by Pat Dale
“Oh, dead.” Sally smothered a laugh. “And how did Troy take that?”
“Better than you’d think. Troy ended up declaring his undying love for me. Can you believe it?”
“Actually, I can, dear. That boy has carried a torch for you since high school. Everyone knows that.” Sally leaned back and surveyed her daughter.
“Everyone but me.”
“So, what did you say in response to his declaration of love,” Sally prodded.
“I didn’t mean to, but I opened my mouth and said I loved him too. Why in hell did I do that?”
“A woman usually says that because she does love the person she’s speaking to. Did you mean it?”
“I think so. I mean, I guess I’ve always loved him, but I sure didn’t mean to blurt it out like that.”
Why wouldn’t you tell him how you feel?”
“I don’t want him to think all he has to do is crook his finger and I’ll come running.”
“Fair enough. Did you finally let him explain what happened on prom night all those years ago?”
“I did listen to his version of the events,” she admitted.
“And…?”
“I am ready to concede that I might have been wrong about a few things.”
“So, are you ready to give love another chance?”
“I think so. Honestly, until this evening I’d never given it much thought.”
“Is that so?” She grinned. “That’s why you write those wonderful stories featuring a heroine very much like yourself and Sir Robert, the Earl of Troy. You’re just indulging your inner fantasies in your writing?”
“I’m not in my books. And Troy certainly isn’t!”
“Samantha, are you trying to kid your old mother? You really can’t see that you’re the Lady Eve and Troy is Sir Robert. Even I could see that in the little bit I read. Your story is basically an extension of your own dreams and hopes.”
Her heart leaped in her chest and her face heated uncomfortably. “I refuse to be another notch on Troy’s bed post. You’ve heard the gossip about his bed hopping.”
“According to his mother, those rumours are grossly exaggerated. She thinks he perpetrates them just to make you jealous and save his pride. If he loves you and you love him, then you’ll find a way to work this out.”
“I don’t want just an affair with Troy.”
“Of course, you don’t. You want a relationship that will last a life time. You could call it an affair for all time. Keep your love alive and growing.”
Samantha hugged her and went upstairs with her head full of questions and no answers. Is Troy the love of my life? Would be able to forge a bond strong enough to last our whole lives? Can I really trust him? Maybe I’ve done him a huge disservice all this time? She didn’t have the answers but there was no denying the glow Troy’s kiss had ignited.
* * *
“Good morning.” Sam paused on the sidewalk just outside the Herald to greet Troy.
“Hi. I have the ad copy ready to run. I think you’ll like the changes I made.”
“You changed things?”
“Yep. I ran it in Branson, too. Want to see?”
“Sure.” She took the copy from his outstretched hand before pushing open the door and leading the way to her office. “Have a seat while I go over this.” After she scanned the text, she smiled at him. “This is more like it, though I suspect you’ve already won the battle.”
“Really? How do you figure that?”
“Didn’t you see the look on Rose’s face last night? She’s smitten with your country singer friend and I think she’ll be willing to drop the injunction when she sees your plans. As for Steve Carlson, I think once he realizes that you have taken the environmental concerns into account and his case won’t hold up in court he’ll just disappear. ”
He grinned. “I hope so. It would certainly make my life easier. Besides, JT needs a good woman to keep him on the straight and narrow. I think Rose fits the bill, maybe he can invest some of his money into her foundation. It would certainly improve his image, maybe open up a whole new audience for his work.”
They spent a few minutes working out rates and print schedules. When she put her pen down Troy took her hand in his. “Samantha, I meant what I said last night.”
“About loving me?”
“Yes. Have you thought about it?”
Have I! But I’m not sure I’m ready to tell you. “It’s nothing that kept me awake.” Liar!
“Oh? Can we go somewhere and talk some more?”
“I’ve got a full slate this morning, Troy.”
“Later, then. I really want to talk to you.”
“Maybe. How about lunch?”
“That’ll work. I’ll pick you up.”
“Let’s just meet at the café. At twelve, okay?”
“Sure. Whatever you say. See you then, sweetness.”
* * *
Troy had been gone about five minutes when Steve Carlson came storming into the paper office. “Samantha, I demand to speak with you.”
“You too?”
He looked puzzled. “Yes. Have you seen Rose?”
“Since last night? No.”
“She didn’t come back to the motel. I don’t know where she is.”
“Really? Why do you care, you’re not her keeper.” Samantha had a good idea where Rose was but had no intention of sharing it with Carlson. “Why would you think I’d have any idea where she is? It’s not like she reports to me or anything. She’s an adult for heaven’s sake!”
“True. But I don’t know what to think. What if she’s in some kind of trouble?”
“She has a cell phone, if she needed help someone would have heard, or she’d have called 911.”
“I suppose…” Steve’s voice trailed off and he rubbed his forehead with two fingers. “It’s just, well, I worry about her since George died. I promised him I’d look out for her and the foundation.”
