“It’s Lottie’s Cajun supper.”
“Your favorite, Dad.” Drea gave him a big smile, her eyes twinkling.
“As I recall, it’s your favorite, too. And Lord knows, she wouldn’t be fixin’ anything so delicious if it was just me.”
Lottie whipped her head his way. “Drew MacDonald, why are you always so disagreeable?”
“You saying you fixed that special meal on my account?”
Lottie rolled her eyes. She did that a lot and he found it annoyingly cute. “I’m saying we all like the dish, so why not dig in.”
“Sounds great to me. I missed lunch and I’m starving.” Drea stood and gave them both a quick glance.
“I’ve got the table set,” Drew said. Well, Lottie had helped. She’d arrived just a few minutes before Drea got home and they’d worked quickly together. His heart flipped over the second he’d laid eyes on Lottie, after her being gone for so long, and he’d been a bit flustered ever since.
“Sounds good to me. I only hope the meal’s as good as you two remember it.”
“If you made it, Lottie, we’re gonna love it.” Drea eyed him, sending him a message to give Lottie his assurances, as well. But she didn’t need any more encouragement, he decided. She was the strongest woman he knew.
As Lottie walked past him, arm in arm with his daughter, the woman’s sweet, fruity scent teased his nostrils, reminding him of freshly picked strawberries. Oh man, it was going to be a long night.
* * *
The autumn sun arced over the horizon, shedding light and warmth on the morning. Drea squatted in the dirt and gave a good hard pull on one of the many weeds, gripping the base near the root with her gloved hands. The darn thing wouldn’t budge. She’d be damned if it would get the better of her. She stared at it, as if hoping it would wilt under her intense scrutiny.
No such luck.
While she was here in Boone Springs she’d vowed to tidy up her father’s neglected yard. Since her meetings didn’t begin until eleven, today was a good day to get started.
“Okay, you monster, you’re not getting the better of me.” On her knees now, she tightened her grip and pulled with all her might. “You’re going...down.”
The weed popped from the earth and the momentum sent her flying back. She landed on her butt in a pile of wilted petunias. “Ow.”
“Looks like the weed wasn’t the only one going down.”
She stared up, straight into Mason’s face, and saw a smirk twitching the corners of his mouth. “Are you kidding me? Where did you come from?”
He put out his hand to help her up.
She ignored it, bracing her hands on the ground and shooting to her feet, then dusting the dirt off her jeans. Why was this man always catching her in embarrassing situations?
“I usually run this way in the morning.”
She took in his black jogging pants and snug white T-shirt. His arms were two blocks of muscle straining against the cotton material. It was sigh-worthy how good he looked this early in the morning. The whole package smacked of good health and vitality and...sexy man.
The truth was the truth. Mason was still handsome, but that one kiss the other night meant nothing to her. She clung to her resentment, because the alternative—getting hurt again—wasn’t an option.
“I’ll remember that,” she said. She would make sure not to bump into him again at this hour.
“You’re up early.”
“Gardening, as you can see. My dad’s been neglecting the grounds and I’m hoping to make a dent in all this.”
“If I know you, you’ll fix up this garden and make it shine.” His words came with an approving gleam in his dark eyes.
“You sound so sure of yourself.”
“I am.”
“And you know that about me how?”
“I can see how hard you’re working on the fund-raiser. You won’t stop until you reach your goal.”
He was right. She was a woman on a mission. She’d never had much approval in her life, having to fight for everything she’d attained, without much recognition. Not that she’d needed constant glory, but a compliment now and then was always welcome. “Thank you.”
He pushed his hand through his hair and gave her a solemn look. “Listen, we’ve sort of hit a snag with The Band Blue. I spoke with their agent last night and it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen for us.”
“What? How can that be? They seemed interested last time we spoke.”
“Yeah, about that. You spoke with Sean Manfred, the lead singer, and apparently the kid has a soft spot for our cause. His mother is a heart attack survivor and he wants to help, but their agent isn’t onboard. He says the band couldn’t possibly come until his demands are met.”
“What are his demands?”
“He wouldn’t say. He wants a sit-down to go over everything.”
“That’s fine. I can do that. I think when he hears how much good—”
“The thing is they’ve got a gig at the Hollywood Bowl in LA this weekend and their manager will only agree to a face-to-face meeting. I suppose he’s trying to appease Sean, while making it harder on us. Frankly, we can’t afford to waste any more time on this. If we can’t get them to agree, we’re dead in the water as far as entertainment goes on such short notice.”
“We?”
“Yeah, we.”
“I can handle it on my own, Mason.”
“Showing up as a team will help persuade him. We can take my company plane, and besides, it’d give me a chance to check out a piece of property I’ve had my eye on.”
“In Los Angeles?”
“Yeah, on the beach.”
“I didn’t know you were a beach kind of guy,” she said matter-of-factly, while her heart pumped overtime. She’d have to spend a lot of time with Mason on the trip. It was business, but still...
