When Deanna arrived at Cope’s the next morning, he was reared back on the steps leading up to the deck, his elbows braced on the step above the one he sat on. Frowning, she climbed from the car and shoved her purse strap onto her shoulder. “What are you doing? Sunbathing?”
Smiling, he rose. “Nope. Just waiting on you.”
“Am I late?” she asked, and glanced at her watch to check the time.
He caught her by the elbow and guided her toward the Hummer. “Right on time.”
She hung back. “Where are we going?”
He opened the passenger door of the Hummer and urged her inside. “To check out a site.”
She clicked on her seat belt. “For what?”
“A dude ranch in Oklahoma.”
Deanna stared as he rounded the hood and climbed in on the opposite side. “We’re driving to Oklahoma?” she asked in amazement, then reached to undo her seat belt. “Do you have any idea how long a drive that is? Forget it, cowboy. If you’re going to Oklahoma, you’re going alone.”
Cope closed his hand over hers, preventing her from unbuckling her seatbelt. “We’re not driving. We’re flying. And don’t worry. I’ll have you home before dark.”
Deanna sat in the copilot’s seat, trying to remember how to breathe as she watched Cope prepare for take-off.
“You’re sure you know how to fly this thing?” she asked uneasily.
“Would you relax?” he said, laughing. “I’ve been flying for years.”
“Could I see your license?”
He spared her a look. “What are you? The Sky Patrol?”
“Is there such a thing?”
“Not to my knowledge.”
Gulping, she glanced at the whirling propeller, the sound it created, making it difficult to hear. “You haven’t been drinking have you?”
“Two cups of coffee. That’s within the legal limit.”
The plane started to roll forward and Deanna squeezed her eyes shut. “What about your health?” she said in a rush. “Any chest pains? History of seizures or blackouts?”
“Why are you worried about my health?”
She sensed the plane picking up speed and gripped her hands more tightly over the armrests. “Because it’s just you and me in this plane, and I don’t how to fly!”
The sound of his laughter filled the cockpit as the plane lifted off the ground.
“You can open your eyes now,” he told her. “We’re in the air.”
She found the courage to open one eye a slit and saw nothing ahead but blue sky and white puffy clouds. She flipped open both eyes and looked out the side window. Below was a picture perfect view of the Florida coastline.
Cope glanced her way and shook his head. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’d never flown before.”
She loosened her grip on the armrest a fraction. “I haven’t with you behind the controls.”
He raised his hands in the air. “If you’d rather do the flying—”
“Cope!” she cried and dove to force his hands back to the yoke. Pursing her lips, she folded her arms across her chest and sat back in her seat. “Believe me, if I knew how to fly, you wouldn’t be sitting in the pilot’s seat.”
“Would you like to learn?”
She whipped her head around to see if he was serious.
“There’s nothing to it,” he assured her. “Here.” He pushed back, making room for her on his lap. “Sit right here and I’ll guide you every step of the way.”
She eyed the limited space. “Isn’t that a little cramped for both of us?”
He waggled his brows. “You don’t hear me complaining.”
She worried her lip a moment, then, unable to resist the opportunity to try something new, crawled over. Settling herself on his lap, she slipped her hand beneath his on the yoke.
“To gain altitude,” he explained, curving his fingers around hers to demonstrate, “you pull back. That lifts the nose of the plane. To descend, you push forward. Easy,” he warned, as she pushed with a little too much force and the nose of the plane dipped.
“Do something!” she cried.
“You’re the pilot. Remember what I told you.”
With her heart in her throat and her breath burning in her lungs, she eased back on the control. As the plane leveled out, the breath shuddered out of her.
“I’m flying,” she murmured, unable to believe that she was really piloting a plane, then cried, “I’m really flying!”
Chuckling, Cope circled an arm around her waist. “You sure are. Next thing I know, you’ll be begging me to trade in that Lamborghini for a Cessna.”
Chapter 6
Deanna lay in her bed, eyes wide, her heart thumping, as she relived the events of the day. She’d flown a plane! She still couldn’t believe it. Not that she thought for a second that she could fly one alone. But it had been so exciting to watch the nose of the plane push its way through the white, puffy clouds and know that she was the one who had aimed it in that direction.
And when Cope had taken back the controls and flown the plane low over the Oklahoma ranch that he was considering buying…it was breathtaking! Exhilarating! Skimming over lakes so closely she was sure she could have dropped a line in the water and caught a fish. Waving at farmers in their fields and seeing them wave back.
And the ranch he was considering buying… She’d never seen anything like it. Tucked within the Arbuckle Mountains in southeastern Oklahoma, the land was covered in century-old trees and boasted several large lakes. There was even a creek running through the property that had a natural waterfall that filled the surrounding area with the soothing sounds of water tumbling over moss-covered rocks.
