“There wasn’t much more to say after that exchange you witnessed. All three of us were exhausted. So my mom fixed a quiet lunch on the patio after which I did something I rarely do, took a nap. Never realized how much of a beating the body takes when the brain is confused.”
“You’re feeling better now?” As happy as she was he was still willing to see her, Lacey wondered at how readily Jack had shaken off all the bad vibes of late.
He seemed to consider her question before responding. “Yeah, I do. For the most part. It’s going to take a while for my parents and me to get things straightened out entirely, but we’re going to work at it. Can’t ask for more right now.”
She reached over and patted his hand. “I’m glad to hear that.” Realizing he might not be ready for physical contact, she quickly removed her hand.
He glanced down, returned a shy smile.
As they headed west on the freeway, they passed the turnoff to their office building. “Where are we going? I thought you wanted to talk to Cam.”
“Not yet. You and I need to talk first. Thought we should do it back where this all started.”
Bonneville’s property. She hadn’t been there since that infamous day when they crossed paths with the bull and she wound up with a badly sprained ankle.
“Thought maybe you’d like to survey the property when it’s dry and there’s no bull camping out on a nearby hill.” He pulled his car up to the fence she remembered so well.
She glanced down at her slacks and loafers, wishing she’d worn sneakers, but her current footwear should hold up. “Okay. Are you sure our friend isn’t around?”
He shrugged, as if dismissing the possibility of history repeating itself. “Didn’t see him that day I came back. C’mon, we should be okay.”
Unlike their first visit, he maintained a pace she could keep up with as they navigated the field and ascended the hill they’d checked out the day they saw the bull.
Since he’d been the one to bring her here, she expected him to start their discussion. When he didn’t say anything immediately, she blurted out, “Did you work things out with your parents?”
“Not completely. But we made a start.”
“I’m glad. They really do care about you.”
“Guess I have you to thank for my reconciliation with them.” He kicked a clump of dirt at his feet. A few stray branches lay scattered on the ground, remnants of the storm a few weeks before. The same storm as the night of their session in his car. He grabbed a forked bough, flicked it back and forth a few times. “Did you ever get back here to check out the water tables?”
“No. First I couldn’t walk, then I completely immersed myself in the design concept.”
He examined the switch in his hand. “Why not try it now?”
“Now?”
“Humor me. Show me how to witch water.”
She scrunched her eyes as if trying to read his mood, then shaking her head in apparent resignation, accepted the limb and began her routine. She counted five steps, then pivoted ninety degrees and moved off.
Jack remained where he was, watching with growing interest. “How do you know when to turn?”
“I just do.”
“Do you take the same number of steps each direction?”
“Depends.”
“On what?”
She stopped, appearing baffled. “I don’t know. I never thought about it before.”
“It’s pointing down, like it did the last time.” His tone carried a growing excitement.
“Bring me one of the straighter branches.” When he complied, she held it in front of her, just like she had the forked branch. Within seconds, it started to bob. “Help me count.”
When it finally stopped moving, he said, “I got forty.”
“That’s what I got too.”
“Meaning?”
“There’s a vein of water about forty feet below the surface,” she replied. She turned to him. “Not bad. Another aquifer we didn’t know about.”
“How sure are you it’s really there?”
“The water? Pretty sure. Or my witching ability? It’s always been there. There’s no call to question it now.”
He stared at his shoes. “I used to feel the same way about designing buildings.”
She dropped the branch. “Used to feel? I don’t follow.”
“Every time I summoned ideas for a project, they came. Swiftly, without hesitation. Lately, it’s been a struggle.”
His words weren’t computing. “You have talent coming out your ears. Why would you think such a thing?”
He booted away another clump of dirt. “Several reasons.”
“Such as?”
“Believing my parents didn’t appreciate my work.”
“Which you now know was a mistaken impression.”
“Thinking I was hired as a favor to my parents.”
“Even if that had been true, there was no reason you couldn’t take it from there and establish your own fabulous career. And you did.”
“So I thought. But I hadn’t been named principal yet. When Bonneville pulled the rug out from under us, I blamed myself. I’ve made my career by reading people. Call it my way of witching water. But I missed this one completely.”
“You’re beating yourself up for nothing. You couldn’t have known.”
He shook off her hand. “At one point I even blamed you. Thought it was Cam’s way of telling me my star had fallen, the best I could do from here on was mentor new stars, like you.”
“I want to hear what you have to say, Jack, but base it on reality.”
“That is my reality!” he said, his voice rising. Then it fell again. “Or at least it was. Once I got past my initial jealousy of your enthusiasm and your approach to designing, it’s been a real trip.”
She stared at him.
“All that chasing around to study boomers. I felt the same kind of thrill a private eye must feel when he discovers a clue.”
“But—”
“I must’ve known from the day we were trapped under the tree trunk I was going to fall in love with you. Which is probably why I fought working with you so much in the beginning. I put down your ideas, until they turned out to be such gems. I mocked your approach to work. I scoffed at your naiveté. And then, when my defenses were down, bam! I fell big time.”
