TIS THE SEASON...FOR ROMANCE (WESTMORELAND/MASTERS/JEFFERIES)

by Jackson, Brenda

  When the timer to the microwave went off, instead of taking her dinner out, Barbara moved to the nearest chair at the kitchen table, and sank into it. Even now she and Ron were making a mess of their daughter’s life. Courtney had tried talking them into getting a divorce many times, saying they weren’t doing anything but destroying each other, with her father’s whorish ways and with her mother’s easy acceptance of it.

  And Barbara was well aware that her and Ron’s behavior was the main reason Courtney had been so standoffish about getting serious about a man. But she hadn’t stood a chance with Lake. He had seen her and had been determined to win her over. Barbara liked him. He was older than Courtney by ten years and was just the person her daughter needed in her life. There was no doubt in Barbara’s mind that he would love Courtney and protect her for the rest of her daughter’s days on earth and for that Barbara was happy.

  And the one thing she didn’t intend to do was come between the couple. They would be getting married next month and if Boston was where Lake wanted to live, then that’s where her daughter needed to be.

  Barbara knew what she had to do, which was something that she should have done months ago, right after her divorce became final.

  She glanced around. This house was too big and there was no reason she should continue to live in it. Later in the week she would contact a realtor about selling it and she would begin looking for a much smaller place. She swallowed when the thought of leaving her home, the one she’d lived in for over fifteen years, nearly suffocated her. But it had been a consolation prize from Ron, after she’d found him and a woman in their other home. He had surprised her with this home with a promise never to be unfaithful again.

  She stood and wiped the tears from her eyes when she thought of how many times he’d promised her that, and how many times she had weakened enough to believe him, mainly because she had loved him. Now she knew first hand how love could be destroyed. But it hadn’t gotten demolished easily. There was just so much any woman could take and she had gone her limit.

  Starting tonight, at this very moment, she would move ahead. She would not only keep her next appointment with Dr. Banks, but would strive to finish the counseling sessions she had left. More than anything she was determined to try and move her life forward as a single woman.

  She left the kitchen and walked into the study to retrieve the piece of paper from her purse. It was the paper where she had jotted Rick Blair’s phone number. It didn’t take her but a few moments to punch in his number and she drew in a deep breath when his line began ringing.

  “Hello?”

  “Rick?”

  “Yes.”

  “This is Barbara. If you still want to take me out Saturday night, I’m available. I’d love to go to the movies with you.”

  Three

  “Now don’t you look sharp, Dad.”

  Rick raised a brow as he turned around to his son. Antron had arrived in Orlando unexpectedly that morning after wrapping up a case he’d been working on in Tampa.

  “I’m glad you approve,” he said smiling, while studying the young man’s sculpted features that were so much like his own. In fact, there were a number of things he could point out that his son had inherited that were so much like his. One had been his love for law, which was why after completing the University of Georgia, Antron had become a FBI agent. When a bullet almost ended Antron’s life during a case he was working, he took up a college friend’s offer to join him in a PI firm he’d established. That was four years ago and just from listening to the various cases Antron had worked recently, it almost made Rick want to go back to work himself. But Rick knew his days in law were over as they should have been ten years ago.

  Antron had been in his second year of college when his mother had died and Rick was certain had Gail lived, she would have been proud of the man their son had become.

  “So tell me about her,” Antron said, leaning against the bedpost. “I want to know all about the woman who finally got my father interested in dating again.”

  Rick rolled his eyes as he moved from the bedroom toward the kitchen. He could hear the happiness in his son’s voice to know how pleased he was in hearing about the fact he was taking a woman out. “I’ve gone on dates before,” he said over his shoulder.

  “Yes, but I wasn’t here to see it and you would rarely mention them afterwards. But since I arrived this morning, that’s all you seem to talk about. I know her name is Barbara, but that’s all I know.”

  Rick sat down at the kitchen table and so did Antron and for the next half-hour Rick shared information about Barbara with his son; especially the part of how they had met.

  “Her husband didn’t deserve her,” Antron said, echoing every thought Rick had ever had about Ronald Andrews.

  “No, he didn’t. I think I was drawn to her because she’s really a nice woman. A graceful and refined woman. And a very loyal and beautiful woman.”

  “Sounds a lot like Mom.”

  Rick met his son’s gaze. He knew what his son was hinting at. He was concerned he’d been drawn to Barbara because she possessed so many of his late wife’s qualities. Qualities he had admired. “A part of me will always love your mother, Tron, but I’ve moved on and I think you know that. I will admit there are things about Barbara that remind me of your mother, but that’s not why I asked her out. I genuinely like her and want to get to know her better.”

  “And then?”

  Rick shrugged. “Who knows? We’ll see what happens.” He glanced at the clock on the stove. “I need to be leaving,” he said standing. “Will you be here when I get back?”

  Antron smiled. “Yes, I’ll be here. I plan to stay until some time tomorrow. So go out and have a good time. Stay as late as you want. You deserve it.”

  Rick returned his son’s smile. “Thanks.”

