Waiting for Devon

by Dee Stewart

  “What do you mean, Miss Brooks?” Jasper inquired as he cocked a brow.

  “I want to turn one of the abandoned buildings into a free clinic. And I’d like your financial support to help me build it and keep it running.”

  Excitement colored her tone and turned her cheeks pink. Reed thought she never looked more beautiful.

  “You what?” Shane exploded with angry disbelief. He grabbed Devon’s upper arms and spun her around to face him. “What the hell are you thinking? You’re not going to be…”

  Reed rose from his perch on the sofa and towered over his younger brother. “Take your hands off her, Shane,” he ordered in a low but tightly controlled voice. “The Barrington men do not manhandle the women they love.”

  Again, Devon threw him a look of gratitude as she stepped away from Shane and rubbed her arms. “I know what you were going to say,” she began in an accusatory tone. “You were going to say I’m not really a member of the family. If that’s true, Shane, why did you ask me to marry you, and why did I give up my career and agree to come here? Didn’t you say what was yours was also mine? Isn’t that what marriage is about?”

  Shane glared at Devon as she turned back to Jasper. “Please help me open this clinic, sir,” she begged. “It’s the right thing to do. Children are dying without food and medical attention. Please. I’m not asking for myself but for a community in need.”

  Jasper probed the earnest expression on her face and turned toward Reed for confirmation as he stared at Devon, who returned his penetrating gaze without flinching.

  “Give her the clinic,” Reed told his father.

  “Don’t I have a say in this?” Shane demanded.

  “No,” came the simultaneous response from Blair, Reed, and Devon.

  “You aren’t going to have any support, Miss Brooks,” Jasper pointed out. “You have alienated many of those with the means to help.”

  “I won’t need any help in the beginning.” Devon sensed a victory. “I can do it alone, if I have to. As word spreads, I’m sure other members of the greater community will offer their services.”

  “I’ll help Devon,” Blair volunteered as she squeezed Devon’s hand. “I want to help.”

  “Thank you, Blair. Your support means everything to me.”

  Both women gazed at Jasper as he remained thoughtful, pondering his next move. Catching Reed’s nod of approval, Jasper made up his mind.

  Squaring his shoulders, he announced, “You may have your clinic, Miss Brooks. A construction crew will await your instructions in the morning. If you will excuse me, there are phone calls to make concerning which piece of property to purchase for your clinic, and I’ll need to consult with my team of bankers and lawyers.”

  Before he exited the living room, Jasper turned to offer one last remark. “I don’t compliment others very often, Miss Brooks, so consider yourself fortunate when I say I admire your audaciousness, your tenacity, and your selfless commitment to those in need. Good night, everyone.”

  When he was gone, Blair and Devon burst into excited laughter and hugged each other.

  Shane, however, said from between clenched teeth, “I’ll speak to you later, Devon.” Then he followed his father out the door.

  Reed nodded his head at his sister and Devon before he, too, left the room.

  Chapter Nine

  “Well, Devon, we just had our first argument. I think it played pretty well considering it was completely unplanned. Seriously, though, what’s going through that head of yours?” Shane asked when he confronted her in her bedroom thirty minutes later. “This afternoon you were willing to walk away after a week, and now you’re planning free clinics for the poor. It seems to me you’re wasting my father’s time and money because you won’t be here long enough to see it finished. Why don’t you tell Dad you’ve changed your mind?”

  Devon shook her head and flopped onto her bed. “No matter how this phony engagement turns out, I’m not walking away from the clinic. I will stay in Dallas until it’s completed and staffed. Who knows? I may even choose to remain in Texas and run the clinic myself.”

  “Really? I thought you couldn’t wait to get back to San Francisco.”

  “I know. But that was before I realized how much good I can do here in Dallas. It’s your turn to be supportive, Shane. You made an ass of yourself earlier.”

  He frowned. “Yeah, I suppose so. Reed was certainly quick to defend you.”

  Devon grinned and couldn’t resist teasing him a little. “Remember ‘the Barrington men do not manhandle the women they love’.”

