Lone Star Courtship (13 page)

“Oh my goodness,” she complained.

“Did you see the flowers from the Cartel?” Savannah's voice carried into the bathroom.

“What are you talking about?” Casey asked as she opened the door and let her friend slip inside.

“In your bedroom.” Savannah pointed toward the master suite. “There's a huge arrangement of yellow roses from the Cartel. Doc brought them by to congratulate you on swinging the city council vote to resume construction.”

“Oh, great!” Casey squeezed her eyes tight and pressed the heels of her hands to her temples. “So I looked like roadkill in front of my construction partners as well as the man of my dreams.”

“The man of your dreams, huh?”

Casey covered her mouth. “Did I say that out loud?”

“You certainly did.” Savannah smiled her approval and moved to the far side of the garden-style bathroom where they were less likely to be overheard. She settled on the edge of the deep marble tub and motioned for her friend to provide details. “So, tell.”

Casey hung her head, not sure where to start.

“That bad, huh?”

“The worst.”

“You're really taken with him, aren't you?”

She raised her eyes knowing she couldn't hide the tears of overwhelming emotion that had pooled and were ready to spill over.

“Oh, my!” Her friend mouthed the words.

“I've never known anything like this. Never believed it was even possible to feel so strongly in such a short time.” She put her hands over her face, hiding her eyes even as she exposed the truth.

“No wonder your attacks are back.”

“Oh, Savannah, what am I gonna do?” she whispered. “I've fallen head over heels with a man who is my worst nightmare personified.”

H
ow on earth had she allowed this to happen? Let her guard down low enough to come under the spell of a man who could and would wield power over her future with the stroke of his fancy fountain pen. A man who belonged to a profession that had rightly earned the skepticism of mankind in general and certainly hers in particular. And worse still, a man who would return to the home and life he loved in just a couple more days.

A life that was an ocean and a world away.

What would her father say when he heard that she'd been bailed out that morning by Barrett? More importantly, how could he trust the daughter who'd spent her life campaigning to oversee Hearth and Home once he discovered she'd crossed the line between professional and personal behavior? Everything she held most dear was in jeopardy.

And until today she hadn't known that at greatest risk of all was her own heart.

It had never been broken because she'd never exposed it. Now it seemed heartache was imminent and she was helpless to prevent it.

Sisterly arms encircling Casey, the two leaned forehead to forehead as Savannah began to pray.

“Abba Father, You promise that when we are in relationship with You we can trust in Your timing, trust in Your perfect plan. You reveal Your will for our lives as we seek You and we come together, seeking You now.

“Casey is hurting, Lord, and for the first time in forever she's confused about which way to turn. There's so much more at stake here than just her work. She's opened her heart and she's unsure of the consequences. She's been my lifelong friend and I know anyone Casey takes close, she treasures with all her being. Nothing short of true love will make her whole. So, Father, if it's Your will for this new relationship to blossom into something everlasting, we ask You to reveal Your plan and give my sister peace and purpose for her future.”

“Amen and amen,” they chorused.

Casey reached for a tissue to blow her nose. “How am I going to confess all this to my family?”

“Honey, you're a grown woman and you haven't done anything that requires or needs confessing. Just take this one day at a time and see where it goes.”

“But I only have a couple more days, period.”

“Then go make the most of them but keep a cool head. Enjoy the hours you have left together. From what I've witnessed he's already had a healthy dose of unvarnished Casey, so drop the Warden act with the man and just go be a woman.”

“But what about the heebie-jeebies? I think I might be allergic again.”

“Huh?”

“You know, allergic to Barrett. Ever since he showed up I've been on the verge of a full-blown attack. That hasn't happened since our junior year at Iowa State when I was dating that creep, Howard. Remember how we figured out that it had something to do with a physiological reaction to him?”

“Silly girl.” Savannah petted Casey's head. “I just said that to make you feel better about dumping the jerk. You were in a caustic relationship and you were carrying a very heavy academic load at the same time. The guy was a loser. You were determined to turn him around and it ate away all your self-confidence when you couldn't make it happen. The only way to get you over it was to get you out of it.”

