She's like the wind 03

3

 

When Lena arrived on the given address a few minutes before three p.m., she checked it in her phone one more time to be sure she was here correctly. She was standing in front of a beautiful one-storey house, a green vegetation all around. The house stood on the western end of Hagerstown, basically in seclusion. She got out of her car. On her way to the house she noticed Ian's car.

 

After she pushed the door bell, the door opened and a young black haired, blue-eyed man was standing there. „Hi, I'm Carl Brown, Mr. Corbett's manager. Come in, please,“ he stepped aside.

 

„I'm Lena Gray, an editor,“ she offered him her hand to shake.

 

„Would you like a cup of coffee or tea or anything else?“ he asked politely as he led her upstairs. She looked around, noticing a large kitchen on the right. She realized the whole space was open, no doors. Looking down from upstairs she could see a roomy living room. The house looked beautifully even from inside, simply, tastefully furnished. „Eric and Ian are in the study,“ he opened the door on the left.

 

„Coffee, please,“ she smiled faintly to cover her nervousness stepping inside, while Carl retreated to the kitchen.

 

Ian got up from the couch on the right, stepping to her, covering her sight of Eric. „Hi Lena, please, meet our new customer, Eric Corbett,“ he lifted his eyebrow meaningly, extending his arm to Eric. As Ian stepped aside, Lena was standing face to face to Eric Corbett.

 

She gasped as she was looking in the hazelnuts brown eyes of her savior from the airport. She quickly composed herself together and offered him her hand to shake. „Nice to meet you, I'm Lena Gray, your editor-to-be,“ she decided to play a comedy in front of Ian.

 

Eric lifted his eyebrow in a silent amazement, squeezing her hand. „My pleasure, Miss Gray,“ he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it, looking in her eyes. He seemed to have no idea who he supposed to meet either and automatically accepted her game.

 

„It's Lena,“ she gave him a small smile.

 

Carl broke their reverie, walking in. „Coffee's here.“

 

Eric let her hand slip out of his and gestured for them to sit down. He settled in an armchair and Ian courteously offered her the other, taking a seat on the couch on her right. Carl sat down in the other corner of the couch after he poured coffee in cups for all of them.

 

„I hope you will like it. We have no secretary,“ Carl shrugged with a smile.

 

Lena put sugar and milk in her cup. „It's delicious, Mr. Brown,“ she said after tasting it.

 

„Thank you. It's Carl.“

 

Ian and Carl held a conversation, Eric added something now and then. Lena listened to them, nodding, occasionally making a remark. She couldn't process that she had actually met her most favorite author before without even knowing it. Her stomach was in knots as if she saw him for the first time. She couldn't understand why he hadn't told her before who he was. They could spare themselves this surprise. She felt his eyes on her, blushing under his gaze. Absolutely not perceiving surroundings she raised her eyes to him.

 

„Lena, can you hear me?“ she heard Ian's voice as if from a long distance.

 

„Of course, I can,“ she turned her head to him.

 

„So you can start on Monday, right?“ Ian smiled in amusement as he watched her.

 

„Well,“ she thought quickly if she would be able to finish editing Ann's book till Monday and nodded eventually. „I think I'll make it if I work tomorrow as well. Yes, I can start on Monday,“ she looked at Eric.

 

„Thank you, I know it's at short notice,“ Eric smiled. He got up, took his business card from the table and handed it to her. „Here are all my contacts, phone number and email address. I'm used to be in constant touch with my editor if you don't mind.“

 

„It's OK,“ she fished in her purse and pulled out her business card, handing it to Eric. At the occasion she also pulled her authors' list and handed it to Ian. He glanced at the paper. Seeing what it was he nodded.

 

„OK. I'll call you on Monday. Carl and Ian will arrange other things.“

 

When Ian got up she did the same and they moved to the door. Eric and Carl walked them outside.

 

*

 

Lena was reading through Ann's book when her phone started ringing. It's very good reading. She put the notebook on the bed next to her and reached out for the phone, lying on the bedside table. An unknown number.

 

„It's Lena Gray,“ she picked it up.

 

„Hi Lena, it's Eric,“ he made a pause. „I had no idea that you would be the editor.“

 

„Hi,“ she said unsure, surprised to hear him. „To be honest I also had no idea...“

 

„I know you have a lot to do,“ he interrupted her. She heard him to take a breath. „Could we meet somewhere?“

 

„Well...,“ she glanced at the alarm clock, it was half past nine. Tomorrow was Sunday. „... if I finish the chapter now, I can complete the rest tomorrow. We can get together in Starbucks at ten p.m. if it's not too late.“

 

„That's OK with me. I'll be there.“

 

„OK, see you...,“ she hung up and tried to focus on work.

