Dreams That Bind Us (Romancing The Keys #3)

Chapter 16

N ew York City, Two weeks later

James stared out at the endless line of skyscrapers from his New York office, his mood as bleak as the leaden sky. It was a far cry from the peaceful serenity he’d felt in Key West with the green palm trees swaying in the ocean breeze or the vibrant colors of the flowering bushes.

The two places couldn't be more different.

New York felt cold and merciless while Key West was vibrant—full of life and joy. It was funny how he hadn't paid attention to it before now.

His entire life he’d felt grounded, knowing he was on the right path, especially when Anna had entered his life. But now, here in New York, he felt lost and untethered, like a kite being tossed in a storm. Nothing felt right.

And that scene in the kitchen...

Even now he couldn't explain the feeling that came over him when Anna had called him by his full name, something only his mother had ever done. The fact that Anna hadn't known his middle name was not lost on him, but it didn't lessen the pain and guilt that shocked his system when he heard those words tumble from her mouth.

And the way her body had stiffened against the kitchen island, her eyes glazing over and looking through him...

He shuddered. He'd never seen anything like that before and it had terrified him.

But what really spooked him was the message she'd delivered. It had been his mother—he was certain of it. There was no other explanation, no way Anna could have known any of those personal details.

It's time for you to stop grieving me and blaming yourself. I left the way I wanted and that's all you need to know.

They were words he hadn't realized he'd needed to hear. He'd hated himself for not making time for her the way he should have in the years before her death. Even worse was the thought of her dying alone without him by her side. It broke his heart even as he knew logically there had been no warning, no signs that her time was nearing its end.

But as the shock wore off, her words were a comfort, showing him the way, the path to move on.

He also recognized now that, in the midst of his shock, he’d pushed Anna away. She had explained that her abilities had been the death knell of her previous relationships, which was exactly why she’d blocked herself away for so long. But that warning hadn’t prepared him for the experience.

The fact that he'd reacted the same way made him grimace. Definitely not something he was proud of, but he'd make it up to her.

James glanced at his phone and released a rough breath, more guilt searing his insides. Anna had texted him the day after, but he hadn't responded. For the first week he'd been too raw, too exposed to do anything but work. He knew he needed to call her, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

God, I'm an asshole.

A quick rap at his door had him sitting upright in his chair. "Yeah?" he called out.

Gwen pushed into the room with a swish, her arms full of folders. "Here are the files you wanted, boss." She dropped them on the corner of his desk. They landed with a plop but managed to stay intact. "Got a minute? We need to review your schedule and the offers for your mother's apartment on the Upper West Side."

That mention of his mother's apartment brought back her words.

One last thing, my son, I left something for you in that special hiding place in my apartment. You know where — the closet beside my favorite window. You missed something when you packed up my things.

James had almost forgotten that part of the message and hadn't made the time to visit her apartment yet. Right after her death, he’d been so devastated as he’d boxed up her apartment that he’d neglected to check her hiding spot. Whatever it was that she left for him couldn't be too big because it was where she'd always hidden her favorite jewelry and other family keepsakes.

And he doubted it could be that because the majority of her collection had already been auctioned off except for the handful of pieces he'd kept for himself. But he had to check it before the sale of the apartment was final.

"Okay." He released a huge sigh, feeling deflated. "Let's get started."

Gwen squinted, tilting her head as she studied him. "You look like you haven't slept in a month."

James grimaced and ran his hand over his stubbled cheeks. He hadn't slept well at all, most nights he stared at the ceiling missing Anna. There had been no dreams either, which made it even worse. He missed her.

"Yeah, I've been working late every night." He lifted his chin toward the files.

"Sure, we’ll go with that." With a dramatic eye roll, Gwen lifted her writing pad. "You’re traveling nonstop for the next two weeks. You'll be in Boston in two days, Philadelphia for three, and then you head to Singapore. I've scheduled you there for a week because the group buying your subsidiaries is known for taking their own sweet time on deals. But you may be there longer, so don't be surprised if you have to extend for another week or two."

