“Good morning.” I grumbled. “I came to let you know that your private jet is waiting on the tarmac and the car is downstairs. They’re scheduled and ready to get you to the South Pacific.”
“Excellent,” Brandon said, slapping me on the shoulder.
“Do you want some brunch,” my sister asked, pointing down at the mimosas and pancakes in front of her. My stomach flip flopped just looking at the bubbly.
“No, thank you. I got your breakfast this morning.” I smiled, taking a seat across from her while Brandon pulled their bags up to the door.
“So, how did things go with you and Casey last night?” She tried to sound nonchalant but I saw right through it.
“I thought they were going great,” I said, running my hands through my hair. “We were talking, laughing, dancing, just like we never missed a day. Then, poof, she was gone, nowhere to be found. I don’t know what I did but I completely struck out last night.”
Natalie sat quietly, finishing her brunch and setting her silverware down on the plate. She wiped her mouth with the anagrammed Canton Resorts cloth napkin and looked out the window. I could tell she was mulling over her next words, wanting to say the right thing. I always hated that silence, she usually came back with some lecture that was full of wisdom and truths I didn’t want to hear. She had a way of channeling our mother that I didn’t always appreciate. She turned back to me and smiled thoughtfully, reaching out to take my hand.
“Dex, I know you like Casey and I know you two hooked up before you left for Asia, but she is my very best friend,” she said with demure and class. “You know I love you but I also know that you are not the settling down type. You have this empire left by Mom and Dad and it’s your job to keep it afloat. You’ve done an amazing job but if you are just looking for another play toy, then you need to look somewhere else. Casey is not your girl if that’s all you want. She is so sweet and smart and deserves so much more than a casual lay. I could never be okay with you treating her like one of your play things, she is way too good for that.”
She patted me on the leg and took a sip of her mimosa, allowing me time to process her words of warning. Deep down, I knew this wouldn’t be as simple as waltzing back in town and picking up where we left off, at least not with a girl like Casey. She had a life, a career, and probably some sort of love interest that I couldn’t expect her to drop for another one-night stand. In all honesty, I spent the last five years completely dedicated to my work, not even thinking about any random trysts while I was away. However, the last thing I wanted to do was admit that to my sister and give her the wrong idea. My sister’s words did not skip over me. I took them to heart, knowing she had the best interest of both of Casey and me in mind when she spoke.
“I know.” I sighed, leaning back. “When she ditched, just left without a word last night, I got the message loud and clear. I don’t want to cause her any undue stress, Natalie. I may not be the relationship guy but I’m not a total asshole.”
“Oh, God, Dex, that is not what I meant,” she said, shaking her head. “I know you are a good guy at heart.”
“I don’t have any plans to pursue Casey,” I said, wanting to end the conversation. “I have a good couple of weeks in town and then, I am out again. I don’t want any complications either.”
“Good,” Natalie said, leaning over and kissing me on the cheek. “Glad we settled that.”
My sister was so cunning sometimes, it was like she knew exactly what she wanted to hear and when it was said, she lifted the burden and moved on. I watched as Brandon walked over, leaned down, and kissed Natalie on the cheek. Her cheeks blushed and she closed her eyes with a blissful smile. They were the perfect couple and it was almost nauseating. In three weeks, I was going to be on a plane to South America to finish up some new acquisitions for the company. From there, I wasn’t sure where I would go. My sister was going to spend the holidays with Brandon and his family as far as I knew, so there was no real reason for me to sit in an empty penthouse, staring enviously out at families walking through the park. I had my fill of that last year, though the end was much better than I thought it would be.
“You ready to go?” My sister looked up at Brandon and smiled brightly.
When we opened the door, the staff was standing there waiting to carry down the bags. I tipped them generously and took the elevator to the bottom floor with my sister and new brother in-law. With them leaving and me deciding against any kind of relationship, short or long-term, I felt kind of lost as to what I would do with myself in the city for the next three weeks. I figured I might as well get some extra work done while I was here. It would help me ignore all the holiday decorations the city was already putting up. We reached the bottom floor and walked through the lobby, smiling as some of the guests watched us walk outside. The staff went to work loading the trunk while I pulled my sister into a tight embrace.
“You take care of yourself in South America,” she said while I squeezed her. “Don’t drink the water and stay out of the rivers.”
“Yes mom,” I said, chuckling. She
kissed my cheek and ducked into the car. Brandon turned to me and shook my hand, thanking me for everything I did to make sure their day was perfect. I stood on the sidewalk and watched as they drove off down the street. I looked around at the beautiful trees that had already changed colors and decided that building this hotel in upstate was a good idea, though I was ready to get back to the city. It was late in the afternoon on a Sunday, so I figured traffic wouldn’t be too bad. I would still have time to work when I got back.
I went back upstairs and gathered my things, hanging my tux on the door to be returned. I owned several tuxes but having been out of the country so long, it was easier to rent one for the occasion. I carried my small bag back downstairs and hopped into the limo that was parked out front. The driver wasn’t my usual but then again, nothing was really the same after five years away. As we drove along, I stared out at the passing farms, the crops brown and withered, and the trees dancing in vibrant colors of oranges and reds. Casey immediately flew through my mind. What I told my sister, though flighty in nature, had to be the truth. I was leaving and wasn’t sure how long I would be gone this time. There was no way I could promise my time to Casey in any concrete way. That night five years ago was so amazing it kept my mind occupied through all these years but it was just that, a memory. One that had repercussions.
I knew Casey would love more than anything to settle down like Natalie and Brandon but I just knew I wasn’t ready to do that. She needed a man who was here for her completely. I was here but only in spirit most of the time, regardless of how much I would worship her sexy body and lose myself in her steaming green eyes. It wasn’t a good idea to try to repeat that night. I needed to remember that, feel good about it, and move on with life. That was what was best for both of us, regardless of what my cock tried to tell me. As I repeated the words over and over to myself, I could feel a pang in my chest, something I hadn’t felt in a very long time. I breathed deeply and pulled my briefcase into my lap, ignoring the feeling and trying to focus my mind on something else, anything that did not have to do with Casey.
As we got closer and closer to home, I started pushing myself back into my work with my usual avid determination. I promised my sister I would leave Casey alone and I needed to stick to my word. Still, as we passed through Brooklyn, I looked out at the row houses and wondered what that beautiful girl was doing right at that exact moment.
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Sneak Peak: Body Heat
Blurb
Zoe Maxwell, will you give me a second chance?
I’ll never forget the first time I saw her.
She screwed my body then screwed with my head, leaving me to wonder what the hell happened…
It’s been over ten years and I still can’t go ten minutes without her face flashing through my mind.