His Perfect Woman (Urban Hearts Series Book 1) (19 page)

“Azure, we hate to lose you.” Al Conway had shown up in her office. It was not something that happened often, or actually not at all. The operations officer was two echelons above Azure’s boss’s position in the company and she was pleased he thought enough to come down and speak with her.  She’d been grooming Rachel for her position for a month without realizing it and the chance meeting in Omaha with Ross had made her own up to the fact that she needed a change. More of a change than she already had going on.

“Thank you Mr. Conway, it’s been a good run for me here at CTC, it really has.” Az fidgeted with the latest marketing brochures. “But Rachel is extremely good and I’m sure the transition will be seamless.”

“I hear we’re not losing you to another company, but a whole change of career? That’s a little drastic, don’t you think?” His eyebrows raised—wrinkling his brow all the way up to mid-pate where there was a smattering of hair. Azure put the brochures on her desk.

“It’s still event planning, just not at the corporate level, and weddings are big business these days. I need to spend more time at home.” She hoped he wasn’t going to go into the divorce thing. Having endured the wondering, and the too sympathetic looks for months, she was ready to move on. Even if her co-workers were not. Mr. Conway chuckled.

“Don’t I know it. My youngest got married two months ago, and my wife is still trying to recover from the hubbub of it all. Too bad we didn’t have you to help with it. Probably would have gone smoother.”

“Thank you, sir.” Az smiled, not knowing what else to say. Today was her last day and she felt like her face was frozen into a smile of
thank yous
,
will miss you toos
and
keep in touches
. There had been a cake and a present of a little bracelet and a set of black onyx earrings. Rachel had made a touching speech complete with tears. Both of them knew she’d most likely be leaving to Chicago soon to be with Ben, but she’d taken the promotion anyway.

Al Conway stepped forward, snapping his fingers like he remembered something vitally important. He pulled her old business card off her desk and handed it to her. “Write your new contact number on this. I’ll pass it on to my pal, Jerry Crocker. I think his niece is engaged and knowing his brother, he’ll drop several grand on a wedding without batting an eye.”

“Well, thanks, Mr. Conway.” She’d already done a few small weddings in the area, and was slowly building up a reputation, but much like her old business, good contacts were worth their weight in platinum.

It was Malinda who’d gotten her into doing weddings and they’d both found it slightly ironic that in the midst of Azure’s own divorce, she’d found a career in wedding planning. Mal’s friend had been getting married for the second time and simply losing it with all the details. Turned out, she just wanted a flunky—someone to give orders to. But she’d paid well for the privilege and Az had gone into her super-work mode—venues and menus and flowers and photogs were booked and ready within days. The woman had been so pleased she told another friend and then another and Azure Worth had weddings booked for the next two months.  She’d found it very similar to event planning, but without the steady paycheck and none of the corporate politics. Weddings did have in-laws however, and they were almost as treacherous. 

The Crocker/Hayes wedding in Vail was her first destination wedding. Sally Crocker and Brendan Hayes met on the slopes in Aspen. Both of them big time snowboarders, they took time out from their corporate lives to relive that vacation every year. Brendan was from Chicago, Sally from Joliet, Illinois. Azure hadn’t thought much about where they were from when she met them—Sally’s uncle lived in Denver and the family vacationed in Colorado a lot. Both young people wanted a winter wedding at a ski resort. Not being the real outdoorsy type, the only ski resort Az had any experience with was Vail. 

The couple loved its tiny streets and unique shops and the old-world feel of the place. The Hilton had beautiful views from their Lionshead ballroom and a large deck if the weather was agreeable.  Adding flights and hotels to a wedding can compound it into a logistic nightmare, but Az was excited about doing it. Sally was one of the most helpful and agreeable brides to work with and she had excellent taste, picking out her colors and flowers far in advance and getting a guest list and table seating a week early was the absolute best Az could hope for.

Of course, most weddings do not go off without a hitch and this one had had its problems. The best man lost his luggage at the airport and they’d had to rent a tux in Vail. Aunt Tillie had a sudden fear of flying and had to take a last minute train. The older woman missed the wedding, but made a grand entrance at the reception. Az found herself talking the groom out of pre-wedding jitters and sobering up the best man.

But the vows were said, the weather cooperated and everything was going well. She was nursing her first glass of champagne at the reception when a familiar voice called her name.

