Mythe: A Fairy Tale (23 page)

“No problem. That’ll give me a chance to talk to David,” he replied, tucking her hair behind her right ear with his fingertips. It was a very intimate gesture and the touch of his fingers was electric. She hurried to her office, eager to wrap things up and escape with him. She kept one ear on the two men’s conversation though. David’s attitude toward Richard had been decidedly cold and she worried that there might be some lasting antagonism. David was like her brother and, like a brother, he could be very protective.

“Hello, David,” Richard greeted.

“Richard.” David’s response was curt. “What brings you back to town?” David’s tone implied that this was a great transgression on Richard’s part. “Josh didn’t mention that he was expecting you.”

There was a brief pause and Manda looked up from her work to find Richard watching her through her open door. He looked back toward David and replied simply, “This is where I want to be, and now that I’m back, I wanted to stop by and talk to you. I want to apologize to you for leaving the way I did. I consider you a friend, David, and friends shouldn’t treat each other that way. I’m very sorry. I can only say that I thought I was doing the right thing. I made a mistake.”

“It’s not me you need to apologize to,” David answered flatly.

“I’ve already made my apologies to Manda, but I know that doesn’t erase what I’ve done. I was stupid and blind before, but I promise you, I’ll go to whatever lengths are necessary to make up for it. I fully appreciate the second chance she’s given me, and I don’t intend to do anything to make her regret it.” Richard delivered his assurance with conviction.

“Well, Manda’s very forgiving—too forgiving for her own good sometimes. I don’t think she’s capable of holding a grudge. She deserves better though,” David said, so quietly that Manda could barely hear him.

“I know that, and if I could undo it I would, but I can’t. I promise you I won’t take advantage of her forgiving nature, but she is willing to forgive me this time. I hope that you can, too, and that we can still be friends.”

To Manda’s great annoyance, David’s response was too low for her to hear. She swallowed away the tightness in her throat and rushed to finish what she was working on. As soon as she’d clicked send on the final e-mail to David, she snatched up her coat and purse and hurried back out to the common area. Richard and David were shaking hands when she joined them. That was a good sign.

“Thanks, David. I’ll keep that in mind,” Richard said with a grateful smile.

“Whatcha got for me?” David asked, grinning at Manda. She quickly reviewed the information he would need while she was gone.

“And the files are up on the server,” she finished.

“I’ll take care of everything. No worries. If I have to, I’ll commandeer someone from Graphics. You can relax,” David reassured her, and then addressed Richard again. “See if you can’t keep her out of my hair next week, too. Give someone else a chance to be the hero around here for a change.”

Richard grinned broadly. “I’ll do my best,” he promised, helping Manda with her coat. “Are you ready to go then, Miss Jensen?”

“I am. Have a nice weekend, Davie,” she said as Richard reclaimed her hand and led her toward the door.

“See ya, David,” Richard added.

“Have fun, guys!” David said with a brief wave. When Manda glanced back at him, she thought she saw the beginnings of a satisfied smile spreading across his face, but the door swung closed between them before she could be certain.

“Sorry about that,” she said in a low voice as they strolled hand-in-hand toward the elevators.

Richard shot her a puzzled frown. “Sorry for what?”

“Sometimes David seems to think he’s my father or something. I’m surprised he didn’t call you ‘young man’ and tell you to have me home by nine o’clock,” Manda explained, rolling her eyes in fond exasperation.

“Who says he didn’t? Or words to that affect anyway,” Richard teased. At least Manda hoped he was just teasing. “You don’t have to apologize for David. I had it coming. He’s a good friend to you, Manda. I respect that.”

“So, does that mean there are no hard feelings between you two?” she asked hopefully.

“Don’t worry. David and I are good,” he assured her. “Is there anything special you’d like to do today?”

“I haven’t really given it much thought,” she admitted. In truth, she didn’t care what they did. Just being with Richard was enough.

“Well, I have an idea. Do you like animals, or did you not inherit that trait from your father?”

“I love them. When I was little I wanted to be a zookeeper,” Manda admitted with a grin.

Richard chuckled. “That’s perfect, because I was going to suggest a trip to the zoo. A little fresh air and sunshine will do you good, and there shouldn’t be too many people there on a weekday.”

“That sounds fun!” Manda said, delighted.

“Good! That’s our plan then. Let’s stop by the hotel and pick up my jacket. I don’t suppose you have your car with you?” Manda shook her head. “No problem,” he continued. “I assumed as much. I’ll just call for ours.”

Josh was sitting at the dining table reading the newspaper with his back to the door when they got to the men’s suite.

“I brought company,” Richard announced as they entered.

“Morning, Josh. I missed seeing you for breakfast,” Manda greeted the younger man.

Josh turned in his chair to face the two of them. “Oh, I thought I’d send in the second string today,” he declared with a wink for Manda. “Playing hooky from work this morning?”

“You’re brother has managed to arrange a little mandatory vacation for me,” she explained with an impish smile. “So now he has to entertain me.”

“It wasn’t entirely my fault. Jen and David helped get her evicted too, but being the nice guy I am, I’m taking one for the team,” Richard sighed in feigned dismay. He pulled her close to him and looked down at her with a pleased smile that belied his play acting and sent a thrill of delight through Manda. “It’s a real hardship, but someone has to do it.”

“And what manner of torture will you be enduring today?” Josh asked, in mock sympathy.

“As soon as I grab a jacket and call for the car, we’re going to the zoo,” Richard informed him. He released Manda and picked up the phone from a side table. “Give me a minute?” he asked her. She strolled to the dining table and sat down beside Josh while Richard strode into his bedroom, dialing the phone as he went.

“Richard said you’d been ‘badgering’ him. I think that was the word he used. What did you say to him?” she asked self-consciously.

