TIS THE SEASON...FOR ROMANCE (WESTMORELAND/MASTERS/JEFFERIES)
Page 16
Remembering her pending trip to New York with Orin, she picked up the phone to call the woman who’d been doing her hair for years. Jennifer Pinckney was not only her hair stylist but was also the woman she considered her closest friend.
“Hello?”
“I need a favor Jen.”
“Sure. What is it?”
“I need to change my hair appointment to Thursday night instead of Tuesday.”
“No problem. You got a date?”
Cathy could only laugh at that one since Jennifer of all people knew she was in love with Orin. In fact for years Jennifer had tried to get her to date other men saying doing so would possibly jump-start Orin’s interest.
“No, but Orin has asked me to go out of town with him.”
Cathy put the phone away from her ear when Jen began screaming. When she put it back to her ear she said, “Sorry Jen, but you overworked your vocal cords for nothing since it won’t be that kind of party. It’s only a business trip.”
“Whatever. Just think, you’ll have your lover boy with you out of Atlanta and on unfamiliar turf. I think it’s great and I’m going to be so mad at you if you don’t take advantage of the situation and do something about it.”
Because Cathy knew how Jennifer’s mind worked she decided to tease her and ask. “Something like what?”
“Umm, sex, sex and more sex. You’re forty-eight and haven’t slept with a man since Don died eighteen years ago. Damn, Cathy, I would be climbing the walls had I gone without that long.”
Cathy nibbled on her bottom lip thinking there were plenty nights when she had thought of climbing the walls. It had mostly been those nights when she and Orin had had to work late on some project or another. It was those times when she’d had to contain herself and remember that as far as he was concerned their relationship was strictly business and he had no idea how she felt. Not that it would have mattered. His wife’s betrayal and desertion had left a bad taste in his mouth and he’d said more than once that he would never marry again.
“Well, over the years I’ve learned to deal with it,” was all Cathy had to say on the subject. Otherwise, she would let Jen talk her into some foolishness, since her best friend’s mind always seemed to be filled with a lot of crazy ideas.
“Why deal with it when you can do something about it? In addition to a new hair style you should -”
“Hey, hold up. Who said anything about a new hair style? I like the one I’m wearing just fine.”
“I would be the first to say the style looks cute on you; especially since it was one of my creations. But it’s time for us to try something different. And there are a lot of nice styles that will fit your face. I’d love to -”
“Okay, Jen, I got to run and like I said, I like my current hair style. I’ll see you Thursday.”
“What about this weekend? The rodeo is in town and we’re going Saturday night, remember?”
Cathy shook her head. There was no way Jen was going to let her forget. “Yes, I remember. I’ll see you on Saturday.”
Cathy hung up the phone and wished getting Orin’s attention would be as easy as a change in hair style, but she knew it wasn’t. He’d been burned by love so badly that she sometimes wondered if he would ever recover.
But knowing that hadn’t stopped her from loving him. She doubted there was anything on this earth that could to that.
* * *
“Well, I’m glad things turned out the way they did and you found the guy you were looking for before he could cause harm to anyone,” Orin said.
Duan smiled. “I am too, Dad. And how is Libby doing? I haven’t seen her since the wedding. I know she and Reggie flew to Paris recently to pack up her stuff and to move everything from her apartment since she’s moving back to the States.”
“She’s doing fine. They got back in town last week and now she’s busy trying to whip that building that Reggie gave her as a wedding gift into shape. It’s the perfect location for her art gallery.”
“I’m sure it is since it’s in a prime business location.” Duan leaned back in his chair. “So, how do you feel about another Jeffries wedding? I talked to Terrence last week and he’s one happy man. I can’t wait to meet Sherri Griffin.”
Orin chuckled. “Neither can I. I’ve spoken to her on the phone and I think she’s a lovely girl and just what Terrence needs. Reggie and Olivia are throwing a cookout for them on the Fourth of July to introduce Sherri to everyone. I hope you’re still in town for that.”
Duan smiled. “I plan to be. And Terrence told me the good news about you and Cathy?”
Orin raised a brow. “What about me and Cathy?”
“The two of you are dating.”
“What! Where on earth did Terrence get an idea like that from?”
Duan raised a brow. “It’s not true?”
“Of course it’s not true. Cathy is my administrative assistant,” Orin said curtly.
A smile curved Duan’s lip. “Trust me, Dad, I know her job title since she’s been with you for over fifteen years. And to answer your question, I guess Terrence assumed you and Cathy were an item when he was home for Libby’s wedding. I left town immediately after the wedding, but Terrence hung around for a few days and according to him, you and Cathy went out together several times while he was here.”
Orin frowned. “Those weren’t dates. They were after-hours business dinner meetings.”
“Oh.” Duan then chuckled.
Orin’s frown deepened. “And what’s so funny?”
Duan stood. “I find it amusing that you got agitated because Terrence thought you and Cathy were an item.”
“I’m not agitated. I’m just confused as to why Terrence would think that way just because we went out together a lot while he was here. We’ve had business dinners before a number of times. After all, she is my administrative assistant.”
