Evening Hours

by Mary Lynn Baxter

  “What I’m not going to leave you is the choice to obey or disobey.”

  Cutler watched Mary jut her chin as though prepared to fight.

  “You’re wasting your time giving me one of your quelling glares. I’m immune. I’m changing your medication and I expect you to rest one hour or longer every day.” He glanced at Cutler, then Trevor. “I’m depending on you guys to see that she complies.”

  “That’s not going to happen,” Mary said with force.

  Trevor crossed to the bed, peered down at his wife and said, “Oh, yes, it is, sweetheart.”

  “Thanks, Dad,” Cutler said, throwing his mother a grin. “You can count on me to do my part.”

  Mary glared at all three before a slow smile softened her features. “All right. I’ll try it your way and see what happens.”

  “Praise God,” Cutler muttered, rolling his eyes.

  “Son, don’t drag the Lord into this.”

  Though his mother’s tone was prim, Cutler heard the humor edging it. Confident that this crisis had passed, he walked over and kissed Mary on the cheek. “I’ll talk to you later. Meanwhile, behave yourself or else.”

  Had he been in the audience the entire time?

  Kaylee tried not to panic, but she couldn’t help it. Cutler McFarland was the last person she expected to see at this luncheon.

  Thank God the show was almost over. If she had noticed him earlier, she would’ve been much more shaken.

  She shouldn’t have been surprised that he was there, especially since a style show was part of the planned activities for the annual Medical Alliance luncheon. This was the first time men had been invited, which was no problem for her agency when it came to putting on the show, as she had almost as many male models as females. In fact, she’d been delighted with the change in plans, although it had been a challenge for both her and her staff.

  The thought of Cutler McFarland sitting through a display of the latest fashions, however, seemed laughable given his relaxed attire, but Kaylee didn’t feel like laughing. In fact, she wished she was anywhere but about to step up to the podium in a matter of minutes. And of all days, she’d had to wear her brace, because when she’d awakened that morning her leg had refused to cooperate. She had thought about nursing her pride and wearing a long skirt in order to help camouflage her handicap, but in the end she hadn’t.

  Her limp was part of her, and people could either accept her as she was or not. Most of the time that bravado worked.

  But not today.

  Seeing Cutler suddenly brought all her insecurities to the surface, making her sick to her stomach, which in turn made her furious with herself. What did she care what he or anyone else thought? Hadn’t she gotten over her concerns regarding other people’s reactions to her years ago? Why was she so bent out of shape wondering what this man would think?

  “And now let’s welcome Miss Kaylee Benton.”

  Kaylee froze.

  “Hey, get the lead out, girl,” Sandy whispered from behind, swatting her on the rear.

  Kaylee turned and faced her. “Why don’t you go instead?”

  Sandy looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. “Is something going on I don’t know about?”

  Kaylee shook herself mentally, then said, “Forget I said that. I’m fine.”

  “If you’re sure,” Sandy responded in a tone that said she wasn’t at all sure.

  After taking several deep breaths, Kaylee plastered a smile on her face and slowly made her way onstage, praying that she reached her destination without mishap.

  She did, though when she reached the podium she clung to the sides until her knuckles almost cracked under the pressure.

  “Let’s give this lady another round of applause,” the master of ceremonies added with a wide grin.

  While they clapped and whistled, Kaylee looked into the audience. Her gaze landed on Cutler. For what seemed like an interminable length of time but was actually only seconds, their eyes met.

  Then he turned his back and walked out.

  Eight

  Edgar felt her eyes on him long before she shared her thoughts.

  “You’ve really been preoccupied lately,” Rebecca Goolsby said. “Have I done something to offend you?”

  “Of course not, honey.”

  He stared at the woman sitting across from him at the Starbucks coffee shop near the Galleria. They had been an “item” for a while now, and he was quite taken with her. She wasn’t beautiful; she really wasn’t even pretty.

  Her face was too square and her eyes were too far apart. But she had a sweetness and grace about her that had captured his heart. And her smile—how could he forget that? He couldn’t. When Rebecca smiled, it lit up her face and everything around it, which reminded him of Kaylee. She was blessed with that same gift.

  Rebecca was the first woman he’d cared about since his wife died, and that had been a lifetime ago, or so it seemed. Kaylee had always been enough.

  He couldn’t say when that had changed or even if it had. His daughter and her needs would always come first. He’d made that promise the day of the accident. But apparently time had dulled the pain and hurt enough so that he could now move forward.

  While a relationship with a woman hadn’t been on his mind, Rebecca had simply snuck in the back door of his heart without his knowing it.

  He had met her at one of Drew’s parties. She worked for a brokerage firm with whom his boss had done business. When Drew introduced them they had clicked right away. She was easy to be with, didn’t make demands, didn’t push. Most of all, she didn’t seem to resent his devotion to Kaylee.

  “Was my question out of line?”

  He forced his attention back to Rebecca. “You know better than that.”

  “Do I?”

  Edgar smiled, then reached across the table, took her hand and squeezed it. “You can ask me anything you want.”

