Read Online Larissa Learns to Breathe by Ruby Laska - Free Book Online Page B

like to extend a warm welcome to our newest staff members. Amelia, Larissa, I trust you had a pleasant journey?”
    Silence filled the room as everyone looked to Amelia—and then searched for Larissa.
    Tommy felt his face redden, even though no one could know that he was the last person to see Larissa—literally—in the flesh.
    â€œGood morning, sir,” Amelia’s cultured voice rang out. “Amelia here. Everything is quite satisfactory. I’m sure Larissa would agree, but she was unfortunately detained.”
    She smiled placidly at the speakerphone, not meeting any of the curious gazes. Tommy had to admire her chutzpah—and her loyalty. His estimation of the woman rose a few notches.
    Rafe began his usual status inquiries, not pressing Amelia for further details. So that was a bullet dodged, in more ways than one. Had no one emailed Rafe to let him know about last night’s fiasco? He wondered if he’d underestimated his colleagues; had discretion won out over the urge to gossip?
    In Tommy’s experience, that was rarely the way things played out. The people he’d worked with—even at the world-renowned research facility—couldn’t resist the temptation of gossip and conjecture. The newest employees usually had to endure some minor hazing, even if it was as innocent as getting stuck with the worst shifts or the smallest cubicle. But as the various department heads checked in to let Rafe know about their progress toward opening day, he noted that not one of them had anything unkind to say. There were no subtle jabs or snubs. Everyone seemed to be truly pulling together toward the common goal of getting Cupid Island open for business.
    â€œTommy Reid,” Rafe’s voice carried through the room. “How are we doing with the beach outpost?”
    Tommy snapped out of his reverie and updated Rafe on what he’d already shared with Bill: the kinks in the water supply to the beach shack had been worked out; the industrial coolers were on pallets, waiting to be installed; and the matching fabric for the chaises had been located and the outdoor cushions were being fabricated in Miami on a rush order.
    â€œHow’s that lab of yours, Tommy?” Rafe asked, and Tommy found himself reporting that Bluebell was fine, and the conversation had moved on to other things before he even realized that he didn’t remember ever telling Rafe what breed she was.
    But he had more pressing things to focus on. Larissa still wasn’t here, and the meeting had been underway for nearly thirty-five minutes. What’s more, he hadn’t heard Bluebell’s telltale woof in quite a while, even though the windows were open and one of the gardeners had promised to keep an eye on her.
    Something was wrong. He caught Amelia’s eye, and noted that she too looked worried. And maybe a little bit disappointed.
    Was it possible that even Amelia was wondering whether Larissa had simply given up and gone home? Without apologizing, without trying to explain?
    That couldn’t be right. Granted, Tommy had known Larissa only for a short time, but in that time he’d seen her laugh and cry, hold everything in and bare her heart, fear the worst and be brave in the face of fear. Larissa might like to believe she was the soul of discretion, but she was also an open book…at least to him.
    Tommy was extremely good with data, but he liked to believe he was pretty good with people, too. It was one of his better qualities that he saw the best in people, but he was realistic. There were plenty of people in the world who were short on courage, but Larissa—despite what she might think—was not one of them. It took a lot of guts to reinvent herself a second time only months after launching a new career. And a woman who was capable of that was certainly capable of facing up to her mistakes.
    When Larissa had told him that she’d be at the meeting, she hadn’t been