Family for Keeps & Sadie's Hero (18 page)

“Next year.”

“You remember Gregory Hansom?”

“A year ahead of us in school?”

“Yes. He had a heart attack last week. Nearly died. The doctor told him if he didn’t change his lifestyle and reduce his stress the next one would finish him for good. Is that what you want?”

“It’s not going to happen to me. I exercise when I can and eat right.” Andrew winced inwardly when he remembered how often he skipped breakfast and the fact that Sadie had called him on that.

“How often do you exercise?”

“Have we gone back in time to the Spanish Inquisition?”

“How often?”

“I try to get to the health club once a week.”

“And do you make it?”

“Sometimes.” Andrew rose, restless energy demanding a release. “I wonder what’s keeping the women.” He started for the door.

“You don’t have to escape. I’ll drop the questions. You’re a big boy now and have to live your own life.”

Andrew turned at the door, a forced smile on his face. “Thanks. Now I’ll sleep better at night.”

“Come on back over here and tell me what’s going on at IFI. Let the women have some time to get to know each other.”

The darkness caressed Sadie with its cool fingers. As she leaned into the lacework railing of the gazebo, she inhaled the jasmine-laden air with hints of honeysuckle woven in it. Listening to the night sounds, she cleared her mind of all her troubles and relished the moment for what it was—a small, peaceful heartbeat in time when everything was right with the world. A gift from God.

Andrew came to stand next to her. “I like to come out here when I’m visiting. Ruth loves her gardens. She spends a lot of time working in them.”

“I love a beautiful garden, too, but I’m afraid I don’t have what it takes to be a gardener.”

“Oh, what?”

“A green thumb.” She held out her fist with her thumb sticking up. “Definitely black. I even killed a cactus once by under-watering it. But that character flaw doesn’t stop me from appreciating a heavenly place, and this garden and gazebo are.”

“Darrell built this for Ruth as a surprise when she was in the hospital having their daughter.”

“How romantic,” Sadie said, closing her eyes to hold the image of herself next to an attractive, intelligent man who captured more than she dared to allow.

“I suppose it was. Darrell and Ruth often do little and big things like that for each other. Even when they were dating in high school.”

Sadie heard the envious tone in Andrew’s voice and felt a kinship with him. All through dinner with the couple and their seven-year-old daughter, Sadie had sensed a deep caring and love expressed in their respect for each other. They had taken time for each other, never demanding, never criticizing. Carrie, their daughter, was lucky she didn’t have to live up to her parents’ expectations of her. As Sadie knew from experience, that was difficult on a child. It left emotional wounds that were hard to heal.

“How long have they been married?” Sadie finally asked, realizing Andrew was staring at her, producing a tightening in her chest.

“Nineteen years.”

“Nineteen!” Sadie pushed away from the railing, stepping back to face Andrew as he turned toward her. “They act like newlyweds.”

His low, warm chuckle erased all other sounds and made everything so much more intimate. “Sadie, some people do stay married, even though I must admit it’s not as common as it once was.”

She tried to read his expression, but the dark shadows hid it. “You sound like a cynic. Have you ever been married?”

“Do you always speak your mind?”

“Yes. Have you?”

“No. How about yourself?”

She shook her head.

“I thought a die-hard romantic like you, Sadie, would have been by now.”

“It’s because I am that I’ve never married.”

“Now who sounds like the cynic?”

She shrugged. “Darrell and Ruth are lucky. I’ve seen so many couples who aren’t. Marriage is for a lifetime. I’ve just found that the dreams are usually better than the real thing.”

“Then there are no disappointments?”

“Right.”

“But you can’t hold dreams.”

Sadie shifted away from Andrew. She didn’t like the way the conversation was developing. Carol had told her that very same thing several times in the past year. She knew she had many friends but no one she wanted to get close to for the kind of relationship necessary for a marriage to work. “A relationship has its ups and downs, but that’s what makes it exciting.” Carol’s words came back to Sadie.
But when you open yourself up to another, they see all your flaws.

“I thought you were a die-hard workaholic,” she said, trailing her hand along the wooden railing as she distanced herself some more. “When do you have time to squeeze in a relationship?”

His laughter blanketed the night like the cloak of darkness. “I deserved that. I don’t, any more than you do. For different reasons we have something in common.” Lounging against the railing, he folded his arms across his chest. “Actually, those were Darrell’s words. He keeps hounding me to slow down and smell the roses.”

“I think Darrell’s right. Take a deep breath.”

“What?”

