Waiting for Devon Read online

“Don’t worry about Miss Brooks,” Reed announced as he sat astride Prince. “She’s doing remarkably well, and I’ll be right here to watch over her. Go, Blair.”

  After some persuasive cajoling, Reed convinced Devon to urge Pale Promise into a faster gait. At first, she felt jarred to the bone, but soon she matched the horse’s natural rhythm. Devon completed one turn around the corral before Reed called a halt to the lesson.

  “If you stay on the horse any longer,” he explained with a wry grin, “you won’t be able to dance at your engagement party.”

  As he helped her dismount, Devon recalled their last encounter and moved out of his grasp. She followed him back to the stable where Reed showed her how to groom a horse.

  “Where’s Shane?” he inquired as he handed Devon a brush. “He should have come down to the stable with you.”

  “The last time I saw Shane he and your father were involved in a heated conference call.”

  “Marriage won’t change him. If that’s what you’re hoping, you’re only deluding yourself. Barrington Industries is Shane’s first and only love.”

  “You’re wrong,” Devon told him, her voice soft. “Shane’s heart is filled with love, and I believe he is ready to be a good husband. There is room in his life for two loves. You’re also forgetting I don’t intend to give up practicing medicine. My schedule is far more demanding on my time than his. Shane will be the one who is home alone most evenings.”

  “I never thought Shane would marry a woman with a career of her own. You are a total surprise, Miss Brooks.”

  “What about you, Mr. Barrington?” she demanded with unexpected boldness. “Why haven’t you married and started a family of your own?”

  Reed grimaced. “I’m not looking for love. God help me if I ever get that desperate. A wife is a liability I don’t want or need.”

  “Don’t you want companionship?”

  “Look around, Miss Brooks. I have all the companionship I need right here. Horses make better companions than wives do. You’ve met Lara Hampton. Would you suggest I settle down with someone like her?”

  Devon shook her head. “No, of course not. I just find it hard to believe you’ve never met a woman you would like to marry.”

  “I’ll tell you what. Since you seem so interested in my personal life, you’ll be the first to know if it happens because hell will freeze over when it does.”

  Devon didn’t reply, and they finished grooming Pale Promise and Prince in silence. Her heart ached for Reed. Or did it ache for herself?

  Anxiety made Devon ill as she prepared for the elaborate affair being held at the Reunion Tower. Forewarned that the press would be present filled her with trepidation. She didn’t want her picture plastered in every major newspaper and social media outlet across the country. If news of her engagement reached Emmaline and Caleb, they would be shocked and hurt. Very hurt.

  Expelling her breath, Devon finished applying her makeup and removed hot rollers from her hair. She swept the long curls up and away from her face and arranged them artfully. As soon as she slipped into her elegant evening gown, she found her reflection hard to believe. The low-cut, strapless bodice, intricately woven with strands of white and silver thread, accented her breasts and torso. It tapered into a pure white silk skirt that gently flared over her hips, and a long slit up one side showed to advantage her leg and thigh. Beneath the gown she wore sheer silk stockings and stylish silver stilettos. Around her throat Devon fastened a diamond necklace and added matching earrings Shane had given her.

  A slight knock on the door distracted her. “Come in.” When she saw Blair, Devon smiled. “You look lovely tonight. No doubt you’ll be surrounded by every available man at the party.”

  “None of whom I would consider dating,” Blair declared. “Look at you, Dr. Brooks. You’re divine. No white lab coat for you this evening. Shane will be envied. Speaking of which, it’s time to go. Do you need any help?”

  Devon shook her head. “No. All I need to do is put on my gloves and my silk wrap.”

  “All right. I’ll head downstairs and tell Shane you’ll be ready in a minute. He seemed nervous when I saw him earlier.”

  I don’t blame him.

  As she descended the grand staircase, Devon noticed only Reed waited for her in the foyer. Her gaze locked with his, and her heart leaped and her throat constricted. His deep sapphire eyes devoured every aspect of her appearance, never wavering, and darkened with an undefinable emotion.

