A Texas Chance (20 page)

“Go away,” she said in a tiny voice.

Go away
. Well, at least some things didn’t change. He took his first deep breath in hours.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you sick?”

She shook her head without looking at him. “Cade, I’m sorry.” Misery swam in her tone.

“For what? Are you talking about that stupid article? I don’t believe what it said.”

“What?” She peeked out over the edge of her quilt. “You…don’t?”

He relaxed a little. She was physically all right, at least. The rest they could handle. “You’re not a crook, Queenie. You might have a stick up your behind way too often and have perfected that princess-to-peasant look a little too well, but you learn a lot about a person working beside them, and you’re no criminal.” He pulled down the covers gently.

She looked like a whipped puppy, and he couldn’t stand it. He wanted the snotty woman back. She needed that, too, so he went for shock therapy. “So why the hell are you acting like you’re guilty?”

“I can’t discuss it.”

“Can’t? This is me, Sophie.” He stabbed a thumb at his chest. “I’ve been as close to you as breath. We bared more than our bodies in this room. Now talk to me.”

Her chin jutted. “You’re leaving. Why do you care?”

He recoiled. “But you know why I—” He paced to the doorway then slapped his palm hard against the jamb. He whirled on her and marched right back to the side of the bed. “You are not a coward, so what the hell is going on?”

“Your family must hate me.”

“What they are is worried, just like me.”

Her defiance broke. “I don’t know what to do,” she whispered.

“Oh, babe…” He lifted her and settled himself against the headboard and cradled her in his lap.

“This is getting to be a habit,” she said softly. “I don’t remember ever being held in anyone’s lap. I’m too big, really.”

“Shh,” he murmured into her hair. “Just let me hold you for a minute. Then we’ll talk.”

To his surprise, she did, nestling her cheek into his chest and resting against him. After a minute, she mumbled. “I am so tired of starting over.”

“I know, honey.” He stroked her hair and listened to her breathe, unable to think of another way to help her. She touched him in a place no one else ever had. If he could change for her, he would, but he knew better. People didn’t change, not when they were nearly forty. He couldn’t be what she needed.

But he could be there for her now. “It’s going to be all right,” he said to her.

Wide green eyes studied him. “You’d slay all my dragons, wouldn’t you?”

He smoothed her hair away from her forehead. “Is that so bad, that I wish I could?”

“You are such a good man.” She caressed his jaw. “I’m afraid, Cade. This is all I have. If I lose it, I’ve lost everything. Again.”

You have me,
he wanted to say, but knew it wasn’t fair. So he settled for what he could do. “I have an idea.”

“What? There’s no fixing this. I mean, I could settle for something less, a bed-and-breakfast, maybe, and cater to tourists who are looking for a bargain until I can prove myself, but not…” She shook her head. “Hotel Serenity is dead.”

He lifted her to her feet and stood himself, aiming her toward the bathroom. “Go take a shower and meet me downstairs.”

“Why?”

Because if I stay in this bed with you much longer, I’m going to cave and that’s not what you need
. “Damn it, Sophie, just once can’t you agree without an interrogation?”

Hurt warred with indignity. “You can just go to hell, Cade MacAllister.” With a huff she stalked inside and slammed the door.

Cade found himself smiling. At last, there she was.

Welcome back, Queenie
.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

S
OPHIE
CLASPED
HER
HANDS
together. In the car beside her, Cade drove silently. She dreaded facing his family and the harm she had done them, however inadvertently, but apologizing was the least she could do. She couldn’t take back the damage, but she could accept responsibility.

But it killed her, every time she thought about how wonderful that day had been, how it had felt to have Hal boom at her, to be teased by Zane, to meet everyone, including all those beautiful and charming children.

She’d worked very hard that day, and she’d never had more fun. Feeling a part of something so amazing…and now it was gone.

Well, she was familiar enough with that. Had told herself, in fact, that happiness was only ever fleeting. She sighed.

“We’re not driving to your execution, Sophie. You can unclench your hands,” Cade said as he parked in front of Jenna’s.

“Cade, I am truly just so—”

He shook his head as he got out and rounded the hood, then helped her from the vehicle. Before he could say anything else, the front door opened. “Thank heavens you found her,” Jenna said to Cade, racing down the steps. She drew Sophie inside.

Not everyone was there, but nearly all of them.

Sophie hauled in a breath to steady herself before she began, but it didn’t help. “I know you can’t forgive me, and I don’t expect that, but I am truly sorry. And I’m not a crook, I promise you.”

“Come sit down, dear,” said Grace. “How are you?”

“How am I?” she echoed. “I’m— I have to apologize. You shouldn’t have been dragged into my mess. I didn’t mention you, but the reporter recognized Cade’s work and Jesse’s, and my chef… I’m sorry. She shouldn’t have said anything about Zane. The reporter kept asking questions about him, but I swear I didn’t tell her any of you were connected to me.”

“What’s this?” Hal boomed, entering with a cup of coffee in his hand.

