Scarlet Fever - Hill Country 2 (21 page)

Immediately, Alex could tell that Scarlet knew exactly what she was talking about.
 
After reviewing the reports, she went to work.
 
In a couple of hours, the project that Alex had been dreading; the one that should have taken him days to complete, was well on its way to being finished.
 
Alex looked at her work.
 
It was innovative, accurate, and detailed.
 
Her proposals made Rick LeBeau’s work look like hen-scratch.
 
“Come work for me, baby.
 
You’re brilliant.”

The complement in his words made her want to cry.
 
No one had ever been willing to give her a chance to do what she did best; they had always let her health problems define who she was and what they thought she could do.
 
“Thanks.
 
I wish I could.
 
But I can help you while I’m here.”

“I’m serious, Scarlet.
 
I’m an employee short.
 
You do much better work than LeBeau ever thought about doing.”
 
He watched hope fill her eyes, then it clouded over with doubt.
 
“Think about it.”
 
All he could think of was how awesome it would be to work alongside his wife.
 
Alex’s dreams were becoming more specific every day.

************************

Alex could tell that Scarlet didn’t feel well.
 
She had insisted that they make love, reminding him that they only had four more nights to be together.
 
Bull!
 
He had taken her gently, handling her as if she were made of the finest

china.
 
Breakable.
 
Priceless.

Three days before the wedding . . . . .

“Tell me everything.”
 
Scarlet nested down in a chair in front of the fireplace.
 
She just couldn’t seem to get warm.
 
Alex brought her an afghan and tucked it around her shoulders.

Annalise and Cecile brought in cups of apple cider and hot chocolate for everyone.
 
“You first, Cecile.”
 
Annalise encouraged her agent.

“Bobby took me to a great French restaurant near downtown, Aquarelle’s.”
 
Nobody could miss her dreamy expression.

Scarlet leaned forward, not wanting to miss a word.
 
“What did you have to eat?”

“We had scallops on a corn-potato compote ringed by asparagus spears.
 
The scallops are actually cooked in truffle butter.
 
It was the best meal that I have ever had.”
 
Cecile grabbed Bobby’s hand.
 
“Bobby ordered us a bottle of champagne.
 
It was all very romantic.”

“What did you do after dinner, did you go anywhere else?”
 
Scarlet missed the private look that Bobby gave Cecile, but Cecile answered anyway.

“We went to a great dance club on 6
^th
Street called Bossanova.”
 
Bobby nudged Cecile who giggled.

“How about you and Ethan, where did you go out and eat last night?”
 
Scarlet had transferred her attention to her sister, eagerly awaiting more details.

“We went back to ’our’ restaurant, Selena’s.
 
It’s a great Italian restaurant, built like a beautiful Tuscan villa.
 
Ethan took me there on our first date.”
 
As Scarlet asked question after question, it hit Alex like a ton of bricks.
 
Scarlet was trying to imagine what it was like to go out on a real date.
 
He felt like a colossal heel.
 
All the days that they had been together, and he had still not taken her out on the town.
 
Watching her eyes light up as she listened to the other two women talk about where their dates had taken them and what they had eaten made Alex hurt like he had had the wind knocked out of him.
 

After the conversation had died down, he eased his arm around her and pulled her close.
 
“How about you and I go somewhere tonight?
 
Would you like that?”

Scarlet rubbed her cheek on his shirt, and smiled up at him sadly.
 
“I’m really tired, love.
 
Would you mind if we just stayed here?
 
Or you can go, if you’d like, I wouldn’t mind.”

“I only want to be with you.”
 
He held her hand in his, threading their fingers together.

“I’m sorry that we haven’t gone anywhere like that, Scarlet.
 
I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m such an idiot.”
 
At his words, Scarlet sat straight up and pinned him with her stare.

“My time with you has been perfect.
 
Don’t you dare regret even one second of it.”
 
He closed his eyes as a lump tried to work its way up his throat.
 
“You have shown me the time of my life, Alex.
 
I wouldn’t have missed this week with you for the world.”

She was such a little firecracker.
 
But his firecracker was fading fast.
 
Soon, he picked her up and carried her to bed.
 
He would let her rest for a few hours, and then he was going to turn her world upside down.
 

Alex called and made reservations for a dinner cruise on Lady Bird Lake.
 
It was last minute, so he had to pay through the nose, but it was going to be worth it.
 
Next, he called in a favor that dated all the way back to a frat-house mishap.
 
He called Barry Ridgeway, a college buddy that had thought it was smart to invite the entire night shift of Hooters over for an after-hours soiree, complete with five kegs and the UT official canon – Old Smokey.

Alex had come home and had been shocked to find that one of the Longhorns most valuable possessions was in their back yard.
 