  “Only, you reserve the right not to answer.” She tempered her bluntness with a smile. “Right?”

  He smiled back. “Right. But not this time. I was thinking about Kaylee.”

  “Aren’t you always?” she said without rancor.

  His smile spread into a grin. “Not always. You have a tendency to interfere.”

  “Good,” she said with obvious pleasure. “Somehow I sense you’re concerned. Has something happened I don’t know about?”

  “Possibly.”

  “Really?”

  Edgar ran a hand over his thinning hair and squinted his eyes. “And it’s a good thing, too, though I’m making it sound the opposite.” He paused. “Or at least I think it is.”

  “Now you’ve really got me curious. What on earth is going on?”

  “I think she’s interested in a man.”

  Rebecca’s gray eyes widened. “Why, that’s wonderful. If the feeling’s mutual, that is.”

  “Ah, that’s the kicker.”

  “How about you start at the beginning and fill in all the blanks.”

  Edgar told her about Kaylee’s encounter with the cowboy at the chamber function. “She didn’t know I was watching, of course.”

  “Oh, honey, I think that’s wonderful, but just because she seemed interested doesn’t mean she really is.”

  He was taken aback and didn’t bother to hide it. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Rebecca squeezed his hand again. “It means that Kaylee might’ve been charmed for the moment and that’s all.”

  “You didn’t see her face,” Edgar responded, an obstinate set to his jaw.

  “You’re right, I didn’t, which means I’m not qualified to make that call.”

  “I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

  “You didn’t.” Rebecca paused and narrowed her eyes on him. “Where are you going with this? I know you have something up your sleeve.”

  “I have to figure out a way to get the two of them together.”

  “Who is he? Do you know?”

  “When I first saw him, a niggling in th
e back of my mind told me I should know him. But for the life of me, I couldn’t place him.”

  “Not then, maybe,” Rebecca said, harboring a smile, “but I bet you can now.”

  “You bet right. His name is Cutler McFarland.”

  Rebecca’s eyes widened. “The district attorney?”

  “One and the same.”

  “Wow.”

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “So tell me about him.”

  “He’s not married. Right now that’s the most important thing.”

  “Which you think gives you a green light to play matchmaker.”

  Edgar leveled his gaze on her. “And you don’t?”

  “That’s not—” She stopped midsentence and flashed him a sweet smile. “Tell me how I can help.”

  “You look shell-shocked, boss lady.”

  Kaylee shook her head to clear it, realizing Sandy had walked into the room and was staring at her out of puzzled eyes.

  “What up?” Sandy asked when Kaylee didn’t respond right off.

  “You’re not going to believe who I just talked to.”

  “Mmm, that sounds interesting, especially since you’re still wearing that dazed look. So ante up. Who was it?”

  Kaylee could barely contain her excitement. “Emily Austin.”

  Sandy looked puzzled. “But you’ve talked to Emily before.”

  “I know.” Kaylee’s grin consumed her features.

  Sandy gestured with a hand. “You’re not making sense, girl. Tell me what she wanted.”

  “She wants to fly down and meet with us.”

  “And…” Sandy coaxed.

  “I’m trying to keep a lid on my excitement, only you’re not helping.”

  “Tell me what you’re trying to keep a lid on before I pee up one leg and down the other waiting.”

  Kaylee rolled her eyes. “You’re crazy.”

  “Details. Give me the details.”

  “One of the French houses—she didn’t say which one—wants to do a show here. They hired Ford to spearhead it. Ergo, she wants our expertise and our models.”

  “Oh, my gosh.”

  “I know. It’s mind-boggling, isn’t it?”

  “The purpose of the visit is to hash out the details.”

  Kaylee blew out a breath. “I assume so.”

  “What a coup.”

  “I can’t help but wonder what made her tap us.”

  Sandy made an unladylike snort. “You know the answer to that—we’re damn good. You’re damn good.”

  “Sometimes I have my doubts, especially when I can’t seem to corral my girls.”

  The fire went out of Sandy’s eyes. “I hate to put a damper on things, but now that you mention the girls—”

  “Don’t tell me there’s been another uprising.”

  “Not yet, but it’s brewing. I still don’t know what the hell is going on, but it’s ongoing, whatever it is.”

  “Undercurrents, huh?”

  “Oh, yeah. Big time.”

  “Damn,” Kaylee muttered under her breath.

  “But until one of them cracks, we won’t know.”

  “If they mess up this deal with Ford, I’m going to personally strangle them. But I think they know that.”

  “You’ll have to get behind me,” Sandy said through tight lips.

  “Maybe by the time Emily gets here, whatever’s ailing them will be resolved.”

  “I wish I could bet my booty on that.”

  “Just keep me informed, okay?”

  Sandy nodded.

  “Do you have time to go over this mountain of photos?” Kaylee asked, switching the subject. “I feel like tossing them, but I’m afraid I might miss the next Cindy Crawford.”

  “All the more reason to take a look-see.”

  For the longest time they sorted through hundreds of photos from aspiring models. While the task appeared daunting, it wasn’t, as it took an expert only a split second to know whether the young face had potential or not.