Josh made a dismissive gesture. “Oh, he would have come around eventually—I just pushed him in the right direction a little; helped him see that his over protectiveness was hurting both of you. You’re my friend, and he’s my brother. I love you guys.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. “I want you both to be happy.”

Manda worked to dispel the sudden constriction in her throat. It was a few minutes before she trusted her voice enough to speak again. “Thanks, Josh.”

“Anytime,” he said with a warm smile.

“What are you going to do today?” she asked, wiping her eyes surreptitiously.

“I’m beat. I’m planning to catch up on some sleep.”

“I’m afraid I kept Josh up most of the night,” Richard offered, coming to lean against the table beside Manda, with his jacket in his hand.

“The next time you have a crisis of conscience, or a personal epiphany, or whatever, could you arrange to have it during the day, please?” Josh groaned. “I make a much better sounding board during daylight hours. I also offer much better advice when I’m fully awake.”

“I’ll try to remember that,” Richard said, grinning fondly at his brother. “We’ll get out of here and let you go back to bed. Thanks for everything, Josh.”

“You’re welcome, Richie. See you guys later.”

The usual black Mercedes waited in front of the hotel for Richard and Manda. The driver, Mark, opened the door for them and Richard handed Manda into the backseat, speaking briefly with him before following her in. He settled in beside her and twined his fingers through hers on the seat.

A warm glow filled Manda. This morning the day had seemed like a trial she would have to endure—another day of working hard enough to keep herself from thinking about Richard. Now it had become unexpectedly wonderful. Richard was sitting beside her, holding her hand, and he’d said he cared for her. Too good to be true seemed like an understatement.

“Pinch me, would you?” she said, bemused.

Richard laughed softly. “I don’t think so. If this is a dream, I don’t want either of us to wake up.” Instead he leaned toward her and brushed his lips briefly across hers, then smiled and leaned back in his seat again. “Are you happy, Manda?”

“Yes. I am,” she replied. Again, that seemed like an understatement. Ecstatic might be a better description. Or joyous, jubilant, perhaps delusional. Of course, if this was all just a delusion she couldn’t muster much interest in reality at the moment. Real or imaginary, she did wonder about a few things though. “Can I ask a couple of questions?”

“Anything you’d like. I’ll answer if I can.”

“Where did you go? When you left?” She didn’t suppose it really mattered, but she was curious.

Richard frowned slightly. “I went to see family. We have a couple of cousins in Texas we’re very close to. We spend a lot of our down time there. I went down there for a few days. I don’t think they enjoyed having me, though. I was terrible company. I was thinking about you the whole time.”

“Really?” Manda exclaimed with pleasure, and then quickly bit her lip. “I mean, oh, that’s too bad.” She hid her smile behind her free hand and Richard laughed out loud.

“Did you have another question?” he prompted, amused.

“Yes,” Manda said, composing herself again. “Why did you pick the zoo? It wasn’t at all what I expected.”

“Not what you had in mind? We don’t have to go there if you don’t want to. We can do something else if you’d prefer,” Richard offered.

“No! I want to go. It’s perfect. It’s just so...ordinary,” Manda explained.

“Exactly. That’s what’s so great about it. The ordinary things are the things I miss the most. Besides, it’ll give me a chance to, one, be with you, two, be outside, and three, relax. And I like the animals, too.” His boyish grin was irresistible and Manda found herself grinning back. “You have to promise me you’ll tell me if you get tired, though. I want you to unwind, not wear yourself out. It’s my personal mission to return you happy and relaxed.”

“Your personal mission?” Manda couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yes, I promised David and Josh,” he informed her gravely, but with a twinkle in his eye.

“Good grief! Are you three having conference calls about me or what?” Manda huffed in exasperation. “I’m surprised you guys haven’t staged a full scale intervention! Maybe you could have gotten Emily and Andy to join in.”

Richard regarded her with raised eyebrows. “Consider this an intervention of one. I wouldn’t say we’ve been having conference calls, but David and Josh talked, and Josh and I talked, and all three of us have been very concerned. Don’t be angry, Manda.” He adopted a persuasive tone. “If I hadn’t been so worried about you, I probably would have stuck with my misguided plan to protect you even longer.”

“I’m not angry,” Manda sighed. “Mildly annoyed, maybe, and completely mortified of course, but not angry. I am curious though. What exactly does this ‘intervention of one’ involve?”

“It involves me doing everything in my power to prevent you from thinking about work for as long as possible.” His heart-stopping smile returned. “And I think I’m really going to enjoy it!”

Chapter 15

T
rue to his word, Richard kept Manda distracted. She didn’t think about work once all day. They strolled through the zoo for hours, holding hands and talking about anything and everything. Richard was surprisingly knowledgeable about the animals and shared interesting facts with her about whatever species they happened to be looking at. Both avid readers, they discussed books at length.

Richard launched into a discussion about music at one point, but unlike David, Manda was woefully uninformed on the topic. “I have my work cut out for me, I see,” he lamented. “We are going to have to get you educated.”

“Apparently,” Manda agreed, sheepishly.

Richard bought them lunch from a zoo vendor, and they sat on a bench and watched the polar bears while they ate. The day was sunny but chilly, and whenever he thought Manda needed to warm up they would explore
one of the indoor exhibits. It was in the building housing the tropical birds that she was reminded that she was with a celebrity.

There was one exhibit that had been Manda’s favorite since she was a child. It was a large walk-through aviary, planted with tropical plants and boasting a waterfall at one end. It was warm and humid, and Manda took off her coat as they strolled among the birds and foliage. The sound of the waterfall and the calls of the birds were soothing, and in the sauna-like heat Manda could feel the tension and stress of the previous weeks sliding from her shoulders. She inhaled deeply, exhaling in a long, contented sigh. Richard wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and pulled her close.