HER SECRET, HIS DUTY

by Carla Cassidy

  Drawing in several deep breaths as she walked to the hotel entrance, she shoved all thoughts from her mind except what needed to be here to do her job well.

  She still couldn’t believe how lucky they had been that the Regent’s ballroom was available on a Friday night two weeks from now. Two weeks was the mere blink of an eye in planning the kind of event they intended to have.

  Whenever possible, Debra used the hotel’s event planner, but the Regent had a new woman working in that position, somebody Debra had never worked with before. It wouldn’t take long for Debra to discern if the woman was adequately prepared to do the job they needed and if she wasn’t then Debra would bring in an event planner of her own.

  Debra knew she had a reputation as being sweet and accommodating, but she could be a vicious shark when it was necessary to get what was best for the Winston family.

  She went to the reservation desk and asked for Donald Rasworth, the hotel manager. She smelled Trey before she saw him, the expensive scent of a slightly spicy cologne that had clung intimately to her skin the morning after their wild, impetuous encounter.

  She turned and nearly bumped into him. “Oh. You’re here,” she said.

  He smiled. “Aren’t I supposed to be here?”

  “Yes, but I just didn’t know that you were here... That you’d actually arrived...”

  Thankfully she was rescued from her inane ramble by a tall slender man who approached them with a hand extended and a wide smile of welcome on his face.

  “Mr. Winston,” he said as he grabbed Trey’s hand in a shake. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir. We’re hoping here at the Raleigh Regent that we can meet all your needs for whatever event you want to plan.”

  Trey turned to Debra and introduced her. “This is the person you need to please,” Trey said. “She’s our special weapon when it comes to planning these things.”

  “I understand you have a new event planner. Will she be joining us?” Debra asked.

  “Stacy Boone and yes, she should be joining us at any moment.” He looked around the lobby, as if expecting the woman to be hiding behind a potted plant or an elegant column. “While we wait for her why don’t I go ahead and take you to our main ballroom and let you have a look around.”

  One demerit for the late Stacy Boone, Debra thought as she followed behind the two men. Trey was clad in a navy suit with a matching shirt, and she couldn’t help but notice that he looked as good from the back as he did from the front.

  Broad shoulders, slim waist and long legs, the man was definitely eye candy even without his confident stride and the aura of power that radiated from him.

  A vision of his naked body flashed in her brain, causing her to stumble over a bump in the carpet that didn’t exist. Trey turned in time to put a hand on her shoulder to steady her. “Okay?” he asked with concern.

  “I’m fine,” she assured him quickly. It was a relief when he dropped his hand from her. He was a warm and friendly man, a toucher by nature, but she didn’t want him touching her in any way. It evoked too many memories she definitely needed to forget.

  They had just reached the ballroom’s double doors when a young blonde in a pink dress and high heels to heaven came rushing in. She carried a messy pile of paperwork and a smile of apology. “Sorry I’m late.” Her gaze landed on Trey and admiration filled her eyes. “I’m so sorry I’m late.”

  Donald introduced the woman as Stacy, not only his new event planner but his favorite niece, as well. Uh-oh, Debra thought. She didn’t have any real problem with the nepotism, but Stacy looked very young and definitely had the aura of an airhead about her.

  Even Trey looked slightly troubled as he said hello and then exchanged a quick glance with Debra. Debra returned a reassuring smile to him. She’d know within an hour if Stacy was up to the job or not and if she wasn’t then she’d be out and Debra would be working with somebody she knew could help her get this job done right.

  Stacy led them into the ballroom and set her papers on a nearby table. “You’re lucky you called when you did. Most people don’t know yet that we just recently finished the renovation of the ballroom. New lighting, carpeting and wall covering. We also have the ability to remove the carpeting, which is actually big squares, in order to lay down a fantastic dance floor.”

  “I like that,” Trey said with enthusiasm. “Dinner and dancing.”

  “That means we’ll have to hire a small orchestra,” Debra said as she stifled an inward groan. She’d been so flustered yesterday when she’d initially met with Trey they hadn’t talked about the budget for this affair.

  “Then we’ll hire an orchestra,” he replied breezily. “I want people leaving that night feeling good about their evening and me. Dancing after dinner definitely has to happen,” he replied.

  “Then we’ll make it happen.” Debra pulled her tablet out of her purse and made notes to add to the computer file she’d started for Trey’s dinner party.

  Stacy pulled a paper form from her stack and gestured for the three of them to sit at the single table just inside the room. Debra took off her coat and flung it across the back of her chair while Trey took off his overcoat and did the same.

  As they began talking about the basic logistics, the date and time and how many would be attending, Stacy took notes and Trey leaned back in his chair and looked around the room, making Debra wonder what thoughts were tumbling around in his head.

  Was he thinking about the dinner and maybe writing, in his head, the speech he’d give that night? Or perhaps he was mulling over how difficult the Senate race would be. The incumbent Senator William DeCrow was seeking another term and he was known to be a down and dirty fighter.

  Thankfully, Trey had no dirt from his past or present that could be thrown on him, as long as nobody ever knew about their night together, as long as nobody ever knew about the baby she carried he should be fine.

