by Susanna Carr
He really was in hell. “I’m looking for Christine Pearson.”
“Christine?” The man thrust out his chin as if scenting trouble. Or competition. “How do you know her?”
“We’re friends,” Travis said, almost choking on the term. He had been infatuated with Christine, intrigued by her sweetness and innocence. And then she stole from him. He didn’t know if she had made the most of an unexpected opportunity or if she had targeted him from the beginning.
“I’m Darrell.” He watched Travis closely as they shook hands. The lines on Darrell’s forehead deepened. “What? She never told you about me?”
“No,” Travis replied brusquely and dropped Darrell’s hand. Christine had mentioned everyone else from Cedar Valley but this guy. That had to be significant. “Do you know where I can find her?”
“Oh, sure. Christine’s schedule never changes.” Darrell glanced at his watch. “She would be working at the bank.”
The bank? He should have guessed. It was a thief’s dream job. “Where can I find it?”
“Just stay on Main Street. The bank is the only brick building in town. If you pass the gazebo in the town’s square, you’ve gone too far.”
A gazebo. He should have known. This place was a freaking nightmare. Once he confronted Christine and got the emerald back, he was leaving like a bat out of hell.
* * *
AT EXACTLY TEN O’CLOCK, Christine rose from her desk and left her glassed-in office. She walked out to the lobby of the Cedar Valley Bank. There were no customers and the two bank tellers were chatting with each other. Christine nodded at Harold, the old security guard, as Faye Lamb and her daughter, Bonnie, walked through the front door.
She could hear Faye and Bonnie bickering. Bonnie was in her late forties and always wore a baseball cap and colorful workout clothes. Faye was in her seventies and never left the house without her jewelry and makeup on. And, since the death of her husband, Faye wore only black. The mother and daughter were very different, but their love and affection for each other were apparent.
Christine had always felt she and Bonnie had something in common. Like Bonnie, Christine had put her life on hold when her father had left and her mother had been too grief-stricken to cope. Christine was glad her mother eventually found a second chance at love and left Cedar Valley to start a new life. She just wished she hadn’t focused so much on others and had done something for herself during those years.
“Christine!” Faye Lamb said as she shuffled across the lobby, her black heels clacking on the marble floor. “It’s good to see you. How was your vacation?”
She forgot that everyone knew she had been out of town. “It was wonderful,” Christine said with a warm smile as she greeted Faye with a gentle handshake. The older woman was fragile and wore heavy, sharp rings and bracelets.
“You won’t believe what happened,” Faye said with a smile. “My son is coming for a visit.”
“Really?” She barely remembered Todd, but she had heard the stories. He had a talent for finding trouble. She glanced at Bonnie for confirmation and the woman nodded. “Todd hasn’t been back home for ages. What’s the occasion?”
“He hasn’t said,” Bonnie informed Christine. “Knowing Todd, it’ll be a short visit.”
“It sounds as if you’ll want to break out the good jewelry,” Christine said.
“That’s what I was thinking,” Faye said as they slowly walked to the door that led to the safe-deposit boxes. “This calls for the pearls.”
Christine remembered the stunning pearl necklace and automatically reached up to brush her hand along the fake pearls she wore every day to work. She’d bought the necklace years ago so she would feel older and more sophisticated at the office.
“You know,” Faye said, “my dearly departed Stanley gave me the necklace when Todd was born.”
“I thought he gave you that bracelet to celebrate Todd’s birth.” Christine pointed at the thick gold chain bracelet that Faye always wore. The woman enjoyed changing her jewelry on a weekly basis, but the bracelet never left her wrist.
“No, no, no.” Faye waved her hand and the gold flashed warmly under the ceiling lights. “The bracelet was when we found out I was pregnant.”
“That’s right. Now I remember.” Christine liked this part of her job. She wanted to hear the stories about the family heirlooms or a person’s most valued possession. She wanted to see a customer’s eyes light up when they dreamed about retirement or the possibilities of their first home.
“It’s only right that I give both to Todd when he comes over,” Faye said softly.
Christine paused as she waved another employee to come over to assist them. “I beg your pardon?”
“My mother thinks Todd would appreciate the family heirlooms.” Bonnie shook her head wearily. “She wants him to present them to his fiancée on a special occasion. What fiancée is he on now? Number eight?”
“Hush, now,” Faye said. “It took Todd some time to find his true love. That necklace will seal the deal. Mark my words.”
“Here is Laurie to help you with the box,” Christine said, even though Faye and Bonnie were familiar with the procedure. “Please let me know if you need anything.”
As Christine returned to her office, she thought about the jewelry that dear departed Stanley had given his wife. The pieces were old, heavy and didn’t fit the current styles, but Christine thought the ritual had been sweet and romantic. Faye relived the memories every time she wore one of Stanley’s gifts.
Christine was about to sit down at her desk when she heard the unfamiliar throaty growl of a motorcycle. That was odd. No one in Cedar Valley had a motorcycle.
