Page 53 of Waiting for Devon
Reed let out a shout and lifted her into his arms. He spun her around and carried her to the bed where he deftly removed the rest of her clothes. His eyes feasted on the curves of her body before his lips and hands began a fiery exploration of the hills and valleys.
“Reed!” Devon gasped in astonishment as delicious sensations coursed through her limbs. “What are you doing?”
He chuckled as his eyes glinted with a devilish light. “I’m giving you a reason to keep wanting me.” Reed leaned down and kissed her one last time. “Sleep well, my love.”
Sleep well indeed, she thought in a daze. It took Devon a long time to fall asleep when she couldn’t banish images of making love with Reed from her mind.
Chapter Fifteen
Reed awoke witha jolt the next morning. Heaviness seized his heart instead of the joy he experienced last night. He touched his chest where Devon had placed her hand and declared her choice.She chose him.In the passion of the moment, it seemed right. Now, though, in the cold light of day, he wondered if he’d put too much pressure on her. He still didn’t believe Devon and Shane loved each other and planned to confront his brother as soon as he returned to Dallas.
He needed to get to the bottom of this convoluted mess once and for all. Hoping Devon hadn’t changed her mind about choosing him, he climbed from the bed and took a shower. He dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, grabbed his hat, and headed downstairs to meet Devon for breakfast.
Reed couldn’t hide his somber mood when Devon lifted her deep brown eyes to look at him. She attempted a small smile of reassurance. He cleared his throat. “Devon, I…”
A waiter interrupted them to serve steaming mugs of coffee.
“I know what you’re thinking,” she began when the waiter left the table. “You want to know how much time it will take for me to settle my relationship with Shane, and I wish I could give you an answer. The truth is, I’m not sure of anything right now. Everything is happening so fast.”
Reed winced with guilt. The conversation he intended to have with Shane should alleviate the anxiety he heard in her voice and saw in her eyes. He didn’t want to bethatguy, the one who took control and forced things to be his way, but he’d had enough of his brother and his selfish games. “Let’s help ourselves to the buffet and discuss this further.”
They filled their plates and returned to their table. After a few minutes, Devon took a deep breath. “I rushed into marriage with Jack because I didn’t have time to explore a relationship outside of medicine. With him, marriage was a matter of convenience, and it ended tragically. Ididlove him, Reed. We just couldn’t survive my miscarriage. And I agreed to marry Shane when he proposed because Jack was pressuring me for a reconciliation. I was desperate to leave San Francisco. Now, here I am engaged to your brother and wanting you with every fiber of my being. I don’t know who I am anymore. I used to be the one with all of the common sense in the family, according to my brother and sister. Lately, I’ve been behaving…”
“Every inch the incredible woman you are,” Reed interrupted. “I can tell you who you are, Devon. You’re bright, intelligent, and beautiful. You’re filled with compassion and generosity, and I suspect you have a great capacity for love. That’s the woman you are. As far as I’m concerned, we can take all the time we need to discover what’s between us. It’s not my intention to hurt my brother.”
His gentle reassurance caused an odd, pained expression to spread over her lovely face. He wanted to take her in his arms, kiss it away, and never let her go.
“Reed.” She said his name softly, her voice filled with longing.
He reached across the table and touched her hand. “I don’t want you to worry. Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to.”
Devon squeezed his hand. “I hope so.”
When they returnedto the Barrington homestead later that afternoon, Reed assumed Jasper would express his disapproval over their weekend in Kentucky, but he didn’t. He welcomed them home and asked if his trip had been productive.
“Yes, sir, it was. We have several new additions to our stock. One thoroughbred in particular, Sun Rise, could easily be a contender for the Derby.”
Jasper rubbed the stubble on his chin. “What about Pale Promise?”
“We’ll have to wait and see. She’s definitely ready, but Sun Rise is magnificent. Wait until you see him.”
“When will he arrive?”
“In a few days.”
“Good, very good.” Jasper glanced between Reed and Devon. “By the way, Shane is on a second tour of our offices across the country. I expect he’ll be gone for two weeks.”
Devon let out a tiny gasp of surprise. “He is? He didn’t mention he was going out of town again.”
“You were unavailable,” Jasper replied, his voice discreet. “When Shane returns, Miss Brooks, I expect you to set your wedding date. You and he have procrastinated long enough.”
Reed saw panic rising in Devon. Her face suffused with heat and her chest rose and fell. “Dad, you can’t force Shane and Devon to set a wedding date if they’re not ready.”
“Reed, it’s not your concern.”
“It…” he began to argue before Devon’s slight touch on his arm prevented him from continuing his thought. “You’re right, of course. It’s not.”
“Glad you agree. Excuse me. I have work to do. I’ll see you both at dinner.”
