“Because we’ve been dancing around this step for so long. I dreamed of getting married at home, and this will probably be my only chance to do so for a long time to come. Matt is going to have to move east, and I’m going with him.”
Which meant his nomadic sister would be even farther away.
With a sigh he leaned back in his chair. Jenny tended to move around the globe on a whim, but she always came home. However, soon it seemed her home would be a long ways from him. “Fine,” he yielded. “But you will be helping. When I call, I expect you to answer.”
“Scouts’ honor. But really, big bro, I trust whatever you decide on. Keep all the receipts for me, and I’ll pay you back when I’m in the States again.”
He couldn’t stifle his derisive snort. “It would serve you right if I held you to that.”
“I mean it.”
“Call it an early wedding gift, Kit,” he said, using his old pet name for her. Paying her way was nothing new. No need to stop now.
“Thank you, Dare. I really appreciate all you’re doing. All you’ve done. Matt and I both do.”
“Just make sure you catch your flight here and don’t get sidetracked chasing Matt’s big break.”
“Will do. And honestly, just ask Allison any questions you’d have for me. She’s got better taste than either of us.”
He couldn’t help his smile. After four years, even his sister understood how he depended on Ali. “I’ve already made her promise to help.”
“Bet it didn’t take much. That woman would do anything for you.”
“She’s the best assistant I’ve ever had.”
A soft laugh met his words. “Right. I’ve got to run, but I’ll check back in a couple of days, okay? Do whatever Allison tells you and everything will be fine.”
“I’ll remind you I run a billion-dollar corporation.”
“Sure. Listen to Allison. Love you, Dare. Talk soon.”
The call disconnected before he could say anything more.
Sighing, he tossed the phone back on his desk. Even after all these years she had him wrapped around her finger. Of course, what else was new? That die had been cast the day he first saw her fresh from the hospital. With five years between them, he’d been old enough to know his life was never going to be the same. Suddenly, he’d had to share his home with a tiny bundle of screaming joy. As a child he’d been unimpressed.
Thirteen years later, when his parents died in a car crash, his life had changed again.
He pushed up from the chair and paced the length of his office. He didn’t often think back to the darkest time in his life, when he’d been abruptly saddled with a responsibility no teenager should have to shoulder. But he’d been all Jenny had. It was a rather unsettling feeling to realize that was no longer true.
Even though she had Matt now, she needed her big brother for one last task. No matter what it took, he wouldn’t let her down.
A knock sounded on the door.
“Enter,” he called out.
Allison pushed into his office, striding to his desk without so much as glancing in his direction. “I’ve got the latest papers from our lawyers and the numbers of the top four most sought after wedding planners in the city.”
“So quick.”
That got her looking at him. Deep brown eyes met his. “I’m that good,” she said before gliding from the room. The sight brought a smile to his face, chasing away his dark memories. That was his Allison. Efficient. Dependable. Always ready to be whatever he needed.
His life was considerably easier since she’d come into is world. He remembered when he’d first seen her. She’d made it through several interview rounds before she ended up in this office. He’d met all the best candidates, and she hadn’t been his number one pick. At least, not on paper.
But then she’d walked into this room, full of determination. Her curvy body had been squeezed into an ill-fitting suit and her hair had been a wild array of curls. She had in no way resembled a professional assistant. But there had been something about her that made him dig deeper than her terrible fashion sense. He’d seen in her the same hunger to succeed that had driven him all his life. The other candidates might have been paper perfect, but Allison had seemed like a kindred spirit.
Four years later, he’d never regretted his decision for one minute.
What would I do without her?
He didn’t even want to contemplate such a reality. Allison was the only real constant in his life. No matter when he needed her, day or night, she was there. The world of business was constantly shifting and changing. But Ali weathered every storm right along with him.
All she had to do was walk into his office and his day would get a little brighter.
He stared at his reflection in the window and smiled. Jenny had given him a Herculean task, but with Allison at his side they just might pull this off. His girl would never let him down.
…
“You’re doing what?”
Allison sighed, closing the door behind Gillian. “This is the last thing I’m helping him with. Once it’s done I’ll move on.”
“Why?”
“It’s Jenny.”
Gillian shrugged. “Nice girl, but that’s got zip to do with you. It’s not like the two of you are besties. If I recall correctly she stood you up that time you tried to take her to lunch.”
“That was a while ago.” She walked around her desk, grabbing some stray papers.
“You aren’t doing this for her. If it was anyone else but Darian asking, you’d tell them exactly what they could do with their request.”
There was no stopping her eye roll. “We’ll get a wedding planner set up, and that will take care of most of the work. It’s not like we’ll be personally picking out much. This is one problem Darian can throw money at to make it go away.”
Gillian shook her head. “That’s an excuse and you know it.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Jenny is not the reason you’re dragging your feet.”
“You know I need his blessing if I ever plan to work in this town again. Breaking a contract with Darian King is not something I take lightly.”
“I’m not arguing that fact. I’m just saying I think it has more to do with the man himself.”
She shot her friend a quick glare. “I don’t want to let him down. Sue me. He hired me when no one else would.”
Gillian moved closer. “It’s not disloyal to wish for a life of your own.”
“Feels like it,” she muttered, dropping into her chair.
“You sure this is just guilt at leaving him high and dry for a while?”
“What else would it be?”
Gillian paused for a moment before saying, “Maybe you don’t want to leave him. Or hell, Ali, I don’t know. Maybe that’s all backward and he’s the real reason you want to leave, and your feelings are just making you afraid to do it. Maybe it’s both.”
Allison glanced up. “Seriously?”
“It’s not a crime to dream of someone you can’t have. And it’s not unforgivable to want to break free of such an impossible crush.”
“I’m not crushing on Darian freaking King.”