 

She finished at a half past nine. She turned off the notebook, leaving it on the bed and opened her closet. She put on a pair of tight black jeans and a red top with straps. Perhaps I look too provocative. She looked in the mirror as she combed her hair and ran into her bedroom to change. She chose a turquoise top with short sleeves in the end. This one has too plunging neckline. Glancing at her watch she saw she had no time to waste time on this. She waved it off and slipped in her favorite high-heeled shoes. She locked the house and headed for her car.

 

*

 

Eric was at Starbucks at five to ten. He ordered a cup of coffee for himself and waited for Lena. A few minutes after ten he started wondering if she would come when the door opened and she walked in. She looks stunning. He smiled for himself. He waved at her as he caught her eyes. Before she came closer he'd got up.

 

„I'm sorry for being late.“

 

„It's OK. It's not a business appointment,“ he pulled out the chair for her to sit down.

 

„Thanks,“ she took a seat. „I hate being late anyway.“

 

„So do I. I was rather thinking if you would come. If you aren't angry.“

 

„I wouldn't have promised you to come if I wouldn't want to do it,“ she looked in his eyes and was surprised by their depth for a moment. „Why should I be angry?“

 

„It's true. I didn't want to imply anything,“ he shook his head. „Why? I didn't tell you who I was.“

 

„You didn't. I don't know why,“ she shrugged. They were interrupted by the waiter. Lena ordered hot chocolate for herself. „Perhaps you didn't want to awaken curiosity in me,“ she continued when the waiter retreated.

 

„Hm, I wouldn't say that. I rather didn't want to disturb you. You looked worried and sad,“ he sipped from his cup, watching her over the rim of the cup.

 

„I understand,“ she nodded. „Actually you're right. On that day I wasn't interested in anything,“ she lowered her eyes for a moment. „But then we met here,“ she looked around, then her eyes returned to his. „Actually right at this table. You had a chance to tell me.“

 

„I did,“ he kept looking at her and there was peace and composure in his eyes. „Would it have changed anything?“

 

„Actually I don't think so,“ she laughed lightly. „You know... I have to admit that I'm proud of the chance to work with you,“ she briefly thought. „I read all the nine books you've written. I like a lot your creativity, you write marvellously.“

 

„Really? So you know my work. Thank you,“ he smiled, delighted. „I'm glad that you're my fan.“

 

His face brightened up. I have to beware of that smile, it's charming. „You're welcome. I'm interested in a high-quality reading not only because of my work,“ she decided to flatter him some more. „You're my most favorite author, Eric.“ The waiter put a cup of hot chocolate in front of her. She thanked him, waiting till he left. „I mean it. I'm not saying it because of our cooperation. I would have told you before but I didn't know about it,“ she smiled and sipped from her cup. „Even though.... on the other hand... I feel embarrassed that I didn't recognize you back then.“

 

He laughed. „It's not important,“ his face became serious again. „I like it when someone admires my work. It's not necessary to know how I look like for this.“

 

That smile again... She felt her heart quickening its pace. „I do,“ she nodded. It would be easier in reverse. Every woman would start reading his books knowing how he looks like. Glad to know I'm not that case. She made a grimace in her mind. „What's your new book going to be about? I know I'll find it out soon but you could give me a hint,“ she offered, tilting her head on one side.

 

Eric nodded. „Of course,“ he started telling her about his book, watching her in the process. She remarked something now and then but mostly she listened to him very closely, looking in his eyes. Does she realize how amazing she is? She's not only beautiful, she's also intelligent. Why is my heart suddenly beating like crazy? Maybe because no one has ever listened to me like her. Katherine's never asked me what I write about, she's never even read any of my books.

 

Time was flying quickly and the waiter came to point out that eleven was near and they were about to close the restaurant.

 

After paying they left the restaurant. Eric walked her to her car.

 

„Thanks for a beautiful evening,“ he kissed her hand, holding it in his palm a little longer than he had to.

 

„Thank you, too,“ she smiled. „So you'll call me on Monday, right?“

 

He nodded. „Or we can agree now. When and where can I pick you up on Monday?“

 

She thought for a second before she answered. „I'll tell Ian I leave the office at twelve. So you can pick me up at one p.m. in front of my house.“

 

„Alright. I'll be there. Have a nice rest of the weekend. See you soon.“

 

She nodded and got in her car. She lifted her hand in greeting before she left the parking lot.

 

Eric was standing there watching her leave and had a feeling that he probably found himself in a dream. She was like a fresh wind wafting into his life and he could feel it in his hair and in his soul.