"Well, we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed they don't. And if they do, we'll worry about that when the time comes."
"Now if only I could get Heather off my back about Alex's sudden absence. She's driving me crazy."
"Stand strong. Don't tell her anything more than you already have,” Syd said.
"I don't intend to.” Casey turned away from the window and back to Syd. “The problem is I'm not sure how much longer I can hold her off. She's pestered the hell out of me for two days straight, wondering if I'd heard anything from him, and when he's going to be back. It's amazing I've gotten any work done. Syd."
Casey shook her head. “I can't take this kind of pressure. It's bad enough, the way things ended between Alex and me, but then to be constantly reminded of the fact is embarrassing, depressing and painful."
Ended? Had things really come to an end between them? After two days and still no word from him, she was leaning toward a big fat yes. Oh, how she hated those two little words, the end. They meant no second chances, no going back, and she'd heard them way too many times in her life.
"I'm sorry, Casey. I wish I knew what to tell you. As you recall, up until recently, I didn't have the best track record myself in the man department."
"You sure don't have a problem now.” Casey arched a brow and nodded toward the desk.
"I finally got lucky."
Lucky? Casey wouldn't mind a little luck with Alex on her side right about now. What did she need to do to find that luck? Nail a horseshoe above her door? Buy a shamrock plant? Carry a rabbit's foot?
"I think you'll just have to grin and bear Heather for now,” Syd said. “If we pretend like nothing is wrong, hopefully she'll lay off and that'll give you some time to work things out with Alex. Then there won't be anything to worry about."
Casey groaned under her breath. Work things out with Alex?
If she were a guy, she wouldn't want to have anything to do with her screwed up way of thinking, either. Yeah, she better do some lucky charm shopping.
"What if we don't work things out? Heather is bound to keep asking questions. I've never been a very good liar. My bag of tricks is empty."
"I know. So, let's kick up productivity. The faster we get the job done, the sooner we'll be out of there."
And the sooner Casey would have no reason to patch things up with Alex. A major ache filled her chest at the thought of never feeling the comfort of his arms around her again, and never knowing the heat, the intense passion of his kisses, of his lovemaking. It had been two days and already it felt like a lifetime ago.
Casey plunked down in an overstuffed chair, feeling tired and defeated. All she really wanted to do was go home and sulk with her dog. To hell with the job. Every stroke of paint, every nail, and every piece of Elvis memorabilia were going to remind her of Alex. The realization hurt more then she could stand.
"You're right, we need to speed up production,” Casey managed to say, attempting to put on a brave front. “I'll have Terri line up extra crews."
"I'll talk to Trevor, too. I'm sure he can help a few nights here and there. Terri can handle the office for a while, and I'm between projects. I'll come and work. Do you have all the remodeling details worked out?"
"Yes. And the majority of the needed materials are there, ready and waiting."
"Great. First thing in the morning, we'll hit it hard."
"Sure.” Casey forced herself up out of the chair and headed for the door.
"Case,” Syd said. Casey stopped, but didn't turn around. “I don't know what happened between you and Alex, and I won't pry. You tell me when you're ready. But maybe you should just pick up the phone and call him. Explain things."
Casey spun around. “Call him? Me? Call him? I was the biggest kind of fool there is and you want me to call him? I'm too embarrassed. I think I need some more time and a pound of chocolate before I can work up the courage."
"Everyone makes mistakes. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Alex is a reasonable guy. If you explain, I'm sure he'll listen."
"I don't know. That sounds too simple to be plausible. My relationships have never been simple."
"True.” Syd nodded her head. “But hey, I've seen the way Alex looks at you. There's something special there. If he's half the man I think he is, he'll hear you out."
"Yeah. Well, I guess that remains to be seen."
"This is no time to be stubborn.” Syd shrugged on her coat. “Come on, let's grab Terri and go somewhere for a drink and high fat dinner topped off with that pound of chocolate. I'm sure our indulgence will help us figure out a way for you to make up for your moment of stupidity and get Alex back."
"Gee. Thanks for reiterating my shortcomings."
"You did the same for me, dear friend, and look what it got me,” Syd said with a wink.
"That's right. A hot man, regular sex, and no more lonely nights. Speaking of which. Aren't you having a late supper with Trevor tonight? If you go out with us you won't want to eat again."
"Don't worry. The supper date I have planned with Trevor has nothing to do with food.” Syd smiled.
"Of course. How silly of me.” Casey rolled her eyes. “Then let's get going. You're going to need your energy. And I need a drink."
* * * *
"Something is going on, Rory. I just know it,” Heather said as she rushed into the dimly lit, secluded basement room. “Casey has been moping over Alex all week long while he's been gone. I'm afraid they've slept together."
