The Texas Christmas Gift (16 page)

“However, I wouldn’t mind going to a black tie event with you on my arm.” Then he winked at her for good measure, in case she needed more encouragement to override her pride. “Especially since the gala benefits all the Highland Park charities, and it would be a great opportunity for you to introduce me around to all the movers and shakers in this town.”

Eve paused and wet her lips. Finally, she admitted, “I wouldn’t mind attending with you, either.”

Derek had an idea what it had cost her to say yes, especially to such a public function that might cause one heck of a lot of gossip and speculation about their relationship.

To lighten the mood, he teased, “So is it a... I was going to say date, but—” he pulled out his phone and pretended to look at his calendar “—we’re not scheduled to have that until January 15 of next year, so...”

This time Eve grinned, and soon after, a soft laugh escaped her.

Derek chuckled, too, finally feeling as if they were on the right track again. He signaled the bartender and asked for a draft beer and an order of Southwestern egg rolls.

She sipped her sparkling water. He shifted a little, trying to get comfortable in the cozy space. In the process, his knees briefly brushed hers beneath the table. Like him, she was wearing slacks and soft leather boots. Unlike him, she seemed to have a lot on her mind that was still troubling her.

“So what’s happening?” he asked. Why had she requested to meet him in the bar instead of his hotel suite? Why did she still seem so reserved?

Abruptly, her manner turned professional. “I wanted to talk business with you.”

That was a little bit of a letdown, Derek acknowledged privately. But then again, any reason to spend time with her was appreciated. Telling himself he should accept the time with her for the gift it was, he accepted his beer and sipped the mellow brew. “Fire away.”

The waiter returned with a platter of piping-hot appetizers, garnished with pico de gallo, guacamole and sour cream. Derek took one of the serving plates and handed it to her. He kept the other for himself.

Eve helped herself to an egg roll. “You said you were still interested in investing in property before the end of the calendar year.”

That, Derek thought, was even more of a disappointment. He cut through the crispy golden-brown skin, revealing a mixture of gooey melted cheese, spicy peppers, black beans and diced white chicken. “That’s right. I am.”

Eve carefully spread her napkin across her lap. “I’d like to help you with that.”

He added condiments to his plate. “You don’t think it will make things too complicated?”

Eve sliced into her egg roll, too. “We could put whatever this is on hold until after any transaction is complete.”

Derek didn’t want to spend the holidays pretending he wasn’t interested in her. Aware this was where he drew the line, he speared her with a brutally honest glance, and then murmured, “What if I don’t want to put whatever this is between us on hold? What if I want to do both simultaneously?”

Eve swallowed with difficulty. She continued holding his gaze and said, “Here’s the thing. I don’t want to be seen as unfairly influencing you.”

Derek waved off the possibility. “No one who knows me would ever think that could happen.”

Eve went back to eating. “So you’d be okay with this?” she asked casually.

“Absolutely.” He paused to study her evasive expression. “Although, I have the feeling that this wasn’t your choice in the matter.” That she wouldn’t even be suggesting it, if not for the pressure at the firm to meet year-end sales goals in wake of her mother’s unexpected absence.

Eve straightened. She flashed another businesslike smile. “I admit I prefer to work in a more leisurely fashion.” She took another dainty bite. “I also know, for a variety of reasons, that it isn’t always possible. So I’m prepared to adapt.”

“So am I,” Derek said, glad she was finally meeting him halfway.

Eve visibly relaxed. “When would you like to get started?”

Damned if she wasn’t the most beautiful woman he had ever known, no matter what kind of light she was in, Derek mused to himself. And damned if he didn’t want her in the worst way. Sensing that would never change, he forced himself to get back on track.

“Tiffany and I are headed to my hometown of Laramie, Texas, the weekend before Christmas.”

Eve quickly brought up the calendar on her phone. “The nineteenth?”

“Yes. So if you’d like to accompany me, and see the ranch I’ve got my eye on, then that would be great.”

Eve finished typing and set her phone down. “You want to buy property in Laramie County?”

