Rick leveled a confused glare at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I thought you'd be long gone by now. Chasing after something you can get, like a new lead."
Rick shifted his weight, not happy Brandon guessed his feelings. "Bingley has me on a new task. It requires my presence here for a while."
"You're getting promoted, aren't you?"
Rick sighed. "How do you figure this stuff out so fast?"
"I was a spy in the navy."
"You were not."
Brandon chuckled. "Okay, fine, but I wanted to be one. And, well, I've tried to get better at reading between the lines..." His shoulder sank for a moment and Rick knew he was thinking about his dead fiancé's abrupt suicide.
"It wasn't your fault." A common phrase Rick always uttered when the topic came up. He hated seeing his best friend constantly beat himself up over it.
Brandon just shook his head, then plastered a smile on it. "What's the promotion going to be?"
"You tell me, Mr. Spy," Rick countered, hoping to get his friend to smile.
It worked. Brandon chuckled. "There's a thousand tasks Bingley could assign. But, since you're stuck in Boston..." he tapped his chin for a moment. "Manager of the Boston department?"
Rick whistled. "You ARE a spy. How'd you figure that out?"
"Good listener, I guess. People drop things in conversations. There's a scandal brewing in that department and heads are going to roll. They'll need replacements, people they can trust, and I know Bingley trusts you wholeheartedly and you're due a promotion. Two and two equals four."
"You should have gone into sleuthing."
"It's on my bucket list. I'm surprised you're considering the offer. It would mean staying in one place."
"Yeah, well," he drummed his fingers on the table, "It enticed me for a bit. Not anymore. I'm only here to finish the job, then I'm out of here."
"And back to running."
Rick bristled. "I'm not running. I'm doing my job."
"I bet if Anne wanted it, you'd stay."
"Yeah, well, she doesn't want me." He stood up. "Are we done here?"
Brandon looked down for a moment. "Actually, I have...a confession to make."
Rick sank back into his chair. "What could you possibly need to confess? You're a saint, Brandon, even if you're secretly a spy."
He shook his head. "Being a spy would have been easier."
Now Rick's curiosity was truly piqued. "What is it? What have you done that could be worse than being a spy?"
Brandon hesitated and Rick leaned forward as if that would entice Brandon to speak. It worked.
"I...I've met someone."
Rick stared as if he had announced he was spying for Martians. "You what?"
"It's crazy. I know it's crazy. I barely know her." He raised his eyes, a grin on his face lighting up those eyes, something Rick had never seen. "But I haven't felt like this in forever. I never thought I'd feel like this again. But she...there's something about her I can't get out of my head. I'm always thinking about her, wanting to make her laugh, to make her smile. Just to get her to look at me sends me over the moon. But...but," Brandon gripped his head. "She's a teenager! Barely graduated from high school! There's nearly a decade of years between us. I can't believe I'm fathoming the idea of dating her. I'm too old for her! I know I should walk away and let her be, but I can't. I can't get her out of my mind. And..." Brandon gave a short chuckle, "I figured the best person who could advise me on how to permanently bury my feelings would be you."
Rick laughed. "Wow. I failed you."
Brandon grinned; it still lit up his eyes. "Yeah, you did."
Rick shook his head, his mind spinning. Brandon, interested in someone new? After all these years? It was like the sun had decided to rise in the west. Rick had always assumed--had admired--Brandon's love to be eternal. But now he would find happiness in another woman? For some reason, the idea didn't sit too well with Rick. And yet, he had never seen those sad eyes light up before. It would be unfair to Brandon for Rick to demand he give up his chance for happiness for a more romantic--and depressing--view of eternal love.
"Well," Rick began, "if it makes you feel any better, my sister is married to a man seventeen years older than her and I've never seen a couple as happy as those two. I don't think age is a factor when the two are compatible."
Brandon sighed. "But, if I remember correctly, you balked when you first heard how much older your new brother-in-law was."
Rick leaned back with a grimace. "I did, didn't I? I had thought my sister was nuts. Or she had been hoodwinked by some molester."
