“Quit glowing. Have you set a date?” Shannon decided a subject change was for the best. She could analyze the slight chill with Billy all day long and it would do no good at all. It hurt her and puzzled her. And there was no quick fix that she could discover.
“Do you think it would ruin everyone’s Christmas if we got married on Christmas Eve?” Cass laid down her fork and waited.
Shannon thought about it. It would be the first Christmas without Daddy. It had been his favorite time of year and he’d always made it special. Filling the holiday with a wedding might be just what she and her siblings needed to get past the pain of losing him. Cass had never had a father. Neither had Billy. Shannon couldn’t imagine what her life would have been like without big, bluff, always larger than life, Conrad Calhoun. Yes, he’d worked too much, but when he was around, you knew it.
She studied Cass, who looked more like him than any of them. He’d never gotten the chance to spoil her, take her to a carnival or throw lavish birthday parties for her. So she’d do whatever she could to make Cass feel like she was part of their family now.
Shannon nodded. “Christmas Eve sounds perfect.”
“Great.” Cass smiled then touched Shannon’s hand. “Having you and Megan as bridesmaids will make it even more perfect.”
“Are you sure? You hardly know me.” She blinked as tears filled her eyes.
“You’re my sisters. You need to pick out your own dresses. Red or green, your choice. None of that hideous over the top frou-frou stuff.” Cass grinned. “Though if you’d love to look like a fifties’ cake topper, be my guest.”
Shannon jumped up and pulled Cass into a hug. “That sounds wonderful. Megan was traumatized once by a green dress that made her, in her words, look like a bowl of guacamole. So let’s say red dresses. Will that work for you? Is your best pal Ellie going to be your maid of honor?”
“Maybe my matron of honor. She and Manny are planning to tie the knot in Cancun at Thanksgiving.” Cass sat back down and gestured to the waiter. “A bottle of your finest champagne. We’re celebrating.”
“Oh, I shouldn’t. I have to go back and write a press release. The Ballet Ball is this weekend.” Shannon did pick up the crystal flute though when it was set in front of her and laugh when the cork popped. She did love that sound.
“I’ve read some of your press releases. You’re a natural. I’m sure you can do them even if you are a little buzzed.” Cass clinked her glass against Shannon’s. “Here’s to a Christmas wedding. I hope you’ll be planning your own very soon.” She grinned and took a gulp of her champagne. “Oh, that’s good.” Her cheeks were pink with her happiness. “You know the board of directors approved my move to CEO. So it’s a double celebration. Holly’s moving me up to our father’s old office right now.”
“That’s incredible! Congratulations!” Shannon tapped her glass against Cassidy’s then sipped and savored. Oh, it was delicious. So much better than what they’d served at the reservation. She finished it too fast and let the waiter refill her glass. Before she knew it, they’d polished off the bottle then were headed back to the office arm in arm.
Sisters. It was nice having a new one. Cassidy was smart and pretty and had some great ideas for saving their father’s company. No, their company. No wonder the board had let her take over the leadership. Saving Calhoun wasn’t going to be easy and no one outside the family needed to know what they were dealing with anyway. Cassidy was a lot like Billy, coming up poor and determined to become successful. Shannon told her how much she admired her in the elevator on the way up to her cube. She knew it was all she deserved now but maybe, if she worked hard, she could prove to everyone, even a frowning Caroline Wilson, that she could handle her job, do more, even move up in the company herself. Hah!
By the time Shannon settled at her desk, she realized she was too buzzed to start proving much of anything. She was reaching for her purse when she got a text. Billy. Was she in the office? Could they meet? They’d gone two days without seeing each other. That had worried her. But she couldn’t see him now. Not when she’d been drinking. She let it go unanswered and got up. Coffee. Where?
“Shannon, did you get that press release done?” Her boss loomed in front of her just when she’d almost made it to the elevator.
“Soon. I need to clear my head. Sorry about that.” Shannon leaned against the panel next to the elevator. “Where’s the coffee bar?”
