The Promise - By Danielle Steel Page 0,41
quite sure how to take that.” But he wasn't particularly worried about it.
“As a compliment.” She smiled at him from under long auburn lashes.
“Thank you. Is Ben treating you decently or is he the slave driver I tell him to be?”
“He wouldn't know how.”
“I know.” Mike smiled at the thought. “We've known each other for half our lives. He's like my brother.”
“He's a hell of a nice man.”
Mike nodded silently, thinking how little he had seen of Ben in the past year. He never had time. He never made time. He didn't even know what was happening in Ben's life. It had been months since he'd taken the time to find out. It made him feel guilty as he sat next to the girl, lost in his own thoughts. But a lot had changed for him in the past year. He had changed.
“You're a long way away, Mr. Hillyard. Someplace pleasant, I hope.”
He shrugged. “Spring does strange things to me. It kind of makes me stop from year to year and take stock. I think that's what I was doing today.”
“That's a nice idea. For some reason, I always do that in September. I think the idea of the ‘school year’ marked me forever. A lot of other people take stock in January. But spring makes the most sense. Everything is starting again, so why wouldn't we start our lives again each spring?” They exchanged a smile and Michael looked out over the little lake, still except for a few contented-looking ducks. There were no other people in sight. “What were you doing this time last year?” She went on. It was an innocent question, but it cut through him like a knife. A year ago on that day …
“Nothing very different from what I'm doing now.” He furrowed his brow, looked at his watch, and stood up. “I'm afraid I have a meeting in ten minutes. I'd better be getting back. But it was nice chatting with you.” He barely smiled at her before striding away, and she sat there wondering what she had said. She'd have to ask Ben sometime what was wrong with the guy. You couldn't get within a thousand miles of him.
Chapter 14
Much to Michael's surprise, Wendy was scheduled into the same meeting he was, ten minutes later. Ben had wanted her there. They were going to discuss the very early plans for the San Francisco Medical Center, and Interior Design would be a big factor. A lot of local art would be used to highlight the basic design. Ben was going to take care of finding that art himself, but Wendy would be doing a lot of the coordinating on the home front—more than usual, since Ben would be in San Francisco a lot of the time. The project was, of course, a long way away, but it was time to start working out the plans and the problems and the details.
It was a long, demanding, interesting meeting, run in great part by Marion, with George Calloway's assistance. But Michael took an almost equal part in the proceedings. This project was his; his mother had wanted it to be, from the first. Every major architectural firm in the country had been lusting after this job, and Marion intended to use it to establish Michael's name and reputation in the business.
It was almost six o'clock when the meeting ended, and Wendy was drained. She had presented her ideas well, stood up to Marion when she had to, and made a great deal of sense to Mike. Ben was proud of her and patted her on the shoulder as they left.
“Nice job, kid. Damn nice job.” He was called away by his secretary then, and Wendy continued down the corridor alone. She was surprised when Mike stopped her, too.
“I was very impressed with your work, Wendy. I think that together we're going to pull off a beautiful job out there.”
“So do I.” She virtually glowed with the praise, and from him of all people. “I … Michael, I… I'm really sorry if I said anything to offend you this afternoon. I really didn't mean to pry, and if it was an inappropriate question, I'm awfully …”
He felt a pang for her discomfiture and put up a hand to stop her as he smiled gently down at her. “I was rude and I apologize. I guess spring fever makes me crazy as well as dreamy. Can I make it up to you this evening with dinner?” He