Indigo Nights: A Sexy, Contemporary Romance

by Louise Bay

Had I been unknowingly sleeping with my boss? There must have been some kind of mistake. They must have this all wrong. I spluttered out some excuse to leave. I fumbled in my bag, pulled out my phone and pressed call as I hit the sunlight.

  I spotted a cab where I’d been dropped off, and I headed toward it. Dylan would explain. He’d be able to make sense of it. He’d tell me that he used to own Raine Media. His phone rang and rang. I climbed into the back of the cab, mumbling Dylan’s office address at the driver.

  The phone went to voice mail. I couldn’t remember that ever happening before. He always picked up. The rumble of the tidal wave grew nearer. It was as if I’d woken in an alternative universe where nothing was as it should be.

  We pulled up outside his office; for a fleeting moment I thought that maybe he didn’t actually work here—there was a possibility that everything I thought we’d had was a gigantic lie. I tried to shake off that feeling. I imagined Dylan grinning at me as I surprised him in his office and he pulled me into his arms, telling me that the Sun-Times had mixed him up with someone else, or had thought he owned Raine Media when in fact he owned a different media company. Yes, that’s what would happen.

  I headed inside. “Beth Harrison for Dylan James,” I said to the security guard at the front desk. “If you could just call up for him—”

  He handed me a security pass. “Take lift five to floor sixty-two. His assistant will meet you there.”

  Everything felt unfamiliar as I made my way to the lift. I wanted Dylan to make me feel better, to make me feel good in the way no one else could. Perhaps I’d become more dependent on him than I had realized. How could I have gotten myself in so deep, so quickly? I didn’t really know anything about him. I hadn’t been to his office before, and I’d only met his business partner at the gala. I’d never met his parents and other than the fact that he was in the Navy, I knew nothing about Dylan’s brother. How could he be bringing up where we lived our lives when we knew so little about each other?

  I stepped out of the elevator and a slim, gray-haired woman smiled warmly at me. “Beth? It’s so good to finally meet you. Dylan’s spoken of you often. He always gets me to clear his diary when you’re in town.”

  I smiled, soothed by her words. “Can I see him? I need to speak to him urgently.”

  Her brow furrowed. “I’m afraid he’s just stepped out for a lunch appointment. But he said he’d be quick if you want to wait.”

  I checked my phone, willing it to flash with Dylan’s name. “Actually, it’s really important. Can I ask what restaurant he went to?” I pushed the elevator button to go back down to street level. “I just need to give him a quick message before I leave for the airport, and I’m afraid I can’t wait.” It was a lie and it almost stuck in my throat as I said it, but at that moment, my need to see Dylan, to see that everything was fine, overwhelmed my need to be honest.

  Marie was uncomfortable with my request but my face must have convinced her of my need to see him. “He’s at Giovanni’s just on the corner of this block. Turn left when you get out of the building and it’s on the right.”

  I smiled at Marie as I stepped into the elevator car. “Thank you so much.”

  I hardly noticed the wind as I charged up the street and into the restaurant.

  I scanned the diners, trying to find him.

  “Hello, miss. Can I help you?”

  I continued to search the faces of the patrons as I replied, “I’m looking for Mr. Dylan James.” I spotted his profile. He was taking a sip from his water; his strong hands looked like they could crush his glass if he held it just a fraction too tightly. I exhaled, feeling like finally I was where I should be. His face broke into a grin, but it wasn’t directed at me. He was looking at the person opposite him. I followed his line of vision … I stepped closer. Her red hair was unmistakable.

  He was having lunch with Alicia.

  The color and the noise of the restaurant all seemed to blend together in a huge complicated web and I spun, desperate to get out.

  Nothing was what I thought it was.

  As I tried to leave, something hit my leg and the sound of broken glass echoed in my head. “Sorry,” I whispered.

  I felt people looking at me and ran toward the door and out into the sunlight. I needed to escape.

  I tripped out onto the sidewalk just as a cab was dropping someone off. I clambered into the back before the driver even switched on his light.

