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Dorian
I watchedfrom the plane as she made her way up the tarmac to the car I'd ordered for her, craning my neck when she disappeared from view behind the wings. I didn't want her to go and wasn't afraid to admit it. I was more afraid of admitting the fact that I was tempted just to stay here with her, no matter the consequences. My family's business meant everything to me. My family meant everything to me. And yet I was tempted, if only for a moment, to leave it all behind.
For her.
“We're nearly finished refueling,” the captain said, drawing me back outside my own head.
I turned and nodded to him. “Thanks. I'm ready whenever you are.”
I looked out the window again even though I knew I couldn't see her anymore. She'd gone back to her life. And now it was time for me to go back to mine.
I took my seat and waited for takeoff, going through a mental list of a dozen or so matters of business I had to take care of when I got back to New York. The vacation had been a welcome respite from the busy day-to-day dealings I was normally saddled with, but I knew most of my satisfaction could be attributed to spending time with Briana. I doubted I would've enjoyed it nearly as much if she hadn't been there. Still, there probably wouldn’t have been so much shit waiting for me if she hadn't been there. I'd eschewed my normal routine of sneaking in emails and conference calls between brunches and family activities for spending more time with the woman who'd set a spark alight in me, even though I'd known it would never be more than a fling.
But did I regret it? Never.
All I needed to do now was forget about her and move on with my life.
If only it were that easy.
* * *
“Haveyou had a chance to look over those figures?” Sandra asked as she leaned into my office. “They'd like a decision today, if possible.”
“They would like, or they've demanded?” I asked.
The curvy brunette didn't so much as flinch at my tone. She'd been my assistant since the very beginning and knew how to take my brusque manner. “Demanded, more or less,” she said. After a brief moment, she added, “Well, more.”
“Thanks. I haven't gotten around to it, but tell Osmond that he'll get my decision when I'm good and ready. If he gives you any grief, remind him that last year he was late on his deliveries and nearly cost us a fortune.”
She nodded, a faint smile on her lips, and strode from the office. I turned back to the very important business I was attending to on my computer. Namely, sorting through all my emails and files to find a reason to go back to Las Vegas.
I wanted to forget about Briana. I tried to forget about her. Yesterday, I'd even called one of the escort services Enzo and I used, intending to have polite dinner conversation before going to a hotel for sex. But even though the woman sent over was beautiful, I couldn't help but notice all the ways she wasn't Briana. Her hair wasn't right. Her smile didn't contain the right mix of delight and attitude. Her eyelashes didn't flutter just so.
In the end, I'd thanked her for her company at dinner, given her a bonus, and walked away. I hadn't even bothered to try anything else. What was the point?
Why couldn't I get her out of my head?
I had tried everything to distract myself over the past week, but none of it had been enough.
So, I finally reasoned that the only way to deal with this was to go back and see her. Let the reality of the situation chase away any sort of romantic notions that were still lingering in my brain.
But first I had to find a reason to go. I had a business to run, after all. I couldn't just take off on a whim. I wasn't irresponsible like that. I took my position seriously, and I couldn't fuck that up for some woman.
But, then again, Briana wasn't just some woman. She was kind and smart and sassy as all hell, and I knew I wouldn't be getting any rest until I saw her again. I needed to get her out of my system. When our mother once caught Enzo and me trying out some cigarettes, she'd made us smoke one after the other until we'd thrown up. To this day, neither of us had ever had the desire to smoke again. Even the smell of tobacco was enough to make me sick. Why couldn't I do the same with my addiction to the sexy hostess?
After much email skimming and another cup of coffee, I finally found it. A boutique chain just off the strip was looking to re-invigorate their hotel brand and wanted to open one of our restaurants. Normally, this kind of email would go to Enzo who'd take a look online to see if it was even worth our effort, but I'd check out the shitty hotel in person if it meant heading back to Vegas on a legitimate trip.
I pressed the intercom button. “Sandra? Could you come in here for a moment.”
Sandra was probably one of the few women outside of family who I trusted implicitly. She was a beautiful woman, but not one I'd ever tried to sleep with. Besides having sworn off relationships in favor of no-strings-attached sex provided by professionals, my relationship with Sandra had always been platonic. I'd even been to her wedding a couple years ago.
“Do you need something?” she asked.
“Yes.” I leaned back in my chair. “I need you to clear my schedule past the Fourth of July. I'm not sure how long I'll be gone.”
She gave me an odd look. “I wasn't aware you had anything on the calendar so soon.”
I didn't blame her curiosity. I normally wasn't an impulsive kind of guy, so my behavior was strange. And that was an understatement. What I was doing shocked the hell out of me.
