Texan for the Taking

by Charlene Sands

  What a dream that would be. “I think so.”

  He leaned in close and whispered, “You look like a goddess.”

  “Th-thank you.” She absorbed the compliment and they stood there together, in the background, watching the donors taking their seats.

  When everything was in place, Mason took her hand. “Let’s do this,” he said.

  They walked up on the stage together. Mason gave her the floor first. She went to the podium and spoke from the heart, thanking everyone for coming, thanking all the volunteers and thanking The Band Blue for donating their time. “This is a project near and dear to so many of us, but as you know, both my family and the Boones have lost someone to heart disease. We hope, with all of your generous donations, we will make our ambitious goal of raising two million dollars for the cardiac wing. I hear we’ve come close, as donations have been pouring in from citizens who couldn’t attend the festivities this weekend.” Drea put her fist over her heart, tears welling in her eyes. “This means so much to me, personally. Thank you all.”

  She turned to find Mason’s eyes on her, filled with pride. There was a moment between them, something sacred, something that went beyond their personal relationship issues, something that connected them. Nothing could ever take that away. “And now Mason Boone will say a few words.”

  As he sidled up to the podium she began to walk away, but he discreetly curled his hand around her waist, drawing her close. They stood beside each other, and Mason took over the microphone. “Once again let me thank everyone who helped put this fund-raiser together. All of you have done a great job and we can’t thank you enough. I have to give most of the credit to the woman standing beside me, Andrea MacDonald. She has been absolutely dedicated to the cause.

  “Our goal was to break ground on the new wing in two years, but the Boone family hopes to make that a reality even sooner. To that end, our family is pledging an additional one million dollars to the cause.”

  Applause broke out. Drea opened her mouth to speak, but words wouldn’t come. She stared at Mason as he continued. “The only stipulation I have is to be able to name the new cardiac wing. It will be called the Maria MacDonald Heart Center.”

  He turned to Drea then, his dark eyes full of emotion, and she’d never loved him more.

  “Th-thank you,” she mouthed, still unable to speak aloud.

  “And there’ll be a garden on the grounds named for my late wife. It’ll be called Larissa’s Blooms.”

  Mason paused a second, struggling a bit. Then he went on. “Miss MacDonald and I hope you have a wonderful evening, starting off with a concert from Grammy nominees The Band Blue. Feel free to come up onto the dance floor and swing your partner around. Oh, and after dinner, be warned, we’ll be raffling off a Dream Date with Sean Manfred. You girls on the back lawn there will just have to be patient.”

  There were hundreds of girls sitting beyond the tables, under the twinkling lights strung from the trees. Their raffle tickets had also admitted them to the concert.

  Drea and Mason walked off the stage just as the band stepped up to take their places.

  Her mind swirling, she heard Sean give the guests a warm welcome. But just as she turned to speak to Mason about his generosity, a local news reporter with a film crew nabbed him.

  “Mr. Boone, do you have time for that interview now?”

  Mason sighed. “Sure thing. Give me one second, okay?”

  Of course they’d want to speak with Mason. After his announcement and personal donation to the cause, he was newsworthy.

  He looked into her eyes. “Save some time for me later. Maybe a dance?”

  She didn’t want to dance with him. She didn’t want to suffer any more than necessary. Her scars were too raw right now. Mason had impacted her life in too many ways to name, and she would never forget him. But the sad fact remained, that he’d had many opportunities this month to sort out his feelings for her. To allow himself a fresh start and get over his guilt and pain. To allow someone else in. He, too, was scarred. He, too, had endured great loss. And it was extremely hard for him. It was hard for her, as well, but at least she was willing to take the chance.

  It was obvious he wasn’t.

  “I...c-can’t, Mason. I’ll always remember you and this.” She spread her arms out to encompass the festival. “We did a wonderful thing here. And...well, naming the wing in my mother’s honor was...”

  Once again stung by his generosity, she felt her eyes begin to burn. She didn’t want to cry in front of him. “Thank you.” It was all she could say. “You’d better get on with that interview.”

