Love Captures the Heart (Sully Point, Book 3) (8 page)

Her day was booked with back-to-back appointments, half of
them outside the office. She didn't make it in until eleven-thirty, and waved a
greeting at Lana as she headed for her desk. In the doorway to her office she
stopped short and stared. A huge bouquet of colorful balloons was tied to a
chair. She burst out laughing.

She advanced into the office and could feel Lana right
behind her. "When did these get here?"

Lana said, "This morning around nine-thirty. Is there
something you want to tell me? I know it's not your birthday today."

"No, it's not my birthday. Did a card come with
them?"

"It's there on your desk."

Holly picked up the little sealed envelope and opened it. A
smile played around her lips as Lana watched curiously. The card read, 'My turn
to send stuff. Thank you for everything. Let these fly free over the city and
make a wish.'

"A satisfied client?" Lana asked.

Holly let out a short laugh. "You could say that."
She turned and ran the little card through the shredder behind her desk. 
"Anything important come in while I was out?"

"Your sister called."

"Anna? I wonder what's up. I'll call her."

"Mr. Earlington's office called."

"What? Why?"

"Something about one of the new employees? I'm not
sure. Mrs. Stone is the one who called."

Holly smiled distractedly. "Lana, I know you and Mrs.
Stone are friends. You can call her Marla."

"Very well. Marla said Mr. Earlington was eager to
speak to you."

Holly was surprised--and then remembered that she'd turned
her phone off due to the morning meetings. "I'll get back to him
also."

"I'll order up some lunch for you. Do you want anything
in particular?"

"No, not really. Wait--something with protein. I need
energy."

Lana nodded and left, closing the door behind her. Holly
gazed up at the balloons again and called Jason's office. Mrs. Stone put her
through right away.

"Holly! When I couldn't reach you this morning I was
worried you hadn't made it home okay last night."

"I'm sorry. I turned off my phone for meetings. I made
it home just fine. But I think maybe it does make sense to leave clothes in
each other's apartments. Coming home at two a.m. isn't my favorite thing."

"I agree," he said, and she could hear the relief
in his voice. He really had been worried about her.

"So what's with letting the balloons go and making a
wish?"

"When I was a kid, my father would always say that once
I was done playing with it I should let it go and make a wish. I discovered I
liked watching the balloon soar into the air much more than any other fun I might
have with it. Dad always said to make the wish but keep it a secret so it would
come true."

She noticed how his voice had gotten quieter as he went back
in memory. "It sounds like a lovely tradition. And by the way, thank you
for sending them. They made me laugh when I got here."

He chuckled. "Good. Don't forget about Saturday and the
scones. Should I buy ingredients?"

"Hmm. No, I think I'll bring them."

"Okay." He was quiet on the other end of the line
for a moment. "I have a meeting tonight."

"Oh? Well, that might be good since we both could use a
full night's sleep." She was surprised to feel a thread of disappointment
at knowing she wouldn't see him tonight.

"Yes, I guess that's true."

"Tomorrow okay for you?"

She felt herself smile. "Tomorrow would be great. At my
place. I'll provide the food."

"Sounds great," he said and sounded pleased.

They hung up and she stared at the phone for a few minutes.
Then she sighed and called Anna.

"Hey Sis, what's up?" she asked.

"Holly, I have a favor to ask. It's about Sam's sister,
Maggie."

"Sure. I was just thinking about her last night."

"Well, she isn't taking to the city as well as she'd
expected. And her business isn't growing. Do you have any clients you could
throw her way? Maybe take her to dinner or something?"

"This is perfect timing. Jason and I met with Rob last
night for dinner and we discussed the need for someone to handle publicity for
the project. I told them about Maggie. I can call her and if you all agree, we
can bring her on board with the project as our publicity manager."

"That sounds great. But--you and Jason?"

"Rob asked us both to be at the dinner meeting,
yes."

"So you aren't--"

"Aren't what?"

