They had no problem finding the restaurant again. Marianne’s directions had been perfect. They parked the car, hugged each other for luck, and proceeded to their meeting.
As they entered the restaurant, Ryan was sitting at a table with several stacks of papers spread in front of him, sipping a mug of steaming coffee. He looked up and smiled as they walked toward him.
“Well, right on time. I’ll tell Chloe and Shane you’re here. You both look great, by the way,” he added as he took in the sight of Katy with a long, slow, approving look. She had chosen a simple summer dress for her appointment. It was a pale shade of yellow, which went well with her dark hair. Her accessories were simple and she wore sandals on her delicate feet, each toenail sporting perfect polish. She is the perfect vision of a Texas yellow rose, Ryan thought as he walked away to find his brother. Shake it off, man.
Katy smiled back at him and thanked him for the compliment but her knees were shaking as she turned to Lizzie.
“It will be all right, I promise. Get through the presentation, and then concentrate on the man.” Lizzie cautioned her friend.
“But he is so damn hot, it’s hard to concentrate on anything else.” Katy laughed as she heard herself say the words. Did I really just say he was hot?
Ryan walked back into the room, followed by Chloe and a man who looked much like a younger version of Ryan. Not quite as striking in appearance, but definitely the same eyes.
“Ladies, meet my husband, Shane, who is Ryan’s brother.” Chloe spoke first, looking up at her husband with a smile.
“I’m sorry I missed you girls last night. I was out of town all day yesterday to a meeting with some distributors and didn’t get in until late, but I heard quite a bit about both of you, and your two friends, from these two.” Shane smiled as he shook hands with both of them and invited them to sit. “Shall we get down to business? We don’t want to take up your vacation time. If this works out, there will be plenty of time to work out the details when your vacation is over. Lizzie, why don’t you sit over here with Chloe and me and we’ll discuss your advertising ideas while Ryan brings Katy up to speed on the plans and what we are looking for as far as designs. Then we’ll compare notes,” Shane suggested.
“Sounds like a plan.” Lizzie smiled as she spread her work on the table and began her presentation to the O’Grady couple. Going over each slogan, she watched their faces and saw immediately that they liked her work.
They spent the next two hours going over the entire advertising campaign together. They liked her general concept, and combining her idea with some of their own, the three of them were able to come up with what they all agreed was a good campaign. Lizzie was ecstatic.
“I think we will be able to work together,” Shane finally said after they had reworked the last of the details. “You really have some great ideas. I can’t believe you came up with that in one night after only being in our restaurant the one time. You have a natural knack, that’s for sure.”
Lizzie beamed after hearing Shane’s words of approval. She could not wait to tell Rex. “Thank you, Mr. O’Grady.”
“Call me Shane. When can we draw up the paperwork?” was his next question.
“Let me give my husband a call this evening and see what we can work out.”
“It will be a pleasure working with you and your husband if he is as talented as you are. Your ads are very tastefully done,” he added as he shook her hand.
“Oh, yes, he is very talented. He’s been in the advertising business a long time.”
Chloe stood up and said, “The dinner crowd will be coming in soon, we had better let Ryan take a look at the slogans and see how he and Katy are coming along.”
Ryan had given Katy an overall idea of what the new expansion entailed. It was to be a party room, where wedding receptions, company parties, and other group events could be held. He also discussed the plans for a new corporate office to be built on the lot next door. After those two projects were completed, work would begin on the new restaurants that were to be built in several cities around the country. He was very excited at the prospect of opening the chain and Katy could tell he had worked hard to make this business the success it was today. Together they pored over the sketches she had worked so hard on the night before.
“Now keep in mind, there wasn’t time for me to order color samples and swatches. You’ll have to imagine what I’m talking about. But these rough sketches should give you some idea what of what I have in mind,” Katy explained nervously.
Ryan was blown away with her work. She is really good. Her ideas for the upscale establishment were exactly what he had been looking for. He had mainly agreed to this meeting to please Chloe and to see Katy again. When she had told him that Katy was thinking of starting a design business, he thought it was probably just a whim and that there probably was not much talent there. But Katy had surprised him with her good taste and she had proven him wrong. She was, in fact, very talented. For reasons he could not explain, he was pleased with this turn of events. Intrigued by the woman from Chicago, he wanted to learn more about her.
They spent the last hour of their meeting talking and getting to know each other a little better. “So why is it that you are just now, at this stage of your life, starting a business? Why isn’t this something you’ve done before now, if you don’t mind my asking?” Ryan ventured, hungry for more details about this lovely lady’s life.
Katy paused before she answered. How much should I tell this man I’ve just met? How much of her life was she ready to reveal to a virtual stranger?
“Oh, you know how it is. Life got in the way. I was raising a son alone and didn’t really have the time to take on anything like this.” There, that was a good enough answer.
“I take it you’re divorced, then?” he asked. What man in his right mind would let this little lady get away?
Katy winced at the question. She was silent for several seconds before she quietly answered, “No, my husband passed away several years ago.”
