Winter Dreams

by Robyn Neeley

  Stunned, Casey stared at the opposite wall.

  Alice’s head dropped to the side, and her breathing became deep and regular.

  Casey drew in a quivering breath and dabbed at her eyes with the tissue Lydia had given her. It seemed she had failed Kalin in many ways, and her grandmother had stored them up to tell her about them when it was far too late to do anything about it.

  Casey did what she always did in times of trouble. She set her chin and went back to Cap’n Bob’s, where she dealt with every problem facing her in double-quick time and perfected a cheesecake that would electrify the entire state of Texas.

  “Merrick just called,” Lydia said. “She says not to forget that you’re taking the LSAT test tomorrow in Houston.”

  “Houston,” Casey snarled.

  Lydia scrambled behind the chopping island in the center of the kitchen, laughing. “She’s bringing over a map of the location, and you’re supposed to get a really good night’s sleep.”

  Casey clapped a hand to her forehead. “I don’t have time for this. Why did I ever start this law school business?”

  “So you can outscore Kalin?”

  “Ah. I knew there was a good reason.” Casey stripped off her apron and tossed it aside. “It’s all yours. You’ve just been promoted, by the way. You are now assistant chef and manager.”

  Lydia looked thrilled. “Wait until I tell Mom.”

  Casey went home and stalked into the living room to plug in her Christmas tree as she did every night. To her shock, one of the still-wrapped presents suddenly emitted a loud ring tone. She found it and tore off the wrapping.

  “A smart phone,” she breathed, staring at the small, lit-up object in dismay.

  It looked like an expensive, up-to-date model, with applications already loaded and very likely, numbers already programmed into it. It ceased ringing abruptly, and Casey found the button that would turn it off.

  She was not ready for another cell phone yet, she thought, shuddering. She supposed she’d have to get one sooner or later, but she preferred to make it later. Much later, when Kalin no longer cared to call her on it.

  But she slipped the little phone into her purse the next morning, still turned off, and drove to Houston after her morning visit to the hospital and her stop by Cap’n Bob’s to give Lydia the day’s list of tasks.

  She arrived at the testing site and took a seat before a computer. To her surprise, Casey enjoyed the test, even though it covered many things she knew nothing about. But reasoning from a few given facts was something a cook excelled at. Perhaps she’d win a scholarship to law school. That would frost old Kalin McBryde.

  The thought of frosting Kalin bucked her up, even though the test took the better part of the day. By the time Casey exited the building and found the parking lot, her head pounded with exertion and the winter afternoon sun sat low in the sky.

  “Well? How was it?”

  Casey glanced up, startled. Kalin’s SUV was parked beside her rental car, and he leaned on her fender smiling at her, still dressed in the suit he’d worn in court.

  She frowned and tried to remember why she was mad at him. “How on earth did you find me?”

  “It wasn’t hard.” He pushed off the fender and came toward her, scanning her tired face. “You look like hell.”

  “Thanks. That was some test, plus I didn’t sleep well.”

  “If you want to blame it on me, I’ll have to shut up. I started to come apologize in person last night, but Merrick begged me not to disturb you before the test.”

  “It doesn’t matter.” She turned toward her car.

  He took her arm and turned her to face him. “It does matter. If I caused you to lose more sleep — don’t cry, darling.”

  “I’m not crying.” Her words were muffled against his suit jacket. “I’m tired, and my head hurts, and I’m starving.”

  “I know, darling. Leave your car here. There’s a restaurant you’ll love nearby.”

  He helped her into his SUV, then climbed in beside her and held her a moment. “I’m sorry I accused you of talking to Star Shines. I should have known better.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Casey repeated. “This will probably happen every time there’s a Derrick Davenport anniversary. Now they seem to have decided I really am his daughter.”

  Kalin sighed. “I don’t suppose it would help if I explained that I had to take an awful ribbing from every lawyer and judge at the courthouse yesterday morning. What really got me was that I had no idea that article was on the newsstand.”

  “Neither had I,” Casey said.

  “I know. I’m sorry, darling. Sit back and rest. You need food before I can expect to get any sense out of you.”

  She leaned back. “That test was horrendous. Everyone looked so rested and smart. Merrick will never live it down if I flunk.”

  Kalin chuckled. “With your analytical abilities? I expect you to be in the top ten percent.” He kissed her lightly. “Look, Casey, I’m sorry I yelled at you yesterday. You might at least have given me a chance to apologize.”

  She smiled wearily. “I was in no mood to listen to apologies. Nothing would have been abject enough.”

  He laughed and studied her face in the pale, late afternoon sunlight. “It’s happening all over again, isn’t it?”

  She stared back at him. “What is?”

  “One of these days, you’re going to need a keeper.”

  “For what?”

  “To make sure you go to bed and stay there, for one thing.” He started the car, then buckled on his seat belt thoughtfully.

  “Are you applying for the position?”

  “Not likely,” he said, and set the vehicle in motion.

  Casey went cold all over and said nothing. It was a good thing she was too tired to care that Kalin no longer loved her.

  Kalin parked on a quiet street and ushered her inside a small Italian restaurant, where he seated her quickly and ordered appetizers and wine.

