God. He wanted her now. Wanted to steal her away, carry her upstairs to that bed, that room that had sheltered them as they loved.
I can’t love you, Sophie. I can’t stay. Who could he possibly be if he stayed? He’d be a washed-out has-been. And the horizon would always beckon, the unknown would continue to call his name. He would suffocate if he stayed. He could never survive without his wings.
He glanced around at the completed slate walkway to the pergola, the fountain that was nearly plumbed. The billowing skirts that would grow from the plants now nestled in rich soil at the foundation of the grand old house. Soon this place would serve as a refuge for the fortunate few who would be Sophie’s guests, who would inhabit Sophie’s dream.
His phone rang—it was Karen, his agent. “Cade, I was hoping I would have heard from you by now about the book.”
He turned his back on the hotel. “Karen—”
“Before you say anything, listen to this. You got the permission from North Korea. You, my boy, will be allowed to photograph Baekdu from the North Korean side. Isn’t that amazing? This is it, the trip you’ve dreamed of. Are you ready?”
He’d waited years for this. Baekdu was the most sacred site in North Korea, the reputed birthplace of the Korean people, revered by citizens of both North and South. It was a mountain surrounded by a stunning lake, often photographed from the Chinese side in recent years, but the most stunning views were on the other side, and very few Westerners were given access to that view.
But he had to be sure she was clear about the other project first. “Karen, about the book. I won’t do the story of the accident,” he warned. “If that’s the condition, then count me out. But I have another idea.”
“Tell me.”
He loved that about her. No BS. Just shoot straight. He outlined his idea for the tribute to Jaime.
“I like it. I’ll get you a yes, trust me. Now, are you in for Korea, or are you out? You’d have to leave in two weeks.”
Two weeks. When Sophie’s hotel would be opening. He realized he’d been visualizing himself there, witnessing her triumph.
But expeditions like this were his life, his real life. Now that he could shoot a camera again, what was holding him back? “Yes. I’m ready.”
“Great! I’ll let them know.”
He disconnected and felt his heartbeat speed up.
Baekdu. Unbelievable. He pictured it in his mind and wanted to be there already.
His gaze returned to Sophie. You have to leave, she’d said. I understand that.
He walked to where his family gathered and tried to decide if it was the right time to share his good news.
SOPHIE WAS AS AWARE of him as though he lived inside her skin. He was across the side yard from her, but his gaze was a caress, a constant reminder of last night, of the glory of it, of how he alone was able to woo her out of the prison she’d made for herself, the bars of isolation that had protected her for so very long.
“Hey, there, little girl,” boomed Hal MacAllister. “You’ll waste away if you don’t eat something. Why, you’d blow away in our West Texas wind.” He stood beside her, one arm wrapped around her shoulders, hugging her to him as though she were one of his kids. With his other hand, he rubbed Finn’s head. “Got yourself a mighty sweet home here, don’t you, boy? You’re a good fellow, aren’t you?” he crooned to Finn, whose tail was a windmill as he woofed his love to this hearty, generous man. “I hear my son wanted to name him Skeeter.”
Sophie flushed. “I guess I should have—”
“Now don’t you let my boy buffalo you. He’s got the devil in him, just like his brothers.” Hal shook his head. “Acts more serious, I know, but there’s mischief inside him, I promise you. He doesn’t have Zane’s polish, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, but the boy’s got a good heart. All my children do.” He grinned down at her. “Probably should give Grace credit for that, too.”
Sophie couldn’t help but love him. “Your children are very fortunate, Mr. MacAllister.”
“Now, you’re making me feel like an old man when you call me mister. I’m Hal to my friends, all right?” His friendly blue eyes studied her. “You’ve been good for my boy, Sophie, and I want to thank you for that.”
“He’s been good for me, too, Mr.—Hal.” She waved to indicate the grounds. “He just strolled in and made things happen. He told me he learned everything he knows from you.”
Hal beamed. “Well, it’s true that I tried to teach my children how to be independent and do things for themselves. Looks to me like you’re pretty handy yourself, Miss Sophie.”
She shrugged. “I’ve had to learn some things quickly.”
“A damn fine place you got here. Gonna be something special.” He bent his head in a conspiratorial whisper. “Think I could reserve that honeymoon suite for Grace and me for our anniversary?”
“It’s all yours, just name the date. My treat.”
“Oh, no, little girl. We can’t be having that. Not a bit of it. I’ll pay like any guest would.”
“But I owe you, you’ve worked so hard here.”
“You think Grace and I aren’t happier than pigs in—er, real happy to do it?”
Sophie had to giggle. “But…”
“No buts. I don’t let Diego give me free medical care—or at least I insist on donating to his clinics—and I’m not going to take advantage of you. Except to stick myself in the front of the line, that is.”
“How about I make you a good deal?” she asked. “And you can tell your friends if you like it?”
“I’d do that anyway.” He waggled his eyebrows. “But if you’d throw in a special meal by that chef of yours, I’d pay a premium. Nothing too good for my Gracie.”