  Shane made a face. “I can’t believe that came out of his mouth. Well, I’ll let you get to bed. You have a big day tomorrow.”

  “Good night, Shane.”

  After she changed into a sheer white nightgown with a matching silk robe, hunger pains shot through Devon’s stomach because she hadn’t eaten since lunch. As she headed downstairs through a dark and quiet house to the kitchen, she assumed everyone was asleep until she observed light spilling into the dining room. Devon glided silently into the kitchen where Reed arrested her attention. He wore only a pair of khaki shorts and exuded so much male sensuality that her breath caught in her throat.

  Sensing he wasn’t alone, Reed glanced up from his glass of milk and saw Devon watching him. “Come in,” he invited in a warm, husky voice. “I’m fixing myself a snack. I know you missed dinner, so allow me to make something for you, too. Do you have a preference?”

  “No. Whatever you’re having is fine.”

  Reed made two turkey sandwiches with lettuce, tomatoes, and mayonnaise. He opened a bag of potato chips, poured a handful on each plate, and slid a glass of milk toward Devon. Neither spoke while they ate. When they were finished, Devon carried their glasses and plates to the sink and rinsed them before she loaded them into the dishwasher.

  “I owe you an apology, Devon.” Reed’s quiet tone reflected regret.

  “Why?” she asked in surprise.

  “I misjudged you when I labeled you an opportunist. I didn’t realize how wrong I was until I listened to you speaking about what you did tonight for those people. Now I understand why you were so affected by the death of that child. I’ve never seen the expression you wore on your face earlier this evening, and…your brown eyes glowed with a deep warmth. You were so strikingly beautiful and passionate.”

  Reed’s eyes roamed the length of her body, and she became conscious of her nakedness beneath her robe and nightgown. Dear God, her nipples hardened under his dark sapphire stare. “Please,” Devon whispered. “You mustn’t say such things or look at me like this. I’m…”

  “I know. You’re engaged to my brother.” They were standing so close together she could feel his warm breath caress her throat. “However, Shane hasn’t been acting like a man in love. Tonight, when he realized you were finally home safe and sound, he should have taken you in his arms like this…” Reed reached out and tugged Devon against his lean form.

  Held in the embrace of a half-naked man sent tantalizing shivers coursing through her body. Devon’s pulse raced as Reed bent his head. “And he should have kissed you senseless like this.”

  Desire, hot and wild and forbidden, exploded between them the moment Reed’s lips took possession of hers. This was no gentle kiss but one born of mutual want and need that could not be acknowledged any other way. No man’s kisses stirred Devon’s blood the way Reed’s did. His mouth moved with urgency and perfect rhythm against hers, creating so many delightful sensations that Devon’s head swam. Lost in the intoxicating emotions swirling around them both, Reed could not prevent himself from untying the sash that held her robe and pushing the garment off her shoulders. It fell to the tiled floor in a silken heap while his mouth left hers and blazed a fiery trail down her neck.

  His warm hands slid the spaghetti straps of her nightgown down her arms, causing it to slip and reveal the tops of her breasts. Reed’s sensual lips strayed even lower while Devon thought she would scream if he d
idn’t stop teasing her this way. His hands caressed her breasts, then traveled down her ribs and over her hips. Just when she considered begging him to make love to her, Reed lifted his golden head and emitted a heavy sigh. He must have been reading her mind, for he chuckled low in his throat.

  “That is how Shane should have greeted you tonight. And…” His eyes grew dark with desire. “And if you weren’t my brother’s bride-to-be, I would carry you upstairs right now and make love to you all night long.” With those final, titillating words, Reed leaned down and kissed her one last time before he left her alone, shaking and yearning for more.

  After their seductive encounter, Devon didn’t know what she would say or do when she saw Reed the following morning, so she decided to take her cue from him. She dressed in a pair of jeans and a pale green sleeveless blouse, French-braided her hair, and stepped into tennis shoes.

