The Best Blind Date in Texas

by Victoria Chancellor

  “Dr. Wheatley. How are you?”

  “Fine, fine, son. What brings you to our clinic today? You’re not the back injury Amy was mentionin’, are you?”

  Gray glanced at her across the ten feet or so separating them. “I brought my employee in to see Dr. Wheatley,” he said, then added with a smile, “Dr. Amy Wheatley.”

  Her father glanced between them, then back at her previously closed office door. She’d always thought the term “the air was charged” was just some dramatic overstatement. Now, as she looked from Gray to her father and imagined what her dad might be thinking, she knew the term was entirely accurate.

  “Ah. I see,” her father said.

  “Mr. Phillips, I need you to sign this form,” Gladys said, interrupting the uncomfortable tension. Thank goodness for Gladys.

  Amy stepped out of the way. Gray had to walk past her to get to the reception desk. As he passed by, he gave a little shrug, as if he were saying, “What can I do?”

  She had no idea. When she glanced at her father, he was smiling. Bad news. He’d obviously made some big assumptions about what was going on between her and Gray.

  Darn it, he’d probably come to some pretty accurate assumptions. She hadn’t looked in the mirror, but she likely appeared as if she’d been thoroughly kissed.

  “That’s all we need for now. I’ll file these forms, and send your company the invoice for whatever the insurance company doesn’t pay,” Amy heard Gladys explain to Gray.

  “Thank you.” He turned around, gave her a slight smile, and looked at her father. “Dr. Wheatley, it was good to see you again. Amy…thank you for taking care of Steve.”

  “You’re welcome.” She folded her arms beneath her breasts.

  “Come back anytime,” her father said cheerfully.

  Gray nodded, then joined his employee in the waiting room. After grabbing his jacket, he exited the clinic. Amy exhaled.

  “Well, well,” her father said. “Looks like you and Gray hit it off real good the other night.”

  “Daddy, don’t start,” she warned, turning toward her office. As soon as she got to the doorway, however, she realized that was a bad idea. Too many memories lurked just inside. Warm, firm lips. A hard body. Seductive silver eyes.

  She stopped and faced her father. “We had a nice chat, but like I told you before, there’s nothing going on.”

  “Not yet, but you hang in there. I can tell he’s interested.”

  “Daddy, it’s not—”

  “I’ve got to go, Amy. There’s a piece of apple pie with my name on it down at the café.”

  Amy slumped against the doorway. Her father was firmly convinced his matchmaking was working. She hated to disappoint him, but sooner or later, he was going to learn she and Gray had no future.

  NEXT WEDNESDAY ON Amy’s afternoon off, she decided to treat herself to lunch at the Four Square Café. Surely most of the people who might be talking about her and Gray would have already eaten lunch. Not that she could avoid all gossip; she’d gotten an earful from both her father and Gladys. Both of them thought Gray was great, and couldn’t imagine any reason he and Amy wouldn’t be dating. She’d been unable to gently burst their bubbles, so she’d simply given up.

  A few minutes before one o’clock, she pulled into a parking spot facing the small park at the center of the square. The weather had warmed considerably from the cold front two weeks ago. In the oak trees around a small center gazebo, a steady westerly breeze rattled dried, brown leaves. Squirrels scampered off, their cheeks bulging with acorns. Concrete planters of yellow chrysanthemums and hardy, orange marigolds lent color to the brown and gray of the winter landscape.

  The old-fashioned bell over the door tinkled when she entered. Expecting to find the café mostly empty, she was startled to find a small crowd gathered around one of the red vinyl booths near the back. She identified Thelma and Joyce, Pastor Carl and one of the waitresses. Then the group parted, revealing Gray standing next to a booth where Gina Summers was seated.

  Gina was the local real estate agent, but by the look on her face, Amy suspected the group wasn’t discussing home prices in Ranger Springs. Gray didn’t appear any happier. Instead of his normally calm expression, he wore one of near panic. Nevertheless, he looked great to her eyes, tall and proud and so handsome he took her breath away. Today he wore a long sleeve charcoal sweater that looked like cashmere, and pleated black slacks that fit him like they’d been woven to the exact specifications of his body.