Jack Issacson was walking toward her, a beautiful blond woman on his arm.
She could never forget Ross’s college friend who loves martinis and Shakespeare with equal passion. They hadn’t seen each other all that often, and most of what she knew about Jack had come from Ross. The woman on his arm was about five months pregnant, a small but pronounced baby bump under her winter dress.

“Jack.” Az tilted her head upward and gave him a one-armed hug, genuinely glad to see him. She reached out to shake the woman’s hand. “I’m Azure Worth.”

There was a flash of surprised recognition in the woman’s eyes, but she recovered quickly.

“Sienna Isaacson. So nice to meet you.”  Jack supplied an explanation for their appearance at a Vail wedding—Sienna being a first year associate at Brendan’s dad’s firm. He offered no explanation of how he knew Azure, however. More than likely, his wife figured she was a work colleague. Marketing was a close-knit career where networking was essential. They chatted about the wedding and what everyone who visits a ski resort talks about—the supply of fresh powder that morning. Jack fidgeted, seemingly distracted and Az wasn’t sure she wanted to talk to him privately. Fortunately, one of the staff had signaled her from the other side of the room and she could make her excuses and head for the kitchen. Unfortunately, Jack was persistent and caught up with her later.

“Az? You got a minute?” He was behind her as she surveyed the open bar, watching bar tenders hustle drinks. “Can I get you a drink?” His warm brown eyes, so different a brown than Jonathan’s, smiled at her from behind his wire rimmed glasses.

“I shouldn’t have another. I limit myself to one glass of champagne per wedding.”

“As I recall, you manage your liquor quite well.”

She smiled, remembering them having a few drinks during a convention or two, Jack quoting the Tempest, and Az asking him about his friend Ross.

“Two glasses won’t hurt,” he said. Before she could protest, he ordered and was pressing a glass into her hand. “You’ve done very well with the career change. This is fabulous.”

“Thanks. It’s much more fun than making big money for corporations. Just as hectic but, I—”

“Love the chaos?” He smiled. “Ross used to say that—about you. He liked doing what he did too, but you loved all the comings and goings and problem solving.” It was the first time anyone had mentioned Ross to her in months. Not even Malinda was talking about him anymore. She wondered if he noticed her stillness. That she froze at the mere speaking of his name. Jack paused for a brief second, not asking, but giving her a moment to collect herself. “Things at CTC just aren’t the same without you, you know?” He sipped his red wine.

“I’m sure they’re doing just fine. Rachel is very good.”

“I didn’t know you were gone until...I don’t know, two months ago maybe. We’ve been busy lately—the baby and all.”

“Congratulations again. I think you’ll be a great dad.” This was true, for all of Jack’s wildness and propensity to party, she could tell he adored Sienna. “You seem a little more settled.” He laughed.

“I’m exhausted. Sienna’s going on maternity leave soon and we just bought a new house in Oakwood. I’m working my ass off.”

“Aww, poor Jack. No more just showing up, giving advice and collecting the big bucks?”

“Oh no, I still do that. I just do a lot more of it.” They drank companionably for a while and Azure was glad that after that initial mention, he didn’t bring up the subject of Ross Berenger. He did ask how she was doing, how her family was and the second glass of champagne loosened her tongue enough to tell him about the divorce. If it got back to Ross, which she figured it would, it shouldn’t matter. Ross was married, maybe even with a kid of his own on the way.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Jack’s face was almost more than she could bear. His sadness was getting to her.

“It was amicable and for the best.” She paused, wanting to tell him that Eli and she were doing well, with a new place and a new school. The career was going splendidly, but she didn’t say any of it.

“You should have called him, Az.”

She’d laughed then, because the idea was absurd. Did he know about the phone messages she’d left?  Too little, too late. Had Ross told him everything?

“I wasn’t free to, and then when I was...it was too late.” Her words were bitter as she put her empty glass on a passing tray. She watched as Jack finished his wine like he wanted to move on. She scanned the room for some sign of trouble she’d have to attend to, for some interruption. Everything was going well. “Calls don’t always get returned,” she said. “And I suppose that’s some form of answering.” He looked uncomfortable. “Look, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to bring you into it. It was my fault and it’s over and done.”

Jack shrugged. “I asked. I should go find my wife. She’ll be wanting to get off her feet.”

“Yes, and I need to check on the kitchen staff.”

“Always the problem solver huh?”

“For other people, anyway.” She turned to go, but didn’t step away. Something about the tragic look on his face when she’d said it was her fault stopped her. Maybe he really had wanted Ross and her to work out.  “How is he?” She had to ask. After telling herself she didn’t want to know, she ended up asking anyway. Steeling herself for the answer, she found it was relatively painless.

