“Amanda Priebe is quite the lady,” Mr. Adair said. “Quite the lady.”
“Mmmmm,” Nate said and eyed Amanda again. She gracefully threw back her head and laughed at something Franklyn said. Now that Janet had left the group, Franklyn’s focus was on Amanda again.
“Does she know?” Samuel asked.
Nate cut his glance to Samuel. His cloudy eyes gave no clue to the meaning of his statement. But Nate’s instincts suggested Samuel had picked up on some vibes Nate thought he’d hidden.
“Does who know what?” Nate cautiously asked and hoped if he acted ignorant the older gentleman would be thrown off.
Adair’s smile reminded Nate of some mountain-dwelling sage who saw all and knew all. What the man lacked with physical sight, he certainly made up for every other way.
“Aaah, I guess not,” Samuel mused. “But I can’t say that I blame you for the way you feel. She’s a fine woman—a fine woman indeed. Like I told her, if I were her age, I’d marry her myself. Of course, my wife would have to approve.”
Normally Nate would have smiled. Instead he nearly choked. If he was so obvious that Mr. Adair had picked up the clues, did Amanda and everyone else know, as well?
“Don’t worry,” Mr. Adair continued and laid his hand on Nate’s arm. “You’ve probably got everyone fooled—except me. My wife says I’m annoyingly perceptive. Imagine that! She actually used the word annoying.”
“Humph.” Nate jiggled his ice and decided not to commit to any of Samuel’s observations.
“Whatever that is you’re drinking, I’ll have some,” Samuel said. “And a few of those crab things my wife tried to get me to eat earlier.”
“Amanda’s got a whole spread. We’re all supposed to just help ourselves. Want me to fix you a plate?”
“Yes. That would be fantastic.”
“There are some tables straight ahead. I’ll lead you over there so you can wait on me.” Nate took Samuel’s arm and noticed the man was dressed in a suit every bit as fine as his own. Amanda said he’d been a lawyer, and a successful one at that.
“What do I need you for when I’ve got Goldie?” Mr. Adair said and stepped away from Nate. “You go get the plates. Goldie will sit me. I’ll be waiting. While I eat, we’ll take her harness off and let you two get better acquainted.”
“Sure,” Nate replied.
“Goldie sit Samuel,” Adair said. The faithful canine moved toward the corner, and Nate watched as Samuel confidently found a table and chair.
Over the last month, Amanda had fretted so about poor Goldie that Nate had finally been moved to agree to take her until he could find a good home for her. Amanda had repeatedly said she’d take the dog, but she was afraid how Cuddles might react.
Cuddles would probably kill Goldie! Nate thought and wondered if they had maximum security in cat prison.
But this morning brought a new turn of events. Roger Miller had agreed to adopt Goldie. Nate was much happier about this arrangement than about his keeping the dog. First, he didn’t know how Gary would react to a rival. Furthermore, with his work schedule, he was hard-pressed some days to give Gary all the attention he needed. On top of that, Goldie would have more freedom on Roger’s farm than in Nate’s beach house. Roger said she’d have the run of the farm and plenty of family members to spoil her. He also said Mr. Adair was free to visit her anytime.
As of tonight, Amanda still didn’t know of Roger’s offer, and Nate wasn’t so sure he was ready to tell her. For Haley’s sake, he wanted to keep as much focus as possible off Roger.
Within minutes, Nate had filled a plate with veggies and dip as well as stuffed morsels and several cheeses. He was heading straight for Mr. Adair when a movement near the entryway stopped him.
Mason and Sonja Eldridge invaded the party as if they were royalty and everyone had been awaiting their arrival. Sonja was dressed in a mink stole and some velvet number that didn’t look half as good on her as Amanda’s outfit. She strode toward the crowd as if she were perched on a catwalk with the world as her audience. Mason, dressed in a butterscotch-colored suit, followed close behind like a good little boy.
The crowd parted as Sonja and Mason merged into the group. Several heads turned, and Sonja arrogantly lifted her chin. Someone forgot to tell the big-haired attention seeker that she wasn’t the most beautiful woman in the world. And Nate was nearly ready to be the one.
