TIS THE SEASON...FOR ROMANCE (WESTMORELAND/MASTERS/JEFFERIES) (21 page)

He chuckled. “I can see that as well. I’m glad I had the good sense to drop out of the senate race.”

Orin had let a few of his friends talk him into running for the Georgia senate earlier that year. His opponent had been Reggie Westmoreland. Olivia had flown in from Paris to work with her father on his campaign and ended up falling in love with his opponent. In the end, Orin, who’d never had his heart fully interested in a political future anyway, had dropped out of the race and thrown his full support behind his future son-in-law, who had won in a landslide victory.

“And of course I’m glad Terrence not only came through that nasty hurricane in the Keys okay, but he’s found someone and is ready to settle down and marry,” he said, grinning proudly.

Cathy smiled. “Have they decided on a date yet?”

“I think they’re planning a wedding for next May. We’ll know for sure when they arrive for the Fourth of July. Reggie and Libby are hosting a cookout in their honor.”

A short while later Cathy walked out of Orin’s office. When she reached her desk she eased into her chair and turned to the computer screen and sat staring at it for the longest time. She had been Orin Jeffries’ administrative assistant for fifteen years, and she could easily remember the exact moment she had realized she’d fallen in love with him.

It had been the year that his daughter Olivia, who’d been fifteen at the time, had come down with a bout of pneumonia and had to be hospitalized. Cathy had dropped by the hospital to deliver papers needing his signature and had walked in on him praying, asking God to make his daughter well. She had been teetering on the edge, but on that particular night she’d taken a deep fall. Now twelve years later she was still harboring feelings for the sophisticated, polished and extremely handsome Orin Jeffries.

She had known for years what a great father he was; a divorced man whose wife had deserted him when Olivia was three, Duan twelve and Terrence ten. Somehow Orin had managed his work schedule to include attending baseball games, football games, and dance and piano recitals. He had inspired her; especially during those times after her husband’s death when she thought raising Maverick and Shandon had definitely been challenging.

It was on that particular night she’d seen that not only was Orin an extremely handsome man, but he was a dedicated father as well. For a man to handle both a full time job that was demanding, and his children’s after-school activities, impressed her tremendously, mainly because it was something her late husband had never tried doing.

Donald Bristol had practically lived to do two things, to work and bowl. He would go to work every day and go bowling at night, leaving his wife and sons every evening to their own vices. Shandon had been only two when his father died but Maverick had been seven and already into soccer. Don hadn’t attended one of Maverick’s soccer games because her husband’s main goal was the bowling alley. He refused to miss even one night of bowling. When it came to his favorite sport, nothing or no one could compete and they all knew it. In fact, he was on his way to a bowling tournament in Memphis after working a double shift, when he’d fallen asleep at the wheel of his car and caused a head-on collision, killing himself as well as the family in the other vehicle.

She had joined Nettleton Industries three years after Don’s death. It had been her lucky day to walk through the doors to submit her resume the same day Orin’s secretary had turned in her resignation to join her military husband in Japan. Orin had hired her on the spot and said the job would be a temporary one until the woman returned. That never happened.

“I’ve caught you daydreaming, pretty lady.”

Cathy blinked and glanced away from the computer to the man standing in front of her desk. Orin’s oldest son Duan. She couldn’t help but chuckle because he’d definitely caught her daydreaming.

“Okay, I’m guilty. Welcome home, Duan. Orin mentioned last week you were working in Boston. How did that go?”

His smile showed gorgeous dimples in both cheeks and she thought the older he got, the more he resembled Orin. The same thing could be said about Terrence.

“Case solved,” he said, leaning a hip against her desk.

“That’s wonderful. Sounds like business is going great for you?” she said

“It is, although it seems I’ve been handling a lot of weird cases lately.”

Duan had worked a few years as a police officer in Atlanta, and then as a detective before opening his own PI firm a few years ago.

“Is Dad in?”

“Yes and I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you.”

“Thanks.”

She buzzed Orin’s office to let him know Duan was there and he told her to send him right in. After Duan left she couldn’t help but smile. What she’d told Orin earlier was true. He’d done a fine job of raising his kids to become responsible adults.

Remembering her pending trip to New York with Orin, she picked up the phone to call the woman who’d been doing her hair for years. Jennifer Pinckney was not only her hair stylist but was also the woman she considered her closest friend.

“Hello?”

“I need a favor Jen.”

“Sure. What is it?”

“I need to change my hair appointment to Thursday night instead of Tuesday.”

“No problem. You got a date?”

Cathy could only laugh at that one since Jennifer of all people knew she was in love with Orin. In fact for years Jennifer had tried to get her to date other men saying doing so would possibly jump-start Orin’s interest.

“No, but Orin has asked me to go out of town with him.”

Cathy put the phone away from her ear when Jen began screaming. When she put it back to her ear she said, “Sorry Jen, but you overworked your vocal cords for nothing since it won’t be that kind of party. It’s only a business trip.”

“Whatever. Just think, you’ll have your lover boy with you out of Atlanta and on unfamiliar turf. I think it’s great and I’m going to be so mad at you if you don’t take advantage of the situation and do something about it.”

Because Cathy knew how Jennifer’s mind worked she decided to tease her and ask. “Something like what?”

“Umm, sex, sex and more sex. You’re forty-eight and haven’t slept with a man since Don died eighteen years ago. Damn, Cathy, I would be climbing the walls had I gone without that long.”

Cathy nibbled on her bottom lip thinking there were plenty nights when she had thought of climbing the walls. It had mostly been those nights when she and Orin had had to work late on some project or another. It was those times when she’d had to contain herself and remember that as far as he was concerned their relationship was strictly business and he had no idea how she felt. Not that it would have mattered. His wife’s betrayal and desertion had left a bad taste in his mouth and he’d said more than once that he would never marry again.

