Shackled Lily Read online

  Robbie laughed and nodded. “Noted.”

  “What made you chose Western?” I asked after eating a few bites of our meal.

  “My dad’s an alumni, so it was just always where I would go. Not much of a story.”

  I watched his mannerisms as he spoke and was surprised that I didn’t see any bitterness in that statement. It intrigued me so I pried a little more. “So most of the ‘spoiled rich guys’ I know, no offense, are one of two types. Either they do whatever their daddy says and secretly hate it, or they become completely rebellious and add nothing but disgrace to the family name. I have a feeling you fall into that first category.”

  Robbie laughed again and shook his head. “Nope, I’m afraid I don’t fall into either. I’ve known from early on what my role was to be, and it became very clear that if I played my part well, I got whatever I wanted. While friends of mine are worried about finding a job, I have one waiting for me in my father’s company as soon as I graduate in May. Can’t see why I’d be bitter about that.”

  “You’re a senior?” I asked, completely dismissing the other things he mentioned.

  “Yeah, aren’t you?”

  “Nope, just a sophomore, thank God. I’d be freaking out if I was a senior already.”

  “Huh, that’s surprising.”

  “Why?”

  “Because that Marketing class fills up the first week of registration, mostly by seniors.”

  “Well, I have a dad who likes to pull strings,” I explained flatly.

  “And you don’t like it when he does that?”

  “Let’s just say that his strings usually complicate my life.”

  Robbie leaned across the table and smiled. “Ah, Daddy issues, just like every other spoiled rich girl I know. Come on, Isadora, I thought you were trying to impress me.” Robbie’s eyes were unreadable, but there was no doubt he had seen right through me.

  “Touché,” I said arching an eyebrow at him, ignoring the fact that he had called me Isadora. It didn’t bother me, but definitely confirmed that this guy had no problem being bold. Everything Robbie did was deliberate, the way he spoke, walked and even his laugh felt managed and controlled in a way that exuded confidence and authority, so I knew his use of my middle name was intentional.

  We finished up and walked back out to his car, the driver getting our door the minute we approached.

  “Where should we go to next?” he asked as we got settled.

  “Oh, you think I enjoyed our lunch enough to spend more time with you?” I asked sarcastically, sending a coy smile his way.

  Robbie watched me intensely, his eyes darkening just a little. “We can do whatever you want. Name it and I’ll make it happen.”

  I felt a little lost for words. There was something very intriguing about Robbie, but I also felt my stomach flip nervously when he looked at me like that. For the first time ever, I felt as if I’d met my match. However, I was unwilling to relent in the standoff he had started, so I matched his stare, letting my green eyes penetrate his. “I want to fly.”

  I saw Robbie’s mouth move into a smile that showed he was pleased with my response, and then pulled out his cell phone without ever taking his eyes off me. Fifteen minutes later we were pulling into a large field where I saw a small plane and hang glider waiting.

  “Are you serious?” I screamed as we got out of the car.

  “I said I would make it happen. Have you ever been hang gliding before?”

  I was practically jumping up and down squealing with excitement and noticed how Robbie just hung back and watched me, his face showing complete satisfaction at my joy. I ran back to him and grabbed his hand, pulling him with me towards the plane.

  “Come on!” I squealed. He came willingly, and I realized he looked genuinely happy, the controlled armor lowered for just a moment.

  The next several minutes were a blur. The pilot instructed me on what was going to happen, put a helmet on me and then got us both strapped in the glider. The harness was a full body one, and Robbie was at the bottom. I was strapped above his back. My adrenaline was surging at this point in anticipation when they asked if I was ready.

  “Yes,” I screamed pumping my fist in the air. “Let’s go.”

