“I hope so,” she said.
“We’ll talk more about this tomorrow. Now, let’s go tell Sarah how wonderful her performance was.” They climbed the stone steps that led to the back lobby entrance and entered the restaurant for the party. “I think she could use a friend tonight, too.”
“Yes,” Kim said, perking up a little bit, “the girls need to stick together.”
Julia saw Code Landon leaning against the fireplace watching Sarah with eagle eyes as she spoke with a young newlywed couple. She and Kim moved toward her and after she’d finished signing an autograph, Julia and Kim approached. Julia took Sarah’s arm and once they reached a quiet corner of the room, she hugged Sarah tight. “Thank you,” she whispered. “You were wonderful.”
“You were, Sarah. Everyone enjoyed your show,” Kim said.
“I enjoyed doing it more than you can imagine,” Sarah said, her voice laced with gratitude. “I’d almost forgotten what it was like playing to a small audience. I feel like we can really connect with the music together.” She took a breath and continued, “You know, I’ve always thought I knew what I wanted from life.” She glanced Code’s way with a flicker of regret in her eyes. “But sometimes, when we’re young, we don’t always have it right.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Kim acknowledged.
Julia laughed softly, until she turned and saw Trent standing next to Code by the massive fireplace. Two handsome men with two sets of eyes directed to their little female group. Her heart plummeted and she felt overwhelming sadness consume her.
A waiter passed by holding a tray of bubbling champagne flutes. Julia stopped him and handed each woman a glass. “Let’s toast,” she said, clicking the tip of her flute to the others. “To you, Sarah, for bringing your incredible talent here to Tempest West and to you, Kim, my new friend. Ladies, here’s to getting it right in the future.”
The women repeated the sentiment and sipped champagne, Julia acknowledging that each one of them hid certain tender sorrows behind their smiling faces.
Two hours later, Sarah excused herself from the party flanked by hotel security in plain clothes, and the partygoers dwindled rapidly. Julia stayed on to speak with the staff on strategies to make the next performance go even smoother. “Okay, thank you,” she said, closing her notebook and dismissing them from the table. They all rose together. “You all did a terrific job.”
“So did you.” The voice came from behind and she whirled around to find Trent standing nearby. She glanced at the staff members, who had scurried off in different directions, and found herself alone with Trent in the Canyon Room.
“Just doing my job,” she replied, not ready for a confrontation. She hugged the notebook to her chest and began walking away.
“You’re walking out? I’m trying to thank you, Julia.”
“Consider it done,” she said, facing him directly. That tic worked his jawline again.
“I’m not through yet.”
“Well, hell. I don’t think I care.” She caught herself and refused to argue. The fight was all out of her anyway. “I’m exhausted, Trent. I need to get some sleep.”
“Julia, listen. I’ve got things I need to say to you.”
Trent held his ground and spoke with determination, but there was nothing he could say to her now. She didn’t trust him. Had never really trusted him. He’d given her no reason to. “Is it business?” she asked.
“Hell, no!” He approached her, taking steps her way.
“Well, then, I’m sorry. But there’s nothing that I want to hear from you. I thought I made that clear the other day.”
Trent pursed his lips. His face flamed and his body grew rigid. She’d angered him, but it was the only way she knew to keep him from approaching her, hurting her even more.
She sidestepped him, accidentally brushing his shoulder, and walked straight out of the room.
Leaving a good chunk of her heart behind.
Two days later, Julia lay on her bed, her head on her pillow, gazing out the window. Morning sunlight cast Crimson Canyon in lush shades of gold, a stunning view she’d come to anticipate each day and one she’d miss once she left here. Just a few more weeks and she’d be gone.
She let go a big dramatic sigh, her emotions in turmoil. She’d spent half the night crying and the other half cursing Trent, his stubbornness and her own stupidity for falling for him. She’d never experienced such shattering pain before, but she was proud that she had stood up for herself. She’d be able to leave here holding her head high, fully satisfied with her accomplishments, knowing her efforts would leave Tempest West headed in the right direction.
When her cell phone rang, Julia listened to the musical tune for a few seconds. She wasn’t in the mood to speak with anyone really but the caller was persistent. She checked the number. It was her father. She’d told him yesterday that she was leaving her job earlier than expected and he’d pried more information out of her than she’d wanted to divulge. No doubt, he was worried about her. Daughter guilt sunk in and she answered in a cheerful voice. “Hi, Dad.”
“Hi, baby. How are you?”
“I’ve been better, frankly. But I’ll be okay.”
Her father laughed sympathetically. “Want me to come over and punch that cowboy’s lights out for you?”
