do they do this all the time?” Kade asked.

  “Without question, all of the time,” Margaret replied.

  The doors opened to the main lobby with the limo parked right in front of the building’s double doors. Margaret followed them out. Kade stayed close to Lara and gave her a tight hug. “Call me. Send lots of pictures.”

  She nodded and waved at Margaret before turning to see the backseat was full. Wills helped her inside the car and she took the farthest corner. There were so many sides to Reed. When he entered the backseat, he sat close to her, but was all business. Cooper, her direct super
visor, along with two other senior-level executives shared the ride to the airport.

  Her only job was to be the company mouthpiece when the time arose. Until then, she was to stay quiet and out of the way. From what she observed in her brief planning sessions, this trip would go Reed’s way or he would immediately begin breaking off sections of the company and selling them to the highest bidder. He was done with all the trouble they caused.

  Once on the plane, Lara sat tucked away in a corner seat while Reed and his team were on the other side, discussing business. Reed was hardnosed and focused. Most of their discussion went straight over her head, but the group of them had clearly worked together for quite some time. They were in sync with one another.

  Hours into the flight, Lara finally fell asleep. She woke to Reed sitting beside her. At some point, he moved her position, angling her to lie closer to him, her head resting on his shoulder. She looked around the plane. The other men were still in their seats.

  It surprised her that he’d come over. After those first initial days, Reed never allowed himself to cross the boundaries of mixing personal with professional in front of his employees—other than Margaret. He’d made it clear they were not acting as a couple on this trip. Reed never liked the small references she’d made about not being accepted by her peers. He tried hard to remove himself as a factor. She’d been prepared to be on her own for most of this trip, so finding him so close surprised her.

  Reed sat with a light beaming down on some legal brief he read from. When she moved, his hand reached over to pull a blanket up around her. She hadn’t had a blanket when she fell asleep. She leaned her head back, looking at him. After a second, he noticed her awake and smiled down at her.

