“Watch,” Edie advised. “This blonde knows what she’s doing. You might be able to pick up a few pointers.”
Caasi smiled weakly, her hand a hard fist in her lap. For one crazy moment she felt like screaming in outrage. Blake was hers! But he wasn’t, not really—he had made that clear this morning. Rather than watch the exchange between the two, she lowered her gaze to her fruity drink.
“Well, I’ll be,” Edie murmured unbelievingly.
“What?” Caasi demanded.
“Weren’t you watching?”
“No,” Caasi whispered, her voice shaking.
“As slick as a whistle, Mr. Incredible gave the blonde the brush-off. I wouldn’t have believed it. This fellow is one tough character. Little wonder you didn’t have any luck.”
“Little wonder,” Caasi repeated.
Edie continued to study Blake. “You know, just watching Mr. Incredible, I’m getting the distinct impression he’s hurting.”
“Hurting?” Caasi asked, and swallowed tightly.
“Yes. Look at the way he’s leaning against the counter. See the way his elbows are positioned? He doesn’t want to be disturbed and his body is saying as much, discouraging anyone from joining him.”
“Why doesn’t he just sit at a table?” Caasi whispered, revealing her curiosity.
“Because that would be an open invitation for company. No, this man wants to be left alone.”
“Just because he wants his own company doesn’t mean he’s eating his heart out.”
Thoughtfully, Edie shook her head. “That’s true. But he’s troubled. Look at the way he’s hunched over his drink. He looks as if he’s lost his best friend.”
Caasi felt Edie’s slow appraisal turn to her. “So do you, for that matter.”
“So do I—what?” Caasi feigned ignorance on a falsely cheerful note.
“Never mind,” Edie murmured thoughtfully.
“I was looking through some travel brochures the other day.…” Caasi quickly changed the subject before Edie managed to stumble onto something she could only escape by blatantly lying. “Do you realize I haven’t had a vacation, a real vacation,” she amended, “in over five years? I was thinking of a cruise.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.” Edie tilted her chin mockingly. “You wouldn’t know what to do with yourself with empty time on your hands.”
“Sure I would,” Caasi argued. “I’d take a few classes. I’ve always wanted to learn how to do calligraphy. And get back to reading. I bet there are a hundred books I haven’t had time to read in the last five years. They’re stacked to the ceiling in my bedroom just waiting for me. I’d bake, and learn how to sew, and volunteer some time at the local—” She stopped at the peculiar look Edie gave her.
“I can’t believe this is Caasi Crane speaking!” Edie looked shocked.
Caasi laughed, hoping to make light of her own enthusiasm and squelch Edie’s growing curiosity. “It’s been on my mind a lot, that’s all.”
“What’s been on your mind?” Edie asked. “Those weren’t things you’d do on vacation. They’re things an everyday housewife does.”
“A housewife?” She gave Edie a surprised look. “And what’s wrong with a housewife and mother?”
“Nothing.” Edie was quick to amend her attitude. “Heavens, June’s one, and I’ll be one shortly. Think about it, Caasi. You, a housewife? A baby on each hip, diapers that need to be changed with dinner boiling on top of the stove. Can you picture yourself in that scene?”
Caasi pressed her mouth tightly closed. She longed to cry out that she’d never wanted anything more. If she could run ten hotels effectively, she could manage a single home. The only condition her mind demanded was that Blake share that loving picture with her.
Her eyes drifted across the room to the dejected figure sitting at the bar. It took everything within her not to go to him. But she couldn’t see that it would do any good. She’d bared her heart and he’d rejected her. Just remembering the shock she’d felt at hearing his decision caused her to bite into her bottom lip.
“Caasi?” Edie’s soft voice broke into her musings.
Gently Caasi shook her head. “Sorry.” She turned her attention back to Edie. “What were you saying?”
Edie’s attention was focused in the direction of the bar. “Look who’s coming our way,” she whispered in shocked disbelief.
