The Fairest of Them All (12 page)

Garth shifted in his seat. “He’s gonna marry Carly.”

“Who?” Daniel demanded.

Russ sighed. He’d hoped the steak dinner and beer would soften them up, make them a little more reasonable. He waved to the waitress and pointed to his bottle. It looked as though he was in for a long night. Then in a firm voice, he announced, “I plan to marry Carly this fall.”

Troy stared, then smashed his hand against the table and burst out laughing. Jarod joined in uncertainly. Garth shook his head, and Daniel frowned.

“He’s not kidding, Troy,” Garth said. “He’s had this planned since the beginning of the summer.”

Troy’s laughter abruptly ceased. He looked at Russ in disbelief. “Not you. Everybody knows you’ll never settle down. Hell, even the women know it.”

That statement touched a sore spot in Russ. It was the same thing Carly would say. Russ narrowed his eyes. “Well, then everybody’s wrong. Carly and I are spending a lot of time together, and if everything goes according to plan, we’ll be married in September.”

The waitress delivered another round of beers to the silent group. Jarod cleared his throat. “When did you decide this?”

“I've been thinking about it for about two years, but Carly wasn’t ready. I thought I’d give her some space.”

“And you think she’s ready now?” Daniel shook his head. “How does she feel about it?”

She’s not ready, Russ thought, but he planned to change that. “I’m doing everything I can to persuade her.”

Troy lifted an eyebrow. “Everything?”

Russ felt the immediate surge of tension in the air and leaned back from the table. “What’s between Carly and me will stay between Carly and me. You can rest assured that she has feelings for me and I’ll never hurt her.”

“What does this have to do with Matilda’s Dream?”

Russ smiled grimly at Jarod’s question. “Carly’s got some plans that need to be nipped in the bud. I can’t tell you what they are. I promised her I wouldn’t. You’re just gonna have to trust me on this one.”

Troy scowled. “Trust you with Carly? Do you think we’re idiots?”

Russ ground his teeth together, reminding himself that Troy had always possessed a tendency to speak without thinking. “You have every reason to trust me. You’ve all known me forever. You know I’m a man of my word.”

“You’re also a man who’s had a string of women a mile long,” Troy retorted. “How do we know Carly’s any different?”

Russ rolled his eyes heavenward. “Do you really think I’d do this for anybody else? Hell, by buying your shares, I’m tying up money I wanted to invest in a co-op.”

Daniel looked at Troy. “He’s got a point.”

“Yeah, but why Carly?”

Russ felt the tug and pull of a hundred emotions warring inside him. He thought of Carly’s honest, generous nature. He thought of her womanly allure. He couldn't explain it to himself, so how could he possibly explain it to her brothers? “We suit,” he finally said. “I’m committed to her, but she’s pushing this independence thing. If I don’t rein her in now, who knows what kind of guy she’ll end up with? At least, I’m a known quantity. You could do a lot worse.”

Russ felt as though he were trying to sell a horse. Should he show his teeth and give a medical release next?

“She has been acting independent lately. Maybe this would be best.” Jarod looked at Russ in a new appraising way. “You're gonna have to cut out all your carousing.”

Russ rubbed his mouth to hide his grin as he remembered how their darling little sister had worn him out in bed. He cleared his throat. “There won’t be any more carousing,” he said in a mild voice. Hell, he wouldn’t have the energy or the inclination for it. “So, what’ll it be? Will you sell me your shares or not?”

Garth spoke first. “You’ve got mine.”

Daniel nodded. “Mine too.”

Garth fiddled with his bottle for a few moments. “Okay.”

Troy jutted out his chin. “Well, I don’t know. Why are you keeping all these secrets? Why won’t you tell us why you want to buy us out?”

Russ made a noise of exasperation. “Troy, I think you’d argue what shape the earth is. I told you why I can’t tell you. I promised Carly, and I don’t break my promises. But if you want to take your chances”— Russ shrugged his shoulders—”it’s your choice. I’d hate to see her end up like Mary Weaver.”

Troy paled. “Mary Weaver took off to Tanzania with that guy who walked around chanting all the time.” He took a gulp of beer and stared at Russ as if for the first time. “So I’ve got to pick between you and Tanzania?”

“I didn’t say that,” Russ said, stifling his laughter. “You’ve got to pick between the known and the unknown.”