  “You should sleep,” she whispered.

  ~~~

  Reed had planned to keep to himself. He’d even booked her a separate room, hoping to quiet the company gossip mill. Lara had a place in his company outside of being his girlfriend. She was smart, articulate, and motivating. His staff just needed to see her corporate value as clearly as he did.

  Even after his weeklong self-lecture of keeping distance, six hours into the sixteen hour flight, he’d had about all he could stand. There was no choice but to leave his colleagues and come sit with her. They hadn’t slept apart for almost a month. He found he absolutely didn’t want to start now. His heart was firmly connected to Lara. Reed was a man in love; he’d just been too nervous to clue her in on those three little words.

  “You should be sleeping,” he said quietly, moving his gaze over to hers. She smiled a sleepy grin, and he broke every protocol he had in place as he leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips with all of his team within viewing distance.

  “The chair reclines more. I didn’t want to wake you to lean you farther back. We also have pillows. It’s more comfortable. I sleep like that all the time,” Reed said, very quietly. He brought a pillow forward. Lara lifted and he placed it under her head.

  “I’m still in shock I’m on a private plane. I didn’t want to miss anything,” she confessed. He chuckled and took her hand in his. “Aren’t you tired?” she asked.

  “No, I’m catching up on my light reading.” He flipped the document in his hand to the front page, showing her it was a legal document. Some of the most boring reading on the planet.

  “Ahh, lucky you,” she teased. Lara looked so sleepy. He’d removed the armrest separating them, and she turned on her side, scooting in closer. They had become cuddlers in bed. Reed slept beside her every single night. He liked the intimacy of having her right there with him.

  “I’m sorry I can’t be more attentive,” he whispered, settling his cheek on her head.

  “It’s fine. We’re working,” she said on a yawn. After a minute of quiet, he finally spoke again.

  “I want to take you places. We need to get away alone. I can picture you on a beach in Hawaii. You’d be spectacular.”

  “I don’t know how to respond to that,” she murmured.

  “Well, how about this one. A nice romantic trip to West Texas?” It took a second, but she moved, looking him in the eyes, trying to understand his words.

  “I’ve never heard of a romantic trip to West Texas before.”

  “Okay, I’ll give you that one. I have a family reunion in a few weeks. I want you to go with me,” he said truthfully.

  “To meet your adoptive family—Candace’s family?” she asked. He still hadn’t been overly forthcoming about his past, just giving her odds and ends of his life as a child. If she pushed for more, he always dodged, taking their conversation in other directions.

  He swallowed the lump in his throat before answering. “Yes.”

  “Okay, I’ve never meet the boyfriend’s parents before.” She settled back against his shoulder.

  “Well, now’s your chance. It’s a three-day fun-filled good time where you’re already signed up to bake a pie with Linda—my mom.” She moved immediately back again, panic in her eyes.

  “I don’t know how to really cook. I just play around in the kitchen.” That was said pretty loudly. His team had to have heard those words.

  “Shhhh… That doesn’t matter. I think that’s what she’s hoping for. Candace tells her what she’s doing wrong. She needs new hands to mold. Candace moved on to the Hollywood style of cooking, which, per Linda, means nothing sticks to your ribs.” He waggled his eyebrows at that one. He’d laughed like crazy when he’d gotten that email.

  “Did Candace tell them about me?” Lara was getting jittery. Maybe he should have waited to ask her to go.

  “Yes, with photo and all.” He nodded, holding her hand tighter now. She’d tried to release the handhold, her free hand already out of the blanket, moving as she spoke. He needed to deflate the worry he saw in her.

  “I’m nervous. What if they don’t like me?” she finally asked, her voice small.

  “That’s impossible, Lara. Relax.”

  “Most definitely not impossible. Most people don’t like me,” she said, fully distressed now. He should have waited to say anything.

  “Listen to me. They won’t be competing with you. I want you to go. I need a cheering section for my part in the obstacle course. They’re gonna love you like Margaret does. You make me happy, and they’ve worried about me for a long time.” He’d turned, looking her in the eyes, his free hand taking hers to stop the movement. He needed his words to sink in.

  Lara’s eyes switched back and forth between his for several long seconds before she finally spoke. “Go Team Bryant-Prescott. Whoo. What about your friends? Do they still live in the area?”

  “One keeps a residence there; one lives there full time. He’s a cattleman. The other moved across the country. Braden lives here.” She nodded and bit her lip. The worry was still there, but lessened. That gave him hope.

  “Tell me about your friends,” she said, lowering her head to his shoulder.

  “Okay, well, you’ve heard of Braden, Candace’s brother. He’s here in Dallas, an attorney. My attorney. I’ve made him a wealthy man. Cole’s the farmer. His family has a big spread out there—thousands of acres. He took over the family farm. He’s the one in the group with lots of personality. Connor’s military. He’s special teams. He started off navy, but he’s moved around. I’m not sure what his deal is now. He doesn’t talk about work. He can shoot though. Never misses. Ty’s an actor. I’m not sure I want him to meet you. The girls like him a lot,” Reed said quietly, and she laughed. “So I can count you as my plus one?”

  “I’ll have to see if I can get the time off.”

  He barked out a laugh at that, forgetting his plan to stay quiet. Actually he hadn’t forgotten, he’d just stopped caring. He was so pathetically in love with this woman—he mentally cringed at the word. He still hadn’t gotten a hundred percent right with the notion, but it didn’t change things. Reed lifted his head to see a few eyes from across the plane looking their way.

  “Cooper, we need a few days off in the beginning of Ju
ly,” Reed called out.

  “I think it’s a fine idea for a job well done in Beijing,” Cooper added, dangling the carrot in front of her. They all laughed.

  “I like the way you think,” Reed added, sitting back in his seat. He held her hand tighter, drawing it to his lap. Why he ever tried to created space between them was a mystery to him. They all needed to get used to her. She’d be right here with him for a very long time.

  Chapter 24

  Kicked back, Reed sat listening to the translated voice through the earbuds stuck in his ears. With an elbow resting on the side of the armchair, Reed dropped his head in his hand and gently rubbed at his temple. The old familiar tension had returned, making his neck muscles rigid and his head pound. Damn, he should have brought some Advil. He’d let his guard down too far. Over the last several weeks, he’d gotten past the problem of constant headaches. Lara had effectively solved that trouble, but not today. On the need for some relief, he grabbed one side of the earphones and tugged, letting the piece dangle freely down his chest.

  Without the device in place, he could hear Lara’s voice in the room. She stood at the front of the conference room table, right in the middle of her presentation, effectively donning several different hats for his company. He lifted his head, moving his eyes from the folder in front of him to his beautiful Lara. Professionally speaking, Lara knew her stuff. Cooper had wisely taken a backseat for the presentation, using the respect she’d gained since their arrival to keep control of the room. No question, she was incredible. His timid, sometimes shy, insecure girlfriend owned this room. She was strong, proficient, and skilled. Her Mandarin was apparently spot on. Her ability to control this group of hostile men had astounded his entire team. Any concern they could muster about her presence on this trip had been completely erased. She was so much more than arm candy. The pride he held eased the pain in his head just like she always seemed to do.

  He turned his attention to watching the body language of his Asian staff. Without question, there was arrogance there, but they were also engaging in the meeting, which was something he hadn’t seen before. It was a baby step, but there had been none of those previously and it was something they desperately needed to obtain.