"Thanks," Brandon muttered and Rick laughed.
"I didn't mean I'd think of you like that."
"But her family would think it. She, I know, is not very happy with the age difference. She makes a point to remind me of it." He stared at his plate. "How did your brother-in-law manage to convince your sister to see past the age disparity?"
"Honestly? I don't really know. Al boasts he persisted but I don't think they've ever told me the whole story."
"Find out for me, would you?"
"Sure. It would give me an excuse to visit them."
Brandon chuckled. "You could pretend you wanted to inspect a part of their sky and I bet they would be fine with that excuse."
Rick laughed. "They probably would."
Brandon's smile faded. "By the way, about that task I gave you..."
Rick sighed, wishing he had good news. "No luck so far. Everyone's always confused when I ask about Elisheba."
"It's okay. It was a long shot from the beginning."
"I'll keep looking, though. I might turn out as lucky as you claim."
"You ARE lucky. I bet you'll just stumble right on it, just like you do with the inventions you find."
"That's not true. I follow leads."
"And you're lucky enough to get the GOOD leads."
Rick shook his head, grinning. "You're not going to give that up, are you?"
"Hey, I just spent a couple of weeks on the other side of the country and got nothing while you find something while on vacation!"
"That does sound pretty lucky."
"And look at how you ran into Anne. I call that pure luck."
Rick's grin died. "Yeah, well, she's dating someone already."
"Dating or engaged? There's a difference."
"I'm not going to steal someone's girl--"
"Hey, he stole her first."
"No, that's the problem. She was never my girl, remember? She dumped me for something better." He grabbed his fork and twirled it in frustration. "She always dumps me for something better."
"So, you giving up? Running away again?"
Rick glared at the fork, refusing to answer.
Brandon sighed. "I know you'll do what you want, but remember, she's not married and she's still alive. Your chance isn't gone forever yet. Also, James was pretty certain she had no boyfriend. He sees her sister every day. Just something to consider."
Chapter 22
Rick glared at the crowd streaming into the Symphony Hall, not one of them sporting Anne's sweet face. Why was he even here? Anne probably already forgot she had invited him in the first place.
He turned around and stomped ten feet away, but stopped. Brandon's words haunted him. He was bolting away again. He had to at least give this a chance.
With a sigh, he returned to the entrance of the hall and scanned the crowds, hoping for a miracle and she'd materialize right next to him. Add her confessing her undying love for him and her utter hatred for Will and the night would be perfect.
But the luck Brandon claimed Rick had wasn't working. Anne never showed up. She was probably flirting in some corner with that sniveling Will.
He nearly turned around again, but caught himself. He had bought a ticket. He should at least use it even if he never saw Anne. Except Anne was the reason he no longer went to symphonies. Reminded him too much of her.
Dithering for anothe
r moment, he finally headed inside. He'd give the symphony ten minutes, then he'd bolt.
Groups of people took up most of the space, all chatting and mingling. A group of reporters chilled their heels a little to his right. He was surprised by them. Apparently someone important was expected to show up. He was glad it wasn't him.
He eyed the crowd, still hoping to spot Anne and salvage the evening. Too many people, though. This really was a stupid idea. Determined to get this over with, he headed for the symphony hall.
However, out of the crowd, like a dark goddess, stepped Anne. She smiled up at him, her eyes alight with relief as though she had found a miracle. "Hi, Rick."
He stared at her, his befuddled brain unable to process this stroke of luck. And she seemed happy to see him! His first impulse was to wrap her in his arms and kiss her, but fearing that might scare her off, he smothered the impulse with a smile. "Anne, you're here." Rick inwardly groaned. That was the lamest thing he could say. Apparently the smothering of his impulses had killed his wit, too.
In the corner of his eye, Rick caught sight of a near twin of Anne. He did a double take but when he spotted the sneering father next to the twin, Rick realized it was her older sister. The two eyed him like he was a specimen at some lowly market, then looked away, noses raised. He had failed to reach their standards for acquaintanceship.