  Casey sipped the wine and studied him while he checked an incoming call on his phone. His long lashes veiled his eyes as he frowned over the message then returned the phone to his pocket.

  Maybe she’d be better off getting another lawyer. “Do you want to forget handling the purchase of Cap’n Bob’s for me?” she asked.

  The bright azure eyes focused on her immediately. “I’ve already been in touch with Joe.” He tasted his own wine. “I should have the papers ready for your signature early next week.”

  Just like that. “Thanks a lot for keeping me updated.”

  “I get tired of hearing about nothing but your damned restaurant.” He shrugged. “I liked it better when you were spending every waking moment plotting to beat that man from Beaumont in all the cooking contests.”

  “My conversation must have been very boring to a man who preferred to discuss the various and sundry ways a fish can find to hide itself on the bottom of a lake.”

  Kalin laughed and reached for her hand. “I wasn’t that boring. Sometimes I even discussed the ways a duck can find to land at every lake in a hundred mile radius but the one where my blind was located.”

  “Sometimes I talked about the weather,” Casey said.

  “Speaking of the weather, how’s your chart coming along?”

  “So far, January, February, and March look like good months.”

  “Have you been opening your presents?”

  “Of course I have. Thanks for the phone.” She fished it from her purse and held it out to him.

  He took it, examined it a moment, frowning, and pressed a button. “No wonder. Why didn’t you turn it on?”

  She gave him her most innocent stare. “I couldn’t find the right button.”

  “With the box and instructions included? Your nose
will grow if you keep on telling lies, Casey Gray.” He said nothing else about the phone, other than to adjure her to give the number to the hospital in case her grandmother’s condition changed.

  “By the way, thanks for the tackle box and all the pretty little feathery things to go in it.” She stowed the phone back in her purse.

  “Those are called flies.”

  “No kidding. I thought they were baby birds.”

  “You’re going to learn how to cast a fly if it’s the last thing I ever teach you.”

  They spent the remainder of the evening arguing over the merits of fishing, and Casey enjoyed herself tremendously. She hadn’t argued with anyone over fishing in years. Five years, to be exact. It was amazing how she’d missed it.

  She didn’t feel bereft until Kalin drove her back to her car. The lingering kisses he gave her did nothing to assuage the feeling. Even though he followed her until he saw her get on the freeway safely, she felt almost as if he had deserted her.

  • • •

  Casey didn’t have long to feel bereft. New Year’s Eve approached, and the problems facing her escalated. She could hardly talk to Kalin on the cell phone he had given her without constantly being interrupted by employees. Reporters called for several days in search of exclusive interviews with the alleged Davenport love-child.

  The more Casey denied Derrick Davenport, the more determined the reporters were to believe he was her father.

  She stalked back out to the big dining area, where all the tables had been crowded toward the walls to leave the central area bare, creating a makeshift dance floor. Supervising the hanging of giant, paper crawfish and alligators was a lot better than speculating on what Kalin was doing in Houston, and whether or not he had truly given up on loving her.

  On New Year’s Eve, every available table and the small dance floor teemed with customers, and Casey, wearing a red bandanna-print dress, waited tables alongside Lydia and the entire wait staff.

  Kalin walked in about nine in the evening, and Casey spotted his tall, jean-clad form at once. Her heart pumped harder at the sight of his tanned face and the steady blue eyes that searched the crowd. Before she could move toward him, a blond cowgirl attached herself to his arm.

  To Casey’s outrage, he followed the blond toward the dance floor.

  She could care less who he danced with, she told herself, and promptly began setting soft drinks at a table of rowdy cowboys who had ordered beer. By the time she had straightened out that mess, Kalin had vanished.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  His voice came from behind her, and Casey almost dropped the heavy tray loaded with beer. She wished he didn’t remind her so much of one of his own Western heroes.

  “Helping out.” She forced a smile. “On a night like this, it’s all hands on deck.”

  Kalin regarded her, frowning. “You look tired.”

  Not a word about the red dress she’d worn with him in mind. “Thanks. With all the confusion tonight, it’s hard to remember who ordered what.”

  The band played a Cajun waltz, which added to the noise. And if she planned to fill the place this full in the future, she’d have to see about some fans to assist with the ventilation.

  “You need to step outside a minute.” Kalin lifted the tray from her shoulder. “Where does this go?”

  “That corner table,” she said, before recalling that particular table belonged to Kalin’s cousin Merrick and her boyfriend, Clayton Rowe.

  She lacked the energy to worry about it, she realized, suddenly stricken by a wave of nausea. She shoved her way through the crowd and practically ran outside, where she leaned against a car until the dizziness passed off.

  “Better?” Kalin’s voice was quiet and soothing.

  He took her arm and led her down a row of pickup trucks and cars to his SUV. Unlocking the door, he helped her in and came around to sit beside her. Casey, grateful for the blessed quiet and fresh air, leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

  Kalin sat beside her in silence a moment. “Why do you keep doing this to yourself? Don’t you know it upsets me to see you looking so stressed and worn?”

  Her eyes popped open. “There must be a dozen blond cowgirls inside who’d love to soothe your feelings.”

