“Jared—”
The blast of a car horn shattered the moment like fragile glass. Annie turned and watched the approach of a white luxury sedan. Clouds of dust billowed behind the car as it turned off the paved road and made its way toward them.
Jared stepped away from her and tipped back his hat. “The woman is determined, I’ll give her that much.”
Annie looked at him curiously. “What woman?”
“Myrna.”
“Your stepmother?”
Jared nodded, watching the sedan approach. “Ever since she realized she couldn’t buy Jake’s land, she’s been after mine. She makes at least a weekly trip out here.”
He sighed, then turned and headed for the stairs. Annie followed, hurrying to keep up with Jared’s long strides. “Why would she want to buy this land? Is she interested in drilling for oil?”
His laugh was dry and harsh. “Hardly. She’s got this idea she wants to breed and train Thoroughbreds.”
“Horses? Myrna?” Annie couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice. The Myrna that Annie remembered hated horses. She’d hated the smell and the flies and the “stable refuse,” as she’d so fondly referred to the ever-present mountains of manure.
“It’s a real hoot, ain’t it?” Jared waited at the base of the stairs, his gaze narrowed as the cloud of dust grew closer. “Not that she’d ever spend a penny of her own money. She’s managed to convince Carlton to buy it for her.”
“Carlton?”
“Her father. Carlton Hewitt III. He’s never said no to the woman once in her life. I always thought she married my father because he was the first man who ever did say no.” Jared’s expression was somber as he leaned back against a rig post and folded his arms across his chest. “But even that changed after they’d been married for a while. She built that damn house of hers and spent every penny of J.T.’s money she could get her hands on. He stood by and never said a word.”
Annie watched the sedan pull up in front of the office trailer. “Why?”
“I suspect it had to do with Angela. He wasn’t the same man after she left.” Jared shook his head. “He just sort of gave up.”
“Until he found out he had another daughter,” Annie said quietly.
“We found out last month that Myrna knew all along. Not only about the affair, but that Angela was pregnant.” Jared’s jaw tightened. “I can forgive her a lot of things, but not that. Emma is our sister, our blood, and we all missed out on a lot of years.”
Annie touched Jared’s arm. “But you have her now.”
He smiled. “Yeah. We have her now.”
The sedan’s engine stopped and the car door opened. One white high-heeled shoe touched the dirt, then another. Myrna stepped out of the car, smoothed the front of her yellow skirt, then adjusted her yellow-and-white-striped silk blouse. Her red hair gleamed in the morning sun as brightly as the shiny chrome on her car.
She patted the crisp back of her starched hairdo and headed for the office.
“Over here,” Jared called.
Myrna turned abruptly, her hand still poised in midair. “Oh, there you are. I was just on my way to pick Daddy up at the airport and thought I’d stop by to say hello.”
As if Myrna ever just stopped to say hello, Jared thought, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. “Your father’s coming here?”
“It took a doctor’s order to finally get that man to spend some time with me.” The woman picked her way toward them, carefully avoiding rocks and shrubs. “He had a couple of dizzy spells, and his physician insisted he take some time off.”
Carlton Hewitt coming to Stone Creek was certainly a rare occurrence. If the seventy-three-year-old man wasn’t in a business meeting discussing the half of Houston he already owned, he was in a business meeting trying to buy the other half.
Like father, like daughter, Jared noted silently. But maybe while the man was here, it would keep Myrna occupied elsewhere. And for that, Jared would forever be in Carlton’s debt.
“Oh, dear me,” Myrna said, looking at Annie. “Am I interrupting?”
As if it would matter to her if she was, Jared thought. Before he could answer, his stepmother moved closer to Annie and held out a hand. “Hello, I’m Myrna Stone, Jared’s stepmother. You must be the geologist from Arloco that Jared told me about.”
Jared ground his teeth. He hadn’t told Myrna anything about Arloco or the geologist. She’d obviously been snooping again.