Troy sighed and gave a disgruntled snort. “I guess it’ll have to be you, then.”

Russ smiled thinly. “Glad I have your full support. What about Ethan, Nathan, and Brick?”

“No problem,” Daniel said. “They’ll go with the majority.”

“Good.” Russ looked at the varied expressions on the faces of his future brothers-in-law. Despite Troy’s underwhelming agreement, a feeling of satisfaction edged in at the battle he’d just won. It was a step closer, another barrier removed. Russ’s smile grew, unfurling from the excitement inside him. For once, everything was going according to plan.

Late Thursday afternoon, Carly returned to the office after making an extended sales call to National Electronics. She smiled at Sara as she swept through the door. “I’ve got a banquet for NE booked next month.”

“Great!”

Carly kicked off her shoes. “The director said he’ll give us a try and if they like us, we can expect four bookings a year.” She thought about the bank vice president she’d talk to last week and wondered if this news would help her case. “Any messages?”

Sara handed Carly a stack of pink message slips. “Several.”

The first one was from Daniel.
Russ will do just fine
. Carly wrinkled her brow. What did that mean? The next one from Garth said
Russ is a good, solid guy
. Carly frowned. The one from Troy was so ridiculous she read it out loud. “You could do worse than Russ.” She looked at Sara. “What is going on?”

“It looks like they’re putting their seal of approval on Russ.” Sara laughed. “I didn’t write it down, but Troy also said, ‘At least Russ doesn’t chant.’ Two of the others are from Russ. He said he’d pick you up around five for dinner.”

“But why?” Carly frowned in confusion. “Why would they give their approval?”

Sara shook her head. “I don’t know, but three of the other messages are from travel agents. If you’re going to call them today, you’d probably better go ahead.”

Carly nodded, heading for her office.

“Maybe Russ knows something about it. You can ask him when you see him tonight,” Sara called after her.

Carly walked behind her desk and slowly sat down.
Maybe Russ knows something about it
. She tensed, as she did every time she thought of him.

Carly didn’t like the feelings she was experiencing. Whenever the phone rang, she wanted it to be him, yet she had to fight to get back on an even keel after hearing his voice. When he laughed, a knee- weakening thrill ran through her. Her skin heated when he told her he missed her. It was ridiculous, she scolded herself. But it didn’t stop. She’d become a lump of emotional, feminine mush.

Scowling, she crumpled the messages from her brothers and Russ into a ball and tossed them at the wastebasket. This must stop, she told herself. Just last night, she’d lain awake wondering what Russ’s true feelings for her were. Sure, she was special to him. But how special?

Carly closed her eyes, feeling the beginnings of a headache. Maybe she wasn’t cut out for affairs, she thought. Maybe they should go back to being friends. Fat chance, her conscience chided.

Slamming the door on her thoughts, she forced her eyes open, read the travel agent’s message and, with excessive vigor, punched out his number.

A few minutes later, Russ appeared at her doorway. Her chest tightened, but she kept her cool and waved him in. “Yes, Mr. Emerson, we’re delighted to be included in your tour. With the number of people you’re talking about, we can arrange a special rate. I’ll get the information in the mail to you tomorrow.” Carly paused to let the agent say his good-bye. “Thank you again.”

She hung up the phone and lifted her head to greet Russ, but his kiss preempted her words. His hand slid behind her neck while his warm mouth caressed hers in a teasing, intimate way. Her nerve endings hummed and her mind went blank.

He pulled away and looked down at her. “Hi. I’ve missed you.”

Her heart swelled. “I, uh, hi.” She cleared her throat. Of their own accord, her eyes drank in the sight of him. He wore a blue short-sleeve pullover and black cotton pants. The open shirt revealed his curly chest hair. Hair she’d run her fingers through and buried her face in, Carly remembered.

Russ grinned. “Where do you want to eat? We can go into Chilham for seafood if you want to.”

Carly shook her head. “No. I’m tired and hungry. I had a business lunch, and I was too nervous to eat. The Davy Crockett Diner will be fine with me.”

He held out his hand to her. “Business lunch. Was it successful?”

Carly hesitated, then accepted his hand. “Yes, but my prospects for a loan are still shaky.” She caught sight of the discarded ball of pink message slips on the floor and stiffened slightly. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

Russ pulled her closer and studied her. “Go ahead.”