Caroline Wilson shook her head. “Are you drunk?”
“Not even close.” Shannon straightened her shoulders. Of course, she wasn’t drunk. Three drinks or had it been four?
“Go home. You’re useless in this state.” Caroline turned on her heel, muttering about Calhouns and their entitlement.
“I’ll be back!” Shannon poked the air, then the down button, breaking one of her last decent fingernails in the process. “Well, damn.” Coffee in the lobby. Oops, her purse. She headed back to her desk, smacking her knee on the corner of the wood. “Shit.”
By the time she got back to the elevator, the doors had shut. She hit the button again and waited, leaning against the doors. When they opened, she fell inside, right into strong arms. She looked up. Just her luck. Of course, he’d come up to see her anyway. She smiled but knew she’d blown it. He’d hate seeing her like this. Why hadn’t she popped a breath mint? Too late.
“Billy. I was just going down for coffee. Come with me?” She scooted around him and hit the button for the lobby. She couldn’t look at him. Instead, she dug in her purse for that mint. Not too late. Maybe.
He didn’t say a word. The ride down to the lobby lasted forever with three stops so four people could get into the car. Shannon let the man and three women separate her from Billy as they rode down. She chewed her mint and reapplied lipstick using the mirror on the wall. Hair okay. Lipstick, check. Cheeks flushed. Eyes bright. One glance. He knew. She was in trouble and she resented it. So she stomped off the elevator and over to the coffee shop.
At least the ride and the mint, not to mention her anger, had taken care of most of her buzz. But not all. She swayed as she stared up at the menu above the counter. The barista was waiting for her order. Shannon couldn’t for the life of her think of what she wanted.
“She’ll take a regular, black.” His deep voice was right next to her ear. “Better put a tight lid on it. Not sure she can carry it back upstairs without spilling.”
Shannon whirled to face him. “Seriously? What’s your problem?”
“I don’t have one. Do you?” He took the coffee and handed the woman a ten-dollar bill. “Keep the change.” Then he grabbed Shannon’s elbow. “Do you need to go back upstairs or can you come with me?”
“Why would I want to come with you?” She heard herself and hated the tone. Picking a fight. When had she become an obnoxious drunk? “Are you going to lecture me?”
“No.” He handed her the coffee and walked away. Just like that.
“Billy, wait!” She realized her hands were trembling and set the coffee on a nearby table.
He stopped a few feet away. But he didn’t turn around. His shoulders were rigid and he waited. Like she’d asked him to.
She walked around him, faced him. “I’m sorry. Cass was celebrating at lunch. I, uh, helped. It won’t happen again.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Shannon. Not to me.” He stared at her, his eyes searching hers.
What was he looking for? Commitment? Truth? She couldn’t stand it.
“I know this is an issue for you. Believe me. I know.” She walked back to the table and grabbed her coffee. Took a deep swallow. When she looked back, he was gone.
Chapter 12
Shannon ran to the glass doors that led out to the street. Thank God she’d given up those heels. She pushed outside and looked both ways. There he was, striding down the sidewalk like the hounds of hell—or his drunk girlfriend�
��might be after him.
“Billy! Stop!” It didn’t work a second time. She ran flat out and luck was with her. He was a law-abiding citizen and the light held him at the corner along with a half dozen others waiting to cross the street. She got there in time to grab his arm before he could step off the curb.
“What do you want, Shannon?” He didn’t pull away. That was something.
“I’m not going to apologize. Shit happens. But I want to know why you were coming to see me. You’re freaked out and I don’t think it’s all about me getting tipsy.” She managed to get them out of the flow of pedestrians. Where the hell were all these people going at two in the afternoon?
“I just came from court. Something happened.” He leaned against the corner of the building. Billy looked tired. His sleepless nights were catching up with him and there was something else. She knew him, he was barely holding himself together.
“Tell me.” She moved in and slid her arms under his suit coat. “Did you lose an important case?”