  She turned away from him then and headed for her dad who was standing off to one side looking a bit overwhelmed and misty-eyed after the announcement honoring her mother Maria. He needed her as much as she needed him right now.

  Her heartache aside, she and Mason pulled this weekend off, and with the Boone’s charitable donation, they may have far exceeded their goals. She had to feel good about that.

  * * *

  Evening turned into night as the band played, wowing the guests. Dinner was served when the band took their first break, and then as they began to play their second set, Sean encouraged everyone to get up on the dance floor.

  Drea found Lottie sitting at the Boone table off to the side, and took a seat next to her. Lottie gave her a big hug. “Drea, this has been a fantastic evening. I’m so proud of what you have accomplished.”

  “Thanks. I’m really thrilled with the outcome.”

  “Thrilled?” Lottie’s eyes narrowed a bit and she took both Drea’s hands in hers. “I don’t see thrill on your face, sweetheart. I see sadness and regret.”

  “I’m leaving tomorrow afternoon. I didn’t think I’d say this, but I’m going to miss Boone Springs. And my dad.”

  Lottie stiffened at the mention of Drew. “I understand. This place is your true home, Drea. You’ve got roots here. And friends.”

  “I do. I promised Dad I’ll come visit often. We’re doing pretty well now and I’ve forgiven him for what he did. But Lottie, what’s up between the two of you? I’ve noticed you haven’t spent a minute together this entire weekend.”

  “Oh, um...” Lottie shook her head and glanced away. “I’m afraid he’s very angry with me. He’s been avoiding me for days. You know us. We’ve always had a rocky relationship.”

  “Yes, but...I thought this time things were different.”

  They were interrupted by the sound of Mason’s voice coming from the microphone onstage. “And now it’s time to announce the winner of the Dream Date with Sean raffle. To do the honors, our own publicity pro, Linda Sullivan, will come up here and pull the winning ticket. As you know, Linda was instrumental in putting this part of the event together.”

  When Linda reached the stage, Mason turned the mic over to her. She made a few jokes about the girls languishing on the back lawn, waiting for this moment. Then she had Sean come up to a big Plexiglass cube filled with raffle tickets. “It’s only fitting that Sean pick the winner. Don’t you think so, girls?”

  Shouts and giddy laughter broke out as Linda gestured for Sean to dig deep into the cube and grab a ticket. Everyone at the tables and on the lawn quieted.

  “And the dream date with Sean goes to...Regina Clayborne!”

  Lofty sighs of disappointment filled the back lawn, except for where the winner was standing, surrounded by her friends. She began jumping for joy, her blond hair bouncing in the breeze. Linda brought her up onstage to meet Sean and the girl couldn’t stop crying happy tears.

  “Well, I guess my part is officially over,” Drea said to Lottie. “I think the committee can finish up tomorrow.”

  “What are your plans then?”

  “I want to spend the entire morning with my father. My flight leaves in the late afternoon.”

  Lottie folded her arms around her middl
e, looking none too pleased. “And here I was hoping that you and Mason would have worked it out by now.”

  “I can’t fight a ghost, Lottie. I can’t make Mason feel things he doesn’t.”

  “You’re hurting.”

  “Love hurts sometimes.”

  Lottie’s eyes glistened with moisture. “Yeah, sweetheart, sometimes it does.”

  * * *

  As the guests filed out of the concert area and the band packed up to go back to their hotel, Mason walked over to the Boone family table and found Lottie sitting with Risk and Lucas.

  “Well done, brother,” Risk said.

  Luke nodded in agreement.

  “Thanks, guys.” Mason should be flying high. After this past month of hard work, their fund-raiser had achieved its goals. The new cardiac wing of the hospital was destined to break ground, but one important thing was missing. Or one person, rather. “Didn’t I see Drea sitting here a few minutes ago?”

  “You did,” Luke said. “But she’s gone now. I grabbed a dance with her earlier this evening.”