"You know what I'm getting at. I thought the thing with
you guys here in Sully Point was a one-shot deal, but if you got together it
would be great."

"Anna, I swear to you, I am not getting involved with
him. That is the last thing I'm interested in when it comes to Jason
Earlington.  Look, I'll call Maggie and set up dinner. Maybe tonight if she's
free."

"Thanks. Sam will be relieved--and me too. I like
Maggie and want to help her out."

"I'm on it. Give my love to the munchkin and your
husband."

She felt only a moment's unease at how she'd gotten around
Anna's questions about Jason. It wasn't that she was worried Anna wouldn't be
pleased for her to get together with him. But if she thought there was
something real, some kind of big involvement between then, then all Holly would
hear from everyone was questions and innuendos about the future of the two of
them. It was better just to keep things under wraps from the family.

* * * *

Lana met up with Marla at their favorite coffee shop for
lunch. They'd been friends for ten years, helping one another during rough
times in their lives and sharing the good ones.

Once Marla was settled into the booth and had ordered her
usual chicken salad sandwich, Lana asked her, "So? Was it him?"

"I think it was him. I walked in when he was getting
off the phone. I heard the address and it was your office. And when he saw me
standing there he got all flustered."

"She wouldn't let me see the card, actually put it in
the shredder right in front of me! I wonder what they're thinking, trying to
keep it a secret."

Marla shrugged. "Who knows? I don't see how they'd have
time for much of a relationship, what with his schedule."

"And hers. Of course, there are still the nights."

"True."

"But it doesn't make sense to me, Marla. She has strict
rules for herself about not getting involved with clients. She has been adamant
about that since I've known her."

"He is quite handsome and there is a kind of animal
magnetism about him."

Lana raised an eyebrow at her friend.

Marla smiled. "I'm not dead yet, after all."

"Well, I hope she is breaking her own rules and getting
involved. Maybe he's the one for her."

"I don't know him well enough yet to say what he needs.
But I sense he has been a lonely man. You should have seen his face when he saw
the flowers and read the card yesterday. He was as delighted as a kid, and very
surprised, but mainly he was pleased."

"And we know those were from her because I got that
confirmation call from the florist later in the day."

"This should be interesting," Marla said, with a
twinkle in her eye.

"Yes, very."

* * * *

Holly arranged to have dinner with Maggie Carter at her
favorite Italian restaurant. The place was not fancy and sported paper
placemats on old tables. But the food was scrumptious and the service terrific.
She ordered a bottle of wine right away. Once they got that poured, she began
to gently question Maggie about her life.

It was clear that they young woman had become quite
disillusioned after six months in the city. Here she was going up against large
P.R. firms and she really didn't stand a chance. As she listened to Maggie
talk, Holly became more certain that the project could use her.

"I want to talk to you about something we need for the
project. Someone, actually. We need you to work with us on the project."

Maggie had a gamine look to her, with short light brown
curls in a naturally-appealing disarray and a heart-shaped face. Her big violet
eyes took in everything Holly was saying about the project.

"Hold on, Holly, did Sam put you up to this? Is he
trying to take care of me?"

"No, I came up with the idea last night at dinner with
Rob Tremaine and Jason Earlington, the architect. We were discussing the need
to control publicity both in Sully Point and here in the city. It would be
helpful to have someone who knows the family, however. I'm sure you can see
that as well."

"Okay. In a week or so I'll be almost totally free of
obligations here, since my business has dwindled to nothing. I could focus on
the project full time if it needs it."

They talked about the need to spend time in Sully Point and
Holly made sure Maggie knew she could stay at the Grainger house, but Maggie
said she'd stay with Sam, Anna, and her nephew. They were eating dessert when
Maggie brought up Jason.

"So what's he really like?"

"Excuse me?"

"Mr. Earlington! I've seen his picture in the paper. Is
he as handsome as the photos?"

Holly nodded. "Yes."

