With a shake of his head, Leon got out of his car and entered Buddy’s barbecue joint. After picking up a chopped beef sandwich and a soda at the counter, he was headed to a table at the back of the dining room when he heard Nona calling out to him.
“Over here,” she invited, motioning for him to join her at the table they’d often shared at the front of the eatery. Through reluctant to do so, he knew it would look awfully strange for him to sit alone in the back of Buddy’s when, for so many years, he and Nona and Truett had lunched together at their favorite table near the windows facing the street. Though not pleased to have been trapped into sitting with Nona, Leon decided that doing so might give him the perfect opportunity to talk to her about what she’d told Kacey at the rodeo.
“What’s going on?” Nona asked casually, as soon as Leon was seated across from her.
What was going on? Leon wondered, thinking back over the past week, recalling how close he’d gotten to Kacey and how much he didn’t want to hurt her. Where had he messed up? All he had done was tell her the truth about his past and defend his friendship with Nona. Was that so bad?
Leon cocked an eyebrow at Nona, then took a bite of his sandwich, and followed it with a long sip of his soda. When he finished, he zeroed in on Nona, ready to hash everything out. “What happened yesterday?”
“Yesterday?” Nona replied, sounding confused. She slid back in her seat, eyes beamed at half mast on Leon.
“Why did you tell Kacey all that mess about my past?” Leon demanded.
With a shrug, Nona frowned, hooked her fingers together in her lap and puckered her plum-colored lips. “I just wanted her to know you better. So I decided to tell her about our old times together, kinda fill her in on you and me.”
“You and me?” Leon growled in a tightly controlled voice, no longer struggling to hide his anger. He remained stone-cold still for a long moment before he managed to speak again. “What do you mean by that?”
Silence thickened the tension hanging between them as his question settled in. He watched Nona nervously clench her fingernails into her palms, clearly upset by his angry tone. Perhaps he had been too protective of Nona over the years. By befriending her and allowing her to creep so deeply into his and his parent’s lives, he’d made her believe that she belonged to him, that he belonged to her, that their lives would forever be emotionally entwined.
Now, Leon knew he had made a big mistake and it was time for a reality check, even if it destroyed their friendship.
Too bad, he decided. She’s gonna answer to me for getting Kacey so upset, and we’re going to settle this right now.
“I wanted Kacey to know that you and I shared a lot in the past, and we’re still close.”
“Get this straight, Nona. There is no you and me. No us, okay?” Leon paced his words for emphasis.
“I…I only wanted Kacey to know how tight we are. How much I care about you,” Nona whined, her voice growing smaller with each word, in definite contrast to her outsize presence.
“I do care about you Nona, you know that. But don’t talk about our friendship as if it were romantic!”
“I didn’t do that,” Nona shot back, suddenly jerking forward. “I never said I was your girlfriend or anything like that. I only told her we used to date.”
“Yes, we did. But that’s ancient history. Stop living in the past, Nona. You’ve been my good friend for a long time, but don’t try to make it sound like you’re more than that. Kacey doesn’t need to hear about our past…which is past. Understand? There’s no need go there, okay?”
“So, are you in love with her?” Nona’s question was barely a whisper.
Slowly, Leon nodded. “Yes, I am,” he admitted. “And I’ve told her so.” He was tired of playing the field, and knew that he wanted to get married and start a family, but only with Kacey Parker.
“So, it’s like that, huh?” Nona huffed her disdain, as if mocking Leon’s confession.
Leon flinched to see Nona’s face suddenly crumple into a contorted frown, her raw disappointment very clear.
With a sniff, Nona went on. “Kacey’s nothin’ but another notch to add to your belt of broken hearts.”
“Not true. I don’t plan to break Kacey’s heart,” Leon vowed.
“Ha! She’ll break yours first,” Nona snapped. “What do you think is gonna happen when she’s finished here? She’ll leave you and go back to New York where she belongs. A woman like Kacey Parker would never live in Rockport, and even if she did, she’d never love it like you…and I do. Face it, Leon, it’ll never work out for you and her.”