Barry was so drunk he didn’t realize that the whole fraternity could have been disbanded and expelled for such a stupid stunt.
 
Alex had taken charge and returned Old Smokey, escorted the Hooters home and cleaned up Barry’s mess.
 
Barry owed him.
 
Tonight, he would repay.
 
Barry’s family owned the south’s biggest fireworks company.
 
And the display that Alex had planned would take Scarlet’s breath away.

Another favor called in; a horse drawn carriage would meet them at Zilker Park and take him and Scarlet all along the river before they boarded the dinner cruise.
 
A call to an area florist reserved four dozen yellow roses.
 
Alex racked his brain, trying to think of anything else he could do to make this evening perfect for her.
 

He had went out on a limb and paid a visit to the priciest boutique in Austin.
 
Turning himself completely over to the sales girl, he had bought Scarlet an entire new wardrobe – including a beautiful evening gown to wear to the rehearsal dinner.
 
There was no way that he was going to let her wear a dress that she had made for another man to their wedding.
 
He had hid everything in the far end of his closet, and now he searched through the items until he found the teal silk pantsuit that he wanted her to wear tonight.
 
Laying the items out on the bed, he added erotic matching underwear and a sexy pair of sandals.
 
Never in a million years, did he ever consider that he would be shopping for a woman.
 
But, truth be told, he would do anything in the world for Scarlet.

“Baby.”
 
He kissed her cheek.
 
“I have a surprise for you, baby.”

She wiggled and stretched, the reality of waking up in Alex’s bed a moment that she would treasure.
 
“I’m sorry that I slept the day away.
 
I guess the trip to the doctor’s took more out of me that I realized.”

“Do you feel better?”
 
Alex looked at her with all the love and concern that overflowed his heart.

“Yes, I do.”
 
She patted the bed.
 
“I feel wonderful.
 
Would you like to join me?
 
I’ll make it worth your while.”
 
Alex growled and held her down, blowing on her belly like he would a small child.
 
Actually, her little sexy gesture had him as hard as a rock, but he had other plans.
 
He wanted her to save all of her energy for their romantic evening.
 
Later, he would bring her back here and give both of them what they wanted.

“Get up baby and put on this pretty outfit.
 
We’re going to Austin.
 
I have a whole bunch of surprises for you.”
 
Scarlet sat up looked at the clothes on the end of the bed.
 
She rose up on her knees and embraced Alex.

“I told you that this wasn’t necessary.
 
We don’t have to go anywhere.
 
I’m happy anywhere, as long as you're there with me.
 
Just being with you is more than I ever expected.”
 
He held her, reveling in the warmth of her closeness.

“Humor me, sweetheart.
 
Go with me, please.”
 
He kissed her softly on the soft skin just above her breastbone.
  

“I can’t tell you ‘no’ about anything.
 
Did you know that?”
 
She breathed in the soft, clean fragrance of his hair.

“I’m counting on it, baby girl.
 
You don‘t know how much I‘m counting on it.”

“I can’t believe you bought me all of these beautiful things.”
 
Scarlet lay her head on Alex’s shoulder, holding on to his arm.
 

“I enjoy buying you things, love.”
 
Pulling into Zilker Park, Alex could see the horse drawn carriage awaiting their arrival.

“Look at the horses, Alex.
 
Could we walk over and look at them?”
 

“I think that could be arranged.”
 
He lifted her out of the Hummer and hand in hand they strolled over to the white carriage.
 

“Good evening, Mr. Stewart.”
 
The driver greeted Alex and handed him the huge bouquet.
 
When Alex turned to give Scarlet the roses, he found her looking at him in amazement.

“These are for me?” She couldn’t believe it.
 
There were dozens and dozens of perfect yellow roses.
 

“And their beauty pales by yours.”
 
Alex had arranged for a large white basket to be mounted across the front of the carriage, just big enough to hold the flowers.
 
Arranging them in the basket for Scarlet, he then, turned and held out his hand to help her up and into the seat.
   

“I can’t believe you did this.
 
I feel like Cinderella.”
 
Joyous laughter bubbled out from Scarlet.
 
“I’ve never done anything like this in my entire life.”
 

“I hoped you would enjoy it, sweetheart.
 
And the night is young; I have several other surprises in store for you.”
 
He gathered her close and they settled back to enjoy the view of beautiful Lady Bird Lake and the scenes of downtown Austin; except Alex only had eyes for Scarlet.
 
He was entranced, watching her delight in a simple ride through the park.
 

“I wish tonight would never end,” Scarlet whispered, picking up Alex’s hand and kissing the palm.
 

“It doesn’t have to.
 
Tonight
can
go on forever.
 
Stay with me, Scarlet.”
 
He hadn’t planned on saying this, but he couldn’t seem to help himself.