Dallas interviewed several more very upset people, the last one sewing it up for everyone.
“Tuscaloosa is, for the most part, a very Christian town,” the older man explained. “It’s one thing to play childish pranks, but this just ain’t funny. No siree bobtail, it sure ain’t when you mess with Baby Jesus.”
“And there you have it,” Dallas said to the camera. “We are close to finding the statue stolen from the front yard of Miss Peaches Shelby, and more evidence has turned up today. It looks to me like whoever has the Baby Jesus will be in quite a bit of trouble when they’re found, if the city of Tuscaloosa has anything to say about it. I’m Dallas Dubois for WTAL News.”
“That’s a wrap. I think you’re on a roll,” Daniel said.
“Let’s hope.”
Dallas walked over to the van and helped Daniel roll up the mic cable. They got in the car to go grab some lunch before heading back to the station.
“Daniel, I’ve been thinking. I haven’t said this before, but maybe I wasn’t as nice to you as I could have been sometimes.”
Daniel almost drove right over the curb leaving the Walmart parking lot. Apologizing wasn’t something Dallas was known for, and it was obviously surprising.
“Well, you had your moments...”
“I just wanted to say that you’ve been a good friend and I do apologize if I was...well, bitchy.”
They both laughed, Daniel a little more loudly than Dallas.
“I wasn’t that bad, now, was I?” she said, feigning disbelief.
“Well, let’s just say you were a little more Wicked Witch of the West than Glinda the Good Witch.”
“Okay, well, I said I was sorry and I meant it,” she said.
She looked out the window as Daniel drove. All of these changes were feeling pretty good, but that call from her mother was bothering her like a just-bitten tongue—she tried to ignore it, but it kept getting in her way. She decided to send a text. She wasn’t even sure if her mother got text messages, but she figured it would at least ease her guilt.
Mother, no time till January.
That was it. She slipped her phone back into the inside pocket of her purse.
A minute later, her phone jingled with a text message. Damn.
Please. It’s time to stop this.
Ugh! That was the very one thing Dallas could not stand. Her mother saying it was time. Time! As though all those years when Dallas thought it was time didn’t matter now that LouAnn was ready. As though Dallas was supposed to stay away and raise herself till the queen decided it was time to get the family back together. No, this was not gonna work, she thought. I’ll decide when it’s time. And maybe that time would be never.
She ignored the message and dropped the cell back into her purse. What had she done by sending a text to her mother? That woman would be texting her now day and night.
Sure enough, her cell phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and thanked God when she saw that it was Mike.
“Hey, can y’all get over to the Brooks Mansion?” he asked.
“Sure, what’s up?”
“They have a developing story over there, and we need to get some footage, maybe a story for the ten o’clock. Can you make it?”
“You mean I’ll get a story on both the six and ten tonight? Absolutely,” she said, as excited as if she’d won the lottery.
Mike gave her the details, and they drove straight over to the Brooks Mansion.
As they entered the beautiful circular drive, they couldn’t believe their eyes. There were animals running and flying all over the place, and Lewis, Abigail...and Cal were all out chasing them.
20
“Holy shit, what is this?” Daniel asked, slamming the van into Park and leaping out to grab the camera.
“Looks like this little scavenger hunt has taken on a life of its own!” Dallas said as she jumped out.
“Grab that goose!” Lewis shouted as he ran by.
“My God, why would anyone bring you a goose?” Dallas shouted over all the commotion.
“Not a goose, six geese—a-layin’!” Abigail explained, lunging toward a swan.
“Don’t tell me,” Daniel said. “You’ve also got seven swans a-swimming?”
“I never realized how many specimens of fowl are actually in that song until now,” Cal said, running after a hen.
“I guess that was a French hen,” Daniel joked.
Dallas laughed at him. “What are you doing here?” she asked Cal.
“The university is on winter break and my best friend called me for help. Where else would I be?”
As the men continued to round up the animals, taking them around back to an outbuilding that had once been used as an outdoor kitchen for the old working plantation, Dallas interviewed Abigail for the news.
“I’m warning you, Tuscaloosa, if we get even one more animal here at WRCT, we will end this contest without a winner. We are not a zoo and have no room for all these birds. We asked that you bring us the replicas of the decorations of the Twelve Days of Christmas by following the clues online. From now on, if anyone brings a live animal to the Brooks Mansion, they will be disqualified.” Abigail’s hair was a mess, her jacket unbuttoned and her blouse halfway untucked. She looked exasperated and you just knew she meant every single word she said.
“Remember,” Dallas said in the wrap-up, “this scavenger hunt benefits the Children’s Home of Tuscaloosa, and all donations and fees will be given directly to that foundation as part of our Home for the Holidays charity event. An iPad goes to the person who can gather all twelve of the Christmas decorations hidden around Tuscaloosa—none of which are live animals. I’m Dallas Dubois for WTAL.”
* * *
Cal had come around front to watch as Dallas did her stand-up. She’d seen him standing on the front porch with his hands in his pockets, smiling at her as she worked. He approached her now as Abigail excused herself to go pull herself together.