“Dad!” It sounded too much like a good idea.
“Ah, Julia…I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you. But sometimes, it’s all for the best. You just gotta have faith.”
“I know, Dad. And I do,” she fibbed, curious at her father’s optimism. “I’ll be home soon and then I’ll…regroup. I’ve got some other job prospects that I’m looking into.”
“That’s good, Julia. I know my little girl will find happiness soon.”
Julia didn’t have any such hopes, so she remained silent.
Her father continued, “I have something to tell you and I hope my timing isn’t way off. I don’t want to cause you any…well, more unhappiness, but I also don’t want you to hear this from anyone but me. The fact is, that Rebecca Tyler and I are going to start seeing each other seriously.”
Julia closed her eyes. She couldn’t be anything but happy for her father. She’d known all along he’d been lonely lately, and Rebecca Tyler was a sweet caring woman, but, oh…that was just one more way she’d be tied to Trent. “Rebecca’s a lovely woman, Dad,” she responded, after a long silence. “I’m happy for you, but a long-distance romance? Won’t that be hard on you?”
“No, I’m more concerned about it being hard on you.”
“Don’t worry about me, Dad. I’ll be working somewhere else soon, and I think I can put everything in perspective. You deserve to be happy.”
“Thank you, honey. So you’re okay with it?”
“Yes, Dad. I’m fine with it,” she said sincerely. She’d just have to deal with Laney being married to Trent’s brother and her father seeing Trent’s mother. She didn’t have much choice anyway. “I can see that you and Rebecca are very…compatible.”
Her father laughed again. “Compatible? Honey, that’s such an old-fashioned word. We’re hot for each other.”
“Dad!”
He continued to chuckle, his voice light. “We may be senior citizens but we’ve still got some mileage left. I have the utmost respect for Rebecca. She’s going to stay at Evan’s hotel in L.A. for a while to be near Laney and help out. And I’ll go to Florida for visits. I think it’ll work.”
“Then I’m happy for you. Really.”
“Thank you, honey.”
After the phone call, Julia rose from bed and decided to take a long soak in the tub. It was Sunday and she didn’t have to work today. Sarah’s weekend performances had gone like clockwork with no problems or issues and the hotel had never been busier. Every venue was being utilized to maximum capacity, the gift shops and restaurants flourished and the stables’ guided tours were booked. During the week, Ken Yellowhawk would begin his series of southwest art lectures and instruction up on Shadow
Ridge. And Julia had already booked another singer for Tempest West who agreed to stay on for six weeks.
Julia stripped off her silk pajamas and headed for the bathroom, ready to start her bath, but another cell phone call interrupted. “Oh, for heaven’s sake,” she said, wrapping a towel around her, inclined not to answer. But again she looked at the caller ID and picked up. “Hi, Sarah.”
“Good morning, Julia. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“Not at all,” she fibbed again, and wondered wryly if they gave out an award for fibbing. “I’m not doing anything.”
“Oh, that’s good,” she said with relief. “Remember when you offered to speak with me about…well, my relationship with Code?”
“Yes, and the offer still stands.”
“I hate to ask this of you…but could you give me some of your time this morning? I, uh…need to speak with you. Something’s come up.”
Sarah seemed so hesitant and Julia wanted to ease her mind. “Of course, Sarah. I’ll be glad to talk to you. Just give me half an hour to shower and dress. I can be over to your—”
“Can you meet me at the lake? I need…I need some fresh air. I’ll be on the dock.”
She frowned. Sarah sounded very upset and Julia had always known there was more to Sarah’s childhood friendship with Code than she let on. She only hoped that he hadn’t compromised her stay at Tempest West. “I’ll be there in thirty minutes tops.”
Sarah’s voice lifted. “Oh, thank you. And, Julia, I hope you know I think of you as a good friend.”
“I do know that. I feel the same way. I’ll see you in a few.”
Julia showered quickly, dressed in her faded jeans, threw on a Phoenix Suns T-shirt Kim had given her and slipped on her leather boots. She pulled her hair back in a ponytail and walked out the door twenty-two minutes later. What Sarah had to say had to be important and she didn’t want to be late, giving her a chance to chicken out. Whatever it was, she’d seemed awfully tentative on the phone. At least, Julia thought, helping Sarah with a dilemma would take her mind off her own heartache.
Julia reached the dock first and was glad that there weren’t a lot of people around. Most of the guests were at the Sunday morning brunch held on the patio and in the Canyon Room. Julia stood looking out at Destiny Lake, a slight cool breeze reminding her that there would soon be colder weather.
