When Sparks Fly (86 page)

My heart skips a beat. Then two. Then takes off like a champion race horse. Give up my career and be with Grant. The thought forces me to sit up in my seat.
Can I do this?

The idea of seeing more of the world, experiencing different cultures. Meeting new people. Being with a man who dreams big and chases rainbows. Who fully supports me doing the same thing – it’s intoxicating.

But this is a big move. Sure, Grant says I should just move in with him, but does he really mean it? I mean, it’s one thing to say it when there’s no chance I’ll do it. What will he think if I actually take him up on the offer?

My cell phone buzzes and Grant’s face pops onto the screen. Grabbing it, I cross the office and close the door.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” Grant says. “Everything okay? You sound off.”

“Things were good until about five minutes ago. I was informed by my brother that I have to go to Chicago this weekend in his place at one of the big conventions the company attends every year.”

Grant blows a long, heavy breath into the phone. “Okay… well, that puts a damper on our weekend.”

“Yep… almost like it was supposed to disrupt our plans.” My elbow rests on my desk and I cradle my head in my free hand, closing my eyes.

“Well, we won’t let them.” Grant’s voice is instantly enthusiastic.

“What? Blow off the convention and come out there anyway? I’ve thought about it, but that just hurts the company and the people who work here. I can’t do that. Unfortunately my brother was right that we have always sent a family member to this convention. We are one of the few family-owned corporations left and it would send the wrong message to the industry if I didn’t go.”

“Then, I’ll meet you in Chicago.”

My heart stops. My brain buzzes.
Did he just offer to come to Chicago?

“What? You would do that?”

He sighs. “Jordyn, it doesn’t matter to me where we are. It matters that I get to see you. Spend time with you. If you told me you were going to the moon, I’d follow you there if it meant I got to hold you and kiss you again.”

I’m numb. No one has ever made me a priority, and here is this man that I barely know, making me feel as if I’m the most important woman in the world.

“Jordyn? You still there?”

“Yeah,” I whisper. I really don’t want to cry, but I can’t stop myself.

“What’s the matter?” His voice is soft, but I can detect a note of apprehension, too.

I clear my throat, but it did little to stop my tears. “I’m trying to figure out what I did to deserve you, because I’m not sure I do.”

“Because I’m meeting you in Chicago?” he chuckles.

“Because you make me feel special. And you not concerned with what I can do for you.”

“You are special, Jordyn.”

A sort of calm wraps around me like a warm blanket. I feel at peace. I know what I need to do… who I am meant to be. And where I am headed.

I just need to think it through, formulate a plan, and then present it to Grant. He’s already changing his plans for me. I need to give him time before I drop the next bombshell on him and ask him to change his life to accommodate me.

Finally, Grant speaks up. “Okay, so I’ll see what I need to do to take leave and get a flight out to Chicago. Send me your schedule and we’ll see what kind of trouble we can get into in the Windy City.”

“Sounds like an excellent plan.” I’m no longer weepy, but there is a pause before I speak again. “Thanks, Grant. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I had to wait any longer to see you.”

“I feel the same, baby.”

We hang up and I quickly pull up my emails to see if Eddie’s assistant has sent me the convention information. Once I have it, I forward it to Grant, shut down my computer and head out the door. I have a long night ahead of me, going over just how to ask Grant if he’s serious about me coming to live with him, and what I will do if he actually says yes.

*

Grant

“Cary!”

My name echoes down the hall as I head to the ward room. I jog back the admin’s office and pop my head around the corner.

“Yeah?”

“Your leave papers have been signed,” he says, handing me the forms. “Have a fun weekend.”

“Thanks.” I grab them, looking them over. This is a huge load off my mind. I’ve been worried I’d spoken too soon, giving Jordyn false hope that we can meet up in Chicago, only to have my leave denied. It’s tough to gage the CO’s mood so close to workup and deployment. He can be a dick and deny any request, just because.

But the man came through. And that made for a happy day.

“What’s with the stupid grin, Cary?” Beavis asks as I enter the wardroom.

“None of your business, asshat.” I sit at my computer and start pulling up information about various sights in Chicago, as well as hotels. Jordyn and I decided not to stay at the same hotel where she’s staying for the convention. We want our own place – away from people who will interrupt our time together to talk textiles.

“So?” Beeper leans over, keeping his voice low.

“Got it.” I wave the leave papers in front of him. “Now, to find the perfect place for us to meet. I want to start the weekend off right, so it has to be someplace special.”