“Well, over the years I’ve learned to deal with it,” was all Cathy had to say on the subject. Otherwise, she would let Jen talk her into some foolishness, since her best friend’s mind always seemed to be filled with a lot of crazy ideas.

“Why deal with it when you can do something about it? In addition to a new hair style you should -”

“Hey, hold up. Who said anything about a new hair style? I like the one I’m wearing just fine.”

“I would be the first to say the style looks cute on you; especially since it was one of my creations. But it’s time for us to try something different. And there are a lot of nice styles that will fit your face. I’d love to -”

“Okay, Jen, I got to run and like I said, I like my current hair style. I’ll see you Thursday.”

“What about this weekend? The rodeo is in town and we’re going Saturday night, remember?”

Cathy shook her head. There was no way Jen was going to let her forget. “Yes, I remember. I’ll see you on Saturday.”

Cathy hung up the phone and wished getting Orin’s attention would be as easy as a change in hair style, but she knew it wasn’t. He’d been burned by love so badly that she sometimes wondered if he would ever recover.

But knowing that hadn’t stopped her from loving him. She doubted there was anything on this earth that could to that.

* * *

“Well, I’m glad things turned out the way they did and you found the guy you were looking for before he could cause harm to anyone,” Orin said.

Duan smiled. “I am too, Dad. And how is Libby doing? I haven’t seen her since the wedding. I know she and Reggie flew to Paris recently to pack up her stuff and to move everything from her apartment since she’s moving back to the States.”

“She’s doing fine. They got back in town last week and now she’s busy trying to whip that building that Reggie gave her as a wedding gift into shape. It’s the perfect location for her art gallery.”

“I’m sure it is since it’s in a prime business location.” Duan leaned back in his chair. “So, how do you feel about another Jeffries wedding? I talked to Terrence last week and he’s one happy man. I can’t wait to meet Sherri Griffin.”

Orin chuckled. “Neither can I. I’ve spoken to her on the phone and I think she’s a lovely girl and just what Terrence needs. Reggie and Olivia are throwing a cookout for them on the Fourth of July to introduce Sherri to everyone. I hope you’re still in town for that.”

Duan smiled. “I plan to be. And Terrence told me the good news about you and Cathy?”

Orin raised a brow. “What about me and Cathy?”

“The two of you are dating.”

“What! Where on earth did Terrence get an idea like that from?”

Duan raised a brow. “It’s not true?”

“Of course it’s not true. Cathy is my administrative assistant,” Orin said curtly.

A smile curved Duan’s lip. “Trust me, Dad, I know her job title since she’s been with you for over fifteen years. And to answer your question, I guess Terrence assumed you and Cathy were an item when he was home for Libby’s wedding. I left town immediately after the wedding, but Terrence hung around for a few days and according to him, you and Cathy went out together several times while he was here.”

Orin frowned. “Those weren’t dates. They were after-hours business dinner meetings.”

“Oh.” Duan then chuckled.

Orin’s frown deepened. “And what’s so funny?”

Duan stood. “I find it amusing that you got agitated because Terrence thought you and Cathy were an item.”

“I’m not agitated. I’m just confused as to why Terrence would think that way just because we went out together a lot while he was here. We’ve had business dinners before a number of times. After all, she is my administrative assistant.”

Duan shrugged massive shoulders. “Who knows why Terrence’s mind works the way it does. But in his defense, I’d have to say that in case you hadn’t noticed, Cathy might be your administrative assistant, but she’s also a good looking woman.”

“Of course I’ve noticed. I’m not blind, Duan.”

Duan smiled as he headed for the door. “That’s good to hear. Now I suggest you get beyond her job title. I bet if you do, things might get a little interesting. Have a good day, Dad.”

Orin was left speechless as Duan walked out of the office and closed the door behind him.

“Can we get you ladies anything to drink?”

Jen smiled up at the two men. “Yes, I’d take a Miller Lite.” And grinning over at Cathy she looked back at them and said, “And my friend here will take a diet Coke.”

As soon as the pair walked off Cathy pushed back the cowgirl hat she had on her head and let her have it. “Are you out of your mind? You didn’t say anything about setting me up with a blind date. If you want to rob the cradle that’s fine, but remember I’m the mother of two sons.”

Jen laughed as she pushed back her own hat. A young boy had been selling them outside the arena. “Chill will you. They aren’t your sons. I think they’re kind of cute. And did you notice how they both fill out a pair of jeans?”

Cathy glared. No she hadn’t noticed. She was well aware that Jen had begun dating younger men a few years ago. But these two that had shown up with her at the rodeo tonight, twins by the name of Dusty and Rusty, appeared to be in their early thirties. She and Jen were at least fifteen years their senior. The pair might be older than her twenty and twenty-four year old sons, but as far as Cathy was concerned they were still wet behind the ears.

She glanced around the arena. The place was packed, which wasn’t unusual whenever the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo came to town. When the boys were younger she would bring them every year, and now she enjoyed coming with Jen. At least she used to enjoy coming with Jen. This was the first time her friend had shown up with a blind date for each of them and she just wasn’t feeling it.

“You look good in your outfit, by the way,” Jen said, interrupting her thoughts.

Cathy glanced down at herself. “Thanks.”

The snug fitting jeans and clingy top wasn’t her usual casual attire, but she’d seen the outfit in the store last week and decided to buy it. And from the looks a couple of men had given her tonight, it seems her New Year’s resolution to stay healthy and in good physical shape was paying off.

“If only Orin Jeffries could see you now.”