  Kalin smiled. She could see the expression, thanks to her foresight in having the burned-out parking lot lights replaced.

  “Is that so? I’m surprised I’m not getting a lecture from you about spending New Year’s Eve in the law library or at the computer.”

  Casey blinked, confused. “Oh. Well. Let me think on it a bit and get wound up properly. Although, now that you mention it, a few weekends at your computer would do more to help the duck population than all the money you probably contribute to Ducks Unlimited.”

  Kalin chuckled and drew her close. “Forget I mentioned the matter.”

  Casey sighed as Kalin’s lips touched hers and his hands stroked her unresisting body. She slid her arms around his neck, holding him to her and letting him take his fill of her kisses. Memories of their night together made her tremble.

  A fine tremor in Kalin’s hands attracted her attention, and his breathing quickened. She sought to increase both by kissing his ear and nibbling his earlobe.

  Kalin drew back suddenly. “We’d better go back in. I’d keep you out here all night if I could.”

  “I’m in the mood to let you.”

  “It’s a bit late for that, don’t you think?”

  Casey felt as if he had stabbed her. She leaped from the vehicle and hurried back down the row of cars.

  Kalin caught up to her. “What’s your hurry?”

  Casey sucked in her breath. “I’ve got things to see to, and Lydia is alone with everything. Goodbye, Kalin.”

  “I’m not leaving yet.”

  Casey glanced fleetingly at him as they passed beneath one of the big arc lights. “I’ll tell Lydia to find you a chair at Merrick’s table.”

  Kalin caught her arm, whirled her to face him, and smiled the kind of smile Casey imagined one of his Western heroes would direct at a cattle rustler. “I’m here to see you, and well you know it.”

  Casey refused to flinch. “Maybe you’d better leave while you still can. I warned you that I was on the lookout for a potentially famous author or a future rich criminal lawyer.”

  Kalin laughed and threw an arm across her shoulders to hug her lightly. “Since I’m not likely to be either, I suppose that lets me out.”

  “You should know.”

  “By the way, I won my case.”

  Casey stared at the ground as Kalin opened the door for her. “Congratulations, Kalin.” She forced a smile. “You may become a rich attorney yet. I’d better keep you on my list just in case.”

  “Do that.” He ushered her back inside the restaurant.

  Someone called Kalin’s name and he turned aside to greet a friend. The moment he turned, Casey felt an arm slide around her waist from behind.

  Clayton Rowe, slightly the worse for the beer he’d ingested, grinned down at her. “Hi, babe. How about a New Year’s kiss?” He pulled her toward him.

  She planted her hands on his chest and stiff-armed him, but he used one hand to bend her arms at the elbow and reeled her in, still smiling. Crushed in his arms, Casey turned her face aside and ducked her head. In a few minutes, he’d give up on her and go after fresh prey.

  “Let go of her, Rowe,” Kalin said coldly.

  “Get lost, McBryde.”

  The next instant, Casey felt Clay peeled from her like a recalcitrant bit of plastic wrap. She staggered and almost fell as Clay’s chin came into contact with Kalin’s right fist. Clay stumbled back into the wall and slumped down it, landing in a relaxed, sitting position with his eyes closed.

  Kalin
grabbed Casey’s wrist and hauled her through the crowd and out the front entrance after one disgusted glance at Clay.

  She planted her heels. “Let me go, Kalin McBryde. I’ve had enough macho behavior for one night.”

  “You need a keeper. I’m about ready to elect myself, whether you like it or not.”

  He pulled her out the side door, not slowed at all by her resistance, and stopped in the shadows of the building.

  Casey blinked, not quite following this speech. “I don’t need a keeper to deal with men who have had too much to drink. In another few seconds, he’d have let go of me on his own.”

  “Well, he didn’t do it fast enough for me, and you look too damned tired to fight back.”

  She tried to free her wrist. “You’re hurting me.”

  He closed the small distance between their bodies, crushing her breasts against his chest as he locked her against him. His lips came down on hers in a ruthless, plundering, marauding action Casey had never associated with Kalin before. When the kiss ended, she was breathless and trembling.

  Kalin trembled also. She could feel his tension as his eyes searched hers.

  “Well?” he said. “Don’t you want to fight me? Or are you too worn out?”

  She had no idea what he was talking about. “Why should I want to fight you? Although you were a little rough.”

  His hands closed on her shoulders. “There’s more to come.”

  Casey tried to pull back, but he held her in place by merely tightening his grip.

  “See what I mean? You’re stressed out and dead tired. How do you think it makes me feel to see you like this? If I had my way, you’d be locked in your bedroom for a week.”

  “With you?” She tried to smile.

  “No way. Do you think I want to contribute to your breakdown? The trouble with you is you’re still trying to prove to everyone that you’re not like your mother. Hold still. I told you there was more to come.”

  Casey tried in vain to wrench herself from his hold. “I don’t have to listen to you.”

  “As soon as you can get up the energy to break my hold, you’re free.” His blue eyes were dark with mockery in the fluorescent glow cast by the overhead lighting. “In the meantime, you can listen to my list of complaints, which has changed remarkably little in the past five years.”