“I’m not really, but maybe it’s time for me to branch out a little. I mean, Larissa always loved the beach. Claimed it soothed her, gave her peace.”
“And you can use a little of that?”
He shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.”
He gazed down at Drea as if puzzling something out. Perhaps he was looking for inner peace, while his body craved vitality. She could understand that.
“So it’s settled? We’ll leave Saturday morning.”
“Uh, sure. We’ll be home Saturday night, right?”
Mason eyed her and she saw him calculating what they needed to accomplish in one day. It was a three-hour trip to Los Angeles. That meant six hours of flying in one day. “If the agent isn’t being an asshole, we should be able to make it back in time.” His eyes twinkled. “Do you have a hot date on Saturday?”
“Me? I have no time for dating. I’m concentrating all my efforts on the fund-raiser.”
“Okay, then. I’ll make the arrangements and let you get back to fighting weeds.”
“Sounds...good.” It didn’t. She nibbled on her lip, battling emotions. On the one hand, she really needed to nail down the entertainment for the night. She’d hit a brick wall on getting a band to agree, until she’d spoken with Sean. He’d made it seem as if there wouldn’t be a problem; all they had to do was iron out a few details. But she should’ve gotten the okay from their agent first. Her mistake. Now she had to do some fast talking to secure their commitment. But on the other hand, traveling with Mason meant they’d be spending a full day together. She vowed not to let her ill feelings about him get in her way. “And I wish you’d stop doing that.”
His brows pulled together. “Doing what?”
“Catching me in embarrassing situations.” First the pajama thing and today her ungraceful battle with a weed.
His smirk spread into a wide smile. “Just lucky I guess.” He took off jogging down the road and she stood there watching him slice through the wind w
ith those long strides. An unwanted thrill ran through her body and she chewed on her lip, silently cursing the warmth filling her up inside.
Three
Saturday morning, Drea rose and double-checked her luggage making sure she packed her usual change of clothes just in case of an accidental spill or a delay, along with the necessary paperwork for the deal with The Band Blue.
Almost as important, she brought along her notes on her top five reasons it would be advantageous for the band to join in their fund-raising event. No one would ever call her lazy or doubt her determination. She’d done extensive research on the group and was prepared to use all the tools in her arsenal to get them to sign on the dotted line.
She showered and dressed in black slacks and a white bell-sleeve blouse, all the while going over her business strategy in her head. She’d wear her blazer during the meeting, but for now, a comfy cardigan would do for the plane ride. A pair of short beige boots completed the outfit.
She tiptoed into the kitchen and found her father up and dressed already. “Dad, you’re up early.” It was barely seven o’clock.
“That I am.”
He tied the laces on a pair of walking shoes that looked brand-new.
“What’s going on?”
“Lottie wants me to walk with her. Claims I need to get in shape.”
“Oh, uh...”
He glanced at her and frowned. “I’m not so old I can’t still get around, you know.”
“But...you haven’t been exercising. Maybe you should take it slow.”
“If I don’t go, Lottie’s gonna keep pestering me.”
“Dad, I think you’re darn glad Lottie’s here to pester you.”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” He shrugged. “I’m meeting her at the main house in half an hour.”
“Is it like a date?”
Her dad groaned as if she was insane. “It’s a walk, period.”
“Dad, I’m going out of town. What if...” She bit her tongue. She knew what he was going to say and couldn’t very well stop him.
Her father finished tying his shoes and looked up at her. “I’ve been on my own a long time, Drea. Don’t worry about me. I’ve gotten along all this time without you.”
Bingo. It was true, so she couldn’t argue with him on that.
“Okay, well, I’ll probably be home late tonight. I’m going to California with Mason. We have hospital business.”
“You need a suitcase for that?” Drew eyed her momentarily and she mentally cringed. She didn’t want to think about spending the night with Mason, yet it was a possibility. But that didn’t mean she had to pack her prettiest lingerie, a light sage nightie that barely covered her thighs. Why had she done that?
“I have papers in there, mostly. And a change of clothes, just in case, Dad.”
Her father’s pale green eyes lit up. “I bet Mason’s hoping for just in case.”
“What? Don’t be silly, Dad. He’s the last man on earth...”
“He’s hurting and you two go way back, Drea.”
“It’s business, Dad. You know I don’t like the Boones, Mason most of all.”
“All right, honey. If you say so.”
She felt like she was ten years old again. “I say so. I’ll text you before we take off.”
“To make sure I survived the walk around the ranch?”
She smiled. “Making sure you survived Lottie’s well-intentioned nagging.”
That made her father grin. “That woman is a pain in my rear end.”
“She’s a sweetheart and you know it. You just give her grief.”
“Turn that around, and it’d be true.” But there was a lightness in his voice she hadn’t heard in a long time.
There was a knock at the front door. “Sounds like Mason’s here,” her father said.
“I’ll get it.” Drea headed there through the parlor.
She found Mason dressed in a pair of crisp jeans and a snap-down shirt under a black jacket. Business casual. At least they were in tune in the apparel department. “Mornin’,” he said in his sexy Texas drawl.
