Page 7 of Waiting for Devon
A waiter interrupted their conversation to serve them Caesar salads. When he left, Shane continued, “We don’t have anything to worry about. All you have to do is charm my father and let me do the rest.”
After more persuasive arguing, Devon acquiesced. Before their main entrée arrived, Shane led his reluctant partner onto the dance floor. Devon felt stiff in his unfamiliar arms, and he murmured, “Relax. No one will believe we’re in love if you don’t allow me to hold you a little closer. Believe me, Alana is the only woman I want in my arms.”
Drawing a deep breath, Devon did as Shane suggested and enjoyed the dance in spite of herself. As the music ended and they made their way back to their table, he said, “Sooner or later, we’re going to have to practice kissing.”
She gasped. “You’re serious.”
“One or two public kisses ought to be sufficient.” He looked as miserable as she felt.
“Anything beyond that is strictly out of the question. And don’t even think about shoving your tongue down my throat.”
“No problem. I can’t risk losing Alana.”
Chapter Three
“Devon, whom doyou think you are fooling?” Emmaline demanded. “You don’t know a single soul in Dallas. Perhaps you were able to fool Caleb with this cockamamie story, but I know you better than he does. Now, what’s going on? Tell me the truth.”
“If I told you the truth, you wouldn’t believe it. And if you did, you would disapprove. And if I listened long enough to your objections, I would change my mind altogether.”
“Whatare you babbling about?”
“I’ve met someone,” Devon hedged. “I’m going to Dallas to meet his family.”
“Obviously, it’s a little more complicated thanthat. Who is this mystery man?”
“He’s a businessman.”
“Does this businessman have a name?”
“I can’t tell you, Em. Don’t ask why. You’re right, though. Itiscomplicated, and I can’t say any more about it. You have to trust me.”
Devon heard her sister’s deep sigh. “All right. I have to say, though, you’re acting uncharacteristically strange. How long will you be gone?”
“About a month. Em, will you do me a favor?”
“Of course. What is it?”
“Actually, I need two favors. The first concerns Jack. Do not tell him where I am under any circumstances. The second…”
“Wait a minute,” Emmaline interrupted. “How did Jack enter into this?”
“He’s in San Francisco to try to win me back, or so he claimed. Look, I don’t have time to say much else. The other favor I need is about the house. Will you please check on it periodically?”
“Yes, but Devon…”
“I love you,” Devon broke in. “I’ll keep in touch as often as I can.” She ended the call.
Devon hated deceiving her family, but neither Emmaline nor Caleb would understand or accept her decision to pose as Shane’s bride-to-be if they knew the truth. She hardly understood why she was going along with the risky scheme. Maybe on some level Shane’s willingness to do whatever was necessary to be with the woman he loved touched her.
Her suitcases already stood by the door when Shane arrived in his rented Rolls Royce at one o’clock that afternoon. He carried Devon’s bags outside while she took one last look around her home. Silence and emptiness permeated it instead of the happy sounds of a baby. Blinking away the tears pooling in her eyes, Devon joined Shane in the car and stared straight ahead.
Feeling her tension, Shane reached down to pat her leg. “Devon, it’s not that bad.”
She glanced sideways at him. “My whole life has been turned upside down, and you claim ‘it’s not that bad’? Do you realize I’ve had to lie to my brother and sister? Do you even care about my obligations to my patients? I can’t even begin to explain my resentment toward your high-handed father for his interference in my career.”
“What’s done is done. This isn’t easy for either one of us.”
Devon realized Shane wasn’t as charming as he first appeared to be. She was beginning to catch glimpses of a spoiled man who was used to getting his own way.
