Holly headed for the refrigerator, leaving that question for Boss to answer.
Boss became interested in the hot pad left on the island and picked it up, blankly staring at it. “We . . .”
Holly turned around and gave him the eye.
“Okay,Ithought it would be a good idea if you two got reacquainted outside the office,” he admitted. “I thought perhaps I could smooth things over.”
“So, this is a therapy session?” I joked.
Boss dropped the hot pad. “Kelli, this isn’t going to work without you on board, and I feel terrible about the situation I’ve placed you in. I need to know you’re going to be all right. The company is secondary to you in this situation.”
I walked over and hugged Boss. “I love you. You don’t need to worry about me. He’s only a man after all.”
Boss squeezed me tight. “Yeah, well, I know men, Kelli. And I know you, and I’ve never seen you react like you did yesterday.”
I tried to wave off his concern. “I was caught off guard, that’s all.”
I don’t think either he or Holly believed that, but it was the best I could do. I couldn’t bring myself to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth when it came to Ian. If I had to work with him, I needed to pretend like we never knew each other. I wasn’t sure how I was going to accomplish that, but not talking about it was a good place to start. Maybe I shouldn’t have told Amanda. Too late now.
“Again, had I known Kelli . . .”
I looked Boss straight in the eye. “You would have made the same decision. You’re a businessman, too. And I respect that.”
He gave me another good squeeze. “Someday that office will be yours,” he paused, “that is . . . unless you find something else that makes you happier.”
I let go of him and tilted my head. The way he’d said that was interesting. He winked at me and then asked Holly what he could do to help. I pitched in as well. It was like old times, except that I was fretting on the inside worrying about Ian showing up. For Boss’s and Holly’s sake, I needed to put on my game face. I didn’t want them worrying about me or their company when they should be relaxing and enjoying retirement and their family. I could be a big girl about this. I just needed to act as if the best year of my life never happened. Easy, right?
Just as we finished setting the table, the doorbell rang. It made me jump. I flexed my hands trying to relax and get my head in the game.
While Boss went to answer the door, Holly joined me at the table and took my hand. “Life has a way of giving us what we need, not always what we want; but, if we’re smart, we’ll realize that’s what we wanted all along.”
I didn’t have time to respond to her curious advice because Boss walked back with Ian. I closed my eyes for a split second, breathed in deeply, and put on a counterfeit smile that would pass for the real deal any day.
Ian immediately zeroed in on me with a tentative smile. In fact, everyone was looking at me and smiling. I could tell though that Boss didn’t quite buy my smile, but what could he say now?
After the greeting pleasantries, we were seated. Ian and I ended up next to each other, whether by design or accident I couldn’t tell; but, no matter, I was concealing not feeling. I smiled inwardly at myFrozenreference. I couldn’t wait to tell Amanda. She was so tired of hearing the girls sing the songs from that film. Now I could tell her about the real-life application and give her a laugh.
Dinner started a little awkward. I’m not sure anyone knew what to say right off.
Holly, though, was a gracious hostess. “Ian, tell us how you like Nashville so far. Have you found a place to settle yet?”
He lowered his glass “It’s been interesting, but I’m looking forward to getting to know the city better. And for the interim I’m staying at the Westin. I have an idea of where I’d like to land, but I’m not quite sure yet.”
I wondered if he was in one of the penthouses the Westin offered. It was hard to imagine Ian in a penthouse. I had always known he would be successful, but when I knew him, he lived in a small basement apartment with an untidy roommate named Jeff. Ian only put up with him because he paid half the rent.
“I would be happy to put you in touch with a friend of mine that’s a realtor,” Holly offered.
“Thank you, but I don’t think that will be necessary.”
Maybe that meant he wasn’t planning on staying long. I tried not to get my hopes up too high.
Holly and Boss went on to tell Ian all of the great places he needed to go and where the best neighborhoods were. I stayed mostly quiet, unless I was asked a question. I knew Holly and Boss were trying to engage me because they talked about some of my favorite places, like Cheekwood, the nearby botanical garden, and the Grand Ole Opry. All I offered up was my agreement that they were worth visiting. Ian kept glancing my way, obviously hoping for more engagement. I would flash him my fake smile. It was better than crying or screaming, because that’s what I really wanted to do. I wanted to know why he couldn’t have loved me. And why did he have to look so darn good? And why, oh why, did he have to come here?
Then things got really interesting. “So, will your family be joining you soon? This is a great place to raise a family.” Holly winked at me.
From our earlier conversation in the kitchen, I got the feeling she already knew he didn’t have a family. What was she playing at?
Ian set his fork down and cleared his throat. “I’m sure it is, but I’m single.”