  In the distance, I heard my name being called as I closed the door. “Please, can we get out of here?”

  The driver pulled out. “Where to, miss?”

  I took a deep breath. I wanted to be at home. “Chicago O’Hare, please.”

  Dylan

  I wasn’t enjoying Alicia’s company, but she wasn’t irritating me either. It was an hour of my life that I was never going to get back, but I wasn’t emotional. There was no feeling for her left in me, and I felt celebratory at the realization. I was desperate to get back and call Beth. Perhaps I could convince her to change her flight, stay the night. I had so much to tell her.

  The sound of smashing glass caught my attention, and I looked up and saw her as she turned and headed toward the door. What was she doing here?

  I stood and headed after her. If she’d seen me, and I was pretty sure she had, why hadn’t she come over? Shit, she’d seen me lunching with Alicia and had probably assumed the worst.

  I headed outside and looked left and right, trying to see where she’d gone. I reached into my pockets for my phone. Damn, I’d left it in my office.

  Where had she disappeared to? I stepped back into the restaurant. “That woman who was here a minute ago—”

  “Yes, she came in looking for you, but seemed to change her mind when she saw you. I hope everything …”

  I didn’t stay to hear the rest, and instead I ran back to the office.

  Where had she gone? It must have been a shock to see me with Alicia, but it wasn’t as if she’d found us naked together. Beth knew how I felt about her and that Alicia wasn’t a threat, didn’t she?

  As I stormed through the glass doors on the 62nd floor, Marie greeted me. “Beth was just here. Did she catch up with you?”

  I stopped before I reached my office. “She was here?”

  “Yes, desperate to give you a message. I hope you don’t mind, I told her where you were having lunch. I’m sorry you missed each other. Should I get her on the line?”

  “No, that’s fine.” I grabbed my phone from my desk. I had two missed calls from Beth, both from the time before she walked into the restaurant.

  Fuck.

  I called, heading out of my office toward the elevators.

  Her phone just went to voice mail. I hung up and travelled down to meet my driver. She was probably headed to my place. If nothing else, she needed her luggage. It would be fine. I just needed to see her and explain.

  “Can we go back to the brownstone, please?” I asked Don as I slid into the backseat. “As quick as you can.”

  I opened the door before the car came to a complete stop, then took the stairs to my front door two at a time and let myself inside.

  “Beth?” I called and listened for her response, any kind of sign she was here. Nothing. Perhaps she was on her way?

  Her luggage was still by the door, so I dialed her number, again.

  Voice mail. Again.

  I needed her to pick up, to stick around and let me explain I’d gone to lunch with Alicia to get rid of her. Fuck, I should have had security throw Alicia out. Why had I indulged her?

  I wanted Beth, but where was she? My heart was thumping through my chest and my skin itched. I shrugged off my suit jacket, throwing it on the couch.

  I typed out a message.

  Dylan: Can you pick up? Alicia came by the office and made a scene and refused to leave unless I had lunch with her. She’s a maniac. Please call me. I love you.

  I stared at my phone, willing her to call me.

  Impatient, I called her
.

  Voice mail. Again.

  Fuck. Would she have gone to her father’s? I was ashamed to say I had no idea where he lived. She didn’t mention him often. To Beth, her family seemed to be all about the people she surrounded herself with in London.

  She’d have to come back to collect her luggage before leaving for the airport. I’d just sit and wait, try not to overreact—and keep calling until she either turned up or answered.

  Dylan: Where are you? I love you. Pick up.

  Maybe she had gone to a meeting—or a bar. My gut twisted at the thought of being the one who had caused her pain. All I wanted to do was make her happy. Why had I been such an idiot?

  I’d been avoiding the most obvious phone call I should make. I had to call her brother. This wasn’t just a lover’s tiff. Beth could derail her recovery, and I had to do everything I could to ensure that didn’t happen.

  I dialed Marie and got her to call me back with Jake Harrison’s number. It didn’t take her long to find it. It was late in London, but I was pretty sure that Jake wouldn’t mind me calling. He’d kick my ass, but he’d want to know about Beth.

