A Texas Family Reunion (16 page)

He couldn’t wait to tell her his good news.

A
LEX WAS FEELING GOOD
when she reached the office. She’d gotten hold of some photos from the fire at David’s condo that showed a strange burn pattern. She’d taken them to the fire department and gotten their opinion. Now she needed to talk to Will. If he wasn’t there at lunch, she could call him after lunch.

“Alex! You’re back early,” Carrie exclaimed.

Alex looked around her. “Is that a problem?” she asked.

“No, of course not, silly. You just surprised me. What did you find?”

“Some tracks that indicated the fire had been deliberately set. The firemen didn’t see them because it was a night fire followed by a huge five-alarm fire. They
checked their records and they never got back out to that site.”

“Wow! Good catch, Alex,” Jim said.

“Thanks. It made me feel good. So, do you want me to go get lunch, Carrie?”

“Oh! No, that’s all right. Jim has already volunteered to go get lunch. I got lunch the last two days, so I think it’s his turn.”

“Okay. I’ll go tomorrow, though. It’s been a few days since I went.”

She pulled out her chair and settled in, turning on the computer to check for messages.

A few minutes later Alex was busy with her computer, so much so that she didn’t look up when the office door opened—until she heard David say, “Hi, Alex.”

She jumped. “David! What are you doing here?”

“I came to have lunch with you.”

“But Jim was going to get me lunch,” she said, desperately looking for him.

“I called him earlier and told him I’d be taking you to lunch. Come on. I have some good news for you.”

“Did you get the house?”

“I’m not saying anything until we eat. Come on.”

Alex got up and told Carrie she’d be back in an hour. She grabbed her purse and walked to the door with David.

“Are you really not going to tell me until we’re eating? Because I think I can guess.”

“You think so? Well, I have two surprises for you.”

“Two? Oh, my, now I don’t know what to think. But I’m praying you got the house. It seems so perfect for you.”

He reached over for her hand and squeezed it. “Thanks, honey. I appreciate that.”

She smiled at him but didn’t say anything else.

They went to the same Italian restaurant they’d gone to that first day, when he’d come to check on her.

“Oh, I like this restaurant,” Alex said as David parked the car.

“Me, too.” He came around the car as she got out and took her hand in his. Together they walked into the small restaurant. David had made a reservation.

The waiter appeared at their table and offered to bring their drinks while they studied the menu. Alex didn’t ask any questions. She knew he’d tell her to figure out what she wanted to eat first. So when the waiter returned with her diet cola, she told him she wanted lasagna. David ordered the same thing.

As soon as the waiter left their table, Alex said, “All right. I’ve been patient. Now tell me your good news.”

“Okay, you’re right,” David said. “I’ll tell you the good news. Which one do you want first?”

She opened her mouth to respond. Then she closed it quickly and smiled over David’s shoulder. “Hello, Vivian and Will. How are you?”

The pair had just arrived and, spotting David and Alex, came over to say hello. David said, “Would you like to join us?”

“We’d love to unless you want to be alone,” Vivian said.

“No, of course not. We’d love to have company. You can hear David’s good news.”

“How nice of you to come all the way over here to have lunch with Alex, David,” Vivian said with a smile.

“I have some good news I want to share with her.”

Will frowned. “Are you sure you don’t mind us being here?”

Since David had changed sides of the booth, joining Alex, he could assure them with perfect honesty that he didn’t mind. “Of course not. But you have to put up with my announcements.”

Vivian laughed. “No problem.”

“Well, first of all, I got the government contract that Alex and Jim helped us with.”

“Congratulations, David!” Will said at once.

“David, that’s wonderful!” Alex exclaimed. “That’s really good news for the company, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is. We’re going to hire about ten more programmers.”

“So what’s the other good news?” Alex asked eagerly.

A grin spread across David’s face. “I got the house. They accepted my offer and agreed to let me rent the house until closing.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a set of keys.

“Oh, how exciting!” Alex said, hugging him.

Once more David was grateful to Will and Vivian for putting him on Alex’s side of the booth. “Any way you could take the rest of the day off?” he asked.

“Oh, no, sorry, David, but I took time off when you were sick. I can’t—”

“How close are you to finishing the case you’re on?” Will asked.

“Oh! I got pictures showing a burn pattern that confirms the fire at David’s condo was arson. I took them to the fire department and they admitted they didn’t get back to that fire because it was a night job and a five-alarm fire occurred a couple of hours later that tied them all up.”

“You’re serious?” Will said. “That’s great, Alex. Well done. Take the afternoon off. You’ve earned it.”

“But I haven’t talked to the company,” Alex pointed out.

“I’ll take care of that, and I’ll be sure and tell them you’re the one who tracked down the clues.”

“That doesn’t…I mean, I’m not concerned with getting credit. I just…I’ve had a lot of time off.”

“For good reason. And I think this afternoon might be a good reason, too.”

“Yeah, I want to get my house furnished,” David
said. “We’ll be having the party to celebrate the contract on Friday.” He looked at Alex. “You said you’d help me.”