Rick clenched his jaw and straightened his shoulders, defying their decree. He wouldn't care what they thought. Except Anne would She always sided with her family. This WAS a stupid idea. He'd never win her now, not when her family STILL despised him.
"I'm so glad you could make it," Anne said as if trying to make conversation.
He tore his eyes away from her snooty family and rested them on her sweet face. But her back was to her disapproving father and sister; she hadn't seen their dismissal of him. But once they alerted her to that fact, she'd be long gone. Forever out of his life.
"Thanks," he muttered, "but I haven't been to a symphony in a long time." He wanted to leave. This was going to end like last time: him empty handed with a broken heart.
"I was able to see Louisa this morning," Anne said.
He blinked. "You did? How was she?"
"Charles said the doctors seemed a lot more hopeful. Her status seems to be improving."
Rick blew out a sigh of relief. "That's good to hear. I've been fearing the worse."
"I know, me, too." She placed a hand on her chest as if trying to still a worried heart. He wished it fluttered for him. "But she's a strong girl. I keep telling Charles she'll pull through."
"And you seem to be right." He couldn't help remembering how calm Anne was during the whole ordeal. Or how well she kept everyone's spirits up. If only he had tried to catch her attention before the accident. In fact, if he had chased Anne instead of loitered with Louisa, the accident may never have happened. "Do you know when they'll ease her out of the medical coma?"
"Next week. James had a whole sonnet about the news."
Rick paused, stunned. Then he laughed. "James can get a bit much with his poetry. His fiancé used to love it, poor girl..." He frowned, suddenly remembering Brandon and his new love. The idea was still bizarre. James and Brandon, two men he had assumed would stay faithful to their one love. But, Brandon was moving on. And Rick was still stuck on the one girl who didn't want him.
"What's wrong?" Anne asked.
"Nothing," was his immediate response. He wasn't going to mention his despair over her. But she cocked her head as if not satisfied. "I, uh, just remembered something from earlier today."
"Oh?" She asked as if hoping he'd expand on the subject. She still hadn't seen her family, though. Should he even bother making conversation?
He remembered Brandon again. If he was in this situation, what would he do? He'd probably give it another chance.
After a second, he realized Anne still stared at him, waiting for a response. Not wanting to talk about his own feelings, he decided to focus on Brandon's. "An old friend of mine shared some news that was..." How to best describe it? "Disconcerting."
She leaned forward, worry in her eyes. "But not bad?"
He chuckled in half despair, half longing. She was too cute when worried. "No, not in a certain way. He's fallen in love again. After all these years..." He still struggled to believe in it. He let his eyes sweep over the crowd as if that would help. It didn't. When he focused on Anne, her eyebrows were scrunched together in confusion. He offered an apologetic smile. "It's hard for me to wrap my mind around it."
The confusion increased. "Because he fell in love?"
Rick rubbed his face. "You don't know him, Anne. You didn't see the attachment he had to his former fiancé. It was a love that...that stood the test of time. Or so I thought. To see him suddenly in love with someone else--" He frowned, realizing how callous that sounded. "Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for him; no man deserves more happiness than him. It's just, when you love like that...when she's everything to you..." He stopped. He was sounding like a love sick fool. How did he get on this topic?
He glanced at Anne, expecting a sneer on her face, but her eyes were wide and inviting and she leaned toward him as if eager to hear the end of the sentence.
She had to still like him. With that stance--
He took a step forward, wanting to grab her hand. "Anne, I--"
A commotion swelled behind him. He turned in surprise and found reporters charging forward, flashing their cameras. Their subject? Senator Dalrymple.
Rick inwardly groaned, but forced a smile in case the senator spotted him. He hadn't expected to have to confront her here, especially with Anne and her disapproving family around.
To his surprise, the senator headed straight for him. Maybe she had made a decision already? He stepped forward. "Senator Dalrymple."
