Lone Star Legacy: Relentless Pursuit

“That’s great. We had a dog all the years I was growing up. A cat, too.”

“We’re not getting a cat because I know nothing about them. One animal at a time for now. This is a big deal to bring a dog into the house.”

“You don’t exactly have a pet-friendly house,” she said with amusement. “She’s going to love a puppy, I feel sure. Will, while we have a chance, I want to talk to you about something I’ve noticed during the short time I’ve been here.”

“Sure. What’s that?”

“Caroline seems slightly more responsive when you’re around. She doesn’t talk or smile, but she’s less withdrawn. For the coming month, if you can possibly rearrange your schedule, I think you should travel less and try to be home more. A lot more.”

While he sat in silence, his dark gaze bore into her. “I’ll try if you think it will help.”

“I could be wrong, but I’ve spent over two weeks with her now and she’s more remote when you’re away.”

“No one has ever told me that before.”

“It’s not a real obvious thing, but that’s the way it seems to me. It’s worth it for you to make a change and see if that helps to have you around.”

“My schedule is really busy right now. I’ve got important appointments for the next three weeks and my work entails a lot of travel. After we lost Adam, I stayed home a lot that first month. Nothing I did seemed to make any difference so I picked up my life as much as I could and went on with it. I can’t just cancel everything scheduled. I’ll have to rearrange appointments and flights…but if you think this may help her, I’ll do it.”

“I know you can do this. You have people who work for you who can cover for you. You’re not trying to avoid her, are you?”

Again she got an intense stare. “No. I’ll arrange it so I’m in town. Or are you saying I should work at home?”

“Not at all. Just try to be there in the evenings. I think it’ll help, even though it may be a gradual thing. This kind of situation probably takes time to heal. I don’t know much about it, but I’m giving you my opinion from the last weeks’ observation.”

“Okay, I’ll be there more of the time,” he said, still studying her. “We’ll try that for a while and see how it goes.”

“Good,” she said, thinking it might be good for Caroline, but it wasn’t going to be better for her. Will’s presence would be temptation, and the more he was around, the more intense the situation would become. Her pulse raced now and she couldn’t get her breath around him. What would it be like to have him around constantly?

“Now if I thought you were asking to get me to be near you,” he said in a husky, deep voice, “that would be a different view of this request.”

His statement made her hot with embarrassment. To her chagrin, she felt her face flush and wished she could do something to distract him or get out of his view. Instead, he kept watching her, a flicker of amusement in the depths of his eyes.

“Maybe this will be a far more interesting week. I should have thought of this myself. A new dog. Home with you and Caroline each night. Home early if I can manage it.”

“You’re back to flirting again,” she said, looking out the window. The sun was still high. There was no merciful darkness to hide her blush. “Stop teasing me. All I had in mind was Caroline. I can go to my room and leave you two to bond.”

“Oh, no. This was your idea, and part of the deal has to be that you stay.”

“Sometimes. But part of the time it would be good if just the two of you were together. She needs you, and the more you’re together, the more she’ll bond with you.”

“How about you? The more we’re together, will it be the more we will bond?”

“That’s entirely different and you know it,” she snapped. “Stop your flirting. Get back to some impersonal level. Tell me about this opera. I can’t recall seeing a performance of this one,” she said, knowing full well she had seen it before, but not recently.

“Ah, it’s beautiful. You’ll like it,” he said, summarizing the story quickly as the limo slowed and stopped. A crowd had gathered, and she wondered if her picture would show up in a magazine with her entering the opera on Will’s arm.

The chauffeur held the door. Will climbed out and turned to help her.

While they moved through the crowd into the building, he held her arm lightly, yet with Will it was as disturbing as a caress, far from impersonal. During the performance she struggled to avoid glancing at him. After a time the music overrode her awareness of Will.

During intermission, she was introduced to friends of his. Several women gave her frosty stares, turning their smiles on Will.

“Will,” a deep voice called, and Ava turned to see a tall, ruggedly handsome man approaching. A stunning blonde with her arm linked through his walked beside him.

The tall man’s thick brown hair had unruly waves with a lock falling on his forehead. He was noticeable in the crowd because of his height plus his hawk nose, high cheekbones and pale gray eyes.

As Will shook hands with him, he turned to her. “Ava, meet my friend and right-hand man, my main advisor, Garrett Cantrell. Garrett, this is Ava Barton.”

Her hand was enclosed in a firm grip as he smiled at her with a flash of snowy teeth. His smile softened his rugged features, and she smiled in return.

“Will is given to exaggeration, probably because we’re longtime friends who have been together since too far back to recall. Let me introduce Sonya Vicente. Sonya, this is Ava Barton and Will Delaney.”

“I’m glad to meet both of you,” Ava said as the house lights dimmed.

“I think that’s our call,” Will said. “Nice to meet you, Sonya. See you, Garrett.”

“So Garrett is single?” Ava asked as they walked away.

“Yes. Very available, but not marriage material. He’s almost as leery as I am just because he doesn’t want to be tied down. Garrett’s ambitious and a workaholic. I think he’d really like to be on his own, but I pay him enough that his salary diminishes the temptation to go into his own business. All that plus our long-standing friendship and family closeness. I can’t replace him with anyone as loyal, good, intelligent and fun to be with all rolled into one person.”

She glanced back over her shoulder, spotting Garrett’s dark hair easily. “You make him sound superhuman.”

“Nope. Garrett’s human, but exceptional and vital to me. Besides such a close friend.”

“You haven’t even mentioned the stunning blonde.”

Will grinned. “I did notice her. Garrett finds the lookers, but they never last.”

“Somehow that’s the image I had of you until I met you. As you know, my opinion changed and continues to change.”

“Thank goodness,” he said as they reached their seats. “Although you’re right—I appreciate beautiful women, and I’m out with a ravishing one tonight.”

“Thank you, but enough of that. This color hair isn’t ravishing.”

Surprising her, Will drew her close against his side and leaned down to whisper in her ear.

“Oh, yes it is. We can argue that one later tonight,” he said, his breath warm on her ear.

Her heart jumped and beat rapidly. “Your attention should be on the stage.”

“It is. Somewhat,” he added. “I’d really rather look at you.”

“You will see me plenty this summer. Tonight and this moment, shift your attention to the stage. I’m enjoying the performance immensely.”

“Good. So am I,” he said, settling back, taking her hand and lacing his fingers through hers. “So am I,” he repeated, smiling warmly at her.

As the house lights dimmed they became quiet, and while still aware of Will, she was caught up in the music until it was over.