Читать книгу Evening Hours - Mary Baxter Lynn - Страница 7

Sixteen years later

Man, did he ever have a great tush.

The way he swaggered when he walked merely accentuated it, and the white shirt, boots and tight jeans added style.

She figured he was an uninvited guest, as no one else at the party was dressed so casually. No one she knew would dare. This man was either a country bumpkin who didn’t know any better or he had so much self-confidence he didn’t give a rip.

If she were placing a bet, she’d opt for the latter. He seemed to be totally at ease with himself and his surroundings.

For a moment Kaylee Benton was held utterly captive by this stranger’s rear—a first for her. Oh, she’d admired men’s looks and physique, but never had she been blatantly fascinated by a specific body part.

Suddenly realizing where her mind was and what she was doing, Kaylee was about to look away, when his gaze locked with hers.

She had seen movies and read books where two people met and eyes held across a room—but never had such a thing happened to her. Swallowing, she jerked her head around. Her cheeks and body suddenly stung.

Thankfully she realized that she was alone. At least she could regain her composure without an explanation. Taking several slow, deliberate breaths, she still found it hard not to sneak another peek at the man with the great tush.

“Stop it,” she muttered to herself just as her insides settled back to normal. This was so out of character for her. It was bizarre behavior.

Dismissing the entire episode from her mind, Kaylee concentrated on the party around her. It was given in her honor at The Garden Room of the luxury hotel in the heart of down-town Houston. The room was abuzz with the sound of voices, laughter and music, and redolent with the smell of flowers flowing from the glassed-in section out onto the patio.

Kaylee certainly wasn’t immune. She took great pleasure in the fragrances that encircled her, inhaling the scent from time to time. The shindig had been in full swing two hours and this was the first moment she hadn’t been surrounded by people.

She loved being the center of attention. Being named Woman of the Year was an honor as intoxicating as the strong floral scent. Yet she was grateful for the respite. It wouldn’t last long, she knew, since one of her models had just gone to refill her glass of wine.

She was used to having people constantly being in her face, especially beautiful people like those who now milled about. After all, she made her living off beauty. She had successfully launched a modeling agency several years ago, an accomplishment that hadn’t been easy, especially since her idea had come under attack from the beginning. Her critics had told her she was crazy to think that an agency such as she envisioned would ever get off the ground in Houston, Texas. New York City, yes. Houston, no.

Thank goodness she hadn’t listened to the naysayers. If she had, she’d probably be an embittered young woman chasing a dream that could never be.

Kaylee’s gaze strayed to the cane that lay on the floor beside her. Even after all these years, her heart still constricted with pain when she saw it. She quickly reminded herself that even though she would never walk the walk, she had proved she could talk the talk. Her business was booming, a fact that the chamber of commerce had recognized. The ache in her heart eased.

“Hey, where’s your devoted audience?”

Kaylee looked on as her friend and assistant, Sandy Nelson, plopped down in the chair next to her, a smile creasing her face right along with a devilish twinkle in her blue eyes. She was a tall, busty woman with, as Sandy described it, a widening ass and a mop of curly black hair that capped her head like a crown.

Kaylee adored her and knew the feeling was mutual. They made an awesome team. Without Sandy, Kaylee’s career wouldn’t be nearly as successful as it was today, because Sandy had an eye for who could enter the highly competitive world of modeling and survive, a gift that she, Kaylee, lacked.

“Barbie is getting me a refill,” she said, breaking the momentary silence.

“You’re probably enjoying the peace and quiet. You’ve been covered up all evening. I know how squirrelly that makes you sometimes.”

Kaylee quirked an eyebrow and smiled. “It’s scary how well you know me.”

“Not to worry.” Sandy grinned as she reached over and touched Kaylee on the arm. “Your secrets are safe with me.”

“I know.” Suddenly a lump appeared in Kaylee’s throat and she didn’t know why.

As if she sensed the poignancy of the moment, Sandy switched the subject. “This is some blowout, my friend.”

Kaylee acknowledged her statement with a grin. “That it is. I still can’t believe it’s happening to me…to us.”

“Whoa, there’s no us to it. Tonight is all about you and your successful career. Just wallow in it up to your tonsils.”

Kaylee smiled with a sigh. “You know that’s hard for me to do.”

“Get over it. Being in the spotlight for one evening is hardly lethal.”

Kaylee laughed. “What would I do without you to keep me on the straight and narrow?”

Sandy laughed with her, then cocked her head sideways, a light appearing in her eyes.

“What?” Kaylee asked.

“You look great tonight. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look better.”

Kaylee was taken aback. “You think so?”

“I know so. Your skin has a flush to it. In fact, your cheeks look like a ripe peach.”

Giggling, Kaylee rolled her eyes. “That’s gagging.”

“It’s the truth. Is there something going on I don’t know about?”

Kaylee froze as thoughts of that stranger’s ass came to mind. Grappling to regain her composure, she looked down and pretended to smooth a wrinkle out of her gown.

“And the gold in your brown hair, I’ve never seen it shine so much.”

“Now I know I’m going to throw up.”

“How dare you make a joke out of my compliments.”

“Get out of here,” Kaylee ordered with another laugh.

“I can take a hint.” Sandy squeezed Kaylee on the shoulder. “See ya later, my dear.”

