A Texas Chance

by Jean Brashear

  And with every step he tried not to think about how something inside of him had gone still and cold after that fall, and how empty his life would be if his gift never came back.

  Austin, Texas

  SOPHIE CARLISLE COLLAPSED on the widow’s walk of the house where she’d just spent fourteen hours refinishing the wood floors. She was so tired she wasn’t even hungry, yet morning—and still another long day—would come all too soon and she needed her strength.

  Despite four months of backbreaking work, the remodeling to make the wreckage of an old mansion into Hotel Serenity was behind schedule; she was out of money and the bank was withholding funds.

  And she had guests booked to arrive in only four weeks.

  But she’d picked herself up and beaten the odds before, hadn’t she?

  With this unique jewel of a hotel, she’d found the courage to dream again, to try again…to start over for the third time in her life. She’d lost much in her thirty-six years—parents, husband, child, then the career and reputation she’d spent fifteen years building.

  She was not going to lose this dream. Hotel Serenity would open on time, and it would sparkle. Those who believed her washed-up after the scandal would be put on notice: Sophie Carlisle would not be defeated. Not by loneliness, not by her unscrupulous rival Kurt Barnstone, not by disgrace staining a spotless career. Not by anything.

  Besides wanting—needing—to prove herself, she also owed a debt. Maura Halloran had spotted promise in her when Sophie was first starting out as a night clerk at the hotel Maura managed. Maura had brought Sophie along with her as she rose in the corporate structure, grooming Sophie to one day succeed her.

  More importantly, Maura had been, at times, the closest thing to a mother Sophie had.

  When Sophie’s career had been cut short by the scandal, one of the worst parts had been Maura’s disappointment in her for resigning instead of fighting the charges. But Maura didn’t know everything—and Sophie couldn’t tell her without breaking her heart.

  Despite Maura’s dismay, when Sophie had bought this place, the older woman had insisted on investing a huge chunk of her life savings in the venture. Savings that Sophie would flush down the toilet if she failed.

  Sophie owed Maura more than she’d ever be able to repay—on so many levels. She had to do this one thing right for the woman who meant so much to her. She had to open, and on time.

  “You missed yoga,” said a familiar voice from behind her. “And I need to ask you a favor— Whoa!” Her dear friend Jenna MacAllister appeared through the attic window. “You look terrible.”

  “Thanks.”

  “No, I mean worse than usual. You can’t keep this up, Soph. This place is going to kill you.” Earnest blue eyes shone from a gamine face surrounded by strawberry blond hair. “I’m going to call my brother Jesse and brother-in-law Vince to help. Both of them have done lots of renovation work on their own homes, and they could bring some of their cop buddies.”

  “No!” She was horrified. “I mean, that’s a lovely offer, but this is my problem, and I’ll handle it.”

  “Look, I get that you’re a private person and very independent. I understand that the hotel is your baby, but don’t be silly. I can round up some help, and face it—you need it.”

  “I’ll be fine.” Sophie had had to depend on herself for a long time. Jenna, with her warm and loving family and fairy-tale childhood, couldn’t possibly understand. Sophie had been orphaned at fifteen and been a runaway from foster care. Then she’d lost her second chance at family. But she’d adapted. On her own.

  “But that’s just it,” Jenna protested. “You don’t have to. You have me, and I’m going to help you. That’s what friends do.”

  “Jen, no. I really appreciate the offer, but I’m the one who decided to gamble on being ready for September and advertised to all those Texas Longhorns season ticket holders and Austin City Limits Festival goers. I could have opened slowly and let the clientele build.” But she so badly wanted to prove herself, to show those who’d written her off just what she was worth. To make Maura proud of her again.

  She noted the stubborn set of Jenna’s chin, and she knew enough about Jenna to understand that her friend wouldn’t rest until she could do something. “Okay, how about this? Do you have anyone working on your affordable housing project who wants extra work? I can’t pay a lot, but…”

  Jenna headed a local East Austin nonprofit focusing on inner-city issues, and she had a network anyone would envy. “Actually, I know several people who need work.”

