Breathe (3 page)

“So you manage both kids modeling and fledgling acting careers, you are writing a book in a cottage in Ireland, and you are a family therapist in a foundation that you co-founded?” I glance up into his blue eyes, nearly loosing myself in the warmth of his gaze. I couldn’t find my voice so I just nodded.

“Do you have an issue with how my mom chooses to spend her time?” All heads turned to Tyler who up to this point had spoken very little. He was normally very quiet and easy going; usually always working on math problems or schoolwork, since his graduation he no longer carried his books and a ratty notebook around with us. Right now he was far from the laid back easy going young man he usually portrayed. It was easy to forget there was still a hurting little boy behind those eyes, one who still thought he had to protect his mother from the monsters. I frowned at him, silencing him with my eyes and a small shake of my head.

“Tyler he was just asking. There is no need for that tone.” I scolded.

“It’s okay he is just protecting his mum.” I turned to Daniel, raising my hand to stop any further words. He raised a single eye brow at me, making my breath catch again. Damn this man was beyond sexy, every single quality on my list of sexy qualifications, even the one cocked eyebrow thing. I shook myself mentally then turned to my son.

“He will not speak to people that way no matter what he may be thinking or how old he may be. You were not attacking me, you were asking a question, a reasonable question during a nice comfortable conversation. He knows better.” I was speaking to Daniel but directing my words to Tyler. I stared my son down until he finally backed down, turning to Daniel.

“I am sorry for the tone, Mr. Kaehe. I didn’t mean any disrespect. I sometimes say things without thinking how it’ll sound. I do apologize.” I nodded at him then turned to answer Daniel myself. “However the question still stands.”

I closed my eyes slowly. I swear that kid is going to be the death of me. He is quieter than his sister, so much more reserved and easier going. However, every once in a while he pops up with something he gets in his head and there is nothing you can do to get him away from it a trait passed down from father to son.

Daniel grabbed the hand that was fisted beneath the table on my knee and squeezed it gently. I opened my eyes and looked at him. He smiled gently and gave me a small reassuring nod before turning his attention to Tyler.              

“I do not have an issue at all with how your mum choses to spend her time. I am amazed actually. I used to manage my own career so I know what goes into it, especially knowing how busy you two are. That she is able to do any therapy sessions for any foundation and have time to devote to a book is truly amazing to me. It takes a lot of dedication, love and patience for a person to be able to do one of those things. To be able to do all three? It’s impressive is all.”

I watched as brown eyes stubbornly stared into blue, watching a myriad of emotions go through the brown. Arrogance, concern for his mother, stubbornness, curiosity, wariness, then finally acceptance that earned Daniel a small nod before Tyler resumed eating his salad. I released the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding in, and Daniel rubbed his thumb reassuringly over the back of the hand I hadn’t realized he still held. I glanced down at his hand holding mine. My hand was small compared to his larger ones, pale next to his more rugged tanned ones. I pulled mine back embarrassed, again resolved not to be one of those women in a long line of women.
What makes you think you could be one of those women even if you wanted to be?
I seriously hated my inner voice sometimes.

The rest of the dinner went by smoothly, everyone relaxed and seemed to be enjoying themselves. Even, Tyler told a few jokes and got everyone to laugh. My heart sang when he was comfortable enough with a group of people to be himself. Showing off the fun loving, silly boy that he really was down deep inside. This was going to be his last modeling gig. Lily hadn’t been told yet, he didn’t want to spoil it for her since she loved being able to do things with him. They had been booked solid pretty much for the past five years, and usually always together. Tyler did it to earn money for his schooling but it wasn’t something he always wanted to do, he graduated from the NYU engineering with honors and was offered a job with an engineering firm in New York, he started as soon as we returned. Speaking of amazing people, he took the pain of losing his father and turned it into making his and his father’s dreams come true, while helping his sister build and realize her own. I reached over, grabbing his hand and squeezing.