Her assistant had barely disappeared into a throng of people when Kaylee looked up and saw Barbie Bishop headed toward her. The model wasn’t alone. Walking beside her was none other than the cowboy Kaylee had eyed earlier.

Despite her efforts to remain calm, Kaylee’s heartbeat quickened. Surely Barbie would detour any second now and bypass her she told herself. But the two never veered off track. Before Kaylee could find her next breath, they were in front of her.

“Kaylee, my friend here wanted to meet you.” Barbie looked at her companion before turning her gaze back to Kaylee. “Kaylee Benton, Cutler McFarland.”

Though she was loath to do so, she held out her hand. When his calloused one took hers briefly, a tingle shot up her arm. She didn’t understand what was going on.

“I’m honored,” he said in a low, drawling voice, his eyes inspecting the length of her even though she remained seated.

Sex personified.

“Thank you, Mr. McFarland.”

“Make it Cutler.”

She nodded, feeling the flush deepen in her cheeks.

“I’ll leave you two to get acquainted,” Barbie said in her shrill voice, setting the glass of wine down before she strolled off.

Kaylee could cheerfully have strangled the model.

For the longest time neither said a word. Then someone came up to Cutler and tapped him on the shoulder. When he turned to speak to the man, Kaylee took the opportunity to give the cowboy the once-over. Up close, the front view fell short of the back one.

He ought to have been pretty-boy good-looking. But his features were too harsh for that. Even so, he oozed charisma and sex appeal. He was tall and thin with just the right amount of muscle. His black hair was streaked with silver and his blue eyes were surrounded by dark sooty lashes.

“Would you care to dance?”

Kaylee gave a start, worried she’d been caught staring. That fear actually took precedence over the fact that he hadn’t noticed her cane. “No…no, thank you.”

He shrugged. “Okay. Mind if I join you?”

“Of course not.”

As if he read between the lines, a grin, more in keeping with a smirk, crept across Cutler’s lips. He eased down in the chair in front of her and said, “I understand congratulations are in order. Sorry I wasn’t here when you received the award.”

“Thanks.” Could he see her heart beating out of sync? She hoped not. That would be the final humiliation.

His lips twitched again. “Relax, Kaylee, I’m harmless.”

Her eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

He chuckled. “It’s obvious you wish I’d get lost.”

Kaylee opened her mouth to deny his words, but when nothing came out, she tightened her lips.

His chuckle sounded like a low rumble.

Who was this man anyway? And where had he come from?

Once again he seemed to read her mind. “It’s my job to read people. If not, I wouldn’t be a very good district attorney.”

Her eyes widened again. “Sorry, I didn’t know.”

“That smarts, since I’m running for reelection.”

“Are you drumming up votes?” she asked bluntly.

“I like your style—direct and to the point.”

“Is that a yes?”

He laughed. “I’m the best man for the job.”

“How do I know that?”

His eyes drilled her, and his voice dropped a pitch. “You don’t, but you will as soon as you get to know me better.”

Kaylee sucked in her breath. Was he flirting with her? No, her imagination must be working overtime.

“Look, Mr. McFarland—”

“Cutler.”

His gaze didn’t waver and for a moment hers didn’t either.

“Excuse me for interrupting, Kaylee, but I have some people I want you to meet.”

The voice of the chamber president, Kevin Holmes, brought her back to reality with a jolt. Cutler suddenly stood and moved aside. Pulling her gaze off him, she forced a smile. “I’d be delighted to meet your friends.”

“McFarland, you’re welcome to remain,” Kevin said. “In fact, I insist.”

“Thanks, but I was just leaving,” Cutler said. “I’ve taken up enough of Kaylee’s time.” Then he leaned down and, for her ears alone, he murmured, “I’ll see you later.”

Feeling shell-shocked, all she could do was watch him stride off.

He couldn’t believe his eyes.

Yet he had no choice. What he was witnessing was a fact. He’d put his hand on the Bible and swear to it. His daughter was actually having a conversation with a good-looking man and seemingly enjoying it.

Hell, if the animated look on her face was anything to judge by, flirting would be closer to the truth. Edgar’s pulse raced and his palms turned sweaty. He’d prayed for this day since his precious daughter had awakened in that hospital room so many years ago and was forced to face the cruelest of futures.

Kaylee had more than risen to the challenges that faced her. Tonight was testimony to that. He was so proud of her he felt his heart would burst.

The man Kaylee seemed interested in looked vaguely familiar; however, Edgar knew he’d never met him. More important, he wondered what his motives were. Those questions and more filled Edgar’s head.

He straightened his slumping shoulders and moved slightly closer, allowing the partygoers to shield him so Kaylee wouldn’t notice his hovering. Yet he remained out of her vision more for his own personal benefit than hers.

Just watching her happiness made him giddy.

Edgar moved a little to his left for a better look at the man. Or should he say cowboy? Edgar almost laughed out loud at the idea that his daughter would give someone in jeans and boots even a second glance, especially at a black tie function.

Then just as quickly as the flirtation began, it ended. The cowboy relinquished his seat to others.

“Damn,” Edgar muttered under his breath.

He had to do something. But what? He couldn’t force the man not to leave his daughter, for God’s sake. Ah, all was not lost. Tomorrow was another day. A day to devise a plan.

That thought brought him more than comfort. It shot his excitement level off the charts.