  Stacy might have flown in like an airhead, but when it got right down to business, she appeared to be savvy and eager to please, a perfect combination for getting things done properly.

  “I can email you a variety of menus first thing tomorrow,” she said to Debra after they’d both signed a contract to rent the ballroom for the date. “And are we doing a cash or an open bar?”

  “We’ll serve wine with dinner, but set up a cash bar,” Debra replied. Trey leaned forward and opened his mouth as if to protest, but Debra didn’t allow him.

  “Cash bar,” she said firmly. “This night is supposed to be about you beginning to build a support base, not about a bunch of drunks who won’t remember what you said in your speech the next morning.”

  “And people never drink as much when they have to pay for it out of their own pockets,” Stacy added.

  “Okay, then I guess I’m outvoted on this topic,” he replied and once again leaned back in the chair.

  “Let’s talk about room setup,” Stacy said.

  Debra and Stacy began to discuss placement of tables and the dance floor that Trey wanted. As the two women spoke, Debra was acutely aware of the scent of Trey’s cologne, the warmth of his body far too close to hers.

  Somehow, someway, she needed to get over the silly, schoolgirl crush or whatever it was she had where he was concerned.

  Even though the night they’d shared was burned indelibly into her brain, she doubted that it had crossed his mind after he’d put her in the cab to take her home the next morning.

  Trey Winston was off-limits, always had been and always would be. He had no interest in her other than using her as an effective weapon to achieve his ambitious desire of becoming the next senator of North Carolina.

  She’d told herself she would do whatever she could to help him because of her devotion to Kate, but the truth of the matter was she’d do it because she cared about him enough to want to see him get everything he wan
ted in life.

  * * *

  Trey tried to keep his gaze off Debra and Stacy as they went over the initial planning stages. The two women were polar opposites. Stacy looked like a fashion doll with her bleached blond hair and black-fringed blue eyes. Her pink dress hugged her body in all the right places and she would instantly draw the gaze of any man who was breathing.

  Debra, on the other hand, flew just under the radar in her brown suit and with her hair pulled back into a messy knot at the back of her head.

  And yet it was Debra who kept drawing his gaze. She had the loveliest eyes he’d ever seen, so big and so green. Her slightly heart-shaped face expressed each and every emotion she felt.

  As the two women talked, Debra displayed both earnestness and an underlying will of steel. She listened to Stacy’s ideas, tossing some while accepting others.

  He knew Debra was his mother’s go-to woman, practically Kate’s right hand, moving behind the scenes to keep his mother’s life in order and running as smoothly as possible six days a week.

  He also knew that the night they had met up in the bar, Debra had been upset about a breakup with some guy named Gary or Larry, or something like that.

  Initially, he’d just wanted to console her, but he was in such good spirits about his own business deal, it wasn’t long before he had Debra laughing and the surprising sparks had flown between them.

  Debra was a constant at the Winston Estate, but he suddenly realized he knew virtually nothing about her personal life or who she was when she wasn’t Kate Winston’s assistant.

  Did she like to dance? What was her favorite kind of music? Did she have any hobbies? How did she spend her evenings and Sundays?

  He frowned and stared up at an elaborate crystal chandelier. He shouldn’t be wondering about Debra’s personal life. It... She was none of his business. Just because they’d hooked up for one night didn’t mean anything at all.

  He knew without doubt that it was a secret neither of them would speak of to anyone else. He trusted Debra. Her loyalty and love had always been with the family.

  Still, she had stunned him with her passion, delighted him with her abandon that night. Granted, they’d both been buzzed on champagne, but neither of them could claim inebriation to the point of a lack of consent.

  He knew he shouldn’t even be thinking about that night. It had been a foolish misstep on both their parts. Instead he should be thinking about Cecily and her excitement when he’d called her the night before and told her about the dinner party and his decision to enter the race.

  “Then I guess we’re done here for now.” Stacy’s perky voice brought him back to the present. “I’ll email you the various menus and a couple of tentative table and floor plans first thing in the morning.”

  Debra nodded and stood. “And I’ll get back to you on exactly what we want for a speaker’s podium and maybe a head table.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Stacy replied and also got to her feet. Trey followed suit, rising and taking Debra’s coat from the back of her chair to help her into it.

  Even her coat smelled of that fresh scent that had dizzied his senses when he’d held her in his arms. She quickly slid her arms in and stepped away from him with a murmured thanks.

  Trey pulled his coat on and at the ballroom doorway they both said goodbye to Stacy, who scurried off in one direction while Trey and Debra headed back to the lobby and the front door.

  They stepped outside into the bracing air. “It’s after eleven. Do you want to go someplace for a quick lunch before you head back to the office?” he asked.

  He could tell that he’d surprised her by the look on her face. “Oh, no, thanks. I really need to get back to work. All I need from you is a guest list as quickly as possible so that we can get the invitations out.”

  “I’ll work on it this afternoon and how about I drop it by your place this evening? That way you’ll have it first thing in the morning to start working on. I’ve got business meetings tomorrow that will keep me at Adair Enterprises for most of the day. You’ll be home this evening?”

