Sedona Sunset

by Tanya Stowe

  “Do you honestly think I was the only one who noticed the problems? Those people were members of international corporations looking to invest their company dollars. They’re renowned educators seeking worthwhile projects for their grants. Do you honestly think they didn’t see what I saw?”

  Lara could not bring herself to answer him.

  He was so close to the truth it was humiliating.

  “All I did was point to the obvious,” he said. “It’s now in the open so your friends can take action and correct the situation before it’s too late. If they choose to stick their heads in the sand and pretend nothing’s wrong then the school’s failure is their problem.”

  “So you’re saying you did us a favor by publicly denouncing our mistakes?”

  “Actually, I did them a favor. I wasn’t aware you had much to do with the school.”

  True once again. She hated how he always managed to hit the issue straight on the head.

  “It bears my mother’s name and is an offshoot of Fallon Enterprises.”

  One eyebrow rose in a speculative manner. “You sound as if I should be afraid.”

  “Warned, perhaps.” At long last, she’d gained some semblance of control. “My father doesn’t fail.”

  One corner of his lips quirked in a wry smile. “Then you have nothing to worry about, do you?”

  Just like that, the conversation was over. His silence told Lara things she didn’t want to hear.

  Her father wasn’t here, hadn’t planned to be here. He had handed the project to Brett and Troy and washed his hands of the whole affair. It wouldn’t be his failure.

  Suddenly, she understood Rupert Townsend’s comments of the night before. Rupert understood her father’s motives. Brett probably did, too, and it must be the cause of his stress.

  Everyone understood but Lara. She felt young and foolish, and all because of Alex. His uncanny ability to uncover the truth irritated her. She wanted to lash out. To tell him off, or to tell him to mind his own business.

  But he’d turned to his study of the mountain. His dismissal was humiliating.

  “What are you looking for?” Irritation edged her tone.

  “What were you searching for when you viewed the desert?”

  His turnaround surprised her. It meant he’d been watching her as closely as she’d watched him. That knowledge washed away some of the edginess, made her feel warm. Alive. Tingly. Lara licked her lips. He understood so much. If she told him what she’d been seeking, would he think her silly or romantic or would he say she was passionate?

  Brett and her father would say she was childish or silly.

  But what would Alex say?

  Lara decided to take a chance. “I love the open stretches of the desert. They make me feel like I can walk forever and when I reach the end of the world, I can step off and fly. I think I’m addicted to the feeling.”

  “You like the thrill of flying?”

  “No,” she said with a slow shake of her head. “I like the feeling of freedom.”

  “Is that why you didn’t approach me when you first came outside? Because you don’t feel free to act on your own?”

  “I’m not free. Like you said, everyone is watching me. Everything I do is fodder for gossip.”

  “Lara, Lara.” He gave a sad shake of his head. “Gossip is a game weak minds play. A woman like you should have no time for weakness.”

  “Easy for you to say. You’re not Sara Fallon’s daughter.” She perused the crowd. “When they look at me, they see her. They expect me to be like her, to talk and think like her.”

  “All the more reason not to give them what they expect.”

  Brittle laughter slipped through her lips. “Even if I didn’t resemble my mother I’d still be Daniel Fallon’s daughter. He’s an empire builder and I’m his heir apparent, the weak link to a fortune. Any signs of frailty on my part and the vultures are on me.”

  “Is that why Daddy assigned his CEO to become his daughter’s…intended? To protect her?”

  His words pierced Lara like a spear of white light. Blinding clarity filled her being as she digested what he’d said.

  Had her father “assigned” Brett to become her friend? After the accident she’d been emotionally drained and weak…vulnerable. Brett’s word. He’d called her hardly more than a child. Easy prey for the men looking to get to her money. Had her father sent Brett to win her affections, to protect her? Was that the real problem with them? Now that she had healed, there was no need for Brett to take care of her. The realization made her feel manipulated and angry with the man who’d planted the idea. She turned on Alex.