She glanced out the window as she saw the rider turn into the parking lot. He wore a black motorcycle jacket, faded jeans and boots and a black helmet. There was something familiar about the lean, muscular body. She wondered who’d bought a bike over the weekend. She didn’t remember anyone coming in asking for a loan.
As the man parked in front of the bank and removed the helmet, Christine went still. That looked like Travis Cain. She blinked. The same high cheekbones and angular jaw.
She blinked again and stared at his harsh features. Her skin went hot and then cold. Her heart leaped in her chest and she gasped.
Oh, no. That was Travis Cain. What was he doing here?
There was only one answer. He was here to see her. Christine looked at her dull brown dress and her hands automatically went to her tight braid. Oh, no, no, no. She dropped to her knees and hid from the window. She couldn’t let this happen.
The panic pulsed in her body as she looked for an escape. She had no second door. The walls were glass. There wasn’t another exit.
She needed to make a run for it. Christine was about to stand when she heard the heavy footsteps on the marble floor.
“Good morning, sir,” Laurie said with a tinge of curiosity. “How can I help you?”
“I’m here for Christine Pearson.”
Christine shivered when she heard Travis’s voice. It was husky and confident. The man didn’t need to raise his voice. He always gained attention the moment he stepped into a room.
“She should be in her office,” Laurie said. “I’ll take you there.”
8
CHRISTINE DOVE UNDER her desk. She winced and gritted her teeth when her knee bumped against the sharp edge of a drawer. She tried not to make a sound as she curled her body tight. Resting her forehead against her stinging knee, she closed her eyes. Her pulse was racing, her heart pounding in her ears, as she listened to Laurie’s squeaky flat shoes get closer.
“Christine?” Laurie’s voice grew louder as she stepped into the small office. “Huh, that’s strange. I could have sworn she was here.”
Christine pressed her lips together and prayed Laurie wouldn�
�t investigate and walk around the desk. The older woman would immediately call her out. Laurie wouldn’t understand that she was hiding from Travis until it was too late.
“She must have just stepped out,” Laurie continued. “Perhaps I could help you?”
“I’m not a customer,” Travis said. Christine’s heart did a slow, funny flip at the sound of his voice. “I’m here on personal business.”
“Really?”
Christine scrunched up her face at Laurie’s intrigued tone. The woman was hardworking and helpful, but her favorite pastime was gossiping. She could probably get information out of a hardened criminal with a carefully placed question and a cookie.
She didn’t want Travis talking to Laurie. Christine was tempted to jump out from under the desk just to keep Laurie and Travis apart. Maybe she could cause a distraction. Christine looked around the room as the anxiety pulsed inside her. She had nothing.
Perhaps she didn’t have anything to worry about. Travis was discreet. He was friendly but private. He didn’t reveal a lot about himself.
She wasn’t sure why she hadn’t noticed that before. He’d entertain her with stories about his travels, but he was hesitant to answer any personal questions. She knew that he had risked death while snowboarding in Alaska, but she didn’t know where he was born. She was sure he would respond in the same manner to Laurie’s pointed questions.
“I’m sure Christine will be back shortly,” Laurie said. “Would you like a cup of coffee while you wait?”
Don’t do it! Tell her you’ll come back, Christine thought. She needed Travis to leave so she could get out of here. She needed time to come up with a plan for how she would act when she came face-to-face with her one-night stand.
“Thank you.”
“Are you from around here?” Laurie asked. “What did you say your family name was?”
“I’m Travis Cain, and no, this is my first time in Cedar Valley.”
Christine shook her head. Why was Travis giving out unsolicited information? He was making it too easy for Laurie. The man knew how to deflect personal questions. He did it during her Vegas weekend. Did he want to hide something from her or was Laurie just that good at interrogation?
“I knew you didn’t look familiar,” Laurie said, her voice fading as they went closer to the front door, where the complimentary drinks were served. “So how do you know Christine?”
Christine strained to listen to Travis’s reply but all she heard was the timbre of his deep voice. Her stomach twisted as she imagined how he replied. I met her while she was gambling away her life’s savings.... I spent the weekend with her in bed.... She was going to be the talk of the town before lunchtime.
She couldn’t let that happen. She had spent the past ten years building a reputation. Christine Pearson was no longer the dreamer who didn’t understand reality. She now was the woman who knew how to make dreams happen for others. She was the advocate for her friends and neighbors and got to live the dream through them. She was the fairy godmother she’d never had. She wasn’t going to let one wild weekend ruin that.
She had to do something, but she needed help. Christine carefully uncurled herself from under the desk and reached for the bottom drawer. She hissed as the metal rubbed against metal. She grabbed her purse and found her cell phone. Christine hunched her shoulders and returned to the safe haven under her desk as she speed-dialed her friend.
“Jill’s Dry Cleaning.”
“Jill?” she whispered fiercely and then paused. As far as she could tell, no one heard her in the quiet bank. “It’s Christine. I need your help.”
“You got it.” Jill’s voice dropped low. “Why are we whispering?”
“Travis just showed up at the bank.” She didn’t know how Jill was going to handle the news. Neither of them had ever had a man follow them to the ends of the earth. Or Cedar Valley, which sometimes felt like the farthest edge of civilization. Would Jill worry or cheer her on? She hoped it would be brief because it was getting extremely uncomfortable under this desk.
