Page 6 of Waiting for Devon
“I’ve already prepared her for this. She knew the day would come when I would have to make some kind of gesture to secure our future. Meeting you will not come as an unwanted surprise.”
In spite of Shane’s reassurances, Devon doubted Alana Turner would react with good humor upon meeting the woman who claimed to be her lover’s fiancée. Taking a deep breath, Devon asked Shane if he had a picture of his brother and sister. He handed her a wallet-sized portrait taken three months ago. Blair Barrington resembled Shane with the same blonde hair and blue eyes. Her lovely oval face wore an expression of bored arrogance, typical of a high-class debutante, as her lips hardly turned at the corners. Yet, as she studied Shane’s sister, Devon detected an unmistakable hint of sadness behind the haughtiness.
When her gaze fell upon Reed Barrington standing next to his sister, he arrested Devon’s attention. His golden hair, cut short in layers, reminded her of sun-kissed fields of grain. Deep sapphire eyes glittered with intensity. A wide smile revealed perfect white teeth and boyish dimples. Unlike Shane’s classical features, Reed possessed a rugged handsomeness that exuded a sensuality his brother lacked.
An odd tingle caused either by excitement or anticipation traveled up her spine, and she shivered. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the mesmerizing countenance of Reed Barrington.
Shane observed Devon’s prolonged attention on the photograph and remarked with a hint of mirth, “I don’t think it’s going to be that difficult to tell my sister and brother apart, Devon.”
Her head snapped up, and she gave an embarrassed laugh at having been caught gaping. She returned the picture to him and said with a smile, “No, I suppose not.”
Shane glanced at his watch and announced he had to attend to some business. “I’ll be back to take you out to dinner at six o’clock. We’ll make it a formal evening, and I’ll show you what will be expected of us socially.”
“I can hardly wait,” she muttered beneath her breath as Shane took his leave.
After checking in at the hospital, Devon called her brother at his office in Seattle. He greeted his sister with affection. “To what do I owe this unexpected call?”
“Don’t worry, big brother.” She grinned. “I’m not going to ask for a loan.”
“Thistime,” Caleb returned with a laugh. “Seriously, though, is everything all right?”
Devon swallowed the heavy lump in her throat. “Yes. I phoned to let you know I’m leaving town. In a couple of days, I’m flying down to Dallas.”
“Dallas?” he repeated. “Attending a convention?”
“Actually, I’ll be, um, visiting friends. I’m taking some time off from the hospital.”
“Really? Last week you said you were overwhelmed with work.”
“I know. Thus the reason why I’m going on vacation.”
“How long will you be in Dallas?”
“I’m not sure, Caleb. A month, perhaps longer. Then I thought I would visit you and Robin, if that’s all right. I haven’t seen my adorable nephew and niece since Christmas.”
“Come anytime you want. Look, I’m late for a meeting with a client. Take care, Dev. Call me, okay?”
“I will. As soon as I reach Dallas,” she promised and ended the call.
Devon couldn’t remember the last time she dressed up for a formal evening. She supposed it was sometime before her pregnancy. Unadulterated pain, raw and white-hot, stabbed her as she smoothed the black beaded cocktail dress down over her now flat stomach. Although two years had passed since her miscarriage, sometimes she could still feel the infant moving inside her body, and the realization her child was gone left her breathless from her agony. Most days she was hardly cognizant of the ever-present ache in her heart and the emptiness deep in her soul until she found herself crying for no reason.
“When is it going to end?” she wondered aloud as she struggled to keep tears from falling and ruining her makeup. “When am I going to stop feeling this incredible loss? I can’t bear it.”
Shane’s arrival forced Devon to compose herself before she opened the door. Executing a twirl, she smiled. “Well? Am I acceptable?”
He nodded. “You look fantastic. I’ve made reservations at the Old Colonial Inn. Are you ready?”
“Yes. Let me get a shawl and my purse.”
The Old Colonial Inn, with its charming, romantic atmosphere, nestled in the hills above San Francisco. As Shane and Devon entered the elegant restaurant, a host led them to an attractive table in the main dining room.
Devon felt an overwhelming temptation to tell Shane she had changed her mind about going along with his charade. After all, she barely knew him and did not feel any real obligation to help him. She still harbored serious reservations about compromising her integrity. If she were willing to fight hard enough, Devon could get her job back.
Shane must have seen the doubt clouding her eyes, for he reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “I understand your resentment, Devon. But, if our act is convincing, it will be over quickly, and you can return to San Francisco. I promise I’ll help you get back your position when it’s time. Please. I really need you.”
“Shane, I am having serious second thoughts. If this hoax becomes public knowledge, my career could very well be ruined. My patientsaremy life. I don’t have anything else.”
“Devon, I’m going to do everything in my power to keep that from happening. Dad is suspicious, but it will be easy to fool everyone else.”