  “That’s not how it is,” she snapped. “In spite of what you think, Brett’s my friend. Since the accident, he’s been my only friend. If it wasn’t for him…”

  His fingers gripped her chin and lifted it. “There’s no need to defend him. He’s not my concern,” he said in a low voice. “I only want you to know you don’t have to fly to be free. You can do as you please.”

  “You don’t understand what it’s like.”

  “But I do. When I was seventeen, my father invited me to return to the States to learn his business. I was desperate for his attention so I took his suggestion. He didn’t understand anything about my music or what I wanted from life. We fought constantly. Then one day, I woke up, booked a flight back to Spain and took off. It was the last time I spoke to him.”

  “You haven’t talked to him since?”

  “There’s no need. Nothing has changed. I am not the man he wants me to be.”

  Once again, his words hit close to home. She didn’t meet her father’s expectations. He needed someone stronger, someone with business savvy who could wield the whip of power in his mammoth empire and keep things on track. She wasn’t that kind of person so he’d turned to young men like Brett, men who fit his mold.

  “What did he want you to be?” Lara managed the question, but her voice didn’t work quite right. She couldn’t seem to find any volume.

  “A businessman with a suit and tie. Someone like Fraser, chained by responsibilities and predictable.”

  She had a sudden vision of her father meeting Alex. They would clash at first sight. She could almost see the expression on her father’s face and could well imagine the disdain on Alex’s.

  “You would never agree to be predictable,” she said.

  He trailed his fingers along her chin. “You see. You’ve known me less time than my father and already you understand me.”

  His whispered words made Lara tingle again. “But surely you don’t always do what you please?”

  “Right now I want to kiss you.” His gaze fixed on her lips. “But I won’t because you’ll wonder about who’s watching and what they’re thinking. When I kiss you, I want you to think only of me.”

  Lara caught her breath. It was hard to remember anything but his touch, the surprisingly gentle grip from such strong fingers. “Surely, you aren’t always immune to what people say about you? You must feel something when they gossip.”

  “I suppose I have my father to thank. Other people’s opinions no longer have the power to hurt me.”

  Her father’s opinion mattered more than all the others to Lara. She couldn’t imagine a life without his forceful presence. “I love my father, and he loves me,” she whispered.

  Alex shrugged and turned to study the mountain in silence. After a long pause he said, “You asked what I was looking for. Rock climbing is a hobby. If I can find a path to the top, I’ll climb it.”

  “Right now? Without the proper clothing or equipment? With everyone watching?”

  He turned and met her gaze. “You yearn to fly, Lara, because you let everyone’s expectations tie you down.” With those words, he stepped over the small retaining wall and walked toward the mountain.

  People turned as Alex’s long stride cut the distance to the craggy mountain.

  He was going to do it. In minutes, he stood at the base. Before she could even d
raw a breath he began to scale it. He moved swiftly, his long legs stretching from boulder to boulder with assurance. Obviously, he’d found a path. He climbed quickly, as if he was walking across a flat stretch of land.

  Lara was fascinated by his economy of effort. Because she had almost lost the ability to walk, his steady, smooth motions seemed like a ballet. She held her breath.

  Alex found handholds and started his ascent. Without the benefit of ropes or even proper shoes, he climbed up the cliff, one step at a time.

  A crowd gathered at the block retaining wall.

  Troy and Brett stood beside her.

  “He’s going to do what I’ve been dreaming about since I first saw the bluff.” Troy spoke quietly.

  “But you’ve never climbed in your life,” Lara said.

  Troy turned to her with a wry, tilted grin. “I suppose it’s a guy thing. It looks like something that needs to be climbed. The challenge is too much to resist, even for an out-of-shape dreamer like me.”

  “Then what stopped you?” she asked.

  His grin deepened. “Eliza needs me. She would never forgive me if I fell and broke my neck.”

