Beginnings (Brady Trilogy) (13 page)

                “Nervous about flying?” He smiled down at her as she shifted to become more comfortable in her seat. She was wearing black slacks and a white chiffon shirt. Her dark brown hair rounded her beautifully tanned face and her big, bright brown eyes intensified as she gazed upon him. Anticipation began choking him at the throat. This was going to be one long flight to New York, he thought.

                Isabel watched as Luke stripped off his suit jacket and handed it to the flight attendant. “No actually.” She smiled back. “I’ve done this quite a few times. Well nothing like
this
though.” She laughed as she looked around the plane.

                “Oh? Had a few adventures of your own?” Luke asked as he took his seat. Though the seats were wide, Luke sat close with just the arm rest separating them.

“Fortunately my parents’ professions allowed us to travel quite excessively.” She smiled in fond memory.

“Your father was an artist as well?”

“No he was a philosopher.” She smiled remembered the two very different people her parents had been. “There’s my mother, the free spirited artist who talks till she is out of breath, and then there was my silent, serious father who didn’t talk often and would much rather observe. We traveled anywhere and everywhere. My mother had a passion for any type of art she could find. It didn’t matter if she was staring at a De Vince masterpiece at 
Louvre 
or breath taken by the mesmerizing sight of Taj Mahal. For her, if you consider yourself an artist, you have to appreciate and understand all forms of talent and beauty.”

“And your father?” Luke asked as the plane took off. He wanted her to continue talking. He liked watching her steady eyes as she spoke. She was too caught in her own travel back in time to notice the shake and rattle of the plane. He recognized how poised she was and liked seeing her this way. Too often he had seen her nervous and unsettled and it pleased him to see her at ease for a change.  He guessed it was because she spoke so fondly of her parents that caused her to relax. He had to admit he loved seeing her in his private plane. She looked as though she belonged right there next to him.

“He loved it. Every minute of it. He found every opportunity he could to observe the different cultures we came upon. He wrote about their social styles, living habits, their affection towards family and devotions to their professions. For my father, he much rather ponder upon what people are thinking than stare at colorful pictures as he would refer to it. He was a good man. And he loved us so much.” With a low sigh Isabel looked at Luke as he looked back with wondering eyes. She knew he had caught the past-tense tone when she spoke of her father. Since he didn’t ask it made her more comfortable to tell him. “He passed away from a heart attack when I was twelve years old.”

            Luke saw the grief behind her eyes. He knew pain when he saw it. He waited a moment in long silence before asking, “Where’s your favorite place to have traveled?” The relief in her eyes showed she was grateful he changed the subject.

            “Well,” a slow smile curved at the corner of her lips. “Every year during summer we would visit one of the Greek Islands.” She remembered all too clearly dipping her toes in the Mediterranean. “But my favorite place was this small village in Naxos where my father’s parents lived. Legend has it, the land was the birthplace of many gifted, brilliant philosophers. That there was something in the water they drank and air they breathed that caused them to be so extraordinary. We’d always have a picnic at one of the local beaches and eat the goat cheese my grandmother had made while my father would tell us the stories of the mythical Greek Gods. Sometimes my grandfather would sneakily let me sip some of his red wine. He said wine was the drink of the Gods and it gave strength. He thought my arms were too skinny and weak and I could use all the strength I could find.” Luke grinned at the way Isabel laughed. God he loved hearing her sweet laughter. He liked seeing her this way. He deliberately kept silent so she could continue.

“I remember how my grandmother would yell out “Zabel” every time I’d eagerly take the wine from my grandpa. That’s what she called me.” Isabel explained. “As if that was my Greek name or something,” she giggled at the memory of it. “It was a beautiful village. There was this overpowering feeling of peace and security and the locals were all one big happy family. The death of my father devastated both of my grandparents immensely and they all too soon followed him. Now I imagine they must be with my father eating goat cheese and sipping wine with the Gods my father so respectfully spoke of.”

                Luke silently listened as Isabel spoke of her childhood. The stories she knew of how her mother, during a summer trip to Greece had met her father, fallen hopelessly in love and married him that same summer. Everyone in her father’s village had attended to see the local resident marry the beautiful American. He didn’t know anyone other than himself who felt so passionately towards family. He loved listening about the history of the villagers she spoke of and promised that one day he would visit Greece and that very same island.

He was enthralled with her childhood tales that he almost forgot they were on a plane to New York. Not until Isabel turned off the light above her head and closed her eyes to rest. He continued to study her face as she drifted to sleep. While he gazed at her, his own eyes became heavy from sleep and in seconds he was dreaming of the serene waves of the Mediterranean Sea.

Later, Luke woke and shifted in his seat and felt his right arm captured. He looked over to find Isabel curled up tightly against his arm.  Her warm slender body was pressed against his. She lay her head more on his headrest than hers leaving her lips just an inch away from his. She looked so peaceful and smelled of sweet jasmine flowers. Luke couldn’t help but to gently touch her cheek with the tips of his fingers and feel her soft skin. He pushed her hair lightly away from her face knowing the gesture might awaken her. She fluttered her eyes half open still heavy from sleep. “What time is it? Are we almost there?” she whispered half mumbling her words.