As Cope had driven across the acreage in a four-wheeler he’d rented for that purpose, he’d shared with her his plans for the property. There was so much to do to get the place ready. So many plans to be made. She could already imagine the building they’d talked about erecting for the guest center. And she was rather proud of herself for suggesting tepees as rooms for the guest. Of course, they’d need to offer cabins, too, for those guests who preferred more amenities than a tepee allowed. And she’d decided that they should include in the menu several authentic Native American foods, as well as wild game. She was sure she could find a few recipes for the cooks to—
Whoa, she thought, mentally throwing on the brakes. What was she thinking? She wasn’t going to be around to do all that! Cope hadn’t even finalized the purchased of the land, yet. It might be years before the dude ranch was completed.
And Deanna would be gone in less than a week.
Tears swam in her eyes at the thought. But it was true. She’d be leaving for Hawaii. And Cope would be going back home to Texas. The tears swam higher.
She sat up and dashed her hands across her cheeks, furious with herself for crying. Why should she cry? She was going to live and work in Hawaii through the winter, then in the spring…who knew? She’d been offered a job as social director on one of the cruise lines that set sail from the Florida coast. Or she could return to Europe and sign up for classes at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. She’d always thought that would be fun.
Her shoulders drooped. Then why didn’t it sound like fun now? Why did staying with Cope and planning a dude ranch suddenly have more appeal than taking cooking classes at Le Cordon Bleu?
She curled her hands into fists in her lap. He’d done this to her on purpose, she thought furiously. He’d bribed her with fancy cars and airplanes. By offering her unlimited access to his bank account, in order to furnish the beach house on Colman Key.
Tears swelled again. The beach house. What would happen to it when the two weeks were up and Cope was forced to finally accept that she wasn’t going to marry him? Would he keep it as an investment and lease it out to summer tourists? Or would he simply sell it? Surely he wouldn’t keep it. Why would he, when he claimed the only reason he’d bought it was so that Deanna would have a place to stay when she came home to visit her family?
“The jerk,” she muttered under her breath.
Well, she’d show him she couldn’t be bought. She’d prove to him, once and for all, that she wasn’t interested in becoming his wife and that her answer would continue to be no, no matter how many times he proposed.
She flopped down on the bed, shoving a fisted hand beneath her pillow.
And she’d start first thing in the morning.
Deanna stalked into Cope’s kitchen and stopped in front of the table. “You thought you were so smart. So clever.” She threw her purse onto the table and fisted her hands on her hips. “Well, I’ve got news for you, cowboy. You’re as transparent as glass.”
Caught with a spoonful of cereal halfway to his mouth, Cope slowly lowered it back to the bowl. “Excuse me?”
“Yeah, that’s right. Play dumb…for all the good it will do you. I’ve figured out your little scheme. The beach house. The Lamborghini. Offering to teach me how to fly a plane. You’ve been trying to buy me. Well, get this, sucker. Deanna Colman can’t be bought!”
Cope picked up his napkin and wiped his mouth. “Is it that time of the month or something?”
Furious that he’d think her anger could be blamed on anything but him, Deanna slapped her hands down hard on the table, making milk splash from his cereal bowl. “That’s right. Try to shift the blame onto something else. Well, it won’t work. Nothing you can do, say or dangle in front of my face like a carrot will convince me to marry you.”
“Oh,” he said knowingly. “So that’s what this is all about.” He rose and carried his bowl to the sink. “Well, you’re wrong,” he said, rinsing the bowl out. “I didn’t lease the Lamborghini or buy the beach house or any of the other things you’ve accused me of doing to bribe you into marrying me.”
He picked up a dish towel and turned to face her, drying his hands. “I did those things because I love you.”
She stared. He looked so calm, so serious, so sincere. Here she was boiling mad and accusing him of all sorts of dirty, underhanded deeds, and he claimed to love her? Was the guy nuts? A sadist?
She gave herself a shake. It didn’t matter. Whether or not he loved her wasn’t the point. The point was she didn’t want to get married. Not to him. Not to anybody.
Pushing her nose up in the air, she plucked a dust cloth from the counter and headed for the den. “You’ll get over it. The others did.”
“The others?”
She knew by the nearness of his voice that he’d followed her. “Yes. You aren’t the first man to fall in love with me.” She turned to smile sweetly at him. “And I’m sure you won’t be the last.”
He tossed back his head and laughed. “Deanna. You’re priceless.”
Though enraged that he would laugh when her intent had been to wound, she managed to keep her smile in place. “Yes, I am, aren’t I?” Flipping her hair over her shoulder, she turned and began to wipe the cloth along the top of the fireplace mantel.
“So you’re planning on cleaning house today?” he asked curiously.
“Unless there’s something else you’d prefer for me to do.” She shot him a warning glance over her shoulder. “And before you answer, I’d like to remind you of that sexual harassment suit I mentioned when you first arrived on Colman Key.”
Biting back a smile, he lifted his hands. “I wouldn’t think of demanding sexual favors in exchange for the hours you owe me.”
“Good,” she replied, with a sniff, and went back to her dusting. “And unless you have other plans, you can help me clean.”
“Why this sudden spurt of domesticity?” he asked curiously.
“I’m sure you’ll want to sell the house, since I’ve refused to marry you, so I thought the time still remaining on my contract would best be spent helping you get it ready to put on the market.”