“From what I’ve seen and what I know of Rosemary, she’s quite capable of taking care of herself and the foundation for that matter. The last I saw of her she was with Jason Tawdry and looked very happy.”
“Oh,” Steve didn’t sound very happy. “Well, I still have to investigate this development and the threat to the conservation area as well as the endangered ecosystem on the actual site.”
“Here.” Sam handed him a copy of Troy’s development plans that he’d given her. “I think you’ll see your concerns have already been addressed. Maybe you should just head on back to Saint Louis and have your legal team look it over. Forward a copy to Rose’s people too, while you’re at it, if she hasn’t already.
He nodded half-heartedly and trudged to the door. “I’m sorry things worked out this way, I’d hoped we could be friends, I would have enjoyed working with you on publicity for our campaign to stop the development. It would have generated quite a bit of revenue for the Herald and given you some international exposure.”
“Be that as it may, I’m happy things have worked as they have. Safe travels back to Saint Louis. If I see Rose I’ll be sure to mention you were looking for her this morning.”
She went to the window to see that he drove away without heading for Troy’s office. When he was gone, she grabbed the phone but hesitated and put it down without dialing. This was something best kept for lunch. Better yet...
She lost her train of thought when Missy and a tall blond man waved and came into the office.
“Hi, Samantha. Remember Tom Fairfield?”
She did a double take. This was Tom Fairfield? Holy cats! The guy didn’t look anything like the nerdy boy she remembered from high school. Where were the thick glasses and the pen protector in his shirt pocket? This guy was straight from chick-lit heaven.
“Hello, Tom, of course I remember you,” Samantha lied through her teeth. “But you look a lot different than when I saw you last.”
“It’s still me, Samantha. And you haven’t changed a bit.”
Oh, lord,
just what I need to hear. “I hear you have a bookstore in Branson.”
“That’s right. You’ll have to come browse some time. We offer a large selection of cross-country newspapers.”
“That’s great. So, what are you guys up to today?”
“Oh, we’re just goofing around. We went to a show in Branson last night.” Missy grinned.
“You did?” Sam willed her face not to blush. “I went to a show, too. Who did you see?”
“Andy Williams. He’s so cool. I just love him, don’t you?”
“Yes. I almost went there but we decided at the last minute to go to Jason Tawdry.”
Tom said, “You like country? I would never have taken you for a country fan.”
“I’m not a fan, Tom. My—uh, date wanted to go there.”
“Troy?” The name escaped from Missy’s mouth.
“No. Someone else. A newcomer I was hosting.”
“You want to go with Tom and me sometime, Samantha?”
“I’d love to, Missy. Name the time and we’ll do it.”
“With Troy?”
There she goes again. How can I get her to shut up about Troy Roberts? “Maybe. Do you remember Troy, Tom?”
“Sure. You two were quite the item in high school. No other guy had a chance with you. He’s done well with his real estate, hasn’t he?”
“Really well, and I understand he’s on the cusp of doing even better.” She glanced at the clock, almost late for her date with Troy. “Well, I have to run. Nice to see you again after all this time, Tom. Don’t be a stranger.”
Before he could answer, Missy chimed in, “Oh, he won’t.”
Chapter Seven
Troy forced himself to concentrate on the landscape blueprints. The road and utility construction company he’d picked for the project needed them as soon as possible. Before he turned the plans over to them, he had to confirm that everything was as it should be. Once the earthmoving machines did their work on the steep hillsides, it would be too late to correct any missed details.
Try as he might, he couldn’t get the image of Samantha out of his head. When she’d confessed she loved him, his heart almost jumped out of his chest. If she only knew how often he’d wanted to hear that, how different things might be.
So now, even though she’d tried to take her words back, he had to convince her he really loved her. It wasn’t going to be easy. So much water under the bridge. But maybe...
Back to work, he reminded himself. He scanned the sheets once more, noting with satisfaction the trails and landscape features included in the plan. Also, all those mature trees that would be left in place. It was harder to work around them but the finished development would look like it had been there for decades.
When eleven forty-five came, he could stand it no longer. He headed for the café to assure them a place to sit, one with a little privacy for the conversation he intended to have with her. He’d just sat down when Samantha came through the door.
“Hey, Samantha! I’ve got us a table back here.”
“Great. I was worried about whether there’d be room.”
“Me, too. That’s why I came a little early. So, how did your morning go?”
“Pretty dull. How about you?”
“Not dull, but tedious. I’m about ready to send my landscaping plans to the guys that’ll clear the land.”
“I’d never thought about it but there must be some pretty complicated calculations to this kind of venture. Do you have to plan all the streets and everything yourself?”
“Don’t have to, but I did, with some consultation with experts of course. Everything is in place, right down to sewer drainage and utility service lines. It’s something most realtors leave to landscape architects. Handy for me I have a degree and experience in that field.”
She nodded. “I’d forgotten that was your major in college. So, you’re not waiting for the environmental controversy to die down?”
“Nope. Can’t afford to wait. Time is money. Besides, you said yourself, you think it’ll blow over.”
“It might. Oh, I’ve pulled that editorial for this week.”
