Page 34 of Single Malt
She and Maggie shared some of Da’s features, but while Maggie’s hair was honey-blonde, London’s was strawberry blonde and curly. London was also the only one of us to have brandy-colored eyes, standing out from the rest of us. I actually didn’t think I’d ever seen anyone else with that particular shade and had no idea where it’d come from.
“Please tell me you went to that great Italian place.” London hung up her coat and shook the water from her hair. “Because I have been craving that all day.”
“Of course,” Carson said. “Iamyour favorite brother, right?”
“Sometimes,” London joked as she practically skipped to the kitchen. “Depends on what you got for dessert.”
As Maggie and I followed the other two, I asked her, “Are we still on for tomorrow?”
She nodded and smiled. “I’ve been looking forward to it all week.”
I put my arm around her shoulder and pulled her to my side. “Me too.”
Twenty-One
Freedom
I drummedmy hands on the wheel as I looked for an opening in the traffic. When Dr. Ipres had asked me to pick someone up from the San Jose International Airport, I’d initially imagined another Karina, but then she’d said my passenger would be a guest lecturer, Dr. Korbin Worthington III. That information alone had made me agree with more enthusiasm than I’d shown for any of the other things I’d done so far this year. After conducting a quick search of his name, I was now officially thrilled.
Dr. Worthington had a doctorate in International Development from Oxford and came from a wealthy and prestigious family in Boston. I had no doubt that if I asked my mother, she’d know of the family. The thing that really had me interested, though, was that Dr. Worthington’s uncle was Alistair Worthington, U.S. Ambassador to Greece. Apparently, the Ambassador and Dr. Ipres’s father, Cyril Calimeris, were friends.
While Dr. Ipres would be a great reference if I wanted to apply for a position with the Greek Ambassador, being able to speak to Dr. Worthington about his uncle would not only give me another connection point, but he might be able to also provide some practical insight about the type of things that went on in the ambassador’s day-to-day work. Anything I could offer that would set me apart from dozens of other candidates with similar educations was something I needed.
I pulled into the parking lot and found a spot. After checking the flight on my phone, I sent a text to Dr. Ipres, letting her know that the plane was arriving on time. I got out of my car to wait, since I didn’t know if Dr. Ipres had told Dr. Worthington who would be picking him up or if she had given him a description of me or my car.
All she’d told me was that he’d been instructed to come to the cell phone parking lot, so when I’d looked up information about him, I’d also made it a point to find a recent picture. Based on what I’d seen, I didn’t think I’d have any problems locating him.
Around six feet tall, tanned, chiseled jaw, dimple in his chin, his features alone would’ve been striking. Add to that chestnut brown hair that was just a little unruly, as well as electric blue eyes, and the man was beyond simply good-looking.
Fortunately, I wasn’t a woman who swooned over a pretty face. I could be objective and admit that he was gorgeous while not experiencing any attraction to him. It had nothing to do with the fact that I still couldn’t stop thinking about Brody. No, the last thing I needed in my life right now was another stupid decision about sex.
I shivered as a gust of wind caught me off-guard, and then I reached into my car for my jacket. The skies were overcast and darker than they had been when I’d left home, but the rain predicted for today hadn’t started yet, and I hoped it’d hold off just a little longer. I didn’t have Dr. Worthington’s phone number to call and arrange a different place to meet him, which meant he’d end up walking with all of his luggage in the rain.
Why hadn’t I suggested to Dr. Ipres that I park in one of the hourly lots?
I reminded myself that I hadn’t been responsible for setting any of this trip up. I was just the driver, following the directions given to me. If Dr. Worthington complained, I’d politely tell him that I’d make sure to let Dr. Ipres know his concerns. Not passing the blame, but letting him know that this shouldn’t reflect poorly on me.
My head throbbed, and I rubbed my temples. Burnout among graduate students wasn’t uncommon, and by the end of the fall semester, I’d felt stretched too thin. I’d thought that the holidays and then preparing for my last semester would leave me invigorated, ready, and eager to finally achieve what I’d been working for these past seven years.
Now, I wondered if my focus should perhaps be shifted to merely finishing so I could move on to the next stage of my life.
My phone went off, and I jumped. It was a text from Dr. Ipres.
Dr. Worthington is requesting you pick him up at Terminal 1.
I sighed and tapped out a quick reply.On my way.
By the time I reached the terminal, Dr. Worthington was easy to spot since he was one of only a handful of people who were still waiting for their pick-ups. His handsome face was twisted into a scowl, and I felt my opportunity for a positive connection to the ambassador start to slip away.
No.
I could fix this. I was an intelligent, educated woman who excelled at communication in myriad languages. I had the entire ride from here to his hotel to show him who I truly was.
I pulled up in front of him and popped the trunk before getting out of the car.
“Good afternoon, Dr. Worthington.” I gave him a practiced smile that I knew reflected professionalism and just enough warmth to not come across as cold, and well, bitchy. Most men had absolutely no idea how fine a line women had to walk to show competence and skill without being labeled arrogant. To be polite but firm. Assertive enough to take charge but not too much so.
“You’re Cicily’s assistant?”