“He’s good. He’s not on the circuit anymore. He’s writing a book. Self-help.”

Az brightened at this answer. She had long ago encouraged Ross to write his little memos and motivational words into a blog or journal of some kind. They’d had conversations about growing tired of making money for other people and doing something altruistic for the world. Ross had called it the saving the world syndrome. She had gotten out and planned weddings. Apparently, Ross had moved on as well.

“Good for him.” She smiled. Jack saluted her with his empty glass.

“It was good to see you, Az.”

A sleek hybrid car, not much leg room, but a stylish steel grey, pulled into the driveway of a bungalow style house. The driver emerged, blinking against the bright afternoon sun. Dressed in a polo shirt, canvas shorts and boat shoes, he crossed the lawn to his front door,. He carried reusable grocery bags from a high end natural food market and walked straight through the stark living room to the large kitchen in the back of the house. As he put groceries away, a woman’s voice called to him from outside and he followed it.

“Hey, don’t stay too long or you’re gonna burn.” The handsome man spoke from the shade of the doorway. Beyond the simmering concrete and tile, brilliant blue water rippled with the auto-cleaner whirring around the lap pool.

  The woman didn’t look up from her lounger. Her face, shaded by a large hat and sunglasses, was buried in a magazine. Her glistening body was naked, exposed to the temperate air with the exception of three triangles of red material held together with black string.

“I’ve got SP 45 on. No worries.”

“What is the point of sunbathing, then?” The man asked.

“Because it’s October and I can.” Dani dropped the magazine just enough to see him. Her face looked the same and yet different, older, schooled into a professional smirk. The camera panned out to show the yard, the roof of the house and finally, the sprawl of Los Angeles.

Ross clicked the remote on his TV and sighed. He supposed she’d made it. An actual role in a series—a semi-regular on cable, but considering it was Hollywood, perhaps that was the definition of making it.

He pulled on his heavy pea coat and wound a soft warm scarf around his neck. Hard sleet pelted the windows of the same tiny apartment he’d re-signed the lease on. He packed his briefcase with the editor’s copy of his completed manuscript inside. He’d splurge on a cab to take him downtown. Since working on the book, he’d curtailed all his bookings to that of his main clients and had to manage his finances carefully till the book was out. Though they lived in the same building, both he and his neighbor, Leonard had to travel to Leonard’s publisher for this meeting. But this was the big one, the final editing of the book that had consumed him for the past five months. Ross reached out and straightened the Theolonius Monk poster above his computer desk and left the apartment. Minutes later, he came back in and pulled the best bottle of Pinot Noir he had from the wine cooler and slipped it into a travel bag. He was due at Jack and Sienna’s afterward for dinner.  

----

“These days you have to book your own readings and book signings. The publishing business has changed, I guess.” Ross relaxed against the plush sectional in Jack and Sienna’s living room. Sienna, heavy into her eighth month of pregnancy came out of the kitchen with a coffee tray. Jack took the tray from her with a remark about it being too heavy. She rebuffed him, but her look was full of fondness as she poured cream from a pitcher shaped like a cow.

“Great dessert, I’ll have to be on the treadmill for two hours tomorrow, but worth it.” Ross sipped his coffee. Sienna thanked him and settled in next to Jack, her hand resting comfortably along his leg.

“So we’ll have to plan a big book launch party in the spring. I’ll be glad to get back to wearing real clothes, and Edie will be old enough to stay with my mom by then.”

“You mean, Dylan.” Jack chided her.

The baby was a girl that much they knew, and yet with only a month to go before her arrival, the couple was still quibbling over a name. Sienna wanted Edith, after her favorite author, Edith Wharton. Jack’s choice was for Dylan Thomas.

Sienna smiled.

“Of course, Dear, whatever you say.”

Ross laughed. “Dude, you have no chance. You know that, right?”

Jack sipped his coffee. Sienna went back to the subject of a party.

“They will do some sort of publicity right? For the launch? Of course, you guys would know all kinds of people that can organize it, even if the publisher doesn’t.” She put her hand to her swollen belly. “Oh, that was a big one. Too bad that planner you worked with does only weddings now.” She put down her cup. “She’d be fantastic. What was her name?”

Jack looked at Sienna for a solid moment. He drank more coffee. “I’m not sure,” he said absently. Sienna gave him an odd look. It wasn’t like Jack not to remember names. Jack had that kind of memory. Sienna prodded him.