  “Sorry if I’m interrupting.”

  Both women were so mired in the job at hand, they hadn’t realized they were no longer alone. But when Kaylee heard that low, sexy voice, her stomach bottomed out.

  What was he doing here?

  How had he gotten past the reception desk? Apparently Christy had stepped away to the restroom.

  Sandy was the first to acknowledge Cutler, looking him over from head to toe. “May we help you?”

  “Hope so,” he drawled, his gaze concentrated on Kaylee.

  She managed to pull her scattered wits about her enough to properly introduce them.

  Although Kaylee could see that curiosity was eating at her, Sandy held herself in check and peered at her watch. “Oops, I have a meeting. I’ll check in later.”

  Once her assistant walked out, an awkward silence descended.

  “Surprised to see me.” A flat statement.

  Kaylee couldn’t bring herself to look Cutler in the eye for fear of what she would see there. Yesterday’s incident when he had deliberately turned and walked away as though repulsed by her lameness was too fresh in her mind.

  She couldn’t bear to see that look, nor did she want to think about it. Why should she care what he thought?

  Only, she did.

  As though he could read her mind, he said, “Look at me, Kaylee.” A beat passed. “Please.”

  Unwittingly she responded to the husky note in his voice and turned and faced him, but not before she lifted her chin a notch. That was when she noticed he had closed the distance between them. He was so close now that the clean smell of his cologne penetrated her senses.

  Heady stuff.

  Thank goodness an iron will and long years of keeping her emotions in check came to her rescue. She didn’t so much as move a muscle. She merely stood her ground.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Tell you what?” She knew he could see through her stall tactic, but she didn’t care.

  “Did you think I wouldn’t find out?”

  “I didn’t think about it one way or the other.”

  “Liar,” he whispered, his eyes delving deep into hers.

  Kaylee’s breath stuck in her throat and for a moment she was indeed rattled.

  “So how ’bout the truth?”

  “Actually it’s none of your business,” she said without taking her eyes off him.

  “What if I chose to make it my business?”

  “Why would you do a fool thing like that?”

  “Maybe because I find you damned attractive.”

  “I don’t believe that.”

  “Give me a chance and I’ll prove it.”

  Her heart was going haywire. “How?”

  “Have lunch with me.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Chicken.”

  Her head bowed back. “It’s going to take more than lunch to convince me.”

  “If that’s a challenge, then I’m more than up to it.”

  “You have no idea what you’re getting into.”

  “Did anyone ever tell you you talk too much?”

  “Yes, but—”

  His lips stopped her flow of words.

  Nine

  It was a hard but passionless kiss.

  Yet when Cutler pulled his lips away, she couldn’t utter a word. She was too stunned. She couldn’t even think about addressing anything else she felt. Not now, not with him still standing much too close.

  She glared at him. “Why did you do that?” She wouldn’t have him feeling sorry for her.

  “It was the only way I could figure out to shut you up.” He paused. “And I wanted to kiss you.”

  His tone deepened and sent chills down her spine. That made her even madder. If he was going to kiss her, she wanted it to be because he felt passion.

  “That wasn’t fair.”

  His lips twitched. “I know.”

  “Which says you don’t play by the rules.” She heard the
unsteady edge to her voice, increasing her anger.

  “My rules, maybe.”

  His lips then spread into a full-fledged smile, which sent her further down that slippery slope.

  “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

  “I never said I’d go to lunch with you.”

  He paused, his hand on her arm, once again staring into her eyes. “You never said you wouldn’t either.”

  She knew she’d regret what she was about to do. Nonetheless, she nodded and preceded him out the door.

  “I like to see a woman eat.”

  “Then you’re not disappointed.”

  Cutler smiled. “You got that right.”

  Kaylee diverted her gaze in order to keep from staring into the depths of his incredible blue eyes. Already she suspected they saw far too much. Her soul was private, and she aimed to keep it that way, no matter how attracted she was to him.

  “I thought you’d enjoy this place, and I was right.”

  “My steak was cooked to perfection.”

  “Mine, too. But then it’s hard to beat pasta and steak as a combo.”

  Kaylee took a breath, then pushed her plate aside. He followed suit, and immediately their waiter appeared and whisked their plates away.

  “How ’bout another glass of wine?” Cutler asked.

  “I’ll have a cup of decaf coffee instead.”

  When silence fell between them, Kaylee perused the restaurant. It specialized in Italian cuisine, which was one of her favorites. They were seated in what she suspected was the garden room with soft music and live plants surrounding them.

  Kaylee tried to relax, to enjoy the company of a sexy, charismatic man, something she had only dreamed about. He was dressed in a white mock turtleneck and black jeans that perfectly outlined his hard body.

  Maybe that was one of the reasons she couldn’t relax. He looked big, broad and sexy. And he smelled good, too. All were powerful aphrodisiacs.

  The fact that she’d agreed to share lunch with him and the kiss they had shared were too much for her unadventuresome mind to handle.

  “You’re awfully quiet,” Cutler said in an almost musing tone.

  “Sorry.”

  One side of his mouth quirked. “No need to apologize.”