"He seems so intriguing, so young to be so
accomplished. Talented, sexy, he has it all."

"I guess it does seem like that."

"But you never see a girlfriend with him in any of the
photos. Maybe he's gay."

"No, definitely not."

Maggie looked surprised. "How do you know?"

"I--uh--I--from something he said in a meeting."

"Oh. I wonder who his girlfriend is then, since she's
not in the celebrity news with him."

"Could be anybody. Are you about done?"

Maggie nodded. "Will I have access to him?"

"Access?"

"Yes, to set up interviews or a photo shoot. We'll want
to use his connection to the project."

"Oh yes, I'm sure eventually we will. Why don't you
work on finishing up your current obligations, then call me and we'll go from
there."

"Sounds great. Thanks so much for the opportunity,
Holly."

"Sure, no problem."

As she watched Maggie head for the subway, Holly thought
about her own access to Jason. It had only been a few nights but she already
was used to seeing him. Going home to an empty apartment now held no appeal.

Sighing, she hailed a cab and got in. When the driver asked
for the address, she found Jason's apartment address slipping out of her mouth.
She started to correct that, and then leaned back against the seat. Why not? A
surprise was always good.

* * * *

Jason found concentrating on his dinner meeting difficult.
He'd realized halfway through that he wasn't interested in working for this
group, a consortium of three wealthy men. He was regretting missing out on an
evening with Holly just to meet with unimaginative, ultra-conservative
potential clients.

Once he got back to his apartment he seriously considered
calling her. And decided against it. He could certainly go one night without
seeing her, he reassured himself. He got out of his suit and pulled on some
faded blue jeans and a black t-shirt. He started to go into his home office but
stopped to put some music on. The station on the radio was playing slow jazz.
Not quite the mood music for working, he thought with a wry smile. Now if Holly
were with him, that music would be just right.

The doorbell rang. When he looked at the view screen and saw
Holly standing there, he felt a big smile spread across his face. He had
already given her name to the doorman the other day, so she was standing right
outside his door. He opened it and said, "It took you long enough."

She laughed and walked past him into the living room. She
took off her high heels and set her briefcase and handbag on the couch. He had
followed her and stood waiting. She shrugged off a turquoise jacket that
matched her skirt. The cream colored blouse under it was sleeveless. She walked
up to him and said, "Your arms around me would be just about
perfect."

He gathered her into his arms and held her close. He felt
her sigh against his chest. "Long day?"

"Very. I was headed home, but somehow your address is
what I gave to the cabbie."

"I'm glad." He began to slowly move her around the
room, dancing to the slow sensuous beat of the music.

"We're dancing," she said, sounding surprised.

He chuckled. "Yes, it happens sometimes with
music."

"I like it."

He liked the feel of her body against his. There was no
urgency in this moment. Only a patient inevitability. They both knew where they
were headed. But how they got there was just as important.

She relaxed against him and swayed to the music.

"Can I take your hair down?" It was in some kind
of upswept look.

She nodded.

He felt with his fingers until he found the two clips
holding it in place and took them out. Watching her golden hair fall down to
her shoulders he smiled into her big brown eyes. "Your hair is the most
amazing gold color."

She smiled at him. "How was your dinner meeting?"

"Lousy. How was yours?"

"How did you know I had a dinner meeting?"

"You came here still dressed in work clothes. And you
didn't bring any to change into tomorrow morning."

"Yeah, that means I'll be headed back out in the middle
of the night."

He frowned. "Holly, don't do that again. Wait until
five when I get up."

"But I was fine when I did it last time."

"I know I'm not completely reasonable on this topic,
but it's because of my parents. You never know who is out on the streets so
late at night. Either I go with you at night or you wait until morning,
okay?"

She thought about it and nodded. "I'll wait until
morning. Might as well get a decent night's sleep. And I'm making time tomorrow
to drop off some clothes here. Can I leave a garment bag with your
doorman?"