He made sure to say goodbye to her parents as they turned to go.
"Have a good time. It's nice to see the two of you together again," her mother said.
"We won't wait up, honey," her dad added, winking at her.
As they got into the car, she looked at him and said, "Did you get a load of those two?"
"They were a little obvious about being glad we were going out together, weren't they?"
"Not just a little; I'd say very obvious."
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, my parents reacted pretty much the same way when they found out that I was going out with you."
"Twelve years ago, they all couldn't wait for us to split up, now they seem to want us together."
"They think we're too old to be single; they just don't realize that times have changed since their day."
"I guess."
"Your dad hinted to me that he'd like to see you move closer to home, but I guess that's out of the question, isn't it?" he asked as he glanced at her.
"Well, seeing as how my job is in New York, yes, that's a pretty fair assumption," she replied.
"I thought we'd try Crossroads. Is that all right with you?"
"I'm leaving the entire evening in your hands, Texas boy," she teased as she smiled sweetly.
"That could prove to be very interesting, New York gal," he answered in a low, sexy voice.
The atmosphere was perfect, and the food was delicious, but they could have been dining at a McDonald's, for all she cared. Just being in the presence of Dale Barton again was Heaven for Cora.
As they enjoyed the wine he'd chosen, they discussed their careers and the lives they now led.
"I know you said you like being a swinging bachelor, but haven't you ever found someone whom you really cared for?" she asked as she took a sip.
Looking at her for a long moment before answering, he finally answered, "I was in love, once. But it didn't work out, and I've just never seen any reason to get tied up with anyone since then."
"Oh, I see. Did she break your heart? Is that why you're so against settling down?"
"No, she didn't break my heart. It broke my heart that we didn't work out, but she didn't do it. How about you, Cora Beth, is there a guy waiting for you back in the Big Apple?"
She shook her head. "No, there's no one special. I date, but there's never really been any one person in particular who has kept my attention past a few casual dates. I'm pretty busy with work, anyway, so a serious affair probably wouldn't work out."
They lingered for hours, talking and laughing. They found that even after all this time, they still shared a good many common interests. When they finally left the restaurant, he asked if she'd like to go dancing with him.
She readily agreed, and he drove to a club he'd heard about from Bruce. As they walked into the dimly lit room, they saw several couples on the dance floor. A slow song was playing, and he led her onto the floor. Taking her into his strong embrace, he slowly moved with her around the floor with ease, pulling her closer as he kissed the top of her blonde head. He leaned down and whispered, "I'd love to get you alone, baby, but I'm at my folk's place and you're at yours, so I guess it's off-limits for us."
"Damn the luck, Barton. There's always your car, like the old days," she teased as she looked up at him.
"Don't tempt me, or I might just take you up on that, Cora Beth." He grinned and winked, remembering the times that long-ago summer when they had parked in his car and made sweet love. "Or I could take you to my place in Austin one day this week. We could be alone there and rekindle the old flame for a while," he whispered.
"Dale, I really don't think that's a very good idea. I'm not one of your one-night stands, and I'll be going back to New York soon."
"I never imagined for a moment that you were one of my one-night stands, Cora. I certainly didn't mean to imply that."
"We may never be together again, Dale, so why open all that back up?"
"Why indeed, Miss Watson?" he replied as he led her off the floor and to a table.
He ordered drinks for the two of them. When the server had gone, he said, "The offer still stands. If you'd like to spend a day with me in Austin before you go home, say the word. We don't have to jump in the sack. I would just like the chance to spend some more time with a very dear old friend."
"Let me see how things are going with Gram's house, and I'll get back to you," she said as she fought the desire to throw caution to the wind and readily agree.
"Fair enough, Cora Beth," he replied as their drinks arrived.
They talked for a while longer, finished their drinks, and then he announced that he was going to take her home.
She allowed him to take her hand again as they strolled slowly to his car. Once inside, he leaned across the seat and kissed her, gently, at first. When she responded willingly, he deepened the kiss, probing the softness of her mouth with his tongue. As he released her, he looked into the familiar amethyst gray eyes he'd once loved and smiled.
She shyly returned the smile, hoping that he couldn't hear the pounding of her heart or notice that her limbs had turned to mush. The heat from his kiss spread through her body like wildfire. If he'd tried, he probably could have had her right there in the car in the parking lot of the club. But, instead of taking it further, he started the car and silently drove her home. When they arrived, he walked her to the door and once again kissed her passionately.
As he started to walk away, he reminded her, "Call me, Cora Beth, and let me know you'll spend another day with me before you go back to the Big Apple."
Knowing that after tasting his sweet lips again, she could never refuse him, she replied, "I will."
She walked into the house and up the stairs. As she undressed for bed, her mind was already made up. She would go to Austin with him, and whatever happened would happen. After all, it was the year of their thirtieth birthdays.