“By Friday?” Alex asked in consternation. “David, you can’t be serious!”

“Yes, I can. We don’t have to finish everything, just the living room and den.”

“And the kitchen. Did you think about the kitchen?”

“No, but you can help Susan with the party ideas and just order finger foods.”

“How many people will be at the party?”

“Well, we have twenty people who worked on the bid. If they’re all there and bring a date, we’ll have forty people.”

“Vivian, what do you think about renting furniture for the weekend?” Alex asked. “The rental place has some decent furniture, and there’s no way to satisfy David’s likes and dislikes by Friday.”

“With only a few days to prepare for the party, I think you’re right,” Vivian said.

“Okay. We can visit the rental place this afternoon.”

“But I still want you to help me furnish it,” David complained.

“And I will, David. I’d love to do that, but not before the party Friday night. That’s impossible. What we can try to do is get you some bedroom furniture by then, so you can live there.”

“Oh, good.”

W
HEN THEY LEFT
the restaurant, David followed Alex’s directions to the rental place. He was amazed at the quality of the furniture. Alex chose a three-part sofa that would fill much of the room. She added several easy chairs in contrasting shades of blue. Then she chose a dining room table with a dozen matching chairs.

“I think that will be enough for the party. Now we need to go to a furniture store and find a bed you’ll like, along with the box spring and mattress.”

“Good. I look forward to getting my own bed.”

“So mine’s not any good?” Alex asked.

“No, honey, that’s not what I meant. I’m just eager to have my own house again. To own my bed and any other furniture, so if I mess up, I’m the one responsible.”

“All right, I won’t tease you anymore. Here are the names of several nice furniture stores. Which one do you want to go to first?”

He picked one of the furniture stores and there they found a large bed that David loved. It had a large dresser that went with it and two bedside tables. David bought it all. It could all be delivered tomorrow.

David said nothing until they reached the parking lot. Then he lifted Alex and spun her around. He lowered her back to her feet and kissed her.

Her cheeks turned bright red. David looked at her and apologized at once. “Sorry, I got carried away. You were so perfect, all I could think of was saying thank you.”

“That’s all right,” she said, turning away from him,
afraid of what he might see in her face. “Now we need to buy linens so we’ll be ready when your bed arrives. Shall we go to a department store?”

“Yeah, sure,” he agreed. They got in the car and he drove them to the closest store. Alex picked up blue linens for the bed. Then she bought blue towels to go in the master bath. “Look at the bed coverlets and see if you find one you like. I’m going to pick up yellow towels for the guest bath.”

She hurried off to find yellow towels. When she got back, David had chosen the most expensive coverlet the store offered.

“David, they have less expensive coverlets.”

“Don’t you like it?”

“Yes, I love it! But I don’t want you to spend that much money if you can’t afford it.”

He leaned over and kissed her lips again. “I promise I can afford it, honey. I have my insurance check.”

“Okay,” she said, flustered. She turned to the saleslady and let her know they were taking everything, then helped the saleslady package up their purchases.

When they got out of the store, David suggested they go to the house.

“Oh, we can’t. I have to go put the sheets in the washing machine.”

“I told Susan we would meet them there after work to show them our house.”

“I think we can still make it if I take the packaging
off the sheets on the way to my place. Then we can head straight over to your house.”

“Okay, I’ll hurry.”

“But don’t get a ticket!”

“I won’t, honey,” he promised with a wicked grin.

“Behave yourself.” She had all the linens ready to go. She carried them into the condo and put them in the washing machine. Once she had it started, she headed back outside where David sat in the car.

“Okay, I’m ready.”

“Good, I missed you.”

When they reached David’s new house, they found Pete and Susan waiting in Pete’s car. David and Alex got out of David’s car and met the other couple at the front door. After they raved about the beauty of the house, Alex told them about the plans they’d made for the party on Friday and the furniture they’d rented.

David said, “After the party, Alex and I will have time to furnish the place properly.”

“But you can’t move in until you get some furniture.”

“Well, I have bought a bed, and I thought I’d go back to that store and buy some bar stools to use at the breakfast bar.”

Alex laughed. “Then you’ll only need food.”

“Rats! Can we go shopping tonight?” he asked Alex.

“Yes, of course, but we should eat dinner first. I’ve heard you buy the wrong groceries if you go when you’re hungry.”

Pete spoke up. “Let us buy you dinner to celebrate your new house.”

“That’s not necessary, Pete,” David protested.

“Yes, it is. And we’ll let you buy us dinner when we get married.”

“All right. We’ll enjoy that,” David said with a smile.

They left the house to head for Outback, their favorite steak house. During dinner, they remembered their first meal there, when Susan was trying to catch Pete.

Susan protested, but Pete seemed pleased to know that even then she’d wanted him. “But I’ll admit I was a little surprised by you two. I understood Alex was his cousin, not his love interest.”

Alex spoke up quickly. “He said I had to come to make the numbers even,” she said with a smile.

At the same time David said, “Yeah, we were just learning about each other.”

Alex and Pete looked confused. Susan grinned. “I knew it! That’s wonderful, David!”