  I heard Robbie laugh again, but my focus was suddenly lost when the plane took off with us in tow. The wind ripped at my face as we accelerated, and my stomach dropped the minute we were airborne. For a moment, the world came to a standstill, and the screaming in my head went silent. I was flying, and it was the most exhilarating experience of my life. I put out my arms, mimicking an airplane, and felt nothing but peace. I could hear Robbie trying to show me things, but I wasn’t listening. I didn’t want to think about him or remember I was on a glider. I just wanted to soar like a bird, free to make my own choices and decisions, free from the tyrannical control of my father, and free from the unexplainable draw I had to the only man who could break my heart.

  I felt the glider drop suddenly when the cord connecting us to the plane detached, and I opened my eyes just to make sure we were ok. I didn’t feel fear, but if I was going to die, I didn’t want it to be a surprise. Robbie was in complete control, guiding us through the air with precision and grace. The ground below looked so small and insignificant that I wondered if I too was just dust in the wind. I had yet to do anything remarkable with my life, and the idea of that felt a little disappointing. I shook it off, reminding myself that I didn’t care, and just watched the ground slowly approach us as Robbie brought us in for a perfect landing.

  As soon as we were stripped out of our harnesses, I pulled off my helmet and shook my hair free, delight covering my face. “That was the most amazing experience I’ve ever had. Thank you.” I flew into his arms with such force that I almost knocked him over.

  Our hug suddenly became a kiss as Robbie’s hand settled on the back of my neck. It was everything a first kiss should be, soft and careful, warm and exciting, and Robbie certainly knew what he was doing. I kissed him back whole heartedly, satisfied in the fact that his kiss sent no butterflies to my stomach or stirred up emotion that made my knees go weak. There was no fiery passion that I had to bury or tears I had to keep at bay. No, this was a kiss I could control.

  Robbie slowly released me and smiled. “You are an extraordinary woman, even more so than I imagined you would be.”

  “So you’ve been imagining me? For what, the fifteen minutes we spent in class?” I teased, trying to understand his comment.

  “Something like that,” Robbie admitted, his eyes completely unreadable. He kept his arm around my shoulder and guided me to his car. Time had flown by so fast today that I hardly noticed it was pushing five o’clock. Robbie opened the door for me, and I slid in, but he shut the door, leaving to discuss something with his driver. I took the opportunity to check my phone and see who had texted me. Candace had replied that she was watching her brother tonight, so she couldn’t hang out. She did invite me to her church again, which I politely declined. Between Avery and Candace, the subject of God was coming up constantly and honestly starting to annoy me a little.

  The only other text I cared about was from Jake who sent me a picture of himself holding keys. The caption read: Living a little…finally agreed to move in with a work buddy. It’s the ultimate bachelor pad. What about you?

  Me: I went flying today…top that one! Oh, I better get a set of those keys. What does your new roommate look like anyway?

  Jake: Don’t even think about it.

  I started to laugh and was so engaged in texting him back that I hardly noticed Robbie get back into the car. He cleared his throat, bringing me out of my bantering session with Jake. I threw my phone back into my purse and smiled up at him. His face was unreadable, but that intense look that made me nervous was back. “Everything ok?” he asked in a calm tone.

  “Absolutely.” I was trying to stay lighthearted and ease some of the tension that was suddenly between us. “I was bragging to my cousin, Jake, that I went flying.”
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  Robbie’s face immediately relaxed, giving him back his charming demeanor. “Ah, Jake’s your cousin.” It was a statement, not a question, and seemed to close the discussion somehow. “So, I’m not quite ready to call it a day yet. Any way our adventure kept you interested enough to join me for dinner? Our estate is not far from here, and I already made arrangements for someone to go get your car if you want to come.”

  I studied him for a minute, trying to decide if I trusted him or not. He had been a complete gentleman all day, but periodically I would get the nagging sense that there was something else going on in his head. “Robbie, I appreciate the offer, but I really don’t know you well enough to go to your house alone or give you my car keys.”

  “I have a house full of employees, one who has raised me since I was a baby. I promise you, Isadora, we will never be alone. Dinner on the veranda, out by the pool, watching the sun set. Come on, you can’t turn that one down,” he urged.