Uncomfortable under his scrutiny, she shook her head and pulled him toward the door. “After dinner. I can’t think on an empty stomach.”

Russ allowed her to lead him to the car although he had a disquieting premonition. He’d noticed how  she avoided his eyes. She’d responded to his kiss, but immediately withdrawn. And damn if she hadn’t almost refused his hand. Then she’d said that busi-ness about how she couldn’t think on an empty stomach. Lord help him. If she started thinking, he was a dead man.

After Carly picked at her Salisbury steak and refused dessert, Russ became more suspicious. His own gut was starting to twist. “Coffee. No dessert,” he told the waitress as she cleared the table. “I’m waiting, Carly.”

Carly took a breath and folded her hands in her lap. She deliberately kept her voice casual. “Have you seen my brothers, lately?”

Russ shrugged. “I see them all the time. We went out to dinner the other night.”

She nodded. “What do you talk about when you get together?”

He shrugged again. “Anything. Farming, the economy.” He grinned. “The Braves.”

“Women?”

“Sometimes.” His smile fell. “Why?”

“I got some messages from them today, and I wondered if you’d told them about this weekend.” She flashed a searching look at him, then back to the Formica table and waited out a long silence.

Russ cleared his throat. “What happened this weekend was private. I wouldn’t share that with anybody.”

Carly felt an instant easing within her. “It must have been someone else. You’re not the type to kiss and tell.”

Russ shifted. “I didn’t tell them about this weekend, but I did tell them about my intentions toward you.”

“Intentions?” She leaned forward. “You told them we’re having an affair?” she whispered tersely. Carly wondered how he’d escaped alive.

Russ frowned. “No. I didn’t say anything about an affair. I said we were . . . serious.”

Carly searched Russ’s face for signs of insanity. “Have you lost your mind? They’ll expect you to marry me now.” She sighed and looked away, shaking her head.

“Would that be so bad?”

His words hit her like a cyclone, stirring her senses and emotions into a flurry of confusion. The room swam. She put her hand to her chest to collect herself and stared at Russ. “It wouldn’t be bad. It would be horrible! Especially since we have no intention of getting married.”

Russ met her gaze dead on. “Speak for yourself.”

Her eyes widened. A heart attack was next, she was sure of it. He couldn’t stun her anymore. “I thought,” she said shakily, “we agreed to an affair.”

Russ nodded, and Carly felt a measure of relief.

“A permanent affair,” he said. “That’s what marriage is.”

She blinked. This couldn’t be happening, she thought. It was crazy. Carly bent her head and brought her hand to her forehead. “This doesn’t make sense,” she whispered to herself.

“It makes perfect sense,” Russ said in a matter-of- fact voice. “We’re compatible. We were both raised on farms, so we understand each other’s background. We respect each other.”

Carly ignored the dance going on in her stomach and tried to focus on his words. She still couldn’t comprehend Russ. “But this is so sudden and I thought—”

“—you thought I was just fooling around with you.” Russ shook his head. “I hadn’t intended to tell you this soon, but I’ve been thinking about marrying you for a long time.”

Troubled, Carly shook her head. “But what about the Ladies Auxiliary? What about how you wanted me to help you because I wouldn’t misunderstand your—” Carly broke off, a sliver of light dawning in her dark muddled mind. She looked at Russ accusingly. “It was a trick.”

Russ held up a hand. “Now, don’t jump to conclusions. You’ve been so wrapped up in that riverboat of yours, I had to use extreme measures to get your attention.”

Her indignation built. “So you lied.”

Russ winced. “That’s a harsh way of putting it.”

Her hands turned to ice, her sense of betrayal was so great. “What else did you lie about? Did you tell my brothers I wanted to buy them out? Did you lie about wanting me in bed?”

Russ reached out and tightly clasped her hand.

“That wasn’t fair. If you need me to prove my desire for you, I can do it anytime, any place. I could show you right now on this table if the audience wouldn’t bother you.”

Carly’s breaths came quickly, harshly. She jerked her hand away. She felt toyed with, manipulated, and painfully vulnerable. At that moment, she couldn’t say who deserved her fury more—Russ for manipulating her or herself for letting him. On top of her other doubts, this was too much. She stood. “I’m going home.”