“No prob, dear.” Sonja laid her hand on Amanda’s arm. “This terrible wind would give anybody a chill. That’s the reason Mason and I decided to come inside. I was afraid the wind would make me sick. I have problems with my sinuses, you know.” She touched the side of her nose, and Amanda wondered if it was fake, too.
Amanda pulled a stick of gum from her purse’s side pocket, unwrapped it, and placed it in her mouth. She focused on the explosion of peppermint and not upon the potential explosion bubbling within. The longer she stood here with these two invaders, the warmer her temperature grew. Instead of giving in to the fury, she chomped her gum and prayed for guidance.
An immediate idea pierced her irritation. “Would you like to see my saltwater aquarium?” she asked and hoped the invitation would lead to a swift exit from her office.
“You have a saltwater aquarium?” Sonja enthused and moved into the hallway. Mason followed.
“Yes.” Amanda set her purse on the love seat, shut her office door, and strolled forward. “It’s in the lobby off the entryway,” she said, her words stiff. “You’ll have to excuse our mess in there, though. We’re getting ready for the corporate party in a month, and we’ve got boxes of decorations stacking up. We’re going to start sorting through them in an hour or so,” she casually claimed and hoped the newlyweds would take the hint and leave soon. The last thing Amanda wanted was for Haley to arrive from lunch and have to face Mason’s new wife.
“Nate Knighton told me all about you, but he never mentioned the aquarium or this big fall party. Sounds like fun!” Sonja said.
“You know Nate?” Amanda slipped off her fur-trimmed jacket.
“Excuse me a minute,” Mason said as they drew even with the restrooms. “I’m going to step into the men’s room.”
“Of course I know Nate!” Sonja ignored Mason and gestured as if Amanda were daft to even ask such a question. “I met him at church and have known him for weeks.”
I wonder why he hasn’t mentioned you? Amanda thought and pushed up the sleeves of her short-waisted sweater.
When Sonja and Amanda rounded the corner toward the corporate entertainment room, she grabbed Amanda’s arm and stopped. “And isn’t he the most scrumptious piece of manhood you’ve ever seen?” she whispered.
Amanda’s eyes widened, and she wondered how any new bride could say such and still be dedicated to her husband. Furthermore, thinking of Nate Knighton in terms of a “scrumptious piece of manhood” was as foreign to Amanda as imagining him wearing a skirt and pantyhose.
“W-w-well,” she stammered and didn’t exactly know how to respond to such blatant yearning in the eyes of a new bride. At least she’s not being fake now, Amanda thought. She really thinks Nate is something!
So do a lot of other women! The thought stomped across Amanda’s mind, and she recalled all the envious female glances she received lately every time she and Nate shared lunch. Interestingly enough, Amanda hadn’t noticed those gawking women before the last few weeks. And she had to admit that Nate had gotten better looking with age. The last three months had been especially good to him.
“If I weren’t already married . . .” Sonja mused and gazed across the room. Amanda expected drool to drip from the corners of her mouth. Furthermore, she wondered if a mere marriage ceremony would stop Sonja from pursuing Nate, or any other man for that matter.
For the first time, Amanda felt truly sorry for Mason. Even as quirky as he was, she detested the thought of anyone being miserable for life. Once Mason woke up and realized he’d been bought, she couldn’t imagine him being anything but miserable.
The door to the men’s room squeaked open, then closed, and Mason bounded around the corner. He removed a large diamond ring from his left hand and ran his index finger inside the ring.
“I can’t stand water under my wedding band,” he explained and slipped the ring back on. The oversized stone twinkled with the life of ten diamonds, and Amanda sensed the whole act was staged for her benefit.
She held Mason’s gaze for a few seconds and read a wealth of gloating therein. Her momentary pity for the man vanished. Mason seemed perfectly thrilled to have been bought and just as delighted to flaunt his new wealth at Amanda.
She hung her jacket on the coat-tree, stepped toward the aquarium, and wondered if Mason really believed she cared.
