A Long Way from Home (The Caldwells of Rebel Creek Book 1) Page 3

  “What is worrying you dear?” Carmella came around her desk and poured coffee.

  Lucy accepted the coffee and waved off the sugar but poured a good bit of cream into her cup before she answered, “Carmella, is Devon trustworthy? I mean, he’s not some sort of a wolf in sheep’s clothing, is he?”

  Carmella laughed, “Devon? Honey, you don’t have to wonder at all about him. With Devon, what you see is what you get. Now if you want my advice, Jack is the one you need to watch. He’s the rogue. He’s always parading around with a new female friend every other week.” she nodded, “I'd say he’s the one to watch.”

  “I had already figured out Jack. He’s a heavy drinker isn’t he?” Lucy sipped her coffee.

  Carmella nodded as she said, "He has a bunch of issues he is trying to avoid. But, I want to know is what about Devon makes you uncomfortable?”

  Lucy and Carmella didn’t realize how much time had passed before Devon walked into the office. Even with grime covering his forearms and smelling of engine grease he was able to cause Lucy’s skin to tingle. “Are you two still sitting here? It’s after five, Carmella, I thought you would be gone by now.” Devon picked up a napkin in a futile attempt to wipe away the grease.

  “It’s so late already?” A surprised Carmella cried. She looked at her watch as she continued, “I had better get on out of here then. I have supper to fix and a few pets to feed. Oh. Before I forget, Sydney has called three times. She said she would stop by tomorrow or sometime in the next couple of days anyway."

  “Thanks. I’ll be sure to be out of the office for most of the next two days. See you tomorrow.” He turned to Lucy. “When was the last time you took your car in to the shop for a tune up?”

  Lucy ignoring his question, asked, "Who is Sydney? She seems to be rather persistent. Is she a candidate for the job you gave me?"

  "Good God, no!" Devon exclaimed. "Sydney is one of Jack's cousins. She's been bugging me for years for favors and such. No doubt she needs an escort to some function and can't find a date; so she's calling me."

  Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Is she so unattractive she can’t find a date?"

  He shrugged. "She's tallish, blond with brown eyes. I guess she's pretty—until you get to know her. Now, answer my question, when was the last time you had your car serviced?"

  Lucy's eyes grew distant as she thought for a moment. "I'm not sure. I guess it's due for one. Do you have any recommendations?”

  “I’ll have a number for you in the morning. I replaced the alternator and had the battery recharged. You should be able to start your car now anytime you want. But please, get a tune up soon.”

  “Thank you.” Lucy smiled. “I do appreciate you fixing my car. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you not throwing me out on my ear earlier today after the cab ride.”

  “It was my pleasure, Lucy.” Devon’s voice was warm. He looked at her with an intensity which left her a little shaken to her core. He shook his head. “Now get out of here. I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Oh, and Lucy? You don’t have to wear suits and high heels here. Most days we wear jeans, or khakis and a nice shirt, like a golf shirt or something similar.”

  Lucy smiled. “I will see you tomorrow, then.”

  “See you.” Devon showed her out and followed her to the elevator after locking the office door.

  “Are you leaving too?” Lucy asked as they boarded the elevator together.

  “I might as well,” he said as he leaned against the back wall and reached into his pocket, “Besides, you can’t get far without your keys.”

  Lucy grinned shaking her head. As she reached for the keys she said, “By now I am sure you’re wondering if you made the right decision in hiring me.”

  The elevator slid open and as they walked to their respective vehicles Devon said, “See you tomorrow.”

  “Goodnight,” Lucy called. She couldn’t keep from smiling with relief and pure joy. She found a job. As soon as she pulled out of view she did a little dance in her seat and shouted, “Yes!”

  Devon climbed into his truck wondering why he had chosen to hire Lucy. She was experienced in what? She might be a good assistant. But all she knew about Environmental Engineering was what he had told her. It would have made more sense to hire someone who did have some knowledge, maybe even an intern or two. It must have been those bright green eyes which held more than a touch of desperation. From the moment he laid his eyes on her out in the rain, he felt compelled to help her. He couldn’t explain it. He scratched his head. He was confused by his need to watch over her and shelter her from men like Jordan Lancaster and Jack. She wasn't his sister. She wouldn't welcome his protection; his sister wouldn't either. Of course, he refused to admit to feeling less than brotherly toward Lucy.

