Love Enough For Two (Love Inspired) (8 page)

“Carl mentioned he’d run into you and a male friend the other day over lunch,” her mother said. “I could see it had shaken him. He wanted the scoop but I had to tell him I didn’t know anything about the man. He asked if I thought it could be serious and I told him I’m sure it wasn’t, because otherwise I’d have met him.”

Sierra could see the hurt in her mother’s eyes. At the moment she wasn’t sure if it was the not knowing that bothered her mother or the fact that Sierra didn’t seem to return Carl’s interest.

For years her mother had harbored the hope that she and Carl would get together. She’d told Sierra on more than one occasion that she would make the perfect minister’s wife. Though for a split second, Sierra had considered coming clean with her mother, she now rejected the option. It would be best to let her mother think she was interested in Matt.

Otherwise, Sierra could envision the next few months. Her mother would be inviting Carl over for dinner and encouraging Sierra in a million other less obvious ways to give the good pastor a chance.

Sierra knew she’d disappointed her mother when she’d married Jerry. Though at the time everyone had thought Jerry was a great catch, her mother had voiced strong reservations about the union. And time had proved her mother’s instincts correct.

But she’s not right in this case.

Sierra’s hands tightened into fists at her side. Reverend Carl was not the man for her. He couldn’t be. No matter what her mother thought.

Actually, after her divorce she’d vowed to swear off men entirely. She didn’t need a guy in her life to be happy. She had a daughter to raise and Maddie was her priority.

She’d thought her mother would agree when she’d said as much to her one day. But to her surprise Peggy would hear none of such talk. She wanted Sierra to marry again, to find the true happiness that had eluded her the first time around. And, from the look in her mother’s eye, Peggy was convinced Sierra would find that happiness with Reverend Carl.

If she were an impartial bystander, Sierra might agree. On the surface she and Carl had everything in common: background, values, faith. He adored Maddie and would make a wonderful father. Many would argue, a successful marriage between the two was practically guaranteed.

But every impractical part of Sierra’s being railed against that conclusion. Carl didn’t make her pulse leap when he walked into a room and his long-ago kiss had repulsed rather than excited her.

There’s more to life than sexual attraction, she scolded herself. Look at Jerry. Her heart had done flip-flops whenever he was in the room and look how that had ended.

“Sierra?” Her mother’s voice jerked her back to the present. “Who is this new man in your life? Why haven’t you mentioned him?”

“I hadn’t mentioned him before because our relationship—” Sierra’s tongue stumbled over the word “—is fairly new.”

It wasn’t exactly a lie, she told herself. Their business relationship
was
brand-new. When, or if, a personal one would ever get off the ground was anyone’s guess.

But, Sierra realized suddenly, it wasn’t anyone’s guess, it was up to her. Matt had made her an offer and it was up to her to accept it or not.

“You must like him,” Peggy said.

Sierra thought for a moment then nodded. “Well enough, anyway.”

“Other than Carl and the insurance agent, he’s the first man you’ve dated since Jerry,” Peggy added.

Her mother was right, but instead of it scaring her, the thought gave her a measure of comfort.

A relationship with Matt would be like sticking her toe into the water rather than jumping in feet-first. She could get used to the water, then at the end of the summer when the project was over and Matt was long gone, she could decide if she was interested in getting back into the dating game or not.

Yes, when you thought about it, spending time with Matt this summer made complete sense.

“Matt is nice,” Sierra said to her mother. “But neither of us is looking for anything serious. Not at this point, anyway.”

“What religion is he?”

The question took Sierra by surprise. The minute she’d mentioned she was dating someone she’d known an interrogation would be forthcoming, but she hadn’t expected it would start tonight. Sierra blinked, thought about lying, then decided to be honest. “I’m not sure.”

Her mother’s gaze narrowed. “Haven’t you talked about your faith with him?”

“It hasn’t come up,” Sierra said, knowing it wasn’t much of an answer. Unfortunately it was the truth.

Her mother pursed her lips. “Does he like children?”

The casual tone and offhand manner didn’t fool Sierra. “We haven’t talked about children, either. Like I said, the relationship is brand-new.”

Sierra wished she could tell her mother not to worry, that Matt was the last man Sierra would ever seriously consider. And it didn’t matter what he thought about God or children because he would never meet Maddie, and he would certainly never be a part of their life.

“Maddie.” Sierra turned to her daughter, who was rummaging through the toy box. “Help Gram and me pick up the toys.”