“I am so sorry. After all you…” She gripped Grace’s hand. “I did nothing criminal or even wrong, I promise you.”

“Of course you didn’t. Now come sit down and let’s figure out what to do about it.”

“I’ve already got a plan. See what you all think,” Cade said.

He looked at her and smiled so gently she wanted to climb into his arms and find shelter against that broad chest once more.

But she was getting too comfortable there. She had to break the chains between them, not add more. “I’ll do whatever you ask of me. If there’s any way at all for you to disclaim any ties to me, please do so.”

“You think this is about us?” He looked disgruntled.

“Stop barking at her, Cade. Have a seat, Sophie,” Zane said so kindly it only made her feel worse.

She stood stiffly. “I want to explain.”

“You don’t have to,” Cade growled.

“I do.” As though she were reciting in class, she stood before them and told them what she’d never told anyone—the truth. She described what had happened with Kurt, even though she squirmed at having to admit her poor judgment, explained how he’d seethed with her every promotion, especially after she’d ended their relationship. Even though she skimmed over how he’d tried to force himself on her and then threatened to claim she’d come on to him, Cade’s face turned thunderous, his expression replicated by the other very protective men in this family. She explained that she’d assured Kurt that she wasn’t going to accuse him of sexual harassment because it would compromise both of their chances of advancement, but he hadn’t believed her. Instead, with the help of someone Sophie had trusted, he’d doctored the records to make it appear that Sophie had pilfered from multiple accounts under her management.

She didn’t even make it to revealing Kurt’s recent activities before Cade exploded. “I’m going to kill the bastard. Why isn’t he in jail?”

“I resigned to keep the scandal from blowing up and tainting Maura.”

“You didn’t defend yourself?” Cade was outraged. Then he frowned. “Maura. She’s the one…”

Sophie explained to the others about Maura, about the nephew who would go to jail. “If I’d fought the allegations, I would have had to expose Maura’s nephew. I couldn’t hurt her like that. So I resigned instead and bought Hotel Serenity.”

“Jesse can tap into his resources at the FBI. This Kurt fellow can’t get away with it,” Hal said.

“No! I can deal with this. I’ll find a way to replace the bookings I’ve lost.”

“Are there many?” Grace asked.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does. Just what’s been going on?” Cade demanded. “People are canceling?”

She tried for a shrug. “It appears there’s no reason to worry about being ready for the opening after all.”

“You lost that many?” Cade’s wasn’t the only voice that exploded with outrage on her behalf.

Sophie was astounded. She’d expected them to be angry, to hate her, not have her back. “I’ll figure out something, but—” She turned to Zane. “What do we do about your reputation?” She widened the circle. “About all of yours?”

“Sophie, honey.” Zane took her hand. “If I let the gossipmongers bother me, I’d be mad all day, every day. It’s no big deal. Compared to some things I’ve weathered, trust me…this is nothing.”

“You’re not upset?” She looked around. “None of you?” They all shook their heads. “Well, I am. I’m furious. First of all, I promise an escape, a refuge where people like Zane can get away and take it easy, yet my chef breached that promise too easily and very well may wind up without a job. And secondly, the reporter should have asked me about those rumors. Given me a chance to defend myself.”

“Which you refuse to do,” Cade said grimly. “I get why you don’t want to risk hurting your friend, but you can’t let Kurt win again. It’s time for a charge, not a retreat.”

“I’m only being prudent,” she snapped. “This will die down at some point. Maybe I’ll have to adjust my expectations, but I can handle it.”

“Of course you can,” he said bitterly. “You don’t need a damn thing from anyone, do you? Well, screw that, Queenie.”

“Cade William!” his mother gasped.

“Sorry, Mom, but—” He ground his teeth. “I need coffee.”

Eyes stinging, Sophie just watched him leave the room. She’d survived her past by relying only on herself.

“What do you take in your coffee, Sophie?” Grace asked. “After I take a strip out of my son’s hide, I’ll bring you some.” She marched toward the kitchen.

“Oh, please don’t…” She rose to intervene.

“Let her.” Hal’s voice was serious. “He needs to hear it. Then it’s my turn.”

Sophie sat down, miserable at the trouble she’d caused. Abruptly wishing she were anywhere but here.

C
ADE
BRACED
HIMSELF
against the sink and stared out the window.

“Honey…” His mother walked up to him and stroked his back. “What hurts?”

How many times had she asked each of them that question when they were growing up?
What hurts?
she would ask with her unerring sense for a child’s misery.

“I know I’m a jerk, and that was uncalled-for. I just…”

“Are you in love with her, Cade?”

“No.” He gaped in horror. “Hell, no. You know me. I can’t—” Could he sound any more like a blithering idiot? “She matters to me, Mom, but this is me we’re talking about. I can’t even stay on the ranch for a week without going stir-crazy. How could I ever live in a city?” He shook his head. “No, it’s not love. I’m not in love with her, but I do care, and I just want…” He ducked his head then looked squarely at his mother. “I have to leave in less than two weeks for a shoot in North Korea, the one I’ve been talking about for years.” He should have been dancing at the prospect.

