North Dakota Weddings (15 page)

Great solar masses
.

Peter had just told him he was dead if he showed his face. How in the world did Peter expect him to resolve this otherwise, especially from Cancun? Except if Vance had kept his plans to go there, he would have been back by now. He’d just have go to the office after hours and hope—no, pray—that no one else was there.

Vance stood and stretched, taking several long and much-needed breaths. Oxygen would go a long way to get his mind going. If he didn’t have this mess to clean up, how he’d enjoy seeing Andi this morning. At least he had one thing to look forward to.

He closed his eyes as he finished up a long stretch and imagined her sweet face, still wary…but sweet.

“Good morning.”

He opened his eyes to a vision. Andi stood in the doorway, her dazzling smile nearly bowling him over. Fumbling for words, he could only smile in return. His day had just soared to five stars from the negative end on the how’s-your-day rating system.

She meandered into the kitchen and looked at him across the island. “I see you haven’t had your morning coffee.”

Vance laughed. “You offering to pour me a cup?”

Two mugs in her hands, she grinned. “I was hoping to steal a cup for myself, too. That all right with you?”

“As long as you’re pouring, I see no problem with that.”

Pressing her lips into a playful grin, she filled both cups. “You’d better watch out if you don’t want this coffee in your face.”

Vance threw his hands up in surrender and moved to the island. “Okay, I give. I don’t want to start my day out on the wrong side of you.”

She giggled and handed him the coffee-filled mug. “Got a late start this morning.”

As Vance took it from her, his fingers brushed hers, sending a charge through him. Spooning into his coffee the usual fillers, he couldn’t help the smile playing on his lips as he considered how she made him feel all gooey inside, like the space-time continuum had folded and he was in the crease.

“Listen, I wanted to thank you for what you did.”

“It was nothing. Elisa is a good kid. She’s got a great head on her shoulders.” Vance took a sip of his coffee. “Just like her sister.”

She stared into her cup. Was that a blush creeping over her face? Hmm. Pretty. He liked this side of her.

“Elisa’s out of school today. I almost played hooky from work, but then that wouldn’t be a good example for her, would it?”

Vance opened his mouth to reply that she should have spent the time with her sister but then…an idea slammed him.

A
re we there yet?” Sitting in the back, Elisa pulled on the front passenger seat. Andi giggled. “You sound like a little kid.” She enjoyed watching the landscape go by. “This was a great idea, Vance.”

Staring ahead at the road, he flashed her a quick grin—a look she was becoming insanely attached to.

“It’s been awhile since I’ve been to Fargo,” she said. Unwanted memories of being together with Jorgen at North Dakota State University drifted through her mind.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s been long enough for me.”

Andi gave him a side glance. “Really. Are you saying you’re growing attached to Ground Zero?”

Vance didn’t answer at first. “You know, it has kind of grown on me. But I think that might have more to do with the company I’m keeping while there.”

Andi’s pulse jumped. Before she could react she felt the familiar pressure on the seatback.

“Thanks, Vance, we like you, too.” Elisa laughed, then plopped back.

“This trip will be great for Elisa,” Andi said. Elisa would be able to see there’s a world of opportunity waiting for her—a world beyond the small town of Herndon.

“So what do you want to be when you grow up, Elisa?” Vance asked.

For the next couple of hours, they talked about every topic they could think of, and sometimes drove in comfortable silence. Andi couldn’t remember when she’d been so happy, so relaxed.

But that was the problem. She feared getting too close, and yet here she was like a meteor drawn by the gravitational pull of a planet called Vance—he even had her thinking in astronomical terms. If she didn’t watch out, she’d end up crashing. And this time, she suspected she wouldn’t be the only one hurt. Elisa looked to Vance like he was a big brother.

She’d been more than surprised when he’d invited her and Elisa to go with him to Fargo. Stunned had been more like it, and then one quick, impulsive decision and she’d found herself agreeing to go. And still, she felt good about it.

Besides, she’d told herself, it was for Elisa. She and Elisa needed some time together to have fun. What better place than the largest city in North Dakota?

As Andi watched the North Dakota wheat and sunflower fields go by, she almost dozed. Finally, the traffic on the highway increased as a mass of buildings and houses took shape in the distance. Anticipation filled the car.

They drove down Broadway, then past Main, the heart of Fargo.

“That’s the second tallest building in Fargo.” Vance pointed as he drove through a green light. “That’s where I work.”

“Uff da
. Can we go there?” Elisa asked.

Vance grinned. “It’s a bit complicated. My partner warned me not to come in while I’m on vacation. I’m not going in until after hours.”

Andi detected a subtle unease in his tone. “We won’t get to see where you work then?”

“You just saw it.” Vance laughed. “That building is where I work.”

“I understand.” She hoped she hadn’t sounded as disappointed as she felt. It’s not like she expected the grand tour.

“Look, I’d love to take you inside so you can see the big computers. But maybe next time, all right?” He glanced at her and winked.

She responded with a nod.

“And here we are.” Vance pulled into the Radisson Hotel parking. “This is the tallest building in Fargo.”

Vance had arranged for their stay in Fargo, but she doubted she could afford this. “Isn’t there another hotel? Maybe even a motel?”

“Don’t worry, I’m getting this. I invited you, remember?”

“But—”

“Don’t. Now, let’s get you checked in and while you’re unpacking, I need to run by my apartment. I’ll be back to pick you up in an hour and take you to a late lunch.”

She stood tall and smiled. “Sounds good.” They’d just have to eat cheap.

Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea.

Panic swelled. Andi had imagined them walking around town, exploring sights, but because it wasn’t something they did often, she hadn’t considered that it might cost more than she had in her bank account at the moment, especially with what Vance had in mind. They could have a conflict of interest. She so did not want to ruin the day.