  Pulse pounding, Lara turned back just in time to see Alex slip. His shoes slid, and he slipped down the mountain. Lara managed not to gasp but her heart pounded so loudly, surely Troy and Brett heard it.

  Alex regained his footing and moved upward.

  “If he falls and injures himself, he’s going to owe you a lot of money for missed performances,” Brett said.

  “I don’t care,” Troy replied. “This is almost as entertaining as his music.”

  Brett shook his head. “It’s stupid exhibitionism, and I don’t have time for it.” He stalked away.

  Neither Troy nor Lara acknowledged his departure.

  Alex had almost reached the top but a huge boulder blocked his path. Completely smooth, with no handholds, the sheer rock face protruded over the cliff with a straight drop off below.

  “This is what I’ve been waiting to see,” Troy murmured. “I don’t know how he’s going to get around the drop-off.”

  “Before he left, he said he’d only climb it if he found a path. He must have seen a way.”

  “Let’s hope so, because frankly, I don’t think he’s the type to admit defeat and come down the way he went up.”

  Alex stretched. His fingers gripped the face of the rock and disappeared as they dug into a crevice. His long, lean body extended over the rounded face of the boulder. Momentarily, his feet dangled as he hung suspended over the edge. Then he began to pull himself straight up.

  Troy gave a low whistle.

  Lara caught her breath.

  Alex continued to lift himself almost three feet up the face of the rock where he found purchase for one foot. Using the strength of his leg, he pushed himself up the rest of the way. In moments, he was standing on top of the boulder, looking out over the desert.

  The people began to clap.

  Lara didn’t think Alex could hear them.

  Suddenly, he turned and disappeared.

  “Where did he go?” she asked.

  “There’s a fire break trail on the back side of the cliff. The other side is a gentle slope. He’s probably coming down that way.” Troy was wearing a pleased, silly grin on his face.

  “You like him, don’t you?” Lara asked.

  He slid his hands in his pockets. “I admire him. When I look at him, I see everything I could have been if I’d had the courage.”

  Surprised, Lara stared at Troy.

  “Don’t look at me like that,” he said with a laugh. “I wouldn’t trade Eliza or Christy for ten bachelor lifetimes like his. I just meant if I’d been stronger, I would be in a better place now. I’ve made many compromises. Too many.”

  “What do you mean?”

  His gaze shot to the school. A troubled look passed over his features.

  Lara gazed at the huge building. It was her mother’s dream and her father’s ambition, but two of the men she cared most about were paying the price for it. Was it worth it?

  Troy turned away from the massive edifice. “Ah well, I didn’t compromise on my house.”

  The sadness in his voice tugged at Lara’s heart. She gripped his hand. “And you do have Eliza and Christy.”

  The same silly, boyish smile brushed over his features. “Yes, I do, and I’ll do anything to keep them safe and happy.” Bending, he brushed a kiss across her cheek. “It’s good to have you here, Lara. We’ve all missed your gentle soul. It’s just what we need right now.”

  Stunned, Lara watched him walk toward the school. Gentle soul? Is that how they viewed her?

  She didn’t feel like a gentle soul. So much was trapped inside her, it wasn’t possible to be gentle. She felt wild and unsettled, wanted to fight and argue and…to fly. Her gaze flew to the top of the boulder. She wanted to be up there with Alex, to feel the wind against her cheeks and to see the limitless desert in all its majestic beauty. But she was too afraid, and suddenly, she understood what Troy meant.

  Alex was uncompromising. He’d lost nothing. The world and all its vitality was his for the taking.

  Troy admired his courage and Lara found it compelling, like La Guitarra.

  He had an exquisite, perfectly formed shape…uncompromising lines, glowing with vibrant life and compelling her to touch.

  But touching Alex would be dangerous. Rupert Townsend said there’d been many women in Alex’s life. He wasn’t the staying kind, the kind Lara needed. She wanted someone like Brett, a best friend, someone she could depend on, someone who would always be there. Becoming involved with Alex would be foolish and irresponsible when Brett was everything she really wanted.