“Really. Smell Ruth’s roses. They smell wonderful.” As she listened to Andrew inhale, she was drawn toward him until mere inches separated them. “When you came out here before, did you ever just enjoy the atmosphere, the flowers, the quiet?”

“Well, no. I like to come out here to think. It’s a good place to work through a problem I might be having at IFI. Darrell has accused me of only visiting them to do just that.”

“Sometimes it’s nice to stop and savor a place for what it is. To wipe your mind clean of all thoughts and relish the moment of peace. I find that helps relieve my stress more than anything else.”

“Attacking problems head-on works best for me.”

“But I bet you’re always at war, fighting something. Don’t you ever get tired of it all?”

Andrew didn’t answer for a long moment. When he did, his voice was stiff. “If you want something, you have to fight for it. The world isn’t going to give you a thing.”

His cold words reminded Sadie of why she was here in the first place. She knew the value of fighting for what she wanted. “Have you made a decision about my proposal concerning Special Olympics?” she asked in a no-nonsense voice.

“Yes, we’ll be able to do what you requested.”

“Oh, fantastic!” Sadie paused, took a deep breath, then said, “I have another favor to ask. Will you come Thursday night to the high school for a meeting and reception with the parents and students involved in Special Olympics? As IFI’s representative you could formally give us the money at the meeting.”

“I don’t—”

“It would be good PR for IFI,” she interjected, her stomach twisted with tension.

“What time?”

“Seven, in the high school auditorium.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Thanks,” she whispered, sensing his sharp gaze on her as though he were trying to discern what was beneath her request.

She could come to care a great deal for this man beside her. He possessed a certain vulnerability that matched hers and pulled her to him, body and soul. Their outlooks on life were light-years apart. She doubted he went to church, if last Sunday at the office was any indication. Her faith was what sustained her. His work was what sustained him, she suspected, and yet she felt a common bond she couldn’t deny.

“W
hat are you not telling me, Sadie?”

Andrew’s question cut into Sadie’s thoughts and set alarm bells ringing in her mind. It was too soon to approach him about her work project. He was sharp, intuitive, no doubt two qualities that served him well in the business world. She couldn’t let down her guard for a second around him. He endangered her peace of mind more than anyone had in a long time. This had to be kept purely professional—a working relationship, she vowed, as she placed some distance between them and faced him.

“Andrew Knight, it’s just a simple request to meet my students. That’s all.” She pressed her lips together to emphasize her point and hoped he didn’t pursue his question. She wasn’t ready to tell him the main reason she had bid on him. She wanted him to see how capable her students were.

He started to say something when he heard his name being called from the house. “We’d better head back.”

At the French doors that led into the living room, Ruth intercepted them. “Andrew, there’s a call for you. You can take it in the den.”

While he went to answer the phone, Sadie remained with Ruth, thankful for the timely interruption. “Your gardens are beautiful. I wish I could have seen more, but we need to leave soon.”

“You’re welcome at my home any time. Maybe you can persuade Andrew to bring you down again. Maybe even get him to take some time off. He works way too much.”

Sadie knew the instant he reappeared even though she didn’t see him come into the living room. Her body tightened with awareness as if every part of her were attuned to him. She glanced toward him and saw the frown that knitted his brow. “What’s wrong?”

“That was the IFI pilot. He has to leave immediately for New York. He won’t be able to take us back to Cimarron City tonight, like I had planned. We can either take a commercial flight or wait until he can pick us up tomorrow evening.”

“Well, then it’s settled,” Ruth said. “Now y’all will be able to see more of Oakcrest. Y’all can stay here tonight.”

Indecision clouded Andrew’s eyes. He started to speak.

“Andrew, I won’t take no for an answer. Sadie can use some of my clothes. What do you think?” Ruth turned to Sadie.

She looked from the woman to Andrew. “It’ll be okay with me. I don’t have anything planned special for tomorrow. I can call a friend to teach my Sunday school class.”

“Great. You can go with us to church tomorrow. I’ve been wanting to get Andrew to our little church, and this will be a perfect time to visit. I’ll go get your bedrooms ready.” Ruth hurried into the foyer as though afraid if she didn’t rush Andrew would decline to stay the night.

The living room suddenly seemed small as Sadie faced him, not sure what he was thinking. His features had flattened into a neutral expression while his body was still tense. The silence between them stretched, marred only by the ticking of the grandfather clock. The rhythmic sound echoed in her mind, grating against her taut nerves.

“I’d forgotten how important Sundays at the office are to you. If you want to get a commercial flight, that’s fine by me.” Sadie welcomed the sound of her voice. It cut through the tension.

Andrew glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner. “It’s too late. I’ve already tried.”