  “Good evening,” she greeted him in a soft voice. “Where’s Shane?”

  “Waiting in the limousine with Dad and Blair. He had to take an important call.” Reed’s tone of voice reflected his displeasure with Shane’s behavior. He held out his arm. “Shall we, Miss Brooks?”

  Devon slipped her gloved hand into the crook of Reed’s elbow and basked in his nearness. “Yes, please.”

  The press gathered at Reunion Tower mobbed the Barringtons’ limousine upon its arrival. Cameras flashed as one by one the Barringtons stepped onto the sidewalk. Shane became a romantic gentleman as he held out his hand to help Devon from the limousine. When she appeared in full view, anxious reporters blocked her path and shoved microphones and video cameras at her as they shouted questions.

  Although frightened by the experience, Devon maintained her composure as she attempted to answer as many of their inquiries as possible and move toward the lobby of the Reunion Tower at the same time.

  “Where did you meet Shane Barrington?” one reporter called from the masses.

  “In San Francisco,” came Devon’s short but pleasant reply.

  “How does it feel to be engaged to one of the country’s richest bachelors?” another yelled.

  “Like a princess,” Devon responded with a soft smile at Shane.

  “Do you recall his first words to you?”

  “He said he’d been waiting for a woman like me all his life.”

  “What about your career? Will you continue to practice medicine?”

  “Of course. Practicing medicine means everything to me.”

  “Are you planning to practice in Dallas or will you and Mr. Barrington return to San Francisco?”

  “We haven’t made any definite plans.”

  “When is the wedding?” someone from Channel 3 news asked.

  “We haven’t set a date yet.”

  “Come on, Dr. Brooks, surely you and Mr. Barrington have a time frame in mind?”

  Before Shane or Devon could formulate a response, they reached the entrance to the lobby. Jasper turned to face the crowd of reporters and announced in a commanding voice, “The interview is over, ladies and gentlemen. We mustn’t keep our guests waiting.”

  Much to Devon’s relief, no member of the press had been invited into the ballroom. She couldn’t imagine being hounded like that all evening.

  “You handled yourself well under pressure and honored this family,” Jasper declared in the elevator as they rode it to the top of the tower.

  “Devon, you had them eating out of your hand,” Blair added. “You’re the new media darling, and they’ll rave about you.”

  Oh no. This is growing worse by the moment.

  When the family entered the ballroom, every head swung in their direction. As Shane and Devon were formally introduced, murmurs rippled through the guests. The orchestra began to play a waltz, and the couple moved into the center of the room where they danced alone.

  “This is terrible,” Devon whispered.

  “You’re doing great. Dad is impressed with you which means we’re closer to our goal. We’ll be free soon.”

  Unconvinced, Devon shared a second dance with Shane as other couples joined them on the dance floor.

  After playing a set of waltzes, the orchestra changed to modern pieces. Shane used the opportunity to introduce Devon to his business associates and the older, established families of Dallas. While the men accepted Devon with genuine warmth and kindness, most of the women treated her with disdain. She might have at
tributed their attitude to the typical arrogance of the upper class, but every now and then she caught sight of the smug expression on Lara Hampton’s face and realized Blair had been right. Someone handed Devon a glass of champagne, and she lifted it in silent salute to the younger woman. Lara read the gesture and turned her back.

  After another hour of endless dancing, the crowd dispersed, and Devon found herself face to face with Alana Turner. She recognized Alana from pictures Shane had shown her. The woman’s gray eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she wore such a tragic expression on her face that Devon’s heart twisted in her chest. A moment later Alana dashed from the ballroom.

  “Damn!” Shane swore and bolted after her.

  Several guests noticed Shane’s mad dash through the ballroom after another woman and whispered to one another about it. Devon ignored the gossip and the speculative stares.

  Alone at last, she meandered toward one of the many tables laden with food. On her way, she spotted Blair holding court with half a dozen men, all hoping for a nod of approval, and a few feet away she saw Reed trying to extricate himself from a bevy of admiring females. She smiled to herself as she fixed a plate of baked chicken and vegetables. Poor Reed. The women followed him around like adoring puppies.