  “Great. Send them to me, and I’ll be forever grateful—but leave your family alone. Promise me? I’m not comfortable taking charity.”

  “It’s not charity, it’s friendship,” Jenna insisted. “But okay. I get it, even if I don’t like it. I promise you I will have someone here to help with the work tomorrow, but there’s a condition. Take the night off, you hear me? You’re exhausted, and you can’t open this hotel if you’re in the hospital.”

  If she didn’t open on time, the hotel’s reputation—and hers—would never recover. Her dream would die stillborn. “I’ll be fine.” She rose and hugged her friend. “Thanks, Jenna, truly.”

  Jenna hugged her back but lingered. “Sophie, I, uh…” Jenna’s reticence was completely unlike her.

  “You okay?”

  “I’m fine, but…”

  “Something’s worrying you.”

  Jenna looked as serious as Sophie had ever seen her. “It’s Cade.”

  The famous photographer brother who’d nearly died in a fall. “I thought he was doing a lot better.”

  “Physically, yes. Not completely recovered, but improving every day.” Jenna worried at her lower lip then glanced up. “Did you ever find the photographs you wanted for the rooms?”

  “Not yet.” Sophie’s shoulders sagged at the reminder of another looming failure. She’d had this vision for the artwork on the walls that would be unique—unusual photographs that would function as windows onto another world, images that were not strictly realistic but would capture the viewer’s imagination without destroying the sense of peace Sophie wanted the entire hotel to exude.

  But she hadn’t found anything suitable, and she was running out of time to keep looking. “I’m beginning to believe the types of images that are in my head don’t exist.” She worried her lower lip. “But I just don’t want something…ordinary.” Then she connected the dots, and her mouth dropped open. “You can’t think… Jenna, Cade’s work is way out of my price range. His photos are hanging in museums.”

  “Normally I’d say you’re right, though that wouldn’t stop me from nagging him into helping you out, but nothing’s normal right now. I need your help. He needs your help.”

  “How can that possibly be?”

  “From my earliest memories, Cade always had a camera in his hand or nearby. It’s more than a career for him, it’s his life. It’s how he communicates with the world.” Her eyes filled. “He hasn’t even picked one up since the accident. He doesn’t talk about it—not that he ever talks about anything—but something’s wrong, and we’re all so worried about him. My folks won’t push the issue—they’re afraid he’ll just take off one of these days because he’s not used to being idle, but it’s too soon for him to resume his career.” She glanced at Sophie. “Maybe he can’t go climbing mountains or hiking the wilderness yet, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t have a project. Why not you?”

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “Wouldn’t it be great, though?” Jenna clapped her hands. “A win-win for both of you.”

  Sophie didn’t know Cade except from Jenna’s stories, but the picture she painted was of a man who wouldn’t appreciate meddling. “Of course it would be great. I mean, his work is incredible. But there’s no way I can affo
rd him.” Yet even as she denied the possibility, the mere notion sent her imagination soaring.

  “I’ll take care of his prices, don’t you worry. Anyway, there’s a bonus in it for him—a place to stay where no one will hover over him.”

  Sophie grinned. “You won’t hover…right?” Jenna was a force of nature, and woe betide anyone who got between her and whatever notion she was set on.

  “Well, not much, anyway. Less than my mom. So what do you think? You get amazing art and Cade has a project, with the bonus that he can come stay with me. He’ll fall down on his knees in gratitude to me for springing him. He’s got cabin fever, bad.”

  Sophie wondered if Jenna’s brother would truly be so grateful. Regardless, she had to nip this notion in the bud. “I know you want to help me out, but I refuse to take a handout.”