He searched out Amanda. Her wide eyes and ashen face attested that yes, she had spotted the two, and no, she had not invited them. They mingled through the crowd and waved toward Amanda. She halfheartedly returned their gesture and reached for Haley’s arm. Haley stared at Sonja like she was seeing a clip from a horror movie. Amanda’s gaze swooped the crowd until it landed on Nate.
“Help!” she mouthed.
Nate nodded and pointed toward Mr. Adair. Amanda returned his nod. He hurried to the gentleman, who was being joined by his wife—a tall, gray-haired woman every bit as distinguished as her husband. Nate placed the plate in front of Mr. Adair and looked toward his wife.
“If you don’t mind getting his drink and telling him how I’ve arranged the food, I’ve got another issue that needs to be dealt with immediately.” He glanced toward the Haley situation. Franklyn had meandered toward the food table, and Amanda and Haley stood alone. Sonja and Mason had reached their target and were making short work of introducing themselves to a stiff-lipped Haley.
“Of course,” Mrs. Adair encouraged.
“Go on. Enjoy your night,” Samuel agreed. “We’ll talk about Goldie later.”
“Yes,” Nate absently stated, and hurried toward the small disturbance. The closer he grew, the more distinctly Sonya’s clear voice floated over the music and the crowd’s hum.
“So you’re Haley?” Sonja crowed while several people turned toward her voice. “Mason has told me so much about you,” she said, yet her eyes communicated cold disdain mixed with cruel humor.
No telling what Mason has told his wife, Nate thought and saw the same conclusion hit Amanda.
With Haley’s face flushing, Amanda glared a warning at both Sonja and Mason and stood beside her friend like a tower of defense.
While the nonverbals flew, Sonja laid her hand on her chest and stretched to her full height. Unfortunate for her, Amanda was still four inches taller. Mason protectively placed his arm around Sonja. His face stiffened.
Nate nearly laughed. Mason protecting Sonja was like Amanda protecting Cuddles in her attack mode. Nate stopped beside Haley and gently put his hand upon her shoulder. All his humor vanished.
Some people were nothing but pain-inflicting vultures. And Sonja could be the founding mother of the whole lot of them. The more harmless the victim, the more vultures enjoyed the sport. Nate imagined a hole in Haley’s heart and blood dripping from a gleeful Sonja’s beak.
“Come on, Sonja,” Mason muttered just loud enough for several to hear. “Let’s don’t waste our time here.”
Despite his comments, Sonja remained focused on Haley, who appeared to be shrinking by the second.
Amanda’s eyes darkened. She looked toward Nate, at Sonja and Mason, then back to Nate with a “do something” demand in her eyes.
Nate patted Haley’s shoulder and said, “If you don’t mind, I need to chat with Haley for a few minutes. Come on, Haley,” Nate said and tugged on her arm. “We need to talk.”
She didn’t falter as Nate swept her to the edge of the crowd and toward the exit. “I have never been so humiliated in my whole life,” Haley whispered as they hurried forward. “That woman looked at me like I was a piece of trash. She is despicable!”
“So is he,” Nate growled.
Glancing over his shoulder, Nate noticed that Amanda had pulled out her secret weapon. Betty Cates had latched on to Sonja and Mason and backed them against the wall. Both of them looked like they were being forced to eat live worms. If not for Haley’s pathetic sniffle, Nate would have snickered.
“I need some privacy,” Haley
wobbled out.
“What about your office?”
“Yes. That’s great.”
Nate placed his hand on Haley’s back and offered as much respectable support as was acceptable. By the time they stepped from the lobby, Haley was leaning against him. Nate assisted her all the way to her office and settled her into one of two tightly stuffed chairs. The second she sat down, Haley broke into a sob, and Nate hustled to get the box of tissue from the corner of her desk.
“I can’t believe . . .” he mumbled and gently placed the box on Haley’s lap.
She grabbed a wad of tissue and mopped at her face while Nate patted her back and got angrier by the second. Haley Schmitz wouldn’t hurt a soul, he thought. Mason and his wife should be excommunicated from all social gatherings for life! The nerve of them!