Maddie whirled, her bottom lip protruding. “I don’t want to pick up, I want—”

Sierra straightened and favored the girl with the look she’d perfected the past four years. Though she and Maddie were close and Sierra loved the little girl with all her heart, she was determined to raise a well-adjusted, well-behaved child.

Maddie stared at her mother for a long moment. “Okay,” she said finally, only a trace of sulkiness in her tone. “But first I have to give Gram a hug.”

The little girl propelled herself across the room and lifted her arms to her grandmother. “I love you, Gram.”

Sierra and her mother exchanged a smile. Maddie still hadn’t realized that there was no divide-and-conquer when it came to the two women in her life.

“I love you too, pumpkin,” Peggy said, sweeping up Maddie in her arms and giving the girl a big bear hug before setting her back down. The older woman’s gaze shifted to the Candy Land boxes. “Do you think you can put all the pieces in those little slots all by yourself? Or do you need Gram to help you?”

Maddie shook her head vigorously. “I do it myself.”

It was all Sierra could do not to laugh. The response was just what she’d expected from her independent daughter.

Sierra smiled and picked up a stuffed pig with ten Velcro-attached piglets lying on a chair. With a wide arching lob she tossed the pig family into the toy box.

God had blessed her with faith and family. She had everything she needed. Who could ask for anything more?

S
ierra checked on Maddie one more time before she slipped into the shower. The water’s cool spray was invigorating and she hummed as she dried off and slathered lotion on her body. She’d just wrapped a towel around her head and pulled on the silk robe her mother had given her for Christmas when the phone rang.

Praying the loud ring wouldn’t wake Maddie, Sierra shot out of the bathroom, sidestepping a headless Barbie in the hall. She reached the living room in record time, her hand clicking the cordless phone on the minute her fingers closed around it. “Hello.”

“Hey, beautiful.” The deep masculine voice filled the phone line. “What’s up?”

“Who is this?” Sierra forced an innocent tone.

Silence filled the line for a second. “It’s Matt. Who did you think it was?”

“It could have been any one of my many admirers,” Sierra said airily, smiling at the thought of how easily she’d taken the wind from his sails. “That’s why I always ask.”

“Many admirers, huh?” Matt asked. “Like Reverend Carl?”

Sierra laughed and dropped to the sofa, ignoring his question. “You called at a good time. I just got out of the shower.”

A brief pause greeted her words and she didn’t have to see Matt to know there was now a wicked gleam in his eyes.

“Sounds exciting. Can I come over?”

Sierra shook her head and her smile widened. Matt might not have all of Carl’s virtues, but he was fun.

“Have you heard the saying ‘the early bird gets the worm’?” She plumped up an accent pillow and made herself comfortable against the overstuffed cushions. “Well, you’re five minutes too late. I have my robe on. And you live too far away, anyway.”

“Didn’t I tell you?” he asked. “I’ve moved to Santa Barbara for the summer. If our new office works out well, the move may be permanent.”

“No way.” Her heart caught in her throat and she wasn’t sure if it was dread or excitement coursing through her veins. After all, it was one thing to have a casual relationship with someone who lived out of town, quite another when they could be only blocks away and close enough to call any bluff.

“Don’t sound so enthusiastic.” His voice was quietly teasing and she could almost see the grin spread across his face.

“It doesn’t matter to me where you live,” Sierra said, waving a dismissive hand even though he wasn’t there to see it.

“Sure it does,” he asserted. “Or it should, anyway. After all, you are my girlfriend.”

“In name only,” she reminded him.

“I beg to differ,” he said placidly. “In name only would mean our relationship is purely platonic. Kissing each other changed that.”

“It didn’t change anything,” Sierra said. “In name only means no emotional involvement. It means you can kiss someone for no better reason than you feel like it.”

“Hmm.” A thoughtful air filled the line and she had the feeling that instead of blowing off her words, he was carefully considering them. “Makes sense.”

Sierra hadn’t expected him to agree. And she wasn’t sure why it bothered her to have him concede the point. “I need to go.”

“Why?” he asked, clearly startled by her abruptness.

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” she said. “Good night, Matt.”

“Wait,” he said quickly. “Before you hang up I have something to ask you.”

“Make it quick.”

“James Hanna, the main architect for the Advocacy Center, is having a party at his house on Friday night. It would be a good idea if we went together.”

“Absolutely not,” The words popped out of her mouth the same instant they entered her head

“Tell me what you
really
think.” Laughter filled the other end of the line.