Chapter 4
As the brilliant Texas sunlight shone through her bedroom window, Cora woke, remembering similar mornings she had spent in this very bedroom while growing up. Smiling, she got up and prepared to see what the family was up to.
When she walked into the kitchen, her dad was sitting at the table with the newspaper and a cup of coffee.
"Good morning, Cora. Did you have a nice evening with Dale?" he asked as she poured herself a cup of the steaming brew and joined him.
"Yes, Dad, it was very nice."
"I'm glad, honey. It was good to see him again."
Just then, her mother walked in and asked if they'd like breakfast.
"I thought we'd go out for breakfast," her dad replied, looking at Cora.
"That's fine with me," she agreed as she read the section of the paper her dad had handed her.
"How was your dinner?" Her mother looked at her and smiled.
"We had a nice steak dinner and then went dancing. It was nice to catch up."
"And what do you think of Dale, all these years later?"
"He is the same in some ways and, of course, different in other ways."
She finished her coffee and went back upstairs to get ready.
A little while later, they walked into a popular diner in town, and she was surprised to see Dale there with his entire family.
His mother waved for them to come over. "Let's see if the waitress can seat you next to us," she suggested.
They enjoyed an amicable meal together, with the two families talking about current events happening around town, while Cora and Dale listened, catching each other's eye occasionally and grinning at each other. As they left the restaurant, he asked her if she'd given any thought to his invitation to join him in Austin.
"Yes, I have. I'll have to work out the details and get back to you."
He grinned happily and said, "I'll call you tomorrow, then, to firm it up."
"Sounds like a plan," she replied warmly.
As they reached her dad's car, her mother said, "Cora Beth, if you want to take off and do some
thing fun, don't feel as if you have to help at the house. I don't want you to feel you have to spend your whole vacation working,"
"That's right, sweetie. We have half the house done already, and your sister will be coming back next weekend to help, so why don't you spend time with your friends this week and relax a little before you have to go back to work?" her dad added.
"You heard them, Cora, why don't you spend the day with me?" Dale suggested.
"Are you sure?" She looked at her mother.
"We aren't going to work over there today, anyway."
"Okay, Dale, I think I'd like to spend the day with you." She told her parents goodbye and joined Dale and his family.
"You two are welcome to spend the afternoon at our house, or if you'd rather go out, we'll understand," Dale's mother offered as they drove toward their home.
Cora looked at Dale, and he said, "I think I'll take her for a drive around town and let her see some of the old haunts and some of the changes around town. But we might be persuaded to join the rest of you for dinner."
"Your sister and her family will be over at six, so if you two want to join us, that's more than all right."
He looked at Cora, and she nodded.
"Okay, we'll be back by six, then."
When they arrived at his parents' home, they got out of the car and walked to his Lexus. He opened the door for her and then walked around to the driver's side and got in.
"Man, first, your folks and now mine. And to think that twelve years ago, they couldn't get us apart fast enough. You were right," he said as he looked over at her and chuckled.
"I know. It's a weird world we've found ourselves in this week."
"Ready to take that drive down memory lane?" he asked as he started the car.
"Lead the way." She looked over at him, taking in every feature. Yes, the years had been good to him. And even after all these years, it felt natural to be with him.
"So, tell me all about leaving Chicago for New York. Was that planned, or did the job just fall into your lap?"
"Well, you know that after college I worked for a publisher in Chicago. I worked my way up to the position of acquisitions editor."
"Which is what, exactly?"
"I read the slush pile, as they call it. I read the manuscripts that aspiring or established authors submit in the hopes of getting published. I make the decision whether or not to offer a publishing contract. Anyway, I saw an opening in a trade magazine for the same type of position in a bigger publishing house in New York about three years ago and decided to apply for it. I landed an interview, and a week later, I had the job. I turned in my notice and planned my move, and a month later, I was a New Yorker."
"Wow, you must have really impressed the company for them to hire you that quickly."
"I had the experience they were looking for."
"Did you ever regret the move?"
"No, I can't say that I have, except for the fact that I'm farther away from home. I try to fly home as often as I can."
"Ever think about moving back? Or at least closer?" he asked as he looked over at her.
"Not really, but sometimes I think I'd like to open my own publishing company, a small one, of course. If I ever did that, I could live anywhere I wanted to."
"Look, there's the old alma mater," he said as they drove by their old high school.
"That brings back a lot of memories of the many football games you played and I cheered, doesn't it?" she asked as she looked at the familiar building.
"Sure does. Who would ever have thought, way back then, how far we would both come, career-wise?"
"I know. I never in a million years thought I'd ever be anywhere but right here in good old Fredericksburg, raising a family," she replied, not saying aloud the rest of the sentence, with you.
"I guess your parents knew what they were talking about when they told you to get out and see the world."
"I've been many places, that's true, but I'm alone and probably always will be," she replied wistfully.
"Why do you say that? I can't believe the guys in New York aren't beating your door down. You're an attractive lady, Cora Beth."