James nodded, dreading the air time in his near future. But it was to be expected considering he was selling off a sizable chunk of his business portfolio.

"Oh, we may also need you in Hong Kong for a short visit while you’re in the region, so be prepared for that." Gwen snagged the top folder from the pile and tossed it in front of him.

"Now let's talk real estate. These are the offers for your mother's apartment and I must say, they're pretty damn competitive. People are paying a significant premium for that location. There are several that are hoping for a fast close, so it can move quickly if you want it to. There are also very nice offers for the Hampton's cottage and the condo in the West Village. I think you'll be happy with all of them."

"Great." James knew he was in bad shape when he wasn't excited about making money.

Gwen scoffed, her mouth going flat. "What is with you? You've been like a zombie stumbling around since you arrived. What's wrong? Did your girlfriend dump you or something?"

James flinched. No, Anna hadn't done anything other than be her complete self. But she may have written him off in his absence. God knows he deserved it. The fact he'd left the way he did without saying goodbye and then ghosting her for the better part of two weeks tore at him. He really needed to connect with her. But his insides were still too raw for a phone call.

"No. Nothing like that." He waved a hand in the air. "I’m just a little off, that's all. I'll take a look at the offers tonight and let you know which ones we'll go with. It'll be nice to get those off my back."

"Get them off your back?" She frowned at him. "Since when have you been worried about having too much real estate? You've been gobbling up every possible listing since I've known you, and that's been a really long time."

James forced his mouth into a tight smile. "Just changing I guess. Besides, the property portfolio I’m building in the Keys isn’t exactly cheap you know."

"Mmmhmm." She gave him another folder, this time handing it over carefully. "This one is from your lawyer and you'll want to read through it carefully. He said the language on the letters of intent are a bit wonky." Gwen used air quotes for that last word. "But if you're okay with most of the details, you could offload your DC properties with a huge profit."

"Sounds good. Anything else?" He couldn't summon up enough energy to care about any of this.

Gwen blinked obnoxiously at him several times and flared her nostrils. "I guess not." She tapped the remaining folders. "Here's the rest of your homework for tonight. Make sure you review everything and let me know how to proceed tomorrow."

"Will do." James turned back to the view, noticing the lack of contrast between the concrete and steel against the gray sky. His phone pinged behind him and Gwen called out as she strolled out the door. "And for the love of god, please answer your messages. Everyone's driving me nuts."

He snatched his phone from his desk, hoping to see another message from Anna. His thumb pressed the text app, and he growled when he saw Gus’s name.

Hey man, we haven’t seen you around in a while. We have some updates for you, so let us know when you can talk. It’s all good news.

With another heavy sigh, he typed out a quick response, letting Gus know he was traveling and out of pocket for at least the next couple of weeks.

That done, he stood and stretched his sore limbs. He'd pushed himself hard yesterday in a grueling workout and today he was paying the price. Now all he wanted to do was go home and go to bed.

His eyes landed on the stack of folders, and he groaned. There'd be no sleep for a while until he went through that paperwork. Gwen would have his head if he didn’t do his “homework”.

He stuffed the pile into his bag and left his office, determined to get home. But his first stop would be his mother's apartment. It was time he found out what she'd left for him.

Two hours later, James strode through the doors of The Lotus. His mother had lived in this building for close to twenty years and it had been her favorite residence. He’d bought her several homes over the years, but she’d always refused to leave this place.

The doorman tipped his hat. “Good afternoon, Mr. Armstrong. Nice to see you again.”

“Hello, George. How’s the family?” James asked as he pulled several bills from his pocket. George had watched over his mother in her later years, something James would always be grateful for.

“Growing!” The burly man boasted, his chest puffing out. “Our first grandchild arrives in a month.”