Derek nodded. “There’s a ranch there that’s not on the market yet, but it will be after the New Year. I’d like you to see it. Maybe help me negotiate a deal on the property before it’s even listed.” Derek could tell by the look on her face that she wasn’t surprised by his aggressive tactics. She knew that was how he operated when it came to business, that only the first-on-the-scene got results.

“So long as you know that area is not my premier stomping ground,” Eve cautioned.

Derek took another sip of beer. “I’m confident you have the tools to assess proper market value.”

“Okay, then, that’s great. I’m looking forward to it.”

She made a note on the calendar on her phone, then glanced up, with the same stressed-out expression in her eyes he had seen when he’d first walked in.

Derek caught her wrist before she could attempt to leave. “So now that that’s set,” he said huskily, wanting to help her the way she always helped him, “do you want to tell me what’s really bothering you?”

* * *

O
NCE AGAIN,
Eve thought, Derek had read her like a book.

“Did the open house at Flash’s condo not go well?”

Eve shrugged. “It went fine.”

“Then...?”

His eyes fell on her, full of warmth and tenderness. “You don’t want to hear this,” she said irritably.

“Yes. I do.”

Knowing she had to unburden herself to someone, and that, irrationally, she wanted that someone to be Derek, she briefly explained the way her mother had undermined her with a Houston-based client.

“Is she this way with everyone, or just you?”

Eve gestured helplessly, even as she appreciated Derek’s support. “Pretty much everyone.”

He looked at her with compassion. “But it still hurts.” He took her hand again, and this time didn’t let go. “You wish she had more faith you.”

Eve basked in the protectiveness of his grasp. “I do.”

Derek’s gaze roved her face. “Have you told your mom that?”

She stifled a groan. “Oh, yes.”

He flashed a sympathetic half smile. “And Marjorie’s response...?”

Eve grimaced. “To tell me how to do whatever it is I’m trying to do, only better.”

Derek let out a low chuckle. “Sounds like a parent.”

Eve pouted. “It’s not funny.”

His glance turned tender once again. “I know, but what are you going to do?” He shrugged in a way that encouraged her to let it go and move on. “Especially when you know you’re going to get that Santiago Florres house sold.”

Eve didn’t protest when he took her other hand, too. “How can you be so sure?”

“You’re telling me you don’t have a plan to accomplish your goal?” He held her hands gently.

“Well, I do have a little something I’ve been working on....”

“See?” he said bracingly. “It’s all going to work out in the end.”

“Thank you for boosting my spirits tonight.”

“Now,” Derek said, “how about you do a little something to help me?”

* * *

E
VE HAD COME
here tonight hoping to get things back on a purely business track with Derek. Instead, she had ended up pouring her heart out to him and feeling even that much closer.

The unexpected outcome should have worried her. Encouraged her to take yet another step back from the prospect of falling so hard for him that she would never be able to recover, if and when this whatever-it-is they were sharing came to an end.

But sitting with him in the dimly lit hotel bar, with Christmas music playing softly in the background, all she could think was that spending all this time with him was making this the best holiday season she had enjoyed in years.
If ever.

Before she could stop herself, she leaned toward him and murmured, “What did you need?”

Derek grimaced.

It was, Eve thought, his turn to look uncertain and disgruntled.

“I think I should get Tiffany a baby doll for Christmas. The problem is, I can’t figure out which one to get.”

Eve smiled, as ready to help him as he had been to assist her. “Did you have any particular type of doll in mind?”

He sighed. “I went over to the doll store in the Galleria Mall this afternoon.”

Eve approved. “That is the place to go.”

“Yeah, well, I was pretty overwhelmed.” He shook his head. “As I soon as I walked in, I realized I was way out of my league.”

“Isn’t there someone you could ask?”

He made a comical face. “I am.”

It had been a long time since Eve was a kid. “I’m not an expert.”

Affection lit his eyes. “You know my little girl, though. And unless I miss my guess, you probably had dolls when you were growing up.”

Another wrong perception. Reluctantly, Eve admitted, “Actually, my mom favored educational toys. Or in other words, she didn’t want me spending all my time playing house when I could be learning about the ins and outs of real estate.”

Derek stared at her as if he didn’t know what to make of that. “You’re kidding.”

Eve sighed and rested her chin in her hands. “I wish.”