“So you made all that stuff up about studying it in psych class?”

“Yep. Pretty good, huh?” She winked, obviously proud of the deception.

“I can't believe I fell for a story like that.”

“Yeah, well that
story
and a year's worth of Prozac got you through a rough patch. If you need to say you're allergic to Barrett, I'll go along with that, too. But I think it's just the opposite this time. Deep down inside, you think this man could be exactly what you want, but the place and the time may be all wrong. Only God knows the answers and He's always right.”

“Thanks for your love and prayers, but I still don't know what I'm going to do.” Casey pulled Savannah close again, so grateful for their friendship. So desperate for guidance.

“You're going to wait
patiently
and see what God reveals in the coming days.”

The chiming of the doorbell caused the two to jump.

“Finish freshening up. I'll get the door.”

Casey grabbed an orange tank top from her closet. She brushed her teeth and then twisted her hopeless hair into a chignon with no effort to subdue the twangers that sprang free.

“Ready or not, here I come.”

Barrett was speechless at the sight Casey made when she joined them on the patio. She was refreshed and rested, the darkness above her cheekbones had faded. Her sparkling eyes were alight with emotion, her hair caught up in a beguiling way that took his breath. She'd changed into a blouse that revealed tanned and toned arms from the weeks of working shoulder to shoulder with her laborers. The woman wouldn't shy away from anything difficult, not hard work and not tough situations. Perhaps she was prepared to handle the demands of the job, after all.

“Howdy, young lady,” Cooper greeted her from his seat at the outdoor table.

She took a chair and Barrett was pleased to see her fill a plate with the grilled potato and steak he'd just taken off the barbecue.

“I hope I didn't wake you when I called, but I wanted to drop this by.” Cooper placed a thick legal-size packet on the glass surface between them.

“I was so far gone that I never heard the phone,” she replied casually enough but leaned away from the envelope as if it were a scorpion.

“We could barely hear the ringing ourselves over the racket,” Barrett quipped.

“Racket?”

“You were snoring like a bullfrog with adenoid problems.” Savannah grinned at Barrett.

“Thank you, both, for your observations and for making me comfortable in my own home.”

“It's a gift,” Savannah announced as she spread a napkin across her lap. “We've already blessed the food so bon appétit.”

“What's this, Coop?” Casey nudged the packet beside her place mat.

“Take a look.”

“I'd rather not. It seems lawyerly, so you do it.”

She cocked an eyebrow at Barrett who winked to reassure her that not all
lawyerly
things were bad.

“Suit yourself.” Cooper dug into his meal, ignoring the envelope she scooted his way. “But I thought it was important to give you this news tonight. That, and I couldn't pass up a rare steak with my name on it.”

He shaved off a large chunk of beef and chewed with gusto while Casey held her breath to hear what was so vital. When he reached for the steak sauce and busied himself with a stubborn cap she lost patience.

“Coop!”

“Oh, sorry.” He grinned and feigned apology.

“Don't fret. It's good news. The city loved your plan to build a park dedicated to Native Americans and they're offering to assist with funding as long as you employ local artists and craftsmen. During our grand opening they want to do a whole tourism campaign around your idea.”

Barrett watched the muscles in Casey's jaw tense as she gritted her teeth.

“Is that strip hard to chew, Casey? I tenderized it myself.” Savannah must have noticed, as well.

“The steak's wonderful. It's taking credit for that park idea that's impossible to swallow.” She returned her fork and knife to the place mat, her food no longer of interest. “Barrett came up with the suggestion and he deserves the credit.”

She looked toward the spot where he leaned against the balustrade to catch the warm evening breeze on his skin.

“We all know you pulled that meeting out of the fire today.” Casey was determined to give Barrett the credit he was due.

