He's Got Her Goat

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He's Got Her Goat Page 11

by Christine


  “Who you are has nothing to do with what you do for a living. You know that, right?”

  He never answered her question. Instead, they were coming up on the Galleria Mall, and he pointed to her window. “We’re here.”

  The driver maneuvered into the porte-cochere of the Westin, and a uniformed valet opened her car door. While the driver retrieved Sterling’s bag from the trunk, Paige entered the opulent lobby and couldn’t help but gasp. In the center of the room, a glass vase, the size of a water tower for a small town, sat on a marble table. It was at least twice her height and filled with wax flowers that looked so authentic she wanted to touch them to make certain they weren’t real. Huge paintings covered the walls. One was an oil of a simple pear that followed the contours of a woman’s bare buttocks and another of a wilted rose that seemed to reflect not just the flower but a missed opportunity at love. There were dozens of other paintings she would have loved to enjoy, but she noticed Sterling was at the desk and strolled over to him to see if he needed her for anything.

  He turned to meet her. “Everything’s set. Do you want to go to the room first and freshen up or hit the mall?”

  Paige put her hands on her hips. “You’d really ask that? How much luggage do I have? Think about it.”

  Sliding the room keys into his wallet, he motioned to the back end of the lobby which opened to a wide hallway. “The mall it is.”

  Proceeding down the corridor at the back of the hotel, they came to a massive ice skating rink, three stories high at the center of the mall. Each floor was exposed, and she could see scores of unique stores selling clothes, imports and jewelry.

  The chill was refreshing and reminded Paige of early mornings back home. She leaned against the glass partition dividing the skaters from the shoppers. “I wonder how the goats are doing.”

  “You could call Austin.” Sterling held out his cell.

  Paige considered it for a moment before she wagged her head. “Nope. It will only stress him out. I know he’s doing an awesome job.”

  “From what I know of Austin, you’re right on both counts.” He stuck the phone in his shirt pocket. “Nordstrom’s first?”

  The side of the rink near the hotel was almost empty, but she wasn’t ready to leave and become part of the bustling crowd quite yet. “Do you ever get tired of the fast lane and want a quieter, smaller life?”

  Sterling quick answer hardly resembled the humble cowboy she’d gotten to know. “Compared to your life, mine is quieter and much less hectic.”

  “Maybe.” She nodded deeply. “But, I don’t know, it seems a little cold.”

  He took her arm. “That’s only because your standing next to the skating rink.”

  THEY SPENT THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON skimming over the nicer department stores. Paige had assumed all men hated shopping, but Sterling thrived on it. He had a great eye when it came to classic styling, and within a relatively short amount of time, they had picked out three pant suits that looked exquisite on her. He even found accessories, a chunky necklace and earrings of the same copper hue as a silk blouse and a chignon pin that tamed her curls unlike anything she had ever tried.

  By seven o’clock, their arms were overflowing with tissue-lined shopping bags, but they weren’t done. At least one of them wasn’t. Paige turned to him. “I’ve got a suggestion to make. Why don’t you head back to the hotel with all of this and decide where you want to meet for dinner while I get a few things by myself?”

  His arms were loaded with bags, but he had one hand open. “Let me go with you. I can carry more.”

  “No, there are some things I’d like some privacy for, if you know what I mean.”

  “Oh,” he reddened. “I’ll put these in your room. Should we meet at eight? There’s a five-star restaurant in the hotel.”

  She had spent more on clothes than she’d ever spent in her life. The bill was upwards of eight hundred dollars, and with the proposed dinner the total would be over a thousand for sure. She was going into spending shock, even if it wasn’t her money. “Eight o’clock works, but how about we try the little bar and grill that I saw on the first floor?”

  She could see a dimple on his left cheek; he was smiling so big. “I’ll meet you there.”

