This Was Meant To Be

“So, how’s the party looking? There will be rubbery chicken later, won’t there? The hors d’oeuvres are good. Ooh, stuffed mushrooms? I love mushrooms!”

“Let me get one for you, ma’am,” said the young lad, and he was back so quickly that Leigh wondered how he hadn’t gotten whiplash.

“You must be putting yourself through college to get a degree in saving lives,” said Leigh, and she was only teasing a bit.

He blushed, but looked very pleased.

“Well, I wondered if I’d find you here.”

Leigh felt welcome pleasure run through her as she heard the voice right behind her.

“Thanks. I’m good for now, I think. I’ll signal you in Morse if I feel weak again. Watch my eyelids, I’ll blink,” she told the waiter before she turned around.

The grin was instinct. It was the kind of grin Leigh didn’t often give people, and it was blinding. Harrison, though, would always rate that happiness, because seeing him made her incredibly happy.

“Harrison! Now I don’t have to be bored stiff,” said Leigh.

Harrison chuckled.

“Been a while,” he said, handing her a glass of wine and slipping and arm around her shoulder casually, comfortably.

Leigh let herself lean on him, just a bit. She needed a bit of support that evening. It wasn’t hard to admit that.

“Too long. I missed you. But you’ve been doing very well, Harrison. We’re all very proud of you.”

Harrison took the soft praise without looking for anything underneath it. He knew that Leigh said what she meant, most of the time. He’d often teased her that that, in itself, might disqualify her as a lawyer.

Still…

“Still going down that disreputable road?”

Leigh punched him lightly on the shoulder.

“It’s not going to be disreputable the way I plan to do it. Anyway, what’re you doing here? I tried to get you to come to one of these things once and I gave up. It takes a lot to make me give up, you know.”

Harrison laughed.

“I know. But apparently, I pledged quite a bit of money and I’m expected here. Anna told me so in no uncertain terms.”

Leigh grinned. She liked Anna. She’d only met her a couple of times, but she was just what Leigh wanted to grow up to be, except that she also wanted to be in charge.

“When Anna cracks the whip, there’s no escaping her will,” teased Leigh.

Harrison nodded with a comical look of subservience on his face.

Leigh could feel eyes on her. Harrison was incredible good looking, and had a way of being the focus of attention even if he did nothing to seek it. His deep blue eyes were emotive when he was relaxed. His dark blonde hair had just a hint of wave, and was often a bit too long. He was tall enough to make her feel small, and he had a lean, rangy build that was stronger than it looked.

He had never lacked for female company. Even in school, once he’d started growing into his limbs, he had found himself extremely popular.

When he put on his glasses to work, though, he was irresistible. The look of intense concentration in his eyes made women think of what that kind of focus on bringing them pleasure could do.

Well, women in general, Leigh told herself hastily. Not her, of course. He was her annoying big brother, and that was that.

Adoptive big brother, perhaps, but they’d known each for all their lives. Her job was to tease him and be a pain in the ass, and she was exceedingly good at that.

“I bet she made you wear the tux, too!”

Harrison fidgeted.

“She did! Well, she chose well. You look very handsome. You should probably let it be known that I’m your sister, I don’t think a lot of them know that. You’ll have to go home alone if they think I’ve already got my claws into you.”

Harrison shuddered.

“Please! You know I hate making conversation with them. You are my cover for the evening.”

Leigh raised her eyebrows at that declaration.

“You know that you’re technically one of them, right? Somebody with enough personal wealth to join their ranks? I’m just a representative, and I’m expected to mingle and get business. And say the right things to all the right people.”

Harrison sighed.

Leigh found that the mocking, exaggerated sigh didn’t irritate her like the long suffering ones did.

“All right, half an hour. I’ll make your job easier by making the rounds with you for half an hour, and then we catch up. How’s that for a deal?”

Leigh’s eyes twinkled.

“That’s an excellent deal. Come on, then,” said Leigh, and steered Harrison through the crowd skillfully, making sure she hit all her talking points, and even making sure that Harrison hit enough of his to make Anna happy.

She was surprised that the half hour went by much faster than she’d expected. She had forgotten how much she enjoyed Harrison’s company, and that irreverent sense of humor she’d always found so engaging.

Finally, Harrison called time.

“That’s it, Leigh. I’ve done my time, now I want my fun. Let’s go find a spot where I won’t be hounded by a million people with a billion worthy causes that seem to need trillions that I definitely don’t have,” said Harrison, and Leigh saw that he really was tired.

Poor guy, thought Leigh. He really didn’t like affairs like this.

“We’ve done enough, I think. I’ve definitely earned my pay, such as it is. Once I suffer through the rubbery chicken – I’ve confirmed that we’re going to have to suffer through rubbery chicken – I’ll have paid my dues for many of my sins, too.”

Harrison chuckled, delighted by Leigh, as always.

As they wandered through the banquet hall, he watched Leigh, and knew that she was finally relaxed enough to take in the perfectly elegant décor, the flowers, the carefully arranged orchestra who were doing a pretty good job, all the people – everything.

He knew what her reaction would be, and watched for it. Right on cue, she wrinkled her nose.