  “Yeah. Me, too,” Risk said. “She’s pretty light on her feet.”

  Mason gave his brothers a good-natured frown. They liked busting his chops. “So where did she go?”

  “Home, I think,” Lottie said.

  Mason swallowed hard. “Already?”

  “She said she was tired and had some packing to do.”

  Risk sipped from his glass of wine. “She promised to come back to Boone Springs soon, though. I made a date to take her to dinner.”

  “Yeah. Me, too,” Lucas added.

  “All right, boys,” Aunt Lottie said to Mason’s pain-in-the-ass brothers. “You’ve made your point. Let me have a chat with Mason.”

  The guys got up, and both gave him a conciliatory pat on the back before walking off.

  “Mason, what’s going on?” Aunt Lottie asked.

  He slumped into the seat next to her. “I just need to talk to Drea.”

  “No, you don’t. The time for talking is over between you two. You have to act. And if you can’t, then it’s best you leave that girl alone.”

  “Are you saying I’ve been taking advantage of her, Aunt Lottie?”

  “That’s not what I’m saying, my thickheaded nephew. What I am saying is that you have less than twenty-four hours to figure out what you truly want. If it’s not her, then let her leave town. And you should resume your life.”

  Resume his dreary life? Go back to all that emptiness? Go back to dwelling on his loss, dwelling on the pain? Go back to life before Drea? What in hell was wrong with him? He couldn’t do that.

  Aunt Lottie was right.

  He needed to act.

  * * *

  Wearing daisy-yellow gardening gloves, Drea inserted the last vinca plant in the landscaped border surrounding the cottage and then gave the soil a loving pat. The garden was finished, returned to its former glory. That had been her goal.

  Her father watched from the front porch. “Drea, don’t you tire yourself out now.”

  “I’m not. It feels good to finish this. Doesn’t it look great?” She stood up to gaze at her handiwork. Flowers and shrubs adorned the land once overrun by weeds.

  Drew came down the steps, his eyes sharper than she’d seen them in a long time. “Yeah, it’s beautiful.”

  “You have to promise to keep the weeds at bay and water the plants.”

  “After all your hard work, you know I will.” He looked at his watch. She had only a few hours left at home with him.

  “You ready for breakfast now, sweetheart? I made you pancakes with chocolate chips and apple bacon and—”

  “Whoa, Dad. You had me at chocolate chip pancakes.”

  He laughed and hugged her shoulders. “Go shower and I’ll get the meal on the table.”

  She kissed his cheek. “You’re on.”

  Half an hour later, Drea patted her stomach and pushed her plate away. She’d dressed in the clothes she’d wear later when she boarded her plane, a soft pink, lightweight sweater and a pair of designer jeans that were feeling a little snug about now. “I ate too much.”

  Her dad grinned. “Me, too. How about we take a little walk, burn off some of those pancakes.”

  Whatever he wanted to do, she was game. This was their last morning together for a while and she was happy just being with him. Walking in the morning air would help keep her mind off leaving town. “That’s a great idea.”

  “I’m ready.” Her father glanced at his watch again. “Let’s go.”

  They walked down the road a bit, taking sure but slow steps, just enjoying the scenery and weather this autumn morning. Drew MacDonald was healthier than when she’d come. He’d been eating better and had lost some weight, and his daily walking rituals were really helping build his strength.

  About a quarter mile into the walk, after rounding a turn, she spotted a black SUV parked on the side of the road just a few feet away. A man climbed out, long legs in fitted black jeans, silver belt buckle gleaming, with a familiar Stetson atop his head. Mason. Her heart began to pound. “Dad, what’s going on?”

  Her father’s eyes grew soft and he smiled. “Hear him out, darlin’ girl.”

  “What?”

  “Mason needs to speak with you.”

  Her mind clicked away. “But I don’t want... Is this a trap?”