  As Sterling left, juggling the output of her shopping spree, Paige felt her cheeks bubble up in an involuntary grin as well. He was such a gentleman, and to see the way Elaine trusted him and Austin admired him made her feel confident he was a man of honor. While she and Sterling were both employed for Elaine, she would keep things appropriately civil, but after this week, she wouldn’t be against seeing more of him. A lot more.

  At the lingerie area, she got stockings and underthings then was off to the makeup counter for essentials. As she headed back to the common area of the mall, something caught Paige’s eye. In a specialty store window, a dress unlike anything she’d ever seen sparkled at her. Deep blue with crystal’s scattered across the shoulders, it looked like a night sky. With no air conditioning in her house, Uncle Bill would often let her sleep in the back meadow on summer nights. The dress reminded her of lying on her back under the stars, hearing the bleating goats in the background. How odd that such an elegant dress would speak to her of home.

  THOUGH HE LOVED EVERY MINUTE WITH HER, Sterling was relieved when Paige had him bring her things to the hotel. For some reason he felt he was keeping a secret from her, but he wasn’t really. For now, he didn’t know anything of Elaine’s plan. Was it so farfetched that Elaine was just doing a favor in memory of an old friend? Yes. Though every bell was ringing in his head that something was seriously wrong, without evidence he really had nothing to share.

  The answer was sitting in his pocket. He lifted out his cell phone and dialed Dotty’s number. She’d know something. It rang four times before going to voicemail.

  Her sassy voice chimed over the airwaves. “You know what to do.” Beep.

  “It’s Sterling. Your boss. Please tell me what’s going on.” He hung up.

  Unsatisfied, he took his time arranging each of Paige’s purchases in the closet and laid the jewelry and hair accessories in her drawers. They had adjoining rooms, and he unlocked the doors between them. That done, he headed to the bar and grill a little early. Every minute with Paige seemed precious, and he hated to waste any of it. Down a wide corridor he saw her ahead at a large window display. He slowed then snuck up, standing not six inches behind her without her knowing.

  She was gazing at a sapphire gown in a specialty store. The bodice had crystals scattered tastefully across the top. “You should get it,” he whispered in her ear.

  She jumped and put a hand to her chest. “Oh, it’s you.” Her voice sounded shaky.

  “Sorry. I saw you and—” He was surprised he’d scared her so badly. Her hands were still trembling. “That’s a stunning dress. Are you going to try it on?”

  She shook her head back and forth. “Why? I’d never use it on the trip.”

  “You never know,” he said, taking her by the arm toward the store’s entrance. “We might end up taking our client out to for a congratulatory dinner. We won’t have time to stop and get a formal if you need it later. I brought my tux.”

  The sales woman was on top of the situation and carried a dress her size out to them immediately. Paige touched the tag. “It’s as much as I’ve spent today. That’s crazy.”

  “But it’s here already, and I’d love to see it on you,” he urged.

  She hesitated only a moment. “I suppose.”

  While she changed, Sterling kept fidgeting. As she stepped from the dressing room, he smiled so big he thought his cheeks would burst. The cap sleeves and fitted bodice led to a straight cut skirt that had the look of a movie star from the thirties. He could imagine her with her hair up and a few loose ringlets cascading down her back. “Beautiful.”

  She reddened. “It makes me feel elegant. At least.”

  “I vote we buy it.”

  She retreated for the dressing roo
m. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “In that dress, anyone would sign a deal for you.”

  A light chuckle drifted from out of her changing area. “You make it sound like I’m for sale, not the dress.”

  “Not at all. Look, we can return the dress if you find you don’t need it. Better to be safe than sorry, right?”

  “If you’re sure.” She threw back the curtain with the dress draped over her arm.

  “I am.” He took it from her before she could change her mind and handed over the dress and his credit card to the clerk.

  As they walked to the bar and grill, Sterling was determined that no matter what happened with Earth Tech, they would dance together with her in that dress.

  Chapter Eighteen

  THEIR DINNER AT THE BAR AND GRILL flew by. Nothing was mentioned about Elaine, the office or their strange first meeting. Instead, the time was filled with laughter over favorite movies, pet peeves and embarrassing moments. They knew so little about each other that once they began sharing, the conversation flowed.

