The Texas Christmas Gift (8 page)

Derek nodded. “They’ve promised.”

More alarmed looks transferred between his folks.

“I know what tradespeople say,” Josie declared. “But when it comes to renovations there are
always
unexpected delays. You cannot go by the best-case-scenario estimates, son.”

Derek folded his arms across his chest. “Eve has assured me that won’t be an issue with these particular contractors.”

Josie turned back to her, and Eve had an idea what it would be like to be at the top of Josie’s Not Happy With list. Sighing inwardly, she couldn’t help but sympathize with Derek. It was the same with her mother. As long as they felt you were on the right path, all was golden. The minute you weren’t...Mama Bear personality returned.

Once again, Derek’s dad stepped in to calmly defuse the situation. “How about you show me the upstairs?” he suggested. The upshot being so Derek and his mom could talk.

Knowing he was no more likely to get out of that than she was to avoid her own mother’s scrutiny, Eve smiled despite herself.

Feeling as if she had unwittingly stumbled into a hornet’s nest, she said, “I’d be glad to.”

The rumbling of voices continued while she and Wade looked around the second floor. Eve took her time explaining what Derek had planned for each room.

“Naturally, he also has an interior designer helping him pick out the soothing, neutral color scheme he wants. She will get it move-in ready for Derek and Tiffany, right down to the dishes and the towels. All Derek will have to do is turn the key and walk in.”

“That’s good. Interior design isn’t exactly the forte of any of our sons.”

Eve hesitated, reluctant to insert herself into a situation where she didn’t belong, yet wanting to assist Derek in alleviating his parents’ worry. “I know how disconcerting it looks now, but knowing what kind of relaxed and easy home life he wants, I think Derek’s made a very good choice, as well as a sound financial investment.”

“With the exception that it is well under my son’s initial financial goal.”

“I don’t think it’s an issue as far as his portfolio goes, since Derek still plans to invest more money in real estate by the end of the year. Besides, it’s close to Carleen, close to Derek’s work.” Even close to Eve’s office and her condo. Not that she should be thinking that way...

Wade smiled. “I think Derek’s chosen wisely, too,” he said quietly, in that instant looking very much like his son. “Maybe more than he knows or realizes.”

Eve wasn’t sure what Derek’s father meant by that.

Wade frowned, continuing, “I think the real issue is that he had told us a while back that his next home was going to be a ranch, so that Tiffany would be able to enjoy the outdoors as much as he did when he was a kid.”

Caught off guard, yet trying her best to hide it, Eve shrugged. “He didn’t say anything about that to me....”

“That’s what worries us,” Wade returned. “Not that it matters what the plan was. Apparently, there’s a different one now.” Lips compressed, the older man turned and headed for the stairs.

The air was thick with tension when they rejoined the others in the living room.

“You’re sure you won’t have lunch with us?” Josie asked Derek, clearly trying to make amends.

He shook his head, his shoulders as set as the expression on his face. “I already have plans. Maybe another time, Mom.”

Josie searched his face. “We will see you for the family Christmas party, though.”

Derek nodded. His current aggravation with them notwithstanding, he clearly loved and respected both his parents. “I made arrangements with Carleen to take Tiffany to Laramie for the weekend before Christmas,” he reassured them.

Josie smiled. “Good.” Her expression gentled. “My favorite time of year is when I have all you boys with us.” She gave her big, strapping son a fiercely maternal hug, then stepped back and gave him another long, beseeching look. “Don’t be too angry with me.”

Derek exhaled, his irritation back full force. “Got to let us go, Mom,” was all he said in return. He shook his head in silent remonstration.
“You’ve got to let us go.”

* * *

E
VE WAITED UNTIL
the elder McCabes had departed, then turned back to Derek. From her shoulder bag she withdrew an envelope with his name scrawled across the front.

“Well, thank you again for choosing Loughlin Realty,” she said formally.

Derek accepted the envelope she pushed into his hands. He opened it, saw the thank-you and the gift card for a five-star restaurant, and smiled in satisfaction. “This means our business is done?”