“And if I told you that I didn’t intend to sell it?”
Pursing her lips, she gave him a frustrated look. “Then you’ll have a clean house. Now, bring in that ladder from the storeroom off the deck. You’ll need it to reach these windows and those in your bedroom.”
Cope collapsed on the sofa and dropped back his head. “No more,” he moaned wearily. “My biceps are screaming.”
Deanna pulled her head from inside the fireplace, where she’d been scrubbing the soot from the bricks, and wiped the back of her hand across her brow. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to take a little break.”
“A little break?” he repeated. “How about a month-long vacation in the Bahamas? It’ll take me at least that long to recover.”
Wiping her hands on a cloth, Deanna crossed to the windows to inspect the job he’d done. “Not bad,” she said in approval.
Cope found the strength to lift his head. “You mean I actually did something that pleases you?”
Turning to the coffee table, she swept the cloth across its already gleaming top. “Don’t press your luck. I’m trying to be nice.”
“Nice?” he caught her hand and tugged her down onto the sofa beside him. “I wasn’t aware you knew the meaning of the word.”
Though she knew she should move—they were sitting entirely too close—she didn’t have the strength. “I can be nice, when I want.”
“Then try being nice to me.”
“Why should I?” she said with a sniff. “You ruined my vacation and spoiled my plans to spend time with my grandmother and sisters.”
Rolling his head to the side, he laid his hand over hers and laced his fingers through hers. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intent.”
Deanna looked at him disbelief. “What is it with you?” she asked incredulously. “I all but jump up and down on your feelings wearing six-inch spiked heels and you tell me you’re sorry?”
Smiling softly, he gave her hand a squeeze. “I guess it’s because I love you.”
She vaulted to her feet, ripping her hand from his. “Dang it, Cope! Would you quit saying that?”
“Why? It’s the truth.”
She hauled in a breath, trying to find calm. “Look,” she said patiently. “The only reason I agreed to give you these two weeks is because Lacey and Grammer shamed me into it with their lectures on honor and keeping my word and reading carefully before signing on the dotted line. And even though you have repeatedly ignored my pleas for you to quit professing your love for me and to refrain from acting like we’re getting married, you’ve continued to do both. In spite of that,” she went on, “I’m willing to finish out my obligation. But only if you will promise that, from this moment on, you will uphold your promises to me.”
He looked at her in wonder. “God, but you’re beautiful when you’re mad.”
“See!” she cried. “You’re doing it again.”
“I didn’t say anything about loving you or marrying you. I merely said that you’re beautiful when you’re mad.”
Tossing up her hands in frustration, she dropped down on the sofa. “It’s the same thing!”
“Not it’s not. And what I don’t understand is why you are fighting it so hard? You know you love me, too.”
She stiffened, then quickly turned her face away. “You don’t know what I feel.”
“Deanna?”
“What?” she snapped, refusing to look at him.
“Did you hear the weather reports this morning?”
She glanced over her shoulder to frown at him, wondering where that had come from. “No. Why?”
He tipped his head toward the windows. “It sure is getting dark outside.”
She turned to look at the window and her eyes widened as she saw for the first time the storm clouds building over the Gulf. “Do you have a
portable radio?” she asked anxiously.
“Yeah. Why?”
“Get it. We need to find out if the stations are broadcasting any weather bulletins.”
He slumped farther down on the sofa and closed his eyes. “In a minute. I’m exhausted from all the cleaning.”
“Cope!” she cried. “Do you realize what is going on out there?”
He lifted one lid to peer at the window. “A storm’s coming. So what?”
“A storm?” she repeated in dismay. “It’s a hurricane, you ninny!”
He sat up to look more closely at the darkening sky. “A hurricane?”
“Haven’t you listened to the news since you’ve been here? It’s all they’ve been talking about. Hurricane Leslie has been building south of us for days.”
“I take it we need to prepare.”
“Most definitely.” She stood. “First, we need to get the radio and find out if the weather service has changed their report from a watch to a warning.”
“And if it has?” he asked, rising, too.
She shuddered, hugging her arms around her waist, as she stared out at the dark clouds. “Then we get busy. We’ll need to board up the windows, tie down everything outside that the wind might carry away.”
“With what? I haven’t seen any lumber lying around.”
“Trust me. Every homeowner on Colman Key keeps a supply of boards on hand. This isn’t the first threat of a hurricane the islanders have experienced.” She dropped her arms. “But before we do anything, I need to call and make sure Grammer is all right.”
“Aren’t your sisters with her?”
She shrugged. “Who knows? Marti said something about going to the mainland today to do God knows what. She’s been so secretive lately you’d think she worked for the FBI. Lacey might be there, though.”
He passed her his cell phone. “Here. Give her a call. You’ll feel better if you do.”
While Deanna made the call, Cope crossed to stand in front of the window, watching as the clouds boiled darker and darker in the sky.
To the One I Love: That Old Familiar FeelingAn Older ManCaught by a Cowboy Page 27