Blake strolled to their table and nodded politely at Edie. “We didn’t set a time for tomorrow morning. Is eight too early?”
“Fine,” Caasi managed to answer with some difficulty.
“I’ll see you then.”
Edie looked stunned as Blake turned and walked away. “All right, Caasi Crane,” she whispered in a shocked voice, “you’ve got some explaining to do.”
Eight
The whirling blades of the helicopter stirred the early-morning air. With her purse clutched under her arm and her head bowed, Caasi rushed across the landing pad. Blake supported her elbow as she climbed aboard.
The volume of swirling sound made conversation impossible, which was just as well. There was little Caasi had to say to Blake. Not anymore. A week before, even less, she would have been excited about this trip with him. It would have been a chance to talk, another opportunity to learn more about this man who had been invaluable to her. Now it would be torture to sit beside him and know that the next day he would be walking out of her life.
“Caasi.”
Blake’s hand against her forearm recalled her from her musings.
“It’s not too late. We can make the drive in less than—”
“No,” she interrupted him and, closing her eyes, leaned her head back against the seat cushion. When they’d met at eight that morning, the first thing Blake had done was propose that they drive instead of taking the helicopter. Caasi couldn’t understand why he would make such a suggestion. He wasn’t any more eager to spend time alone with her than she was to endure the stilted silence that would have existed in the comparative quiet of a car.
When they didn’t take off immediately, Caasi opened her eyes and noted that Blake was talking to the pilot. A frown creased his brow before he nodded and climbed back aboard.
“Is everything all right?” she asked.
“Nothing to worry about,” Blake assured her.
A wobbly sensation attacked her stomach as the helicopter rose. To hide her anxiety, Caasi clenched her hands, closed her eyes, and turned her head as if she were gazing out the window.
Blake placed his hand over hers; Caasi sat up and shook her hand free. She didn’t want his comfort or assurance or anything else. The day was torture. If he was going to get out of her life, then he should go. Why prolong the agony?
They didn’t say a word as Portland disappeared. A small smile flickered across Caasi’s face at the memory of Edie’s reaction when Blake had stopped at their table the night before. Her friend had been stunned speechless. Caasi couldn’t remember a time in all the years they’d known each other that Edie didn’t have an immediate comeback.
“You sly fox,” Edie had gasped a full minute after Blake had sauntered away from the table.
“Don’t get excited,” Caasi returned with a nervous smile. “Blake works for me. He’s been around for six years.”
Edie shook her head in disbelief. “You have worked with that hunk all these years?”
“His last day is Wednesday.” Something in Caasi’s voice must have revealed the pain she felt at the thought.
Edie’s look was thoughtful. “I noticed something was different almost from the moment you came into the dining room tonight. At first I was sure I was imagining things. Somehow, you’re … softer. It’s in your eyes, even in the way you walk, if that’s possible. You have, my dear, dear Caasi, the look of a woman in love.”
Caasi tried to laugh off Edie’s announcement. “Who, me?”
“Yes, you!” Edie declared adamantly. “Now, tell me, why is Blake leaving?”
Sadly Caas
i shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ve tried everything I know to convince him to stay.”
“Everything?”
Hot color suffused Caasi’s face and she lowered her gaze, unable to meet Edie’s probing eyes. “It wouldn’t do any good. Blake’s mind is set.”
“Is there any chance of you two getting together?”
Caasi shook her head, unable to answer with words. A terrible sadness settled over her. The pain was potent. Blake would be lost to her.
“What about your baby hunger?” Edie asked.
“My what?” Caasi jerked her head up.
“The last time we were together we talked about you and a baby, don’t you remember?”
“Yes, but a baby usually requires a father.”
Edie gave a sophisticated shrug. “Not always. You’re a successful career woman. You’re strong, independent, and financially capable. Any child would be lucky to have you as a mother.”