  But now was not the time to ogle Grayson Phillips. Whatever was going on in that back booth, Amy didn’t want any part of it, she thought as she slipped into a chair near the door. She might be as curious as the next person, but she knew when to leave people alone. The group gathered around Gina definitely looked like they were up to something.

  “AMY,” GRAY SAID AS HE stopped next to her table. “I need to talk to you.”

  She looked up, surprise mixing with welcome in her blue eyes. “Gray. I thought you were busy.”

  “That’s what I need to talk to you about. Do you mind if I join you?”

  “Please,” she said, indicating the empty chair across from her.

  He sat, then leaned forward. “Act as though you’re glad to see me. Like you were expecting me.” He smiled for the benefit of his audience, some fifteen or twenty feet away. “Could you do that for me, please?”

  She leaned forward also, some unknown emotion flashing in her blue eyes. “Is this how you got into trouble at Gina Summer’s booth?”

  “No.”

  Amy leaned back, studying him. She shook her head, as if to clear her thoughts, then said, “I am glad to see you. I’m just a tad confused. This may be none of my business, but what’s going on?”

  “They’re trying to fix me up with Gina for the Harvest Festival Dance at the church. She’s handling the fund-raising booths, and my company is providing the entertainment. My personal dating team and the pastor feel it would be logical for me to attend with her. I like Gina, but I’ve already had one date with her.”

  “When?”

  Gray shrugged. “I’m not sure. Maybe three months ago.”

  “And you don’t want to reveal your one-date rule.”

  “Right.”

  “Gray, your rule is making your life more complicated than it needs to be.”

  He shook his head. Amy didn’t understand. He couldn’t show favoritism among the women he’d dated. He’d learned that in a small town, word got around quickly, especially when an eligible bachelor and an attractive, single woman were involved. He’d heard enough talk when his own marriage had ended so dramatically four years ago—and their breakup had occurred in Dallas.

  “I can’t let people believe Gina is the one woman in this entire area who warrants a second date from Grayson Phillips. What about all the other women I’ve never asked out again? And then, if I don’t ask Gina out after the Harvest Dance, she’ll be under scrutiny from Thelma, Joyce and who knows who else.”

  “My, you’re pretty impressed with yourself, aren’t you?” Amy said. Her words stung, but her tone sounded teasing. He looked into her eyes, but for once couldn’t read her expression. Before he could decide how to respond, Thelma and Joyce arrived at the table.

  Thelma spoke first. “Hello, you two. How are you, Amy?”

  “Fine. And yourself?”

  “Just peachy.” The newspaper editor turned her attention from Amy to him. “Gray, have you made a decision about the festival? We think your attendance with a date would be great publicity. More ticket sales mean more good deeds,” Thelma said.

  “We appreciate all you’ve done already,” Joyce added. “But I think Thelma and Pastor Carl are right.”

  Gray looked from the two older ladies to Amy. Help me, he wanted to beg. Think of some brilliant reason I can’t go out with Gina without revealing my one unbending rule of dating. As he looked into her eyes, he sensed she’d read him mind, that she had come up with something utterly brilliant.


  “Ladies, could you excuse us for a moment?” Amy asked. “I need to discuss something with Gray before he makes his decision.”

  “Of course,” Thelma said, raising one eyebrow. She and Joyce shared a look that said “this got interesting.”

  Joyce said, “We’ll just go visit with Pastor Carl while you two young people confer.”

  “Gray, let’s take a walk,” Amy said as soon as the two older ladies departed. Her blue eyes sparked with anticipation. “I have a suggestion.”

  She was going to suggest he drop his one-date rule—again, he thought as he held the door open for her. Well, he couldn’t do that in good faith. Amy was going to have to accept his feelings about not putting others in an uncomfortable position. Besides, how, in good faith, could he ask another woman out for a date when all he wanted to do was pull Amy into his arms and kiss her until they were both breathless?

