Page 52 of On the Fly
Cara seemed to read her mind, when she said, “Well, put that jerk out of your head for now. Deal with him later. Enjoy the spa. I’m so glad you’re taking some you time on your trip back. Speaking of, when do you think you’ll arrive?”
Emma thought about her schedule. “I’ll definitely be there Tuesday sometime. I’ll stop in Jackson, Mississippi, tomorrow night, then home Tuesday.”
“Can’t wait to see you, lady. It’s only been a little over two weeks, but you sure have crammed a lifetime of events in there.” She heard the teasing in Cara’s tone, and it warmed her to know she had such a great friend and sounding board.
“No kidding. Can’t wait to see you either. Girl’s night once I’m back?”
“Sure thing. Talk to you tomorrow.”
“Bye.” Emma ended the call and dug into her sandwich again. Sitting outside, letting the sun soak in, and filling her stomach with the wonderful food did more to soothe her soul than anything had in the four days.
Ander popped into her thoughts, but she pushed him aside. He could wait until she got home. Once she’d concluded that his pushing her away had really been meltdown of sorts over something that he couldn’t control in his own life, she’d softened her stance toward him. He’d made the wrong choice in shoving her aside. She’d have helped him with anything, and she’d proven that by working with him on the company for days on end.
The possibility existed that they could find a way to repair the damage he’d done and move forward with whatever it was they’d started, but the chance lingered that the damage was irreparable, the HR relationship documentation spoke clearly of their end. And the idea that he’d destroyed the growing bud of whatever they could have had made her chest tighten.
Since there was nothing she could do about either eventuality, she nudged the conflict from her mind until the time came she knew exactly what she was dealing with. And she couldn’t start that process until she got back on her home turf.
Chapter 25
Monday morning
Ander slammed the lid to his laptop, a scowl on his face, and stared out the window of his hotel room. The sun had risen a little over an hour ago, burning off the morning fog. The sunny skies did not match his current mood.
How could she not return his calls or emails in the past two days? What the hell was Emma’s problem? Obviously, he needed to apologize, and she had a right to be upset at his domineering attitude, but she could at least answer to let him say his piece.
Well, he had a solution for that.
She lived in Atlanta, for fuck’s sake.
That was his only course of action. Ander stood and shoved the computer and its charger along with his cell phone into his laptop case. What the heck else did he need? He grabbed his portable printer. Oh, and his headphones. God knew he didn’t a repeat of what had gotten him into this situation to begin with.
Ringing from inside his bag had him hurriedly digging out his device. He palmed the phone as it rang one more time. Somewhere between his first unanswered call and the tenth time he’d checked his emails this Monday morning, he’d entered full-on manic mode, his adrenaline spiking only to plummet at Lyla’s name on caller ID.
Damn.He blew out a breath and answered. “I need a flight to Atlanta this morning. The first available. I’m heading to the airport right now. Rearrange all my meetings for later in the week, too.”
“Good morning,” she said, further needling him. Lyla’s bright, cheery tone just flat pissed him off. And she did it on purpose. He could tell. And it had worked. Good for her. He could give as well as she could.
“It’s about time you showed up for work. I’ve been waiting for you for hours. I was just on my way to the airport now to take care of it myself,” he huffed, but even he could tell the bluster fueling his anger had diminished at hearing her voice. As he refocused on getting his things together, the brief reprieve from the hurt and worry of Emma not returning his phone calls or emails bloomed again.
Was that seriously how little he had meant to her during their time together? He’d been having a spiritual awakening because of that woman, and she couldn’t find the time to call him back? She had a right to be mad but avoiding him wouldn’t work.
“You know I don’t use the words ‘calm down’ lightly, but seriously, Ander, calm your butt down. It’s seven ten in the morning, and I’m walking inside the building now. I’m sorry I missed your calls. My phone was silenced.” The click-clack of heels on tile confirmed her location. As did the beeping when she scanned her employee ID at the security desk. He almost breathed a sigh of relief at those noises.
Then he scowled again. “Why would you silence your phone? You know I could need you day or night.” Anger barreled through him like a freight train.
Lyla gave an unladylike snort to his statement, which he didn’t appreciate. “Why do you think I started silencing my phone at night? Give me five minutes. I’ll text you the details. Make sure you take all your identification.” She disconnected the call before he could lambast her for stating the obvious.
If it weren’t for her, he’d have never opened this Pandora’s box of frustration. She gave shitty advice. He’d logged at least nine phone calls and half a dozen emails to Emma without a single response from her. About three phone calls ago, his calls had begun going straight to voice mail. At first, he’d been worried about her, but then he’d figured out she’d likely blocked his number. That had been a punch to the gut.
Sure, he’d been aloof when he’d cut things off, but if she’d cared for him at all wouldn’t she want to talk it out. Isn’t that what women did? Emma could have given him a break. He dragged a hand through his hair as he reached for the laptop bag, slung it over his shoulder, and patted around his slacks to ensure he had his wallet.
He’d done nothing but trail after this woman since the moment he’d met her. He’d completely lost his mind. He left his hotel room and started downstairs. He prayed a flight out was available soon.
Eight and a half hours later, Ander pulled his rental car to the address Lyla had secured for him—Emma’s townhome. The flight had taken half that long, but he’d been stuck in the Sacramento airport waiting for his departure time.
He took in the property. There were four units altogether, each with a charming mix of red brick and stone. The units appeared identical: three stories high with long, slender windows framed with black shutters. Beautiful red flowers, maybe from the rose family, filled large urns at the base of the steps leading up to Emma’s front door. Her front porch had a single rocking chair off to the side. The visual made him smile for the first time in hours. He could easily see her living there. It matched her personality perfectly.
Ander shifted the car into park and killed the engine. What did he plan to say? He blew out a breath and leaned against the headrest. He squeezed his eyes shut. If he went in there on the attack, his normal MO for any confrontation, he wouldn’t win any points. She’d get her back up and give as good as she got. He had no doubts. So, all the topics he’d ordinarily go for shot around his brain like zingers—why hadn’t she answered him? Why did she have to act like such a brat? She was smarter than that. Blocking him seemed a little aggressive.