While Sierra conceded her response had been a bit rude, it was honest. Not because she didn’t like him but because a party typically meant lots of people. Lots of people meant someone could be attending who knew Libby. Someone who knew Sierra wasn’t Elizabeth Carlyle.

“Saturday just isn’t good for me,” she said.

“Even on the phone you’re cute when you lie.” He laughed again. “The party’s on Friday.”

“Oh.” Sierra paused, sure he’d said Saturday. But she wasn’t about to argue. She didn’t plan to attend the party whether it was on Friday or Saturday. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to mix business and pleasure.”

“I agree,” he said without missing a beat. “This party is strictly business.”

“I don’t believe you,” she said.

“Scout’s honor.”

She could almost see him holding up three fingers in the Scout salute and she had to shake her head at the depths to which the man would go to get his way.

“Now who’s lying to who?” Sierra couldn’t resist teasing him. “We both know you were never a Boy Scout.”

“I had friends who were Scouts,” Matt said. “That should count for something.”

“It doesn’t count,” Sierra said.

“I wanted to join but my father didn’t have time to take me to the meetings,” Matt said. “Surely that counts.”

“It’s definitely a stretch,” Sierra said, playing along. “What about your mother? Why couldn’t she take you?”

“She left when I was ten,” he said and for a second Sierra swore his voice hitched. But a chuckle dispelled that notion. “And Dad had better things to do than shuttle me around to campfires.”

“It’s hard for one parent to do it all,” Sierra said softly. That’s why, way back when, she’d sworn to herself that
her
children would grow up with both a mom and a dad.

She sighed. “I know. I grew up without a father.”

“I remember my dad talking about that divorce,” Matt said. “Sounded like it was an ugly one.”

For a second, Sierra couldn’t figure out what he was talking about. Her father had died in an auto accident. Then it came to her in a rush that he was talking about
Libby’s
life, not hers.

Libby’s mother had found her husband in a compromising position with her best friend and promptly filed for divorce. Though Stella never seemed to mind, the publicity had been hard on Libby.

“Some men aren’t meant to be parents,” was all Sierra could think to say.

“And some women aren’t, either,” Matt added. “Now about the party—I’ll pick you up at eight.”

Although the event did sound like fun, especially with Matt on her arm, Sierra refused to abandon common sense and succumb to masculine charm. “I’m sorry—”

“Your mother is the principal backer of the Advocacy Center,” Matt interrupted her, an extra measure of persuasiveness now in his tone. “But it’s an expensive project. The more money that can be raised the better.”

“What does any of that have to do with the party?”

“It’s not just a party,” Matt said. “It’s a fundraiser for the Advocacy Center. There’ll be a silent auction. Many of the Center’s proponents will be there hoping to convince some well-known Santa Barbara philanthropists to ante up.”

Sierra drew her eyebrows together. “I thought Stella, um, my mother was putting up the money?”

“She’s financing the start-up costs,” Matt said. “But ongoing support will still be needed if the Center is going to remain viable five and ten years down the road.”

Normally Sierra would jump at the chance to solicit funds for such a worthy project. But what if there was someone Libby knew in attendance? Granted, Libby had never been one to indulge in the Santa Barbara social scene and Stella Carlyle had never considered herself part of the community….

“Could you get me a guest list?” Sierra asked impulsively, wondering why she just didn’t say no.

“Why?”

“I’d like to see if they’ve left anyone off that should be invited,” she said, quickly improvising.

“Will you go if I get you the list?” Matt asked immediately.

“If you get me the list, I’ll be very grateful,” Sierra answered, sidestepping the question.

“Consider it done,” he said. “I’ll get it from Jim in the morning then I’ll stop by the shop and drop it off.”

“Perfect.” Sierra would connect with Libby tomorrow and show her the names. And, regardless of what she’d insinuated to Matt, her attendance at the party would depend entirely on Libby’s response. “I’ll be in about eleven.”

“I’ll see you then,” he said. “And, Sierra?”

Her gaze drifted to the clock and she widened her eyes. How in the world was she ever going to get up and have Maddie to play group on time? “Yes, Matt?”

“Most women find me irresistible in a tux,” he said in a confident tone. “So Friday night…”

“Yes?” she said a trifle impatiently.

“I have two words for you.”

She heaved a frustrated sigh. “And what two words would that be?”

“Be prepared.”

Matt straightened the jacket of his tux and stole a quick glance at his watch before returning his gaze to the voluptuous brunette. She’d been chattering nonstop since she’d cornered him a few minutes ago, but at the moment he couldn’t recall a single word she’d said.

