Waiting for Devon

by Dee Stewart

  “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “Shane, you’ve been working too hard, and I think it’s time you take a vacation,” Jasper interjected.

  Four heads turned in Jasper’s direction.

  “What?” Shane exploded in disbelief.

  “You heard me. I insist you take a two-week vacation. For your own good.”

  “Dad, that’s ridiculous. You know how busy I am. I can’t afford to leave the office. And besides, Devon just started this new project and can’t even go with me. It wouldn’t be right to go anywhere without her. And I sure as hell don’t want to hang around here alone while she’s working.”

  “Shane, really, I think you should take this opportunity to get away. Your father is right about one thing. You have been working way too much and way too hard. Just last night you mentioned another extended business trip might be on the horizon. I insist you go somewhere fun and take a friend with you. You know, maybe a guy’s road trip or something like that.”

  “A friend?” A puzzled frown crossed his face. “You’re sure you wouldn’t mind?”

  “No, not at all. Take a friend with you and have a good time.”

  Puzzled himself, Reed glanced between his brother and Devon. What the devil?

  Shane brightened and he leaned over to press a light kiss against her lips and caress her bare neck. “All right, you win. I’m going to make arrangements, then let you know what I’ve decided.”

  When Devon met Reed’s interested gaze, she smiled at him. His heart slammed into his chest.

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He seemed to be thinking it a lot lately. And about doing it, too. With his brother’s bride-to-be.

  Toward the end of dinner, Devon asked Blair if she would join her for a swim. “Where do you find the energy?” Blair complained with a groan. “I’m exhausted and going straight to bed.”

  “I’ll join you for a swim,” Reed offered with a gallant smile.

  Startled, Devon’s deep brown eyes met his. “If you wish. I’ll meet you at the pool as soon as I change my clothes.”

  When she was out of earshot, Jasper stared at Reed and asked, “What are you doing, son?”

  “Going for a swim, Dad.”

  “Don’t be impertinent with me. You know what I’m referring to. Stalking your brother’s fiancée is not wise.”

  “Stalking?” Reed returned with a wry grin. “That’s a strong word. I’m merely swimming with my brother’s intended bride, a fact I am well aware of. The question is, is Shane? Frankly, I have serious doubts about his commitment to Devon.” He whistled as he left the dining room.

  Chapter Ten

  When Shane left with Alana on a cruise for two weeks, relief flooded through Devon. Without the pressure of having to pretend she was happily engaged, she acted like her old self. As the days stretched on, Devon treated her patients and oversaw the construction of the new clinic. She also kept a watchful eye on Téa and her mother, and friendship bloomed between them, her, and Blair.

  In the trailer Devon used as a makeshift office, she performed an ultrasound on Inez one afternoon. It showed a normal, healthy baby. When Devon inquired about the father, Inez informed her that he had passed away in an accident after the infant was conceived. Inez confided she had no financial means of supporting herself and the children and worried about the future of her family. Devon reassured the frightened mother she would do what was necessary to help her, including finding her a job as soon as the baby was born.

  During this time, Devon and Blair grew closer. The younger woman blossomed as she accepted the responsibility of managing the office with efficiency. When they weren’t busy, they spent their time talking and laughing in easy camaraderie. And as far as Reed was concerned… Devon glanced out the window of the trailer and watched the powerful muscles rippling in his back as he worked with the other men on the construction crew. After Shane left on his vacation, Reed decided to work at the site every afternoon as soon as he tended to the horses in the morning. Sometimes he distributed food and clothing to needy families and provided plenty of bottled water for everyone.

  In the evening Devon, Blair, and Reed entertained Jasper with stories about their activities, and once in a while Reed took the women out for a night on the town. While Devon and Reed were together, he maintained a polite distance.

  The more time Devon spent in Reed’ company, the more difficult it became for her to control the yearnings of her heart. Reed’s intelligence, caustic wit, and rugged charm enthralled her while images of his lips and hands caressing her played across her mind. Though trapped by the charade she was playing, Devon found herself irresistibly drawn to Reed. As long as he believed she was engaged to his brother, Reed wouldn’t touch her again. It shouldn’t matter, but it did.