“It's not as dramatic as all that.” He brushed off the accolade with a wave of his hand. “If there had been time to consider all the possibilities, you likely would have come to the same conclusion. And in fairness to you, after being advised to depend upon your legal representation, you did so. If, instead, you'd armed yourself with the same information I found, I'm confident the outcome would have been similar.”

“Maybe so, but you not only came up with a win-win solution, you also handed me the perfect opportunity to announce our community crisis plan—”

“And that's what
really
swayed the council,” Savannah interrupted.

“She's right,” Cooper agreed.

Casey nodded, as if seeing the truth in what her friends said. She picked up a fork and dipped it into her stuffed baker before continuing.

“And so, Barrett, I want to go on record in front of these witnesses that I owe you the favor of your choice for helping us out of a difficult spot today. All you have to do is name it. Nothing reasonable is off-limits.” She raised the food to her lips.

“Done,” he announced as he pushed away from the railing, pleased that she'd laid her own snare.

“I'm cashing in my rain check. Go sailing with me tomorrow.”

Casey's utensil dropped from her hand, clattered on the surface of her plate, chipping the edge the smallest bit. Her reaction chipped away at Barrett's heart, as well. She was going to refuse him. She was about to show her true colors and take back her pledge. He steeled himself to make light of her rejection.

“Sorry about that.” She grinned. “That potato was hotter than I expected.” She took a sip of her drink, either to cool her lips or to buy time. Barrett's chest ached as he waited for her response.

“I should get back to work tomorrow. There's a lot to do to set this new project in motion if we're going to hit our grand opening deadline. But…” She scooped up more of her baker, blew on it and closed her eyes as she savored the taste.

“But?” He dared to hope. He wanted nothing more than to spend his last day in Texas alone with the woman he loved. He had to find a way to tell her, to show her.

Before it was too late.

“But there's no place I'd rather be than pitching about in a sailboat with you. What time will you pick me up?”

Barrett was still awake anticipating the day ahead with Casey when his cell phone trilled. A glance at the display window caused him to sit upright in his plush hotel bed. He stared at the tiny screen, unsure he cared to hear the voice on the other end of the line. While he considered how to handle the caller, the phone chirped a second, a third, then a fourth time and finally went silent. He tossed the phone aside. Whatever it was, it could wait. He'd deal with it on the weekend when he got home, if at all.

A red light began to flash, indicating a new voice message.

“Drat.”

He reached for the aggravating instrument. Instinct said let it go, but it had to be something of importance to require contact at six in the morning, London time.

He pressed the playback key.

“Barrett, it's Caroline. I'm sorry to bother you, my darling, but Sigmund said you're out of the country and I felt certain you'd welcome a familiar accent.” She paused to laugh, as if she'd said something humorous. “How rich that you're in Texas given the way you feel about the States.”

He held down the pause button as a pang of remorse shot through him. He'd been so judgmental before, so smugly confined to his safe little world. So certain that all things familiar were evidence of all things perfect. He'd been completely and utterly wrong, unable to see another side or consider another option.

No wonder he'd been a failure at his trade.

He took a moment to give praise for the revelation.

Lord, thank You for pushing me out of the boat into the deep. I believe I'm finally beginning to see my future take shape and You've promised I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

He released the key so the message could continue.

“If you'll agree, I'd like to meet your flight. I've made a terrible mistake—”

She stopped so abruptly that he looked at the phone to see if the connection had been broken.

“Barrett, the truth is I was wrong about Andre and we won't be seeing one another again. Mostly, well, because I miss you. If you'll have me back I'll come under any terms. I'd rather have part of your heart than none at all. I won't demand more than you're prepared to give, you have my word.

“Very well then, I've said it. Do be a dear and text me your itinerary so I can hire a car for the trip out to Gatwick. I know you're not keen on hearing the words, Barrett, but I do care for you. I care very much.”

The message ended and he activated the delete function. There was no need to listen again. The crossroad he'd always longed for, the moment of finding his purpose was looming in the immediate distance. It was time to make choices that would dictate the rest of his life. As confused and desperate as he'd been only days before, he was equally so now but for vastly different reasons.