  Her father grinned. “God, I hope so.” He kissed her cheek and gave her a big hug. “Don’t be mad, and listen to your heart.” With that, he turned around and began walking back toward the cottage, leaving her dumbfounded in the middle of the road.

  It took only four long strides for Mason to reach her. He gave her a warm smile, as if he hadn’t just hijacked her. “Mornin’.”

  She clamped her mouth closed. She didn’t like surprises. At least not like this, especially when Mason was looking all casual and gorgeous. But his eyes, those dark, dark eyes, weren’t filled with his usual confidence. He had that vulnerable look on his face that always got to her.

  “Good to see you.” His gaze flowed over her intently as if...as if he was... No. She wasn’t going to think it. She wasn’t going to hope. Mason had made his choice and it wasn’t her.

  “What’s this all about, Mason?”

  “It’s about me and you. I want to show you something.”

  “I don’t think so. I’m supposed to—”

  “Please,” he said. “It won’t take long and I’ll bring you back to Drew’s quickly.” He extended his hand, palm up, and waited.

  She gestured to the car. “Are you driving me somewhere?”

  “That’s the plan. It’s not far.”

  Listen to your heart. Listen to your heart. Her father’s advice helped her make the choice.

  She began slowly walking to the SUV, ignoring Mason’s outstretched hand. She wasn’t going to make this easy on him, whatever it was. But her reluctance didn’t faze him. Instead, he raced to open the car door for her and she climbed in.

  Mason got in and didn’t look at her, didn’t say anything. They drove in silence down the road and then Mason took a cutoff that led to the west end of the property that was once Thundering Hills.

  He stopped the car and they both got out, her heart hammering in her chest. At one time, this had been MacDonald land, her home. She hadn’t come here in a long, long time.

  Mason leaned against the grill of his car and grabbed her hand so she landed next to him.

  “Sean said something to me the other day that made a lot of sense,” he said softly, his eyes touching hers. “He said you and I were flawless together.”

  She blinked. “Sean said that?”

  “Yeah. The kid’s pretty damn smart.”

  “Unlike you.”

  He laughed and it was so hearty, she had to smile, too. “When you’re right, you�
��re right.”

  “Excuse me, did I hear correctly?”

  “You did. You heard me right. And I got to thinking that when we were first together, some weeks back, I thought you were good for me. There was something about you that jump-started my life again. You were the catalyst I needed, the fire under my ass, whatever you want to call it. I don’t know, maybe it was because we had history together, but you came to Rising Springs and saved me from drowning in my own grief. After that one kiss, I was suddenly filled with light and energy and I wanted more. I wanted to feel again. But I was afraid, too, because I’d clung to Larissa’s memory for so long and I didn’t know if I could go through something like that again. I didn’t know if my emotions were all screwed up.”

  “What are you saying, Mason?”

  “I’m saying that after I learned about what happened to you in college, I freaked out a little bit. I blamed myself for getting involved with you, for taking advantage of a much younger woman.”

  “But you didn’t. I wanted you, Mason. It was your rejection that hurt me. I wasn’t a very secure girl back then, and I guess I understand now why you did what you did.”

  He squeezed her hands and looked solemnly into her eyes. “We’ve both been hurt in the past, and it’s time to put that behind us, Drea. Sweetheart, I realize now that all those sparks you ignited in me weren’t just sexual. It was love, Drea. I love you. You’re the only woman for me. We are meant for each other and I can’t stand the thought of you leaving. We belong together.”

  It was a stunning declaration that left her breathless. But she wasn’t sure she could truly trust it. “Mason, are you sure you’re ready? I know you care about me, but love?”

  “Believe me when I say I am ready. Granted, I’m a late bloomer, but last night, after you left the event, it finally hit me how much I love you. I’m never afraid when I’m with you, Drea. Just the opposite. When I’m with you, I am the man I’m supposed to be. I was so sure of myself last night at our event that I asked your father for his blessing, and he gave it to me. Drea, I want to do it again, I want to marry you. I want a family with as many kids as you’d like. I want it all, as long as it’s with you.”