Haley clutched the shopping bag that contained her bargain of the day—a peach-colored cotton blouse she would put up until next summer. She’d been so distracted over the prospect of seeing Roger, she’d forgone lunch and trudged straight to Delightful. After spending thirty minutes in the store, browsing near the window as a cover for watching for Roger, Haley had decided to mosey toward the shoe store.
However, a detailed perusal through the store’s windowed front revealed no sign of Roger. Haley had examined the store just as intensely before she entered Delightful. The results were the same. No Roger.
Her stomach churned in an odd combination of hunger and nausea, and Haley knew her jittery nerves were to blame. She tugged her knee-length sweater jacket closer, but enjoyed the cool wind, despite its biting at her nose and fingers. Haley had worked up a sweat in Delightful, but all the anticipation was for nothing. Roger simply was not here.
She checked her watch and noted what she already suspected. Haley needed to be back at work in ten minutes. I must have misunderstood that email, she thought. Her shoulders sagged as she recalled her response. Haley was so thankful she hadn’t revealed her faulty interpretation of Roger’s email . . . or her expectation over what she thought was his invitation.
She strolled away from the shoe store and headed across the parking lot toward the busy street’s corner. Haley would go back to her office and eat some of the fruit and snacks she and Amanda kept in the kitchen. Then she’d get back to the usual. Amanda had her organizing the corporate party next month. This week the final RSVPs from Wood-Priebe upper management were trickling in. Next week Haley would be able to give a head count to the caterer. She’d already hired a jazz band to provide live entertainment. This afternoon or tomorrow, Haley would begin assessing what decorations they had and what they’d need for the jazz theme.
Amanda went with a different theme every year. By popular demand, her choices usually reflected an American flair. Last year, the whole group had raved over the western theme and had swooned over the life-sized poster of John Wayne. How Amanda sniffed out some of her decor was as much of an enigma to Haley as Haley’s bargain abilities were to Amanda.
By the time Haley reached the street corner, she was purposefully allowing the party preparations to engross her. Anything was better than pondering the awful letdown over not seeing Roger. A blaring horn’s irritating interruption heightened her exasperation. The sun’s glare added to the mix with annoying persistence.
The pedestrian light turned green, and Haley trudged forward. The horn grew louder until she finally realized she was walking in front of the very vehicle causing the disturbance.
How rude! Haley thought and glowered toward the vehicle, only to recognize a very familiar farm truck. And Roger Miller was behind the wheel waving madly.
“Roger!” Haley exclaimed. She turned to the truck and gaped at him.
He gestured for her to join him, and Haley didn’t need him to ask twice. As she hurried to the passenger side, she noticed every driver was focused on the drama. By the time Haley reached the truck, Roger had leaned over and opened the door.
“Hurry!” he encouraged as the vehicle beside them purred forward.
A horn’s blare behind Roger testified to a line of drivers who were ready to move along. Haley climbed onto the seat and noticed the clutter-free cab smelled like window cleaner. She snapped the door shut and clicked on her seat belt.
“Sorry about all the horn blowing,” Roger said and pressed the accelerator. “My window’s stuck over here. The thing hasn’t budged in months.”
Haley laughed. “Lifestyles of the rich and famous?” she said.
“Really,” Roger agreed as the truck picked up speed. “Sorry I was so late, too,” he said and glanced at her again.
Haley curled her toes.
“We had an emergency at the farm. One of our fences went down, and we had more cattle outside the fence than in it. Not good.” He leveled a swift grin at her that reminded Haley of their first date. Roger had taken her to his farm. They’d sat in a field with his parents, watched the stars, and enjoyed his telescope.
This rapid turn of events had her so disconcerted she couldn’t think of a thing to do but stare at her purse and the shopping bag claiming her lap. A new rush of nervous nausea erased all traces of hunger.
“What do you say to lunch?” Roger asked.
Haley’s eyes rounded. She swallowed against the swell in the back of her throat, said, “Sure,” and couldn’t fathom a way to sound more enthused. She dashed him a hesitant grin, only to discover a flutter of confusion rippling across his features.