  Lucy arrived home as the streetlights hummed to life. She cut the engine and heaved a huge sigh of relief. She'd found a job! She jumped out of her car. She was so excited she danced a little jig up the walk. When she reached her doorstep she found a box waiting for her. She wasn’t expecting anything. She looked up and down the block but saw no one. Curious she picked it up. There was no doubt it was a floral box but she couldn't find a card. Unlocking the front door she went into the house. Relocking the door, she bent to pick up the day's mail from the floor as she called, "Slinky cat? I'm home and you can thank God because I found a job today. You won't see any more of the super cheap cat food."

  Placing the mail on the desk in the small living room along with her keys and briefcase she went into the kitchen, the floral box still tucked under her arm. She fed her very vocal cat then turned her attention back to the mysterious box. She lifted the lid to discover a dozen red roses surrounding a single white one.

  Stunned, she lifted the bouquet from the box and laid them on the counter. Then she riffled through the remaining tissue paper, but there wasn't a card to be found. "I wonder who sent the roses, Slink." She commented looking around the room for a suitable container. "And wouldn't you know it? I don't even own a vase."

  Chapter Three

  Lucy sat pouring over the history of the plot she just finished researching, Devon’s test. She needed to pass so she could do these on her own. She flipped through the papers. It wasn’t matching up to the survey. She growled in self-disgust. “This is not the right address. Crap!” She sprang from her chair letting it roll against the wall behind her. Grabbing her purse and keys, she turned to scoop up the files she needed and strode to the door. She flung it open and slammed into Jack’s arms. She struggled to get away. “I’m sorry to have run into you, Jack. I’m in a hurry. I have to get to the courthouse.”

  Jack chuckled as he pulled her closer. “Whoa, sweetheart, there’s no need for pretense. I know you want me.”

  Lucy struggled against him. “Not in this lifetime. Let me go.”

  “You’re breaking my heart, Lucy. Why are you in such a hurry? I know you want me. Admit it. We both know it. There’s no real rush to get to the courthouse. Stop and let’s talk about our dinner plans for tonight. I say we go somewhere high-end with a romantic ambience.” He continued to hold her against him.

  She snorted her disgust as she managed to squirm free of his embrace. “I’m not going anywhere with you. Leave me alone. You’re only interested in me because I’m not tripping over myself to jump into your bed.”

  Jack lifted his hand and braced himself against the wall blocking her path. “I’d make it worth your while.” He bent toward her, choking her with his alcohol fumes. “How about a kiss?”

  Lucy threw up her hand to block his attempt. “Stop it, Jack and let me by.”

  “I don’t want to.” He mumbled against her palm.

  “I’m warning you I have a knee and I know how to use it.” She shifted all her weight to one foot. “I’ve done it before; I’ll do it again.”

  He stepped out of range. “Now, Lucy, you don’t want to do that. It could get you fired.”

  “You’ve stooped to sexual harassment? I’ll not work where such th
ings go on.”

  Jack dropped his hand from the wall and stepped away from her. He cleared his throat. “I wouldn’t go that far. I was only joking.”

  “You better be joking or you’ll be doing the deed searches, not me. Get out of my way.” She pushed past him. “I have to get to the courthouse before it closes for lunch. They gave me the wrong history.”

  “Good luck with that.”

  “Leave me alone, Jack.” She passed through the front office she nodded to Carmella who looked a little flushed. “I may be gone the rest of the afternoon. If Devon needs me he can call my cell.”

  Carmella nodded. “All righty, sweetie, have a good night if you don’t make it back.” The door wasn’t even closed behind Lucy before Carmella was out of her seat and storming down the hall, “Jack, I need to talk to you.”

  Walking into the building, Lucy was almost body-slammed by a blond woman in expensive clothing. Recognition flared in the sophisticate’s brown eyes. She frowned. "So, you must be the ever-popular Lucy. Keep in mind you are nothing but an employee here. Devon belongs to me."