  * * *

  Barbara swallowed deeply when she heard the sound of her doorbell and after taking a few steps she stopped and paused for breath. She nervously glanced down at herself, hoping she had dressed appropriately in her beige linen slacks and chocolate colored blouse that had ruffles at the bottom. She had liked it the moment she’d seen it in the store a few months ago.

  The last few times she’d gone to a movie had been with Peggy, Sonya or Courtney or in some cases, all three. Rarely had Ron taken her out and wouldn’t hesitate to encourage her to go with others. Now she knew why. But she refused to accept that his actions had ruined her chances of enjoying the companionship of other men.

  Putting one foot in front of the other, she moved again and when she reached the door she glanced out the peephole and saw Rick standing beneath the porch light. As if he knew she was looking at him, he stared back and smiled. At that moment a warm glow flowed through her. The sharp angles of his handsome features made her blink, they were so powerful. And the gorgeous dark eyes staring at her swept all kinds of sensations through her.

  She broke eye contact and glanced down at her floor to get her bearings before placing a smile on her face as she opened the door. “Rick,” she greeted warmly. “Come on in. I just need to grab my purse and wrap.”

  “All right,” he said, crossing over the threshold and closing the door behind him. “You look nice.”

  “Thanks.” She glanced down at herself and then met his gaze again. “I know you mentioned dinner before the movie and I wasn’t sure how I should dress.”

  “Your outfit is perfect and like I said earlier, you look nice.”

  His words were kind and she felt they were also genuine. “Thanks. Excuse me, I’ll be back.” And then she quickly strode up the stairs to her bedroom.

  * * *

  Heat swelled through Rick’s body in blatant male appreciation as he watched Barbara go up the stairs. He couldn’t help staring at how the material of her slacks curved around a nice looking backside. He knew from the information he’d gathered while investigating the attempt on her husband’s life that she was fifty. In that case, he thought she carried he
r age well. She didn’t look a day over forty.

  Standing in the middle of her living room he glanced around, admiring the decor of her home. He could see her special touch in every item that caught his eyes. It was hard to believe this was the home she had once shared with Ron Andrews. For some reason it was hard to picture the man spending any amount of time here with her, and from all his extramarital activities that had been exposed, it seemed in essence that he hadn’t. But still, it had to be hard for her. He of all people knew how memories – good or bad – could grip you when you least expected it.

  “I’m ready.”

  He glanced back up at the stairway and watched as Barbara walked back down the stairs. There was such a gracefulness in every step she took and when her feet touched the bottom stair, he couldn’t help asking. “Were you ever a model?” She certainly had the looks, height, body and refinement for one.

  She smiled. “No, but my mother felt Peggy and I should endure years and years of a finishing school for young ladies.”

  He wasn’t surprised in hearing that. “I can tell.”

  She tilted her head and met his gaze. “I get asked that a lot so I guess all those years paid off.”

  “Yes, they certainly did.”

  Moments later they were walking out her front door. Although it was a few minutes past five, it was already dark outside due to Daylight Savings Time. He stood on her porch as she switched on her security alarm and then he walked her over to his car. He usually drove his SUV but tonight he decided to play with his toy – a Corvette he’d purchased and restored a few years ago.

  “Nice car,” Barbara said and he could hear the admiration in her voice.

  “Thanks. I’m going to have to show you pictures of how it looked when I bought it four years ago. The prior owner didn’t do a good job of taking care of it,” he said, opening the passenger door so she could get in. He thought there was even a gracefulness in the way she slid into the seat.

  “Then I’m glad it now belongs to you, Rick. I think you’re a man who takes very good care of anything that’s his.”

  Barbara swallowed, darting her gaze away from him while wishing she could bite off her tongue. What had possessed her to say such a flippant remark? Although it was true, she had no right to say such a thing.

  “Barbara?”

  The deep huskiness in his voice drew her gaze back to his. He was leaning against the open car door, one arm propped on the roof of the car and staring down at her. “Yes?”

  “You’re absolutely right. I am a man who takes care of what’s his. And I’m also a man who recognizes and appreciates anything of value and beauty when he sees it.”

  Then without saying anything else, he closed the door and walked around the front of the car to get in on the other side.

  Four

  Rick tried keeping his eyes on the road, but against his will whenever he slowed his car down or came to a traffic light, he would gaze over at Barbara. She was staring ahead, straight out the windshield; however, she had to be aware each and every time he glanced over at her.

  He wondered if he was making her nervous, which was not his intent. He wanted her to feel comfortable with him, mainly because he was hoping they saw a lot of each other in the coming months.

  Thinking the silence between them had stretched long enough, when the car came to a stop at a traffic light, he said. “I meant to tell you earlier that I like your home.”

  She glanced over at him and smiled. “Do you like it enough to buy it?”

  He lifted a brow. “You’re selling your house?”

  “Yes. I made the decision last night and I haven’t told anyone, not even Courtney or Ron. Courtney could care less what I do as long as I’m happy, but I’m sure Ron will have something to say.”

  “Does it matter?”

  She shook her head. “No, it doesn’t matter.”