“Mason, I’ll be right with you. Unless,” she began, her manners getting the best of her, “you’d like to come in?”
“Come in, boy,” her father called from the kitchen. “I’ve got a fresh pot of coffee going.”
Mason eyed her outfit and hairdo. Maybe she should’ve put it up, instead of leaving her hair free to drape down her back. “Man, right about now, I’d kill for a cup.” He glanced at his watch. “I think there’s time. Our flight leaves at eight.”
“Thank goodness,” she said. “I’d kill for a cup, too.” She let him in.
“A quick one. We’ll have breakfast on the plane, so no worries there.”
Drea bit back a snide comment. His company plane was just another classic reminder of losing Thundering Hills to the Boones. Mason spoke of it casually, as if normal everyday people could fly around in their own airplanes. The Boone empire had flourished, while her legacy, the land she’d loved, had been swept away.
Hastily, she poured them each a cup and listened while Mason and her father spoke about the weather, cattle prices and Lottie. “I’m afraid she’s on a crusade,” Mason said, grinning. “She spent some time with that doctor and now she thinks she can cure the world.”
“Well, I’m gonna give it a go.”
“Exercise never hurts. But be warned, next she might tackle your diet.”
“That’d be the day.”
“Mason,” Drea said, slurping the last sip of her coffee. “We should probably go.”
“Yeah, I’ve gotta get a move on, too,” her dad said. “You be sure to take good care of my girl while you’re gone. Okay, son?”
“Dad!” She sucked in a quick breath. “I don’t need Mason or anyone else taking care of me. I’m perfectly cap—”
“Yes, sir,” Mason interrupted. “I’ll be sure to keep her safe.”
Drea shook her head and kissed her father on the cheek. “Don’t strain yourself today.”
“I’ll be just fine. You have a good trip now.”
Mason grabbed her luggage in the parlor and then held the door for her. “All set?”
As much as she was going to be. “Yes.”
He put his hand to her lower back and guided her to a shiny black limousine in the driveway. The warm contact felt too good. She stiffened up and focused her gaze on the uniformed driver standing at attention beside the car.
“I’ve got this,” Mason said to him. He put her luggage in the back and then gestured to the open door. “After you.”
She slid inside and he followed. His presence seemed to fill the lush leather interior, and she was surprised at how little physical space there was on the seat between them.
She’d seen the inside of a limousine exactly four times. The first had been during her mother’s funeral. That had tainted her perception of limos for life. The ride had been the hardest she’d ever taken. She hadn’t been able to look at her father’s ashen face another second, so during the drive she’d stared out the window in utter silence, her young heart breaking.
Who ever said limos were fun?
“Let’s head to the airport,” Mason told the driver.
She glanced over at him, noting how he seemed to be in total control of his environment. She could really respect the business side of Mason. He was focused and driven. She’d dwell on that aspect during her time with him and not think about his pleasing musky scent. Or how the sunlight seemed to catch the inky strands of his hair in just the right way. Or how intense his dark brown eyes were. No, she’d concentrate on her newly thought up theme, Business with Mason.
“Just so you know, I can keep myself safe. I don’t need you protecting me.”
He grinned. “I know that. I was humoring your father.”
“Oh.” She sank back in her seat. Should she believe him? It didn’t matter. She knew the truth. She’d been taking care of herself for a very long time now.
She spared him another glance. His eyes were twinkling, as if he found her amusing.
She tried to drum up anger or resentment, but neither emotion surfaced. She hated to admit it, but he’d been sweet to consider her father’s feelings.
And who would’ve thought she’d ever associate the word sweet with Mason’s name?
* * *
“Comfortable?” Mason asked, sitting down across from her on the plane.
The white leather seats were wide and luxurious. A small table separated them. She was aware of the stocked liquor bar behind her and a television screen on the opposite wall. The flight attendant had just taken her order for breakfast.
“Yes.”
“Okay, we’ll be taking off soon.”
“At your command,” she said.
He stared at her and put a finger to his eye, struggling not to frown. “Drea, what?”
“Nothing.”
She smiled. She was a master at hiding her demons, but somehow being with Mason made them all come out again. “I’m fine.”
“Fear of flying?”
Fear of Boone. “No, nothing like that. I think I’m just hungry.”
“Breakfast is coming right up.”
The pilot’s voice came over the speaker. He explained the flight route and weather conditions and asked them to put on their seat belts. Shortly after, the plane began to taxi on the runway.
She and Mason were quiet until they were airborne.
“Here you go. I hope you enjoy this. It’s one of Mr. Boone’s favorites.” The flight attendant presented her with a vegetable egg white scramble and a cup of coffee. Mason had the same.
“Looks wonderful, thank you,” Drea said.
The stewardess walked off and Mason began digging in.
“So, you really think we can get The Band Blue to sign on the dotted line?” he asked her.
“With my people skills, yeah, I do.”
“You have people skills? You mean the way you charmed me?”
Texan for the Taking Page 4
