Chapter Twelve
Work.
Ryane stared down at the folder on her desk.
She needed to work. She wanted to work. She should work.
Sighing, she took in the manila file folder and damn her for thinking it really should be pink.
With conviction, she opened the folder and stared down at the report on the Los Padres property and her chest ached. While she may not have gone there since that fateful night, she still thought about it, him, her Knight.
Well, he was a fallen knight, he didn’t save her. He only pointed her in the direction she needed to take.
“Ms. Windsome.” Belinda tiptoed into her office and clasped her hands behind her back.
As if to prove she was deep in work, Ryane lifted a paper. “Yes.”
“It’s Mr. Allen.” Bernadette said, scurrying into her position next to Belinda.
Bobbie dashed inside next. “He has a gift.” Her cheeks reddened.
Ryane inhaled, smoothed her hair down and gave her reflection a quick glance in the jeweled mirror on the corner of her desk. “Please send him in.” If she wanted to get to work, she needed help, or maybe he was her job. She wasn’t sure and couldn’t really think about it.
Her three assistants created their makeshift receiving line and motioned toward the door.
In a suit, with his hair neatly combed back and holding a bouquet of flowers, he entered with the grandeur of a handsome prince. By all rights, her heart should have been aflutter, her knees weak, but there was nothing, not even a little surge of excitement.
“Patrick.” She held her hand out.
“Ryane.” He bowed, then presented her with a copious amount of red roses.
“Thank you.” She took the present. If this would have been Knight, he would have given her one pink perfect flower, then kissed her until she melted, or maybe he would have simply scattered petals at her feet. Well, that life was over, she hadn’t gone to the lake. It was the time to make things happen, and she glanced over at her staff. “Perhaps we should put these in water.”
All three of them went into action.
Bobbie rushed forward and grabbed the flowers. “I’ll get the vase.”
Bernadette straightened out her desk and ran after Bobbie.
“Just ring if you need anything. We’ll leave you alone.” Belinda backed up and closed the door on the way out.
“I’m glad I had a clearing in my schedule, and I have to say I was even happier with the invitation here.” Patrick glanced around the room. “It feels like I’m part of the inner sanctum.”
“Of course you are.” She smiled up at him willing any butterfly to enter her stomach, but maybe butterflies were overrated.
“What can I help you with?” He reached over, took her hand and kissed the back.
Still nothing, not even a shudder, but she forced a smile on her face. “I want to spearhead selling the Los Padres property, but I think to make the most of the sale, I need that other piece of land you found.” She took a breath. “This will be our first project together.” It was time to do what her father couldn’t and get rid of the land. It was time to let it go. Maybe everything with Knight had been nothing but a sign to move on.
He stepped closer. “I thought you didn’t want to sell the property.”
“It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind.” She purposely put on her flirty tone and gazed up at him through her lashes.
“I hope you don’t change too much.” His gaze traveled over her, taking her all in. “I quite like you the way you are.”
If Knight would have said the same words she would have practically been on her knees, but this wasn’t Knight, this was Patrick, and this was her future. She handed him her folder. “Do you think we can start working on securing that little bit we don’t own?”
“Only if we keep using the word we.” He grabbed the folder, opened it and gave the contents a quick scan. “The property is interesting. It’s a little cottage and some land owned by a family and is being held in trust now that the father died. The widow wants to sell, but there are two things.”
“What’s that?” She studied the man. He was good looking, handsome, actually more than handsome.
“Before we move forward, I want to make sure this is what you want. You seemed adamant on leaving the property as is when we spoke before.” His voice lowered, not as deep as Knight’s, but with a nice timbre.
She forced herself to focus on him and not a memory of something she couldn’t have. “I think it’s time to look to the future.”
“Then that brings me to my second item.” He wrapped his arm around her waist. “The most important thing.”
“What could be more important than closing the deal?” Maybe she bated him, maybe she tried to put him off, she didn’t know.
“Closing the deal with you.” He dipped his head down and kissed her.
Rather than becoming lost, once more she found herself in a comparison with the man in the forest. Her world didn’t disappear. Even as their mouths opened, their tongues touched, and he held her tighter, she didn’t drift away. All she could focus on was work and how she set in motion the selling of the Los Padres property. Once the property was sold, it would be developed, and any chance of ever finding Knight again would be gone.
At her thought she gasped, thereby breaking the kiss.
Patrick let out a little moan and wrapped his arms around her. “That was perfect.” Once again he kissed her, a light kiss.
