The Troublesome Angel

by Valerie Hansen

  “Well, I never!” Judy huffed dramatically. “Imagine the nerve of the guy. Driving all the way to Little Rock to apologize and support your pet project with an enormous check, and then being so uncouth that he formally asks you to dine with him some evening. Such insolence. Such poor manners.”

  Dumbfounded, Stacy stared at her friends. “You’re saying I was wrong?”

  “Not me.” Angie immediately jumped to her feet and headed for the kitchen. “I didn’t say a thing. You two go ahead and talk. I’ll go cut us each a big piece of pie.”

  “Without ice cream,” Judy called after her. “Stacy was so bumfuzzled by her elevator adventure with the incorrigible Mr. Payne she forgot to buy any.”

  “I was not. I just—”

  “Oh, can it. You and I both know you’re kidding yourself. You care about the man and you know it. Or you would know it if you’d stop denying your feelings. It’s okay to fall in love. Almost everybody does it sometime.”

  Stacy’s mouth gaped. She snapped it shut. “I am not in love.”

  “Okay. Have it your way.”

  “If I could have things my way, I’d never have met any of the Paynes.”

  “But you did meet them. Therefore, we have to assume the Lord has a good reason for your continued association with them.”

  “I do agree with that,” Stacy said. “I think He wants me to be in a position to help Missy.”

  “Fine. Help her. Nothing says you can’t help yourself at the same time.”

  “I don’t need any help. Especially not in the romance department. I’m content just as I am. I have my work, my dogs, my friends.” She made a face. “Even the ones who disagree with me are a blessing most of the time.”

  “Good. Glad to hear it,” Judy said with a smile. “Then you won’t mind my saying I think you’re making a big mistake by pushing this guy away.”

  “I’m not pushing Gray away,” Stacy countered. “I’m turning around and running for my life. Believe me, he’s the last man I’d ever want to get serious about.” To her chagrin, her friend began to chuckle. “What’s so funny?”

  “You are. You reminded me of that joke about lost keys being found in the last place you look. Of course they are, because once you find them, you stop looking.”

  “And I said Gray was the last man I’d want to get serious about.” Stacy hoped she hadn’t inadvertently spoken a hidden truth. “Wonderful.”

  “I think he is,” Judy said. “If you ever decide to give him away, I’m available.”

  A frisson of jealousy caught Stacy by surprise. She ignored it. “He’s not mine to give. But if he was, you’d be welcome to him.”

  “Good,” Judy teased, “then the next time I see him, I’ll tell him you said so.”

  Stacy snapped her jaw closed again before she could blurt out something else she’d regret. She’d asked for divine guidance and apparently received it. She just didn’t happen to like what she’d learned about herself.

  It was late when Stacy’s conscience finally made up her mind for her. Judy and Angie had both gone to bed, providing the privacy she needed for what she was about to do. She got out Gray’s business card, punched in the numbers for his home phone, then listened to the drone of an answering machine on the other end of the line.

  When it finished its speech and beeped, she said, “I can’t talk to this thing, Gray. I’m up at the camp where Missy got lost the first time.” She recited the telephone number. “I’ll be here till Friday. I’d appreciate it if you’d call me when you get a chance. I have something important I need to say to you.”

  She was about to hang up when a sleepy-sounding male voice asked, “How about saying it, now?”

  “You’re there!”

  “No,” he bantered, “this is still a machine. I’m an interactive computer.”

  “In that case,” she said sweetly, “I can speak bluntly and no one’s feelings will be hurt.”

  “I don’t know. I have some pretty sensitive microchips.”

  “I’ll bet you do.” She cleared her throat. The lump of conscience remained. There was nothing to do but begin. “Um…I thought I should call to apologize for my conduct in the elevator, today.”

  “Yesterday,” he corrected. “It’s after midnight.”

  Oh, dear. This whole approach was not going as smoothly as she’d hoped. “I’m sorry. Maybe you’d rather I called back later.”

  “Not at all. I was up.”