“We still have another hour. Go back to sleep.” He whispered back while watching her eyes close again. Her lips looked so soft. It made him wonder if her lips would once again taste as sweet as her scent. He leaned forward and gently brushed his lips against hers as she parted her lips inviting more. He softly touched his tongue to hers as she welcomed a long lingering kiss. The slow strokes began heightening his desire. She moved her lips in lazy yet seductive movement against his, while a magnetic force was pulling him towards the exact measures he knew he shouldn’t take. He caressed her face and kissed her sensually while his trusty pilot soar them towards the city that never sleeps.

By the time they arrived to his father’s estate, Luke’s burning need for Isabel was blazing at the core of his stomach. She looked even more appealing with her cheeks flushed and her lips slightly swollen from the hour long kiss. It made him ache for her intensely. He almost lost control when his mind ran wild with images of taking her then and there on his soft plane seats. She wasn’t speaking which only made him more anxious. Maybe he shouldn’t have kissed her but he couldn’t manage to not want to touch or taste her when she sat so close. Now they sat silently in the black stretch limo that took them to his father’s house.

Isabel was vaguely confused if the kiss really happened or if it was all just a sensual dream. He wasn’t apologizing so either it didn’t occur or he didn’t want to discuss it. She cringed from the thought he might regret kissing her again. This was exactly what she couldn’t understand. One minute Luke was hot and practically undressing her with his eyes and the next he acted hesitantly as though the smallest gesture might break her in half. She snapped back to reality when the limo came to a stop in front of tall iron gates. The gates opened and the limo pulled into a long stoned path leading towards the house. They had arrived at Luke’s father’s estate and now her heart pounded for other reasons. She didn’t understand why she’d become nervous about meeting Luke’s family. She examined the large stone brick house with French vintage windows. The structure was so massive she wondered if “house” was even the right term to describe it. Oh but it was breathtaking. Larger than life, it looked like a vintage castle mirage. No wonder Mr. Brady senior wanted to entertain his guests here for the holidays. It was captivatingly beautiful.  Enchanted, she stepped out of the limo and beamed with appreciation. Her mother would definitely call this a work of art.

Luke came and stood next to her. “Amazing isn’t it?” he asked but watched her instead of the house. “And this would be my most beloved childhood memory. It used to belong to my grandparents. Once my grandfather passed away my family moved here while I stayed in San Diego. Come on. Let’s go inside and get settled.” He said and took a hold of her hand.

“It’s beautiful,” was all Isabel could say as she let Luke lead her inside. The indoors were as exquisite as the exterior. They walked into an immense foyer with white poinsettias in an antique, tall vase displayed on a round table located in the center of the room. After handing both of their coats to a door man that appeared out of nowhere, Luke took Isabel’s hand again and guided her towards the living room.  She was surprised how firmly he held her hand not worrying what others might think if they saw them.

“Luke,” a beautiful woman with light golden hair hurried towards them. Isabel noticed the lady shooting a quick look towards their joined hands and gracefully slid her hand out of Luke’s.

“Hi mom.” Luke’s grin was as wide as ever as he embraced his mother, burying his face in her light golden hair. Isabel easily caught the affection in Luke’s gesture and it made her smile.

“I missed you so much.” His mother cupped his face and kissed both cheeks.

“And I missed you.” He kissed both of her hands. “Mom I’d like you to meet my new assistant. This is Isabel Stamos.”
The woman who’s been driving me into a sexual frenzy.

“Kathryn Brady.” She smiled and took Isabel’s hand in both of hers. She hadn’t missed the way her son had been holding her hand when they entered her living room. She was half expecting him to have introduced her as his girlfriend instead. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you.”

“Pleasure’s all mine Mrs. Brady.” Isabel smiled warmly.

“Oh please call me Kathryn my dear. How was your flight?” Kathryn noticed the quick glance Isabel and Luke exchanged and bit the inside of her cheek to avoid grinning.

“Uhh it was good thank you.” Isabel prayed her face wasn’t red while Kathryn’s bright blue eyes studied her.

“I’ve heard great things about you and am so glad Luke was able to find another wonderful assistant. When I first heard Rachel was leaving I was devastated.  She’s such a magnificent person and I guess the last few years I became used to her spending the holidays here with us. But let me be the first to welcome you to our family.” Kathryn smiled brightly. Another quick glance was exchanged by her son and Isabel. She wondered when Luke had developed a personal interest in his new employee. No one knew her son better than her and she recognized all the visible signs plastered on his face.

“Luke my boy,” a loud deep voice echoed the room. Everyone’s attention shifted to the man who walked towards them. He slapped a strong hand to Luke’s back and pulled him into a solid stern hug.

“How are you doing dad?” Luke was happy to see his father.

“Thomas this is Isabel. Luke’s new assistant.” Kathryn smiled at her husband without blinking.

Thomas had been married to his wife enough years to catch the hidden message behind her tone. Her eyes were telling him to pay close attention. “Ah, Isabel.” He shook her hand. “Great to have you working with us. I believe we spoke once over the phone correct? The plans for the holiday events are looking very promising. ”

“Glad you’re pleased with the arrangements Mr. Brady. I’m here to make sure all last minute details go smoothly. Anything you need, please let me know.” Luke had his father’s green eyes and now she knew where he got his height from as well. “You have such a lovely home.” Isabel said to Kathryn. “I can just picture how beautiful the holiday events will be here.”