  I punched his number into my phone.

  “Hello?” Jake answered. “Beth?”

  My stomach twisted and I took a deep breath.

  “Jake, it’s Dylan James. I’m calling about Beth.”

  “I warned you about hurting her.”

  “I know and I’m sorry, but it isn’t what she thinks.”

  “Don’t call me again, and leave her alone. She deserves better—”

  He sounded like he’d punch me if I were in hitting distance. At that moment, I’d be happy to let him. It might help me focus on something other than the pain of not having Beth right beside me. “Can I just explain? It wasn’t what she thought it was—”

  “Unless you can tell me that you don’t own Raine Media and didn’t neglect to tell my sister that she was working for you, and that you didn’t have a cozy lunch date with your ex-fiancée, there’s nothing I want to hear from you. Leave my sister alone, you piece of shit asshole.”

  Jake ended the call. I tossed the phone on the stairs next to me and thrust my hands into my hair, waiting for the blood pounding in my ears to lessen.

  She’d found out I owned Raine Media.

  Why on earth hadn’t I just told her and Raf? Why hadn’t I just let Raf sell the fucking thing? Then I wouldn’t be in this mess. I had nothing to hide. It was no big deal. Things were just so great between us, and I didn’t want anything to spoil that. I wanted her to know, but there hadn’t been the right time to tell her.

  It wasn’t as if I had any influence over the hiring process. They’d contacted her before we met. It shouldn’t be a big deal.

  I wondered how she’d found out, and how long she’d known. Had Jake run a background check on me or something?

  I jumped when my phone rang. My heart sank when I realized that it was just Marie.

  “I’m trying to keep this line free, Marie. Is this urgent?”

  “I just think you should take a look at the Sun-Times. There’s an article there about Beth that I can’t imagine she’d be too happy about.”

  Jesus, was there a full moon? This day was just getting worse. I grabbed my tablet from the kitchen and brought it back to the stairs. I wanted to be waiting when Beth came back.

  I searched the Sun-Times website.

  Fuck.

  Fuck.

  Fuck.

  Well at least I knew how she’d found out about my owning Raine Media.

  But I should have told her. I’d been an idiot.

  I dialed her number again.

  Voice mail. Again.

  I tapped out a message.

  Dylan: I just saw the Sun-Times article. I should have told you. Please come home so I can explain, there’s history to this. I had nothing to do with you getting this job. I love you. I’m sorry.

  There was nothing to do but wait.

  I loosened my tie as a sense of dread passed over me. I checked the time. It was almost six. She had to be here soon. It had been hours.

  My doorbell almost induced a heart attack. I jumped to my feet. Finally, she was here, though I hated she wasn’t using her key.

  I threw the door open, but found a man in a chauffeur’s uniform instead of Beth.

  “Airport ride for Ms. Harrison.” Shit, it was the car I’d asked Marie to arrange this morning.

  I closed my eyes. Was she running late or was she drunk in some bar because I’d been a dick?

  Neither option sat well with me.

  “Ms. Harrison is running a little late. May I ask you to wait?” If Beth did come back, I wanted her to have a way to get to the airport.

  The driver shrugged. “I get paid whatever I do.”

  I was pretty sure Beth would want to be back in London as soon as possible. I just couldn’t imagine her missing her flight. I closed the door and went back to my tablet, checking the departure board at O’Hare.

  The flight to London was on time and there hadn’t been a plane that she could have made if she’d tried to fly earlier. If she wasn’t planning to pick up her luggage, perhaps I could find her at the airport and explain.

  I raced upstairs, grabbed my passport and burst out of the door. “Don,” I called as I flew down the stoop. “Airport. As quick as you can.” He had the engine started before I grabbed the door handle.

  If she wouldn’t come to me, I knew her favorite table in the first class lounge. She had to be there.

  Less than thirty minutes later, I stood at the ticket desk, repeating myself. “I need to be on the nine-ten flight to London Heathrow.”