“That was pretty good,” he said, impressed.
“What was?”
“You got that shout-out for the charity in again. I love that.”
“It’s the least I could do. I mean, we’re all involved this year.”
“Well, you’re great at this. I mean it. You really are.” He leaned in and kissed her, long and slow since no one was paying any attention. The heat from her body sent a shiver through him as she melted into him, and he pulled her small, curvy body in close. They’d thought they were alone.
About that second, Daniel and Lewis rounded the corner from the back and got an eyeful. Cal hadn’t told Lewis anything about this new relationship yet. He knew how Lewis would feel, considering their history, and there was no doubt he’d tell Vivi. Then she’d tell Blake. Cal had hoped he’d have a chance to let Lewis know what Dallas was really like. Especially how gentle she had been with Sara Grace. But, well, now it was pretty much out there.
“Hey, y’all,” Dallas said, and Cal could hear how suddenly nervous and uncomfortable she’d become. She cleared her throat. “We...uh...didn’t know you were there.”
“No kiddin’,” Lewis said, his eyebrows up.
“Dallas was just telling me how happy she was that she would have a story on both the six and ten tonight,” Cal said, trying to boost her up.
“She sure looks ecstatic,” Lewis said, smirking and nodding.
“Well, I was just congratulating her,” Cal continued.
“I’d love to see what you’d do to her if she won an Emmy,” Daniel joked.
Cal and Dallas moved apart and let daylight between them.
“Well, I was going to tell you later, Lewis, but seems later is now,” Cal said.
Lewis laughed. “I think I might have a slight inkling as to what you’re gonna say.”
“Well, you must need glasses, Cal, since you need to be eyeball to eyeball to see her.”
Everyone laughed.
“Well, I guess congratulations are in order. It’s about time. I mean, it was sure no secret the huge crush he had on you in high school,” Lewis said.
Cal was relieved that Lewis wasn’t going to say anything snide. He’d only just gotten used to Dallas’s soft side, and the last thing he wanted was for Lewis—or anyone else—to force her walls back up.
“What? He had a crush on me?” Dallas exclaimed. “I think you have me mistaken for another girl.”
“Uh, nope. I was his best friend. I think I would know.”
Dallas looked at Cal. She was so adorable when she was surprised like that. She looked so vulnerable, as though she had no idea just how amazing she was and how lucky he felt to be dating her.
“Is it true, Cal? You had a crush on me?”
“Yep. It’s true,” he said, blushing.
“Oh, he thought you were so full of yourself, too,” Lewis chimed in. “It was weird. He would be insane with lust for you one minute, and then say he couldn’t stand you at the same time.”
“I know just how he felt,” Dallas said, and she smiled, easing Cal’s embarrassment. All this time, Cal and I were suffering from the exact same allergy, Dallas thought to herself.
“Whada y’all say we get inside and have some hot chocolate and get warmed up?” Lewis suggested. “We got all those damn birds locked up safe for now. I know a man that has a farm already willin’ to come get ’em, so we can relax for now.”
“Sounds good to me, but I think these two are pretty warm already,” Daniel said, winking at Cal and leading the way up the porch steps into the mansion.
Cal hung back and grabbed Lewis aside. “Hey, keep this to yourself for now. I know there’s been some bad blood between Vivi and Dallas over the years. The truth is, she’s really soft under all that hairspray and I don’t want her to get hurt. I wanna wait for just the right time to let everyone in on the fact that I’m seein’ her. Okay?”
“Hey, man, no prob. Lips are sealed till you decide.” Lewis smiled at Cal. He slapped his back as a show of solidarity and they joined everyone else in the mansion.
21
After work, Dallas met Cal at her house. He brought over some groceries to cook her dinner. Thank God, she thought. She didn’t yet want him to know about her massive lack of domestic talent. He brought linguini and all the ingredients for fresh marinara sauce and, of course, a great bottle of wine.
“Hey, baby,” he said, leaning in for a kiss, one arm holding the bag of groceries and the other arm reaching around Dallas, pulling her in.
“Mmm, you smell good enough to eat,” she purred. She knew how to turn on the sex kitten when she wanted to. Cal could dish it back though.
“I thought that’s what I was doing to you tonight.... Didn’t somebody volunteer to be my platter earlier?”
“I did, but I’ll need my dessert, too,” she said, winking at him as she closed the door to the dropping temperatures behind him.
Dallas was excited. She knew how to sell her sexuality, but she had always been hungry for something deeper, something more meaningful. Cal was the first man to even come close to that possibility.
Courting was something Cal clearly knew how to do. His parents had been married for more than fifty years, he’d told her. They had one of those romances you dreamed about, a rare story, but Cal wanted that, too. He’d told her about his two older brothers, who were both married with kids. He’d also told her that he wanted to make sure he chose right so he would only have to choose once, which was why he still hadn’t married.
Dallas had a feeling she was a huge risk for him. She was sure if any of his friends even had an inkling of him seeing Dallas, they’d certainly shake him and tell him he was nuts. Three times married and she had a reputation. She just hoped he would trust his instincts
“Okay, let’s see, how do ya turn this thing on?” he asked as he tried to get the stove on.