The closer Haley got to controlling herself, the nearer Nate grew to losing control. By the time she wadded her sixth tissue, Nate had paced the office as many times and was ready to coldly usher Mason and Sonja to the nearest exit.
“I’m sorry to get so—so emotional,” Haley said. “I don’t care about him in the least. I really don’t! But I’m already exhausted from all these secret meetings with Roger. And besides all that, it always hits a nerve when anyone treats me like that.” She tossed the ball of damp tissue onto the oak coffee table between the chairs. “I struggle with feelings of w-worth anyway. The last thing I need is someone to act like—like that.”
Nate settled in the chair opposite Haley. “Listen, Haley,” he began, “you didn’t deserve one bit of that. You’re an intelligent, attractive woman, and you have a lot to offer the world. You’ve got poor Roger so distracted, I don’t think he even remembers how to button his shirt.”
Haley giggled, and her teary smile unraveled some of Nate’s tension. “That’s m’girl.” He slid out of the chair, knelt beside her, and took her hand. “You just don’t pay any attention to that idiot and his wife.”
“Okay.” Haley sniffed and blotted away the final tears.
“Listen, I’m not on the church board and I try to keep a low profile around church, but the pastor and church board do respect me. I’ve decided it’s time to drop a few hints. Mason should have never been hired in the first place. He’s a fake!”
“But Amanda says they’re supposed to move soon.”
“It can’t be soon enough,” Nate growled. “After tonight, I’m going to make certain they’re gone within the next couple of weeks. We’ve all had enough.”
Haley took a quivering breath. “Thanks.”
Nate squeezed her hand and said, “So what about Roger? Are things going well?”
She nodded with an eagerness that spoke volumes, tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth, and lowered her gaze.
“Do you think Amanda suspects at all?” Nate asked.
“I hope not.” Haley’s wide-eyed appraisal underscored her desire. “She acted a little odd in the office today. It made me wonder, but then she never even hinted that she suspected. What do you think?”
“I haven’t said a word to her about him, or you, either, for that matter. She hasn’t brought it up, either.” Nate released Haley’s hand.
“That’s a good sign.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Since we’ve argued over all of this, she might not ever tell me. It’s hard to say.”
Haley laughed. “I don’t know how long she could keep a secret from you, Nate. She really thinks a lot of you.”
“Really?” Like a neglected child eager for any scrap of approval, Nate panted for some news of Amanda’s miraculously awakening to her love for him.
“Oh, you know that, you silly man.” Haley slapped at his arm. “Stop acting so dense. You’re like the big brother she never had.”
“You’re right,” Nate replied and stared at the carpet. “Of course I knew that,” he added, his momentary expectations mocking him.
The door opened, and Amanda bustled into the room, her skirt swishing with every step. “There you are!” she said, and Nate stood. “Is everything okay?” She hurried toward Haley. As Amanda knelt at her side, Nate backed away.
Her perfume reminded him of a Paris sunset . . . just the two of them and their love. While Amanda spoke to Haley, Nate turned and strode toward the window behind Haley’s desk. He pulled the curtain cord and took in the city lights. Never had Nate been so intimate with loneliness and desperation. Never had the city left him so cold, so hopeless.
When someone placed her hand on his arm, Nate fully expected Haley. But when he turned, he was looking Amanda eye to eye. He glanced toward the chair where Haley had been sitting, then noticed her slipping out of the office. The door clicked shut, and the two of them were alone.
Twenty-Nine
“Thanks for what you did for her,” Amanda said, every nuance of her expression supporting her words.
Nate inserted his hand into his pocket and looked into the night. “She’s a special lady,” he said. “She deserved better treatment than that.”
“I asked them to leave,” Amanda admitted.
Raising his brows, Nate observed Amanda again. “That took some guts.”
“Yes, it did.” Amanda crossed her arms, lifted her chin. “I also told Mason I wanted the portrait back. He’s supposed to give it to you at church.”
“I’m thoroughly impressed,” Nate said and was reminded all over again why he relished her confidence, her independence. “And they actually left?” he asked.