  “I understand that, sir, but unfortunately that flight is fully booked.”

  “I’ll pay whatever it takes. Please just let me on that flight.”

  “I’m afraid it’s not a question of money. We just don’t have any seats left. Not even in economy.”

  I wasn’t ready to give up. “Can you just tell me if Beth Harrison checked in?”

  The checkin woman scowled at me. “You know I can’t tell you that, sir.”

  I did, but I was used to being an exception. I grinned at her. “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure,” she replied, unmoved by my pathetic attempt at flirting.

  “Okay, then I need a seat on your next plane to London.” Hopefully I wouldn’t need to use it. I could find Beth on the other side of security and explain, convince her to stay.

  “You’re in luck,” the checkin woman said. “I have five seats left in economy on the nine-fifty flight.”

  I really hoped I wouldn’t need that ticket. It had been some time since I’d flown economy. At least I’d get through security with a boarding pass. I rummaged in my wallet and pulled out my gold traveler’s card. “I presume I can get into the lounge with this?”

  “Of course, sir. I’ll get you an invitation.”

  My feet wouldn’t stay still. I prided myself on my ability to keep my composure at all times, but it wasn’t working for me today.

  The checkin woman pretended she didn’t notice my fingers tapping against the desk. “How many bags are you checking in today?”

  “None.”

  “Carry-ons?”

  “I don’t have any,” I replied. Perhaps I should have brought Beth’s luggage with me. No, I wanted her to come home with me. I didn’t want her getting on that plane.

  Finally, the clerk handed me my boarding pass and invitation to the lounge, and I streaked off through security, clinging to the hope that when I saw Beth she’d understand.

  I needed things between us to be back where they had been.

  In a short space of time she’d become my whole world. Her openness and vulnerability had drawn me to her—my heart ached that I’d abused that and not been as forthcoming with my own emotions.

  I didn’t bother checking the faces in the lounge. I knew where she’d be hiding. I rounded the corner to find three empty tables.

  Shit.
<
br />   I was certain I’d find her there.

  How had I been so wrong? Perhaps she wasn’t planning on making her flight. Nausea floated in my stomach. I shook my head. I couldn’t think like that. Not yet.

  I spun around and headed out of the lounge and toward her gate. The flight wouldn’t be boarding yet, but if she was going to fly she’d have to come to the gate at some point. I’d wait until the last passenger boarded, at least that way I’d be sure that she was okay.

  I dialed her number again.

  Voice mail.

  I shoved my phone back in my pocket, trying to find the correct gate.

  There were three people seated nearby the desk. None of them were Beth. I sat in the seat nearest the door to the gangway, determined not to miss her, and waited.

  People filled up the seats around me. Not one of them was Beth. Eventually they started to call people to the aircraft. First class was up first. No Beth. Then business class and then economy. Still no Beth. I checked my watch. Twenty minutes until they were due to take off and the queue had disappeared completely.

  The thought of never seeing her again crawled up my throat and made me choke. I couldn’t lose her. It just wasn’t possible. She’d changed me forever and I knew that my love for her would last the rest of my life, whether we were together or apart.

  Fuck. She wasn’t flying.

  I felt her before I saw her. My heart surged in my chest, and I stood as her beautiful red pout came toward me.

  “Beth,” I said, a mixture of relief, love and sadness in my tone. She looked so broken. She glanced at me and then looked away as she handed her boarding pass to the flight attendant.

  I couldn’t have lost her, could I?

  I just had to explain, make her see, remind her how much I loved her.

  Beth

  I half expected him to show up at the airport, but I’d thought I was safe when I got through security. Of course he had managed to get through somehow. He probably owned the airport as well. No doubt he’d heard about the Sun-Times article and had some spurious excuse about how come I’d been the last to know he owned the company I’d been working for.

  I didn’t understand why he hadn’t told me, but I wasn’t about to ask him for an explanation. I needed space. He was so seductive, and I wanted not to be feeling like this so badly, that I didn’t trust myself to stop and hear an explanation.