  A surly server cleared their table and his throat. “Closing time.”

  Paige peered around the dim dining hall and was shocked that it had gone from a bustling cacophony to a barren desert without her having noticed. Sterling left a hefty tip before they headed back to their rooms. She didn’t want to say goodnight and toyed with the idea of continuing their conversation in one of their rooms. She stifled a yawn at the same time the elevator opened. Sterling placed his hand on the small of her back to guide her forward. As they approached her room, he only pulled his hand away to take out her key.

  He ran her keycard, opened the door and placed the card in her hand while propping the door wide with his back. A sudden thought scared her. Did he do this for many girls? What sort of man was he? Though she had asked a number of questions about his family, he deftly avoided giving her any information. What possible reason could he have for not seeing them for so many years? Was he raised in an abusive home? What skeletons was he hiding?

  Sterling tried to catch her eye, but she looked down. “I suppose you’re quite worn out,” he said.

  She nodded. “It’s been a long day.”

  “Tomorrow then.” He paused.

  With him so near in the tight doorway, she could feel his warm breath on her neck. She feared if she did lift her eyes, she’d let him kiss her. She remembered the last time this had happened as she got out of the car at the farmers’ market. He’d made his lack of interest so clear shortly after that, how could she even think he felt the same way? She shook her head slightly at herself for how silly she’d been.

  He must have noticed because he asked, “What’s that about?”

  Then she did look up. “Nothing. Really.” She could see confusion in his eyes, and she realized how naïve she was. Sterling was her coworker and had done nothing to make her think it was anything more. Time to act professionally, she thought.

  Putting out her hand to shake his, she said, “I’m really looking forward to seeing how you approach Earth Tech. It could be extremely useful for my own enterprise, like Elaine said. Thank you for everything.”

  He took her hand and simply held it. “It does look to be an interesting week. I hope we become a great team.”

  Her chest tightened as he entered her room.

  She stammered, not sure what to say or feel, as he went to a door she had assumed was a closet and turned the handle. It was an adjoining room.

  “I’m right in here if you need anything. It’s locked from my side, so I can’t get in unless you open it, but all you have to do is turn the handle.”

  Paige tried to discern any innuendo in his tone. There was none. He seemed to be simply informing her that he was there. Without another word he went into his own room, closed the door and was gone.

  Once inside her hotel room, Paige expected to see the bed covered with shopping bags, but there weren’t any. They weren’t on the dresser either. In the closet she found her purchased outfits hung neatly in a row. She opened the drawers and found carefully laid out accessories. Thinking of Sterling alone in her room made her a bit uncomfortable. She couldn’t decide if it was sweet or a little creepy. It brought back the feeling of Blanche lurking in her closet. How strange that someone would lie to become part of her life like that. If the police didn’t find her, maybe she’d hire a private investigator.

  So much had changed since that wild day. Although she knew she couldn’t have stayed on her current path forever, it still felt a bit unreal to be whisked off a thousand miles away and surrounded by luxury instead of working endless hours on her little farm back home. This week was a gift to get her moving forward, and she’d accept it as such. She’d learn all she could and then roll up her sleeves with her soap business and make it all it could be. She really was on the cusp of making all her dreams come true.

  Lifting out the midnight blue dress from the bag, Paige held it up to her and gazed in the full length mirror. She’d never owned anything so elegant in her life. Though she would never tell him, it was the way Sterling looked at her when she tried it on that made her agree to buy it. His gaze had made her feel beautiful, but it threw her off a little bit to see him in a suit. When she thought of him, he was always in jeans and a Stetson. But that was just a masquerade. Who was the real Sterling? She couldn’t get involved until she found out.

  After hanging up the dress, Paige changed into her new nightgown. A lavender silk that reminded her of petunias. She wondered how the goat was doing as she went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and finish getting ready for bed.