The view here was breathtaking with deep blue waters glimmering and Crimson Canyon catching daylight. Julia took a big breath and swallowed, thinking of the windowless corporate offices she’d face when she returned home.
She heard footsteps approach and spun around, expecting to see Sarah.
Trent stood on the dock facing her, wearing an ink-black tuxedo, a string tie and brand-new shining boots. She struggled to keep her jaw from dropping. Then she blinked.
Trent smiled and her heart fluttered.
“Hello, Julia.”
Stunned, Julia nodded her greeting. Trent looked like a zillion bucks, and then some. She couldn’t let that sway her, but she was curious why he was so duded up, as the cowboys say. “I’m meeting Sarah here and we’ll need privacy.”
Trent sighed. “No, you’re not. Sarah’s not coming. And she says she’s sorry.”
Julia blinked again, confused. “What do you mean?”
“I put her up to it. She called you on my behalf.”
Julia should be angry, but it was difficult getting angry with a man who looked better than a hot-fudge sundae with whipped cream and cherries. “Why?”
Trent moved closer and took her hand in his. He brought it to his lips and kissed her fingertips. His dark eyes fastened to hers. “Because I love you. And I needed you to know that, darlin’.”
A surge of warmth spread through her body. “You love me?”
“I do, Julia. With all my heart.”
Julia wanted to believe him, but Trent had never offered up his love before. How could she trust that he wasn’t just making the declaration to keep her at Tempest West?
“I’m asking you to marry me, Julia. Be my wife. Have my children.”
Hope skipped along her heart. “Oh, Trent.”
He reached into his pocket and produced a ring box. He opened it and a brilliant pink marquis diamond ring reflected against the morning light. Julia’s mouth dropped open this time, but she couldn’t quite find the words.
Trent searched her face for her answer. Stunned into silence, her mouth refused to work. Then he reached into his jacket and lifted out a folded document. He handed it to her. “My love and the ring, goes along with this.”
Julia glanced down and read the words prenuptial agreement.
A frown pulled her lips down and tears stung her eyes. Trent hadn’t changed at all. He wanted her on his terms and he’d even resort to offer her marriage, to keep her at Tempest West.
Her body trembled uncontrollably and she fought humiliation, allowing anger to take its place. “How dare you, Trent Tyler? You don’t know me at all! You think a woman wants a contract for a proposal? You think I don’t know that you’d do anything for this hotel. You don’t love me. I’m your ticket to success, that’s all!” She flung her arms up in the air, spun on her heels and walked away before she made a bigger scene, crumpling the document in her hand as she stalked off.
“Wait!” Trent commanded and Julia stopped at the edge of the dock. “Read it, sweetheart. Read it and know I mean every word.”
There was something in Trent’s tone, something soft and pleading that broke into her anger. Still shaking, she unfolded the paper and read through the wrinkled paper.
Darlin’,
This is to certify that I love you deeply. It’s my fondest wish that you become my wife, mother of my children, partner of my heart and all my assets, but you are under no obligation to ever work for me again…unless it’s your desire.
I love you more than anything else in life. Julia, you are my miracle.
Trent
Julia turned and Trent was there, facing her. Tears of joy streamed down her face now as she looked into his eyes and saw the truth there. God, how she loved him. She opened her heart and trust poured inside. Finally, she believed him. He loved her. “You really do mean this?”
He nodded and took her into his arms. “Every word. I love you, Julia. I can’t imagine my life without you.”
“Oh, Trent. I love you, too. Very much.”
“Then you’ll marry me?”
She nodded. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”
“Good,” Trent said, placing the ring on her finger. “Your father said you would, but I had my doubts—”
“My father?”
“I called him last night and asked for your hand.”
“You did?” That explained her father’s sudden optimism. The phone call wasn’t only about Rebecca. He’d known about Trent’s intentions when they spoke this morning. She smiled happily. “I’m impressed.”
“I hope to spend my life impressing you.”
“I look forward to that, sweetheart,” she said, snuggling in his arms.
Trent bent his head and took her in a kiss that spoke of promise and love and a future filled with joy. Then he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and turned her to face the glistening water.
As they looked out at Destiny Lake, he said quietly, “We were given a second chance in life, just like the legend says. We’ve lived the legend.”
Julia leaned against Trent and sighed. “And now we’ll create one of our own.”
She would spend her life loving her own five-star cowboy.
And that was truly a miracle.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-2043-4
FIVE-STAR COWBOY
Copyright © 2008 by Charlene Swink
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*Suite Secrets
Five-Star Cowboy Page 13