James Hanna’s large house with windows overlooking the Pacific was a perfect setting for the party. Music from a small chamber orchestra provided a pleasant backdrop to the guests’ chatter and the sweet scent of the exotic flowers brought in just for the occasion, filled the air. The buffet tables brimmed with trays of delicious hors d’oeuvres and the wine that filled the glass in his hand was top-notch.

For the past hour, Matt had mingled, always keeping one eye on the door. He told himself that he was just interested in the attendees, but the truth was he was looking for the pretty blonde who’d assured him she would meet him by the front door promptly at eight. It was now almost nine and Sierra was nowhere in sight.

He blew out a frustrated breath wishing he’d insisted on picking her up. But when he’d suggested it, she’d balked. At the time he’d been so glad she’d agreed to go with him that he’d simply said okay. Now he had to wonder if even back then she’d planned to stand him up.

“Why did I even go to all the work of getting that guest list if she wasn’t going to show?” Matt muttered, feeling his anger mount with each passing second.

“Pardon me?”

Matt blinked, only then realizing that Missy or Mindy, or whatever her name was, still stood before him.

“Did you say something?” she asked in a deliberately husky voice designed to stir a man’s senses.

Though she was an attractive woman and he’d once favored brunettes, her beauty left his senses untouched. The only thing he could figure was that his tastes were changing.

He almost blew her off, but good manners won out and he offered a conciliatory smile. “I was just commenting on your story.”

Actually he hadn’t been listening at all. He’d heard the first part—something about a recent trip to Greece—and had immediately tuned her out.

“Silly me,” she said, gazing up at him through lowered lashes. “I thought you invited me to a show.”

Matt groaned. Of all the women in the room, why did she have to be James Hanna’s niece? James was a big deal in Santa Barbara and he’d talked about using Dixon and Associates for his firm’s legal work.

Still, the last thing Matt wanted was to take Mitzi on a date. Thankfully, he had a ready excuse.

“You must have misunderstood,” he offered her a mollifying smile. “Not that I don’t find you attractive but I’m seeing someone.”

For a second the woman’s face fell, but it only took a second for her to regain her composure. She glanced around the room. “Is your girlfriend here?”

“Not yet,” Matt said, resisting the urge to look at his watch again. “But I’m expecting her any minute.”

“If you were mine, I wouldn’t let you out of my sight for even one second.” She took a step closer and the overpowering scent of her expensive perfume wafted over him. “Temptation is everywhere.”

Her hand moved to his arm and she gazed up at him questioningly.

Matt realized ruefully that temptation wasn’t just everywhere, it was right in front of him dressed in a low-cut black gown. She was an attractive package, he’d give her that, but the trouble was, she wasn’t the woman he wanted tonight.

He mouthed some vague excuse about seeing someone he knew and made a hasty retreat, his gaze still firmly fixed on the door.

By ten o’clock, he’d given up hope and his anger soared. He was almost tempted to look up Mitzi and take her up on her offer. But even as the thought entered his mind, Matt rejected it. He’d never used a woman like that before and he wasn’t going to start now.

By eleven o’clock, worry replaced anger. Sierra had promised she’d attend and though he didn’t know her well, she seemed the reliable sort.

He’d tried to call her home phone several times but all he’d gotten was the recorder. Crazy thoughts ran through his head. What if she were sick? What if she’d been in an accident?

If he knew where she lived he’d drive over there and make sure she was all right. Unfortunately, he didn’t have her home address and she’d told him once she wasn’t in the phone book.

He thought for a moment. His father would know her address. After all, Sierra lived in her mother’s old house and his dad had been there many times. Matt moved to the outside deck and hit speed dial.

It rang several times before his father answered. “Hello, Matt.”

By the sounds of the laughter and clinking glasses in the background, Matt concluded his father was out “being seen.” When Dix had been told by his doctor to cut back his workload, his father had decided to use his recuperation time to full advantage and increase his visibility at prominent social events.

It had been a smart move, and had already generated an impressive amount of new clients and an even more impressive revenue spike.

“I need a favor,” Matt said. “Do you have Stella Carlyle’s home address?”

“She lives just outside of Paris,” his father said. “But I don’t have the address with me and I’m in the middle of something right now—”

“Actually, it’s her address in Santa Barbara that I need,” Matt said quickly, not giving his father a chance to finish or to hang up. “Her daughter and I were supposed to meet at a party tonight and we must have got our wires crossed. I just wanted to stop by her place and make sure she’s okay.”