And how could she have forgotten Annie? Myrna had given Jonathan and Annie an engagement party. It was difficult, but Jared held back the swear word on the tip of his tongue.
“Actually we’ve met, Mrs. Stone,” Annie said before Jared could intercede. “I’m Annie Bailey. I was Jonathan’s fiancée.”
“Annie Bailey?” Myrna’s hand froze. She looked at Jared, then back at Annie. “Jonathan’s fiancée? But I... You mean, you aren’t the geologist from Arloco?”
“Well, yes,” Annie said. “I’m that, too.”
Jared wanted to laugh at the dumbfounded expression on Myrna’s face, but even more, he wanted to get rid of the woman.
Myrna moved toward Annie and took her hand. “Annie. Oh, yes, of course I remember you. Jonathan’s fiancée. It’s just been so long, and I certainly never expected you, of all people, to be Jared’s geologist.”
“Mrs. Stone,” Annie said carefully, “I’m not Jared’s geologist. I’m here as a representative for Arloco Oil to determine the feasibility of this project.”
“Well—” Myrna lifted one perfectly tweezed brow “—Jared must certainly be thankful for that. After all the problems this young man has had finding backers, he must see you as a true godsend.” She turned to Jared with a smile as phony as the color of her hair. “I would assume that congratulations are in order.”
“Annie is still evaluating the rig,” Jared said through clenched teeth. “When she’s finished, she’ll give her findings to Arloco.”
Myrna gestured blithely with her hand. “Well, yes, but she’s the one who really decides, doesn’t she?”
Jared searched the ground for a rope. He’d tie the woman up, then—
“I have an obligation to Arloco Oil, Mrs. Stone,” Annie said tightly. “Whatever decision I make will be based on facts, not emotions.”
“Of course it will, dear.”
Fingernails on a blackboard would be music compared to the words that came out of Myrna’s mouth. Jared spotted a steel cable a few feet away. It was just about the right size—
Myrna faced Annie, oblivious to Jared’s murderous thoughts. “It must be so awkward for you, though, considering the circumstances and all.” She placed a hand on her chest and looked up. “I mean, working here, right where poor Jonathan fell. How will you ever deal with that?”
Jared felt Annie go rigid beside him. Nothing that Myrna said or did should shock him anymore, but for a second he felt as if he’d been punched in the chest. He also suddenly realized how tightly he was holding on to Annie’s arm. He let go and felt her draw in a slow breath, then cursed himself when he saw the imprint of his hand on her smooth skin.
“This is my job, Mrs. Stone,” Annie said with a patience that amazed Jared. “My personal feelings have no place here.”
Myrna sighed. “Yes, well, I know what it’s like to lose someone you love. It’s only been eight months since J.T.’s been gone, and I just can’t imagine—” her lower lip quivered and she blinked several times “—well, I just loved him so much. I hope someday I’ll be able to get over his death as bravely as you have Jonathan’s.”
That was it. Jared had had enough. He’d just use his bare hands. That would give him more pleasure, anyway. He took a step toward his stepmother. “Myrna—”
Annie laid her hand on Jared’s arm. “Bravery has nothing to do with death, Mrs. Stone,” she said quietly. “We have no choice but to accept it, no matter how deep or how black the pain. It’s also the one thing in life that no one escapes, the one thing that makes us all
equal, no matter how different or how special we might think we are.”
Annie turned to Jared then, and he saw a tension in her eyes that belied the calm expression on her face. “I still have some questions on cost estimates, Jared. When you’re finished here, I’ll be in the office.” She faced Myrna again and nodded. “Mrs. Stone, it’s been a real...pleasure.”
* * *
Eight hours later Annie sat in a booth at the Cactus Motel Café, staring intently at the menu a perky waitress with short platinum hair had thrust into her hands after reciting the nightly specials. The smell of grilled steak and onions wafted deliciously on the air, reminding Annie that she’d forgotten lunch in her hurry to not only finish her report, but to call in a report to the manager at Arloco and ask for verbal authorization for approval.