Duan shrugged massive shoulders. “Who knows why Terrence’s mind works the way it does. But in his defense, I’d have to say that in case you hadn’t noticed, Cathy might be your administrative assistant, but she’s also a good looking woman.”
“Of course I’ve noticed. I’m not blind, Duan.”
Duan smiled as he headed for the door. “That’s good to hear. Now I suggest you get beyond her job title. I bet if you do, things might get a little interesting. Have a good day, Dad.”
Orin was left speechless as Duan walked out of the office and closed the door behind him.
Two
“Can we get you ladies anything to drink?”
Jen smiled up at the two men. “Yes, I’d take a Miller Lite.” And grinning over at Cathy she looked back at them and said, “And my friend here will take a diet Coke.”
As soon as the pair walked off Cathy pushed back the cowgirl hat she had on her head and let her have it. “Are you out of your mind? You didn’t say anything about setting me up with a blind date. If you want to rob the cradle that’s fine, but remember I’m the mother of two sons.”
Jen laughed as she pushed back her own hat. A young boy had been selling them outside the arena. “Chill will you. They aren’t your sons. I think they’re kind of cute. And did you notice how they both fill out a pair of jeans?”
Cathy glared. No she hadn’t noticed. She was well aware that Jen had begun dating younger men a few years ago. But these two that had shown up with her at the rodeo tonight, twins by the name of Dusty and Rusty, appeared to be in their early thirties. She and Jen were at least fifteen years their senior. The pair might be older than her twenty and twenty-four year old sons, but as far as Cathy was concerned they were still wet behind the ears.
She glanced around the arena. The place was packed, which wasn’t unusual whenever the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo came to town. When the boys were younger she would bring them every year, and now she enjoyed coming with Jen. At least she used to enjoy coming with Jen. This was the first time her friend had shown up with a blind date for each of them and she just wasn’t feeling it.
Cathy glanced down at herself. “Thanks.”
The snug fitting jeans and clingy top wasn’t her usual casual attire, but she’d seen the outfit in the store last week and decided to buy it. And from the looks a couple of men had given her tonight, it seems her New Year’s resolution to stay healthy and in good physical shape was paying off.
“If only Orin Jeffries could see you now.”
Cathy couldn’t help but smile at that. Jen was so convinced a makeover would make Orin notice her when she knew better. The man saw her as his administrative assistant and nothing more. “Well, he won’t be seeing me so let’s not discuss it.”
All too soon, to Cathy’s way of thinking, the twins returned with all smiles. Cathy could only shake her head. Jen was loving every minute of the attention Dusty was lavishing on, while Cathy still wasn’t feeling it.
“Stop being a party pooper,” Jen leaned over and whispered. “Live a little. Have some fun.”
Cathy rolled her eyes again. “Whatever.”
The rodeo was about to begin when Jen said, “You know what you said earlier when I complimented you on your outfit about if only Orin could see you now, and you said he wouldn’t so you didn’t want to discuss it?”
“Yes, what about it?”
“Well, I hate to be the one to tell you but he’s seeing you now. Look straight ahead. He’s staring straight at you.”
Cathy followed the direction of Jen’s gaze and stared right into Orin’s eyes. And her heart suddenly skipped a beat.
* * *
“Dad, isn’t that Cathy over there?” Olivia Jeffries Westmoreland leaned over to ask her father.
Orin was glad he’d seen his administrative assistant before his daughter had pointed her out. That had given him time to grab hold of his composure. He pulled in a deep breath and wondered how long he could go on pretending that he was in no way interested in her as a woman.
“Dad?”
“Yes, that’s her,” he said, still holding Cathy’s gaze. Even with the distance separating them he could vividly see the dark color of her eyes, a chocolate brown; as well as the shape of her lips. “Looks like she’s here with her friend Jennifer.”
Olivia chuckled. “And from the way that guy is hanging all over her, I’d say Jennifer isn’t the only one she’s here with. It appears they have dates. And rather young ones,” Olivia was saying. “Umm, I’m not surprised knowing Jennifer, but Cathy never struck me as a person who’d be a cougar.”
Orin broke eye contact to glance over at his daughter. “A what?”
She grinned. “A cougar. Older women who date younger men. Surely you’ve heard the term before.”
He returned his gaze to Cathy. No, he hadn’t heard the term before, and as far as Cathy dating younger men, he hadn’t known she was dating at all and turned back to Olivia and said so.
A smile touched his daughter’s lips. “Come on, Dad. As you’re so quick to remind all of us countless times that Cathy is your administrative assistant and nothing more, did you honestly think she wouldn’t seek out male companionship every once in a while.”
He shrugged. “She never mentioned it.”
“And she tells you everything?”
“No, but…”
Olivia raised both brows at him. “But what?”
Orin let out a long breath. “Nothing.”
He was grateful when the man announced over the PA system that the rodeo was about to begin and was glad his daughter’s attention shifted to the celebrity parade on horseback where her husband was a participant. “Look Dad, there’s Reggie.”
Orin followed his daughter’s gaze for just a minute, long enough to locate his son-in-law. And then his gaze returned to the pair of chocolate eyes that were still staring at him.