  On the day the Barrington-Brooks Free Clinic opened, the media swarmed and buzzed like flies. Devon took her place behind the podium for the press conference and spoke about her vision and why the clinic was necessary. Most of the reporters were impressed with the clinic and focused their questions on it, but one demanded when they could expect a Barrington wedding.

  Devon faced the reporter and replied with tact, “Talking about the need to help this community is far more important than my wedding plans. When Shane and I decide on a date, I assure you the press will be notified.”

  The press was given a tour of the facility and began to disperse while a few remained behind to film Devon working with her patients.

  After a long, exciting day, Blair left at five-thirty, grinning at Devon as she sidled out the door. “I have a date tonight, Dev. With Rodney Merrill. I wonder how long it will be before he bolts.”

  Devon laughed. “Maybe you should try a little Barrington charm for a change.”

  At eight o’clock Devon locked the clinic doors. She traced the fine gold letters of her name and marveled at the strange direction her life had taken. A month ago, she never imagined she would be standing on a street in Texas pretending to be engaged to a man she didn’t love and longing for one she couldn’t have. Her eyes grew wide as the thought flitted across her mind, and she stepped away from the door. As she turned, she bumped into the lean, hard form of the man who had been waiting for her.

  Devon’s heart thudded in her chest as she gazed into Reed’s handsome face, and her stomach tightened with pleasure.

  “I was worried when you didn’t come home with Blair,” Reed confessed in his deep, rich voice. He glanced at the new clinic. “It’s an important accomplishment for you, isn’t it, Dr. Brooks?”

  Whenever he addressed her by her professional title, a secret thrill ran through her. “Yes,” Devon replied in a soft voice. “I’m glad I can be of service to this community.”

  “I admire your selflessness.” He noted her weariness. “You must be ravenous. Let me take you to dinner.”

  “I’m not dressed appropriately. And I’m sure I’m a mess.”

  “You look perfect for the place I have in mind.”

  A decked-out Chevy Silverado with the Barrington Ranch logo on the side passed Digger Sharpe as he pulled in front of a dive on Third Street in his red and white classic Cadillac convertible. An air of vitality surrounded him, and he frowned. People with hope were harder to control. Raise their hope, raise them out of ignorance and they would rebel.

  He stared down the street at the new Barrington-Brooks free clinic. There stood the symbol of a fool’s inability to grasp what these people needed. They didn’t need free health care. They needed his drugs, his alcohol, and his offer of a helping hand right out of any money or freedom they might have.

  Digger thought of the sexy, pregnant widow, Inez Rodriguez, as he swaggered into the bar. So far, she’d resisted his advances, and now that she had made friends with rich bitch Blair Barrington, Inez had been even more disdainful of him. She needed help, though, and sooner or later, she would bend the knee to him and do whatever he wanted in order to please him. He still had a card to play. Her daughter, Téa.

  He ma
de his way to the back room where he conducted his business. His two right hands awaited him. “Report,” Digger demanded.

  The men glanced at each other. “You’re not going to like this,” one ventured.

  Digger lit a cigarette, and they shifted from one foot to the other. “I’m waiting.”

  “First, Harry Walton still hasn’t paid a dime, even after the beating we gave him. He keeps harping on some scheme he’s cooking up to get the money.”

  “He may need some more persuasion.” Digger blew out smoke through his nostrils.

  “Maybe. Uh, there’s more. At least three of the businesses have refused to pay for our protection.”

  Digger sat up straighter. “Which businesses?”

  “The bodega, the hair and nail salon, and the laundry mat. Someone’s convinced them that they don’t owe you a penny.”

  Digger snuffed out his cigarette and stroked his beard. “That Barrington bitch, and her doctor friend. Looks like I’ll have to pay Brooks a little visit. In the meantime, I’ll be keeping a closer eye on what’s going on down the street. I suggest you do the same. And this time don’t take no for an answer.”