  “It’s not about you, though,” Jenna said, and seemed serious. “I mean, yes, I want to help you, too, but I’m more worried about Cade. You can’t tell him, of course—he’s snarly and unbearable now, though he’d be a lot worse if he thought he was being coerced. But I just know that a change of scenery and work that’s not too taxing will help him, without sending him back up a mountain. None of us are ready to see him do that, so you’d be doing all of us a favor. He has millions of images in his files, and if he doesn’t have anything that would work for you, maybe this would at least get him taking photographs again.”

  “Jenna, he can’t possibly like that you are promising his work to strangers.” She shook her head. “And I’m uncomfortable with it myself.”

  “But wouldn’t it be fantastic?”

  Fantastic was an understatement. She’d seen Cade’s work, knew he had a real gift.

  “Look,” Jenna continued, “if he doesn’t want to do it, you’re no worse off than now, right?”

  “Maybe I could work out a payment plan....”

  “I said don’t worry about his prices.”

  Jenna was such an optimist. Sophie loved her for that. “You know you’re insane, right? This will never work.” Jenna opened her mouth to speak, but Sophie charged ahead. “But if by some miracle you can pull this off, I’ll take you up on it. Cade MacAllister photographs in my hotel? Do I look stupid enough to turn down that possibility?” Already her head was whirling with images she’d seen and ideas of what she could do with this bonanza.

  “You most certainly do not.” Jenna all but skipped over to hug her. “Yes! I’m going to call him now.” She was already punching numbers into her phone as she left.

  Sophie watched her go. She meant what she’d said. She wouldn’t count on Jenna succeeding, but…wow. To be able to advertise that she had Cade MacAllister photos in each room? A venture like hers, catering to the elite, thrived only if it was different. Unique. Offering what couldn’t be found elsewhere. Cade’s pictures would give her a distinct edge.

  But as she headed for the carriage house where she did most of her furniture restoration, she spared a few seconds to pity the brother who’d survived a near-fatal fall only to be run over by his sister the steamroller.

  Then she tucked away that far-out notion. Jenna’s idea would never work, and Sophie couldn’t spare the time to worry about it—she had too many more pressing items to worry over. She had artwork she could use, even if it wasn’t ideal, and in a month she would open—had to open. She’d called in chips all over the industry and had rooms already booked into November.

  The cell phone in her back pocket rang. This late at night, it could only be one person. She glanced at her display and nearly didn’t answer. Her worries were too close to the surface.

  In the end she relented. “Hello, Maura.”

  “Hi, doll,” said the older woman. “Why aren’t you out on a hot date?” A throaty chuckle. “I know, I know… You’re working, probably too hard.”

  “Isn’t that a bit of the pot calling the kettle black? Tell me you’re not sitting at your desk right now.”

  Maura snickered. “You know me too well. But I’m sick of looking at these piles of paper on my desk. Talk to me about your day.”

  Well, my blisters have blisters and I’m behind schedule and I’m scared half to death that I’m going to fail. “Nothing very exciting, I’m afraid. Oh! Wait—” This was honestly good news. “Remember that Mission bureau I found in Santa Monica?”

  “Vaguely.” Maura had spotted it first but would never admit it.

  “Fraud. You let me have it, Maura.” Just as you’ve done a thousand other kind things for me.

  “Don’t let that get around. Bad for my reputation. So what about it?”

  As Sophie talked about the antique, she lost herself in their shared love of restoring old furniture to gleaming new life, a pleasure which Sophie had learned from Maura. They discussed staining versus oiling wood, how to choose among varying grits of sandpaper and the merits of sanding by hand. For a few precious moments she let herself pretend she wasn’t scared half to death of letting this woman down.

  “Okay,” Maura said at last. “You’ve erased my day’s aggravations. I’m shutting down my computer. Promise me you’re not going to keep working, that you’ll get a good night’s sleep. It will all be there for you in the morning, you know, Sophie.”

  Sophie didn’t want to lie to her, but hesitated too long.

  “You’re not reassuring me, kiddo. Do you have all the help you need? I could take some time off and come down there.”

