Rundown (Curveball Book 2) (27 page)

“
Could
have been the emotional workout.”

“
Or
that,” I agree, sitting up.

“
What’s
that?” Breanne asks, bending down to picking up a piece of paper.
 Shit.

“
Nothing,
I got it,” I say, swiping it out of her hands.  She eyes me
suspiciously for several seconds before moving on.  The fact
that she’s waiting for me to tell her is killing me.

“
Are
you getting nervous about spring training?”

“
A
little. Why do you ask?”

“
You
kept repeating dashes 2, 515 or some number combination over and over
again.  I figured it was a play.”

I
laugh and grab her face.  “Your lack of sports knowledge is
incredibly adorable.  I’m not a football player, you know?” 
She looks at me confused. “In baseball we use hand signals.”

“
Oh,
well what’s 515?  An area code?”

“
Beats
me.  The dream I remember only involved you, me and a hot tub.”

“
Hmm,
is that what you were screaming about?  Me in a bikini?”

“
Baby,
if we were in a hot tub, you wouldn’t be wearing a bikini,” I
clarify, redirecting the conversation.  “That reminds me, did
you get a doctor’s appointment?”

Breanne
narrows her eyes at me, knowing I’m dodging her concerns about my
nightmares, but lets it go. “I went to urgent care and they
confirmed that it was a virus.  I have to wait it out.”

“
Really?”

“
Really.”

“
You
sure it was a real doctor?”

She
rolls her eyes at me.  

“
I
heard what Aubrey said to you.  You know, about not playing with
Mark in the snow.”

She
looks at the fireplace and humorlessly chuckles.  “I wonder if
my loneliness the past two years fueled my imagination.  I
remember him being involved, but how involved can someone be when
they’re never around?” she asks.

“
What
do you mean?”

“
He
traveled all the time.  While you were sleeping I took out old
photo albums.  There’re no random pictures of him and the kids
doing things like building snowmen, or playing flag football, going
to recitals or anything.  It’s holiday photos and a few family
pictures…and he’s not even in all of them.  I know he loved
them, but he was barely here.”

I
rub her arm.  “I’m not him, Breanne.  I have to travel
for work but I promise I’ll be here.  Nothing has been able to
keep me from you so far and I’ll do everything I can to make sure
it stays that way.”

Collision

Back-to-back
snowstorms paralyzed most of Massachusetts for nearly two weeks,
causing the charity gala to be rescheduled twice.  The timing
worked out perfectly because over the past few days I’ve finally
conquered my cold.  

Now
that the city has finally thawed out, I actually feel like
celebrating.  The event we’re going to is in recognition of
the donors who made it possible to fund high-tech equipment for
low-income schools in the city of Boston.  It’s a great
charity that’s close to home for Drew given how tech savvy Alexis
was, and I’m doing everything in my power to make sure Drew’s
mind is occupied with positive thoughts, even if it puts me a little
out of my comfort zone.

Standing
in front of the mirror of Drew’s bathroom getting ready, I sense
him watching me.  I steal a glance at him out of the corner of
my eye and shiver.  
Damn, he is one sexy man.
 Decked
out in a tuxedo and smelling sinfully delicious from several feet
away, I have to remind myself that there’ll be plenty of time to
enjoy him later.  

I
refocus on finishing my makeup, leaning over the counter to draw on
my eyeliner, and nearly smudge the black liquid across my face when
two hands grip my hips.

“
A
little warning would’ve been nice,” I scold him.

“
What
fun would that have been?” He smirks, biting his lower lips while
his gaze falls to my breasts.  His hands make sensual, circular
motions over my curves.

“
We
don’t have time, Drew.”

“
How
many times do I have to tell you that I’ll always make time for
you?  Besides,” he says, bunching the fabric of my sapphire
color dress. “Do you really want me walking around all those women
with a raging hard on all night?”

“
No
way,” I warn.  “I’ve just spent the last hour getting my
hair and makeup just right.”

Before
I know it, he’s yanking my panties down and unzipping his pants.
 “I promise not to mess up your hair if you promise not to
take your eyes off me.”

He
gently rocks against me, lighting me on fire from the inside out.
 “What do you think?  Do we have time?”

“
We
can be late,” I moan, gripping the counter.