  A few minutes later Devon joined the family in the dining room for breakfast. Reed’s good humor pleased her as he chatted and laughed with his sister. When their gazes met, he bestowed on her the warmest, most dazzling smile she had ever seen. Her stomach did several flipflops and her knees felt weak. Devon returned his smile before she kissed Shane on the cheek.

  As Mrs. Peters served the family scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, coffee, and orange juice, Jasper informed Devon that all the necessary arrangements had been made for beginning construction on the clinic.

  “My foreman, Liam Stoneman, will meet you at the site with a set of blueprints, and you can tell him what you want. He and the crew understand you are to have total control and authority over this project. Of course, Stoneman will report to me periodically, but otherwise you are in charge. By the way, Miss Brooks, Lincoln confessed that several grocery accounts have been established for impoverished families in my name.”

  Devon blushed. “I apologize, sir. I told Lincoln to use one of my credit cards, but he had other ideas.”

  “Obviously,” Jasper stated in a dry tone of voice. “Don’t keep Stoneman waiting. You need to be at the site by nine.”

  As they walked toward Blair’s sporty Mustang convertible, Devon looked at the cigarette the younger woman held between her fingers. “I know, I know,” Blair groaned. “Smoking is bad for your health, and it wouldn’t set a good example for the patients or for the clinic’s reputation. Yada, yada, yada.” She tossed the cigarette onto the gravel and crushed it beneath the toe of her sandal. “Who needs the damn things, anyway?”

  “Wise choice,” Devon applauded.

  When they turned onto Third Street shortly after eight-thirty, Devon told Blair she wanted to check on Téa Rodriguez before meeting Liam Stoneman. “Do you speak Spanish, Blair?”

  “I speak Spanish and French fluently,” Blair boasted. “And since I knew you had a visit in mind, I brought a teddy bear for Téa.”

  “Oh, good. She’ll love it. Both Téa and her mother speak English, but they’ll probably feel more comfortable if you converse with them in Spanish at first.”

  Inez greeted Devon with warm enthusiasm before she turned her shy smile upon Blair. “Hola,” she said softly in Spanish.

  “Inez, I’d like you to meet my future sister-in-law, Blair Barrington.”

  Inez’s dark eyes widened in surprised recognition. “I know who you are. I am honored to have such a distinguished guest in my home.”

  Blair’s face flushed with embarrassment. “No, Mrs. Rodriguez, it is I who am honored to meet you and your little girl.”

  “Where is Téa?” Devon inquired. “I’d like to check on her.”

  “She’s in the bedroom. Oh, Dr. Brooks! We had such a wonderful breakfast. Bacon and eggs. And toast, too.” She patted her enlarged abdomen. “We are full.”

  Devon smiled. “I’m glad. Inez, when Téa is well, I want to take you to the hospital so we can check to make sure the baby is all right. Will you agree to come?”

  She nodded. “Yes. I will come.”

  Devon and Blair found Téa propped against a pillow, reading a Nancy Drew mystery. When the little girl glanced up and spotted Devon, she said, “Good morning, Doctor.”

  “Good morning, little one.” Devon grinned. “So, you like Nancy Drew, too, eh? When I was your age, I wanted to be just like Nancy when I grew up.”

  Téa giggled. “I love Nancy. She’s so pretty and smart. Mami insists I read books like this in English.”

  Devon glanced at Inez. “Sit up for me now, sweetheart, and let me take your temperature and listen to your lungs.”

  Téa’s temperature read 100 degrees. “Cough,” Devon instructed as she held the stethoscope against the child’s back. “Again.” Satisfied, she told the child to lie back and introduced Blair. “My friend has something she wants to give you.”

  “This is my favorite teddy bear.” Blair handed the stuffed animal to Téa. “Whenever I felt lonely or scared, I would hug my bear and tell him everything. Then I didn’t feel so bad.”

  “Thank you, Miss Barrington. I’ll keep him close by and take good care of him.”