Suddenly wishing her reasons for being around Derek weren’t over, Eve forced herself to stay professional. “As far as the closing goes. Naturally, if you encounter any post-sale problems, I’d like to know. We want you to be happy with the final result.” How many times had she said these same words? And felt relieved, not sad?

Derek paused, as if choosing his words carefully. Finally, he said, “I am happy.”

Their gazes met. Eve could see that was true—about the sale. As for other aspects of his life, he was not as pleased. She walked back upstairs with him, checking the rooms, making sure the lights were turned off, the shades pulled.

Wanting him to put his thoughts and feelings into words, she continued, “I’m sorry your parents weren’t thrilled with your choice of a home.”

In no hurry to leave, he sat down on a seat built into the wide shed window in the master bedroom. “You weren’t either, so long ago.”

Eve moved closer, so they wouldn’t have to talk as loud, and leaned against the wall.

Outside, the sun was peeking through the winter gloom, sending splintered rays into the master suite. The light caught the dark strands of Derek’s short, rumpled hair, bringing out glints of brown and maple. She could see how closely he had shaved that morning, as well as how deep blue his eyes were, how masculine his features. She could never tire of looking at him, being with him. Which was, again, a mistake.

One she had sworn not to repeat.

Eve swallowed and kept her place with effort. She flashed another brisk, efficient, I-have-everything-completely-under-control smile. “I didn’t know you as well then.”

He folded his arms, studying her. “So you don’t think I made a mistake?”

“No, of course I don’t think you made a mistake with this house.” Eve was now seeing what he had all along, how it would look once it was redone and Derek and his daughter were in residence. “Why?” She paused, alarm bells sounding. “Are you having a case of buyer’s remorse?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “When I make a decision, that’s it, as far as I’m concerned. The problem is, my mother thinks I make them too quickly.”

Aware that her knees were suddenly feeling a little shaky, Eve took the only available seat—on the window bench next to him. She dropped her gaze to the fine fabric of his suit trousers and swallowed again. “And you don’t think that is the case.”

Derek shifted slightly, his knee almost touching her thigh. “Probably because I wasn’t always like this.” He settled back in the deep window well and loosened the knot of his tie, tugged it down an inch. Undid the first button of his shirt. “I didn’t always go with my gut instincts.”

Trying not to think what he would look like with that shirt off, Eve pushed the thought away and asked, “What were you like?”

His lips twisting ruefully, he admitted, “Analytical to a fault. It’s what got me into my first marriage, which was, in hindsight, the biggest mistake of my life.” Abruptly, the distant brooding look was back on his face. Sorrow and regret crept into his low tone. “The only good thing about it was Tiffany. Had I not married Carleen, I wouldn’t have my daughter.”

Able to see he needed comforting the same way she had the night her mother had checked herself out of the hospital, Eve reached over and squeezed Derek’s hand. “You’re very lucky to have her. She is such a beautiful child. Always a good way to look at it.”

He brought his other hand around to cover hers, and squeezed slightly, inundating her with his warmth and strength. Then, restive again, he stood and began to pace. Finally, he pivoted to face her and admitted gruffly, “When it came to choosing a mate the first time around, I ignored my instincts, which told me that although I liked Carleen very much, and we were great friends, we never had the physical passion we should have had.” He let out a long, slow breath. “And I know now you should never marry someone you aren’t completely wild about.”

“So it’s not a mistake you intend to make again.”

Derek slid Eve a pointed look and shook his head. “If and when I marry again, it will be because I know for certain that the two of us have what it takes to grow old together.”

She stood, too, realizing they had lingered for far too long. She felt Derek’s eyes on her as she straightened her skirt and walked toward the door on legs that felt shaky again. “You agree with my position, I take it?” he drawled.

Eve nodded and moved past him toward the stairs. Hand on the rail, she made her way down to the first floor. “I think marriage is serious business. To be successful, you have to be one-hundred-percent sure it’s the right thing.”

Derek was close behind her. “We’re on the same page, then.”

She paused at the newel post in the foyer. “Apparently.”

