Texas Heir Page 9

  “Cari and Reed were my best friends. When they were in a room together you could feel the energy between them. I always thought they should be together.” Marisa hiccuped. “Now they are.”

  “I missed so much of Reed’s life,” Vanessa said. “I guess I’ll never get over that. A boy should be with his mother, but sadly I wasn’t a very good mother.” She brushed at her tears. “I never cooked for him.”

  Ruth hugged Vanessa. “You did your best.”

  “Cari was my adventurous child,” Sam spoke up, his hands folded between his legs. “She was always dreaming big dreams. I tried to discourage her because I didn’t want her to get hurt, but sometimes a father has to let go. When she was eighteen and left for Dallas, I didn’t sleep for a week. So many times I wanted to go and get her, make her come home and marry Will down the road. He was crazy about her.” He sighed. “That was my dream, not hers. With hard work she made her dream come true. She died doing what she loved. Some time in the near future I hope I find some peace in that.”

  Richard had heard enough. He walked into his study and slammed the door again. Plopping into his chair, he stared out the window to the bright sunny September day. But the sun had just gone out in his world.

  Sam Michaels was an idiot. Why would he let an eighteen-year-old girl come to Dallas? He should have forced her…

  Like Richard had forced Marisa.

  He thought back to that trying time. Marisa was seventeen and pregnant by a rodeo cowboy she’d met in Vegas. She had such a brilliant future ahead of her as a concert pianist. She was so talented.

  That was Richard and Vanessa’s dream.

  Marisa’s had been entirely different.

  Through manipulation Richard had ruined his daughter’s life. But Marisa was happy now. Living her dream.

  Maybe Sam wasn’t such an idiot.

  His children trusted him. Loved him.

  Richard’s relationship with his children was more businesslike than loving. That’s all he knew how to do—run a business. Being raised by a less-than-friendly uncle, Richard never knew much about love. He thought happiness came with wealth and that’s the reason he went after Vanessa Dalton the moment he set eyes on her. He intended to own Dalton’s one day. And he did.

  Then why wasn’t he happy?

  His son was gone.

  A pain pierced his chest as sharp as a knife. He took a deep breath and a tear rolled from his eye. His only son was dead. Another tear followed.

  After a slight knock at the door, the girl Kitty came in. “Mr. Preston, my parents are getting ready to—” She stopped when she saw his tears. “I’m so sorry.” Then she did something no one else had done during this whole ordeal. She hugged him, a real hearty hug that reached his soul.

  His arms lay heavy in his lap though. He didn’t have the ability to hug her back.

  She knelt in front of him. “Why don’t you join us in the living room. We’re telling stories about Cari and Reed. I bet you have a lot of stories about Reed.”

  “I don’t feel like talking.”

  “Then just come and be with your wife and daughter.”

  “I’d rather be alone.”

  She stood and glanced out the window. “I hope you were right about what you said earlier.”

  “What was that?”

  “That Cari wasn’t afraid of anything.”

  “She was a strong woman and stood up to men three times her size.”

  “Did she ever stand up to you?”

  “Oh, yeah. She invaded a lot of board meetings when things weren’t going the way she thought they should. I almost had her thrown out one time.”

  “Why didn’t you?”

  “Reed stopped me. He said he was CEO and he agreed with Cari. You see, we have five stores in Dallas and the board was voting to close one that had low profits.”

  “Cari wanted to keep the store open?”

  “Yes. She said it needed updating and revamping. The store was one of the older ones and we hadn’t done anything to it in years.”

  “What happened?”

  “We voted the way she wanted.”

  “Wow. She had that much power.”

  “Reed backed her and that did it.”

  “But you’re Richard Preston. Surely you could have influenced the board to vote your way.”

  “Maybe, but I didn’t push it. My son was fighting to make his mark and I decided to back off.”

  “Because you loved him.”

  No. I wanted the venture to fail so he could see what a flake Cari was. He didn’t tell Kitty that, though. It was even harder to admit that to himself. He had been set on proving to Reed that Cari did not deserve to be vice president.