“What is she saying?” Alex asked.

“I’ll explain later, honey.” David frowned at his cousin.

“Shall we order a Chocolate Thunder from Down Under?” Susan hurriedly asked.

“Good idea, Susan.” David waved for the waiter and placed the order. Then he introduced another subject.

When they went home to Alex’s condo that evening, Alex hadn’t forgotten her question. “What did you mean?”

“She meant she’d figured out why I suggested inviting you.”

“To make the numbers even?”

“No, honey, that’s just what I told her. And she didn’t care what my reason was as long as it got her what she wanted.”

“Well, why did you invite me?”

David released a big sigh. He turned around to gaze levelly at Alex. Moving toward her, he reached out to take her hands in his. “What I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you.”

“Tell me what?”

“That I want you.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. Alex felt her head spinning. Her arms went around his neck and she pressed against him. Her blood raced and she didn’t bother to think through his explanation, because he was doing exactly what she wanted him to do.

When he swept her up into his arms and carried her to his bed, she gave in to her dreams and urged him on. All reason fled her mind. All she could think of was David.

D
AVID PLACED HER
on his bed and then lay down beside her. “Oh, Alex, I’ve been wanting to—” She kissed him, interrupting whatever he’d intended to say. And he had no idea what it had been. She knocked words out of his head. Her silky hair brushed against him, and he ran his fingers through it.

When his skin touched hers, he wanted to kiss every inch of her. But every time he began kissing her skin, she urged him back to her lips and he forgot what he’d intended to do. Then he began removing clothes. When both of them were naked, David whispered her name. “Alex, are you sure?”

“Yes.”

When he entered her, he was shocked to discover she was a virgin. “Alex!” he gasped.

“Don’t leave me!” she urged.

“No, no, I won’t.” He held her tightly and began a rocking motion that brought them both to completion. Then they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

W
HEN HE AWOKE
in the morning, David was alone. He got out of bed, finding his clothes all over the room. He hurriedly showered so he could talk to Alex. But when he was dressed and made it to the kitchen, he found only a note. Hoping to read a love note, he got a matter-of-fact reminder about the deliveries to be made today, sitting on top of folded sheets and towels.

He looked at his watch and realized he was late for work. Was Alex at work already? He grabbed the phone and dialed her office number. When Carrie answered, he asked for Alex.

“I’m sorry, David. Alex went out to look at a new case she got this morning.”

“When do you expect her to be back?”

“I’m not sure. Shall I ask her to call when she gets back?”

“Yes, please. I’ll be at my office until I go to the house to meet the delivery men.”

“I’ll give her the message,” Carrie assured him.

After she hung up the phone, she turned to her husband. “I think I’ve discovered the reason for Alex’s distraction this morning.”

“Was Alex distracted? I didn’t notice it.” Jim was busy with his latest case.

“Of course you didn’t. You’re a man.”

“Whoa, sweetheart. What did I do wrong?”

Carrie shook her head. “Not much. But Alex was…upset this morning and you didn’t even notice.”

“So what do you think upset her?”

“Your brother, of course.”

“What did he do?”

“I don’t know. We’ll see what she says when I give her David’s message.”

David called again just before one o’clock. “Has Alex not come in yet?”

“No, David, she hasn’t.”

“Damn! Oh, sorry, Carrie. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome, David. Sorry I couldn’t help you.”

Fifteen minutes later, Alex came into the office, carrying some lunch she’d stopped and bought on the way. “Have you had lunch, Carrie? I can go back out and get you some.”

“No, I’ve already eaten. We thought you’d be back sooner.”

Alex avoided her gaze. “Sorry if I took too long.”

“No, of course you didn’t. But David called. Twice. He seemed anxious to talk to you.”

“I don’t think he’ll be at the office now. I’ll talk to him later.”

A few minutes later, the phone rang again. “Of course, just a minute.” Carrie turned to Alex. “It’s your cousin, Susan.”

Alex picked up the receiver. “Hello?”

“Hi, Alex,” David said.

“David? I thought this was Susan.”

“I had Susan ask for you because I didn’t think you’d take a call from me.”

“I thought you’d be at your new house.”

“I am. I’m using Susan’s cell phone.”

“Did your bedroom furniture arrive?”

“Yeah, it looks great. Are you coming here after work?”

“I don’t think I’ll be able to.”

“When will you be home?”

After a short silence, she said, “I’ve got some shopping to do. I may not be home until very late. You should go ahead and go to bed.”

“I’ll wait up.”

“Suit yourself,” she said, and hung up the phone.

When it rang again, Alex immediately said, “I’m not here, Carrie.”

Carrie nodded at Alex even as she answered. “Greenfield and Associates.”

“No, David, she left as soon as she hung up. I’m sorry. Do you want to leave a message?”

“No. Just tell her I’ll wait up.”

“I’ll certainly do that.”

After she hung up, Carrie turned to Alex. “He said to tell you he’d wait up.”

Alex covered her face and groaned.

“Alex, is there something I can do for you?” Carrie asked.

“Yes. You can tell me where the closest hotel is.”