“That’s not for you to say, Nona. I plan to do whatever I can to make it work with her, and I expect you to respect her. Leave her…and me…alone. Got that?”
“That’s kinda hard to do, since your mother and father are like parents to me…and your mom expects me to take care of you.”
Leon shook his head in frustration. Nona was determined to cling to him via his mother’s emotional ties to Nona’s family, but that was not going to work. “My mother didn’t ask you to do anything for me! Stop twisting her words. I can take care of myself, so please butt out of my life!”
Leon was not surprised to see tears well up in Nona’s eyes, run down her face and streak her makeup. He hated to see her cry. Wished he didn’t have to be so harsh with her, but she’d crossed the line and he had no choice but to put her in her place.
Nona sent Leon a cutting look, threw her napkin over her unfinished lunch and stood. Leaning low over Leon, with both hands gripping the table’s edge, she told him, “I belong here. Kacey doesn’t. You’re gonna regret putting all your trust in her.” Then she turned, swishing her large hips from side to side as she sashayed out of the dining room, leaving Leon exasperated, yet certain he’d done the right thing. His one and only desire was to keep Kacey in his life, and if he had to push Nona under the bus to make that happen, he didn’t care.
Chapter 20
Sleep eluded Kacey. In her bed at the Seaside Suites, she tumbled from side to side, twisting her sheets into knots as visions of her time in Rockport swept through her mind. A miserable week had passed since her rodeo outing and the awful argument with Leon, but so much had changed between them. First, for the worse, and then for the better. And now, everything seemed to be moving ahead smoothly.
The fragrant red roses on her nightstand symbolized how far she and Leon had come in repairing their relationship, and with each breath she took, the scent brought him deeper into her heart. She loved Leon and believed him when he told her that he loved her, too. But would it last? Would the things that made them so uniquely suited for each other overshadow the differences that lurked below the surface? Kacey certainly hoped so, because she yearned for the kind of steadfast love that would last a lifetime, bonding her to Leon for eternity.
With a sigh, Kacey let her thoughts slip back to review the hectic, emotion-filled week, still thrilled, but cautious about all that had transpired. Monday had been the hardest day to get through, and she had only managed to do so by remaining in her office all day, and then leaving the factory very early. On Tuesday, Leon flew to Dallas for a meeting with a potential client, so she’d had a full day without worry over how to avoid him. On Wednesday, they’d been forced to dispense with the mutual silent treatment to discuss a glitch in the production of SunKissed, during which they both agreed that the swimsuits looked fine, but the unit packaging had to be revised. By Thursday, Kacey was so miserable she felt ill, and finally relented when Leon invited her to lunch where they apologized to each other for the harsh words they’d flung at one another in the car. And when Friday arrived, and Leon invited Kacey to attend a Texas beachwear trade show in Houston, where they would have to spend the night, she agreed, prepared to put their troubles behind them and get their relationship back on track.
While trapped in Leon’s sports car during the four-hour trip from Rockport to Houston, he and Kacey melted all barriers. They discussed their childhoods, how
Kacey had launched her career in retail, their hopes, dreams and visions of the future. And neither mentioned Nona James or her erratic personality.
No longer trying to skirt their emotions, they were able to share personal feelings about love, happiness and even marriage. The ease with which they were able to converse about such deeply private subjects cracked the wall of silence and misguided resentment that had hung uneasily between them all week.
When they arrived at the convention hall in Houston, they playfully explored the exhibits and took in all the excitement of discovering new products and sampling new wares. It was as if the tension and silence of the past had never occurred. They left their private troubles behind and enjoyed the trade show—going with the flow as this new stage in their relationship unfolded.