  Lucy lifted an eyebrow. "He told me he wasn't dating anyone. You must be Sydney?”

  Sydney's frown deepened as she invaded Lucy’s personal space. "Don't even think about getting any ideas. I tell you, he's mine."

  Refusing to step back, Lucy smiled. "Go ahead and stake your claim, Sydney. I'm not here to find a mate. All I’m here to do is earn a living and as far as I’m concerned, good luck to you."

  "So, you deny you're attracted to Devon?" Incredulous, Sydney stepped back to get a better look at Lucy.

  "I won't lie. Devon is a very attractive man, but, as you say, I'm just an employee. I’m not looking for a relationship with Devon. I know my place. You have no worries as far as I'm concerned." She returned Sydney’s challenging stare.

  "We'll see. I don't trust you. You look like the gold-digging type to me. Country bumpkin comes to the big city to find a rich sap to latch onto for all she’s worth."

  Lucy guffawed. "You are a poor judge of character. I'm not a gold-digger or anything else. My sole interest is making a living. And I wouldn’t call Devon a sap."

  "I'll bet if the bank balance were high enough, you'd change your tune." Sydney sneered.

  Lucy sobered. Sydney's last accusation tore through her calm to shred the last of her patience. She lunged forward and backed Sydney into the wall behind her. "Now I’ve had quite enough. I don't know you, Sydney, and you, sure as the world, don't know me from Adam. I am not a gold-digger by any stretch of your minute imagination, nor am I interested in jumping your claim to Devon. You’re the one who sounds like a gold-digger. Now, you were leaving and I'm trying to get back to work, so, good bye. I would have liked to say ‘nice meeting you’ but I try not to lie." Having dismissed the other woman, she brushed past her and into the elevator.

  "We'll see which one is the gold-digger, you green-eyed slut." She called as the elevator door slid closed.

  Lucy walked into the office a few moments later, still fuming, to be met by Carmella, who appeared to be in quite a state, a mixture of frustration and weariness. Yelling was coming from Devon’s office. “What’s all that racket?” she asked, “Are they arguing again?” Before Carmella could answer, Devon’s office door burst open crashing against the wall. Jack stormed past Lucy—missing her by an inch—and out the door without a word. Devon was close behind him, but he stopped in the reception area.

  “Jack will be taking the job down in Chatsworth, Carmella. I don’t expect he’ll be back in town for a couple of weeks,” he said flopping into the nearest chair. “And I think after Chatsworth we should send him to the job we won the bid on in Biloxi. Maybe, by then he’ll learn to control his mouth.”

  Lucy realized her feet still worked and began to move toward her office. Afraid to speak to Devon, she didn’t even look in his direction. He seemed to be on the verge of exploding and in her mood she wasn’t willing to start a confrontation. Without a doubt she’d say something she’d regret and she needed to stay employed. As she past him he spoke to her, his voice measured, “If you’ll give me a few minutes, Luce, I’ll be in to see how your trip to the courthouse went.”

  “Take your time,” Lucy’s voice cracked. As she closed the door to her office she could hear Devon and Carmella talking together in low voices. She, however, was more interested in knowing why her own emotions were in turmoil. Why should it matter to her if some strange woman called her a slut? She walked over to the desk and set the file folders she had been carrying on the corner. She then went to the window and stared at the view of downtown without seeing it. She was tired and disappointed. She had hoped she and Sydney could become friends, what a silly notion. What seemed even sillier was Sydney thinking of her as competition for Devon's affection. Lucy could almost laugh.

  In the back of her mind she knew on an intellectual level the answers she gave to Sydney's accusations were correct. Working here meant Devon was off-limits to her. Yet, she was forced to acknowledge, she was more than a little attracted to him. This job was turning out to be more challenging than she expected. She had no idea how long she’d stood there staring when she sensed she was no longer alone. She wheeled around gasping, “Devon! You scared me. Don’t you know how to knock?”

  “I’m sorry. I should have realized you were daydreaming. I’ve been standing here for a couple of minutes.” He gave her a wry smile as he slumped into her chair.