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing.” Caasi gripped her hands in her lap so that Edie wouldn’t see how her fingers were trembling. “You’re not really suggesting I get pregnant with Blake’s child?”
“Of course I am. He’s leaving, isn’t he? You want a baby, not a husband. As far as I can see, the setup is perfect.”
Even now, with Blake sitting beside her, Caasi couldn’t help shaking her head in disbelief at her friend’s suggestion. Sometimes it was astonishing that two women so completely different could be such good friends.
An hour later, with a cup of coffee in front of her, Caasi reviewed the architects’ plans. The piece of beach was prime property, and Caasi realized how fortunate she was to have obtained it. No, she had Blake to thank for that. He was the one who had handled the negotiations.
Seaside was a tourist town. The economy depended on the business of travelers. With only a few weeks left until summer and a flux of vacationers, the community was preparing for the seasonal traffic.
The morning passed quickly. Leaving the architects’ office, Caasi donned a hard hat and visited the building site. Everything was ahead of schedule; where she had pitched a shovelful of dirt only a few weeks before now stood the empty shell of the latest Empress Hotel.
Caasi walked around, examining each area. Once she would have experienced an intense satisfaction at the venture; now she was surprised to feel nothing. The lack of emotion shocked her. What did she care if there were ten or a hundred Empress Hotels? Would breaking ground for another hotel bring her happiness? Perhaps at one time it would have. But no longer. Blake was responsible for that. He was responsible for a lot of things.
Her smile felt frozen as she entered the restaurant where the Seaside Chamber of Commerce was holding its luncheon.
After they ate, Caasi stood before the group and spoke a few introductory words before turning the presentation over to Blake. As he was talking, Caasi observed the way the men in the room responded to him. In some ways their reactions were like those of the women in the cocktail lounge the night before. Blake was a man’s man.
Caasi’s fingers were tender from all the handshaking she’d done by the time they returned to the copter. The pilot, a middle-aged man with a receding hairline, removed his hat as they approached. He shook his head, seeking Blake’s eyes.
“Is something wrong?” Caasi asked Blake.
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”
Blake and the pilot talked for several minutes, and when Blake returned, his jaw was tight, his look disturbed.
“Well?”
“There’s something wrong with the chopper. Dick noticed that one of the gauges was malfunctioning when he revved it up this morning. That was why I suggested we drive.”
Caasi closed her mouth tightly to bite back bitter words. Blake hadn’t been eager for her company that morning. Had she been fooling herself with the belief that he would have enjoyed an intimate drive from Portland?
“How long will it take to check it out?”
“An hour, two at the most.”
Unwilling to spend an extra minute in Blake’s company, Caasi announced, “I’ll wait for you on the beach, then.”
Blake didn’t acknowledge her as she turned and walked the block or so to the ocean.
Wind whipped her hair about her face as she stood, looking out over the pounding surf.
A flight of concrete stairs led to the beach. Caasi walked down to the sand, removed her heels, and strolled toward the water.
Once, when she was a little girl, her father had taken her to the ocean. A business trip, Caasi was sure. Very little in Isaac Crane’s life had been done for pleasure. Caasi remembered how the thundering surf had frightened her and how she’d clung to her father’s leg.
Funny, Caasi mused, she hadn’t thought about that in years. She couldn’t have been more than two, maybe three, at the time. The incident was her earliest memory.
Swinging her high heels in her hands, Caasi walked for what seemed like miles, enjoying the solitude; the fresh, salt-scented air; and the peace that came over her. Blake would go and she’d hurt for a time, suffer through the regrets for the love they could have shared. But the time would come when that, too, would pass. And she’d be better for having loved him.
When she turned around to return to the street, she noticed Blake standing at the top of the concrete steps, watching her. He was a solitary figure silhouetted against the bright sun, hands in his pockets and at ease with the world. That disturbed her somehow. He was leaving her without a second thought, without regrets, without looking back.