  They nodded and went to carry out Digger’s orders.

  Devon had heard about Reed’s cabin, but this was the first time she’d seen it. Once inside, she admired the high, vaulted ceiling with a reading loft, the mahogany furniture, and inviting stone fireplace. The masculine décor fit a rugged man like Reed Barrington.

  “This is a charming cabin,” she remarked. “I like it.”

  Reed handed her a glass of wine. “I’m glad. You might as well relax, Devon. Dinner will be awhile.”

  Sighing, Devon kicked off her shoes and opened the front door. She sank onto a wooden rocker on the porch, took a few sips of wine, and closed her eyes. A feeling of contentment washed over her as she listened to the wind rustling through the trees and felt the breeze on her warm face.

  When Reed joined her a few minutes later, Devon watched him through lowered eyes. The now longer length of his layered golden hair lay against his neck while the light blue polo shirt he wore stretched across his muscular torso. The jeans he preferred emphasized his lean strength. Devon’s pulse fluttered as a blush crept into her cheeks. Wild images of being in his arms flashed in her mind.

  As she raised her eyes, Devon’s heart missed several beats. She saw Reed staring at her, too, with dark blue lights dancing in his incredible eyes. “Come,” he invited as he held out one hand. “I’ll show you the rest of the cabin while the steaks are grilling.”

  The spacious cabin boasted three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a small room Reed used as an office. In addition, he’d designed a game room with a pool table, card table, and dart board.

  “This is a wonderful retreat,” Devon commented.

  “Sometimes I just need to get away from it all.”

  They made their way into the kitchen where Devon prepared a salad to go with their meal and set the table. Within a few minutes Reed placed a large, juicy steak on each of their plates, along with a baked potato.

  After they appeased their appetites, Reed suggested a game of pool.

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t know how to play.”

  “Not a problem. I’ll teach you.”

  In the game room, Devon held the stick, aimed, and missed the ball every time.

  Reed chuckled as he came up behind her. “Let me show you how it’s done.” He pressed against her as he positioned the stick correctly in her hands.

  Devon attempted a few hits, but Reed’s nearness affected her coordination.

  After her last unsuccessful effort, Reed took the stick out of her hand. “You’re hopeless.”

  His hands moved up her arms in a slow caress, and he placed exciting kisses on her exposed neck. “You’re trembling,” he whispered into her ear.

  He turned her around to face him. It was their undoing. Devon drowned in the liquid pools of Reed’s eyes as he crushed her against him. His mouth moved across hers as he kissed her greedily, providing the pleasure they’d denied themselves the past two weeks. Reed caressed her breasts as his mouth continued to plunder hers. Caught in a tidal wave of desire, Devon was powerless to stop him. His hard, demanding kisses set her frozen soul ablaze.

  When Reed realized he was unbuttoning Devon’s blouse with the singular intent of making love to her, he tore his mouth away from hers and groaned in frustration. Anger and disgust replaced the passion shining in his sapphire eyes. “I swore to myself I wouldn’t touch you ever again. For God’s sake, you’re my brother’s fiancée. But you,” here his gaze grew bitter and suspicious, “you haven’t protested once. You haven’t pushed me away or made any attempt to stop me. Why?”

  Because I think I fallen in love with you!

  The admission exploded inside her brain, and she couldn’t breathe or speak. Devon just stared at him through wide, confused eyes while she debated whether or not to tell him the truth about her engagement to Shane. If she did, she would be free, but Reed would reject her. She knew it intuitively as she struggled with an answer.

  She waited too long to formulate a response. Reed retreated from her and declared in a harsh tone, “Shane is coming home tomorrow. From now on, we need to stay away from each other.”

  Fury swept through her as she found her voice. “Oh, that’s convenient,” she snapped. “You attempt to seduce me and then blame me. I haven’t invited these advances, and frankly, I’m tired of having to explain to my fiancé why you can’t keep your hands to yourself.”

