Shackled Lily (13 page)

I noticed
that the group suddenly started looking at the Mansfield product differently and discussing it, but it was Robbie who sealed the deal.

“I think Issy’s right. We should do the Mansfield one,” he stated as if he was the president of our little company.

Everyone else agreed, and we completed the required form, leaving us a good fifteen minutes to spare before the end of class. I pulled out my phone and started texting Candace to see what she was doing tonight. I was itching to go do something that wasn’t wrought with intensity and drama like the last two days had been. Not to mention, I really liked Candace. We would laugh non-stop when we were together, and she was becoming one of my favorite texting buddies.

I felt Robbie move close to me
and whisper in my ear. “So, you’re smart and beautiful.” It was a statement as if he already knew me, and I had surprised him.

I turned to look closely at him, examining every line in his face to try and remember if we had met before. Nothing came to me, and I was sure I would have remembered him if we’d met. His face was too distinct to forget. It was wide with a defined chin, free of any afternoon stubble. His eyes were hazel and set wide apart giving him a very distinguished and aristocratic appearance.

I responded as I usually did when men took notice of me and flashed him the smile that was casually aloof, but still inviting. “You seem surprised?”

“I guess I’m just used to a certain type of woman,” he offered leaning into me.

“And what type is that?”

“Let’s just say that none have quite caught my attention like you have.” He smiled at me the way I was sure had women eating out of his hand on a regular basis.

I turned away, feigning boredom. “Well, I don’t know, I may not want that kind of attention from you. I’m very picky.”

Robbie started laughing, and I realized I liked the sound. It was full of a humor and confidence that very few men our age had. “I have no doubt you are.”

The professor started talking, ending our bantering, but I felt Robbie’s eyes stay on me even when I had turned away from him. When class was over, I grabbed my bag and started for the door, only getting a few feet down the sidewalk before I noticed Robbie running after me.

“So,” he said panting a little. “I’m done for the day, what about you?”

“Maybe. Why are you asking?”

“Well, I thought we could grab a bite to eat,” he offered. “My car is just right over there.”

“Robbie, I make it a practice not to get into cars alone with boys I’ve known for only an hour or two.”

He smiled and then draped his arm over my shoulder. I didn’t pull away. “Well, we are in luck then, because my driver makes the perfect chaperone. Come on, one lunch…how bad could it be?”

I eyed him, trying to decide if I wanted to go. He was definitely charming, but I had known many guys just like him in high school, and they bored me within a few minutes. Problem was, I really didn’t have anything else to do. The move to Western had definitely taken a hit to my social life.

“Fine, but I’m choosing,” I agreed, and he responded by squeezing my arm.

“You got it.”

His car was literally parked at the end of the sidewalk
, and I teased him a little for needing to be driven to class.

“Commuter parking is a bear. Why bother when I can have door to door service?”

“Spoken like every other spoiled rich guy I know. Come on, Robbie, I thought you were trying to impress me.” I was definitely flirting at this point and liked how I saw his eyes sparkle a little when I did so.

Robbie opened the back door of the car for me. “Your chariot, my lady.”

“Ah, at least he’s a gentleman,” I kidded running my finger softly along his hand as I climbed in the car.

Robbie climbed in right behind me and asked, “Where to?”

I gave him the name of my favorite sandwich shop that I knew was close to campus. His driver didn’t say a word or join us when we parked. It made me think of Grant and how he always tried to irritate me when we were in the car together. Robbie opened the door for me again at the restaurant, and I scolded myself internally for thinking about Grant once again when I was out with another guy.

We found a table in the back and ordered. Robbie sat across from me at the table,
and rarely looked away while we talked.

“So Issy can’t really be your first name,” he stated after we got our drinks.

“No. It’s short for my middle name, Isadora.”

“Isadora. I like that. Does anyone ever call you that?”

“Just my mom. She hates Issy…says its unsophisticated or something,” I explained with a shrug.

“Does it bother you?”

I wasn’t sure why the third degree on my name, but I answered anyway. “No, Isadora is fine. The only name I hate is my first name, and nobody ever calls me that except for my dad when he’s trying to get under my skin.”

Robbie laughed and nodded. “Noted.”

“What made you chose Western?” I asked after eating a few bites of our meal.

“My dad’s an alumni, so it was just always where I would go. Not much of a story.”

I watched his mannerisms as he spoke and was surprised that I didn’t see any bitterness in that statement. It intrigued me so I pried a little more. “So most of the ‘spoiled rich guys’ I know, no offense, are one of two types. Either they do whatever their daddy says and secretly hate it, or they become completely rebellious and add nothing but disgrace to the family name. I have a feeling you fall into that first category.”

Robbie laughed again and shook his head. “Nope, I’m afraid I don’t fall into either. I’ve known from early on what my role was to be, and it became very clear that if I played my part well, I got whatever I wanted. While friends of mine are worried about finding a job, I have one waiting for me in my father’s company as soon as I graduate in May. Can’t see why I’d be bitter about that.”

“You’re a senior?” I asked, completely dismissing the other things he mentioned.

“Yeah, aren’t you?”

“Nope, just a sophomore, thank God. I’d be freaking out if I was a senior already.”

“Huh, that’s surprising.”

“Why?”

“Because that Marketing class fills up the first week of registration, mostly by seniors.”

“Well, I have a dad who likes to pull strings,” I explained flatly.

“And you don’t like it when he does that?”

“Let’s just say that his strings usually complicate my life.”

Robbie leaned across the table and smiled. “Ah, Daddy issues, just like every other spoiled rich girl I know. Come on, Isadora, I thought you were trying to impress me.” Robbie’s eyes were unreadable, but there was no doubt he had seen right through me.