Twenty
minutes into the charity event and it’s already proved to fit every
stereotype I imagined.  Stretch limos lined the street in front
of the venue.  A red carpet complete with perfectly dressed
women, draped on the arms of men twice their age, who no doubt have
pockets deeper than their dates’ personalities.  I’m aware
that I’m being judgmental, but the few introductions that have been
made thus far have cemented my expectations.

Upon
entering the ballroom, I scan the room for anyone I could possibly
hold a conversation with, only to come up short.  That is, until
I spot Brett and his wife near the bar.  I tell Drew that I’ve
spotted them and pull him in their direction, only to get stopped by
fans and other donors along the way.  We nearly make it to the
bar when a warm arm grabs my elbow from behind, catching me off
guard.  I turn to face the person and instantly recognize her
squealing voice before making it full circle.  

“
Cassandra
Evans,” I state just as she pulls me into a bear hug.

“
Oh
my lord, Breanne!” she cries.  She pushes me away by the
shoulders, scans me from head to toe, and then abruptly embraces me
again.  “I never thought I’d see you again.”

Drew’s
hand lands on my lower back as I pull away from Cassandra.  

“
Drew,
I’d like you to meet Cassandra Evans, my former assistant.”

“
Nice
to meet you, Cassandra.”  Drew extends his hand in greeting
and I swear she nearly faints.  She giggles like a schoolgirl,
clearly too tongue-tied to speak.

It
takes some effort for Drew to relieve his hand from her grasp, and
when she notices her face completely flushes.  

“
If
you’ll excuse me, I need to say hi to a few people.  I’ll
grab you a glass of wine and be back in a few.”

Cassandra
and I admire Drew’s backside as he disappears into the crowd.
 “Wow.  Just wow!”

“
I’m
pretty lucky!”

“
Lucky
doesn’t cut it,” she exclaims.  “I’ve spent months
feeling horrible for putting you on that flight, but now…”

“
I
promise I’m not holding a grudge,” I laugh.

“
I’d
ask you how you’ve been, but I’ve been keeping up to date with
the news.”

“
I
wouldn’t call the tabloids the news.”

“
Sorry.
It must be hard being in the spotlight.  That never seemed like
your thing.”

“
Thanks.
 We both try to ignore it the best we can.”  

Drew
returns with my wine and gets pulled into a conversation with a group
of men beside us.  

“
So,
who are you here with?” I ask Cassandra.

“
My
boyfriend, Charles.  He’s over there,” she says, pointing to
an older gentleman a few feet away.  “We met at the gym.”

“
That’s
nice,” I say, and take the opportunity to press her for updates on
her life and people from work.  I’m feeling a little rusty
with socializing but the glass of Merlot that I downed is helping.
 Several minutes later, Charles gives Cassandra the ‘come
here’ wave, so I hug her goodbye and return to Drew when something
occurs to me.  

“
Cassandra,”
I call to her before she gets too far.

“
Yeah?”

“
I
meant to ask you.  Why
did
you change my flight?”

“
Oh,”
she smiles.  “It was kinda weird how it came about.  I
was getting my nails done at this salon in Newton a few days before
your trip and this familiar looking woman sat down next to me.  It
took me a few minutes to place her, you know, because it was out of
context, and then it clicked.  She used to come by the office
sometimes and you’d have lunch with her. You know, the redhead with
the green eyes.  Veronica.  Vicky…”

“
Vivian?”
I ask.

“
That’s
it!  Anywho, she and I got to talking about how much you hated
traveling, which of course I knew, and she told me that she was
supposed to go on some business trip on Innovation Airways’ maiden
flight.  She needed to cancel for one reason or another so that
made her seat available.  Anyway, she helped me get the seat for
you.  Just think, she could have ended up with Drew!”

“
Huh,”
is all I can think of to say.  I’ve seen Vivian a few times
now since the crash.  I wonder why she hasn’t mentioned it?  

“
Well
it was great seeing you.  I should get back to Charles.”

“
Of
course.”

I
grab a glass of champagne off a passing tray and chug it, setting it
on another when I’m done.  Innovation Airways is the last
thing I want to think about tonight.

“
There
you are,” Drew says.  “You alright?  You seem far
away.”

I
look up at him, still processing what Cassandra said, and force a
smile.  “I’m good.”

He
narrows his gaze, trying to read my expression.  Luckily, he
gets pulled back into the conversation, giving him no room to press
the matter.