She didn’t reply, but her eyes had grown large and misty.
“So when Project Veronica imploded, I blamed myself for letting my mind get scrambled thinking about you. For a nanosecond before I came to my senses, I suspected you for orchestrating this Bonneville fiasco.”
“Like Jorja?”
“Yeah, but even before I confronted you about the deal with Celia, I knew I’d jumped to the wrong conclusion. When you conspired with my parents to get me to see you today, you let them take center stage. Jorja wouldn’t have been so generous.”
She released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “You realized you trusted me?”
“That I did. But what about you? How did you feel when I didn’t return your calls?”
“Scared. For a second, I worried I’d misjudged you. At the same time, I was worried for you, because you wouldn’t have skipped out without having a very strong reason. I had a decision to make. I could either believe in you or not. After all we’ve been through, I chose to believe.”
“Even after I left you holding the ball?”
“I wasn’t exactly elated by your running out, but my theory is you’ve got so much talent, you got bored. So you’ve been coasting for a while. You put your talent on automatic pilot and let your personality take over. When this project came along, you had to wake up, and it took time for you to get your bearings.”
His gaze caressed her face, her eyes. “Your faith in me is important.”
“But not as important as your faith in yourself.”
“Good point.”
“Does that mean you’ll come back to the firm?”
He took a deep breath. The last few weeks had been such a rollercoaster. Stay. Wonder if the word principal was still in his future. Leave. Now return. Was he ready? Well, hell! Could he be any more picky? This woman had never given up on him, even though he’d given up on himself. It was time to let down his defenses.
He reached down and placed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Okay, partner. You’ve made your case.”
“Terrific! We’re going to make this project work, Jack. I just know it, now you’re back!”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her like a soldier returning to his woman after surviving a hard-fought battle. Though passionate, the kiss was also a promise, sealing not just a pact between co-workers but also recognizing their commitment to each other outside the office, wherever that might take them.
When she stepped out of his embrace moments later, he gazed down at her, feeling complete for the first time. “Thanks for not giving up on me.”
Off in the distance, safely behind the sturdy fence of the adjoining field, the bull pawed the ground and snorted. Anyone witnessing the animal’s behavior might have blinked and wondered if they’d really seen what they thought they saw, something resembling a smile laying claim to the bull’s mouth.
Meanwhile, Jack and Lacey returned to his car and set off for the office of Cameron Mackenzie.
Jack knocked and then walked in unannounced, avoiding any chance of being rebuffed, at least until he’d had his say. “I want to come back.”
Cam glanced up, crossed his hands in front of him and sat back. “Well, well.”
Now actually here, urged on by Lacey, who waited outside, he wasn’t sure the words would come. She’d advised, “Speak from the heart. Tell him what’s been troubling you and then remind him how much he needs you. Because he does. And so do I.”
“I’m sorry I walked out on you without warning. I needed time to clear my head after the Bonneville thing. Thought I’d lost my edge.”
He waited for a response. Cam tilted his head, arched a brow. “And? Since you’re here now, I assume the edge has been found?”
“Thanks to my parents and Lacey, I discovered I’d never lost it. I’d let myself get so caught up in my quest to become the principal to impress my parents, I forgot how much I enjoyed just being an architect.”
“About being named principal…”
“Haven’t forgotten about it. It’s just no longer essential to defining who I am. I’m good at what I do. I know that now…and I think you do too.”
Cam stared at his clasped hands. “Probably went a little too far when I questioned your leadership abilities. But if you come back, I need to know you’ll stick it out when times get tough. I expect you to use your best judgment with clients but keep me informed.”
“Then all is forgiven?” Jack tamped down his concern Mackenzie wouldn’t want him, attempted to keep his tone flat.
“Didn’t hear you agree to my terms.”
Fair enough. “Yes, Cam, I agree.”
His boss sprang from his chair and walked around his desk to shake hands. “Welcome back, Mr. Principal.”
“Principal?”
“If you’d answered your phone or read my texts the last few days, you’d know I wanted you back here too. Like you so clearly pointed out, I need you. Not just that charming manner with the clients but also your unique design ideas.”
Jack continued shaking hands. “Thanks. You have no idea what this means to me.”
“Even though we’ve lost Bonneville, at least until we win the high-rise contract, this experience with the megastar has encouraged me to go after even bigger fish for future projects. We’ve got the talent to handle them.”
Could there be a better segue? “Uh, about that. There’s something else you need to know. I wanted to tell you right off, but Lacey convinced me I needed to be welcomed back on my own accord first.” He went to the door and opened it to Lacey, who waited right outside.
Her eyes sought his in a silent question as she entered. He nodded and watched the glow come into them. He turned back to Cam. “Actually, this is Lacey’s story to tell. You might want to take your seat again, although I don’t know how long you’ll stay there.”
“Hi, Cam. I hope you’ve welcomed back my partner here, because the original Project Veronica is on again.” She explained how she learned her friend Janice Collier was actually their client’s mother.
When she finished, all Cam could say was, “Incredible!”