“Touché,” I said arching an eyebrow at him, ignoring the fact that he had called me Isadora. It didn’t bother me, but definitely confirmed that this guy had no problem being bold. Everything Robbie did was deliberate, the way he spoke, walked and even his laugh felt managed and controlled in a way that exuded confidence and authority, so I knew his use of my middle name was intentional.

We finished up and walked back out to his car, the driver getting our door the minute we approached.

“Where should we go to next?” he asked as we got settled.

“Oh, you think I enjoyed our lunch enough to spend more time with you?” I asked sarcastically, sending a coy smile his way.

Robbie watched me intensely, his eyes darkening just a little. “We can do whatever you want. Name it and I’ll make it happen.”

I felt a little lost for words. There was something very intriguing about Robbie, but I also felt my stomach flip nervously when he looked at me like that. For the first time ever, I felt as if I’d met my match. However, I was unwilling to relent in the standoff he had started, so I matched his stare, letting my green eyes penetrate his. “I want to fly.”

I saw Robbie’s mouth move into a smile that showed he was pleased with my response, and then pulled out his cell phone without ever taking his eyes off me. Fifteen minutes later we were pulling into a large field where I saw a small plane and hang glider waiting.

“Are you serious?” I screamed as we got out of the car.

“I said I would make it happen. Have you ever been hang gliding before?”

I was practically jumping up and
down squealing with excitement and noticed how Robbie just hung back and watched me, his face showing complete satisfaction at my joy. I ran back to him and grabbed his hand, pulling him with me towards the plane.

“Come on!” I squealed. He came willingly, and I realized he looked genuinely happy, the controlled armor lowered for just a moment.

The next several minutes were a blur. The pilot instructed me on what was going to happen, put a helmet on me and then got us both strapped in the glider. The harness was a full body one, and Robbie was at the bottom. I was strapped above his back. My adrenaline was surging at this point in anticipation when they asked if I was ready.

“Yes,” I screamed pumping my fist in the air. “Let’s go.”

I heard Robbie laugh again, but my focus was suddenly lost when the plane took off with us in tow. The wind ripped at my face as we accelerated, and my stomach dropped the minute we were airborne. For a moment, the world came to a standstill, and the screaming in my head went silent. I was flying, and it was the most exhilarating experience of my life. I put out my arms, mimicking an airplane, and felt nothing but peace. I could hear Robbie trying to show me things, but I wasn’t listening. I didn’t want to think about him or remember I was on a glider. I just wanted to soar like a bird, free to make my own choices and decisions, free from the tyrannical control of my father, and free from the unexplainable draw I had to the only man who could break my heart.

I felt the glider drop suddenly when the cord connecting us to the plan
e detached, and I opened my eyes just to make sure we were ok. I didn’t feel fear, but if I was going to die, I didn’t want it to be a surprise. Robbie was in complete control, guiding us through the air with precision and grace. The ground below looked so small and insignificant that I wondered if I too was just dust in the wind. I had yet to do anything remarkable with my life, and the idea of that felt a little disappointing. I shook it off, reminding myself that I didn’t care, and just watched the ground slowly approach us as Robbie brought us in for a perfect landing.

As soon as we were stripped out of our harnesses, I pulled off my helmet and shook my hair free, delight covering my face. “That was the most amazing experience I’ve ever had. Thank you.” I flew into his arms with such force that I almost knocked him over.

Our hug suddenly became a kiss as Robbie’s hand settled on the back of my neck. It was everything a first kiss should be, soft and careful, warm and exciting, and Robbie certainly knew what he was doing. I kissed him back whole heartedly, satisfied in the fact that his kiss sent no butterflies to my stomach or stirred up emotion that made my knees go weak. There was no fiery passion that I had to bury or tears I had to keep at bay. No, this was a kiss I could control.

Robbie slowly released me and smiled. “You are an extraordinary woman, even more so than I imagined you would be.”

“So you’ve been imagining me? For what, the fifteen minutes we spent in class?” I teased, trying to understand his comment. 

“Something like that,” Robbie admitted, his eyes completely unreadable. He kept his arm around my shoulder and guided me to his car. Time had flown by so fast today that I hardly noticed it was pushing five o’clock. Robbie opened the door for me, and I slid in, but he shut the door, leaving to discuss something with his driver. I took the opportunity to check my phone and see who had texted me. Candace had replied that she was watching her brother tonight, so she couldn’t hang out. She did invite me to her church again, which I politely declined. Between Avery and Candace, the subject of God was coming up constantly and honestly starting to annoy me a little.

The only other text I cared about was from Jake who sent me a picture of himself holding keys. The caption read:
Living a little…finally agreed to move in with a work buddy. It’s the ultimate bachelor pad. What about you?

Me
:
I went flying today…top that one! Oh, I better get a set of those keys. What does your new roommate look like anyway?

Jake:
Don’t even think about it.

I started to laugh and was so engaged in texting him back that I hardly noticed Robbie get back into the car. He cleared his throat, bringing me out of my bantering session with Jake. I threw my phone back into my purse and smiled up at him. His face was unreadable, but that intense look that made me nervous was back. “Everything ok?” he asked in a calm tone.

“Absolutely.” I was trying to stay lighthearted and ease some of the tension that was suddenly between us. “I was bragging to my cousin, Jake, that I went flying.”

Robbie’s face immediately relaxed, giving him back his charming demeanor. “Ah, Jake’s your cousin.” It was a statement
, not a question, and seemed to close the discussion somehow. “So, I’m not quite ready to call it a day yet. Any way our adventure kept you interested enough to join me for dinner? Our estate is not far from here, and I already made arrangements for someone to go get your car if you want to come.”