“That’s fantastic!” He handed over the tip with a nod and pressed the elevator button. “Give my best to your son and daughter-in-law,” he called over his shoulder.

The elevator doors opened and he stepped in, selecting the fifteenth floor. He ignored the pang in his heart as the car doors opened and he stepped out. It had been eight months since he’d been here, just after his mother had passed, and he’d been consumed with grief and guilt. Packing her belongings had been one of the most difficult tasks he’d ever completed and the feelings came back to him with a rush.

This was the last place he wanted to be right now.

Firming his jaw, he unlocked the door and walked in, noting immediately the stale air. When his mother had been alive, the space had always smelled fresh, like the various flower arrangements she’d had throughout her home. And every inch had been crammed with her various keepsakes and antique furniture. She never liked to throw things away.

After packing her belongings, he’d left before the movers removed the furniture. It was strange to see it so empty now.

James walked to the east window that looked out over Central Park, his finger tracing along the window casing, his heart heavy. She’d sit in this spot for hours every day and drink her tea, watching people stroll along the sidewalks, going about their lives.

That’s exactly what he had done—gone about his life without making time or her a priority. He’d give anything to have that time with her again.

He could almost feel her here now, as if she were standing next to him, gazing down on her favorite view, a half smile on her face. She always said she could tell which people were stressed out, depressed, or happy, just by the way they walked in the park. At least it brought her a measure of joy.

James glanced toward her bedroom hallway, her message ringing in his ears. He pushed away the image of Anna, her body stiff as a board, her eyes glassy and voice different, as she’d channeled his mother’s words.

I left something for you in that special hiding place in my apartment. You know where — the closet beside my favorite window. You missed something when you packed up my things. Trust me, you'll need this.

Grumbling out a determined sigh, he moved to her empty bedroom and spotted the misplaced board on the wall between the window and walk-in closet. It was an ingenious hiding spot—most people would never spot the defect. But behind it, was an empty space that was the perfect spot to hide valuables. He’d been so absorbed and shocked when he'd cleared out her belongings that he’d completely forgotten it.

Firming his mouth, he popped the board out and squinted into the dark hole. There was no telling what could be in there, so rather than blindly sticking his hand in, he shone his cell phone’s flashlight. He spotted the small jewelry box immediately, sitting by itself, and carefully retrieved it.

A memory of his mother showing him this box flashed through his mind. He’d been ten, if he remembered correctly, not long after his father had passed away.

This is very important for you, James. This ring is blessed with good fortune and someday, when you’re grown, you will need this. You’ll give this to the woman you’re going to marry and it will bring you a lifetime of happiness. Never forget it.

James choked back the tears as he opened the lid. Of course his mother would remind him of this. Thank god for that—he would have missed this eventually. And there was only one woman he wanted to give this ring to.

Anna…

Suddenly the way he’d left, his final words to Anna, played through his mind: his shock and anger, and the cold announcement that he was leaving. He didn’t even say goodbye, and all because she had given him a message from his mother. The very thing that had ended her previous relationships in heartbreak and what he’d promised he would never do.

He’d call her soon, apologize and explain his reaction. But first, he had business to finish before he could close this chapter of his life.

I’ll make it right with her…somehow.

Anna's gaze followed her hands as she guided the handheld planer over the top of the cabinet, smoothing out the uneven spots and rough edges. This was her favorite part of building furniture, watching the raw wood become art under her fingertips. She lost herself in the rhythm and let the piece create itself. It soothed her tender nerves even though her shoulders and back ached from the repetitive strokes.

It had been two weeks since the disaster, and she welcomed the physical pain. Even though she tried not to think about what happened, a total disaster was the only way she could describe that final morning with James.

She'd put her faith in a man again and he demonstrated why that had been a mistake. She should have seen it coming, known it was inevitable. It had happened time after time after time, but she’d foolishly believed that James was different.

Now she knew better.