Yes, their kiss was perfect. Perfection for the perfect couple, but while it may be perfect, it wasn’t magic. What if she let magic vanish? The moment the land was put up for sale any magic would be gone. The urge to run overtook her and she grabbed his arm to keep her grounded. “Patrick.”
“I can’t believe I have to go back to work, I’m not going to be able to get anything done.” He let out a low chuckle. “How about I pick you up for dinner tonight?”
“I need to get a few errands done.” At the moment, all she wanted was for him to leave and let her escape.
“Do your work, do your errands, and I’ll pick you up for a late dinner.” He gave her another kiss. “This is going to happen.” After kissing the back of her hand once more, he let go of her, then backed up toward the exit. “Until later.”
Once sure he left, she acted on instinct alone. She may have perfection, but before she gave in, she needed to know one last time if she had magic. In a flash, she rushed to her desk, grabbed her purse, and without second guessing her next move, going with her gut, ran out of her office, passing her assistants on the way. “I’ll be back.”
In minutes, she was in her car and driving down the freeway. Her life was upon her, it was real, but before she gave in, surrendered to what she should do, she had to know if she had a fantasy.
For the first time since her date with Knight, energy surged through her. She drove with conviction, music blaring, hands at ten and two, her head clear, her destination set.
Finally, she made her way to the property, the open gate, the one that Knight no doubt used to trespass without knowing she was the landlord. Her heart sped as she stepped out. Would he be there or would she be met with disappointment? Either way she would receive her answer and maybe then she could truly let go.
Once upon a time, a mystery man told her he would be there if she ever needed him. He said she would know where to find him. Well, she needed him and she was here, and he damn well better be there as well.
She got out of the car and slammed the door with such force she practically fell over. The next few moments would tell her if she should really sell her soul, her life, her love, or if there was really hope.
He wouldn’t be there. There wasn’t any magic, it was all made up in her mind. As she trudged through the leaves, she knew she would be left disappointed. Still, she had to know, to see for herself, then maybe she could let go, marry Patrick, and live the life she was meant to have.
Before entering the clearing, the site of their date, their one kiss, the banks of the lake where she first found him, she turned away.
Nothing but the light sounds of birds chirping and the leaves rustling in the wind met her ears. She was alone, utterly and completely alone. Unsure if she could even gaze out upon the emptiness, she trembled and found it hard to take a full breath, before she finally gained the strength to look.
The sun sparkled off the water, a few leaves floated down around her, while in the distance a little squirrel scurried about.
Everything was there as it should be.
Everything but Knight.
Her eyes heated, her body went weak, but she had no choice but to complete her journey and walk forward to their rock.
The table, once set up for their dinner, was gone, the twinkle lights non-existent. Any proof that at one point she met the most amazing man had been wiped away.
She sat down on the rock and stared out at the water. Tears blurred her vision. Maybe in a strange way, he was still guiding her, this time giving her the path she was meant to take.
An unexpected calm settled over her, the tears stopped, and she looked around. The little girl who came here with her mother was no longer, in her place was the woman searching for something, and she found her answers.
It was time to get rid of the property and start her life. If she met Patrick at any other time, maybe she would have felt the tingles, the spark, and she had to give him a chance.
She stood. Everything with Knight had been nothing except putting off the inevitable. Before leaving, she needed to take something, a little souvenir, anything to let her know this really happened. With a light breeze kicking up, she wrapped her arms around her shoulders and looked down.
Several pink petals were scattered around the area. She shook her head. Any flowers were several yards away, so there was no way they could float here, especially since there was quite a large clump of them only a few inches from her boot. It was as if someone plucked them off a flower and dropped them here.
These would be perfect. She bent down to pick a few up when something even more interesting caught her attention.
A little gold chain.
“What’s this?” Along with the petals, she picked up the chain, holding it up to catch the last bit of sunlight.
Her chest tightened. “It’s you right?” She cleaned up the little piece of jewelry and wrapped it around her wrist. “This is for me.” Again, she glanced around. Where was he, was this hers? Did he come here looking for her and left this as a sign? “Please tell me.”
Her own voice echoed around her. He wasn’t here when she needed him.
She was still alone, and she could never return, but she had her parting gift. Tomorrow she would call and have someone lock the gate. Tomorrow she would start working on securing the little piece of land that would make this one complete. Tomorrow she would start selling the property and her dream.
“Goodbye, Knight.”
She left the clearing.