  Rick turned to look straight ahead when the traffic light changed. She probably had figured out by now that her ex wasn’t one of his favorite people. And the more he’d learned about the man’s infidelity, not just with that stunt he’d pulled in Hawaii, but all those others involving women younger than his own daughter. They were women who thought being sexually promiscuous was something to be proud of.

  He glanced back over at her and said, “I sold my house a couple of years after Gail died. Antron had made his home in Atlanta and for a while I thought of moving there. Relocating here to Orlando was Gail’s idea. My first choice was a piece of oceanfront property in Savannah. I let her change my mind.”

  And there had been so many days and nights that he’d regretted doing so. So many times he’d been plagued with what ifs. What if they had moved to Savannah instead of Orlando? Would she still be alive? It had taken him a long time to accept that no matter where they’d lived, it had been Gail’s time to go.

  She gazed over at him. “But in the end you moved here.” He knew it was neither a question nor a statement, but an observation.

  “Yes, I moved here.”

  Then as if she’d figured he would want to change the subject, she said. “So how do you spend your free time now that you’ve retired?”

  He spent the next few minutes telling her about his volunteer work at the hospital twice a week, playing golf with friends, and about the boat he owned and how he enjoyed being out on the water. He was surprised that she enjoyed boating as well.

  “I never did a lot of it,” she explained. “But the few times I’ve gone on out on the water, I’ve enjoyed it immensely.”

  “That’s good to hear. I’m going to have to take you out on the Carly one of these days.”

  She glanced over at him. “The Carly?”

  He nodded. “I named it after my wife. Her name was Carly Gail.”

  Barbara nodded. “Nice name.”

  He chuckled and he couldn’t stop the humor that lit his eyes. “Glad you think so because she never did. She preferred dropping the Carly and keeping the Gail. So whenever I wanted to aggravate her I would call her by both names.”

  For a quick second he wondered how they had gotten on the subject of Gail again and then remembered. He quickly decided for the remainder of the night he wanted to make Barbara the topic of their conversation. He knew about the part of her life that had caused her unhappiness and pain, but he wanted to know what made her the woman that she was, the woman he was attracted to. A woman who could love so deeply and be so loyal even in the worse of times.

  He couldn’t find out all he wanted to know in one night and wouldn’t even try. That meant he would need to see her again and he hoped she was amenable to such a thing.

  “Oh, we’re having dinner at Oasis,” she said, smiling over at him after he’d made the turn into the restaurant’s parking lot. “I love their seafood.”

  He smiled. “So do I.”

  And he was going to love sitting across from her and looking into what he thought was the prettiest pair of eyes he’d ever seen.

  * * *

  “Did you enjoy dinner and the movie, Barbara?”

  Barbara glanced over at Rick. “Yes, both were simply wonderful. I truly enjoyed myself. Thanks for asking me out.”

  “Trust me when I say it was my pleasure and I enjoyed myself as well.”

  Barbara couldn’t help but smile inside. In all honesty, she hadn’t known what to expect tonight. It was the first official date she’d had since her divorce and even then she had almost hesitated in accepting. Now she was glad that she had.

  She didn’t know what there was about Rick but he had the ability to make her feel sensuous without expounding a whole lot of energy, which was so different than the way Ron had always made her feel. With her ex she’d always felt lacking, mainly because she’d known, that he was attracted to younger woman. She’d always felt she’d never been able to measure up to any of them. But a part of her had wanted to believe that deep down he truly loved her, and that one day he would realize she was the best thing for him.

  N
ow when she looked back over her life and saw how she had easily accepted Ron’s affairs, she also realized just how much of her life she’d wasted on him, and how wrong her mother had been when she’d convinced her and Peggy there was nothing a husband could do that he could not be forgiven for.

  The car stopped and she glanced over at Rick and found him looking at her. It wasn’t what she would call one of those sexual predatory looks, but it was definitely a look from a man who was interested in a woman. She’d seen that same look in Willie Baker’s gaze whenever he and Peggy were together. It was one of those looks that could render a woman dizzy, make her think of things she really had no business thinking about, like a man and woman in bed making love. It was the kind of lovemaking that made you tremble with intense desire all the way to your bones.

  Barbara couldn’t believe where her thoughts were going. Probably the same place they had gone most of the night whenever she would catch Rick staring at her. It was a penetrable stare but it hadn’t unnerved her. It had made her feel wanted, desired and sensuous.

  And he had been the perfect gentleman all evening, readily seeing to all her needs. The food at Oasis had been delicious, like she’d known it would be; and the movie had been another Tyler Perry masterpiece. After the movie they had strolled to the coffee shop across the street and he had gotten her talking. He’d met Peggy, Courtney and Sonya from the other times he’d run into them at the hospital and had asked her about other family. She had found herself telling him her family history and how a tract of land that had gotten sold to Disney in the sixties had made their single mother a very wealthy woman.

  Wanting a better life for her daughters, Barbara had told him how Lola Phelps had sent Barbara and Peggy to the best private schools, had established trust funds for them and then married them off to two men who she thought would cherish them and treat them with the utmost honor and respect.