Her friend didn't bother looking up from where he worked with a roll of speaker wire and a bunch of miscellaneous tools under a lamp on a large round table. “Are you listening to me?” she asked.
"Yes, sugar. I heard you. Who do you think slept together?"
Rory turned on his stool, giving her his full attention.
"Alex and Casey. Who else would I be talking about?"
Agitated, she crossed her arms and tapped a finger on her sleeve.
"Well.” He sighed and took off his black rimmed glasses, setting them on the table. “You've been suspecting something has been going on between your next door neighbor, Leslie, and the software guru on the cul-de-sac for some time. I thought maybe you'd finally gotten definitive proof."
Heather threw up her hands and began pacing around the unfinished room. She hated the drab concrete block walls and the hard gray floor. This room reminded her too much of what her life had been like since Hector died—cold, gloomy and oh, so lonely.
"This is horrible,” she ranted. “I'm so mad I could spit. Casey deliberately didn't tell me Alex had gone back to Denver. I should fire her."
"Take it easy, sugar. You can't fire her now. The house is all tore up in the remodel. As much as you hate to admit it, you need her. Just stay calm and it'll be all right."
"No. It won't be all right. This isn't fair, Rory. I brought him here.” She thumped her chest with her thumb. “If it wasn't for me, they never would have met.” She stopped pacing in front of Rory and looked down at him. Tears of anger and frustration stung her eyes. “Alex is supposed to be mine."
"Hey, take it easy.” Rory took her hand in his and gently massaged his thumb over her palm, sending tingles of awareness racing through every inch of her body.
Shocked by the unexpected sensation, Heather gasped and pulled her hand away. A flicker of disappointment washed over his face, but she pushed it aside. She and Rory had been friends for years. There wasn't anything more than that between them. Was there?
She turned away, but stole a glance at him over her shoulder. His eyes. There was something different about his eyes—the way he looked at her. Did he desire her? No way. She had to be wrong.
Heather focused on the stark wall in front of her. Rory was an everyday Joe who worked a forty-hour week for the telephone company and helped underprivileged kids at a small downtown theatre. He wasn't her type, and didn't run in her high dollar circles. They'd met simply because of a common interest in Elvis memorabilia. That was it, no
thing more.
"Do you know for sure they've slept together?” he asked. Was that curiosity she heard in his voice? Excitement? Hope?
Heather's own mixture of emotions tumbled inside her, making her feel dazed and confused.
"No. But a woman can sense ... things,” she managed to say around a lump in her throat.
"How?"
"Lovers,” she fumbled over the word, “look at each other differently."
"They do?” The ache she heard in his voice made her heart pinch.
"Yes. Like the way a woman brightens when her lover walks into the room. Or the way his breath catches when she flirts with him in their own secret language. The stolen glances they share,” she said softly, looking directly at Rory, needing to see if the spark of attraction she'd noticed only a moment before was still there, or if she'd imagined it. “When they're certain ... no one else will see."
He smiled at her, a glimmer of tender desire filling his blue eyes. He stood and ever so gently brushed his knuckles against her cheek. The air in the room dissipated.
Oh, God. She hadn't imagined anything. It couldn't be. They couldn't be feeling more than friendship, could they? They shared common interests, knew how to cheer each other up, and knew they could call each other any time, day or night. Those were simply the elements of friendship.
It wasn't sexual attraction. She wouldn't let it be.
Stiffening her resolve, she took a quick step back, breaking the contact.
"Forget the ghost,” she said angrily. “I have something else in mind.” Turning, she headed for the door, unable to face the truth of what she'd seen on Rory's face.
"Heather,” he commanded. She stopped short, surprised by his harsh use of her name. “Don't do something you'll regret."
"Let it go, Rory. I won't lose Alex.” Without looking back she fled the room, hating like hell to hurt the one man she could always count on to be there.
Chapter Sixteen
"Done at last,” Casey said with a sigh as she hung the final movie poster in the Elvis Racing Suite.
In spite of it being the longest week of her life, she'd managed to accomplish quite a lot, finishing many of the room remodels. The busier she stayed supervising work crews, testing paints and adding the final touches, the less she thought about Alex. Or at least that's what she tried to tell herself. But in reality, Alex was always in the forefront in her mind. She couldn't look at anything Elvis, design sketches, or blue prints without thoughts of Alex intruding and making her feel miserable.
Taking a few steps back, she centered herself in the room to admire her handiwork. The sooner she could get this job finished, the sooner she could put it behind her. “Good. I can chalk another one off the list."
"And you can chalk yourself off the list, too,” Heather shouted as she burst into the room.