  Lara was so certain about her feelings, she almost said the words out loud. Catching herself, she looked at the people still milling about. Why was she waiting for Alex to return? The last thing she needed was to ride back into town with a man who made her shiver and could cast spells with his words. Turning, she took the path through the brush, looking for her car and driver. She would leave before Alex returned from the mountain and send the driver back for him.

  She hurried through the mesquite, too rushed to enjoy the tart tang of sage and dry earth. But it was impossible for her to completely ignore it. The desert air seeped into her pores, bringing with it a wealth of new sensations. Coming out of the brush, Lara finally spotted the black sedan in which she’d arrived…and leaning up against its side, his long legs crossed at the ankles and his arms folded casually on his chest, was Alex. Lara stumbled and slowed her pace.

  “You were in hurry. Do you have an appointment?”

  He knew she’d intended to leave him.

  “As a matter of fact, I do. I promised Eliza I would meet her at the house after the reception and I wanted to take care of a few things first. I was going to send the car back for you.”

  “There’s no need. I’m here. It was an easy run down the back side.”

  Run? He’d just climbed a mountain and ran down it. He didn’t look as if he’d even broken a sweat. And he knew her thoughts before she did. He overwhelmed her.

  Suddenly, she was fighting a tide, a riptide sweeping the sand from beneath her. She struggled to regain her footing. “Troy mentioned something, but I wasn’t sure. I didn’t know whether to leave you or wait. Impulsiveness can cause problems for the people around you,” she said in a tart tone.

  Alex’s chuckle was soft. “It must not have caused you too much trouble. You decided to leave without any hesitation.”

  “I said I was going to send the driver back for you.” She sounded snippy. She was frustrated and losing control over…nothing. She couldn’t even name the problem. But Alex knew and the more she struggled, the more he seemed to enjoy himself.

  Taking a slow, calming breath, she looked around for the driver. Spotting him near the school entrance, she motioned. Lara reached for the door handle.

  Alex’s hand was already there. Their fingers collided. His warm
, smooth touch reminded her that moments ago, he’d used those fingers to lift his body up the side of a mountain. The night before they’d run over the strings of the guitar with the skill of a magician. Those hands could do too much. More than one man should be able to do.

  They intimidated Lara, and she pulled back her hand as if she’d been burned by fire.

  Smiling, Alex opened the door and motioned her inside.

  Lara hesitated. She would be trapped, forced to see his hands, to think about what they could do, to hear his voice and remember his songs. She didn’t think she could bear it. She slid inside, feeling as if she was sinking into a warm pool of bubbling sensation. She scooted all the way across the seat.

  When she was safe on the other side, Alex leaned into the car. “Since you have such a tight schedule, I’ll find another ride. Goodbye, Miss Fallon.” He shut the door.

  5

  Alex watched Lara’s sedan until the dust settled. Then he brushed his hands across the thighs of his jeans and smiled. He’d been pursuing her so persistently, she hadn’t expected him to leave her. The look on her face as he’d slammed the door was enough to carry him through the rest of the day.

  Or was it? Would a small victory be enough to hold him or would he need more? He’d known the intriguing Miss Fallon just over twenty-four hours and she’d consumed his thoughts the entire time. That was unusual for him. So was the pursuit. He usually didn’t chase women.

  His problem was keeping them out of his life, creating space for privacy. When he did allow a woman into his world, she came freely, knowing full well there were no attachments, no promises. Two adults attracted to each other. So what was it about Lara that pushed him past his usual boundaries?

  Her beauty was obvious…the kind of looks that made a man feel protective. She appeared too frail for the real world. And there were times when Lara really looked the part, like a lost little girl in need of a hug. But it was the other times that captured Alex’s imagination—the moments when he caught a glimpse of what simmered beneath the surface, her zest for life, her passion for things simple and great.