Vance grabbed their bags while Elisa skipped into the lobby, sending a tender pang through Andi. No, this was the right thing. They both needed to get away, even if only for a couple of days.

Once Andi and Elisa settled into their hotel room, Elisa was all smiles, then suddenly frowned. “I still wish we could have invited Todd.”

“You know why we couldn’t.” This was Vance’s idea and he didn’t invite Todd. Nor was this a romantic getaway weekend.

“Can I call Todd?”

Andi wasn’t sure why Elisa bothered to ask. “You know the answer to that as well.”

“Where are we going? What are we going to do?” Elisa plopped on the bed. “I’m hungry.”

Andi stared at herself in the mirror. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were eight years old.”

For that, she received a pillow in the back of the head, messing up her ponytail. “Now look what you did.” She tugged the elastic band free. “I’ll have to redo it.”

“Ah, come on, sis. Don’t you think it’s time for you to let your hair down?” Elisa smiled into the mirror from behind Andi.

Andi gave her the look as she brushed her hair out. It fell across her shoulders with a golden sheen, and for the first time in a long time, she thought she might actually be pretty. But only a little.

She’d not taken the time to look at herself like this in much too long. She ran her hand over her cheek. Maybe she should have worn makeup like some girls did.

“Well, you don’t have to listen to me, but I think you look beautiful with your hair down. Why not just leave it like that?”

Andi looked in the mirror at her sister, unconvinced. “You think?”

“I think.”

Someone knocked on the door and before Andi could do a thing about her hair, Elisa opened it, revealing a dashing man who leaned against the frame with his hands in his pockets. He was much too handsome for this plain-looking small-town girl.

He whistled. “I like the new do.”

Heat rose up her body and neck, then spread into her cheeks. Andi tried to focus, a difficult task, her head swimming as it was. “Thanks, but it’s nothing special.”

Vance remained in the doorway.

“You coming in?” Elisa asked.

“Nah. I’m hungry.” Vance stared at Andi, something akin to longing in his eyes. “Let’s go eat.”

Andi grabbed her purse, fumbling and feeling strangely like her friendship with Vance had just climbed another rung on the ladder, all because she’d let her hair down. She hadn’t intended to send him a signal, had she?

As she strolled past him through the door, the scent of his cologne made her dizzy. She hadn’t noticed his wearing it in the car.

Vance felt like he was floating in a no-gravity zone. Andi’s hair…wowser. He’d known she was beautiful, but this…He cleared his throat as he turned into the restaurant parking lot, then parked. “Emilio’s is my favorite Italian restaurant.”

Racing around the car, Vance made sure to open the door for the ladies before they got out. Andi smiled as she stepped from the car and pulled her hair back like she was about to imprison it again.

Vance touched her hand, stopping her. “Please, don’t.”

Andi stared into his eyes, searching. “I’m not accustomed to wearing it down. I feel…funny.”

“But you look…”
Scrumptious
. “Drop-dead gorgeous. You wouldn’t want to deny a guy, would you?” Though Vance enjoyed teasing her, he wondered if he were going too far. Andi might feel compelled to be nice to him simply because she wanted—no, he knew she needed—the contract to finish Ground Zero. On that thought the anticipation of an enjoyable couple of days with her deflated.

Andi frowned, stepping out of the way as he shut the car door.

But maybe deflating was exactly what he needed. Besides, he had a purpose in coming to Fargo and needed to remain focused on that. Why had he invited her again?

As if he were in a trance, Vance remained next to the car, unmoving, as he watched her stroll toward the restaurant.

She flipped her hair off her shoulder and turned back to look at him, smiling. “You coming?”

Throat suddenly dry, Vance swallowed. He knew exactly why he’d invited her along. And at the moment, thinking about the work he’d come for was the last thing on his mind—the beautiful woman before him a huge distraction.

They enjoyed lunch together; the pleasant banter between the three of them couldn’t have been more fun. Andi and Elisa were getting along better than he’d ever seen them.

“The last time I was in Fargo was to visit my boyfriend. Well, he’s my ex-boyfriend now.” Andi sipped her tea.

“What happened?”

“Long-distance relationships don’t work. That and I had to quit school, so he didn’t think I was his equal since I don’t have a college degree.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Andi. The guy must be an idiot, so I don’t think his degree did anything for him.”

His words brought the smile back to her face.

“Why’d you go and bring that up, sis? Jorgen is a dope for letting you go. Right, Vance?”

He nodded his agreement but a frown crept into his smile, his mood. He wondered the same—why had she brought it up? The topic shone a searchlight on his heart and on their situation. Why was he entertaining the idea of a relationship with her if he had no plans to stay in Herndon? It wasn’t fair to her. To either of them.

Elisa stared into her soda and played with the straw.

Vance resolved to enjoy the weekend. They were here. “Come on. We’ve got lots more to see.”

“Really? This isn’t Dallas,” Andi said.

“Maybe not, but I know where there’s good shopping.”

Andi giggled as they left the restaurant and smacked him with her bag.

“Ouch. What’s in that thing?”

“You
are
a strange one, Vance Young. I always pictured people in Texas wearing cowboy hats and Wranglers. But you…you’re anything but a cowboy.”

“Why, thank ya’, ma’am.” He tipped his imaginary hat. “You experience a lot more of that in Houston than in Dallas. But in Houston, a city with millions of people, you have to run in the right crowds to see anyone dressed in Wranglers and a cowboy hat.”

Vance opened the car door for the two women. Andi thanked him. He climbed into the driver’s side, noticing Andi digging through her purse. Just like he didn’t fit her idea of a Texan, he never imagined this side of her. At Ground Zero, she was all business and tried to put on that tough construction contractor appearance. But today, in her peach and lace knit shirt and pastel slacks, she was…soft.