As she neared the steps, Blake came down to meet her. “I just talked to Dick.”
“And?” she prompted.
“The problem is more extensive than he thought. It looks as if we’ll have to spend the night.”
“Spend the night?” she cried in frustration. “I won’t do that.”
“There isn’t much choice,” Blake returned with limited patience.
“Rent a car. And if you can’t do that, then buy one! I’m not spending the night here.”
“Caasi.” Blake drew in a slow, angry breath.
“You’re still my employee,” she said bitterly, and glanced at her watch. “For another twenty-three and a half hours I expect you to do what I ask. After that, I don’t care what you do.”
Caasi regretted the words the minute they slipped out. She watched Blake’s struggle to hide his anger.
“I didn’t mean that,” she said in a low voice, and released her breath slowly. “Make what arrangements you can. I’ll phone Laurie and answer any necessary calls from here.”
Fifteen minutes later Caasi walked across her hotel room, carrying her cell with her as she spoke. A knock on her door interrupted the conversation.
“Could you hold a minute, Laurie?” she asked, before unlocking the door and letting Blake into the rented quarters.
“It’s Blake,” she said into the receiver. “I’ll give you a call in the morning before we leave.” She hung up and turned to him. “Yes?”
“I thought you might need a few things.” He handed her a small sack that contained a toothbrush and toothpaste.
“Thanks.” She smiled her appreciation. “But what I could really use is a good martini.”
“Dry, of course.”
“Very dry,” Caasi agreed.
The cocktail lounge was deserted; it was too early for the pre-dinner crowd and too late for the business-luncheon group.
It amazed Caasi that they could sit companionably at a minuscule table and not say a word. It was almost as if they were an old married couple who no longer needed words to communicate. Caasi focused her attention on the ocean scene outside the window. The view was lovely, but she had seen so much breathtaking scenery in her life. That day it failed to stir the familiar chord of appreciation.
Without asking, Blake ordered another round. Slowly, Caasi sipped her drink. The bitter liquid seared its way down her throat. The lounge was quickly filling now; after two martinis, Caasi could f
eel the coiled tension ease out of her.
“Are you ready for dinner?” Blake asked.
“Sure,” she agreed readily. “Why not?”
His hand cupped her elbow as he escorted her into the dining room. The food was good, though not excellent.
“Chef would be appalled,” Caasi remarked, as she set her fork aside.
“You and that chef. I don’t know when I was more upset with you than when you imported him.”
Caasi’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Oh, I can tell you. Several times you’ve looked as if you wanted to wring my neck, all within the last couple of weeks, too.”
Blake’s expression was weary and he conceded with a short shake of his head.
The soulful sounds of a singer drifted into the dining room from the lounge.
“Shall we?” Blake asked softly.
Caasi couldn’t find an excuse to refuse. All there was to do in her room was watch television. “All right,” she agreed, somewhat reluctantly. When they reentered the lounge, she saw that a few couples occupied the tiny dance floor, which was little bigger than a tabletop.
They sat for a long time, so close their thighs touched, listening to the music and not speaking. For the first time, Caasi admitted to herself how glad she was that the helicopter needed work. The repairs afforded her this last chance to be with Blake. She didn’t speak for a long time, fearing words would destroy the moment.
“Caasi.”
Their eyes met and she drew a shaky breath at the intensity of his look.
“Dance with me, Blake,” she whispered urgently. “Hold me one last time.”
He answered her by standing and giving her his hand. They didn’t take their eyes from each other as Caasi slid her arms around his neck, her body’s movement joining his in a rhythm that was uniquely theirs.
His fingers were pressed against the small of her back as he molded her body to him. His mouth was mere inches from hers as his warm breath fanned her cheek.
The music stopped—but they didn’t. If Blake released her now, she’d die, Caasi mused.
The singer began a love song. Caasi bit into the corner of her bottom lip. Tomorrow Blake would go—but for tonight, he was hers.