He looked up at me, confused. I smiled, tears forming as I thought of all that he had accomplished and all that he had overcome to do it. He smiled and squeezed my hand back. Shaking his head with exasperation, clearly used to my emotional displays of love for him and Lily. Then he went back to talking to Joey about his degree and future plans. Being careful even now not to say definitely that he wasn’t going to be modeling much longer.

“He doesn’t want Lily to know he is quitting does he?” The sexy voice in my ear sent shivers down my spine. The things this man could do to me by just breathing. I shook my head.

“No. He doesn’t want to crush her. This is what she has been working towards for a while now. Hopefully once we get her back and she starts the show she was picked up for she will be easier to deal with.” I grinned up at him.

(Daniel)

She had no idea what she was doing to me that much was very clear. Her smiles, her voice, and the graceful way she was constantly using her hands when she talked, her blushes when people were focused on her, the pure love and devotion she clearly felt for her children. All of that combined with the undeniable natural sexiness of her was killing me. When I had walked into the restaurant I had spotted her right away laughing with her kids. I had seen the breadstick go flying and had grinned as her eyes had narrowed and focused on the little blonde imp beside her. Zeroing in on the culprit even though you could tell she had zoned out for a second, off in a whole other world. Then her eyes had met mine. Her light golden brown eyes had widened, then darkened with a look I was used to seeing in a woman’s eyes but this woman and this look twisted something in my heart that I had never felt before. I saw the blonde beside her lean over and say something to her and saw her gaze drift to Cora beside me, seeing the recognition, an idea bloomed quickly. I turned to my companions.

“Cora? See at that table back in the corner? A small blonde in a yellow dress, a red head in a blue dress, and young man in a suit. Do we know them?” Cora glanced over my shoulder and grinned.

“Yes we do actually, or I do. That’s Lily and Tyler James with their mother I believe. I just signed them to my label. Well, we’re waiting for the final legal paperwork to be signed, the mother is very conscientious. She is single and from what I have heard has no interest in changing that, her world are those kids.”

My head whipped up. I wasn’t in modeling anymore but I still heard things every once in a while and I had heard of these two, now I was finally able to put names to faces. Lily was discovered on the streets of New York in a very unconventional way, she had then became the darling of the American advertising industry, dragging her just as handsome brother along with her.

Their mother from all reports was extremely sweet but brooked no nonsense when it came to her children. If someone wanted her kids they agreed to their terms or they didn’t get them. The terms were never anything extreme, only set to protect her children the best way she could in the business they had chosen to go into. So she was gorgeous, and smart. A deadly combination.

“I think we should join them.” I suggested coolly.

Cora and Joey both raised their eyebrows at me but the look on my face must have told them I wasn’t going to answer any questions. Cora nodded then turned to the maître d, speaking in rapid French that still sounded funny coming from her. The maître d nodded and hurried to give the instructions to the waiter hovering nearby, waiting to help our small group.

“Well let’s go introduce ourselves then.” Cora stated emphatically. I grinned as Cora took off to the corner, having agreed to the impromptu arrangement she had clearly decided to take charge. I followed behind Joey who kept glancing curiously back at me. I just shrugged at him, smiling wryly. When the table had been set up, I didn’t even have to say anything. Without a word spoken, my friends arranged themselves in such a way that the only seat available was next to the lovely and captivating, Ms. James. I heard her soft gasp as I sat next to her, grinning. This was going to be fun.

As the evening wore on and I learned more about her and her children, and my fascination grew. How a single woman could handle everything that she has and do it as efficiently as she had, was beyond my comprehension. As I sat back, sipping on my wine, letting the conversation flow around me, I tried to remember everything I had heard about the James family. They led a quiet life, there were no scandals surrounding any of them, from what I could remember they fulfilled their obligations but didn’t seek out undue attention. Sounded like their education was important to all three of them. I remembered the unorthodox beginning and there was something else, something that was at the edge of my memory.

“What is the foundation that you and John Hendricks’ started all about?” Her beautiful brown eyes came back to my face, a little startled so I wondered what conversation I had interrupted with my question.