  That news relieved some of Stacy’s guilt for disturbing him until he added, “I had to get up. My phone was ringing.”

  “Stop that. I’m trying to be serious.”

  “Sorry. Go ahead. What was it you wanted to say?”

  “That I was out of line earlier. I do appreciate your driving all the way into town to support search and rescue the way you did. I should have been more gracious.”

  “Yes, you should have.”

  Stacy sensed an underlying spirit of wry humor in his otherwise derogatory comment and decided to play along. “You’re not going to make this easy, are you?”

  “Nope.”

  She thought she’d heard him chuckle. Because she couldn’t be certain, she wasn’t sure whether she ought to continue being so outspoken. “I am sorry, Gray. This conversation is getting us nowhere. I shouldn’t have bothered you.”

  “That’s right, you shouldn’t have. But you did, so the way I see it, you owe me.”

  “Owe you what?” Her eyebrows knit.

  “That dinner date you keep avoiding,” he said smugly. “Just name the time.”

  Stacy felt trapped. “I can’t. I’m on vacation and I intend to relax completely while I’m up here.”

  “Okay. How about next week?” He hesitated.

  “Oops. That won’t work for me. I have other plans.”

  “Good,” she said with relief. “You see? We aren’t meant to be together for dinner.” Or any other time.

  Gray thought about keeping his plans from her, then changed his mind. Stacy might be able to offer valuable tips on how to approach Candace with regard to his taking Missy along when he volunteered at the camp. She might also have advice on dealing with the little girl if she suddenly decided she didn’t want to behave.

  Pressing Stacy to meet him for dinner, however, was clearly not going to work. If he wanted to speak with her, to ask her advice without putting her on the defensive or making her think he was trying to manipulate her, he’d better find another way.

  He yawned noisily. “Okay. Apology accepted. Can I go back to sleep, now, or was there something else?”

  “No. No, there’s nothing else. Good night.”

  “Night.”

  The moment he hung up, Stacy felt strangely lonely. That was not a good sign. Neither was the fondness she’d noticed creeping into her tone, into her thoughts, as they’d talked.

  Only one thing could be worse. She’d also sensed an affectionate quality to Gray’s voice, even when he’d been teasing her. If he’d been getting the same impression of her as she had of him, they were both in trouble.

  Stacy shivered and wrapped her arms around herself for comfort. It had been a long time since she’d missed someone the way she was missing Gray. It was as if he’d become an integral part of her life. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

  Padding softly to the window, she looked up at the night sky, marveling at the clarity of the stars and the brightness of the waxing moon. In a few more days the moon would be full and the landscape would glow silver. Already the fireflies were blinking iridescent green and rising from the glens, making the oaks look as if they were festooned with Christmas lights.

  Stacy sighed. Holidays were always hard on her. They brought back memories of her first ten years, of the happy childhood she’d spent with her parents. She’d never really gotten over losing them. Years had passed and she’d made a new life, but the deep sense of loss remained. So did her resolve to never allow anyone else to mean that much to her.

  Sure
ly, that couldn’t be why she’d never gotten along with any of her foster parents. Or could it? Had the problem really been hers, alone?

  Awed by the implications of her supposedly random thoughts, Stacy closed her eyes, stood very still and turned a willing heart toward her Heavenly Father.

  She waited. Trusted Jesus completely. Just as she had when she’d first become a Christian. And she was rewarded. It didn’t take a special prayer or a complicated ritual to bring her the peace she was seeking.

  All it took was simple surrender.

  Chapter Eleven

  Gray arrived at the Spring River Campground late the following afternoon and parked in an empty camping spot. He’d had to shorten a couple of business appointments and postpone his four o’clock in order to give himself time to buy supplies. Hopefully, his crazy plan was worth the effort.