  “You assume I’m a romantic, Robbie. I’m not.” I made sure to keep eye contact when I said it so there was no confusion. I had decided after Ben that I would never again tie myself to one person, and I was starting to get that vibe from Robbie.

  “I would never dare to assume anything about you,” he promised, taking my hand in his. “Just have dinner with me.”

  I considered my other option, dinner with my father and Anna, and decided that dinner with Robbie was actually the least offensive of the two.

  “Well, you did take me flying, and really that alone should get you another meal with my extraordinary company,” I said dramatically, flipping my hair back and intentionally using the same term he did earlier.

  He cocked another side grin and then told the driver where to go.

  12. ROBBIE

  Estate was the absolute right word to describe Robbie’s house. We had to navigate through two separate security gates to enter the property, and then the house alone was large enough to be one of our campus buildings. Rarely was I affected by wealth or extravagant living, but even I had to admit his home was remarkable. It captured all the grandeur and beauty one would expect from a North Carolina mansion, complete with an oversized water fountain sitting just adjacent to the driveway.

  The driver opened our door, and Robbie took my hand to lead me to his house.

  “Wait, I want to make a wish,” I announced, changing our direction back to the fountain.

  Robbie gave me a confused stare, but followed along anyway. I pulled two pennies out of my purse and was shocked when I saw the pristine bottom of the fountain pool. “Don’t you ever use this thing?”

  Robbie just continued to slant his eyes at me as if he was trying to figure me out. I shook my head and handed him a penny. “Close your eyes and make a wish.”

  His side grin reappeared as he did what I asked. We stood there quietly until I said to throw it in. I wished for the same thing I had since I was a little girl—a different life. It was always my hope that one day I would wake up in a completely different world and be told this was all a dream. When I finally opened my eyes, Robbie was watching me again, his eyes back to the dark intensity that gave me chills.

  “What did you wish for?” I asked playfully, trying to get that look to go away.

  Robbie grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him. “I already got my wish,” he admitted right before kissing me again, this time with much more force than the first one. I responded again, but was starting to get a little concerned about where this was going.

  When I pulled back I made sure there was some distance between us. “Robbie, I like you, but I want to be honest right away. I don’t do the relationship thing…at all. I just don’t want there to be any confusion after today. I mean, we can hang out and have fun, but that’s really all I’m capable of.” Something told me Robbie was not easily manipulated, so I needed to be straight with him, or I had a feeling I’d end up at girlfriend status before I ever knew what hit me.

  He smiled with such confidence and assurance that I wondered if he even heard what I said until he pulled me back to him and whispered in my ear, “There is no confusion, Isadora. I know exactly where I stand.”

  I eased away from him, satisfied with his response, but still concerned with his body language. He wrapped his arm around me again and guided us back to his house. The inside was no less grand than the outside. The style was similar to my father’s, although less tacky and more expensive. It still felt cold and overdone, much like a museum full of priceless artifacts that were to be seen and not touched.

  “So did you do all of this yourself?” I asked teasingly, trying to gauge if this was his style too or if he was subject to his parents like I was.

  “No, this is definitely my mom’s doing. But I do appreciate fine things. Every piece in this house is rare and often a one-of-a-kind. Some pieces took years to negotiate and procure.” He watched my reaction when he spoke, and I sensed a double meaning in it. His mood then switched abruptly as he led me out to the back of the house.

  It was breathtaking and much more my style. A stone walkway led us out to the grounds where the space was divided into three separate areas. The main area was filled with a large rectangular pool that appeared to have no boundary on the far end, leaving the water to simply cascade off the side. On the left, a large fireplace was surrounded by plush chairs and tables. Nearby sat a stone hot tub with steps that also descended into the pool. To my right was a covered veranda, complete with a dining table and chairs. Large white draperies were tied to each pillar giving it a whimsical look. The view consisted of plush gardens with flowers of every color and style.