  “You seem calmer.” She sighed as she leaned against the desk facing him.

  “Carmella has always been very good at calming me down,” Devon said putting his feet on the desk, crossing them at the ankles. He sighed as he laced his fingers together behind his head. He closed his eyes allowing Lucy a brief moment to enjoy looking at him unobserved. “She’s always been a good listener and advisor.”

  “If you don’t mind my asking, why don’t you marry her? Or, do you think she’s too old for you?” Lucy asked.

  Devon surprised her by bursting into laughter. “You want me to marry my aunt?

  “She's your aunt? No one told me she’s your aunt. How was I supposed to know everyone who works here is related with the exception of me?”

  “Yeah, she’s my aunt.” Devon continued to chuckle for a moment then grew serious. “My mother was her sister. My mom was diagnosed with stage-four ovarian cancer when I was a freshman in college. She died six months later, during my sophomore year. Jack and I are fraternity brothers. When the end of the spring term arrived, my father and Jack’s mother came to help us move back home for the summer. By Thanksgiving of our junior year, they were married.”

  “Oh.” Lucy’s drawn out whisper conveyed a depth of understanding which surprised Devon.

  “But that isn’t why Jack and I don’t get along.”

  “Don’t get along? You two fight all the time, like two cats in a burlap sack,” she said flatly as she moved to sit on the desktop.

  Devon nodded in agreement. “We do argue. But it’s not because we don’t like each other. We disagree on several points. We used to be like two peas in a pod, as they say. It’s unfortunate, but we have not been close in a long time.”

  “Are you going to tell me what those several points are, or are you going to leave it there?” Lucy asked after a couple minutes of silence.

  Devon reclined in her chair deep in thought for what seemed an eternity studying her beautiful face. He could sit and stare at her forever—or so he thought at the moment. He shouldn’t be thinking about kissing her right now, but he was. He should explain the rift between himself and Jack, but he’d rather just sit and look at her. After a time he shook himself loose of his distracted thoughts and continued to give Lucy a history lesson on James Dalton Environmental. “Jack is miserable doing environmental engineering and it’s depressing for him. As I’ve said before, he is much better suited for structural engineering. But, he has never been able to stand up to his mother. He doesn’t want to disappoint her. I keep telling hi
m she will be more disappointed to find out he has spent the last eight years of his life in absolute misery.”

  “So he’s miserable. It still doesn’t explain why you two argue all the time at the tops of your lungs, does it?” Lucy asked as she began to swing her feet.

  “It should at least start to explain it. You see, I want Jack to be as happy with his career as I am with mine. I can’t wait to get to work in the morning. I keep telling Jack he needs to let me buy him out so he can go into structural but he won’t hear it.”

  “Why were you arguing when I came in earlier? Did it have anything to do with Sydney? I met her coming in.” Lucy slid off the desktop and wandered back to the window.

  “Oh. Sorry you had to meet her today. I told her to find someone else to escort her to the symphony tonight. Jack and I were arguing because I have changed tactics on him. I’ve been doing most of the out of town projects, but because he won’t leave you alone...I think it best he spend some time out of town. That way—”

  “Now you wait a minute,” Lucy spun around to face him, “Jack is not a threat to me. I can take care of myself.”

  “Lucy, I’m not going to let Jack drive you away,” Devon said as he stood to move toward her.

  “Jack is not going to drive me away, Devon. He can’t.” Lucy insisted as she looked up into Devon’s eyes.

  As Devon looked down into her emerald eyes he stammered, “How-how can you be so sure?”

  “He’s not my boss for one thing,” Lucy said as he put space between them, “and for another…I believe he’s rather harmless.”

  “You are so wrong. I know Jack,” Devon began to pace around the room, “He can be quite seductive when he chooses. I’ve seen him in action. In the past he has managed to win the hearts of women most men are afraid to even approach.”

  “You forget, Devon, I don’t want to be seduced by Jack,” she fumed, “I am aware of his charms and I will not fall prey to them. I will not, do you hear me?” She was adamant. “I don’t even find him the least bit attractive—to me he’s kind of repulsive when he ‘turns on the charm’.” She made air quotes.