For that lesson, she could be grateful. It wouldn't happen again.

It had taken some effort and hours of meditation, but she'd rebuilt her psychic walls and finally felt more in control of her emotions. It had been a gut-wrenching rollercoaster since James left, which now felt like an eternity ago. The days had drug on as she slowly returned to her old life.

She cringed, remembering how she'd texted him the day after he’d left, but it had gone unanswered. There was only heart-shattering silence.

James was ghosting her, and she guessed she could understand why. Receiving a message from his mother, for whom he was still grieving, must have been a jolt to his system, especially when it had come out of nowhere.

But this experience was far more painful for Anna than the others had been.

She had believed James was different than those other fools she'd dated. Her aunt had been right. All her earlier boyfriends had been weak and simple, boys acting like men.

But James had been different. Or so she’d thought.

He was all man, incredibly strong in so many ways and her match in every way. But sometimes, even that wasn’t enough to overcome fear and prejudice.

And even Aunt Louise got it wrong occasionally. To be fair to her aunt, they both had been wrong before. But this time, Anna had been so certain James was the one.

Now here she was, working around the clock to complete this last furniture order for The Majestic as fast as she possibly could. She was determined it would be the last order she would ever complete for James Armstrong and any organization affiliated with him. She’d enjoy the hefty boost in her bank account and focus on making the pieces she loved for the gallery.

Or maybe she'd finally travel like she had always dreamed. After clearing the guilt she’d clung to surrounding her parent’s death, she no longer feared flying. She was free to go wherever she wanted.

The paycheck from these orders, coupled with what she’d banked when James bought out her warehouse, was enough for her to go for as long as she wanted. Suddenly, being gone from Key West for an extended period of time was very appealing.

Anna blew a stream of air across the top of the cabinet, watching with a measure of satisfaction as the sawdust scattered, revealing the deep amber finish.

She loved working with walnut. There was something strangely rewarding in the wood's deep earth tones and texture that truly appealed to her. Of course, it helped that it was also incredibly durable and withstood high humidity environments.

Her computer pinged on the desk across the room and she shot the device an annoyed glare. Now was not the time for interruptions. She was ready to prime the cabinet for the stain finish.

Her frustrations had peaked two days ago when she’d lost her cell phone while supervising a delivery pickup. As she helped load the piece of furniture, she’d unknowingly dropped her phone on the ground and watched in horror as the truck drove over it.

She hadn’t yet determined whether it was a blessing or a curse. But with her schedule stretched to the limit, she’d decided not to replace it right away.

At the time, it had seemed like a logical choice, but now her computer was driving her nuts with the emails flooding in from vendors and clients.

There was another ping and yet another right after. With a short growl of frustration, Anna stood, grimacing as her lower back contracted in protest. She stretched back and forth and blinked as her computer alerted yet again that more emails had arrived.

It was probably Aunt Louise who was busy planning an exciting trip to Italy with Carl. Her enthusiasm was running high and Anna had received plenty of emails over the last several days about their preparations.

With a huff, she ambled over, rolling her head around to loosen her neck, then scrolled to her email.

She stared blankly at the message from Gus, numb at what she read.

Finally got a response from James. He’s out of town for the near future. Let me know when the remainder of The Majestic’s order is ready for delivery. You know how to reach me if you have any problems.

It was like opening the wound all over again. Anna rubbed at the sudden ache in her chest, wondering if the pain would ever go away. James had left Key West and her, and there was no idea when or if he’d ever come back. That he hadn’t bothered to tell her or even respond to her message was telling. He had moved on…and so should she.

It's time to forget him.

That's what her brain wanted. Close the door on what they'd had, consider it a learning experience and leave it at that. But her heart, even wounded as it was, refused.

Anna deleted the email and cleared the rest of her inbox. She’d focus on finishing this damned order and then booking a world tour anywhere James Armstrong wasn’t.

I've heard the west coast of Australia is beautiful.