  I watched as Robbie snapped off a fresh daisy and tucked it into my hair with a smile. “Now this is my domain, and you look as beautiful in it as I thought you would.” I let him guide me through the gardens, explaining the different plants to me. I realized that while I enjoyed his company, being with him suddenly made me feel ten years older. He was intelligent and knowledgeable, but every move was so precise that I wondered if he planned each step out in his head before taking it. I resisted the urge to just start tickling him, if anything just to see what it would do to his controlled movement.

  When I couldn’t take it anymore, I yelled, “Stop. I feel like I’m on a tour. This is no way to enjoy a yard.” I started to tug on his arm a little, giving him a mischievous grin before taking off in a sprint towards the only open grassy area, my body language urging him to chase me. I watched him hang back a little before taking off after me. He caught me by the waist, and I pushed him over, sending both of us to the ground with a soft thud. I was laughing uncontrollably at this point and started tickling him until he finally pinned me to the ground with his body covering mine.

  “Are you always this wild?” he asked breathless after the laughter stopped. His eyes were sparkling, and I got to see a hint of a boy in there.

  I grinned up at him. “Oh I’m just getting started. I haven’t even had a drink today.”

  A second later his mouth was over mine, hungrier and more persistent than either time before. I eagerly kissed him back, rolling him over until I was on top and in control again. I felt his hand start to move up my leg and under my dress, but I didn’t stop him. I wanted to be lost in the moment, free to do whatever felt good. However, a persistent buzzing from my phone ended the kiss, and I finally jumped off of him to answer it. “What?” I scoffed into the phone when I saw it was Grant.

  “Where are you? It’s past seven, and your dad is about to lose it.” I looked down at my watch and cringed. I had completely forgotten about the seven sharp rule in the house.

  “I’m with a friend. Tell my dad I’m not going to make dinner tonight.”

  I could hear Grant let out a sigh as his voice tensed up. “Tell him yourself,” he said and seconds later I heard my father’s stern voice.

  “Kaitlyn, you know I expect you at this dinner table by seven. Where are you?”

  I rolled my eyes and winked at Robbie who had pulled him
self back into the controlled gentleman. “I’m with a friend I met in class today. Trust me, Daddy, you would blissfully approve.”

  “Your marketing class?” he asked as his voice took on a pleased tone.

  “Yep. I’m going to have dinner with him and then I’ll be home, ok?”

  My father cheerfully agreed which struck me as odd, but I chalked it up to the fact that he realized my friend was a business major.

  “Unbelievable,” I said after hanging up. “My dad waits until I’m almost twenty years old to try and be fatherly. Go figure.”

  Robbie smiled and pulled me up off the ground. “Maybe he just sees that you’re a woman now and wants the best for you.”

  “Robbie, I’ll let you in on a little secret. Defending my father is the quickest way possible to put me in a terrible mood.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” he replied as he led us back to the veranda, where a full meal complete with a bottle of red wine awaited us. Robbie pulled out my seat, and pushed it in once I was settled, before taking the one right next to me. I watched him as he moved like royalty at the dinner table. I felt as if I needed to draw on all of the training my mother had imparted on me just to get through the dinner. I mimicked her, eating delicate bites while quietly making conversation. I couldn’t figure out why I actually cared to play along with the charade, but it just seemed fitting in this environment, next to Robbie’s mannerisms.

  “So I get the feeling Western wasn’t your first choice,” Robbie stated as he filled my glass.

  “Not at all. No offense,” I answered. Robbie arched an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything. “I’ve actually been at Winsor, up by Asheville, since I graduated.”

  “I’m familiar,” he stated with a nod.

  “Well, on New Year’s, I had a little too much to drink, and Walla, I was whisked away to my father’s house and put in his protective custody. My sentence is up in August.”

  “What happens in August?”

  “I go back to Winsor, of course. Western is just to appease my dad. But don’t go telling our group that,” I teased with a smile. “I don’t want them to know that I could really care less about our little project.”