Page 22 of Waiting for Devon
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.
In her room she slipped out of her clothes and stepped into a warm, relaxing bath. Closing her eyes, she realized, was a mistake, for visions of Reed besieged her. Even now she could feel the power and strength in his arms as they danced. The blue light in his eyes mesmerized her while the dimples in his cheeks when he smiled delighted her. Goosebumps appeared on her wet flesh as she recalled the exciting touch of his firm lips against hers.
I’ve got to stop this. The last thing I need is a complication like Reed Barrington.
During the nexttwo weeks, invitations to attend dinner parties and barbecues inundated Devon and Shane. He chose which engagements to accept, and Devon found herself subjected to insults and barbs about her family background and her former marriage. The latter filled Blair with wry amusement as she noted it didn’t take long for the well-to-do to discover Devon’s past.
Blair knew Devon detested afternoon tea socials. Planning charity events she didn’t mind, but she refused to learn how to quilt. This alone wouldn’t have been so hard to endure, but Devon had to contend with the most unpleasant group of harpies she’d ever met led by Lara Hampton.
During these gatherings Blair confronted Lara several times and tried to reason with her, but to no avail. Out of sheer desperation, she resorted to a new tactic. Bribery.
Blair cornered Lara in the billiard room at the two-point-five-million-dollar home of Dallas’grande dameAgatha St. Lawrence during a meeting of the garden club and announced without preamble, “I have the power to give you what you want more than anything else in this world, Lara. Are you willing to listen?”
Lara tossed her head with contempt. “What are you talking about, Blair?”
“I’m talking about a date with Reed. That’s what you want, right? Think about it for a moment. A whole evening in the company of my brother. A chance to work your wiles on him once and for all. Let’s face it, Lara. You won’t have another opportunity like this and you know it. All I want from you in return is your endorsement of Devon.”
Blair could see the idea of a date with Reed appealed to Lara as her green eyes began to gleam with interest.
“All right. But it has to happen soon. No putting me off or making excuses.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it. Now go undo some of the damage you’ve done to Devon.”
As the afternoon dragged on, Blair watched Lara work the room of stuffy socialites. She praised Devon and showered her with unwanted attention.
Later, when Lincoln drove the women home, Devon began, “All right, Blair. Spill. What did you say to Lara?”
“I had to promise her something,” Blair hedged.
“What? Your firstborn child?”
“I promised Lara a date.”
“A blind date?”
“Sort of.”
“Oh? Who’s the unlucky fellow?”
“Reed.” Blair expelled her breath.