She stopped as if surprised to find him towering over her. Apparently she had not been aiming for him. Whoops.
"Rick. I wasn't aware you enjoyed symphonies."
"I've been to a few around the world." And each one reminded him of Anne. He soon stopped attending them all together.
Anne's haughty sister stepped to the senator's side. "You know each other?" The shock was evident in her voice and Rick struggled to keep his smile from dissolving into a snarl.
"He's helping me with a dilemma," the senator said, uttering a perfect, politically safe statement. "He might even help with yours, Walter. He works for the Pemberley Estates Corporation."
It was like she had announced Rick was a prince from a forgotten country. Walter's entire demeanor changed. Gone was the sneer and raised nose, replaced with a pleased smile and humble nod to the senator. "We've actually known each other for a long time, haven't we?" He beamed at Rick as if expecting him to go along with the charade. Rick would have liked nothing else but to denounce the old fool in front of everyone, but he still needed to please the senator. And the old man was Anne's father, so, he forced a polite smile instead.
The senator smiled as if pleased Rick and Walter were friends. As if that would ever happen. "Where are you sitting, Rick?"
He wasn't sure why she'd ask that. Did she want to rub her wealth in his face? Or remind him of the power she held over him? "I'm way in the back."
She scoffed. "In the back? You can do better than that. Join my group." She indicated Anne's family. "We have enough room."
Rick was surprised at the offer. Had the fake approval from Anne's family improved the senator's opinion? "Thanks," he began and glanced at Anne. To his shock, she beamed as if this was the perfect scenario, her happiness so contagious, his own smile relaxed. "I'd like that." A miracle must have occurred since Anne continued to beam at him. Even better, her family no longer had disapproval sneers. It was like he'd won the lottery.
Alas, a smooth, annoying voice ruined everything.
"Senator Dalrymple," Will announced as he appeared by the senator's side and shook her hand. He paused for a moment to pose for the reporters, hand in hand with the Senator, all
smiles, before ending the handshake. "I'm so pleased to be invited." He then extended his hand for Walter and Anne's sister, thanking them for coming as if he had been the one to invite everyone. Then he reached for Anne's hand and Rick fought against the urge to punch the guy as he swept Anne's hand to his lips and planted a kiss on it. "You look radiant, as always, Anne."
She flushed, apparently embarrassed. Rick wished she had slapped him instead. A few minutes later and Rick wished he could throttle Will since, with his usual smooth maneuvering, not only did he get Anne to sit next to him, but Rick had been banished to the other side of the row, forced to sit with the stuffy father.
"So, Rick," the father began, saying his name as if not quite sure that was his name, but hoping it was, "Working for the Pemberley Estates, are we? How'd you manage that?"
Rick struggled to not glare in response. The senator was right on the other side of the father, after all. "They liked my skills."
"Oh?" the father said as if surprised Rick had any. "That's very good to hear. Skills are very important these days. Can't ever assume you'll stay with the same job forever. Need to diversify all the time."
Rick had no interest in making conversation so he just nodded politely. Besides, his attention was on the other side of the aisle where Will and Anne sat whispering together like lovers. She was dating him, after all. His hope plummeted.
"What position do you have?" The father asked, snapping Rick out of his misery.
"Acquisitions Manager." The answer was curt, but Rick didn't care. He no longer wanted to be sitting. He needed to move, to get rid of the anger boiling inside.
The father blinked. "Manager?" Surprise was evident in his voice. Apparently, the father hadn't expected he'd be that high up.
"I'm in charge of gathering new talent and resources. I work directly under Mr. Bingley and Ms. Woodhouse. Ever have the chance of meeting them?" Rick couldn't help asking, hoping the names would impress him.
The father nodded. "Ms. Woodhouse, no, but I met Mr. Bingley once and his boss, Mr. Darcy. Bingley had better manners, to be sure, but Darcy could command a room with that stare of his. Were you able to meet him as well?"
Persuading Her: A Modern Persuasion Retelling (Pemberley Estates Book 2) Page 16