“You just leave it to me. It will be a romantic paradise.”
He nodded in satisfaction. “Now that’s my girl. Bet you’re real good at what you do, aren’t you, Miss Sophie?”
“I am,” she said, believing it for the first time in a while.
“Exactly what are you wangling Sophie into?” Cade said as he walked up to the two of them.
“That’s between me and her, son.”
“Get your own girl, Dad.”
Hal glanced over at her, eyes rolling. “You see how my children talk to me?” He shook his head dramatically then clapped Cade on the shoulder. “My advice to you, son, is to snatch this woman up. Only a blind man wouldn’t see what a treasure she is.” He winked at Sophie. “I’ll be in touch, Miss Sophie.”
“I’ll look forward to it.” She watched him go and sighed.
“I swear every one of my brothers’ wives would leave them for Dad in a heartbeat.”
She had to grin. “Except that it’s patently obvious how much he adores your mother.” She looked up at him. “They’re wonderful, Cade. You have the dream family.”
“They like you, too.”
The notion warmed her as she glanced around, smiling. “I can’t get over how much is finished already.”
He was looking at her solemnly and her smile died.
“What?”
He seemed conflicted.
“Cade?”
“My agent called.” He stopped.
“Good news? Did you tell her about the tribute to Jaime?”
“I did. She likes it.”
“But…?”
He glanced away, then back. “There’s this place. I’ve waited a long time to have the chance to photograph it. Westerners aren’t allowed in, as a rule.”
“How soon do you leave?” Ruthlessly, she ignored the pit that had opened in her stomach, the ache that she was determined to hold at bay.
“Two weeks.”
Two weeks. Right before her opening.
“Sophie, I’
m sorry. I wanted to be here when—”
She pasted on a smile. “I told you, I understand. I saw you with your camera today. You think you’re okay?”
“I don’t know. I hope so.” He looked over her shoulder. “Jaime would have loved to make this trip. We both waited years, hoping.”
“Is it dangerous?”
“No. Not really.” His gaze locked on hers. “I want to come back to see you. After. Will I be welcome?”
“Of course,” she said automatically, but she couldn’t look at him.
“Sophie…” He took her chin, tilted it upward. “I… This is my life. My career is who I am.”
“I know.” And she did. “It’s okay.” She took a deep breath, stepping back to put distance between them before the crack inside her became visible. When she was sure her expression was composed, she finally looked at him. “It would be criminal for you to miss this. I’m happy for you.” She was. Even as she was screaming inside. But she’d known this day would come. He’d never pretended he’d stay. “If you’ll excuse me, I just…” Have to go. Have to be alone.
“Sophie…”
She straightened, turned back and faced him. “I’m fine, Cade. We always knew it was temporary. Just a fling, remember?”
“It’s not for two weeks. I can still help you until then.”
“That’s not necessary.” Let me go, Cade. Don’t make me break in front of your family. “Look how much is done already. It’ll be fine. Besides, you’ll have a lot to do to get ready, I imagine.”
She spotted Jenna close by and seized the escape. “Jenna, have I shown you what Armando finished yesterday?” Taking her friend’s arm, Sophie walked away from Cade as fast as humanly possible.
SO THE QUEENIE HE’D FIRST met was back. Cade stemmed his frustration. His help was not necessary? So he’d been useful for a while, worked his butt off for her, but now that he wasn’t all hers to command, he was dismissed? Just like that?
Hell if he was. He hadn’t even found the rest of the photos for her, and he never reneged on his promises. He all but stomped up the stairs to Sophie’s attic abode, muttering to himself every step of the way.
As he strode into the room, he caught sight of the vanity mirror. Got the scent of her in his nostrils again and leaned heavily against the doorjamb.
He didn’t want this to be over.
But that wasn’t fair. If he were to return to the only life he knew, he would see her far too little for a relationship. She deserved more. He located the wallet he’d left on a chest and shoved it into his pocket. As he began to leave the room, he heard the recently connected hotel phone ring but shrugged. Sophie would get it. Or Patty.
But no one did, and the last thing Sophie needed was to lose a booking. They probably couldn’t hear the phone over the racket from outside.
He could take notes, couldn’t he? Cade snatched up the receiver. “Hotel Serenity,” he barked, then tried to remember Sophie’s customary greeting when she answered a call.
“This is Hilary Swenson from the Austin American-Statesman. May I speak to Ms. Carlisle?”
The newspaper. “Can I take a message? She’s tied up right now.”
“Have her call me.” The woman rattled off the number. “I want to discuss doing a spread on the hotel for the paper.”
Way to go, Queenie. Sophie would be over the moon. “I’ll tell her.”
“Thank you.” She disconnected, and Cade jammed the piece of paper in his pocket and went in search of Sophie.
This was exactly what he had to keep in mind. Sophie would be too blasted busy for him soon, and that was good. This hotel was the life she wanted. He would do everything he could—whatever protests she might want to make—to set her up as well as possible in the time he had left.
They would part friends. And maybe see each other again. For Jenna’s sake, if nothing else, they would be civilized because Jenna treasured Sophie’s friendship.