“Oh, honey, that’s wonderful.” She gripped his hand. “Are you sure you’re ready?”

“Yes, absolutely.” But he had never been able to hold out against her. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But I have to try. If I can’t be Cade MacAllister, adventure photographer, who am I?”

“Sweetheart…” She wrapped her arms around his waist, and he let her hug him. Relished the stroke of her hands over his head, even if she had to stand on tiptoe to do it.

Then she stepped back. “Then you’ll just be Cade MacAllister, wonderful man. Your work is not what defines you, Cade. You’re stronger than that.”

“I have to go back out there, Mom. Have to stand on a peak again…as a tribute to Jaime. I can’t let his death be meaningless.”

“You beat yourself up over his death, but it wasn’t your fault. He loved going with you.”

“He did. And I have this great idea.” He told her about the book.

“Cade, that is fabulous. Oh, wouldn’t he love that?”

Her delight warmed him. Then he sobered. “But I can’t go until I know Sophie’s okay. I wish I could be what she wants, what she deserves, but I can’t. I have to leave her in the best shape possible, and I’m running out of time.”

“Thus your idea.”

He nodded.

“Then let’s go back and discuss it, but, Cade…” She restrained him. “You don’t know what you can become. You’ve always been so focused on this path, and in some ways that’s fortunate, but most people aren’t so blessed. Most of us work our way through various incarnations of ourselves as we search for what really matters to us.” She squeezed his arm and cupped his cheek. “You are much more than an adventure photographer. If one day it isn’t what you want after all, you’re still amazing. You’ll figure out what’s most important to you, and heaven knows you’re single-minded enough to make whatever it is happen.”

The words of an adoring mother. She was wrong, but it was comforting to hear. “You’re the best, Mom. You know I love you, right?”

She smiled and hugged him. “Always. Now let’s go plot.”

C
ADE
AND
HIS
MOTHER
returned from the kitchen without her cup of coffee, but Sophie didn’t care. His family had been attempting to talk to her, to ease her mind, but she was too frantic. She just wanted to go away, to be by herself and think, as soon as it wouldn’t be rude to do so. She didn’t know how to fix her situation, but she would figure it out. She always did. However powerless she’d been feeling, it was not in her nature to be weak.

She was a survivor. She would survive this.

Cade stood across the circle, his eyes locked on hers. “First of all, I’m sorry, Sophie. It’s just that no one else has the power to make me quite so furious.”

“Great apology, dude,” said Zane.

Sophie lifted a shoulder. “It’s okay. He drives me crazy, too.”

Chuckles abounded. “So what’s the plan, son?” Hal asked. “We’ll be talking about a proper apology from you later.”

Cade rolled his eyes at her and winked, and somehow her heart lifted. “Okay, here’s the deal,” he began. “We have our own photo shoot, all of us, at Sophie’s. We get the rest of the house put together, and we photograph—okay,
I
photograph it at its absolute most flattering. And I sell the shots—heavily emphasizing the star power of little brother there and whatever in God’s name it is women see in him—for big bucks to selected magazines and websites.”

Zane laughed. “Love you, too, bro. Why big bucks?”

“Because you’ve always been a pain in the butt.” Cade grinned. “No, dope, because they’ll value it more if I scalp them, and Sophie can use the money to offset lost revenue so she can go ahead and open.”

“Cade, no,” she begged. “I couldn’t.”

“I’m not finished. You don’t skate out of this without contributing. And maybe a better use of the money is to clear up those allegations.” At her protest, he shook his head. “Sophie, if Maura is really your friend, she’s not going to want you crucified for a crime you didn’t commit. Her nephew was a dupe, but he didn’t hatch this scheme, nor did he send the dogs after you.”

“But—”

“I’m still not done,” he warned her. “Okay, next phase. I call every contact I have in print media. Zane, you contact your film and television buddies—if you actually have any among all the sharks out there.” He and Zane grinned at each other. “Jesse does the same with his arty crowd and Linc with his financial cronies. Chloe draws in her society friends. We plug the living daylights out of the hotel, and Sophie throws in some comped nights at the hotel for a door prize. Then we toss an opening bash that’s invitation only. An exclusive crowd, and Patty makes up for her loose lips by cooking food that will set their hair on fire. No media allowed. They’ll be begging Sophie for mercy.” His eyes took on a vicious gleam. “But that
Statesman
woman doesn’t get in, no matter what. What do you think so far?”

“How about some of your shots are beefcake of Zane lying across the beds?” Jenna suggested with a wicked grin.

“Jenna Marie!” Hal scolded.

Zane’s response was unrepeatable.

Cade looked at Jenna in horror. “If you think I’m taking those, you’ve got another think coming.” He gave a dramatic shudder.

“It would be really popular,” Delilah argued, nearly succeeding in keeping her mouth from curving. “So, Sophie, how ’bout it?”