“I am so sorry, Katy, I didn’t know. I’m also a widower,” he said with a grimace. “Well, I think your business will definitely be a success if all your work is as good as what you have shown me here today. Since you don’t officially have an actual business yet I guess we need to find Shane and Chloe and work out some details. Then you can get back to your friends. There will be plenty of time for us to make arrangements for you to come back to Dallas when we are ready to start ordering things.”
Katy’s breath suddenly caught in her throat. She had not even thought of what would take place if they liked her work. She would be coming back to Dallas and working with Ryan. Her heart jumped at the idea. She would be seeing him again.
Ryan patted her hand and smiled. The gold flecks in his eyes were jumping out at her. Katy thought she would die on the spot. How can a simple touch from this man make me feel as if my insides are on fire? He was going to be one dangerous man to be around. That was for sure. She would really have to watch her step when she was around him. Better not let him see how he gets to me.
He looked into her eyes and smiled that special smile of his again and said, “I have the feeling that working with you is going to be one hell of an experience, little lady.”
Katy smiled back. I am sure you’re right, she thought.
This was the scene the other three walked in on. Shane and Chloe looked at each other in disbelief. Surely Ryan was not flirting with their new designer.
Lizzie watched her friend closely. She seems to be very much at ease with this man. If Katy was nervous, it did not show outwardly. Is she falling for his playboy ways, or is he being genuine in his obvious attraction to her? Surely he wouldn’t play with her emotions if they were to work together. Or would he?
“Ryan, take a look at these ads Lizzie created while we look over Katy’s designs. We probably need to schedule another meeting to work out the details. It’s getting late.” Shane reminded his brother. “We were very satisfied with
Liz’s work, by the way.”
Ryan came back to reality and told the couple that Katy’s designs were right on target for what they wanted. He began talking with Lizzie about the ads and he too was impressed with them. Shane and Chloe liked Katy’s work as well. Chloe could not believe her good fortune in finding Lizzie and Katy right here in her own restaurant. Her little joke about fate might not have been too far off track.
“I’ll stop by tomorrow, after I speak with my husband, to schedule a meeting between the three of you and the two of us,” Lizzie said as she gathered her materials, silently wondering how Rex was going to react to this new development.
“That sounds good. And, Katy, we need to decide how to handle your contract, since your business isn’t up and running yet,” Ryan added. “If you’d like, I can give you some pointers on how to get set up.”
“I will give it some thought and stop by tomorrow with Lizzie, then, if that’s all right.”
“It’s more than all right,” Ryan said under his breath.
“What was that, bro?” asked Shane with a quizzical look at his older brother.
“I said that will be fine.” Ryan cleared his throat and shook hands with both Lizzie and Katy, holding Katy’s just a bit longer. “Welcome aboard, ladies.”
And as Lizzie and Katy exited the restaurant, Ryan was shaking his head. I may have just met the woman who will be the undoing of Ryan O’Grady.
CHAPTER 10
When the two friends returned to the suite, they were so excited that it was hard for Mari and Angie to get them to stop both talking at once. When they had finally calmed down, they shared their wonderful news with the other two, who were visibly elated for them.
“I told you they would love your ideas,” Angie said with a knowing look, proud of Katy and Lizzie for their determination and hard work.
“And to think I helped this little enterprise by making the coffee to keep you two awake all night.” Marianne laughed as they all turned to look at her. It was good to see her smiling again.
A little while later, Katy had excused herself to go into the bedroom and call Alex to tell him her news. While she was gone, Lizzie worriedly told the other two about the scene she had walked in on with Ryan and Katy at the restaurant. “You don’t think she’s getting in way over her head with this guy, do you? After all, isn’t he a confirmed bachelor?”
“Maybe they have more in common than you think, Liz. They have both been alone a long time. It could be just the thing they both need,” Angie replied, with a thoughtful smile. “Maybe at heart he is not the confirmed bachelor that the gossips make him out to be. And on another note, why can’t they just have a fling, if that’s what they both want? It doesn’t have to be a match made in heaven for all time.”
“Let’s just wait it out and see what happens for now. After all, she just met the guy. We may by worrying about her needlessly,” Marianne offered.
“What did you two do while we were out?” Lizzie looked at her friends, changing the subject.
The two of them laughed as Angie replied, “We enjoyed the peace and quiet. You two were driving us bonkers this morning before you left.”
Lizzie rolled her eyes at her friends and said, “Let’s see about dinner. Afterwards, I need to call Rex and break the news to him that my ads have just gotten a client for us in Texas and he has to fly out here to do the paperwork. I wonder how he is going to react to all this.”
“You stick to your guns, Lizzie. You worked hard for this and you have earned his respect and undying love,” Angie advised her friend with a grin.
Katy came out of the bedroom with news, “Alex was very happy for me. He is very supportive of my newfound career ideas.” Her son was in her corner, as he always had been.
“Katy, that’s great,” Lizzie said. “Now let’s order dinner. I am starved. Working makes me hungry for junk food.”