It was a go.
She’d only heard an hour ago, and the excitement that had been building inside her was bubbling over. Jared would be here any minute, and she couldn’t wait to tell him the good news. She’d already ordered wine to celebrate.
Even recalling her run-in with Myrna earlier in the day hadn’t dimmed Annie’s pleasure. There’d been a cool distant look in Jared’s eyes after the woman had finally left that made Annie uneasy. He’d apologized for his stepmother, but Annie had shrugged it off and insisted that whatever the woman said or did had no bearing on the project.
But there had been that one moment, she realized, that one second when she’d looked up at the rig, and doubt had shivered through her....
No. She closed her eyes. No doubts. She could handle this project. She’d put the past behind her, dealt with those ghosts long ago.
But Jared was no ghost. And he wasn’t the past. He was the present. And that was where her doubt truly lay.
Her body still hummed from his touch that morning. When she’d laid her hands on his, she’d only meant to reassure, to comfort. Then suddenly he’d been comforting her, and he’d been so close, his body so hot against hers, and she hadn’t been able to think about anything else.
She closed her eyes, remembering the heavy beating of his heart, the strength of his broad chest, his hand slowly moving up her arm, and she couldn’t help but wonder...
“Annie, you okay?”
Her eyes flew open and she looked into Jared’s worried gaze as he slid into the booth across from her. She felt her face burn and reached for her glass, hoping he wouldn’t notice her hand was shaking as she took a sip of ice water. “Yes, of course. I’m fine. Just resting my eyes.”
He frowned, then lifted a hand to gesture for the waitress. “Annie,” he said solemnly, “I would rather not prolong this—”
“Neither would I.” Annie leaned forward and smiled brightly. “As of one hour ago, I gave my approval, and Arloco agreed to back you.”
The waitress showed up at that moment and set a bottle of red wine and two glasses on the table.
“It’s a deal, Jared,” she said breathlessly as the waitress filled the glasses, then moved on to another booth. “We can start drilling immediately.”
She lifted her glass, waiting for the realization to hit Jared that they were in business. Waiting for him to laugh and lift his glass, too.
He simply stared at her.
“I’m sorry, Annie,” he said, his voice tight. “But I’m afraid the deal’s off.”
Four
Jared’s gut twisted as he watched Annie slowly lower her glass.
“What did you say?” she asked very carefully.
“I’m sorry, Annie.” Jared wished he had something much stronger than the wine to belt down, though he doubted there was liquor strong enough to erase the look of complete betrayal on Annie’s face right now. “I’ve decided to withdraw my request for backing.”
Her fingers tightly clutched the stem of the wineglass. “May I ask why?”
Several more couples had settled into the booths and tables of the restaurant, and the din of conversation mixed with the clatter of busboys and waitresses serving suddenly became deafening. He’d thought it would be easier to tell Annie here, in a public place, that he had changed his mind, but he was wrong. She deserved better than a quick thanks, but no thanks.
He threw several bills on the table, then reached over and took her free hand. Her fingers felt cold and stiff under his own. “Come on.”
“But—”
She resisted, but he held tightly and pulled her from the booth. A few curious stares turned their way as he dragged her behind him out the back door of the restaurant into a quiet parking lot. The crescent moon shone brightly overhead, spilling silver light over Annie that danced in her blond hair. She pulled her hand from his and lifted her chin as she glared at him. He noticed for the first time the dress she was wearing. It was black and short, sleeveless, and had a neckline that formed a dangerous V, revealing a swell of soft full curves. His throat went dry. He carefully kept his eyes from that V and focused on her face.
“I’ve decided that Arloco isn’t the right company for me.”
“Oh, I see.” She arched one delicate brow. “You mean our money isn’t quite green enough?”
He frowned. “Dammit, Annie, don’t make this any more difficult than it already is.”