Another silence fell, more companionable this time. They walked through the downstairs, switching off lights here and there, closing more blinds. “But back to business,” he said, when at last they had finished and were about to head for the front door. “Now that we’ve concluded ours, there really is nothing stopping us from moving on.”

There was something new in his voice. Something that had an exciting ring to it. Eve’s throat grew dry and tight. “Moving on how?” she rasped.

He smiled, sexy and self-assured. “By having that first date.”

“A date,” she repeated, achingly aware of how good it felt to be flirting with Derek, without the specter of business between them. Too good, if she was honest....

He gently cupped her shoulders with his big palms, keeping her in front of him when she would have run. “You know,” he explained in a deadpan tone. “A social occasion between two people that usually is romantic in nature.”

Pretending she wasn’t totally thrilled with the very idea, Eve nodded with mock gravity. Damned if he didn’t have the most mesmerizing eyes. And smile. Darn it if she didn’t like—and lust after— nearly everything about him. “Ah,” she quipped. “That kind of date.”

“Yes.” He stepped nearer, standing so close she could feel the heat of his body, inhale his cologne and see the sudden intensity in his eyes. “Would you like to go on one with me?”

More than he knew. But wary of rushing headlong into anything only for them to both regret it a few weeks from now, Eve held up her index finger and extricated herself from his grip. Then she walked a short distance away, pulled her phone from her purse and quickly accessed her calendar.

Aware of his eyes lingering on her, she said, “Sure. Just let me check my schedule.” Flushing slightly, she scrolled through a host of open Friday and Saturday nights, finally settling on a date several weeks away. That would pretty much guarantee whatever fire they had flickering between them now would be completely cooled off. “How about Thursday, January 15?” she asked finally.

Derek tilted his head slightly to one side. “Don’t you mean December?”

Eve shook her head, doing her best to hold her own with this sexy, determined man. “January.”

The glimmer of hot pursuit lit his dark blue eyes. “That’s all you’ve got open?” he probed.

Being careful to keep her screen where he couldn’t see it, she scrolled some more, past many an empty evening. “Well, January 30 is available, too.” She looked up, poker-faced. “At lunch.”

“I’ll take the fifteenth.”

She should have known he wouldn’t back down.

Well, she wouldn’t, either. All brisk efficiency once again, Eve asked, “What time?”

“Seven-thirty.”

She typed his name into the slot. “Seven-thirty it is.”

Derek strolled closer. “In the meantime, should an opening arise...”

Eve slid her phone back into her pocket. “I’ll be sure to let you know. But given that I’m especially busy right now, covering for my mom—” she wrinkled her nose playfully “—I doubt it will happen.”
Unless, of course, I give in to the extraordinary chemistry between us. Which I won’t!

Derek gazed at her in concern. “When will Marjorie be back in the office?”

Eve recalled the kindness he had shown her mother, a fact that only deepened her attraction. “Early January.”

He smiled in relief, apparently as glad to hear the news as she had been. “When you see her, give her my best.”

“I will,” Eve promised.

“In the meantime, we both have to get back to work.” Reluctantly, Derek let Eve go. They said a cordial goodbye. He went off to listen to more proposals from hopeful entrepreneurs in the tech industry.

Eve devoted the rest of the afternoon to preparing another list of architecturally interesting homes to scope out in case the Santiago Florres house that Red Bloom was flying in from Houston to see didn’t work out.

After that task was finally done, she spent the evening with her mother. Yet busy as she was, Derek was never far from her thoughts. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was thinking of her, too.

On Thursday, she went to see two potential clients who were planning to list their homes in the first quarter of the next year. Eve toured the properties and spoke with the owners about their expectations, then promised to get back to them with a suggested listing price by the end of the week.

She was just heading back to the office when her phone rang again. It was a text message from Derek. Ignoring the little thrill that went through her—it had only been twenty-four hours, and she had missed him more than she liked to admit—she took a deep breath and scanned the text. It said simply:
Meet me at my house? Problem with the HVAC. I could use your advice.

Chapter Six

“Why did you text the Realtor?” Harvey Jefferson, the HVAC installer, asked Derek.