He caught the check before she could get it. “So you really don’t know anything about dolls?”

In frustration, Eve watched the waiter walk off with Derek’s bank card instead of hers. “I know Tiffany will like anything that you get her. Especially a baby doll.”

Derek threw up his hands. “Which leads us back to square one. How do I pick out the right one for her?”

Silly man. “Why don’t you let her do that?”

He lifted a brow.

“Take Tiffany to the big doll store at the Galleria and let her
show
you which one she likes,” Eve suggested practically.

Derek stroked his jaw, clearly liking the idea. “I hadn’t thought of that.” Then he turned to her. “I have one more question.” Eve waited with bated breath, certain without him even saying it that this involved her somehow.

“Will you go with us?”

She knew if she had one ounce of common sense left, one flicker of hope for keeping her expectations from going way out of bounds—and her heart from being broken—she should say no. “Sure,” she heard herself saying instead.

Derek accepted his bank card and receipt. They rose.

“Six o’clock tomorrow night okay with you?” he asked, walking her out to the front of the hotel, where they waited for the valet to bring her car.

“Sounds good,” Eve returned, even as she continued to wonder what she was doing, getting in so far, so fast. It had to be the season.

“Great.” Derek leaned down and gently touched his lips to hers. “Tiffany and I will see you then.”

* * *

“
D
OLL SHOPPING, HMM?”
Sasha said the following day.

Eve flushed, beginning to regret asking the three moms of daughters in their office for their advice on which of the exclusive dolls would be best to buy for a one-year-old. She wanted to be able to steer Derek to the right area in the store, in case Tiffany had limited patience for looking. “Don’t razz me.”

Astrid lifted both her hands. “We wouldn’t think of it.”

Vanessa’s brow furrowed. “Are the two of you dating?”

“No,” Eve said.

At the same moment Derek walked into the office and said, “Yes.” At her scathing glare, he added, “Unofficially.”

Sasha, Astrid and Vanessa all smiled. Which was no surprise. All three of them were happily married and, unlike her mother, had been urging Eve for some time to perk up her social life.

Eve shut off her computer and slid her tablet and phone into her bag. Desperate to get the conversation on more neutral ground, she asked cheerfully, “Where’s Tiffany?”

Derek lounged in the doorway. “Still waiting for us to pick her up.”

Eve sent her coworkers a look that said,
See? We’re going to be well chaperoned by a demanding one-year-old. It’s not what you think, after all.

They didn’t buy it.

Unable to bear the scrutiny, Eve slipped out the door.

“So how was your day?” Derek asked. His arm slid around her waist as he walked her to his SUV.

Tingling, she eased away and climbed into the passenger seat. “Good. One of the Realtors who was at the open house at Flash’s condo called today to find out how far below the asking price he might be willing to go.” Modestly, she tucked her skirt around her legs.

Derek slipped behind the wheel. “Think you’re going to get a bid?”

“My guess is, if all goes the way we like, by the end of the week.”

Pleasure lit his handsome features. “That is good.”

Eve nodded in agreement.

“Any luck with the Santiago Florres house?”

“I talked to both parties to see if I could get them to meet in the middle.”

“And?”

“No go. So now I’m tracking down Florres himself. I’m hoping he’ll be interested in meeting the investor and to talk about the house he designed and built, explain why the property is so unique, and hence, worth the asking price.”

“Hmm. Nice approach.”

“Thank you.” Eve grew pensive. “I just hope it works.”

Fortunately, all talk of business soon faded.

Tiffany was happy to see Derek after a weekend away, and just as happy to see Eve. She babbled all the way to the mall, and was still grinning when they entered the Galleria. She was too excited to sit in the stroller, so Eve pushed the empty carriage alongside Derek while he carried his little girl in his arms.

Tiffany was even more delighted when they entered the beautifully appointed doll store. It was filled with little girls of all ages and their parents, all gazing raptly at the amazing array of dolls and accessories. Eve wasn’t surprised to see a number of shoppers from the Highland Park area, people she had met or knew casually from her years in the real estate business. More than once, she found herself waving or mouthing hello as she directed Derek to the section that held the My First Baby Doll designs.