"Things are different in New York. And you have said yourself that you like the single life, so don't you think most guys are that way these days?"
"I did say that. There has never been anyone I've thought I'd like to settle down with. I guess if the right person came along, it would be different."
"And you're having way too much fun playing the field and enjoying the social life in Austin."
"I'll have to admit that I do enjoy that. I have, well, certain tastes, and I find what I need there. But one day, who knows, maybe I'll outgrow all that."
"You never know."
"So you've decided to take me up on my offer to show you around Austin. What day would you like to go?"
"I'm thinking maybe I can drive over there in my rental car and meet up with you on Saturday and spend the day with you, get a room for the night, and then go to the airport on Sunday.”
"I've got a better idea. I'll follow you over on Friday, and we'll return your rental car. You spend Friday and Saturday with me at my place." Quickly, he added, "I have two bedrooms, so don't get all huffy. I can take you to the airport on Sunday and see you off before I drive back home."
"Were you planning to go back that soon?"
"I can go back whenever I want. My work here should be finished by then."
"I'll check with Mom and Dad, although I'm sure they aren't going to mind if I leave on Friday instead of Saturday. I had planned to get a room near the airport on Saturday night, anyway."
"I'll get some tickets to a show and take you to some clubs."
"Don't feel as if you have to go all out."
"I want you to enjoy the last few days of your trip."
"I'd be content just to hang out with you and take in a movie or something. I can do shows and clubs in New York."
He looked over at her and grinned wickedly. "Of course, I could think of a few other ways to spend the weekend."
"I'm sure you could."
They drove around town a while longer, and when they passed a Sonic, he asked if she'd like an ice cream cone.
"Now that's a blast from the past, sitting in the car at Sonic eating ice cream with you." She giggled. "Yes, let's stop."
They stopped and ordered cones then sat and talked about old times some more, laughing as they remembered the carelessness of their youth.
She glanced at her watch and reminded him of their dinner date with his family.
"Yes, we'd better go. Brace yourself. If my sister is there, she will join the folks in trying to play matchmaker."
"Don't they realize that I live thousands of miles away?"
"I don't think they care about that tiny little detail."
And at the moment, neither did Cora. New York was a far, far away land. All that mattered was that she was with Dale and having the most fun she'd had in twelve years. She intended to savor each and every moment while it lasted.
Cora spent the next couple of days helping her mother with the house. On Tuesday evening they decided it was time for a break. They had just walked into her parents' house and were relaxing in the living room.
"Let's take tomorrow and just go shopping, have lunch, and spend the day together before you go back. How does that sound, honey?" her mother suggested.
"Sounds good to me," she agreed as she slipped off her shoes and leaned back on the couch.
"When are you seeing Dale again?"
"About that, Mom. I've been meaning to tell you that I'm leaving on Friday, instead of Saturday. Dale and I are planning to spend a few days together in Austin before I fly out on Sunday afternoon. I was able to change my flight to leave from Austin. I hope that doesn't upset you."
"No, it doesn't upset me in the least. I think it will be wonderful for the two of you to spend some time together. Who knows when you'll get a chance like this again?"
; "That's what we thought. It's been several years since we've spoken, and it was quite a coincidence that we happened to be in town the same week, so we decided to take advantage of it. I'm hoping to see Tori again on Thursday, as well. That's her day off."
"You never know, sweetie, the old spark may still be there between you and Dale. Something may come of this time together."
"I don't think so, Mom. I live in New York, and he's moving back here. Everyone seems to forget that very important fact. There's no way he can move there, and I don't see me moving here, anytime soon."
"Still, Cora, stranger things have happened."
"I think this weekend will probably be the last time we'll see each other for a long time."
"Sweetheart, I know you blamed me for years for your break-up with Dale. I'm sorry, but at the time I thought it was the best thing. Sometimes I wonder if I should have just kept my mouth shut and let nature take its course. I would be delighted if the two of you found your way back to each other. It doesn't appear that either of you has found anyone else over the last twelve years, so maybe it was meant to be, all along."
"I doubt that. It's true, I've never loved anyone the way I loved him. He was my first love, and he'll always hold a place in my heart, but he isn't looking for a long-term relationship. And as I said, it would be too difficult, given our very different lives."
"Enjoy your weekend, just the same. Perhaps the two of you will stay in contact with each other, this time around."
"Maybe, we'll see. I'm just grateful to have the chance to get to know the man he's become."
"I'd better get off this couch and start dinner. Your dad will be home soon."
"I'll help you," Cora said as she reluctantly stood up and stretched. As she was walking into the kitchen, the phone rang. She walked over to the kitchen counter and picked up the receiver. It seemed strange to her that her parents still used a landline. She hadn't had one for several years.
"Hello," she said politely.
"Cora, is that you? I forgot to get your cell number yesterday," Dale's deep voice replied.
Her Promised Dom (Dominant Men Book 3) Page 5