“The wife says Buckingham Fountain is really romantic.”

I Google it, find some hotels nearby and get a plan together. Within the hour, I have plane tickets, hotel accommodations, and dinner reservations at a high-end restaurant. I send a text to Jordyn letting her know I’m coming.

Within a minute, my cell phone is ringing. Jordyn’s name flashes on the screen. I grab it and hustle out of the building.

“You’re really coming?” She asks as soon as I answer.

“Of course. Didn’t I tell I would make it happen?” She doesn’t need to know I was sweating bullets about it all coming together so last minute.

“I can’t believe it. After all the crap that’s been going on lately, something finally goes right.”

There’s an announcement of some kind over a loud speaker in the background mixed in with other noise. She’s talking louder than usual and sounds out of breath.

“Where are you?” I check the time on my watch.

“Airport. I have a couple of days at the convention before you get there. We’re heading out this morning.”

“We?” I feel a slight pang that brings back bad memories.

“Tony and me. He’s worked for the company for as long as I can remember. I used to babysit his kids when I was in high school.”

“Ah, good. I was afraid it was one of your family members,” I lie.

“No, they’re blissfully ignorant of what I have planned.” Her voice drops to a low, sexy tone and I damn near groan in the phone. The woman can turn me on with the slightest inflection.

“And what all do you have planned?”

There’s a pause so long, I check my phone to make sure the call’s still connected.

“Well, I do have something I want to talk to you about. I didn’t want to get into it over the phone. It’s one of those face-to-face discussions.”

“Okay, anything I should be worried about?” My heart is lodged firmly in my throat.

“I hope not. I think it’s good news.” She sounds about as confident as I do, which does little to make me feel better. “It’s not anything to stress about, and I shouldn’t have said anything. I don’t want you to jump to any conclusions that this is bad… I think it’s good. Well, I actually think it’s great. And I’m pretty sure you’re going to be happy about it.”

Well, that clears it right up. Or not at all.

“It’s just an idea I had and I want to run it past you. That’s all,” she says.

“I’m good.” And it’s not a lie – well, not completely. I’m getting there, though. Good will come when I can see her. Great will be when I can make love to her again. Whatever she needs to talk to me about will have to wait until after that.

‡
Chapter Three

Jordyn

“Okay, so you have things under control here, correct?” I ask Tony. He works with my brother, Eddie, but I also know he’s not a big fan of my brother. I can trust him not to rat me out for leaving the convention early.

“I’m good,” he says, taking a seat after grabbing some food from one of the vendors. “Go have fun. I’ll hold down the fort.”

“Thanks, I owe you.” I run out of the ballroom, praying there’s a cab outside the hotel waiting for me. I’m running late. I have about thirty minutes to get to a place forty-five minutes away.

Grant texted me that he’s on his way to Buckingham Fountain. I should probably let him know I’m running late, but want to wait until I get closer to the meeting time. After all, I may have Mario Andretti for a driver and make it with time to spare.

I stop by the front desk and grab my luggage. A cab is idling in the front circular drive. I open the door and poke my head in.

“Jordyn?” the middle aged driver asks.

“That’s me,” I toss my bag onto the backseat and slide in next to it.

“Where ya headed?”

“Buckingham Fountain. And I know its cliché of me, but as fast as you can.”

He glances at me in the rearview mirror and smiles. “Meeting someone special at the fountain?”

“I am.”

I settle back in my seat and try settling the butterflies going mad in my stomach. This is insane. I didn’t feel like a giddy schoolgirl when I was a schoolgirl. What is it about this man that makes my heart leap and take off running at the mere thought of him? It’s crazy. It’s childish.

And it is all kinds of wonderful.

*

Grant

I check my cell phone again. Still 2:25. Still five minutes until she shows up.

I run my hand down over my face and take a deep breath. Something’s making me nervous, but I can’t put my finger on it. There’s a nagging feeling that things won’t go the way I hope they will.

I glance at my phone. 2:30 straight up. No Jordyn. No text message. No phone call.

I take a deep breath, holding it in before I let it out. I need to calm the fuck down. She’s probably stuck in traffic. Her phone may be dead. She may not realize she’s even running late.

And really, she’s not late. I’m early. It just feels as though she’s late.

2:35.

I get up from the bench for the hundredth time and walk off nervous energy. She’ll be here. Just chill out. She’ll be here any second and everything will be fine.