  When she turned around, Devon bumped into a man standing behind her. “Oh, I’m sorry!” she exclaimed. “I hope I didn’t spill anything on your tux.”

  The broad-shouldered stranger checked himself and smiled. “No, not at all.” He offered a hand. “Good evening, Dr. Brooks. I’m Dr. Linden Bailey.”

  “A doctor at last!” Devon declared with a laugh. “I was beginning to think the ballroom was filled with only lawyers, bankers, business executives and the idle rich.”

  “I’m neither idle nor rich,” Linden quipped. “I practice at Dallas General Hospital.”

  “What field?”

  “Cardiology.” He paused. “I’m well-acquainted with your former husband.”

  “You know Jack?” she asked in surprise.

  “Yes. I heard him lecture once at Northwestern University. You were there, too, if I remember correctly.”

  “I was. Jack was lecturing on the validity of whether or not vaccinations cause autism.”

  “It was a great lecture. Not long thereafter, I went to practice at Chicago Mercy Hospital, but you and he were divorced by then. Jack and I consulted on quite a few cases while I practiced there. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

  “You, too. Shall we eat at my table? There’s an empty seat.”

  Chapter Six

  The encounter with Linden Bailey left Devon feeling uneasy. She wanted to tell Shane about it, but no one had seen him during the past hour. Growing weary of the pointed stares, the obvious gossip, and the whispered musings, Devon stepped outside onto the observation deck for a breath of fresh air. The humidity caused her dark curls to cling to her neck, but she didn’t care. She would rather be outside where heat lightning illuminated the summer evening sky.

  Far below, the dark Trinity River snaked its way through the city while the noises of the night reached her ears. Loneliness accompanied by the despair she always felt overwhelmed Devon and her heart ached and yearned for the one thing she never seemed destined to have. Talking about Jack stirred painful memories better left in the past. Her baby was gone, and since her divorce, Devon never considered the possibility of another relationship. She wasn’t sure she was capable of giving herself to someone else after what she’d suffered because of Jack. Yet, there were times, like tonight, when she longed for a man’s arms to hold her and a man’s shoulders to lean upon when she felt as though she couldn’t go on.

  Lost in her sad reverie, Devon didn’t realize she wasn’t alone until a familiar, deep voice cut into her thoughts. “I thought I might find you out here,” Reed declared with a trace of relief in his tone. “It’s stuffy, isn’t it?”

  “It’s far less stuffy out here than it is in there.”

  Reed chuckled. “I agree. Where’s Shane, Miss Brooks? He shouldn’t have left you alone like this.”

  She shrugged as she rearranged her sheer silk wrap. “I suppose he’s embroiled in business.”

  Reed eyed a dark curl resting on Devon’s bare skin and responded in a husky voice, “If I had a fiancée as lovely as you, I would never leave her side. Shane has his priorities in the wrong order. To leave you alone at your own engagement party is disrespectful.”

  “I don’t mind, really. I needed a moment alone.”

  Hearing strains of music inside the ballroom, Reed held out his hand. “Come, dance with me.”

  “I will on one condition, Mr. Barrington.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Will you please stop calling me Miss Brooks? Dispense with formality and call me Devon. Please.”

  Reed laughed and tucked her arm through his. “I wondered how long you would tolerate it.”

  The moment he took her into his arms Devon knew it was a mistake. Her heart pounded, and her pulse stirred to life. Reed held her closer than propriety allowed, and the lean length of his body pressed against hers caused a warm languor to spread throughout her limbs.

  As she smiled at him, she noticed his gaze focused on her mouth and wondered what wild thoughts ran through his mind. His eyes darkened. Devon held her breath. Would he kiss her again right then?

  He tore his eyes away from her lips and saw they had become the center of attention. No one else occupied the dance floor. “Don’t look, Devon,” he murmured. “Everyone is watching us with their brows raised in speculation.”

  “Good. Let them speculate. I don’t give a damn what they think.”

  “Such strong language for a lady,” Reed teased. “Let’s give them a good show.”