  Twenty-two years ago Liam Stoneman was an eighteen-year-old high school graduate content to spend his days cruising Dallas in his Chevy pickup and drinking with his buddies at night. He had no idea what the future held in store for him, and he didn’t care until he literally ran into Jasper Barrington during one of his daily cruises. Although Liam was wont to hide his intelligence behind a “bad-boy” attitude, Jasper wasn’t the least bit fooled by the young man’s defiance.

  He insisted Liam pay for the damage done to the older man’s car by working for his construction company. At first Liam scoffed at the idea, but as the days stretched into weeks, he found his purpose in the back-breaking physical labor he performed. He never looked for work anywhere else and had been a part of every major building constructed by BI ever since. Jasper rewarded Liam for his loyalty and dedication by giving him one promotion after another. Today, Stoneman retained the title of president of the entire construction division.

  “He’s one of my dad’s success stories,” Blair concluded her tale.

  When Devon entered the trailer at the end of the street that served as the construction office, she found her hand gripped in the hardest handshake she’d ever felt. Liam’s voice boomed with his greeting. “It’s good to meet you, Dr. Brooks. I didn’t have the opportunity to speak to you at your engagement party. If you’ll step over to the table, we’ll discuss the blueprints for the clinic.”

  Liam showed Devon several sets of designs and explained each in elaborate detail. “You’re the boss, Doc. You tell me what you need, and I’ll give it to you.”

  Devon asked to see the third design again. After studying the plans, she announced, “This is the one, Mr. Stoneman. The layout is exactly the way I’d like it to be, but could we make a few slight adjustments?”

  “Absolutely. What do you have in mind?”

  Fifteen minutes later someone knocked on the trailer door. Blair opened it and stared in astonishment at the sight which met her light blue eyes. The street was already lined with people waiting to see Devon.

  Devon looked at Liam. “I have patients to tend to, Mr. Stoneman. Do we have anything else to discuss?”

  “Not at the moment, Doc. If I need you, I know where to find you. Go. The wrecking crew is waiting for my instructions.”

  Heat shimmered on the asphalt street as the relentless summer sun shone on the crowd. Blair opened a tablet and began recording the patients’ history before they saw Devon. Within an hour Devon’s face and arms were sunburned and perspiration dripped between her breasts. When some of the people waiting to see her succumbed to the heat, she approached Blair and declared, “We need bottled water. It’s too hot out here without it.”

  “I’ll go get it.”

  Devon finished treating her last patient a little after seven and saw Liam Stoneman as he left the construction trailer. “Mr. Stoneman!” she called and waved at him. “I need one more thing.”

  “I know.” He chuckled. “I
’ve already arranged for a trailer to be delivered tomorrow.”

  “Thank you. How long do you think the construction will take?”

  “Two weeks at the most, Doc.”

  “That’s all?”

  “Yes, ma’am. We work quickly and efficiently at Barrington Construction.”

  “So it would seem.”

  Blair and Devon were laughing over a shared joke when they entered the dining room at the Barrington ranch. In an uncharacteristic gesture, Blair leaned down and kissed her father on his taut cheek.

  “Good evening, Dad.”

  For a brief moment a flash of pleasure crossed his hardened features before it faded.

  In an affectionate gesture, Devon placed her hands on Shane’s shoulders and kissed him on the cheek. She took her place next to him and couldn’t avoid meeting Reed’s intense gaze. The moment she walked into the room he was affected by her natural warmth and vitality. Strands of her dark brown hair had come loose from her braid which gave her a charming, tousled appearance, and her sunburned skin made her even more alluring to him. Reed’s pulse leaped as he recalled those heated kisses they’d shared last night.

  Christ. She’s my brother’s fiancée.

  “You’re late,” Shane remarked.

  “I was working. There were a lot of people who needed to see me today.”

  “Mark my words, Devon, those people will turn on you if given the opportunity.”

  “Why? Because they weren’t born with silver spoons in their mouths? I’m ashamed of you, Shane. These people are no different from you or me. They share the same hopes and dreams and the same pain and heartache. All you see is their poverty, but I see people who want better lives for themselves and their children, and I intend to help them as much as I can. I’m even thinking of expanding the clinic to include an education and job training center.”