“I guess I’m just a little . . .” She couldn’t exactly tell him she was so excited about seeing him again that she’d worked herself into a nauseated flurry. “My appetite’s not the best right now, I guess.”
“Mine either,” Roger rubbed his palm along his jeans and wowed her with another grin. Haley was reminded why she always thought his smile was his most endearing feature. “But anyway,” he shrugged, “maybe there’s a waiter somewhere who wouldn’t mind letting us look at a steak for a while.”
“Okay,” Haley said and underscored her acceptance with another shy smile.
Twenty-Six
Amanda had done everything but the tango trying to get Sonja and Mason to leave. But they’d lingered for over two hours, chatting about anything and everything and nothing at all. With her stomach growling, Amanda had the full recounting of all Sonja’s father’s international investments, a complete list of the public greats their family had met or known, and all the reasons Sonja was just better than Amanda or any other woman in Mason’s past.
They’d never moved beyond the aquarium, and Mason stayed in clear view of the outside door. Every time the door was opened—by the postman, a salesman, and the newspaper boy—Mason turned toward the sound as if he were specifically awaiting the arrival of someone.
While Amanda suspected Mason was interested in encountering her secretary, she hated to foist even that low of a motive upon Mason. His spiteful need to show Amanda he had married a woman wealthier than she was understandable. Despicable, but understandable. After all, Amanda had hurt his pride when she rejected him. But Haley had done nothing but make the mistake of believing Mason was attracted to her.
She’s already been the victim of a misunderstanding, Amanda reasoned and found no logical explanation for Mason wanting to further hurt her. Therefore, Amanda gave Mason the benefit of the doubt.
Then he looked at his new gold watch and said, “I was hoping to introduce Sonja to Haley. Is she not here today?”
All doubts on Mason’s behalf disappeared. Amanda crossed her arms and gazed past him to the gurgling tank. The lion fish was particularly feisty today. As her ire increased another notch, Amanda wondered if she might have a bit of the lion fish in her. Her empty stomach rumbled.
“She’s here,” Amanda explained and glanced at her watch again. It was now two-fifteen. “She left for lunch right before you arrived. We usually only take an hour for lunch. Haley’s never been this late!” Even though she’d realized in the back of her mind that Haley was late, she’d been too focused on how to calmly deal with Sonja’s boasting to register alarm over her secretary’s absence. “I hope nothing bad has happened!” she exclaimed and hurried toward the expansive window. She shoved aside the brocade drapes and examined the street as far as she could see.
Although she detected no sign of Haley, she did notice Samuel Adair across the street. He sat on a bench near the apartment building with Goldie at his knees. His chin lifted, Samuel seemed to be sightlessly watching the city with his highly tuned senses while lovingly stroking his dog’s ears. Her heart bulging with fresh concern, Amanda made a quick, mental commitment not to forget Goldie’s need for a home.
But first I’ve got to find Haley, she thought. Amanda dropped the drapes and turned toward Mason and Sonja.
“I’m really worried about Haley now,” she said. “I hate to be rude, but I’m going to see if I can find her. She mentioned going shopping. I’m just hoping she hasn’t been involved in some kind of an accident.”
“Well . . .” Mason hedged and silently questioned his wife.
Fearing the pair might entrench themselves until she returned, Amanda decided to be more direct. She was on the verge of telling them they’d just have to leave when Sonja spoke up.
“I guess we’ll plan to meet her later.” She fussed with her “Boom Boom Brunette” hair while the diamonds delivered another well-aimed message.
Not if I can help it, Amanda thought and determined to never mention this visit to Haley. The less Haley heard of Mason from now on, the better.
“Mason has told me so much about all his friends, and we’re just trying to meet them all before we move to Launceston permanently.” Sonja’s smile was as brittle as her thick mascara.
I’m sure you are, Amanda sarcastically thought and couldn’t ever remember meeting anyone as brassy as Sonja Eldridge. Given Mason’s gloating arrogance, Amanda decided the two deserved one another. Furthermore, Sonja’s claims of their moving to Launceston only strengthened Amanda’s resolve not to mention their visit to Haley. Once they left the area, Haley would never have to see them, and there was no reason for her to even know that they’d been here.