“Come on, Aislyn, Amber, something. She’s from Denver.”

Ross looked down at his cup. The liquid in it rippled with a slight tremor. He held his breath.

“Azure Worth.” Jack gave in.

“That’s it,” Sienna said. And then she saw the look on Ross’s face. “Oh, shit. I totally forgot. I’m sorry, Ross. I don’t know where my brain is at these days.”

“No, it’s okay. I didn’t realize that. . . Jack had mentioned her.”

“You know I’m no good at keeping stuff from Sienna. Sorry.” Jack said, and he looked at Ross with genuine sympathy.  

“I didn’t know about the wedding planner stuff. She quit CTC?” Ross looked to Jack. “Have you seen her?” His voice was edgy. He leaned forward in his chair, watching Jack. Sienna patted her stomach again and excused herself.  Jack leaned back and watched her ambling gait as she left the room.

“A couple of months ago. Sienna’s Boss’s son got married in Vail. Az did the wedding. It was a surprise to see her.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Jack shrugged. “Things were going so well for you and the book that I—” He stopped and frowned at Ross.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.” Ross sat back and ran his hand along the back of his neck. They’d had the good Pinot for dinner, but neither man drank anything stronger out of deference to Sienna and her allowed half-glass of wine. Now he wished for three fingers of Jameson. Something warm and strong to calm his suddenly jangled thoughts. “How is she?”

Jack shrugged. “Good I guess, I think being single agrees with her. She seemed happy.”

“She’s divorced?”

Jack sighed. “Buddy, don’t go there.”

Ross stood abruptly, pacing.

“No, I want to know. She’s divorced? When?”

“I don’t know. I thought you and her hashed all this out. Decided to go your separate ways. She didn’t call you?”

“Last I knew she was working things out with him.” Ross stopped in front of the plate glass window. The sleet had turned to snow and it glittered in the streetlight as it fell on the suburban neighborhood. The scene took him back to his childhood, when he and Ben would play in the snow until well after dark, their snow forts lit by the porch light until their mother insisted they come in. The suburban life didn’t seem quite so mundane or unpleasant now. It’s not the years you have to worry about, but the days.  Words from an old man working at the B and B he’d visited came back to him. Harv had told him it’s no big secret if you’ve got the right woman. Jack seemed really good living out here. Ross watched Jack’s reflection in the glass.

“Hey, let’s go out back okay? I need a smoke.” Jack handed Ross his coat and the two men walked through the kitchen. Sienna stood at the sink, her rounded form contrasted with her worried features. She impulsively hugged Ross. He patted her back, reassuring her all was well.

They listened to the quiet hush of falling snow as Jack lit a cigarette.  He sucked in tobacco smoke and blew it into frigid air. “She didn’t hear back from you. You were all set to marry Dani, so I guess she decided that was that.”  Jack put his free hand inside his jacket pocket.

“Back from me? She never called me. I thought she was staying with him. She never answered my calls.” Ross mentally went back to their last meeting, at the speakeasy. They were on the dance floor, she was wishing him well. “I have things to say,” she’d told him, but then, she didn’t say anything. He stopped. She’d asked about the wedding. He brushed his hand over his short hair angrily. How could he be so dense?

“We talked about the wedding. I had the proposal to Dani all planned out in my head, so I assumed that’s what she was talking about.”

“She wasn’t?”

“No. I mean, I thought maybe you’d told her, that I was going to propose. But she was asking about Ben and Rachel.”

“Talk about crossed wires. That really sucks.”

Ross paced the small deck, avoiding the covered lawn furniture. Snowflakes drifted across his eyelashes and he blinked. Jack stood in the shelter of the covered doorway, watching him.

“And the reason for that, is—”

“You’re an idiot.” Jack finished.

“No. The reason I gave up on Az is she never called me. I left her tons of messages. I called, I emailed, but there was nothing.”

“There was something, obviously. She told me she called. It was later, but she called. Next thing she knew is she saw you in...” Jack snapped his fingers, trying to remember.

“Omaha.”

“Omaha, yeah. There’s a romance destination if I ever heard one. When she saw you in Omaha, you jumped at the chance to tell her about the big California plans.”

Ross laughed ruefully. “Yeah, and we all know how that worked out.” At least the return of the ring had given him two more month’s rent on the apartment.

“Again, you’re an idiot.”

“I’m an idiot.”