Page 20 of Waiting for Devon
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 attributed 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 withLinden 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 inthere.”
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.”