  “So what happened?”

  He brushed a hand across his eyes. “After the remodeling, the store showed a profit in the first year. It hasn’t stopped.”

  “So Cari and Reed were right?”

  Richard frowned. Why was he talking to this insipid little hairdresser? Because she was the only one who had showed him any compassion. Not that he deserved it. “What does it matter? They’re both gone.”

  “They’ll live on forever through us.”

  “Please, just leave me alone.”

  She looked at him for a moment, her eyes so like Cari’s. “My parents are getting ready to leave and we’d like to thank you for your hospitality.”

  “Whatever.” He dismissed her with a wave of his hand.

  “Goodbye, Mr. Preston. I hope one day you’ll be able to say you love your son.” After that, she walked out.

  He stared after her. Could she read his mind?

  It wasn’t that he couldn’t say it. He didn’t deserve Reed’s love. He’d manipulated him just as he’d manipulated Marisa. Now Richard was going to have to live with that for the rest of his life.

  He’d promised to stay out of their lives and to not interfere. He’d lied. Reed had his whole life ahead of him and Richard had to make sure he made the right choices, especially in a wife.

  Daphne was Richard’s choice for Reed. From the moment he’d met her, he’d known she’d make Reed a perfect wife. So he and his friend set up the meeting—even Vanessa hadn’t known. He could always count on Vanessa to cause a scene if anything disturbed her dinner party. A little coaxing and she’d called Reed immediately.

  Everything had fallen into place.

  Now it was over.

  Nothing exposed the truth more than a plane crashing in the middle of nowhere without a warning. For the first time Richard realized he was being punished. It was time to pay the piper for his manipulations. And the piper took everything he treasured.

  It took his son.

  Chapter Eight

  The morning dawned just like the others—with the sun rising to beat down on the desolate landscape. Cari sat up and stretched every aching muscle in her body. Her clothes were filthy and her body grimy. She yearned for food, water and a hot bath. And civilization. And more water. God, she was so thirsty.

  Reed rose to his feet with a groan. “Damn, sleeping on the ground is hell.” He had a full growth of beard and it looked rugged and sexy. It had felt the same way last night as he’d rubbed it against her face. She still felt the evocative caress.

  I’m engaged to someone else came back to her.

  Any other time those words would have hurt, but out here where they were struggling to survive they didn’t seem to matter.

  A big lizard ran across the ground in front of her. She didn’t even flinch. Lizards were a familiar sight, as were ants, and she’d grown accustomed to seeing them. She flexed her shoulders. “Well, Junior, what’s the plan for the day?”

  The corner of his mouth twitched. “Glad to see you still have your sense of humor.”

  “It’s about all I have left.”

  And my pride.

  His eyes clung to hers. “About last night…”

  She shrugged, getting to her feet. “No big deal. I’ve been kissed before and hopefully will be a
gain.”

  He picked up his jacket, shook it out and tied it around his waist. “I just don’t want to mislead you. I love Daphne and if I ever get out of here I’m going to marry her.”

  Cari looked up at the bright blue sky and its endless depth. Under God’s umbrella it was hard to keep her feelings bottled up. And there was something about the way he’d said the words, as if he’d rehearsed them many times. Under His mighty blue sky she said to hell with it. She wasn’t keeping her feelings buried like a secret treasure anymore.

  She stared directly at him. “Are you sure you love her?”

  He frowned. “Of course.”

  “You want me to tell you what I think?”

  His eyes darkened. “No. Not really.”

  “I’m going to tell you anyway.”

  “Cari…”

  Nothing could stop her now. Not the fear of rejection. Not her job security. Nothing.

  “When we shared that brief kiss on the Fourth, I think it scared the hell out of you. You felt the spark and immediately denied it. Not Cari, she’s Marisa’s friend and she works for me. That’s bull. So what if I’m Marisa’s friend and I work for the company? Big deal. We’re adults and can handle whatever happens. But you searched for damage control and found it in Daphne Harwood.”