  “I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE going to say,” Gray said as they took a seat on a park bench across from the café. “My one-date rule is causing problems. Well, maybe, but dating randomly, without any thought to the feelings of others, would be equally wrong.”

  “You’re right,” Amy said, watching the surprised expression on Gray’s face. “You’ve probably saved a dozen women from potential hurt.”

  “Then what…why did you want to take a walk?”

  Amy leaned toward him, barely resisting the urge to squeeze his forearm or give him a shake, just to make sure she held his attention. “Because in saving all those women from a second date—and possible high expectations of a future relationship—you’ve caused problems for yourself that can no longer be ignored.”

  “Granted, I’m getting tired of fending off Thelma and Joyce’s matchmaking, but perhaps, over time, I can persuade the ladies—”

  Amy shook her head. “It’ll never happen. They’re determined and have unlimited resources—i.e. the town’s approval and the power of word of mouth.”

  “Gossip,” Gray clarified.

  Amy shrugged. “Whatever you call it, you’re only one man against many. I believe a different approach is needed.”

  “Like what? Should I start being rude to them? I don’t think I can. They’re so sweet, and deep down inside, they believe they have my best interests at heart.”

  “Well, as a physician, I say that all this matchmaking is causing too much stress. You have to take care of your mind and body.” And what a body he had to care for, Amy silently added. She longed to run her hand over the hard muscles of his arms, encased in the soft weave of his sweater. She’d like to plough her fingers through his salt-and-pepper hair, then skim downward over his wide shoulders and strong back.

  Was it suddenly ten degrees warmer in the park? Her navy blazer, white T-shirt and jeans suddenly seemed way too hot and itchy.

  “So your interest is purely professional?” Gray asked, amusement in his voice. She could tell he didn’t believe that to be the case.

  “No, not entirely. We’ve already discussed this attraction we feel for each other. With you not dating the same woman twice, and me not interested in a clandestine affair—”

  “Which I don’t feel would be right, either,” Gray added.

  Amy nodded. “Understood. However, that leaves us both with the same problem—people who are trying to get us paired off. They know the right person is out there for us if we’d just go on enough dates to find them.”

  “So what do you propose?”

  Propose. Now there was a loaded word if she ever heard one. Shaking aside doubts about the wisdom of her impromptu plan, she plunged ahead. “I think you and I should team up to thwart the matchmakers.”

  “Gee, do we get a secret decoder ring? Should I build a clubhouse in the backyard?” Gray joked, obviously not taking her seriously. “Or maybe you’d like me to bug the café.”

  “No, but we might want to sign a blood oath never to tell anyone our purpose. Seriously, Gray, listen to my plan.”

  “I’m listening,” he said, turning toward her with a slight smile “I’m sorry, but so far you’ve made this sound like James Bond mission.”

  She took a deep breath and watched a squirrel scamper up a nearby tree. The animal twitched its tail at her, taunting her as if it didn’t give much credence to her idea, either. “It’s a little more personal. I don’t take my happiness, or the happiness of my father, lightly.”

  “What’s your plan?” Gray asked, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

  His sudden caress startled her. Her skin tingled, and she resisted the urge to lean toward his warmth. Suddenly she wasn’t sure her spur-of-the-moment plan would work. Not if she had to keep her hands off Gray, which she absolutely, positively must do. Taking a deep breath, she decided to plunge ahead anyway. He could always say no. They could discuss the pros and cons like rational adults.

  As long as he kept his hands—and lips—to himself.

  “Okay. I think we should pretend to be dating. Or maybe pretend is the wrong word. We would actually date, but with the express purpose of keeping our overzealous matchmakers at bay. They’d have to really believe us, of course. Whatever social functions you’d normally attend, I’d go with you. We’d need to be seen around town, at the Bretford House restaurant or maybe in Wimberley.”

  “Sort of a relationship of convenience,” Gray said carefully.

  “Right! Both of us would benefit. You’d get Thelma and Joyce off your back, and I’d make my father happy. He thinks very highly of you, and would love the idea of us being a couple.”

  “But what about in the long run? Wouldn’t you be setting yourself up for more problems when our pretend relationship actually ended?”