“I think the pilot light’s out,” Dallas said, as though it had only just happened. “Be careful”
“How ’bout the oven? I wanted to stick the bread in,” he asked, fiddling with all the knobs.
“Hmm, not sure...” Dallas reluctantly admitted.
“So, I’m guessing it’s never been turned on, at least not by you, huh?” He smiled at her.
“Um, well, it’s a lot of trouble to cook for just me,” she justified.
“I know what you mean,” Cal said. “I’m the same.”
Dallas had wriggled out of that one. Now she just prayed he didn’t need to iron anything.
“Oh, I meant to talk to you about this earlier. I might need you to run by the station soon and check on something for me. I’m getting some strange emails that I was hoping you might be able to track for me,” she said, changing the subject quickly.
“No problem, baby. I’ll take care of that for you.” Cal waved it off as if it was nothing for him to help her out. Well, he was a genius with computers.
Pretty soon, Cal had noodles boiling and the marinara simmering. And before they knew it, dinner and good conversation had melted into the late hours of the night. Cal poured them both a glass of Chianti.
“Let’s go sit by the fire,” Cal said, taking the lead.
Dallas had changed into soft charcoal-gray yoga pants and a deep V-neck navy sweater. She was padding around in her favorite fuzzy socks. She could tell that Cal loved seeing her like this even more than the overly made-up reporter in five-inch heels who everyone always saw. She was much more real— approachable and soft.
It was true that when Dallas got home each night, she shut her world outside off and brushed all that Aqua Net out of her golden blond hair. It felt wonderful to finally share that side of her with someone other than Wilhelmina. She sat down on the pillows Cal had grabbed from the couch and settled in next to him on the floor.
“Thanks for cooking me dinner,” she said.
“My pleasure. I like to cook, especially Italian. At home, I never get the chance to because it’s just me.”
“Well, you can cook for me anytime,” she said leaning back into him.
Cal took a handful of her hair and pushed it around her shoulder, exposing the back of her neck to him. He pressed his lips to her skin, sending a chill down both of her arms. She held her hair up, allowing him to nibble the rest of her neck. He traveled his tongue toward her collarbone, kissing the hollows under her jawline, then back up behind her ear.
She rolled her head around, intoxicated by the scent of him and the feeling of his tender mouth on her bare skin. He touched her shoulders, massaging them under his strong hands, then dropped them to her waist, sneaking under her sweater with his gentle fingertips, dragging his hands up her back. She laid back completely as he held her in his arms. He bent over her, kissing her softly at first and then with much more passion. She opened her mouth and let him in.
Dallas wrapped her arms up around Cal’s neck, as he gently put her head down on a crimson satin pillow, her long hair trailing down either side. He stopped kissing her only for a moment to look deeply into her eyes.
Slipping the tips of his fingers under her sweater, he began to walk his fingertips up her abdomen to her lacy demi bra, cupping her breasts. She giggled, revealing her ticklish spot, and he flashed that single dimple in response. He slipped her bra down until her full, round breasts spilled out into his waiting hands, and he took his time kissing her nipples and tasting her flesh while she lost herself in his slow, focused attention.
He took off his shirt, then lifted her sweater over her head as she rose from the pillow, sliding her hands over his hard, muscular back. While she was up, her arms
around him, he unhooked her bra and let the coral-colored lacy garment drop to the floor. Cal stretched out on top of her, her breasts pressed against his rigid nipples, his tongue traveling into the hollows of her neck.
Dallas was nervous. This was a place she normally felt very comfortable. But tonight she was vulnerable. Cal looked into her eyes where other men usually focused on the rest of her. And his slow attention to detail threw her off guard.
Her husbands had all been so different from each other, but none of them had been very sophisticated. She had married Bobby Lawless right out of high school. He was an amateur race car driver, and he’d wanted Dallas to move to Talladega. His mother, Jolene, owned a beauty shop and had tried constantly to get Dallas to drop out of school and go to cosmetology training. That marriage had lasted ten whole months.
Her second marriage had been to a much older man. Clearly, Dallas had been looking to fill the daddy role. She’d thought she had hit the double jackpot with her sugar daddy till she’d found out one day he was a gambling criminal on the run. How she’d managed to stay in school had been a miracle. That marriage had only been eight months.
Then came that cute LSU boy. Bryan Dubois. He was from the sticks but was a great football player. She’d married him right after she’d finally graduated with her broadcast journalism degree. Everything had been all great and hunky-dory for a while—till she’d found out he liked other women on the side. Lots of other women. She’d divorced him after only eleven months but kept his last name, thinking it made her sound like a TV star.
Cal was unlike any of them. In fact, she had never even met anyone like him. He seemed to want to please her. To be thoughtful. Of course, she would naturally have a ton of trouble trusting this sweet Southern gentleman. Dallas was used to being on top, so to speak, used to using her gorgeous long legs and ample bosom to get a man to do whatever she wanted.
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