* * *
Cathy decided not to wait until intermission to seek some private time for herself. Telling Jen and the twins she needed to go to the ladies room, she quickly left her seat and walked down the stairs to where all the vendors were located while wondering what was worse, one of the twins – Dusty or Rusty she wasn’t sure which – clinging to her like they were an item or glancing over and seeing Orin’s constant gaze on her.
Moments later she stood in front of the cotton candy machine trying to decide should she or shouldn’t she. All that sugar certainly wasn’t good for anyone, but still, cotton candy had always been her weakness and tonight she wanted to indulge in something sinful for a change.
“What will you have, lady?” the bearded vendor with the rough voice asked.
“Some cotton candy please,” she replied, fishing her hand into the pocket of her jacket to get her wallet.
“Keep your money, Cathy, I got this.”
She swallowed, recognizing the sound of that masculine voice as well as the man’s scent. She’d always liked the scent of his aftershave. Taking a deep breath she slowly turned, looked up and met his gaze. She was in tuned to everything about him - the dark coloring of his eyes and the shape of his nose and curve of his lips whether he was smiling or frowning. To be more precise, she loved every single thing about Orin Jeffries.
Drawing in a deep breath she forced a smile on her lips and said. “Orin, I thought that was you I saw on the other side. How are you doing? And you don’t have to pay for my cotton candy.”
“I want to and I’m doing fine,” he said, handing the man a bill and then saying to the man. “And I’ll take a bag of popcorn.”
He then switched his attention back to Cathy and she became ensnarled in the deep darkness of his eyes. He, too, was wearing a hat, although she was certain he hadn’t purchased the one he was wearing from one of the vendors. His was a Stetson, and with his jeans and blue shirt he looked right at home with all the others dressed at the rodeo in their western attire.
“I didn’t know you were coming to the rodeo,” he said, after the man handed him his change and his bag of popcorn.
She shrugged. “I’ve come every year since the boys were small. It’s a wonderful event. When they got older and didn’t need me to come with them, I started coming with Jen and made it a girls’ thing.”
“You decided to make this year an exception?” he asked.
Cathy noted that not a flicker of emotion crossed his face. If there had been then the response she was about to give might have been different. But since Jen was convinced that the reason Orin had never made a move on her was not because he wasn’t interested, but because he’d never been threatened by another man vying for her attention, she decided to put things to the test.
She tilted her head, met his gaze and said. “Yes, I decided to make this year an exception.”
There was no reason to tell him the twins had been Jen’s idea and not hers and that if Dusty or Rusty got in her face again, she would be tempted to smack him. Two people could carry on a conversation without being eyeball to eyeball. Evidently, no one ever told the twins that.
She studied Orin’s features, the same ones that earlier had been emotionless and before her eyes she saw a flicker of anger flash in the depths of his gaze and a frown of annoyance settle around his lips. She recognized that look since he’d displayed it a number of times when one of the company’s competitors had tried testing his patience in the courtroom. He had never directed it at her until now.
And she loved it!
In fact she loved it so much that she smiled up at him. When the frown around his lips deepened, she figured she better not push her luck. But knowing that she had a date had gotten a rise out of him was a start. “I saw Libby sitting next to you. Did she get all her things moved from Paris?” she spoke up and asked, conscious he was still not in the best of moods. Anyone who knew Orin knew that look since he had it down to an art form. Although she would be the first to say he didn’t use it often. It usually took a lot to get him in a tiff.
He held her gaze. “Yes, and she’s looking forward t
o opening her art gallery here, ,” he said, before his gaze lowered to sweep across her body, taking in every detail of her attire.
She felt the sweep of his gaze like a caress and thickened heat rushed through her veins.
“You look nice, Cathy,” he said, his voice deep and husky.
“Thank you, and so do you.” She had seen him in jeans plenty of times and always thought he looked good in them. In fact he looked good in all his clothes, even the business suits he usually wore into work every day.
She pulled in a deep breath thinking standing here with him felt both familiar and strange. Over the years they had spent many hours together both in and out of the office, and in every situation he’d always maintained a degree of professional decorum. So had she.
“I hadn’t realized you’ve begun dating, Cathy. How long have you been going out with this guy?”
She pursed her lips deciding to give him a mixture of truth and lies. “This is my first date with Dusty. Don’s been dead for over eighteen years, the boys are gone and I have plenty of free time on my hands, so I figured I might as well start enjoying life.”
“And just when did you figure that?”
“This week. About time don’t you think? Considering how long I’ve been a widow.”
She watched the frown move from his lips to the corner of his eyes. “I’ve been divorced a long time myself.”
She nodded. The last thing she would do is suggest that perhaps he should begin dating as well. It would break her heart if she knew he was dating someone. Libby would have mentioned it if he was. Olivia knew of Cathy’s feelings for her father and had pretty much called her out on them one day when she’d dropped by the office. Libby being Libby had told her point blank that she knew Cathy was in love with Orin, and even went so far to say that she hoped her father one day realized it. Cathy doubted he ever would. Women were more astute when it came to matters of the heart than men.
“Yes, I know,” she said and then glanced around. “Looks like they had intermission without us,” she said when people began moving from the stands and heading toward the various vendors.