  His eyes glowed with anger. “That’s not true.”

  “Last night you didn’t kiss me like a man in love with someone else.”

  He didn’t say anything and his silence was fuel for everything building inside her.

  “I’ll go a step further and tell you the truth the way it appears to me. Daphne was handpicked by your father.”

  “That’s a lie,” he said, anger now evident in his voice.

  She didn’t even pause. “She’s a wealthy socialite with an accomplished dancing background. Does that ring any bells, Reed? Daphne’s a carbon copy of your mother.” She drew in deeply. “A woman you would avoid just on principle, but you embraced her completely. Why? I keep asking myself.”

  “Why?” he asked with a note of sarcasm. “You seem to have all the answers.”

  “Because you’re scared,” she shot back. “You’re scared of all those feelings that have been developing between us. You’re scared of love.” Her voice suddenly softened. “Maybe it has something to do with your childhood and you’re happier with a woman who can’t touch your emotions. Maybe you’re happier letting your father pull the strings that dictate your life. It’s easier that way.”

  “You have it all wrong. You’re talking out of hurt pride.”

  She waved a hand. “Oh, I’m talking out of a lot more than hurt pride. I’m talking honestly. I’ll tell you about hurt pride. When I was eighteen, I was stood up for the prom because I wasn’t a part of the ‘in crowd’.” She made quotes with her fingers. “I sat in my parents’ living room in my homemade gown and my sister’s shoes I had stuffed with tissues feeling a pain like I’d never felt before. I vowed then no one would ever treat me that way again.”

  She paused. “For years I’ve thought of you as the Prince of Dalton’s, and in my heart you had a kind of shine that never could be tarnished. Reality has a way of opening eyes and mine are wide open. I was happy living with a fantasy, but the truth is there is no razzle-dazzle Reed Preston. He’s just a man who’s scared to take a chance, a chance on love. Just don’t use excuses like I work for you. Be honest and tell it like it is.” She turned away. “Now I’m going to walk my way out of here if it’s the last thing I do.”

  Reed stared after her, rooted to the spot as so many painful emotions chugged through him. He loved Daphne. He loved…Then why couldn’t he remember her kiss, her touch? All he could feel was Cari.

  Her words were like the needles of the cactus, sharp and pointed, piercing him. Pulling away wasn’t an option. He had to feel the pain and deal with it.

  He had to be honest.

  Working with Cari was stimulating and a challenge. That’s the reason he’d appointed her as vice president. She had a spark and vitality that brightened his job at Dalton’s. She knew the store from the ground up and she had a good relationship with the executives and the staff. Everyone liked her and admired her.

  So did he.

  Sinking to the ground, he tried to come to grips with the truth. He took a deep breath that came from the bottom of his lungs. He’d wanted to kiss Cari—for a long time. The truth of that was as barbed as the cactus and maybe as healing as its powers.

  He was afraid, just as she’d said. It was safer being alone and emotionally detached. That way no one could hurt him. What about Daphne? His feelings for her were real or at least he’d thought they were.

  Staring at the barren ground, rocks, sparse grass and cacti, he decided this had to be purgatory or hell. His penance was the truth. He felt the sun on his head and knew he was right. Only the very tough survived here. How tough was he? Was he tough enough to admit the truth? His father was manipulating his life—what was he going to do about it?

  He stood and watched Cari’s receding back. First, he had to talk to her. Maybe somewhere out here he could salvage his pride, his strength and his character.

  Once he had that in place he would know what the rest of his life would be like.

  He prayed he had one.

  CARI WALKED ON, regretting she’d lost her temper. The truth had a way of opening wounds that could never be healed. Working with Reed was now going to be impossible. It would be tense and stressful. That is, if they ever got out of this place.

  Voices carried on the sultry wind. She stopped, frantically glancing around and then she saw the puffs of smoke. A campfire! She ran toward it.

