Beginnings (Brady Trilogy) (9 page)

“It’s a pleasure
Luke. Sorry I arrived here unannounced. I was in town and wanted to see my daughter.” Vivian saw the puzzled look on his face.

“Your daughter?”
Before Luke could put two and two together Isabel walked through the elevator doors.

“Mom?
What are you doing here?” her face lit in excitement as she rushed towards her mother and held her in a warm embrace.

“
Izzie my baby.” Vivian smiled as she watched her daughter teasingly roll her eyes at her childhood nickname. “I missed you so much. I’m sorry I should have let you know I was coming here but I like surprising you. How are you doing sweetheart? Are you eating well?” Vivian cupped Isabel’s face with both hands and studied her with concern. The rest had returned back to their desks except for Luke. “I wanted to finish the gallery in Malibu sooner so I could come here to be with you but I was right in the middle of it. I’m sorry I didn’t get here faster honey. You should have stayed with me at Malibu I really didn’t want you to be alone out here after what happened Izzie. I thought you were just taking a trip but you’ve been here for months. I want you to come back with me.”

I
sabel realized Luke caught the worry tone in her mother’s voice as he held his hand to his chin and studied her through narrowed eyes. Her mother kept rambling about how she was concerned about her and Luke’s green gaze became more intense with every word as he watched her. She became desperate to stop her mother from talking before she revealed too much. “Mom I’m fine I already told you that.” Isabel widened her eyes warning her mother.

Vivian recognized
her daughter’s silent plea to change the subject. She also caught the unsettled glances she kept sending the man next to them. The man that continued to watch her daughter with heavy, penetrating inquisition. She released her face and folded her hands. In an instant she was bright and cheerful again trying to shadow her wariness. 

“Well I just wanted to stop by for a quick hello.” She sent her best smile but
Isabel wasn’t fooled. “I’m having a late lunch with a few of my friends in town and I’ll see you at home for dinner okay?” Vivian hugged her daughter. “It was so wonderful meeting you Luke,” she smiled. She waved a quick goodbye to her admirers and left.

“So you’re the daughter of a world famous artist.
You continue to shock me Isabel. I didn’t even know Vivian Taylor had a daughter.”

“She didn’t want the press suffocating me. She left her personal life out of her work.” Isabel said
.
And thank God for that.
She wasn’t the type that would have done well with the constant paparazzi her mother was so enthralled by.

“
She did a pretty good job with that. You don’t seem the sort of person who’d thrive off of being in front of persistent cameras.”

Isabel’s eyes widened.
How did he know? Was she that transparent?
Or did Luke seem to always have this special vision that saw right through her.

“
She seemed quite concerned about your well-being. Why is that?” he probed.

Isabel looked away.

“Offer still stands.” Luke continued. “I’m here to help. You only need to ask.”

He
walked back to his office. He was trying his best not to pry. But the call from Preston Scotts and now Vivian Taylor’s concern if her daughter was eating well placed an unsettling nerve lurking through him. He had a horrifying thought whatever it was Isabel ran from wasn’t so far away and he’d be damned if it tried to even come close to her. He silently promised they’d have to go through him first.

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Ecstatic joy swelled Isabel’s heart to
have her mother home. This year would be the first time in all of her life she would spend the holidays without her. She missed the warm feeling of sitting around a cozy dinner table with just the two of them. During winter they usually ended the night drinking wine by the fireplace and indulging in their favorite chocolate mousse dessert. Her mother would tell her all about her thrilling traveling adventures and the new collections she had added to each of her exhibits. Two years ago, Vivian had purchased and moved to an oceanfront loft in Malibu with large rooms and high ceilings. Her latest project was the art gallery she recently opened a few miles away from her new home. Isabel knew her mother didn’t like cramped areas. Wide spaces made her feel more comfortable therefore the only property she would purchase would be beach front. “You can’t get more space than the ocean.” Her mother had once pointed out.

They had identical features
. Having her first and only child at a young age Vivian looked better than ever. With gold rings scattered on her fingers, dangling earrings and forever dressed in bright colored clothing that hugged her body, showing her great physique, Vivian brought life into any room she stepped into. Now they were together again chatting away and laughing while they relaxed by the fire. It was times like these Isabel would miss her father greatly. She wished she had the chance to feel his big strong arms hold her again and make her feel safe. During her darkest times was when she yearned for that sense of security the most. But as fate would have it, her father died from a fatal heart attack, leaving her feeling incomplete and her mother heartbroken.

“You look to be doing well baby.” Vivian sadly smiled while watching her daughter pour them another glass of
their favorite
Fat Bastard Merlot
.

“It’s this beautiful San Diego atmosphere.” Isabel settled next to her mother on the wide cream colored couch. “
I still can’t get over this beautiful ocean. No wonder you love the beach so much mom. I feel so alive being here. You know I’ve always loved the beach as much as you and dad. As weird as this may sound I used to keep a bottle of sun-screen in my bottom drawer at the firm and smell it when I’d miss our summers on the Mediterranean.” She laughed at her confession. “I never want to go back to L.A.” She murmured.

“I never want to see you
back in that town.” Vivian remembered well that all too disturbing call she received from her daughter. First thing she did was rush to L.A, got Isabel out of that town and hired the best therapist money could buy. She had never seen her lively Izzie so terrified and broken. It broke her heart to see her struggle so much. Working at the firm wasn’t the life Vivian wanted for her. All her life she imagined her little girl growing up and living a euphoric life. She desperately wanted to see her happy. When Isabel made the decision to temporarily vacation at San Diego she knew it was a fantastic idea. She looked much healthier. No, she definitely did not want her daughter going back.