Finally, Amanda stood outside in the wind and watched Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge stride toward a new Jaguar parked across the street. Amanda couldn’t conjure even a scrap of the earlier sympathy for Mason. And she was stricken with a deep realization that Nate Knighton had been right—all the way right—about the Reverend Mason Eldridge. He was not a highly respectable man of God. He was a wolf in sheep’s clothing and nothing more.
By the time Haley picked at her steak and salad and laughed at all of Roger’s humor and fulfilled his request for the latest tidbits from her life, she realized it was after two o’clock. And that happened only when the waiter cleared their table and inquired about dessert.
She glanced toward the refrigerated tower near the register. Slices of pies and cakes and nut-topped brownies each beckoned her indulgence. The little bit of food she had consumed took the edge off her hunger and nervous nausea, and the prospect of dessert was definitely appealing. But the voice of wisdom suggested she check her watch. The shock of reality blotted out all caloric temptations.
“Is it really two-twenty?” she breathed.
“I hope not. I was supposed to meet my banker at two-fifteen,” Roger said and glanced at his watch. His eyes bugged. “I’ve got to go!” he said and jumped to his feet.
The young waiter backed away from the table.
“Me too.” Haley grabbed her teacup and downed a final sweet swallow while standing.
“I can’t believe I let time get away from me like that. What was I thinking?” Roger glanced toward the waiter. “Sorry.” He reached into his hip pocket, pulled out his billfold, removed some bills, and shoved fifty dollars at the steak-house employee. “Here. That should cover everything and your tip.”
“Thanks!” the waiter exclaimed.
“Don’t need a receipt!” Roger said and hustled toward the exit before Haley could even say good-bye.
She was so focused upon shrugging into her sweater jacket, retrieving her purse, and deciding how to face Amanda an hour late that Haley barely noticed his oversight.
Six feet into his journey, Roger stopped and hurried back to Haley. “So sorry!” he said and smiled his apology. “I just left you with it all, didn’t I? You were walking,” he stated and helped to adjust her sweater. “Let me give you a lift back to the travel agency before I go to the bank.”
“No!” Haley shook her head and frowned.
Roger flinched and stepped back.
Without another thought, Haley reached for his hand and gripped it. “It’s not because—it’s just that—”
How could she explain her desire to keep this meeting from her boss, who also happened to be her dearest friend? While Haley loved and respected her friend, she was beginning to realize that Amanda’s heart sometimes got in the way of her better judgment—at least in Haley’s case. Amanda so desperately wanted Haley to be happy, she’d talked her into declining Roger’s proposal and falling for another man who never had a thought for her. While Haley understood Amanda’s challenging her to test her love for Roger, she also recognized the determination in Amanda’s eyes. Amanda was resolved to find another man for her.
Haley did want to make certain she truly loved Roger, but she wanted to come to those conclusions in privacy and on her own. Therefore, she knew beyond doubt that this meeting and any future meetings must be kept from Amanda. But she possessed no idea how to communicate all that to Roger without sounding like she was hinting about another proposal or begging him to contact her again.
Roger’s fingers tightened around hers. Haley silently begged him to understand while he searched her face. His brown eyes, as considerate as ever, also held threads of caution . . . and pain.
Haley’s heart pounded. The nausea returned. And she suspected that what she felt for Roger Miller was far beyond the mere infatuation she’d experienced with Mason Eldridge.
“I just wanted this to be our secret,” she finally breathed and lowered her gaze. She took in his angular shoulders, cloaked in the typical denim work shirt—except this work shirt was new. So were his jeans. And Haley knew he’d dressed in his finest, just for her.
“Roger!” A familiar male voice erupted upon their moment, and Haley stiffened as Nate Knighton appeared at their side.
As usual, he was dressed in a business suit, a white shirt, and one of the red ties she’d heard Amanda tease him about. He was also running with a small herd of similarly clad business professionals.
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