Chapter 9 - Connor

I grab my phone off my desk and without looking at the caller ID, I answer it.  “What!  Speak!”  I let all my frustrations pour out of me and into my words while I continue to scan the various proposals from the multiple vendors.  This is the reason why I usually stick with the same vendors once I settle our relationship. 

My hand tightens around my phone as Ryan quickly replies, “Wow there, tiger.  You don’t need to bite my head off.  I have done nothing wrong.”

I raise an eyebrow and snort.  “Really.  You did nothing wrong.  I’m sure if I comb through my memory, I’ll find something that you did wrong.  Like, leave me here to go through all these proposals by myself, while you are off trying to get the up-and-coming company to agree to a partnership.  You know that I’m the one who wanted to go there instead of you.  I’m still trying to figure out how it has worked out that you have gone instead of me.”

A soft chuckle rolls from my phone.  “You know exactly why I’m here instead of you.  You have that important board meeting today that you can’t miss.  However, I also think that you need to come here.”

I tear my attention off the files and sit up straight.  “Why?  Did something happen already?  Have you even started the meeting?”

Another chuckle comes from the phone.  “I just met everyone and no, the meeting hasn’t started yet.  However, I think you need to come here and soon.  I have seen something that might interest you.”

Interest me.  What could it be?  Nothing usually interests me. 

“Ryan, stop beating around the bush.  What is it?  I don’t want to free up my busy schedule to come out there and find out its not that important.  So, just tell me what it is, and I’ll decide whether it is worth my time to come out there or not, okay.”

Ryan’s playful tone disappears, as he sternly demands, “Just come here and you will see.  Now, I’ve got to go.  I’ll talk to you later and don’t wait too long.”

Before I can ask what he is talking about, the call ends.  What is going on there?

However, I don’t question it and page my assistant.  After telling her to rearrange my schedule and for her to call and get my private plane ready for me to leave, I thankfully put the files away. 

As soon as the board meeting ends, I sprint back to my office and grab a few things before I leave.  I don’t know why, but my gut is telling me I need to get there soon. 

During the entire trip there, I’m fidgeting in my seat and unable to concentrate on any work. 

As soon as the plane lands, I rush out of the plane and call Ryan. 

After several minutes, I arrive at a restaurant and quickly march into the building.  I ignore the bubbly hostess as I stride right past her into the dining area, while I scan the various tables.  As my eyes stop and narrow in on one particular person, a snarl creeps out and onto my face. 

I march over to him and as Ryan turns and goes to open his mouth, I cut him off.  “Now, tell me why I had to come here.”

He shakes his head and smiles while he points to a seat beside him at the table.  “Sit.  However, I don’t think I can tell you.  I think it is better to show you.”

I raise an eyebrow.  Show me?  What?

I sigh and reluctantly sit down, while I continue to glare at him.  If this whole thing has been a waste of my time, I’m really going to rethink why I have him as an executive in my family’s business. 

As I pick the menu up off the table, I grumble, “How long is this wait going to be?  You know I have things I need to do.  Plus, I really should get back home later tonight.  I don’t really want to stay here in the middle of farm country for too long.”

Ryan shakes his head and chuckles.  “I think you will change your mind as soon as you see what I’ve found.” 

My eyes narrow as his smile soon changes over to a smirk.  There is definitely something that he is hiding, and I’m getting the feeling that I may not like it. 

I grumble under my breath as I turn my focus back to the menu in my hand.  However, my mind keeps racing, trying to figure out what Ryan could have found. 

My thoughts are interrupted when the server stops at our table and takes our order.  As soon as the server leaves, I turn back to my friend.  “You know I don’t enjoy waiting.  Just tell me what is going on.  Otherwise, I’m walking out of this restaurant as soon as I’ve eaten and heading back home.”

Once again, Ryan shakes his head and leans back in his chair, while a spark dances around in his eye.

I have seen that look before, and it usually never has a good ending. 

I narrow my eyes and bark, “Tell me now.”

However, Ryan doesn’t falter.  He keeps his smirk and continues to shake his head.  “Just wait.  It shouldn’t be much longer now.”

I take a deep breath while I fight back the urge to grab him by the collar and demand answers.  Instead, I grab my water glass and gulp down half of it. 

My frustrations grow even more when I watch the glint in his eyes grow brighter as he glances towards the entrance. 

What is he up to?

I shake my head and pull my phone out, and quickly dive into my messages.  I may be away from the office, but there is no need to ignore my work while I’m waiting for this mysterious thing to happen. 

Our table soon falls into silence, with my nose buried into my phone and working, while Ryan’s foot bounces on the floor.  At the same time, he keeps scanning the area and watching the entrance. 

As I begin typing a message to my assistant, stating that I’ll be back tomorrow morning, Ryan chuckles and softly chimes, “Your answer has arrived.”

What? 

I pull my attention away from my phone and look at him.  “What?”

While smiling from ear to ear, he motions towards the front of the restaurant with his chin.  “There.  Look.”

I sigh and shake my head.  However, I do as he asks and turn towards the entrance. 

My breath hitches as my eyes fall on the one person who has been filling my dreams every night for over two years now. 

There she is.  My wife.  My sunshine. 

I stand up, but Ryan quickly pulls me back down to my seat.  “No.  Not yet.  You will come with me tomorrow to the company for our meeting.  I told them I couldn’t do anything without our CEO.  The company sent me here to make sure everything was acceptable before I brought in our CEO.  I said that we didn’t want to waste our time if things weren’t good with the company.”

With my eyes glued to Deanna, my heart pounds hard against my chest as I silently nod. 

Another soft chuckle from Ryan fills the air.  “I thought you would like what I’ve found.”

A smile spreads across my face.  “Like is an understatement.  Is she one of the two women responsible for the turnaround at the company?”

I already know the answer, but I want to hear it.

“Yes.  Her friend, Dotty, is the daughter of the owner.  It also appears that Dotty’s parents have accepted and taken Deanna in as their own daughter too.”

My smile widens.  My sunshine hasn’t been alone all this time.  She has someone standing beside her.

My heart skips a beat when Deanna walks into the dining area and brushes her long golden blonde hair back over her shoulder. 

Images from our honeymoon night come slamming back to me.  I can remember how soft and silky her hair felt sliding across my fingers, including how smooth her skin was.  Of which, I want to touch and feel both again.

I quickly push down the heat rising within me.  I can’t ruin it now.  I’ve finally found her.    

With my eyes still locked on Deanna, I ask, “When is the meeting tomorrow?”