He’d be busy himself with the trip to North Korea, with Jaime’s book. He closed the door on her room as he wondered if he’d be back here again. He’d like that—a lot—but what was most fair to her?
He could take a battering ram to the walls she was already erecting between them…or leave her alone as he probably should have from the beginning. Either way, he would hurt her.
This was why he didn’t do relationships. Why, unlike all the happy couples here today, he would remain alone. He was solitary, always had been, and he liked it that way.
And the price of stepping out of isolation and feeling too much…was too high to pay.
Queenie would agree, he knew that down to his bones.
Which made his decision for him. So instead of taking the good news about the article to Sophie himself, he sent the note to her via Chloe.
And Cade got back to work.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THE NEXT MORNING, SOPHIE raced around the hotel like a madwoman. She blessed the generous MacAllister family who, after hearing her shriek of joy devolving to horror that a reporter and photographer would be there the next morning, had redoubled their efforts outside but also insisted on helping her set up two of the guest rooms, as well as the downstairs public areas.
She’d been too desperate not to take them up on their offer to help.
Her first task after the interview would be to assemble her staff. Armando had agreed to serve as groundskeeper, and one of his men would assist. He told her he could also do minor repairs like plumbing and some carpentry, so he would be in charge of maintenance, as well.
He had a sister-in-law, he said, who had been widowed and had hotel housekeeping experience. She would be here tomorrow to speak with Sophie, and her chef, Patty, already knew who she wanted to help her in the kitchen.
For the time being, Sophie would be the desk clerk and bookkeeper, then as bookings increased, she’d hire staff to replace her at those duties. She still needed a valet and bellman, but things were taking shape.
The reporter would be here in an hour, and Sophie was down to fine-tuning, wishing she hadn’t dithered so much about the artwork that would grace the foyer. The blank spot bothered her, but it wasn’t dithering, was it, when you wanted the best? When the wrong choice would be worse than a blank spot? She wasn’t open yet, anyway. The reporter would have to understand that this was a work in progress.
Patty was cooking a meal to serve to the reporter, and the scent of bread in the oven drifted through the downstairs. If she liked the food—as Sophie knew she would—that would only help ensure the article was positive.
A delivery truck stopped outside, which puzzled her. She wasn’t expecting a delivery. She pushed through the front door to tell whoever it was that she needed them out of the driveway before the reporter showed up—
Cade and Jesse emerged from the cab. Cade waved, and she couldn’t stop a stab of longing from going through her. She shouldn’t miss him in her bed. He’d only spent two nights there…two unforgettable nights.
Anyway, he’d worked later than anyone else yesterday. He couldn’t have had but a few hours of sleep. She certainly hadn’t.
It had been hard not to ask him to stay the night, but there was no point in dragging things out. She had to start separating him out of her life…and her heart.
“Mornin’, Queenie,” he said as he and Jesse shouldered a large wrapped object between them.
“What are you doing here?”
“Good morning, Sophie,” said Jesse. “May we come in?”
“Oh—yes, of course, but…” She stepped aside.
“You don’t have to like it,” Cade said. “But I think you will.”
They set it down in the foyer and began to unwrap what turned out to be a painting. A stunning one.
Sophie gas
ped. Spread one hand over her chest. “It’s— Oh, my word—” Her gaze flew to Jesse. “Is it one of yours?”
He nodded. “Cade wanted it for this spot.” He glanced around the foyer then shook his head at his brother. “You nailed it, bro.” He looked back at her. “But art is a very personal decision. You will not offend me if you don’t want it.”
“Not want it?” she echoed, still stunned. “It’s perfect. Absolutely right, but I—I can’t possibly afford your prices.” She chewed on her lip. “Is there… Could we work out a payment plan, perhaps?”
“It’s a gift.”
“Oh, no, I—”
“It’s a gift to Cade,” he explained. “Where he chooses to hang it is his decision.”
She looked at the man who’d already done far too much for her. Who seemed to understand her better than she understood herself, she feared. “Cade, no, you can’t…”
“Queenie, I’m pretty damn tired of arguing with you. Anyway, isn’t that reporter due soon?”
“How is it you keep maneuvering me into doing things I’m not prepared to do?”
“Then catch up,” he snapped. “We’ll put the damn thing up for the interview, then you can do whatever the hell you want with it afterward. I’m going to get the ladder and tools.” He stomped out.
Sophie watched him go, beset by a stunning, not altogether welcome realization. For whatever unfathomable, insane reason, she was in love with this bad-tempered, overbearing man.
And it was going to kill her to let him go.
But she would.
“Sometimes things seem impossible,” Jesse said softly, “when they’re not.”
Her gaze whipped to his. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do. He’s a good man, my brother. Not smooth and definitely not easy.” His lips curved. “But don’t give up on him, Sophie. You bring something out in him… He needs you.” He studied her. “And I think you need him, too.”
“He’ll leave soon. He’s gotten permission for the trip he’s waited his whole career for, did he tell you?”
A Texas Chance Page 18