“The very idea made Sonja so mad she stomped out. Mason had to follow, of course. That’s what his job is,” she drolly added with the lift of one thin eyebrow.
Nate chuckled and nearly burst into applause. “Good job.”
“I told Haley they’re gone. She’s in the restroom trying to repair herself. Poor thing.” Amanda shook her head.
“I’ve decided it’s time to tell the church board and the pastor a few things about Mason. He and Sonja keep saying they’re moving to Launceston. I believe it’s time.”
“Good.” Amanda placed a hand on her hip. “If they’re gone, I’ll come back. I’m missing Angie’s Bible teaching.”
“She’s good.”
“Very,” Amanda affirmed, and looked toward the city.
Longing to hold Amanda, Nate drank in her profile and appeased himself with imagining her in his arms . . . his lips on hers. All the while, he kept his face impassive. He didn’t figure anyone but Mr. Adair would be able to discern his true thoughts.
Amanda looked at him. “I just had to thank you.” Her eyes had never been so full of respect and appreciation. It was nearly enough to make Nate think . . .
“I love Haley as much as my own sister,” Amanda continued. “It makes me furious to see someone purposefully hurt her.”
In Nate’s mind, their kiss deepened. He whispered sweet nothings in her ear. Then Amanda promised she’d love him forever. Nate broke eye contact and stroked the front of his tie.
“You’re wearing my purple tonight!” Amanda picked up the end of his tie and dropped it.
“You noticed.” Nate smiled. “There’s not a scrap of red on me.”
“What is the world coming to?” Amanda teased and touched the matching scarf in his breast pocket. “This is such a shock it might cause a major national disaster. Maybe an earthquake!”
“Humph.” The sassier she grew, the greater Nate’s temptation to kiss her. He casually shifted away and gripped the windowsill.
Amanda sighed, looked out the window, and gazed back at him as if she were being forced to eat her own serving of earthworms. “You were right, you know,” she finally admitted.
“Of course I was,” Nate replied. “And if you’ll tell me what I was right about, I’ll agree again.”
“Oh, you.” Amanda wrinkled her nose. “About Mason. I seem to have made a mess of all that. You tried to tell me, but . . .” She shrugged. “Sorry I didn’t listen.”
Nate clutched at his chest and staggered backward. “Now there’s going to be an
earthquake!” he mocked.
Amanda rolled her eyes, pursed her lips, and Nate relived that kiss she’d thrown him in O’Brien’s. Her bronze lips looked as inviting now as they had then—maybe even more so. His legs began to betray him, and Nate nearly dashed aside all caution in preference for taking the chance of a lifetime.
But what if she rejects me? The dreaded fear that accompanied that worry stopped him. While Nate’s torment increased by the hour, he’d rather live a lifetime as Amanda’s friend and never touch than take the chance of losing her altogether.
Cool it! he commanded and decided the best means to that edict was simply getting some distance.
“Your guests are probably wondering what happened to you,” Nate said and pointed toward the doorway.
Amanda glanced across the room, then looked back at Nate. She hesitated as curiosity and hesitancy swirled through her eyes. “Um . . .” Amanda hedged and tucked her hair behind her ear. She looked down and finally said, “You’re right. I should be out there. I’ve got a hiring decision to make. Tonight will be a huge help toward that.”
“Ah yes,” Nate said as he accompanied her to the doorway, “you mentioned those three earlier. Want me to chat them up for you and give you my opinion?”
“Would you?” Amanda asked and laid her hand on his arm. “That would be such a huge help. I’m not nearly as good a judge of character as you are.”
Nate covered her hand with his, casually removed it from his arm, and, as much as he hated to, released it. Having Amanda compliment him and touch him all at the same time was nearly too much for his willpower.
“It’s the least I can do,” Nate mumbled and opened the door for her.
When he flipped off the light switch and shut Haley’s door, Nate decided the time had come for a vacation. A steady diet of Amanda was nearly driving him to the brink of doing something he might regret forever. Gordon had emailed him yesterday, saying it was time for a corporate meeting in Brisbane again. The two were facing some management issues and needed several conference days. The potential trip would do Nate good and give him some much-needed distance from Amanda.
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