“
You sold your condo pretty fast.” Vivian smiled.

“Yes,
in less than a month after I put it up for sale. Your real estate agent Joanne said she wasn’t surprised how fast it sold considering the great location.” Isabel sighed with relief. Now that her condo was sold she felt more at ease. Another dark memory of her past put to rest.

“Good. I’m
glad that’s over and done with. Joanne’s good at what she does and is worth hiring.” Vivian indulged in more wine. “So tell me about your new job and that gorgeous new boss of yours.” She asked with excitement. “Oh that office was lovely. So much life and color and just a few minutes away from the beach.”

Isabel laughed. “You’d definitely love working there. Words can’t describe how much I love it there mom. Not only is the job fast paced and exciting
but the people are just fabulous. I’ve made good friends there.”

“And your boss?
Luke was it? Is he treating you well?” Vivian was surprised to see her daughter blush. “Well?” she continued when her daughter didn’t speak.

“Luke’s great. He’s part of the reason why I’m doing so great here.
” She paused. “And doesn’t hurt that he’s just so damn sexy.” Isabel giggled and flushed a little more.

“Why Isabel
Stamos. I have never heard you speak about a man like that.” Vivian was shocked yet entertained. She watched her coy Izzie turn red as a tomato.

“Well I’ve never met a man like Luke before.
He’s just so incredible.”

“So I take it something is going on between you two?”
Her daughter, age twenty six had never spoke about a man as profoundly. She knew her daughter had been involved with men before, dating casually at one point, but never got this heated look in her eyes. It somewhat worried her. After all, Luke was her boss.

“Oh no
no. Nothing at all. Just a little cliché crush on the hot boss I need to get over.” Isabel laughed. “I’m probably just drawn to him so much because of how well he took care of me when I had another episode.”
Shit
. She bit her lower lip regretted it as soon as the words escaped her mouth.

“Another episode?”
Vivian’s eyes widened in alarm. “What happened? Damnit why didn’t you call me Isabel?”

“Mom I’m fine I promise it wasn’t a big deal. It wasn’t a bad episode. Luke was just having a brief meeting with me telling me how well I’m doing and I guess I just became overwhelmed with emotion and reacted by freezing up again.” Isabel hoped the situation sounded as casual as
she tried to make it seem.

“I worry
so much about you Izzie. Especially you living here all alone. I wish you would at least bring Johnny here to watch out for you.”

“What? Johnny? No mom I’m fine I promise you.
Please don’t make anything of this.” Isabel tried to reassure her mother. Last thing she wanted was to have Johnny a.k.a Big John, her mother’s head of security for her exhibits, watching her every move like the hawk that he was. If someone needed to watch her then it meant she wasn’t safe. Isabel felt secure here and didn’t need that image tampered. “Mom I’m fine.” She said again.

“So you’re saying he took care of you huh?” her mother finally spoke.

“Yes he did.” Isabel smiled remembering how Luke rubbed warmth back into her shaking hands.

“I’m not sure it’s such a smart idea
being involved with your boss Isabel.” Vivian worried. She knew her daughter hadn’t been involved with a man in ages. When it came to relationships Isabel had always been naïve and didn’t take too many risks. No doubt life had made her this way. But the look in her eyes was telling Vivian this was more than just a minor crush. Her daughter was deeply affected by this man and did not care to hide it. Not Isabel’s usual behavior. “I don’t want to see you get hurt.” Vivian spoke.

Isabel sighed heavily. “I’m not going to get hurt because I’m not involved with him.
As much as I’d like to its unrealistic. He’s my boss. You know the whole look but can’t touch sort of deal.”

“Well if you do get involved with him just please be careful. I want you to be wary of every move you make.
Being involved with the boss isn’t going to be a normal and casual relationship. It’s going to be complicated. And Luke looks like a complicated man.”

Isabel snorted, “Oh he’s the complicated one huh?
Hello
you’re sitting next to a head case here.” She laughed and earned a disapproval side glance from her mother.

“
Ha-ha
very funny. I’m just saying guard your emotion that’s all.”

“Mom.”

“And use protection. Are you on the pill? I know you haven’t slept with anyone for a while but protection is important.” Vivian continued.

“Oh my God.
Mom. Really? Eww. Can you please just stop talking? Please.”

“I’m seriously
Izzie.”

“
Oh God. Mom if I get involved with any man I promise to be as careful as possible. I’m not a child so let’s please drop this. Now let’s go to sleep its past midnight.”

Arm in arm mother and daughter walked upstairs to their bedrooms.
Vivian spent a few short days with her daughter. She had to be certain Isabel was truly doing as well as she looked. She made her daughter promise to have a safe trip to New York, call her often and visit her in Malibu when she returned. Isabel watched as her mother sat in her car, waved good bye and headed for the road.

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Early Friday evening Isabel began clearing her desk. She had missed her mother the moment her car had pulled away. She couldn’t wait to visit her in Malibu and see her new exhibit. Luke walked through his double doors and approached her. “Busy day.”

“I’ll say. And loved every minute of it.”

“What are you doing tonight?” Luke asked.

Her heart skipped then began thudding an abnormal beat.
Relax
she told herself.
You have no idea why he is asking and are getting ahead of yourself.

“Nothing planned.” She tried to sound casual. “Dinner at home, a good book and a glass of wine. Maybe two.” She laughed. “I earned it this week.”

Luke smiled down at her. “That you did. I’ll tell you what. I’ll buy you that glass of wine if you will join me for dinner tonight. I’m meeting with a new client. Wait, let me rephrase that. I’m meeting with a new, potentially very
big
client. We need to discuss contract details and…”