Now, Kacey turned onto her side and pushed her cheek into her near-flat pillow, reliving the delicious make-up sex they’d experienced while in Houston. Even though they’d been all about business while at the trade show, afterward, when he brought her back to the Hyatt Regency Houston, where they were staying, she’d cratered emotionally and invited him to her room.
Discarding their clothes as soon as the door was shut, they succumbed to a sizzling, skyrocketing sexual joining that fed Kacey’s seemingly insatiable hunger for Leon. His sensual tongue had entered every orifice of her body and slicked every inch of her skin. His probing fingers set her spirit aflame and melted all resistance to loving him completely. Lying with him as his hands grazed her body with a possessive, yet tender touch, she eagerly returned his kisses, drinking in his presence with soul-drenching gulps.
By welcoming Leon back into her heart, and her body, Kacey had created a new path to the future, where fiery mutual climaxes, gentle returns to earth and a lifetime of love awaited.
Now, Kacey could still feel the shock of their commitment and shivered in its aftermath. Loving Leon left her tingling with satisfaction and ready to admit that she never wanted to let him go. However, neither of them wanted a long-distance love affair. What they wanted was to be together in one place, and to build a life together. But how?
He was such a loving man. He treated her as if she were a precious gift, which he unwrapped slowly and cherished deeply. Even when they had not been on speaking terms, he had continued to treat her with respect, without pressing or prodding her to change her mind about him, but only to understand. He had been right to leave her alone to make her own decisions about whether or not they had a future together. Now, as they went around town, Kacey no longer felt like a stranger, there to do business and move on. She was Leon Archer’s woman and he made no effort to hide the fact that he was totally and hopelessly in love with her.
Despite the pressures of her career in retail and their contrasting lifestyles, Kacey was determined to remain optimistic about sharing a future with Leon. With a smothered groan, she closed her eyes and forced back the lump that was growing in her throat. Too soon, she’d have to go back to New York to work with Steve Hadley as Leeman’s launched her swimsuit line. But once the product was in stores and selling well, she planned to come back to Rockport, and back into Leon’s waiting arms. As hard as it might be, she had to face facts. Sacrificing her city-bound lifestyle to be with the man she loved might be the only solution.
As her mind weighed her options, she realized that the energy-packed streets of New York and the prospect of moving into a new apartment were not so appealing. She didn’t look forward to getting on a plane headed east, leaving Leon behind—with Nona standing in the shadows, gloating. Even though it was hard to admit, Kacey knew Leon would never be happy in New York. He was a country guy at heart, and trying to change him would only court disaster.
Luckily, Nona had kept her distance since their flap at the rodeo, and that was fine with Kacey. As far as she was concerned, the woman was a pathetic figure trapped in a past that kept her company at night because she didn’t have a man of her own. Kacey believed Leon when he said that Nona was only a dear friend, but she still worried that his refusal to acknowledge how dangerous Nona’s jealous nature could become might be a big mistake.
“I pity Nona, but she’d have to keep her distance from me and Leon if I moved to Rockport,” Kacey murmured, knowing it would be hell to live there as Leon Archer’s wife as long as Nona James was hanging around. But she’ll never leave Rockport and he’ll never fire her. Something had to give. But what? Kacey wondered as she drifted off to sleep.
Kacey bolted awake to the shrieking sounds of sirens. She sat up in bed and squinted around the room, confused by the blur of flashing red lights that illuminated the windows. Gasping in alarm, she jumped out of bed, yanked up the blinds and quickly saw that the frightening sounds were coming from two fire trucks that had raced past the motel and were speeding down the road. Troubled by the sight, Kacey’s heart pounded in agitation as she watched the vehicles disappear into the night.
Rattled by the disturbance, she went to her minifridge and got a bottle of water. After taking a long swig, she slid back into bed, hoping she’d be able to get back to sleep. However, the phone on her nightstand rang before she could lie down. Panicked, she snatched the receiver while checking the clock. At 2:45 in the morning, who could it be?