  Rather than rely solely on Stacy’s innate sense of fairness he’d decided on a lighthearted approach. Opening the trunk of the BMW he proceeded to set up a temporary camp, complete with a red-and-white checked tablecloth for the picnic table. Last, he reached into the ice chest for one plastic-wrapped package of hot dogs and picked up the long-handled barbecue tongs he’d just bought. Hamburgers would have been better but he wasn’t sure how to cook them over an open fire, so he’d opted for the wieners.

  With one last look around to convince himself everything was ready, he started up the hill, dinner in hand.

  When he knocked on the door to Judy and Angie’s cabin, Gray felt a surge of unaccustomed anxiety. Was he making a mistake by appealing to Stacy’s sense of humor? Maybe he should just go back to the car, get his tie and his suit coat, and present himself in a more dignified manner. That was certainly the way he usually asked a woman to dine with him.

  Lost in thought, he was startled when the cabin door was jerked open and he stood face-to-face with the lovely reason he’d gone to all this trouble. He didn’t have to work at producing a silly grin. It spread across his face all by itself.

  “Hi. I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by.” He held up the package of hot dogs and the tongs. “I brought dinner. With buns. And potato chips. And plastic plates with pictures of flowers on them. I hope that isn’t too fancy for you.”

  She was taken aback. Gray looked utterly endearing, standing there with his shirtsleeves rolled up and no necktie. There was no way she could refuse him.

  “Legendary tube steaks!” Stacy clapped her hands. “My favorite. How did you know?”

  “It was a lucky guess,” he said, relieved. “I was afraid to bring something like steak and have you think I was acting too upscale.”

  “Or find out I was a vegetarian after you’d spent all that money, like the client you told me about.”

  He wanted to assure her the money didn’t matter, that spending time with her was all he really cared about, but he knew better than to reveal his true sentiments. Having them was bad enough. Confessing them would be idiotic. Considering the way Stacy felt about him and his family, he was lucky she hadn’t slammed the door in his face when he’d showed up unannounced.

  Gray nodded. “Right. So, are you hungry? My car’s parked down the hill in one of the camping spots. I have the table loaded with goodies. All we have to do is light a fire and roast these.” He displayed the plastic package.

  “Okay. Give me a minute to brush my hair and grab my sandals.”

  “Sure. Fine.” Waiting at the open door he watched Stacy hurry away. She was wearing jeans, as usual, and a pale-blue T-shirt. Nothing striking. Nothing chic. Yet every time he saw her she looked prettier. There was a wholesome appeal about her that made him wish they didn’t live such dissimilar lives and weren’t so unsuited to each other.

  Disturbing thoughts like those had been popping into Gray’s head for weeks. It was getting harder and harder to dismiss them. Instead, he sought to reason through the situation. Although he and Stacy were both Christians, that was where their similarity ended. The only other thing they had in common was a fondness for Missy.

  He chuckled to himself. And one more thing: relationship difficulties with his parents—Nathan, in particular. Sighing, he shook his head. Short of moving to the opposite side of the globe and changing his name, there was no way he’d ever be unhampered by his family. Like it or not, they were a part of him, of his life. Especially his mother. Now that he knew what she’d done, what she’d put up with all those years for his sake, he could never turn his back on her. And she and Nathan were a package deal. Accept one and you got both.

  Stacy returned and caught him brooding. “Hey. If you’ve changed your mind about cooking my dinner, say so. I can always eat here with Judy and Angie.”

  “No, no. I’m sorry. I was just thinking.”

  “Well, cut it out. You look like your best friend just disowned you.”

  “On the contrary.” Gray’s smile returned. “As a matter of fact, I’d like to tell you about my best friend. James and I roomed together in college. He’s the one who led me to the Lord. I’ll be working with him next week, which is why I wasn’t free to have dinner with you then.” Gray gestured toward the path leading to his campsite. “Come on. I’ll tell you all about it while we eat.”

  The blaze he built in the fire ring quickly grew so hot Stacy had to move back. “Whew! I think that’s big enough,” she said, fanning herself with an extra paper plate.