  “Well, you don’t have to worry about my advances anymore. I’ll be perfectly content to keep my hands to myself. Come on. I’ll take you back to the main house.”

  As Devon followed him, she wished she could take back what she’d said. She didn’t want to lose these precious, intimate moments with him, but explaining her role in Shane’s charade wasn’t an option.

  Looking bronzed, happy, and relaxed from his recent vacation, Shane arrived at the clinic at noon. He shared an enthusiastic greeting with his sister before he saw Devon. After Blair took him on a tour, he met Devon in an empty examination room.

  “You look wonderful, Shane,” she observed.

  “I feel wonderful. I’d like to thank you for suggesting I take Alana with me. I love her more than ever.”

  “Does this mean you’re going to speak to your father?” Devon asked, full of hope.

  “Yes. I can’t put it off any longer.”

  “Good.” She let out her breath. “Because something else has been happening while you’ve been gone.”

  “Oh? Problems?”

  “Your brother. We’ve shared a few amorous encounters, and if you don’t speak to him about his behavior, he’s going to get even more suspicious. According to Reed, you haven’t been acting like a man in love.”

  Shane smiled. “Reed is putting the moves on you? Did you shoot him down?”

  “You’ve asked me this before, and my answer is the same. No. Now, it’s worse because…” her voice trailed away.

  “No, don’t tell me. You’ve fallen for him.”

  “Don’t put words in my mouth. I wasn’t going to say that.”

  “We’re caught in a trap I wish to God I hadn’t created.” Shane shook his head. “Well, I’ll handle Reed. Tonight at dinner we’ll put on an amorous show of our own that will erase his doubts once and for all. Then I’ll speak to him privately. As far as Dad is concerned, I’m less sure of the outcome of my meeting with him.”

  As Reed strolled into the dining room with Blair later that evening, Shane pulled Devon into a deliberate, heated embrace. Reed stared for a moment before he turned away and took his usual place. During dinner Shane caressed Devon and ignored the angry muscle twitching along his brother’s hard jaw. Feeling guilty and embarrassed, she made an excuse to leave the dining room as soon as possible.

  She fled to the stable where she fed Pale Promise an apple and spoke in a gentle voice to the animal. Devon hated the look in
Reed’s eyes during dinner. She hated hurting him when all she wanted to do was hold him in her arms and tell him that she loved him.

  Blair joined Devon a few minutes later and plopped down on a bale of hay. “What was going on at dinner? Reed looked like he wanted to leap across the table and throttle both you and Shane.”

  Much to Blair’s surprise, Devon turned to her with tears brimming in her eyes. “I’m such a fraud, Blair. I’m in love with the wrong brother.”

  Blair’s light blue eyes widened in shock. “Well, that does put an interesting spin on things, doesn’t it?”

  “Why are you being so understanding about this? I just told you that I’m in love with Reed.”

  “I suggest you tell Shane before you break his heart.”

  “Break his heart?” she repeated. “He’s not in love with me, either. Shane loves Alana. He spent two weeks with her at my insistence.”

  Blair’s jaw dropped. “What in the world is going on?”

  “Can I trust you? Please, this is important. I have to tell someone because this secret is tearing me apart.”

  “You can trust me, Devon. I won’t tell a single soul.”

  Devon took a deep breath, knowing she was risking Blair’s friendship and her own reputation. She launched into her tale, explaining how Jasper and Shane trapped her into this charade. “I’m sorry, Blair,” she finished on a sob. “I never expected this to go on for so long. The only good thing to come out of this is my friendship with you and the clinic. No matter what happens I will not abandon my work there.”

  Blair took Devon’s cold hands in hers and answered with simple honesty, “I’m not sorry, not at all. Dad and Shane had no right to interfere in your life, but the truth is, I’m glad they did. You saved my life. I would have destroyed myself if it weren’t for you. You saved Reed’s life, too. I’m glad you love him because he deserves to be happy.”

  “Reed is going to hate me when he learns the truth. He will find out, Blair, and when he does…”