  IN THE DARK A HAND CLAMPED over her mouth, and Paige tried to scream but couldn’t. She pushed the man dressed in black away from her. He held on tight. She kicked him and tried to scream louder, but his hand covered her mouth. Lashing out with all her strength, she at last broke free and screamed as loud as she could. The sound shocked her, and her eyes popped open.

  It took a moment to adjust to her surroundings. Where was she? The glow of a distant streetlamp brightened the room enough to make out the dresser and closet, and she remembered. She was at the hotel, not the farm. She was safe.

  A knock at the door made her jump.

  She thought to ignore it until it came again, more insistent. Then she realized it wasn’t from the hall but the adjoining room. From beneath the door, she could see his light was on. Embarrassed, she rose from bed.

  Cracking the door, she met Sterling’s worried expression. “Are you alright?”

  She put a hand to her cheek. “Bad dream. Nothing really.”

  He was only wearing shorts, and her eyes drifted to his muscular torso. He touched her arm. “I’m right here.”

  Her breathing grew shallow. “I know.”

  “You’re sure you’re alright?” He drew closer to her, and she became more aware of how little he had on.

  Steadying herself, she reached out and took the edge of the door in hand. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” She began to close the door, a little concerned that if she didn’t do it then she might not ever want to.

  “I know you will,” he said right before she closed the door completely.

  Paige rushed to the bathroom and splashed her flaming cheeks with cold water. As she dabbed them dry with a towel, she wondered if they were that flushed while she was talking to him. Did he think she was a foolish little goat farmer with no brain at all? That’s how she was acting. Determined to be the quintessential businesswoman the next day, Paige headed for bed.

  As she closed her eyes, the sight of Sterling’s smooth chest flashed across her mind. She thought of the time Sterling was in Uncle Bill’s room and wouldn’t change until she left. At the time she thought he had something to hide. Was it possible to be more wrong about anything? His abs could have been used to sell exercise equipment or sports drinks or been put on a magazine cover to sell anything really, and she’d buy it. As soon as she realized she was obsessing over him, she tried to stop herself. She
was being shallow. Still, she couldn’t get the visual out of her mind. Great. Now she’d never sleep.

  Chapter Nineteen

  THE MORNING CAME TOO SOON. Paige was grateful that she had bought a good concealer because she could count on a few fingers the number of hours of sound sleep she’d gotten. She straightened her hair and put it up with the chignon pin. In her ivory pant suit with the copper bracelet and matching sandals, she knew she looked professional and tried to feel it. As she entered the dining room, Sterling waved to her.

  He mentioned nothing about their midnight encounter at breakfast, which was a bit of a relief, and began reviewing their plan of attack over scrambled eggs. “The key is to gain the client’s confidence while revealing as little about your intentions as possible,” he said.

  “Wait.” Paige tried to reconcile what he was saying with how she normally interacted with her clients. “I thought people were more apt to share information with you after you told them something about yourself.”

  “A common misconception.” He laid down his fork. “Most people are self-centered and don’t care a bit about your business. All they want is for someone to listen to them and meet their needs. If they know you’ll listen and think you have the resources they want, you’re in. It’s not complicated. At that point you can find out almost anything you want about a target.”

  “Oh, like you did with me,” she said, wondering if that’s all she was, a target.

  “Yes, in a way.” It was like he was talking about how to tie your shoe or bake a cake, not about people’s lives. “That’s a great example, actually. You needed help with your booth, and I was there. What did you know about me then?”

  “Nothing,” she said.

  “Exactly and you let me sleep under your roof that same night. Think about it. It works.” He picked up his fork and took another bite without even realizing her discomfort.

  Was that all he had done? Obviously, the technique worked because Blanche had done the same thing, but somehow it seemed underhanded to her. Like you weren’t really starting a relationship, only using people. Still, maybe that’s what business was all about. She sat up in her seat, wondering if every principle Sterling taught would be as hard to swallow.

 

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