“It is a bit to take in, but not so strange when you consider her son’s from town. None of us remembered that Jake Bonneville was hometown boy Ned Collier, except maybe my brother, and we didn’t know his part in this until just recently.”
“The best part is Janice doesn’t want anything to do with a high-rise,” Jack added.
“But she’s on board with the development in the country?” Cam asked.
“More or less,” Lacey said. “She doesn’t want a new house at all. She’s happy with her place here in town, but apparently her son worries about her security in that part of town. Since Bonneville inherited the property from her father, she’s okay with moving back to where she grew up. What with the city’s westward expansion in recent years, she won’t be all that far from town.”
They hadn’t revealed one significant detail yet, a detail he and Lacey had debated at length earlier. Rather than bring it up on his own, he waited for it to occur to Cam. It didn’t take long.
“So, Bonneville was fine with going back to the first plan?”
This was Lacey’s territory. He’d let her handle it.
“He will be,” Lacey said. “As soon as his mother tells him.”
****
Two days later, surrounded by stacks of canvas and picture frames and other art paraphernalia, Lacey, Jack, Cam, and Janice met in a small conference room at Janice’s gallery. A somewhat recalcitrant but apologetic Brian had agreed to join them. Janice offered coffee, which Lacey and Jack refused, too nervous about the meeting about to go down. Brian begged off as well. Only Cam obliged their hostess.
“Thank goodness one of you wants coffee,” Janice said. “I need something to keep myself busy until Ned arrives.”
“Still sounds strange to hear our former client referred to as Ned,” Cam said.
“How did you get him back to town so soon?” Lacey asked, attempting to help her friend relax.
“I wondered about that too,” Jack put in.
Janice pursed her lips. “I’m afraid I had to augment the truth a bit. I told him I was considering buying a condo in West Des Moines and wanted him to see it before I signed the contract.”
Lacey slapped a hand to her mouth. “No! That’s almost…”
“Diabolical?” Janice said.
“Uh, okay. Your word, not mine,” Lacey said.
“Speed was of the essence, right?” Janice said. “So we could keep him from talking to other firms about a high-rise. He could have easily been meeting with someone in L.A. as well.”
Brian finally spoke up. “Look, Mrs. Collier, I’m sorry about my high-rise comments. I had no idea Ned would take me seriously.” He glanced at Lacey. “I’m only here at my sister’s, uh, request, to tell him as much.”
Janice lifted a speculative brow. “So you’re Lacey’s brother? She’s told me a little about your situation.”
Lacey cringed inwardly. Please, Janice, don’t make things worse between Brian and me.
“All about my love life, I’m guessing.”
“Actually, I was referring to your being the one true anchor in her life after your mother passed.”
“Oh, I thought you were referring to my sister and Dalton’s scheme to get me back with my girlfriend, Celia Fairchild.”
“Celia’s your girlfriend?” Cam asked. “I thought…”
“Celia was seeing me?” Jack interrupted. “No, Cam, Celia and I weren’t really a thing,” Jack said, reaching for Lacey’s hand and holding it up. “I’m seeing Lacey. We’ve got
ten pretty well acquainted working on this project.”
“Jack went along with Celia’s and my scheme to make Brian jealous by thinking she was seeing Jack,” Lacey explained. “It didn’t work. My brother isn’t ready for a commitment.”
“Actually, the situation has changed since you last saw me, Sis. Celia and I have gotten back together.”
Back together? Celia hadn’t updated her. But then, her thoughts had been so focused on the project and Jack of late, her friend probably didn’t want to complicate things further. She went to Brian and gave him a quick hug. “That’s wonderful news.”
“Don’t go planning weddings yet,” he warned. “Well, maybe a few months from now. We’re getting reacquainted at the moment.”
“Cee’s a good friend of mine,” Jack told him, in a mock stern voice. “Don’t break her heart. Again.”
Brian returned a knowing look at Jack but offered him a hand.
“Okay, boys and girls, now that we’ve all made friends again, what’s with Bonneville, uh, Collier? He’s not here yet.”
“I’ll go wait up front,” Janice said. “I’ll tell him my realtor is waiting back here in this conference room.”
Once she left, the other four sat in strained silence. Lacey was relieved Cam now knew about her and Jack, and her brother and best friend were once again together. Brian and Jack had even shaken hands, although it was clear they still had a way to go before either totally accepted the other. Too bad, guys. Looks like your futures are linked whether you like it or not.
Fortunately, they didn’t have long to wait. Out in the corridor they heard, “I don’t know why you’re in such a hurry, Mom.”
The door opened and Jake Bonneville burst into the room, his mouth set in a grim expression, ready to pounce on the poor realtor. He pulled up when he saw who was there instead. “Mackenzie, what are you doing here? How many times do I have to say no?”
Before Cam could reply, Lacey interrupted. “You didn’t have all the facts at our last meeting.”
Bonneville turned to his mother. “There’s no condo deal for me to worry about?”
Janice led him to a chair. “No, dear, I’m not considering a condo. Actually, I wasn’t considering relocating at all until I inadvertently learned about your project.”
Saved by the Salsa Page 26