  Reed dipped Devon and brought her body up hard against his. Desire exploded within her and burned like liquid fire rushing through her veins.

  Dear God, I can’t take much more of this.

  As Jasper watched Devon and Reed, an old friend slapped him on the back. “They make a striking couple.”

  “Yes, I suppose so.” His eyes narrowed as Reed leaned down and whispered something in Devon’s ear that caused her to laugh.

  “Frankly, Jasper, I’ve never seen Reed look so relaxed. Perhaps your Dr. Brooks is engaged to the wrong brother.”

  Jasper turned cold. This was an unforeseen complication he hadn’t anticipated. Could he do anything to stop it? Moreover, did he even want to try?

  Shane chose that opportune moment to tap Reed on the shoulder. “I believe the next dance is mine, big brother.”

  Reed made a gallant show of bowing to his brother’s claim on Devon and disappeared into the shocked crowd.

  Devon’s face burned with embarrassment, and she trembled. When the dance ended, she excused herself and rushed to the elegant ladies’ dressing room. She splashed her face with cold water, and slowly her breathing returned to normal.

  What kind of power did Reed hold over her so that one glance from those incredible blue eyes nearly made her swoon? It wasn’t as if she were a virgin experiencing her first taste of desire.

  Perhaps Jack is right. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a man in my life.

  As Devon reapplied her makeup, she saw Alana Turner watching her. “Hello, Alana,” she acknowledged the other woman in a soft tone of voice.

  “So, you’re the one,” Alana replied. “When I saw you earlier, I realized you’re even more beautiful than Shane described.”

  “Alana, I know this must be painful for you. It can’t be easy watching the man you love pretend to be engaged to someone else.”

  “This was supposed to be my night. My night to shine.”

  “I’m in an extremely difficult situation. When Shane introduced me to his father as his fiancée, I had no idea I’d be trapped like this. Surely he explained the circumstances behind my being here.” She paused as she met Alana’s tear-filled eyes. “I know why you’re afraid. You’re afraid Shane and I will fall in
love. Trust me, nothing could be further from the truth. Shane and I have nothing in common. Besides, he’s crazy about you. He loves Barrington Industries, but he can’t live without you. He’s told me so on several occasions. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to him, and whatever he’s doing, right or wrong, is for you and your future together.”

  “He said those things about me?” Hope replaced her fear.

  “And more.” Devon grinned. “Have you taken a good look at Reed? How could I fall in love with Shane when he has such an incredibly sexy brother?”

  Alana smiled in return. “He is gorgeous, isn’t he?”

  “Like Greek god gorgeous.”

  They laughed, left the ladies’ room together, and ran into Shane and Reed, who waited for the women to emerge.

  “Shane,” Devon said with a secret smile, “do be a doll and dance a few times with Alana. Her date cancelled at the last minute, and she’s been miserable all evening. You don’t mind, do you, darling?”

  “Not at all,” Shane replied as his eyes met Alana’s. “Reed, will you keep Devon company?”

  Devon’s heart stopped for a moment, then slammed into her chest. What was Shane thinking? For that matter, why had she asked him to dance with Alana when many of the guests had already gossiped about his chasing her out of the ballroom?

  Because Alana and Shane’s predicament struck a tender chord in her. Good lord!

  As Reed took her into his arms for another dance, he asked, “Are you sure that was wise? Shane and Alana have history. I also heard rumors he was alone with her earlier tonight.”

  “I know about their past relationship. Shane told me about Alana when we met in San Francisco. I trust him, Reed, though I didn’t realize you concerned yourself with rumors.”

  “I usually don’t. I found them interesting, nothing more.”

  When the dance ended, Reed released Devon, and she avoided him as she and Shane tried to squelch some of the gossip by subtly explaining his gallant behavior toward Alana whose nonexistent date cancelled at the last minute.

  The long evening drew to a close toward midnight. Devon’s feet ached, and exhaustion claimed her by the time they left Reunion Tower. As soon as they arrived at the ranch, she bid the family good night.