  “No!” Sophie fought to keep the panic from her voice. “I’m fine, Maura, I promise. Of course I’d love to see you, but I’d rather surprise you with the final result.” She bit her lip. “And it’s not like it’s easy for you to get away.”

  “It was when you were around.” A pause. “Sophie…” Next, Sophie knew, would come yet another plea to return, to fight for her job.

  “This is what I want, Maura.” That much was true—at least it was now that she’d accepted her new reality. “And yes, I’m working hard, but when did you ever see me lounging around?”

  “Never, but still, you shouldn’t be overdoing it.”

  “Again, pot, meet kettle.”

  “All right, all right,” Maura grumbled good-naturedly. “Good night, sweetie.”

  “Good night, Maura. And thanks.”

  “For what?”

  “For believing in me.” When no one else had.

  “Easiest thing I ever did, kiddo. You’ll call if you need me?”

  “I’m doing fine, Maura.” She wouldn’t make promises she couldn’t keep. Maura had done too much for her already. She’d do whatever it took to protect the woman from hurt. “Bye now.”

  After Maura disconnected, Sophie stood in the darkness for a long time.

  She was scared, yes, but she could still make this dream live, and she would, just as she’d beaten so many other odds. She hadn’t bet her heart in a very long time, but the die was cast now. She could still lose big, and she knew there were some who were betting against her, most notably her former-lover-turned-foe Kurt, who’d set her up for a fall and been extremely clever in his deceptions.

  But if she went down, it wouldn’t be without the fight of her life.

  One more piece of furniture tonight, then a sandwich, a very long hot shower and five hours’ sleep.

  Then she’d be up with the sun to start all over again.

  CHAPTER TWO

  CADE WATCHED THE YOUNGEST MacAllister brother, Zane, as he landed the plane at the private airport in Georgetown, north of Austin. He’d wanted to drive himself—alone—from West Texas to Austin, even though the trip was long and exhausting, but in the end, it had been easier just to go along with this plan. No commercial flights for him, though, not with a movie-star brother who’d learned to fly his own jet and loved showing off.

  �
�Amazing,” Cade drawled. “This from the skinny kid with the Coke-bottle glasses.”

  “Up yours,” People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive for the second time shot back. “I grew up. No thanks to you, I might add. How many times you figure you pounded my butt into the dirt?”

  Cade grinned. “Not as many as I should have. You needed toughening up.” They both knew that the only person the family felt more protective of than Jenna was the youngest brother who was now the world’s heartthrob. All Zane’s brothers had conspired to keep that skinny little geek safe until he eventually, if quite late, reached the height and muscle of the others.

  But brothers seldom use genteel means to protect one another. Making sure the little kid whose nose was always in a book learned to fight had been Cade’s way of showing the love he’d never had the words to express.

  “Yeah, well, I can take you now,” Zane said, then winced as he remembered Cade’s current physical state. “Sorry.”

  “Not you, too.” Cade glared back at him as they descended from the plane to see his artist brother Jesse waiting for them. “He and Jenna better not hover,” he muttered.

  “You know Jesse,” Zane responded. “He’ll be cool. Jenna, though…” He snorted. “Good luck on that, bro.”

  Cade asked himself yet again why he’d said yes to Jenna. And yet the more appropriate question might be who in the world had ever managed to say no to that small package of dynamite every one of her brothers would die to protect.

  Though she’d hardly thank them and was more likely to spit in their eyes for suggesting she was not perfectly capable of managing her life on her own. She was a frightening mix of cute and sweet and charming all mingled up with enough moxie and guts to take on the world bare-handed.

  Which was one of the main reasons he’d accepted her invitation to come stay with her for a while. Her latest cause, housing for the disadvantaged, had her spending most of her time in the worst areas of Austin.

  Cade would have the perfect vantage point, living right there with her, to make sure she wasn’t being reckless. Plus, it wasn’t as if he had anything better to do. Even if he had the sneaking suspicion that Jenna, too, had a hidden agenda. She generally did.