“And why shouldn’t I?” Her eyes flashed in the moonlight. “You seem to forget, you’re the one who applied to Arloco. You’ve wasted my time, and yours, too.”
She folded her arms, lifting that enticing swell of flesh ever higher, oblivious to the havoc she was wreaking with his senses. He caught the light floral scent of her perfume that surely was named Come Closer, and it was all he could do not to drag her against him. “Look, I’m sorry. I’ve decided to go with another company.”
She narrowed her eyes in anger. “That’s a crock and you know it, Jared. Part of my job is to find out who you’ve already applied to. Outside of Arloco, the only other company who’s considered backing you is Darco Enterprises, and that’s only because the president went to college with your father. And even they turned you down.”
Her words were cold and hard, but they were also accurate. “Gee, Annie,” he said dryly, “aim a little higher next time. I may still want to have children one day.”
She ignored him and stepped closer. “I should just walk out of here, Jared. Arloco has dozens of projects they’re interested in. But we have a play here, a strong potential for a sound investment.”
Her eyes searched his face, and he had the distinct feeling that she could see not only through him, but inside him, where no one had before.
“Myrna got to you, didn’t she?” Annie said stiffly.
“Myrna has nothing to do with this.”
“The hell she doesn’t. She bruised that male pride of yours when she implied I’d give you Arloco’s backing whether the figures panned out or not.”
“Did you?”
Her eyes glinted fiercely. “As I said to your stepmother, it’s been a real pleasure.”
She turned and started to walk away, but his hand snaked out and took hold of her arm. “Annie,” he said raggedly, “I want your backing because you believe in the rig, not because of any obligation you might feel.”
The stiffness eased from her body. “Jared, this is not an easy business for a woman. It’s taken me two years to prove myself with Arloco Oil. I have no intention of breaking the trust they’ve put in me. Not for you, not for anyone.”
He stared down at her, saw the determination there, the intensity. A pan clanging from the kitchen and a muffled shout for more T-bone steaks were the only sounds to break the silence of the warm night.
“But that isn’t the real reason you’re backing out,” she said, “is it, Jared?”
He said nothing, and she leaned closer to him, her eyes searching his face. “I deserve the truth,” she said softly. “You at least owe me that before you slam the door in my face.”
He became painfully aware of how smooth her skin felt. Still, he let his hand linger on her arm, resisting the urge to run his fingers up
and over the bare curve of her shoulder.
“When I saw you on the rig this morning,” he said finally, “standing where Jonathan—”
She closed her fingers over his. “Jared—”
“You wanted the truth. I’m giving it to you. What if something happened to you?”
“Nothing is going to—”
He shook his head and glanced away from her, staring into the shadows of the night. “You don’t know that. Accidents happen all the time. You said so yourself. How would I deal with that?”
She touched his cheek and forced him to look at her. “Jared, there are no guarantees in life. But there is something to be lost, something more precious than whatever you might gain, if you don’t follow your heart. Jonathan knew that, and I think you do, too.”
He did know, dammit. But this was Annie. How could he take chances with her? She’d lost so much already. Her fingers moved over his jaw, and he felt the heavy deep thud of his heart. He couldn’t take that big a risk. He’d walk away from it all before he’d see her hurt again.
“Jared,” she said with an urgency that made his heart beat faster, “I never would have given my approval if I hadn’t felt this was a viable project. But I also realized something this morning as I stood on the rig. Something that went beyond the numbers and figures and bottom line. I realized how important this project is to me personally. It’s a part of my past that needs to be put to rest. I want this—for you, for me and for Jonathan. I can’t walk away from it. Don’t make me.”
A pressure built inside him, a longing of such intensity, a need so strong, that he felt himself shake under the force of it. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t.
“Please.”
One word, spoken softer than the night breeze, and yet it had the strength of steel chains. He was lost and he knew it. “I don’t want you up on the rig.”
One corner of her mouth tilted up. “Unless I absolutely need to be, I won’t.”
Texas Temptation Page 4