  “Yes, I’ll be home by six-thirty or so.”

  He shoved his hands into his coat pockets, noting how the brisk breeze whipped a pretty pink into her cheeks. “How are things with Larry?” It was the first time either of them had made any mention of what had transpired six weeks ago.

  “It’s Barry, and things are fine. He’s gone and I’m happy. He was nothing but a creep.”

  “You seemed pretty upset about the breakup,” Trey replied.

  The pink in her cheeks was definitely brighter now and he had a feeling it had nothing to do with the weather. “I was mostly upset because I intended to break up with him that night and he beat me to the punch and broke up with me first.” She looked toward her car and shifted from one foot to the other, as if wishing for an immediate escape route.

  “Okay then, I guess I’ll see you later this evening. Shall we say around seven?” he asked.

  She nodded. “That would be fine.” With a murmured goodbye she made her escape, hurrying away from him as if unable to get out of his presence fast enough.

  He frowned as he headed for his own car. He found it impossible to discern what Debra thought of him. In all the years he’d known her, he’d never been able to figure out if she actually liked him or not. The night of sharing a bed and hot sex hadn’t changed the fact that he didn’t know what to think about her or what she might think about him.

  And it irritated him that he cared. He got into his car and tried to push thoughts of Debra Prentice away. He had so many other things to focus on, like how he intended to continue to run the successful Adair Enterprises at the same time he launched a campaign.

  Grandfather Walt would be proud of him. The old man was probably dancing with the angels at Trey’s decision to enter the world of politics. Running the family business and politics had been what the old man had wanted for him.

  Trey knew he had a good chance of winning. He didn’t lean too far left or too far to the right. His politics were middle-of-the-road. He’d already proven his business acumen in the success of Adair Enterprises and he knew he’d made a reputation for himself as a hard worker and decent man who was willing to compromise when it was necessary.

  In the course of doing business, he’d made enemies, but he knew that his opponents would have a hard time slinging mud at him.

  He’d always been the good son, the firstborn who had excelled in college, had taken the family business into a new level of success and had never done drugs or slept with married women. He’d never taken pictures of his body parts and put them online.

  In fact, he’d worked hard to keep his nose clean for just this time. Walt had wanted this for him since Trey was old enough to understand the world of politics and now Trey wanted it for himself.

  He knew Cecily would put more pressure on him now for the announcement of their engagement. She would reason that an engaged or newly married candidate only made a man more appealing to the masses. It suggested stability and commitment, considered good character traits by voters.

  She was right, but he wasn’t ready yet to pop the question to her. Maybe he’d ask her to marry him once the dinner party was finished. The event would be his first real step in declaring himself ready to be a serious contender and at the moment he needed all his energy and attention focused on that.

  The main office of Adair Enterprises was located in downtown Raleigh, but they also had offices in Seattle and factories in Durham and Iowa.

  The company had been started by his mother’s grandfather in the 1930s as a shipping company for tobacco and local farmers to get their products across the country.

  When Walt had taken over, the business had evolved into shipping containers and then to plastics and Trey had transformed it once again into a company also known f
or computer systems.

  One of the strengths of the business was in its ability to be ever-changing with the times, and Trey prided himself on not only being a visionary, but also smart enough to hire equally driven and bright people to work with him.

  As he walked through the glass doors of the building he was instantly greeted by security guard Jason Ridgeway. “Good morning, Mr. Winston.”

  “Morning, Jason. How are Stella and the kids doing?”

  “Great, everyone is great.”

  “Billy’s broken arm healing all right?”

  Jason nodded. “The cast is due to come off sometime next week. I swear that kid is going to age me before my time.”

  Trey laughed. “Just keep him out of trees,” he said and then with a wave headed to the bank of elevators that would take him to the top floor of the building and his personal office.

  The elevator opened into a spacious airy reception area and Rhonda Wilson sat behind the large, modern reception desk. Rhonda was part beauty, part bulldog, the perfect final gatekeeper to Trey.

  In her mid-fifties, Rhonda was tall and broad shouldered. She could be exceedingly pleasant and was fiercely devoted to Trey, but she also could tear a new one in any reporter or the like who tried to breach Trey’s privacy.

  “Good morning, boss,” she greeted him with a pleasant smile.

  “It’s almost twelve,” he replied. “Hopefully you’re going to tell me I have nothing on my calendar for the rest of the afternoon?”

  “You have nothing on your calendar for the rest of the afternoon,” she repeated dutifully. “Although you do have a ton of phone messages on your desk.”

  “As usual,” he replied as he took off his coat. “Could you order a roast-beef sub for me and keep everyone out of my hair for the next couple of hours?”

  “No problem.” She picked up the phone to call the nearby restaurant Trey often ordered his lunch from as Trey went into the inner sanctum that often felt more like home than his huge new mansion just outside the Raleigh beltline.

  His personal office was the size of a large apartment. Not only did it boast a desk the size of a small boat, but also a sitting area complete with sofa and chairs, a minibar and a bathroom that had both a shower and sauna, and a large walk-in closet.