“Travis?” Jill said the name as if she was testing it out on her tongue. “Who’s Travis? Wait, wasn’t your one-night stand named Travis?”
“Yes, that’s the guy. Travis Cain. He drove up to the bank on a motorcycle and is talking to Laurie.”
“Uh-oh. Of all the people to meet in Cedar Valley. She’s going to find out everything you did in Vegas and tell everyone,” Jill predicted. “Then the whole town is going to question your judgment. Jumping out of a building is one thing, but gambling? And a one-night stand with a stranger? They aren’t going to trust you with their money.”
“I know.” Christine rubbed her hand over her face as she considered the worst-case scenario. Any lack of faith and she could lose her job. “Travis is hanging around waiting for me to return.”
“Where are you?”
“I hit the floor the minute I saw him,” she admitted. “And now I’m hiding under my desk. I can’t escape without anyone noticing.”
“This guy followed you from Vegas? Should I be concerned?”
Christine jerked in surprise. “No, Travis isn’t a stalker. I didn’t get any creepy vibes from him. He never made me uncomfortable. In fact, I was the one who was in charge of this fling. I took him to bed.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Jill said. “But how did he know where you live?”
“I don’t know.” Christine shook her head and sighed. “I may have mentioned Cedar Valley once or twice.”
“Christine! The next time I see you, we will discuss what you can and cannot reveal when you have sex with a stranger.”
“I really don’t think this situation will come up again,” Christine whispered fiercely and clapped her hand over mouth. She looked from side to side as she listened for anyone approaching her office. “Tell me how to get out of this.”
Jill clucked her tongue. “There is only one thing you can do. You need to suck it up, buttercup.”
Christine swallowed a groan as she heard her friend give the usual advice. “I was really afraid you would say that.”
“Get out from under the desk,” Jill told her, “look him in the eye and tell him that you are a married woman with seven children.”
“Jill!” She covered her mouth again as a laugh threatened to escape. There was no way she could tell a lie like that.
“You have a better idea?”
“I don’t want to see him.” That wasn’t true. She wanted to see Travis again. Wrap her arms around him and claim a kiss. Feel the sizzle in her veins and the throb of pleasure as he awakened her body. But she needed to do it on her terms. She glanced down at her brown shift dress and sensible shoes. “You saw how I looked this morning.”
“What was wrong with your appearance? It’s a clean, tailored look. Very proper and ladylike.”
“That’s the problem.” Christine leaned her head against her desk and winced from the unyielding metal. “He’s under the impression that I’m a sexy and exciting woman.”
“You are a sexy and exciting woman,” Jill insisted.
Christine smiled. Her friend was loyal but wrong. “I’m not wearing strapless dresses and high heels day after day. I’m not having all-night sex in my real life.”
“Well, no wonder he followed you from Vegas,” Jill muttered. “What exactly did you do during the sex marathons?”
“Nothing!” She didn’t do anything that would have him chasing her for more. That was what made this so confusing. “I just don’t get it.”
“Okay, what do you want to do?”
Christine held her hands out as she considered her options. “I got a plan. I need you to come over here and smuggle in a little black dress and some stiletto heels.”
“Right,” Jill said in a drawl. “Like that’s not going to cause a scene. Your
coworkers are so used to you walking around the bank in evening wear.”
Her friend was right. If she sexed up her appearance, it would create more gossip. But it would hurt to approach Travis now and watch the desire in his eyes fizzle. “I can’t let him see me like this.”
“Why not? It’s the real you.”
She tilted her foot and looked at her shoe. They were dowdy but comfortable. Just like every other pair of shoes in her closet. “He wouldn’t be interested in the real me.”
“Now I’m confused. Do you want him here or not?”
Christine sighed. “I want to see him again, but not like this. Not in my natural habitat. He’s going to expect a swan and find a colorless, boring duck. My pride is at stake here.”
“If he’s that kind of guy, you don’t want him in the first place.”
“I know. I just wish...” Christine bit her tongue before she voiced her deepest desire. She wanted Travis to think she was so fascinating that he couldn’t believe his luck that he was with her. She wished she could have one person in this world think she was special. Even if it was a lie.
“You need me to come over there and run interference?” Jill offered. “I can cause a distraction while you crawl out the window.”
“Thanks for the offer,” Christine said as she reluctantly withdrew from her hiding place. “But that didn’t work in high school, and I don’t think it’s going to work now.”
“What are you going to do?”
“The only thing I can do. I’m going to show Travis the real me. He’ll walk out of here and I’ll have a chance to contain the gossip. No one will know about my secret weekend.”
“It’s for the best,” Jill assured her.
Christine knew that, but her heart wasn’t in it. This had been her one chance to be a man’s fantasy. Now that moment was gone.
* * *
TRAVIS TOOK A SIP of coffee and cast a quick glance at Christine’s office. She was still hiding under the desk. Did she really think he wouldn’t have noticed? The desk was on short legs and he had seen her feet.