Page 36 of Waiting for Devon
Chapter Eleven
Aslow smilecrossed Shane’s features. He and his brother had never fought over a woman before.I’ll be damned. Reed finally let down his guard enough for someone to sneak into his life.
Squaring his shoulders with determination, Shane went to face his father.
He knocked once on his father’s study door and waited until Jasper bid him enter. As always, Jasper presented his fiercest demeanor while behind his desk. “Dad, may I speak with you?”
“Of course. Sit down.” He indicated a hard chair across the desk. “You look relaxed. I trust your vacation went well?”
“Yes. I had a lot of free time to think while I was gone. And I wanted to tell you I’m ready, Dad.”
Jasper lifted a heavy eyebrow. “Ready for what?”
“Ready to take the reins of Barrington Industries.”
“And what makes you think you’re ready?”
“I’ve settled down. I’m engaged. I’m immersing myself in every aspect of our company and putting BI and its interests ahead of my own.”
“Yet you have failed to learn one very important aspect about life.”
“What? Tell me, please, because I’m baffled. I’ve done everything you’ve ever asked of me.”
“Except the one thing I need the most from you.” Jasper titled his head, waiting.
“I don’t understand.” Seeing the hard expression on his father’s face, Shane rose to his feet. “There’s no winning with you.Ever.You’re never going to offer me BI.”
“No. Not until you look deep inside yourself and see the truth.”
Shane’s shoulders sagged. Two women needed him to stand up and be a man, and when dealing with his father, he wilted. Always. What the hell did Jasper want from him?
Shane met Devonin her bedroom an hour later. “Well?” she wondered as she pulled him inside. “What happened with your father?”
Filled with disappointment, Shane ran a hand through his blond hair. “Dad said I’m not ready to take the reins of BI. He believes I haven’t learned an important lesson about life. Honestly, Devon, he was acting so peculiar. It was as though he were waiting for me to say something he wanted to hear.”
“Perhaps he was waiting for you to tell the truth,” Devon suggested as she fought to control her bitterness. “Is it possible he knows this engagement isn’t real?”
“How? How could he possibly know? We’re the only ones who know the truth.”
Devon winced.Not quite.“What do you plan to do now?”
“Wait a little longer. Work harder to convince him I’m serious about BI. I’m sorry, Devon. I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear.”
She shrugged. She hadn’t expected a different outcome. “Did you speak to Reed?”
Shane grinned. “As a matter of fact, I did. He said he could have you anytime he wanted.” He snapped his fingers, imitating his brother. “Just like that.”
“His arrogance is astounding,” Devon commented in a dry tone, yet her stomach quivered.
“Time will pass quickly. You’ve got your clinic to keep you busy, and in the meantime, I can work on Dad.”
In the meantime, Devon thought, the deception continues, and I’m going to lose Reed forever.
July slipped intoAugust. Devon committed herself to her work at the clinic. She often stayed late into the evening long after she sent Blair home. By the time she reached the ranch, she was too tired to do anything but crawl into bed. She rarely saw Reed or Shane, but Blair kept her abreast of her brothers’ activities, especially Reed’s. When Blair told Devon that Reed had a date with a friend from college who was in town for a few days, her heart lurched in her chest. Determined to keep her feelings buried in the darkest recesses of her soul, Devon worked longer hours.
As her reputation for being generous and compassionate grew throughout the community, Devon’s clinic became even busier. Her manner, especially with the children, brought people to her in droves. Some patients could afford to pay, and she accepted whatever they offered. When Blair suggested she needed help, Devon insisted she could handle the number of patients she saw every day. As a result, she started skipping breakfast with the Barringtons and driving herself into Dallas in a Mercedes Jasper loaned her.
One late afternoon when Devon was alone, a bald man with a long, forked beard and tattoos covering his meaty arms sauntered through the front door of the clinic and complained of chest pain. Devon recognized him. She’d seen him lurking around the clinic and strolling down Third Street as if he owned it. Inez told her his name. Digger Sharpe. She’d expressed her fear of him because he wouldn’t take no for an answer after she’d refused his advances. Inez also explained how he bullied and threatened the business owners if they didn’t pay him for his protection. Yesterday, Devon had treated the bodega owner when he’d come in with deep knife wounds.