  Gray stopped before adding the last of the precut bundle of wood he’d bought when he’d picked up the camping supplies. When he straightened, the thick smoke seemed to follow him and he waved it away. “Okay. Whatever you say. I’ve never built a campfire before.”

  “No kidding?” She tried not to laugh at his efforts. “You could have fooled me.”

  “Yeah. I’ll bet.” Joining her on the picnic bench farthest from the flames, he grinned knowingly. “I’m beginning to see that primitive skills aren’t as simple as they look.”

  “You really haven’t ever been camping? Not even as a little boy? How sad.”

  “You’ve met my parents. What do you think?”

  Stacy chose to tease him rather than comment negatively about his family. “I think…you should have brought your butler along to look after you.”

  Gray shook his head. “Don’t have one. Never saw the need. I do have a cook, as I said before, but other than that I take care of myself. Except for the woman who comes in twice a week to clean and do the laundry, of course.”

  “Oh, I see. You rough it.” Stacy cast a wry smile in his direction. “How challenging that must be.”

  “I manage.” Innocently reaching for her hand, Gray suddenly realized what he was about to do and stopped himself just in time. “So, did you go camping a lot when you were a kid?”

  “Not often. It depended on which foster family I happened to be living with. Most of the outdoor lore I’ve learned came from taking tracking and survival courses.” Reflecting on his lack of skill in the woods, she smiled more broadly. “It wouldn’t hurt you to study the subject a little, too. With Missy for a niece, you may find you need the expertise.”

  Gray raked his fingers through his hair. “I know. It’s scary to think of how close we came to losing her the first time she ran off.” When the urge struck this time, he allowed himself to act. He grasped Stacy’s fingers, cradled them in one hand and covered them gently with the other. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”

  Rather than let herself think about how wonderful his touch was or how much she wanted it to continue, she chose to treat the intimate moment lightly. “Like I told your assistant when she called, I expect my fee to be paid in Gummi Bears.” The resulting grin on Gray’s face warmed her far more than the fire.

  “You do? I guess she forgot to tell me.”

  “I don’t doubt it. That woman sounded way too professional to take me seriously.”

  He continued to hold Stacy’s hand. “I hope I never make the same mistake.”

  Their conversation was getting too serious.
Stacy pulled away and got to her feet. The only mistake she’d made was agreeing to have anything more to do with Graydon Payne. Her thoughts about him were already too tender, too intimate, to be rational. The more time she spent with him, the greater the risk she might forget her place; might convince herself to overlook the danger inherent in falling in love with a man like Gray. With Gray.

  Stacy caught her breath. A tremor of awareness came alive in her soul. Softhearted idiot that she was, she’d fallen head over heels in love with the one man who was everything she’d always sworn she’d avoid! Now what? she asked herself.

  The answer came easily. Now nothing. Graydon Payne was never going to learn how she felt about him. The problem was hers. She didn’t intend to add embarrassment to her list of blunders.

  The safest thing to do was to change the subject, so she said, “Speaking of serious, when do we eat? I’m starving.”

  “It beats me. Maybe we can find a Boy Scout around here who can tell us when the fire’s ready.”

  “That won’t be necessary. It looks like it’s died down enough to keep from incinerating us or our dinner. Where did you put the sticks?”

  “What sticks?” Gray’s brow knit.

  “The sticks we roast the hot dogs on.”

  “Oops.”

  Stacy stared at him. “Are you sure you’re the same genius who makes his fortune arranging successful, multimillion-dollar partnerships?” Incredulous, she shook her head. “Hard to believe.”

  “I am not required to roast wieners in the course of my job,” Gray countered. “When I’m entertaining clients or planning a big launch party for one of my projects, I have the affair catered. Besides, I brought tongs.” He brandished them.

  “Won’t these do?”

  “Sure. You grab a hot dog, hold it over the fire and let me know when those short, metal handles get too hot to touch. In the meantime, I’ll open the mustard and get the buns ready.”

  Gray was not going to give up. “Okay. Then we’ll use twigs from the trees. That should work.”