“You could say that.” He rested his chin on top of her head. “I’m sorry if I overreacted. Seeing you under the influence just then made me crazy. After what happened in court, I couldn’t handle it.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t drink at lunch anymore. Or at least hardly ever. Special occasion. Cass and Mason set a date. I’m a bridesmaid. And she’s the new CEO at Calhoun. She ordered champagne.” Shannon realized she was babbling.
“You don’t have to make excuses, Shan. We already discussed this. I have an issue with alcohol. That issue just got a hell of a lot worse.” He let her go.
Shannon had no choice but to step back. “What happened?”
“I’d worked out a plea bargain for Aunt Sally. Today we went before the judge. Sally wasn’t there, thank God. It was just the assistant DA and the lawyers. The DA had hammered out seven possible deals she presented to the judge. So we wouldn’t have to go to trial.” He ran a hand over his face. He looked tired, discouraged, and so sad it made Shannon want to pull his face to her breast and just hold him. “He’s running for reelection. The judge, I mean. So he decided to play hard ball. He threw out all the plea deals for the DUI. There have been some deaths on the highways recently because of drunk drivers. Made the news.”
“I know. I hate to watch the local news. So sad.”
He just looked at her. “Well, it’s had an impact. Voters are up in arms. And when he saw Sally’s third strike? It wouldn’t fly. I argued. Forget probation. House arrest and an ankle monitor weren’t good enough. Judge insisted. Sally has to serve time, Shannon. She’s to report to the county jail tomorrow. She got a year. It could have been much worse. With luck and overcrowding, she’ll be out with good behavior in months.” Billy’s mouth quirked. “The judge considered that a light sentence. If Sally had so much as dented someone’s fender, she’d be looking at eight to ten.”
“Years?” When he nodded, Shannon swallowed, not sure she wasn’t going to be sick.
“Now I have to go tell her.” He gripped Shannon’s hands. “Tell my grandmother too. I failed them both.”
“No, stop that.” She held onto him. “This is not your fault. The judge…” She shook her head then fought a wave of dizziness. Shit. She was still a little drunk. No way was she driving herself home after this. “I meant to say it was your aunt’s fault. For drinking and driving. I totally get that.”
“I doubt she’ll think that way.” Billy glanced toward the entrance to Calhoun headquarters. “Do you have to get back to work?”
“I should. That’s why I was going down for coffee. I have to send out a press release about the Ballet Ball this weekend.” Shannon hoped he didn’t want her to go with him to see his grandmother. That old woman would take one look and realize she’d been drinking. It would be the final nail in her coffin. Call in the gang boys on the corner.
“Oh, yeah. That.” He ran a hand over his face, straightened his tie. “Life goes on. Right? So Friday night. I’ll pick you up. Will it look bad if we don’t stay too long?” He walked her back to the double doors. It was clear that every word required an effort. How on earth did Billy keep going on so little sleep and under so much pressure? Sally was just one of his cases.
“Relax, Billy. This will be easier than you think, I promise. I’ll text you the details. Black tie.” Shannon promised herself she would not add to his stress. He would find out that the Ballet Ball was her element. She knew everyone, had grown up helping make those kinds of events a success. He would see the woman he loved there and they would get their relationship back on track. “I have a beautiful dress. I hope you like it.”
“You’re always beautiful. I have a tux.” He ran a hand down her arm. “Drink your coffee. I’m sorry I can’t see you tonight. Family drama will last quite a while. I’m sure Gran will want to go with me to break the news to Sally.” He rubbed his eyes. “I’m glad you don’t have to be part of that.”
“Good luck.” She reached up to kiss his solemn lips. “I’m so sorry, Billy. Remember, you did the best you could. You’re the number one lawyer in Houston. No one could have done better.”
“I doubt Sally will agree with you.” His shoulders sagged as he walked away.
* * * *
Sally had cried so much she’d made herself sick. A physician on staff finally came in with a sedative and orderlies took her away.
“Billy, don’t look so sad. I know there wasn’t anything else you could do.” Gran patted his shoulder. “Take me home, boy. I just want to go to bed.”
“I’m sorry.” He steered her out to the car.