Disappointment speared through her chest, leaving a dull ache in her heart. “Did you get reservations for tomorrow morning?”

“No. I had some things I needed to do, but by the time we got home the day would be half over.”

“So you decided to take a day off?”

He nodded. “I haven’t had one in several months.”

“You have been busy. No wonder Mrs. Fox is so protective of you.”

“We work well together. She’s as ambitious as I am. I think she already sees herself as the executive secretary to the president.”

“President?”

“Lawrence Wilson is retiring next year. I’m one of several being considered for the job.”

“Oh.” Her disappointment sharpened, and she knew she shouldn’t feel that way. She should be happy for him. She had the impression being considered for the presidency was something he had worked years to achieve. But she also realized his time would become even more precious. She didn’t want to become involved, but she did want some of his time to convince him of the merits of her work project. “No wonder you’re so busy.”

“Well, thankfully I brought some papers to work on down here. It won’t be a total loss.”

“Obviously you don’t leave home without your briefcase.”

A smile crinkled the corners of his eyes as he indicated she leave the living room ahead of him. “I suppose you’re right. I don’t. Never know when you can snatch a few minutes to work.”

In the foyer, she faced him. “You really do have it bad.” His attitude confirmed her need to keep her distance emotionally. Her father was a workaholic, and she knew how hard that was on a relationship.

“How so?”

“Here you’ve been given a golden opportunity to kick back and relax in a gorgeous setting, and all you can think about is work.” The second she saw his smile vanish, his body stiffen, she knew she had overstepped her bounds, but she had always spoken her mind and she wasn’t going to stop now even if it meant angering him.

“I grew up here. I’ve seen it all.”

“But I haven’t. I’ve never been to New Orleans. I realize this wasn’t part of the date, but can you forget IFI for one day and show me some of the sights after church?” Her heartbeat thundered in her ears; her hands were clammy. She was amazed at her boldness.

“First you talk me into going to a meeting Thursday night and now you want me to show you New Orleans?”

Her gaze coupled with his. “Yes, brazen of me, isn’t it?”

“You know, I’m beginning to think your talents are wasted as a teacher. You should have been a negotiator.”

“Then you will?”

“Yes.”

“In that case, I’ll say good-night. It’s been a long day.” She placed her foot on the first step, intending to escape as quickly as Ruth in case he decided to change his mind.

“Sadie, by the way, did all your wishes come true?”

He was directly behind her, his words a caress. Splinters of awareness shot through her as she slowly turned toward him. They were only inches apart. The silver fire in his eyes unraveled her, sending her heart clamoring. Her teeth sank into her lower lip while she clasped together her damp palms as though they would be an adequate shield between them.

“Did they, Sadie?”

She swallowed several times, afraid her voice wouldn’t work when she spoke. “Almost.”

“What hasn’t come true yet?”

Her throat closed. Her fourth wish swirled in her mind like a kaleidoscope. “Bad luck to say.”

“How can I help you if you don’t tell me what it is?”

Her gaze slid away from the bright look in his eyes. She focused on a point beyond his shoulder and frantically searched for a way not to tell him what her fourth wish had been.

His finger whispered across her cheek, startling her. Her gaze flew to his face. “I know I shouldn’t pry, but you have my curiosity aroused, Sadie. And since I got the impression I was involved in the wishes—”

“I wanted to eat a Cajun meal. I wanted you to support our Special Olympics program and come to the high school on Thursday night.”

Sparks of amusement lit his eyes as he looked at her face. “That’s not all, Sadie.”

She could feel the heat of her blush. Why did her face have to be read like an open book? “You know, you must be a tough negotiator yourself.”

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if I wasn’t.” He cut the space between them even more.

Sadie swallowed hard and backed up the stairs. “Well, tomorrow is going to be a busy day so I’d better get to bed.” She whirled and fled upstairs, aware of Andrew’s gaze on her the whole way.

Swirls of fog obscured Sadie’s view from the balcony. Wispy gray fingers slithered among the plants in the garden below, giving the landscape a ghostly appearance. She shivered and hugged herself even though the air was warm and peppered with the scent of flowers. She imagined the history this place could tell if it could speak.

The moment she thought about history her mind turned to her father. She didn’t want him to intrude on her time in New Orleans, but for some reason she felt vulnerable, fragile, like a magnolia blossom. It had taken years to toughen herself to her father’s expectations of her.