“Well, it’s a family counseling/group therapy for soldiers coming home from war, for the families waiting for their soldiers to come home, and for the families who, um, who have soldiers who won’t ever be coming home.” All this was addressed to the napkin in her lap but it set off the memory I had been searching for, the reason why Ms. James was a single mother, raising two children all-alone. Her family was one of the families whose soldier was never coming home. I remembered now.

“That’s the Golden Hearts Foundation right?” Kathryn and I both looked over when Joey asked that question.

“Yes. That’s the one.”

“I know John Hendricks, he has used my photographs and art a few times over the years. They are going to be doing a fundraiser dinner in a few months and he wanted me to design something for them.”

“Yes, I believe it was some kind of new marketing thing he is working on.” All heads turned towards Tyler at that. And something unspoken passed between the young man and Joey. I frowned when Joey nodded and changed the topic of discussion quickly. Wondering what I had missed. I turned back to Kathryn.

“I remember hearing about that foundation now. It sounds like a very noble enterprise. I’m very impressed. And you do some of the therapy sessions while you are home?”

She nodded, glancing up at me through her lashes.

“Yes, I’m not able to do much, just a few sessions a week when I’m home. I don’t do the group sessions and don’t do any of the harder cases since I won’t be able to follow through much. I really just step in when another therapist needs another perspective or has to go on any kind of leave.”

“Well I am sure any help, big or small, does a lot for those who are suffering. I am sure your work matters to those who you have helped.” I smiled down at her, my grin broadening as I saw the blush creep up her neck and across her checks. A grown woman and mother of two grown kids with the ability to blush. Yes I was definitely fascinated.

“Tyler, we’ve heard you know your way around a skate board.”

“Yeah, Lily and I had to do an ad for Nike about six months ago. I had to learn to skateboard, she got to run around looking cute.” Everyone laughed at his disgruntled face. I had seen that ad when I was in New York last month. I liked it, a group of girls were running on the track at a school and a group of boys apparently were trying to show off with their skateboard tricks. If I remembered correctly Tyler was the one who did all the best tricks and won the attention of most of the girls while the guy who kept falling off his skateboard got Lily. I smiled. Yes, I had definitely liked that one.

“Well if you all don’t have any plans after you sign the papers tomorrow and do your little walk through with Cora would you mind meeting me and Daniel at the park? Our oldest is trying to learn but I don’t know a single thing about a skateboard and with my luck this old boy would fall off and break something and end up in a full body cast.”

“Hey! I said I would show Jamie a few things.”

Joey turned to me and shook his head sadly.

“Mate, you would end up in a full body cast too!” That sent the whole table back into laughter, except me who glared at my friend across the table.

“I used to know my way around a skateboard mate, better then you ever did.”

Joey held his hands up. “Yeah, yeah. You could ride circles around me. However, I think Jamie would benefit from having someone younger than us old gits showing him what to do.”

I conceded and we turned to Tyler who was grinning at us.

“Sure, Mr. Walker. I can meet you over there and help.”

“Joey, please. Mr. Walker is my father. I’m not that old,
yet
.” Tyler nodded acceptance. Then Joey turned his attention to the redhead next to me. “Kathryn, you and Lily are more than welcome to join us as well. Cora is bringing a picnic and the other kids will be there.”

“Oh, I don’t know, I wouldn’t want to impose on your family time.”

“It isn’t imposing. We have enjoyed this evening very much. When I saw your kids’ pics in the pile of applicants for this season I had to have them. I’ve been wanting them for ages. Now that I have met you I want to know yous’uns better. I think we can all be great friends.” I watched the uncertainty in Kathryn’s eyes, silently pleading for her to agree with Cora. I knew she had been in this business for a while, there were a ton of designers and promoters who would say exactly what Cora said but without actually meaning them. Cora never said anything she didn’t actually mean. I hoped Kathryn could see that. Apparently she could because she smiled and nodded her acceptance.