Casey spun around, feeling like she'd been punched
"You're fired. And without pay.” Heather planted her hands on her hips and stared at Casey with contempt.
Casey felt the color drain from her face as if it were being sucked out of her by a high-power shop vac. Crap. What the hell had happened here? If Heather fired her without pay, where would Casey get the money to pay all of the crews? This couldn't be happening.
"Wait a minute.” She shook her head. “I'm confused. We've made great progress on the house. We're ready to start on the party room and finish the museum addition. We should have the entire project wrapped up—"
"You lied to me,” Heather snapped. Her high heels tapped on the black and white tiles as she stalked up to Casey, the look of battle etched in her eyes.
"I did no such thing."
"Yes you did. Alex left a week ago and went back to Denver, and before you deny it, I know for a fact he did. Since I couldn't get a straight answer from you, I checked with his secretary."
Casey cringed. She should have known Heather would take it upon herself to call Alex's office. Time for some damage control. Somehow she had to convince Heather that firing her was an extreme measure for the minor offense of Alex crossing the state line.
"Okay, you're right.” Casey held up her hands, trying her best to look remorseful. “Alex had to make a quick trip to Denver. Yes, I should have said something, but I didn't because he was only supposed to be gone for a few days. I didn't want you to worry. Besides, everything is under control—"
"A few days to me is two or three,” Heather said with enough impatience to crack glass. “He's been gone a week."
"I know, but he's been working with a new client and got delayed. He'll return to Omaha as soon as possible."
"New client? What do you mean new client?” Heather's eyes bulged in her head. Her cheeks reddened.
Great. Heather was going to freak out and not let this drop. She reminded Casey of the stereotypical spoiled little rich girl on the verge of throwing a tantrum.
Casey groaned, debating just how much she should tell Heather to pacify her. If Casey told her just who that client was, Heather might be star-struck enough to let the whole matter drop. On the other hand, her jealousy streak might kick in, making her really go ballistic.
A rock lodged in Casey's stomach. She was walking a dangerous line here. And for the umpteenth time, she berated herself for letting her heart get involved and losing control.
"Alex had a man contact him about building a new home in the Aspen area,” Casey said with caution, “and because of the guy's unusual work schedule, he had to meet with Alex this week."
"He can't do that."
"It's not a big deal, Heather. It's not uncommon for architects and contractors to have more than one job going on at the same time. It's business."
"Well, in this case, it is a big deal. Obviously, Alex didn't read his contract close enough,” she said, flicking a piece of paper in the air.
Oh, shit. The contract. Casey had completely forgotten about the little, one page contract Heather had insisted upon Alex signing.
"What about the contract?” Casey asked, opting to play dumb and bide some time.
"There's an exclusivity clause in here. He can't work for anyone else while he's working for me."
Oh, boy. Casey had spaced off the paper as insignificant, and hadn't given it much thought. And apparently, Alex hadn't either. Big mistake. Especially when dealing with a woman like Heather. After all the years of handling Heather and her demands, Casey should have known the widow would make sure her butt was covered in a project of this magnitude.
Heather might put on the blond bimbo persona, but on the inside she was as sharp and shrewd as her late husband. Hector had taught her well.
A second rock joined the first already in Casey's stomach. This is what she got for letting herself veer off the business track. Things had gotten personal with Alex—way too personal, and as a result she'd screwed up royally. And in more ways than one. Not only had she been an idiot with the best man she'd ever known, but put her and her friends’ business in jeopardy.
Now she was faced with saving them all. The thought that everything rode on her shoulders made her heart clinch. How could she right a mess of this magnitude when in spite of all of her love and efforts, she couldn't even keep her father from leaving all those years ago?
Casey had no idea, but she wasn't a quitter.
"Heather, you have to understand, this new client is a great opportunity for Alex. He couldn't turn down the job. It would mean a huge financial loss. You wouldn't want Alex to suffer, would you?” she asked, hoping Heather really did have feelings for Alex and they'd be enough to make her see reason.
"I don't care. He's supposed to be working for me. Am I not paying him enough?” She crossed her arms in a huff.
Okay, so maybe Heather really didn't care for Alex. Maybe he was just a handsome diversion from the boredom encompassing her life. But Casey cared for Alex. Heck, more than cared.
She'd fallen in love with him.
Casey squared her shoulders, determined to get through to her client.
"Well, maybe,” Heather said. She began a survey of the bedroom, as if noticing it for the first time, checking out the details that commemorated Elvis’ roles as race car drivers in his movies Spinout, Speedway, and Viva Las Vegas.
James, Sherry - [Studs For Hire 02] Page 22