A memory, clear as if it had happened yesterday, imposed itself on her and whisked away what composure she had left. She’d been ten and learning to dive off a springboard. Over and over her father had worked with her to accomplish that feat one afternoon. After one particular attempt when she’d hit the water at an awkward angle and hurt her arm, she’d sat on the side of the pool with tears streaming down her cheeks. She’d rubbed her arm and looked at her father for some support and love. All she could remember was the anger on his face, his feet braced apart, his hands on his hips. He’d ordered her onto the diving board again. He refused to let her quit until she’d attained her goal. No child of his would ever quit, he’d declared, and they had stayed until the sun had gone down and she’d finally dived into the water with perfect form.

A sound penetrated Sadie’s mind, whisking her away from her memories. She blinked, focusing on her surroundings, trying to slow the rapid beating of her heart.

“Sadie?”

She turned from the railing and saw Andrew walking toward her. Bold, tall, an imposing figure. She squeezed her eyes shut and wished he would go away—at least until she had control of her emotions. He was invading her life, making it impossible to keep her distance.

“I thought you were in bed.” Sadie automatically fell back a few steps when she discovered Andrew dangerously close. Her heartbeat hadn’t slowed its frantic pace, and she had to force herself to take deep, calming breaths of the moisture-laden air that smelled of night and flowers.

“And I thought you were asleep.”

“I guess neither of us could sleep. Strange beds do that to me.” And the fact she couldn’t get him out of her mind, she thought, glad her face was in the shadows.

“I was working and came out here to take a break.”

“You allow yourself breaks?”

His chuckle was as warm and caressing as the night with its scents of roses and jasmine. “From time to time, especially when I was finding all I was doing was staring at the computer.” He leaned close and whispered, “You want to know something? I was even wishing I had put some video games on my laptop.”

“No? Really! Your secret is safe with me. I won’t tell a soul that
the
Andrew Knight thought about playing a video game, especially when he should have been working.”

His laughter filled the air. “You have corrupted me!”

“It must be the late hour. In the clear light of day I’m sure the old Andrew will be back.”

“He better be. I have an important report due in two days.”

Suddenly the lightheartedness evaporated between them replaced by a subtle tension that tautened Andrew’s body. Sadie felt it move up him, and she didn’t want the businessman to return just yet. “You said you were from this area?”

“Yes. I grew up near here and went to Tulane for college.”

“May I see where tomorrow?”

“It’s not on any tour of New Orleans I know of,” he said, a strange huskiness in his voice.

Even though she couldn’t see his expression clearly in the dim light from her bedroom, she instantly felt the subject of his childhood home was taboo. “What is on the tour?”

He shrugged. “What do you want to see?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never been here. You’re the tour guide.”

“In that case I’ll take you to the usual haunts. The French Quarter. The river.”

“What did you do for fun when you lived here?”

The tension was no longer subtle. Sadie didn’t need to see his face to feel tension seeping from every pore. The night sounds magnified the silence between them.

“I would escape to the bayou.”

Escape? Sadie frowned. Visions of all the movies she’d seen located in the bayous flashed across her mind, and she shivered. “That’s one place we can skip. Snakes are my least favorite animal. I know they are important in nature’s scheme, but I prefer them behind two-inch-thick glass at a zoo.” She forced a lightness into her tone, determined to ease the strain that had sprung up between them.

“How do you feel about alligators?”

“I have a healthy respect for their sharp teeth, their slashing tails. You used to see alligators?”

“Yep. We’d go looking for them.”

“Why?” Her voice squeaked.

“For the thrill of it.”

“When in the world did you pick up the hobbies of golf and reading?”

“When I grew up and became wiser,” he said with a laugh.

“I’m not sure if I have.”

“I think you’ve grown up. So it must be the wiser part,” he murmured in the dark night.

She tried to think of something to say. But for once she was speechless. Definitely the wise part. If she were wise, she would have never come to New Orleans. If she were wise, she wouldn’t be out here on the balcony with a man who had stolen into her life in a few short days. If she were wise, she would be on the next flight out of here regardless of its destination.

The blackness seemed to close around Andrew and her, heightening her perception of him. She tried to inhale deep breaths, but each one was infused with his scent of sandalwood. The intensity of the moment was almost tangible, as if Sadie could grab it and hold it in her palm.

He moved toward her, his arm brushing hers. “Do you ever do things just for the thrill of it?” he asked, his question loaded with a hazardous potency she knew she should avoid.

She stepped back, coming up against a column. “Yes.”

“Do you like to take risks?”

“Yes—within reason.”

“Within reason? What limits do you set for yourself?”

He was a breath away, and she couldn’t think with any kind of reason at all. She frantically searched her mind for an answer, but all she could think about was his nearness. Somehow she knew he was in a dangerous mood, as if he were challenging her to try to invade his privacy.