She settled into the passenger seat and waited for him to start the car then put her hand over his before he could pull out of the parking lot. “Wait. I have something to say.”
Billy leaned back. “Do we have to do this now? I’m beat. I can’t sleep, not sure when I ate last, and I have files to go over before an important meeting tomorrow.”
“You work too hard.” She patted his hand. “Yes, we’re doing this now. Maybe I should drive. I know you’re not sleeping. Driving without sleep is almost as dangerous as Sally driving drunk.”
“Stop it. You won’t compare me to a damned drunk driver. I’m perfectly fine.” He threw the car into gear and backed out of the spot. “I really don’t need a lecture right now.”
“Don’t you?” She buckled her seat belt. “Driving angry isn’t a good idea either, young man.”
He choked out a laugh. Young? He felt about a hundred years old. Why couldn’t he shut down his mind? It kept running. Got worse when he lay in his bed at night and stared at the ceiling. Working out didn’t help. The few hours of decent sleep he got always came after he made love to Shannon. But lately he’d denied himself that pleasure. Because he worried that she’d do it again. Pull him in with her beauty and charm and then lose interest and cast him aside.
He knew he wasn’t an easy man to live with. When he’d tried with other women, it had always ended the same way. He was a workaholic—pushing constantly to be the best, get more clients, always be available. It was how he’d become successful and he was proud of how far he’d come. Work had filled his life for a long damned time. It wasn’t poisoning his liver, but it was becoming clear to him that it was taking a toll. God. Had he turned into an addict and not realized it?
His car beeped and he realized he’d almost mowed down a traffic barrel. Like Sally had done just before a cop pulled her over. Gran was right. He was dead on his feet and shouldn’t be driving. But he knew she couldn’t see well at night and he didn’t trust her to drive either. He exited the freeway and hit a drive-thru.
“Coffee at this time of night? No wonder you can’t sleep.” She complained the entire time they were sitting in line but did accept an ice cream cone.
“I could fuss at you. Didn’t the doctor say you should lay off the sugar?” She had a sweet tooth and it made him s
mile to watch her savor the treat.
“Hah! At my age, I’ll do what I want. What’s the point of living a long time if you have to deny yourself small pleasures like ice cream?” She licked the cone and winked at him. “What gives you pleasure, my Billy?”
“You don’t want to hear it.” He grinned. “Adult things.”
“Ah. Your woman then.” She shook her head. “You’re right. I don’t want to hear it. Wrong woman. Is that one of the things that keeps you up at night?”
“Maybe. But I won’t discuss Shannon with you.” Billy wished he could talk this out with his grandmother. Seeing Shannon drunk in the middle of the day had rocked him. Celebrating. How many times had his mother thrown out that word as an excuse to get sloshed? She’d celebrate a Friday, a new job, a pretty haircut. Shit. She’d celebrate a good grade he brought home on a test. Then he wouldn’t see her for three days straight while she went out on a bender and he’d think it was his fault.
“I warned that girl not to break your heart.” Gran crunched the last of the cone then wiped her mouth with a napkin. “If she’s giving you pain, I’ll see that she’s sorry.”
“Gran! You leave Shannon the hell alone.” Billy set his empty cup in the center console. “I love her. I’ll decide if she’s worth my time or the pain.” He realized he’d said too much already.
His grandmother leaned back and closed her eyes. “I knew it. Shannon Calhoun is wrong for you. Please let her go.” She turned her head away. So he wouldn’t see her tears?
“We’ll work it out. You stay out of it. I hope to marry her. Have children with her. Your great grandchildren. If you ever hope to see them, you’ll become reconciled to this.” It wasn’t until he’d said it out loud that Billy knew it as the truth. When he’d run to Shannon after that judge tossed out Sally’s plea bargain, it had been pure instinct. She was his comfort. The one place besides at his grandmother’s knee where he knew he would find acceptance and no judgment. He had to reach deep inside himself and do that for her too. Otherwise he’d be doing her no favors if he wanted this relationship to work.
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