  Amy shrugged. “In time, we could have a friendly breakup. I’m sure my father would accept our explanation, especially if he believed we just weren’t compatible in the long run.”

  Gray seemed to be pondering her proposal. His forehead creased and his lips thinned as he stared down at the frost-damaged grass. “What would you consider grounds for ending the relationship of convenience?”

  “I hadn’t thought that far ahead.” The fact she was thinking of all the positives and none of the negatives should have alarmed her, but she felt uplifted and empowered. She and Gray would be doing something positive for everyone who cared for them. Plus, they’d get to spend time together, which would probably make them both happy…for a while, at least.

  “What if you found someone else?” he asked.

  “Or you did,” she added, looking up into his eyes. “That sounds like good grounds to call it quits.”

  “What else?”

  “If we tire of one another.” Amy smiled. “If you find you can’t spend another night in my company without strangling me, I’d certainly appreciate a heads up.”

  Gray smiled. “Done. And I’d expect the same.”

  “So you agree?” This seemed so easy! She’d expected she’d have to sell him on the idea a little more. Put up more arguments. Instead, he’d caved very quickly.

  “I think your plan has a lot of potential,” he said cautiously.

  “Do you have reservations?”

  Gray was silent a moment, looking into her eyes, making her forget if she had any qualms about such an agreement. “I’m a cautious person by nature, but I also believe in instincts. My instincts say ‘yes, go for it!’ but I’d like to think about your idea for a few hours, maybe overnight.” His eyes darkened to a stormy gray as he reached up and smoothed another errant strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m not sure I can evaluate anything logically when you’re around.”

  “I know what you mean. To be honest, that’s my only reservation.”

  “What?” he asked softly.

  “That we won’t be able to control this attraction we feel for each other.”

  “Do we need to control it?”

  Amy paused, closed her eyes for a moment, and then opened them so she could watch Gray’s expression. Sexual awareness sparked between them as easily as
summer lightning. “I’m not sure there would be anything ‘convenient’ about taking our relationship from dating to something more…physical.”

  “So,” he said, his fingers tracing the line of her cheek, down to her jaw, then lower, “we keep our hands to ourselves.”

  “Maybe we need to set some guidelines,” she said, her voice husky, breathless.

  “Kissing, but nothing more?”

  She’d counseled young girls about the dangers of getting “carried away” by passion with their equally immature boyfriends, but she’d never had to warn herself to act like a responsible adult. “Can we trust each other to stop with kisses?”

  “I’m not sure,” he said. Gray eased back on the bench. “That’s one of the things I’d like to think about.”

  The November breeze cooled Amy’s overheated cheeks. “You’ll call me later?”

  “Oh, yeah,” he said, rising from the bench in one smooth move. He extended a hand and helped her up. “Now I’d better get inside and explain to Thelma and Joyce that I can’t take Gina to the Harvest Festival dance. A certain brunette doctor might get jealous,” he said with a twinkle in his silvery eyes.

  He might be teasing, Amy thought as they walked back to the Four Square Café, but there was a lot of truth in that glib remark.

  Chapter Five

  Could he keep his hands off her if they spent a lot of time together? Gray wondered. He couldn’t get Amy’s unexpected, yet surprisingly simple, proposal out of his mind after he returned to his office. Did he even want to try? He supposed she was right; they should confine their physical contact to whatever they could control, because all the reasons not to get involved still existed. He wasn’t looking for a relationship; she didn’t want an affair. They had their reputations to consider. They both had futures in this town, and his didn’t include falling for and marrying the town doctor, who was loved like a daughter by most of the Ranger Springs residents. If the relationship didn’t work out, if he somehow screwed up, he could barely imagine the repercussions to his reputation and company.

  As for Amy, she deserved a devoted husband, someone who would be supportive of her practice and a good father to their children. Gray knew he didn’t fit the bill. He might remarry some day, but to a woman who would be an asset to his business, who understood the long hours he sometimes spent at work and who wouldn’t put emotional demands on him. He didn’t want the feeling of being “tied down” in a marriage.