  As she reached the perimeter, two Mexican boys about eighteen jumped to their feet, quickly brandishing switchblades. The sun glistened off the sharp steel.

  Her breath stalled in her throat. “Help. We need help,” she managed to say.

  They didn’t respond and fear tiptoed across her skin. One boy eyed her up and down and walked toward her, the knife held tightly in his hand. “Ay, una señorita muy bonita.”

  In an instant Cari realized they were illegals from Mexico hiding out as they made their way into Texas. They didn’t look friendly. They looked scared and dangerous.

  “We need help, please,” she said again, hoping to make them understand. “Our plane crashed.”

  One boy grinned, displaying yellow teeth, and reached for her arm. She jerked away. Before she knew it, the other boy was on her and she fought with all her strength.

  “Let her go,” Reed shouted, and the boys immediately paused and pointed their knives at Reed.

  “Alto, Señor,” one boy ordered as Reed advanced.

  “Listen,” Reed said, his voice coaxing. “We’ve been in a plane crash and we’re looking for a town or someplace to make a phone call. We mean you no harm.”

  The boys glanced at each other. One still held tightly to Cari. “No hablo inglés.”

  Reed walked closer just as the other boy reached out and hit him with his fist. Reed went down.

  The boys grabbed Cari and ran. She struggled and that slowed them down. But the two youths were surprisingly strong. She didn’t want to think what they wanted with her.

  “Let me go,” she kept screaming, kicking and fighting every way she could. Their breaths smelled like burned baked beans. Her nightmare had suddenly turned into a mega nightmare. She prayed Reed was okay.

  Reed rolled to his feet in a heartbeat, rubbing his jaw. Cari! He had to find Cari. The sun seemed to blink and fade and he fought to stay conscious. He couldn’t pass out. Cari was in danger.

  Staring at the ground, he saw the ruts, and it was very evident Cari was dragging her feet. That made them easier to track. He didn’t even know he had the skill. He had to stop a couple of times to regain his balance.

  On and on he followed the trail, the heat and dust suffocating. About an hour later he came upon them. He crawled on his belly over dried grasses and rocks, avoiding the cacti, so he cou
ld get closer and listen without being detected.

  The two boys were conversing.

  “Qué se vaya. Ella no vale la pena.”

  “Me gusta mucho la señorita. Es muy bonita.”

  “Ellos van a atrapamos.”

  “Cobarde.”

  “Bastardo. No voy a regresar a México.”

  Reed glanced up to check their location. The two guys were deep in conversation, or in deep dispute. He spoke some Spanish and was going to try to talk with them when the boy had hit him. They were arguing about whether to let Cari go or not. One thought she was pretty and the other was afraid of being caught. He didn’t want to go back to Mexico. The other called him a coward.

  Cari sat to the side, her arms folded across her knees and her face buried on them. She seemed spent and exhausted.

  He inched slowly forward until he was within her line of vision. Raise your head, Cari. She remained hunched over. Suddenly the bigger guy pushed the smaller one and a fight was on. The small one tackled him and they went down fighting, dust swirled around them.

  Cari looked up and Reed quickly stood, motioning for her to run. She sprinted toward him. He grabbed her hand and they were off, running for their lives. Curses followed them and they kept going, over bare ground, rocks and cacti. The curses faded, but they didn’t stop until they fell down.

  They lay prone for several minutes. Reed’s breath came in gasps and his chest hurt, but he held tight to Cari’s hand.

  “Are you okay?” he asked between deep breaths.

  She nodded her head and he knew she was unable to speak.

  After a few more minutes, he sat up and removed the backpack. He fished out the last bottle of water and waited for her to regain her strength.

  “Cari,” he whispered.

  She rolled over and he helped her to sit up. He held up the bottle and she grabbed it, drinking thirstily. When she’d drunk half, she handed it back. He shook his head.

  “Drink it all. You need it.” In that moment all his confused thoughts became crystal clear. He’d give his life to save hers. It was a startling revelation and it solidified everything she’d said about him.