The other three laughed. Everything made Lizzie hungry for junk food. It was a mystery how she had stayed thin all these years. They decided to order room service and stay in that night since they had been up late the night before. And Lizzie still had an important phone call to make. They called in their order, Lizzie of course ordering a burger and fries, opened a bottle of wine, and sat down to relax. They went over the events of the day and began to make their plans for the next day. Tomorrow was already Tuesday. The week was going to go much too quickly. Lizzie and Katy were going back to the restaurant in the morning and the other two would ride along. From there, they planned to do some sightseeing. They were going to tour the old ‘South Fork’ ranch from the TV show ‘Dallas.’
Marianne remarked, “I heard they are going to resurrect the show and will be filming there soon, so tours will be halted when that starts.” She also wanted to take them downtown to see some sights, such as the Sixth Street Museum and a few other places of interest. And of course, there would be more shopping and lunch.
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Angie said as she opened the door to let the waiter in with their dinner. “Lizzie, dear, your junk food has arrived.” She signed for the check, adding a generous tip for the waiter, and proceeded to dole out the food. Lizzie was the only one who had ordered a burger. The rest of the group opted for salads.
“You guys don’t know what you’re missing,” Lizzie teased as she dipped a French fry into her ketchup and took a bite. “Yum, yum, this is so good.”
“I’ll pass, thank you very much. My grilled chicken salad is fine for me.” Mari laughed as she speared a piece of chicken with her fork.
“I’ll take my Cobb salad any day over that greasy junk,” Angie agreed.
“And I am content to stick to my Caesar salad,” Katy chimed in.
“Now back to the plans for tomorrow. We’ll get to see the sexy Ryan again and meet his brother,” Marianne gushed as they were settling down to eat. “You didn’t say what Chloe’s husband was like.”
“He is a younger version of Ryan, but not quite as striking. Chloe did well,” Lizzie answered the question. “He was very nice and he knows his business.”
Katy’s cheeks turned a slight pink at the mention of Ryan’s name. Why did this man have such an effect on her? She knew it would not lead anywhere. He was a confirmed bachelor since the death of his wife. Had he loved her that much that he could never share his life with another woman? But a little harmless flirtation wouldn’t hurt anything, would it? As long as Katy kept her wits about her and did not get too attached, she would be fine. Once she got to know Chloe better, maybe she could ask her about Ryan’s wife. Besides, flirting with Ryan would be good practice for her to get back into the dating game. Katy wondered what it would be like to be in Ryan’s arms… to feel his lips on hers. She unconsciously shivered.
“Get the lovesick look off your face, Kate.” Angie laughed as she smacked her friend with a pillow from the couch. “Honestly, what is it about him, other than his obvious sex appeal and good looks has you so mesmerized?”
Katy grinned at her, embarrassed at having been caught daydreaming about Ryan. You would think they were in high school the way she was acting. Get it together, Katy.
They finished eating their dinner with more lighthearted teasing aimed at Katy until the time had come for Lizzie to make her phone call. The group once again became serious. This was a big moment for Liz.
“Just tell him like it is, girl,” Angie encouraged her friend as Lizzie headed for the bedroom to use the phone.
“That’s right, stand up to him,” Katy added. “He can’t be angry. After all, you landed a huge account for him that is going to expand his business even more.”
“You may be surprised at his response.” Marianne thought that maybe she should follow her own advice. Maybe I would be surprised at Jon’s response if I confronted him about Jennifer.
Lizzie thanked them for the encouraging words and, taking a deep breath, walked into the bedroom. She sat on the edge of one of the beds and dialed her home number. As she waited for Rex to answer, sh
e thought of what she would say. Katy was right, as usual. He could not be angry with her, maybe just with her methods.
“Hello.”
Lizzie never grew tired of hearing Rex’s deep, husky voice on the other end of a telephone line, even after all these years. He could still make her heart flutter just by saying hello. Not as dashing as some men, he was the cuddly teddy bear type, and she loved that about him.
It was now or never, she thought as she mustered the courage to begin her story.
“Hi, Rex, it’s me.”
“I didn’t expect to hear from you until midweek, Lizzie. How’s it going out there? Is everything okay?”
“Great, it has been so good to see everyone again. We are having a really good visit. There are a lot of exciting things going on with our friends, can’t wait to tell you all about it next week.” Lizzie’s hand shook as she held the receiver.
“Are you sure everything is all right, honey? You sound odd. Nervous, maybe?”
“In fact, everything is really good. I have some wonderful news for you. Please don’t say anything until you hear me out. I have something to tell you that is going to blow you away.”
“Let’s hope not,” he joked.
She began, “We met some really lovely people at dinner last night. They own a restaurant here in Dallas. It’s two brothers and the wife of one of the brothers. Anyway, we got to talking and they told us how they are planning this expansion of their business. They mentioned they needed an interior designer. Well, Katy has been thinking about opening a design business, so right away, they asked her for some input. She worked on some designs for them and they were pleased. They’ve offered her a contract.”
Crossroad To Love (Fab Five Series) Page 6