“Hello?” she ventured, feeling totally disoriented from the sudden jolt that had awakened her in the middle of the night.
“Kacey. It’s Leon. There’s a fire at the plant. I’m on my way over there now.”
“Oh, no! Not a fire!” Kacey shouted in alarm. “I ll meet you there!” she yelled, slamming down the phone as she hurried to get dressed.
Chapter 21
The sight that greeted Leon when he arrived on the scene made his stomach turn over in despair. Three fire trucks were already pouring water onto the crackling inferno when he stepped out of his car and surveyed the scene from across the road, feeling the heat on his face.
Within minutes, local residents, Archer employees and curious passersby began to gather, pulling their cars to a stop on the road across from Archer.
When Leon saw Roger Evans, the county fire chief, actively directing his men as they struggled to get the fire under control, he raced forward, wishing he could dash inside and rescue Kacey’s swimwear, which was boxed and stacked on the loading dock, prepared to be shipped. It was all going up in smoke before his eyes. The sight sent tears streaming down his face.
“Stay back,” Roger warned, frowning at Leon, who knew the firefighters were doing everything possible to get the upper hand on the blaze, which seemed to grow hotter by the second. When a burst of flames shot high in the air, Leon screamed, “Oh, no! Roger! Any hope of saving the building?” Then he raced as close to the fire as he dared.
“We’re trying!” the fire chief yelled back, waving his arm toward Leon. “Don’t go any closer, Leon. This is a pretty aggressive blaze we’ve got here. Stay back. I know you have solvents inside that can really rev this up and make it blow.” Then he turned away from Leon and hurried over to help a fireman who was setting up a fourth hose to attack the raging flames.
Leon sagged against the side of his car and watched in stunned silence as the company his family had built slowly turned into a pile of ashes. The only thing that was not engulfed in flames was the Archer Industries sign, rising high in the dark sky atop the two-story building.
When Kacey arrived and slid her arm around his waist, he pulled her to his side and used the back of his hand to wipe away tears that filled his smoke-stung eyes.
“This is awful,” he moaned, voice raw with pain.
“A tragedy,” Kacey agreed. “Thank God, no one was hurt.”
“For real. I’m gonna find out how this happened—count on it,” Leon said through gritted teeth while Kacey stroked his back.
It was midmorning when the last fire truck pulled away from the charred shell that had once been Archer Industries. Chief Evans stayed behind with the arson crew that arrived to determine the cause of the fire. As Kacey and Leon surveyed the damage,
they held onto each other—as if afraid that the fire might consume them, too.
Nona, who’d arrived on the scene shortly after Kacey, remained in her car, looking so stone-faced and angry that Kacey wondered if the jealous woman might know something about what happened. However, Kacey held her tongue. All Leon would do is defend his longtime friend, anyway.
Knots of employees who worked at the plant were standing around, shaking their heads and wondering what had caused the fire that had taken their livelihoods away.
“Leon. I need to talk to you!” Roger Evans called out as he emerged from the ruins and approached Leon, who hurried forward to consult with the fire chief.
Kacey hung back by the edge of the road while the two men engaged in what appeared to be a very serious conversation. As she watched them walk around the still-smoking site, her heart raced and her mind whirled with the implications of this disaster.
Everything was gone. All her hard work had gone up in smoke. Though she knew her thoughts were selfish, all she could think about at that moment was finding another manufacturer to start over, so she could get her swimwear into Leeman’s by the end of the month. This disaster could not signal the end for her long-held dream. Surely, Steve Hadley would want to go forward, wouldn’t he? But what if he didn’t? She began to feel physically ill.
“The fire chief suspects it might have been arson,” Leon told Kacey when he returned to where she waited.
“Arson!” Kacey repeated in shock. “Really? Who would do something so terrible?’
“I dunno,” Leon replied, shaking his head.
“I hate to say this…but I wouldn’t put it past Nona,” Kacey now boldly accused. “She’d do anything to see my swimwear line fail.”
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