“Really? Why?”
“I want to see how this all plays out before committing my-my paper.”
“Well good. I think that’s for the best.”
“Probably. By the way, Troy, I think it’s great that Rise and JT hit it off. Was that a plan from the start?”
“I have to admit I didn’t actually plan that. The two of them met and the sparks started to fly. Talk about love at first sight. Or maybe it was lust? Either way she’s an adult and knows the score.”
“I agree. But, even if you’re off the hook with her, how about Carlson? He might not be so easy to dodge.” Sam sat back and settled in to enjoy watching Troy stew.
His enthusiasm evaporated and the light left his eyes. “I hadn’t thought much about him. Think he’ll push it?”
“I don’t know, but shouldn’t you find out? If he does, all your land work could be for nothing.” She knew better but couldn’t resist baiting him a little more.
“Yeah...”
Troy looked like he wanted to throw up and struggled with the urge to tell him it was no longer an issue and set his mind at rest. But it was too delicious leaving him with something to worry about.
Maybe he’ll leave the subject of our relationship alone for a bit and give some time to get used to the idea if he has something else to worry about..
“What I really want to talk about is us, Samantha.”
So much for leaving me alone. “What about us?”
“You know. About our relationship. I meant it when I said I loved you. I think you did too.”
“I told you to hit the delete button on that idea.”
“I know you said that, Samantha, but I can’t believe you mean it.”
“Who says I don’t? Troy, I don’t want you building false assumptions about us. You’re riding for a fall.”
“Like the fact you hate me? That would be a false assumption, wouldn’t it?”
“I meant about any hint of relationship between us.”
“But there is a relationship, isn’t there. No matter how much you insist there isn’t.”
“Do I need to spell it out for you? There is no relationship, at least not right now.”
“I beg to differ, sweetness.”
“I—I don’t like you calling me that. Please don’t.”
“Why not? What are you afraid of, Samantha?” His voice had turned to a mocking sneer as he got to his feet. “Afraid you’ll fall in love with me so completely you’ll have to admit you’ve been wrong all these years?”
“No. I haven’t been wrong. I’m not afraid of anything, Troy Roberts, except being in the same room with you. I’ve lost my appetite.”
Instantly, she knew her temper got the best of her again. Why did I do that? I was lying and he knows it. Now I’ve got to pretend I want nothing to do with him.
She jumped up and bolted for the door, leaving him standing at the table. As the door closed behind her, he dropped back into his seat. She cast a puzzled glance through the window as she hurried by, her gaze meshing with his for a moment before she flounced off down the street with her nose in the air.
Damn it, Samantha, here we go again! I confess my true feelings and you kick me in the nuts. I’m not sure I can do this anymore.
His gloomy mood lifted when he got back to his office. JT and Rose waiting for him.
“Howdy, Troy. I wanted to show Rose the plans you’ve got for the development over by Branson. I’m pretty excited about it and I sure don’t think she has anything to worry about environmentally from what you’ve told me.”
“Hi JT, Rose. Sure, I’ve copies of the plans right here. I believe your colleague Carlson has a copy too,” he said the last to Rose. Troy pulled a roll of plans out of a side cupboard and spread them open across the large table by the window.
“See here, Rosie.” JT pointed to the wide ripa
rian allowance along the waterways. “Troy’s t thought of everything.”
“What’s this area here?” Rose put her forefinger on some large areas marked in dark green.
“Those are the green space reserves which are situated in the most environmentally sensitive parts of the tract of land,” Troy supplied the information.
“See, Rose. I told you all those little critters will be just fine.” JT squeezed her shoulder and kissed her forehead.
“I can give a complete report from the firm that did the study before I even drew up the plans,” Troy offered.
“Yes, I would like to see those, if you don’t mind,” Rose replied.
“Sure thing. I can email you the files or would you prefer a hard copy?”
“Email is fine, I can print off anything I feel like I need to make notes on.”
“Are you planning on returning to Nashville soon, Rose? Or will you be around Flanders for a while longer?” Troy began to roll up the plans. “There’s a pad and pencil on my desk, you can write you email address there, or text it to me if that’s easier.”
Rose glanced at JT and lifted her eyebrows. Troy frowned. Now what the hell did that mean? JT shrugged and grinned.
“It looks like I’ll probably be hanging around Branson for a bit. Jay and I have really hit it off, and well, with George gone, there’s nothing holding me in Nashville,” Rose said.
“Jay?” The corner of Troy’s mouth quirked.
Rose’s cheeks bloomed a pale pink and she dropped her gaze. “Jason seems like too much of a mouthful, and JT just doesn’t feel right to me. I like Jay, and nobody else calls him by that so it’s kinda special between us.”
“Isn’t your foundation’s head office in Nashville, though?” Troy was puzzled. There were some weird vibes bouncing between the two visitors.
“Yes, it is. But really, the foundation was George’s baby. I felt compelled to follow through with this investigation because George was working on it when he died. It would have been letting him down to not see it through to completion.”